bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Practical Alloy Anode Based Solid State Batteries
Authors: Mahajani Varad , Koratkar Nikhil
Published: December 2023

Alloy‐based anodes are regarded as safer and higher capacity alternatives to lithium metal and commercial graphite anodes respectively. However, their commercialization is hindered by poor stability and irreversible loss of active material during cycling. Combining non‐flammable and electrochemically stable solid‐state electrolytes with high‐capacity alloy anodes has chemo‐mechanical benefits that can address these long‐standing issues. The distinctive interfacial characteristics of solid‐state electrolytes reduce the impact of volume variation and dynamic reconstruction of the solid‐electrolyte‐interphase, thereby realizing the best of both worlds. In this perspective, the interfacial underpinnings for alloy anode based solid‐state batteries that are crucial for their success are discussed. The goal is to update the audience with key recent findings that can lay the foundation for future research work in this area. The relevant steps toward commercialization of alloy anode based solid‐state batteries are also discussed, starting from bulk and interface architectures to electrode composite preparation and final cell assembly.
A precisely Assembled Wall‐Like Architecture for High Lithium/Sodium Storage
Authors: Xiao Jiajia , Lin Shengxuan , Cai Zihe , Zhang Ning , Hu Xiaobin
Published: December 2023

MXene nanosheets and ordered porous carbons both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Assembling and combining the advantages of the two will be a good choice for battery electrode hosts of active materials. In this work, an electrostatic separation‐adsorption strategy is proposed to realize the ordered alternating self‐assembly of MXene nanosheets and ordered porous carbon (MPOC), obtaining a unique wall‐like porous material with a high conductivity and interconnected porous nanostructure, which strengthens the transfer rate of electrons and ions simultaneously. Meanwhile, the introduction of N‐doping from porous carbon into MPOC prolongs the cycle life. When use red phosphorus (RP) as active materials, the MPOC@RP anode exhibited high‐capacity output (2454.3 and 2408.1 mAh g−1 in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) at 0.1 C) and long cycle life (the decay rates per cycle of 0.028% and 0.036% after 1500 and 1200 cycles at 2 C in LIBs and SIBs respectively). The successful application in RP anodes displays great potential in other electrode materials such as silicon, sulfur, selenium, and so on. Meanwhile, this strategy is also effective to design other composites materials like MXene and carbon nanotubes, MXene and Graphene, and so on.
Effects of informant replacement in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials
Authors: Nishida Mikaela K. , Nuño Michelle M. , Grill Joshua D. , Gillen Daniel L.
Published: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) trials require enrollment with an informant.

METHODS

We assessed relationships between informant replacement and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living (ADCS‐ADL) scores across four AD trials. Using generalized estimating equations, we examined associations between replacement and change in ADCS‐ADL between successive visits. We used analysis of covariance to estimate the association between replacement and 18‐month change from baseline, and an F‐test to compare the variance of this change.

RESULTS

Among 1336 participants, 63 (≈5%) experienced replacement. Between‐visit mean change in ADCS‐ADL was 2.44 points lower comparing replacement to stable informants (95% confidence interval [CI]: –3.91, –0.98). The difference in between‐visit mean absolute change was 2.38 points (95% CI: 1.24, 3.52). Replacement was not significantly associated with an 18‐month change from baseline. The ratio of variances (replacement/stable) was 1.80 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.99).

DISCUSSION

Informant replacement is associated with bias and increased variability between visits and increased variance for overall ADCS‐ADL.
Biocultural Diversity in Italy
Authors: Nazari Vazrick , Belardinelli Sofia , Pieroni Andrea , Motti Riccardo , Chiarucci Alessandro , Bisol Giovanni Destro , Vacchiano Giorgio , Bortolini Eugenio , Mezzavilla Massimo , Garaffa Luigi , Pievani Dietelmo
Published: December 2023

As an initial step in more extensive research into the links between biological and cultural diversity in present-day Italy, we reviewed Biocultural Diversity studies that explore the relationship between biological and cultural patterns of diversity to determine whether any direct causal relationships or common drivers could be inferred. We found no significant attempts to quantitatively measure biocultural diversity in the country as a whole. Italy shows a high number of mutual interactions, but common drivers and patterns between biological and cultural diversity were not evident. This could be either a problem of quantification due perhaps to an inherent incommensurability between the two dimensions, or different causative patterns that drive biological and cultural diversity.
Exploring the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Group Chanting in Australia: Reduced Stress, Cortisol and Enhanced Social Connection
Authors: Perry Gemma , Polito Vince , Thompson William Forde
Published: December 2023

