bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring chaos in the Lorenz and Rössler models: Fidelity tests for reservoir computing
Authors: Scully James J. , Neiman Alexander B. , Shilnikov Andrey L.
Published: September 2021

This study focuses on the qualitative and quantitative characterization of chaotic systems with the use of a symbolic description. We consider two famous systems, Lorenz and Rössler models with their iconic attractors, and demonstrate that with adequately chosen symbolic partition, three measures of complexity, such as the Shannon source entropy, the Lempel–Ziv complexity, and the Markov transition matrix, work remarkably well for characterizing the degree of chaoticity and precise detecting stability windows in the parameter space. The second message of this study is to showcase the utility of symbolic dynamics with the introduction of a fidelity test for reservoir computing for simulating the properties of the chaos in both models’ replicas. The results of these measures are validated by the comparison approach based on one-dimensional return maps and the complexity measures.
P-type InxGa1−xN semibulk templates (0.02 < x < 0.16) with room temperature hole concentration of mid-1019 cm−3 and device quality surface morphology
Authors: Routh Evyn L. , Abdelhamid Mostafa , Colter Peter , El-Masry N. A. , Bedair S. M.
Published: September 2021

Using the semibulk approach, p-InxGa1−xN semibulk (p-SB) templates were grown with an indium content ranging from 2.4% to 15.2% via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. When compared to optimized bulk p-GaN, the hole concentration in p-SB with an In content of ∼15.2% increased by two orders of magnitude from 5.22 × 1017 to 5.28 × 1019 cm−3. The resistivity and mobility of the templates decreased gradually from 3.13 Ω · cm and 3.82 cm2/V s for p-GaN to 0.24 Ω · cm and 0.48 cm2/V s for p-SB with an In content of 15.2%. Temperature dependent Hall measurements were conducted to estimate the activation energy of the p-SB template. The p-SB with the In content of ∼15.2% is estimated to have an activation energy of 29 meV. These heavily doped p-SB templates have comparable material qualities to that of GaN. The atomic force microscopy height retraces of p-SB films show device quality surface morphology, with root mean square roughness ranging from 2.53 to 4.84 nm. The current results can impact the performances of several nitride-based devices, such as laser diodes, LEDs, solar cells, and photodetectors.
Energy-dependent knock-on damage of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites under electron beam irradiation: First-principles insights
Authors: Cai Zenghua , Wu Yuning , Chen Shiyou
Published: September 2021

Radiation damage mechanism of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites under electron beam irradiation is currently under controversy. First-principles calculations of threshold energies show that the knock-on atomic displacement damage in CH3NH3PbI3 is significant and highly energy-dependent, i.e., for the incident energy below 2.3 keV, knock-on damage is negligible; when the incident energy increases to 2.3, 26.4, 70.4, and 249.4 keV, H, C, N, and I displacements start, respectively; however, Pb does not displace even for 1 MeV incident energy. This finding explains the observation that 5 keV or higher-energy irradiation causes obvious changes in cathodoluminescence spectra while 2 keV causes only small changes. For the 300 keV high energy irradiation used in recent experiments, our results show that the H, C, N, and I knock-on displacements can cause the loss of CH3NH3 and I simultaneously, so the knock-on damage should play an important role in these experiments. The electron diffraction characterization cannot distinguish the CH3NH3 and I loss, so it might give confusing conclusions about damage processes. These results change our fundamental understandings on the radiation-damage mechanisms of CH3NH3PbI3-related perovskites, laying the foundation for the transmission-electron-microscopy characterization of their microscopic structures.
Do people with multiple sclerosis receive appropriate support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme matching their level of disability? A description of disease ‘burden and societal cost in people with multiple sclerosis in Australia’ (BAC-MS)
Authors: Lechner-Scott Jeannette , Reeves Penny , Ribbons Karen , Saugbjerg Bente , Lea Rodney
Published: September 2021

Objective This study is the first to assess if the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) package allocated to people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is correlated with the disability level measured by standardised neurological assessment. Methods We aimed to recruit 10 pwMS per expanded disability status score (EDSS) step, including EDSS 0 (no disability) up to 9 (bedridden), and requested information about their NDIS application. Value of their packages was compared with mobility, cognition and psychological impact. Results Out of 186 pwMS, only 49% of all patients had an NDIS package approved. The mean values of the annual allowance were AU$30 318 for patients with mild disability, AU$38 361 for moderate disability and AU$115 113 for severe disability. There was a striking variability in packages approved, but restricted mobility seems to be the driving factor. Rejection rates were <20% in patients with mild and moderate disability and none in those with severe disability. The package value correlated with EDSS steps, cognitive impairment and physical impact, but not psychological impact. Conclusions This is the first study to assess if NDIS packages correlate with internationally accepted disability scales. The NDIS support was correlated with disability measured by EDSS steps and cognition, but not psychological impact of the disease. What is known about the topic? There are over 25 000 Australians living with multiple sclerosis, which is one of the most common neurological diseases leading to disability in early age. The National Disability Insurance Scheme has been introduced since 2013 to particularly assist young disabled Australians to participate in the community. Whether the approved package correlates with internationally accepted disability scores has not yet been assessed. What does this paper add? This study is the first to correlate disability, as assessed by the Expanded Disability Severity Scale (EDSS), with the approved package value. What are the implications for practitioners? Multiple sclerosis is a very variable disease affecting quality of life not only due to impairment of mobility, but also cognition and mental health. Although the NDIS package value was correlated with an EDSS and cognition, the psychological impact of the disease is often neglected.
A Novel Fluorescent Aptasensor for Sensitive Detection of Oxytetracycline Based on Gold Nanoparticles and OTC-Eu
Authors: Noghabi Hamideh Sharifi , Abnous Khalil , Taghdisi Seyed Mohammad , Chamsaz Mahmoud
Published: September 2021

We developed a simple and selective fluorescent aptasensor for the detection of oxytetracycline (OTC) using aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a complex formed between oxytetracycline and a europium cation. In this study, AuNPs were modified with an OTC aptamer using two methods (Tween and NaCl methods). In the absence of OTC, an OTC-Eu3+ complex binds to the aptamer in the aptamer-conjugated AuNPs to give weak fluorescence emission. However, in the presence of OTC, the aptamer interacts with its target, causing a strong fluorescence emission. Under optimum conditions, the designed method showed high selectivity for OTC and a good linear range to OTC concentration from 15 to 500 nM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10.6 nM for the NaCl method and linear range over 15–500 nM with an LOD of 8.8 nM for the Tween method. This biosensor was successfully employed to quantify OTC in milk and tablet samples.
Additions to
Authors: Davison E. M. , Giustiniano D. , Bougher N. L. , McGurk L. E. , Watkin E. L. J.
Published: September 2021

A recent molecular phylogeny of Amanita recognises three subgenera and 11 sections. Members of subgenus Amanitina are characterised by amyloid spores and a mycorrhizal habit. Section Arenariae falls within this subgenus. Members of this section are known only from southern Australia; they are either sequestrate (secotioid) or agaricoid and lack clamp connections. We describe the following three additional secotioid species: Amanita arenarioides Bougher, E.M.Davison & Giustiniano, A. compacta Bougher, E.M.Davison & Giustiniano and A. pseudoarenaria E.M.Davison, Giustiniano & Bougher, which are separated on macroscopic appearance, spore shape and genetic sequences. We also describe two agaricoid species, namely, A. pupatuju E.M.Davison, Giustiniano, McGurk & E.L.J.Watkin, and A sabulosa E.M.Davison & Giustiniano, which are separated on bulb shape and genetic sequences. We provide expanded descriptions of A. arenaria (O.K.Mill. & E.Horak) Justo and A. griselloides D.A.Reid; we also synonymise A. dumosorum D.A.Reid with A. peltigera D.A.Reid. A revised diagnosis and description of section Arenariae is provided, together with a key to currently recognised member of this section.
Extracellular matrix protein N-glycosylation mediates immune self-tolerance inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Mortimer Nathan T. , Fischer Mary L. , Waring Ashley L. , KR Pooja , Kacsoh Balint Z. , Brantley Susanna E. , Keebaugh Erin S. , Hill Joshua , Lark Chris , Martin Julia , Bains Pravleen , Lee Jonathan , Vrailas-Mortimer Alysia D. , Schlenke Todd A.
Published: September 2021