Chanting, an ancient ritual practiced in diverse cultures and traditions worldwide, has typically been employed for meditation, healing, self-awareness, and psychological growth. However, there is little understanding of the physiological and psychological benefits of chanting, and how vocalization might contribute to such effects. This study aimed to determine whether 12-minutes of group chanting, through vocal or silent repetition of the sound “om,“ would reduce stress and anxiety, while increasing feelings of social connection, and whether vocal chanting would yield stronger effects. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to vocal or silent group chanting conditions. Saliva samples were collected before and after chanting to assess cortisol levels, while self-report measures included the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Adapted Self-Report Altruism Scale (including additional items on cross-cultural altruism). Following chanting, participants also provided a written description of their experiences. Both vocal and silent chanting resulted in significant decreases in cortisol levels and self-reported anxiety. The reduction in cortisol was similar for vocal and silent chanting, but self-reported anxiety decreased more following vocal chanting. Altruism scores increased following both vocal and silent chanting. However, there was no evidence of altruistic tendencies extending toward people from a culture other than one’s own. Results are discussed in relation to the phenomenology of chanting, and to current theory and evidence on the physiological and psychological effects of chanting and singing.
Influence of intrinsic decoherence on quantum metrology of two atomic systems in the presence of dipole–dipole interaction
Authors: Abdel-Wahab N. H. , Ibrahim T. A. S. , Amin Magdy E. , Salah Ahmed
Published: December 2023

We study the dynamics behavior of a two atomic qubits (two two-level atoms) exposed to a dipole–dipole interaction (DDI) under rotating wave approximation (RWA). Each atom resonantly interacts with the vacuum cavity field via one-photon hopping. We assume that the two atoms and field are initially prepared in their excited state and vacuum state, respectively. An exact solution of Milburn equation is given, and then we study a non-classical statistical properties in the full range of decoherence parameters. In the absence and presence of intrinsic decoherence, the influence of dipole–dipole interaction (DDI) on the degree of entanglement between atom-field and atom-atom are evaluated through different entanglement measures, namely, von Neumann reduced entropy and concurrence, respectively. The influence of DDI on geometrical quantum discord (GQD) are discussed. Furthermore, we estimate the sensitive of the atomic system under variation of DDI parameter via the quantum Fisher information.
Improving the physical and optical characteristics of Zinc doped borate glass for bone replacement
Authors: Salatein N. M. , Abdelghany A. M. , Fahim I. S. , ElHussiny F. A. , Abdou Y.
Published: December 2023

The presented study explores the potential of zinc-doped modified borate glass as a biomaterial for bone bonding applications. The glass samples were prepared using a melt quenching technique with a definite composition of (45-x) B2O3–24.5Na2O–24.5CaO–6P2O5–xZnO, where x = 1, 2, 5, 7.5, and 10 (wt.%) and soaked in SBF for extended periods to explore their suitability for bone bonding applications. XRD and FTIR analysis were used to examine the structural properties of the samples before and after immersion in SBF. XRD analysis of the prepared samples reveals their amorphous nature before immersion. However, after four weeks of immersion, the XRD spectra show a reduction in the broad band observed at 2θ angles between 20 and 35°, indicating increased crystallization and the formation of a HA layer. FTIR data demonstrates significant modifications in the spectra after immersion, including the disappearance of certain bands and an increase in bands related to (BO4) units. Additionally, the appearance of a new band at approximately 561 cm−1 confirms the formation of crystalline apatite. SEM images confirm the morphological changes, with a transition from a rough surface to a cotton shape, indicative of apatite formation. Electronic spectrum measurements (UV/Vis) were used to assess the samples' optical characteristics, showing that increasing Zn content decreases the optical energy gap, indicating improved optical properties. These findings highlight the structural, morphological, and optical changes induced by zinc ion doping and immersion in SBF, making it a more viable option for bone replacement.
The interplay between cell wall integrity and cell cycle progression in plants
Authors: Soni Nancy , Bacete Laura
Published: December 2023

Plant cell walls are dynamic structures that play crucial roles in growth, development, and stress responses. Despite our growing understanding of cell wall biology, the connections between cell wall integrity (CWI) and cell cycle progression in plants remain poorly understood. This review aims to explore the intricate relationship between CWI and cell cycle progression in plants, drawing insights from studies in yeast and mammals. We provide an overview of the plant cell cycle, highlight the role of endoreplication in cell wall composition, and discuss recent findings on the molecular mechanisms linking CWI perception to cell wall biosynthesis and gene expression regulation. Furthermore, we address future perspectives and unanswered questions in the field, such as the identification of specific CWI sensing mechanisms and the role of CWI maintenance in the growth-defense trade-off. Elucidating these connections could have significant implications for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.
Signifiers of Bildung, the Curriculum and the Democratisation of Public Education
Authors: Bergheim Pedro Vincent Dias
Published: December 2023

This article argues that curriculum work can benefit from signifiers of Bildung to promote democracy in public education. The argument is built on the premise that cultural and intellectual traditions that value Bildung presume a link between the inner cultivation of the individual and the development of better societies (Horlacher 2017). I start by presenting Mouffe’s (2000) democratic paradox and how pluralism is the defining feature of liberal democracies. Based on how curriculum work is a standard of public education (Hopmann 1999), I state that the curriculum must formalise pluralism in education and convey the democratic paradox in educational terms. With reference to Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory, I then argue that such a laborious task can be achieved in the curriculum with the aid of signifiers of Bildung. Signifiers of Bildung are discursively empty and cannot acquire a definite meaning. Because of this, they make it possible to speak of the student and the society of liberal democracies while impeding a too narrow comprehension of what they are and ought to be. Therefore, to implement signifiers of Bildung in the curriculum can help establish both a standard of public education and limits to popular sovereignty. However, their use must undergo careful scrutiny, and teachers must remain free to interpret them.
The Early HOSPITAL Score to Predict 30-Day Readmission Soon After Hospitalization: a Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Mathys Philippe , Bütikofer Lukas , Genné Daniel , Leuppi Jörg D. , Mancinetti Marco , John Gregor , Aujesky Drahomir , Donzé Jacques D.
Published: December 2023

Background

The simplified HOSPITAL score is an easy-to-use prediction model to identify patients at high risk of 30-day readmission before hospital discharge. An earlier stratification of this risk would allow more preparation time for transitional care interventions.

Objective

To assess whether the simplified HOSPITAL score would perform similarly by using hemoglobin and sodium level at the time of admission instead of discharge.

Design

Prospective national multicentric cohort study.

Participants

In total, 934 consecutively discharged medical inpatients from internal general services.

Main Measures

We measured the composite of the first unplanned readmission or death within 30 days after discharge of index admission and compared the performance of the simplified score with lab at discharge (simplified HOSPITAL score) and lab at admission (early HOSPITAL score) according to their discriminatory power (Area Under the Receiver Operating characteristic Curve (AUROC)) and the Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI).

Key Results

During the study period, a total of 3239 patients were screened and 934 included. In total, 122 (13.2%) of them had a 30-day unplanned readmission or death. The simplified and the early versions of the HOSPITAL score both showed very good accuracy (Brier score 0.11, 95%CI 0.10–0.13). Their AUROC were 0.66 (95%CI 0.60–0.71), and 0.66 (95%CI 0.61–0.71), respectively, without a statistical difference (p value 0.79). Compared with the model at discharge, the model with lab at admission showed improvement in classification based on the continuous NRI (0.28; 95%CI 0.08 to 0.48; p value 0.004).

Conclusion

The early HOSPITAL score performs, at least similarly, in identifying patients at high risk for 30-day unplanned readmission and allows a readmission risk stratification early during the hospital stay. Therefore, this new version offers a timely preparation of transition care interventions to the patients who may benefit the most.
Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn–SnO2 Nanosheets Toward CO2 Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere-Level Current
Authors: Zhang Min , Cao Aihui , Xiang Yucui , Ban Chaogang , Han Guang , Ding Junjie , Gan Li-Yong , Zhou Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2023

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 converts intermittent renewable electricity into value-added liquid products with an enticing prospect, but its practical application is hampered due to the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts. Herein, we elaborately design and develop strongly coupled nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles and Sn–SnO2 grains, designated as Ag/Sn–SnO2 nanosheets (NSs), which possess optimized electronic structure, high electrical conductivity, and more accessible sites. As a result, such a catalyst exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance toward CO2-to-formate conversion with near-unity faradaic efficiency (≥ 90%), ultrahigh partial current density (2,000 mA cm−2), and superior long-term stability (200 mA cm−2, 200 h), surpassing the reported catalysts of CO2 electroreduction to formate. Additionally, in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectra combined with theoretical calculations revealed that electron-enriched Sn sites on Ag/Sn–SnO2 NSs not only promote the formation of *OCHO and alleviate the energy barriers of *OCHO to *HCOOH, but also impede the desorption of H*. Notably, the Ag/Sn–SnO2 NSs as the cathode in a membrane electrode assembly with porous solid electrolyte layer reactor can continuously produce ~ 0.12 M pure HCOOH solution at 100 mA cm−2 over 200 h. This work may inspire further development of advanced electrocatalysts and innovative device systems for promoting practical application of producing liquid fuels from CO2.
Do We Look Material? Human Ontology and Perceptual Evidence
Authors: Segal Aaron
Published: December 2023

According to certain views about human ontology, the way we seem is very different from the way we are. The appearances are a threat to such views. Here I take up and defuse the threat to one such view.

Pure immaterialism says that each of us is wholly immaterial. The appearances suggest otherwise. I argue that despite the fact that we might sometimes appear to be at least partly material, and that we can be perceptually justified in believing something solely on the basis of having a perceptual experience as of its being the case, none of us is ever perceptually justified in believing that we are even partly material (or that we’re not). Bottom line: we might be able to know whether we’re material, but we can’t know just bylooking.
dCNN/dCAM: anomaly precursors discovery in multivariate time series with deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: Boniol Paul , Meftah Mohammed , Remy Emmanuel , Didier Bruno , Palpanas Themis
Published: December 2023