Significance

The ability of immune cells to distinguish self tissue from nonself pathogens is a key characteristic of immunity, allowing responses to be targeted against invading pathogens while protecting against self-directed immune damage. The recognition of nonself by innate immune cells has been extensively characterized, but the mechanisms that allow for self recognition and self-tolerance remain largely unexplored. Here, we uncover a self-tolerance system inDrosophilathat relies on the N-glycosylation of extracellular matrix proteins: immune activity is restrained by recognition of a self signal and proceeds when encountering self tissues missing the self signal. This allows the host to recognize and protect self tissues, destroy aberrant tissue, and, perhaps, respond to pathogens that evade nonself recognition systems.
Potassium isotope composition of Mars reveals a mechanism of planetary volatile retention
Authors: Tian Zhen , Magna Tomáš , Day James M. D. , Mezger Klaus , Scherer Erik E. , Lodders Katharina , Hin Remco C. , Koefoed Piers , Bloom Hannah , Wang Kun
Published: September 2021

Significance

Using spacecraft data and elemental abundances derived from martian meteorites, earlier studies set a paradigm of a volatile- and water-rich Mars relative to Earth. Nevertheless, inherent difficulty in determining the volatile budget of bulk silicate Mars (BSM) makes it challenging to directly compare the extents of volatile depletions among differentiated bodies in the Solar System. This study provides an alternative for evaluating the nature of volatiles on Mars using potassium (K) isotopes. The K isotopic composition of BSM and the strong correlation between δ41K and planet mass reveals that the sizes of planetary bodies fundamentally control their ability to retain volatiles. This could further shed light on the habitability of planets and assist with constraining unknown parent body sizes.
Interleukin-6 mediates PSAT1 expression and serine metabolism in TSC2-deficient cells
Authors: Wang Ji , Filippakis Harilaos , Hougard Thomas , Du Heng , Ye Chenyang , Liu Heng-Jia , Zhang Long , Hindi Khadijah , Bagwe Shefali , Nijmeh Julie , Asara John M. , Shi Wei , El-Chemaly Souheil , Henske Elizabeth P. , Lam Hilaire C.
Published: September 2021

Significance

The tumor suppressor syndrome tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) affects 1:10,000 live births. We discovered that the inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes the proliferation and migration of TSC2-deficient cells in part through the regulation of PSAT1 and de novo serine biosynthesis. Importantly, IL-6 neutralizing antibody treatments reduced renal cyst and cystadenoma formation in Tsc2
+/−
mice. This study highlights a therapeutically targetable vulnerability of TSC, which may have broad clinical application to mTORC1-activated tumors.
Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions of compounds with Craig-Möbius aromaticity
Authors: Cai Yuanting , Hua Yuhui , Lu Zhengyu , Lan Qing , Lin Zuzhang , Fei Jiawei , Chen Zhixin , Zhang Hong , Xia Haiping
Published: September 2021

Significance

Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactions are hallmarks of aromaticity. However, the potential of compounds with Möbius aromaticity to undergo EAS has been ignored for a long time. A number of molecules with d orbitals involved in conjugation of π-aromatic ring in the out-of-phase way have been described as Craig-Möbius aromaticity because they have the same phase inversion properties as Möbius type and fit [4n] rule. Embedding metals within a π-conjugated hydrocarbon skeleton is considered an efficient method for discovering Craig-Möbius aromatic scaffolds. We directly employed metalla-aromatics to develop EAS reactions of Craig-Möbius aromatics with excellent efficiency and remarkable regioselectivity, and the reactions were quantified in computational studies to further rationalize the preferred sites of attack on the different aromatic rings.
Biodiversity of coral reef cryptobiota shuffles but does not decline under the combined stressors of ocean warming and acidification
Authors: Timmers Molly A. , Jury Christopher P. , Vicente Jan , Bahr Keisha D. , Webb Maryann K. , Toonen Robert J.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Although climate change is expected to decimate coral reefs, the combined impacts of ocean-warming and acidification on coral reef biodiversity remains largely unmeasured. Here, we present a two-year mesocosm experiment to simulate future ocean acidification and ocean-warming to quantify the impacts on species richness, community composition, and community structure. We find that species richness is equivalent between the dual-stressor and present-day treatments but that the community shuffles, undoubtedly altering ecosystem function. However, our ability to predict the outcomes of such community shuffling remains limited due to the critical knowledge gap regarding ecological functions, life histories, and distributions for most members of the cryptobenthic community that account for the majority of the biodiversity within these iconic ecosystems.
Orthogonal genome-wide screens of bat cells identify MTHFD1 as a target of broad antiviral therapy
Authors: Anderson Danielle E. , Cui Jin , Ye Qian , Huang Baoying , Tan Ya , Jiang Chao , Zu Wenhong , Gong Jing , Liu Weiqiang , Kim So Young , Yan Biao Guo , Sigmundsson Kristmundur , Lim Xiao Fang , Ye Fei , Niu Peihua , Irving Aaron T. , Zhang Haoyu , Tang Yefeng , Zhou Xuming , Wang Yu , Tan Wenjie , Wang Lin-Fa , Tan Xu
Published: September 2021