Detection of defects and identification of symptoms in monitoring industrial systems is a widely studied problem with applications in a wide range of domains. Most of the monitored information extracted from systems corresponds to data series (or time series), where the evolution of values through one or multiple dimensions directly illustrates its health state. Thus, an automatic anomaly detection method in data series becomes crucial. In this article, we propose a novel method based on a convolutional neural network to detect precursors of anomalies in multivariate data series. Our contribution is twofold: We first describe a new convolutional architecture dedicated to multivariate data series classification; We then propose a novel method that returns dCAM, a dimension-wise Class Activation Map specifically designed for multivariate time series that can be used to identify precursors when used for classifying normal and abnormal data series. Experiments with several synthetic datasets demonstrate that dCAM is more accurate than previous classification approaches and a viable solution for discriminant feature discovery and classification explanation in multivariate time series. We then experimentally evaluate our approach on a real and challenging use case dedicated to identifying vibration precursors on pumps in nuclear power plants.
Association of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine booster with control of a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in Switzerland, November to December 2021
Authors: Leiblein Thomas W. , Winistörfer Annemarie , Seiler Kurt , Hauri Rudolf , Sommerstein Rami
Published: December 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks in long-term care facilities are often correlated with high case fatality rates. We describe the association of administration of an mRNA booster with the control of an outbreak. Our findings highlight the possibility of vaccine booster early in an outbreak as a promising method to mitigate the spread of infection.
The role of the hospital bed in hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile: A retrospective study with mediation analysis
Authors: Witt Lucy S. , Howard-Anderson Jessica , Prakash-Asrani Radhika , Overton Elizabeth , Jacob Jesse T.
Published: December 2023

Objective:

To determine whether residing in a hospital bed that previously held an occupant with Clostridioides difficile increases the risk of hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI).

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, we used a real-time location system to track the movement of hospital beds in 2 academic hospitals from April 2018 to August 2019. We abstracted patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results from the medical record. We defined patients as being exposed to a potentially “contaminated” bed or room if, within the preceding 7 days from their HO-CDI diagnosis, they resided in a bed or room respectively, that held an occupant with C. difficile in the previous 90 days. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine whether residing in a contaminated bed was associated with HO-CDI after controlling for time at risk and requiring intensive care. We assessed mediation and interaction from a contaminated hospital room.

Results:

Of 25,032 hospital encounters with 18,860 unique patients, we identified 237 cases of HO-CDI. Exposure to a contaminated bed was associated with HO-CDI in unadjusted analyses (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–2.31) and adjusted analyses (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2–2.0). Most of this effect was due to both mediation from and interaction with a contaminated hospital room.

Conclusions:

Residing in a hospital bed or room that previously had a patient with C. difficile increases the risk of HO-CDI. Increased attention to cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment may reduce hospital transmission of C. difficile.
The Impact of Dobbs on US Graduate Medical Education
Authors: Pasha Amirala S. , Breitkopf Daniel , Glaser Gretchen
Published: December 2023

The Dobbs decision will directly affect patients and reproductive rights; it will also impact patients indirectly in many ways, one of which will be changes in the physician workforce through its impact on graduate medical education. Current residency accreditation standards require training in all forms of contraception in addition to training in the provision of abortion. State bans on abortions may diminish access to training as approximately half of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs are in states with significant abortion restrictions. The Dobbs decision creates numerous hurdles for trainees and their programs. Trainees in restrictive states will have to travel to learn in a different program in a protective state. As training opportunities diminish, potentially leading to a decline in clinical skills, knowledge, and experience in the provision of abortion, the rate of complications and maternal mortality are likely to rise. This will likely have a disproportionately negative effect on preexisting disparities in reproductive health fueled by a longstanding history of systemic racism and inequities. This work aims to both define the looming problem in abortion training created by Dobbs and propose solutions to ensure that an adequate workforce is available in the future to serve patient needs.
Decolonizing African Mental Health Laws: A Case for Kenya
Authors: Juma Paul Ochieng , Ngwena Charles
Published: December 2023

The aim of this article is to use a decolonial approach to interrogate Kenya's laws and policies that compel the admission and treatment of persons with psychosocial disabilities. Against the backdrop of the colonization of Africa, the article appraises the historical development of Kenyan mental health laws. It critically analyses domestic policies, legislation, court decisions and the Constitution as they apply to admission to healthcare facilities of persons with psychosocial disabilities and to the freedom to decide about treatment, in order to reveal the persistence of coloniality. It highlights gaps in the protection of equality, dignity and liberty. It also draws on pertinent provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a juridical method for translating a decolonial agenda into a normative framework. Ultimately, the article proposes a framework for decolonizing Kenya's mental health laws and policies.
Prevalence of body-focused repetitive behaviors in a diverse population sample – rates across age, gender, race and education
Authors: Moritz Steffen , Scheunemann Jakob , Jelinek Lena , Penney Danielle , Schmotz Stella , Hoyer Luca , Grudzień Dominik , Aleksandrowicz Adrianna
Published: December 2023

Background

Prevalence estimates for body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as trichotillomania differ greatly across studies owing to several confounding factors (e.g. different criteria). For the present study, we recruited a diverse online sample to provide estimates for nine subtypes of BFRBs and body-focused repetitive disorders (BFRDs).

Methods

The final sample comprised 1481 individuals from the general population. Several precautions were taken to recruit a diverse sample and to exclude participants with low reliability. We matched participants on gender, race, education and age range to allow unbiased interpretation.

Results

While almost all participants acknowledged at least one BFRB in their lifetime (97.1%), the rate for BFRDs was 24%. Nail biting (11.4%), dermatophagia (8.7%), skin picking (8.2%), and lip-cheek biting (7.9%) were the most frequent BFRDs. Whereas men showed more lifetime BFRBs, the rate of BFRDs was higher in women than in men. Rates of BFRDs were low in older participants, especially after the age of 40. Overall, BFRBs and BFRDs were more prevalent in White than in non-White individuals. Education did not show a strong association with BFRB/BFRDs.

Discussion

BFRBs are ubiquitous. More severe forms, BFRDs, manifest in approximately one out of four people. In view of the often-irreversible somatic sequelae (e.g. scars) BFRBs/BFRDs deserve greater diagnostic and therapeutic attention by clinicians working in both psychology/psychiatry and somatic medicine (especially dermatology and dentistry).
Task-dependent consequences of disfluency in perception of native and non-native speech
Authors: Houghton Zachary , Kato Misaki , Baese-Berk Melissa , Vaughn Charlotte
Published: December 2023

Silent pauses are a natural part of speech production and have consequences for speech perception. However, studies have shown mixed results regarding whether listeners process pauses in native and non-native speech similarly or differently. A possible explanation for these mixed results is that perceptual consequences of pauses differ depending on the type of processing that listeners engage in: a focus on the content/meaning of the speech versus style/form of the speech. Thus, the present study examines the effect of silent pauses of listeners’ perception of native and non-native speech in two different tasks: the perceived credibility and the perceived fluency of the speech. Specifically, we ask whether characteristics of silent pauses influence listeners’ perception differently for native versus non-native speech, and whether this pattern differs when listeners are rating the credibility versus the fluency of the speech. We find that while native speakers are rated as more fluent than non-native speakers, there is no evidence that native speakers are rated as more credible. Our findings suggest that the way a non-native accent and disfluency together impact speech perception differs depending on the type of processing that listeners are engaged in when listening to the speech.
CO2‐Undersaturated Melt Inclusions From the South West Indian Ridge Record Surprisingly Uniform Redox Conditions
Authors: Moussallam Yves , Georgeais Guillaume , Rose‐Koga Estelle F. , Koga Kenneth T. , Hartley Margaret E. , Scaillet Bruno , Oppenheimer Clive , Peters Nial
Published: December 2023

The behavior of Fe3+ during mantle partial melting strongly influences the oxidation state of the resulting magmas, with implications for the evolution of the atmosphere's oxidation state. Here, we challenge a prevailing view that low‐degree partial melts are more oxidized due to the incompatible behavior of Fe3+. Our study is based on measurements of Fe3+/∑Fe along with major, minor, trace and volatile elements in olivine‐ and plagioclase‐hosted melt inclusions of CO2 undersaturated mantle melts in South West Indian Ridge lava. These inclusions record minimum entrapment pressures equivalent to depths up to 10 km below the seafloor, record magma ascent rates of 0.03–0.19 m/s, and display exceptionally high CO2/Ba, CO2/Rb, and CO2/Nb ratios, indicative of a CO2‐rich mantle source. Accounting for fractional crystallization, we find a uniform melt oxidation state (with an Fe3+/ΣFe at 0.140 ± 0.005 at MgO = 10 wt.%) that displays no systematic variation with major, minor, volatile or trace element contents, thus providing no evidence for a relationship between the degree of partial melting and Fe3+/ΣFe. This can be explained by efficient buffering of Fe3+/∑Fe and fO2 of mid‐ocean ridge basalt melts by their surrounding mantle and/or a decrease in the bulk peridotite‐melt Fe2O3 partition coefficient with increasing partial melting. We conclude that changes in the Earth's upper mantle temperature over geological time need not have affected the oxidation state of volcanic products or of the atmosphere.
Greenhouse Gas Forcing and Climate Feedback Signatures Identified in Hyperspectral Infrared Satellite Observations
Authors: Raghuraman Shiv Priyam , Paynter David , Ramaswamy V. , Menzel Raymond , Huang Xianglei
Published: December 2023

Global greenhouse gas forcing and feedbacks are the primary causes of climate change but have limited direct observations. Here we show that continuous, stable, global, hyperspectral infrared satellite measurements (2003–2021) display decreases in outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) in the CO2, CH4, and N2O absorption bands and increases in OLR in the window band and H2O absorption bands. By conducting global line‐by‐line radiative transfer simulations with 2003–2021 meteorological conditions, we show that increases in CO2, CH4, and N2O concentrations caused an instantaneous radiative forcing and stratospheric cooling adjustment that decreased OLR. The climate response, comprising surface and atmospheric feedbacks to radiative forcings and unforced variability, increased OLR. The spectral trends predicted by our climate change experiments using our general circulation model identify three bedrock principles of the physics of climate change in the satellite record: an increasing greenhouse effect, stratospheric cooling, and surface‐tropospheric warming.
A Closer Look at the Effects of Lake Area, Aquatic Vegetation, and Double‐Counted Wetlands on Pan‐Arctic Lake Methane Emissions Estimates
Authors: Kyzivat Ethan D. , Smith Laurence C.
Published: December 2023

Lake methane emissions are commonly upscaled from lake area, with recognition that smaller, non‐inventoried lakes emit more per unit area. There is also growing awareness of the importance of lake aquatic vegetation and potential “double‐counting” with wetlands, but lack of consensus on which is most impactful. Here, we combine high‐resolution data with the comprehensive lake inventory HydroLAKES to rank these three variables based on emissions sensitivity. Including non‐inventoried small lakes <0.1 km2 (+30 [range: 9.0 to 82]% change) is greatest, followed by double‐counting (−20 [−11 to −34]%) and lake aquatic vegetation (+14 [2.7 to 43]%). Significantly, emissions from non‐inventoried lakes contribute far less than the ∼40% previously determined globally through statistical area extrapolation. We produce a first pan‐Arctic estimate of lake aquatic vegetation in 1.37 million km2 of lakes, but after correcting for persistent double‐counting, its net effect is to decrease emissions estimates by 9%. Thus, previous global emissions estimates are likely too high.
Characterization of the Spatial Distribution of the Thermodynamic Phase Within Mixed‐Phase Clouds Using Satellite Observations
Authors: Coopman Q. , Tan I.
Published: December 2023

Models assume that mixed‐phase clouds consist of uniformly mixed ice crystals and liquid cloud droplets when observations have shown that they consist of clusters, or “pockets,” of ice crystals and liquid cloud droplets. We characterize the spatial distribution of cloud phase over the Arctic and the Southern Ocean using active satellite observations and determine the relative importance of collocated meteorological parameters and aerosols from reanalysis to predict how uniformly mixed mixed‐phase clouds are for the first time. We performed a multi‐linear regression fit to the data set to predict the spatial distribution of the ice and liquid pockets. Contrary to what models suggest, mixed‐phase clouds are rarely perfectly homogeneous. Our results suggest that high temperatures are associated with homogeneously mixed ice and liquid pockets. We also find that a high mixing ratio of black carbon is associated with heterogeneously mixed ice and liquid pockets.
Constitutive Behavior of Olivine Gouge Across the Brittle‐Ductile Transition
Authors: Barbot Sylvain , Zhang Lei
Published: December 2023

The bottom of the lithosphere is characterized by a thermally controlled transition from brittle to ductile deformation. While the mechanical behavior of rocks firmly within the brittle and ductile regimes is relatively well understood, how the transition operates remains elusive. Here, we study the mechanical properties of pure olivine gouge from 100 to 500°C under 100 MPa pore‐fluid pressure in a triaxial deformation apparatus as a proxy for the mechanical properties of the upper mantle across the brittle‐ductile transition. We describe the mechanical data with a rate‐, state‐, and temperature‐dependent constitutive law with multiple thermally activated deformation mechanisms. The stress power exponents decrease from 70 ± 10 in the brittle regime to 17 ± 3 and 4 ± 2 in the semi‐brittle and ductile regimes, respectively. The mechanical model consistently explains the mechanical behavior of olivine gouge across the brittle‐ductile transition, capturing the gradual evolution from cataclasis to crystal plasticity.
Numerical Modeling Prediction of Vegetation Trajectories Under Different Flow Regimes in New Zealand Braided Rivers
Authors: Stecca Guglielmo , Hicks D. Murray , Measures Richard , Henderson Roddy
Published: December 2023

We use two‐dimensional physics‐based numerical modeling to study multi‐decadal evolution of vegetation and morphology under different flow regimes in real‐world gravel‐bed braided rivers. To assess model realism, we focus on two rivers in Canterbury (New Zealand) that, despite having been subjected to the introduction of similar invasive vegetation species in the last ∼100 years, show very different trajectories of vegetation presence due to their different flow regimes: the Lower Waitaki River and the Waimakariri River. The former, featuring a naturally damped flow regime—and having experienced further artificial flow damping due to hydropower generation from the 1930s, experienced vegetation encroachment; while the latter, featuring a flashy flow regime, retains an unvegetated braided planform. We propose an innovative calibration and validation procedure to determine an optimal setup of vegetation parameters that allows the model to robustly reproduce the trajectories of both rivers, thereby proving that the model responds sensibly to different hydrological conditions. Then, we isolate the impact of hydropower‐related flow regime modifications on vegetation encroachment in the Lower Waitaki by running the calibrated model with a natural flow regime that does not feature the effect of hydropower generation, and find that vegetation encroachment would have happened even without flow alteration, albeit to a milder degree. Finally, we apply to simulation results a conceptual framework based on a synthetic parameter that compares the relative strength of hydrological and vegetation controls, and discuss the use of this parameter as a predictor of vegetation presence across flow regimes.
Microzooplankton Grazing Exerts a Strong Top‐Down Control on Unicellular Cyanobacterial Diazotrophs
Authors: Deng Lixia , Cheung Shunyan , Xu Zhimeng , Liu Kailin , Liu Hongbin
Published: December 2023

Unicellular cyanobacterial diazotrophs (UCDs) are important nitrogen (N) fixers in marine ecosystems. However, the top‐down control on UCDs is poorly understood, especially for microzooplankton grazing that is often considered to be the dominant loss factor for primary production in oligotrophic oceans. In this study, we investigated the growth and microzooplankton grazing rates of the major UCD taxa (UCYN‐A1, UCYN‐A2/3/4, UCYN‐B, and UCYN‐C) in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait using a combination of dilution experiments and quantitative PCR. All UCD taxa were actively grazed by microzooplankton, with higher grazing rates occurring in deeper layers of the photic zone. Microzooplankton grazing rates of UCDs were significantly higher than those of phytoplankton as whole, indicating that UCDs might be preferentially grazed by microzooplankton assemblages. The growth and microzooplankton grazing rates of UCDs were almost balanced, suggesting that a substantial amount of the UCD‐derived N is transferred through the food web via microzooplankton in these regions. Our study highlights the importance of microzooplankton grazing in the fate of UCD‐derived N and indicates that UCDs contribute significantly to the plankton food web in oligotrophic oceans where new N is mainly originated from dinitrogen fixation.
A Complete Water Balance of a Rain Garden
Authors: McGauley M. W. , Amur A. , Shakya M. , Wadzuk B. M.
Published: December 2023

A bioinfiltration rain garden was retrofitted from an existing traffic island at Villanova University in 2001. It has been monitored continuously since 2003 at a 5‐min timeseries resolution and with instrumentation that would enable a water balance calculation. This 20‐year data set allows for an in‐depth analysis of the hydrologic pathways and management in the rain garden. Using physical equations and modeled data (based on real‐time measurements), a balance of all influent, stored, and effluent water within the rain garden was constructed. Analysis shows the rain garden captures 73.5% of runoff, resulting in a post‐implementation management of 86.2% of all rainfall in its watershed. In comparison to the hydrology of other land covers, implementing the rain garden resulted in the management of 37.6% more rainfall than pre‐implementation, producing a hydrological signature similar to that of cultivated land or low development levels (e.g., 30% impervious). Additionally, with the long data record, several statistical techniques were applied to determine the amount of monitoring needed for a certain level of precision in system performance assessment. For 5% uncertainty, approximately 3 years of continuous data is needed to assess performance. This analysis not only facilitates understanding the function of rain garden systems, but also provides conclusions and methodology for understanding the uncertainty associated with the extent of monitoring performed on these green stormwater infrastructure systems. These findings provide practical knowledge as monitoring of stormwater management infrastructures is becoming a more standard part of their operation.
Transcriptome reprogramming through alternative splicing triggered by apigenin drives cell death in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Sudhakaran Meenakshi , Navarrete Tatiana García , Mejía-Guerra Katherine , Mukundi Eric , Eubank Timothy D. , Grotewold Erich , Arango Daniel , Doseff Andrea I.
Published: December 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by its aggressiveness and resistance to cancer-specific transcriptome alterations. Alternative splicing (AS) is a major contributor to the diversification of cancer-specific transcriptomes. The TNBC transcriptome landscape is characterized by aberrantly spliced isoforms that promote tumor growth and resistance, underscoring the need to identify approaches that reprogram AS circuitry towards transcriptomes, favoring a delay in tumorigenesis or responsiveness to therapy. We have previously shown that flavonoid apigenin is associated with splicing factors, including heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNPA2). Here, we showed that apigenin reprograms TNBC-associated AS transcriptome-wide. The AS events affected by apigenin were statistically enriched in hnRNPA2 substrates. Comparative transcriptomic analyses of human TNBC tumors and non-tumor tissues showed that apigenin can switch cancer-associated alternative spliced isoforms (ASI) to those found in non-tumor tissues. Apigenin preferentially affects the splicing of anti-apoptotic and proliferation factors, which are uniquely observed in cancer cells, but not in non-tumor cells. Apigenin switches cancer-associated aberrant ASI in vivo in TNBC xenograft mice by diminishing proliferation and increasing pro-apoptotic ASI. In accordance with these findings, apigenin increased apoptosis and reduced tumor proliferation, thereby halting TNBC growth in vivo. Our results revealed that apigenin reprograms transcriptome-wide TNBC-specific AS, thereby inducing apoptosis and hindering tumor growth. These findings underscore the impactful effects of nutraceuticals in altering cancer transcriptomes, offering new options to influence outcomes in TNBC treatments.
Accurate prediction of protein assembly structure by combining AlphaFold and symmetrical docking
Authors: Jeppesen Mads , André Ingemar
Published: December 2023

AlphaFold can predict the structures of monomeric and multimeric proteins with high accuracy but has a limit on the number of chains and residues it can fold. Here we show that a combination of AlphaFold and all-atom symmetric docking simulations enables highly accurate prediction of the structure of complex symmetrical assemblies. We present a method to predict the structure of complexes with cubic – tetrahedral, octahedral and icosahedral – symmetry from sequence. Focusing on proteins where AlphaFold can make confident predictions on the subunit structure, 27 cubic systems were assembled with a median TM-score of 0.99 and a DockQ score of 0.72. 21 had TM-scores of above 0.9 and were categorized as acceptable- to high-quality according to DockQ. The resulting models are energetically optimized and can be used for detailed studies of intermolecular interactions in higher-order symmetrical assemblies. The results demonstrate how explicit treatment of structural symmetry can significantly expand the size and complexity of AlphaFold predictions.
The ALS/FTD-related C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion forms RNA condensates through multimolecular G-quadruplexes
Authors: Raguseo Federica , Wang Yiran , Li Jessica , Petrić Howe Marija , Balendra Rubika , Huyghebaert Anouk , Vadukul Devkee M. , Tanase Diana A. , Maher Thomas E. , Malouf Layla , Rubio-Sánchez Roger , Aprile Francesco A. , Elani Yuval , Patani Rickie , Di Michele Lorenzo , Di Antonio Marco
Published: December 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative diseases that exist on a clinico-pathogenetic spectrum, designated ALS/FTD. The most common genetic cause of ALS/FTD is expansion of the intronic hexanucleotide repeat (GGGGCC)n in C9orf72. Here, we investigate the formation of nucleic acid secondary structures in these expansion repeats, and their role in generating condensates characteristic of ALS/FTD. We observe significant aggregation of the hexanucleotide sequence (GGGGCC)n, which we associate to the formation of multimolecular G-quadruplexes (mG4s) by using a range of biophysical techniques. Exposing the condensates to G4-unfolding conditions leads to prompt disassembly, highlighting the key role of mG4-formation in the condensation process. We further validate the biological relevance of our findings by detecting an increased prevalence of G4-structures in C9orf72 mutant human motor neurons when compared to healthy motor neurons by staining with a G4-selective fluorescent probe, revealing signal in putative condensates. Our findings strongly suggest that RNA G-rich repetitive sequences can form protein-free condensates sustained by multimolecular G-quadruplexes, highlighting their potential relevance as therapeutic targets for C9orf72 mutation-related ALS/FTD.
Particle-associated denitrification is the primary source of N2O in oxic coastal waters
Authors: Wan Xianhui S. , Sheng Hua-Xia , Liu Li , Shen Hui , Tang Weiyi , Zou Wenbin , Xu Min N. , Zheng Zhenzhen , Tan Ehui , Chen Mingming , Zhang Yao , Ward Bess B. , Kao Shuh-Ji
Published: December 2023

The heavily human-perturbed coastal oceans are hotspots of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission to the atmosphere. The processes underpinning the N2O flux, however, remain poorly understood, leading to large uncertainties in assessing global N2O budgets. Using a suite of nitrogen isotope labeling experiments, we show that multiple processes contribute to N2O production throughout the estuarine-coastal gradient, sustaining intensive N2O flux to the atmosphere. Unexpectedly, denitrification, rather than ammonia oxidation as previously assumed, constitutes the major source of N2O in well-oxygenated coastal waters. Size-fractionated manipulation experiments with gene analysis further reveal niche partitioning of ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers across the particle size spectrum; denitrification dominated on large particles and ammonia oxidizers on small particles. Total N2O production rate increases with substrate and particle concentrations, suggesting a crucial interplay between nutrients and particles in controlling N2O production. The controlling factors identified here may help understand climate feedback mechanisms between human activity and coastal oceans.
Homo- and hetero-dimeric subunit interactions set affinity and efficacy in metabotropic glutamate receptors
Authors: Habrian Chris , Latorraca Naomi , Fu Zhu , Isacoff Ehud Y.
Published: December 2023

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are dimeric class C G-protein–coupled receptors that operate in glia and neurons. Glutamate affinity and efficacy vary greatly between the eight mGluRs. The molecular basis of this diversity is not understood. We used single-molecule fluorescence energy transfer to monitor the structural rearrangements of activation in the mGluR ligand binding domain (LBD). In saturating glutamate, group II homodimers fully occupy the activated LBD conformation (full efficacy) but homodimers of group III mGluRs do not. Strikingly, the reduced efficacy of Group III homodimers does not arise from differences in the glutamate binding pocket but, instead, from interactions within the extracellular dimerization interface that impede active state occupancy. By contrast, the functionally boosted mGluR II/III heterodimers lack these interface ‘brakes’ to activation and heterodimer asymmetry in the flexibility of a disulfide loop connecting LBDs greatly favors occupancy of the activated conformation. Our results suggest that dimerization interface interactions generate substantial functional diversity by differentially stabilizing the activated conformation. This diversity may optimize mGluR responsiveness for the distinct spatio-temporal profiles of synaptic versus extrasynaptic glutamate.