Significance

We established a genome-wide CRISPR library and a genome-wide RNA interference library for a bat species and performed two genetic screens to uncover host factors of bat cells involved in virus infections. Although the viruses and methodologies used were different in the two screens, we identified one common protein, MTHFD1, as a broad-spectrum host factor. Further studies show that the MTHFD1 inhibitor, carolacton, can potently inhibit a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. We provide a resource for studying the functional genomics of bat biology.
Seeking natural analogs to fast-forward the assessment of marine CO
2
removal
Authors: Bach Lennart T. , Boyd Philip W.
Published: September 2021

Mitigating global climate change will require gigaton-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as a supplement to rapid emissions reduction. The oceans cover 71% of the Earth surface and have the potential to provide much of the required CDR. However, none of the proposed marine CDR (mCDR) methods is sufficiently well understood to determine their real-world efficiency and environmental side effects. Here, we argue that using natural mCDR analogs should become the third interconnecting pillar in the mCDR assessment as they bridge the gap between numerical simulations (i.e., large scale/reduced complexity) and experimental studies (i.e., small scale/high complexity). Natural mCDR analogs occur at no cost, can provide a wealth of data to inform mCDR, and do not require legal permission or social license for their study. We propose four simple criteria to identify particularly useful analogs: 1) large scale, 2) abruptness of perturbation, 3) availability of unperturbed control sites, and 4) reoccurrence. Based on these criteria, we highlight four examples: 1) equatorial upwelling as a natural analog for artificial upwelling, 2) downstream of Kerguelen Island for ocean iron fertilization, 3) the Black and Caspian Seas for ocean alkalinity enhancement, and 4) the Great Atlantic
Sargassum
Belt for ocean afforestation. These natural analogs provide a reality check for experimental assessments and numerical modeling of mCDR. Ultimately, projections of mCDR efficacy and sustainability supported by observations from natural analogs will provide the real-world context for the public debate and will facilitate political decisions on mCDR implementation. We anticipate that a rigorous investigation of natural analogs will fast-forward the urgently needed assessment of mCDR.
Amyloid-β peptide dimers undergo a random coil to β-sheet transition in the aqueous phase but not at the neuronal membrane
Authors: Fatafta Hebah , Khaled Mohammed , Owen Michael C. , Sayyed-Ahmad Abdallah , Strodel Birgit
Published: September 2021

Significance

The aggregation of the amyloid-βpeptide (Aβ) into neurotoxic oligomers is central to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. One possible source of their toxicity results from interactions of the Aβoligomers with the neuronal membrane, damaging membrane integrity and thus neurons. However, molecular details of these interactions are unclear. Here, we contrast the dimerization of Aβin solution and at the neuronal membrane. Our results clearly indicate that the sugar moieties of GM1 sequester Aβby forming key hydrogen bonds with the peptide, which diverts the configuration of the Aβdimers away from damagingβ-sheet–rich structures. These findings underline the importance of GM1 in Alzheimer’s disease progression and provide a nanoscopic basis for its reported neuroprotective effect.
Follistatin mediates learning and synaptic plasticity via regulation of Asic4 expression in the hippocampus
Authors: Chen Yu-Ju , Deng Shin-Meng , Chen Hui-Wen , Tsao Chi-Hui , Chen Wei-Ting , Cheng Sin-Jhong , Huang Hsien-Sung , Tan Bertrand Chin-Ming , Matzuk Martin M. , Flint Jonathan , Huang Guo-Jen
Published: September 2021

Significance

Adult neurogenesis, which is known to be a heritable trait, is thought to be involved in learning, stress-related anxiety, and antidepressant action. In this study, we map genes influencing adult neurogenesis and identify a candidate gene, follistatin (
Fst
) for further study. By utilizing a brain-specific knockout and viral vector-mediated gene transfer, we reveal the importance of hippocampal FST in neurogenesis, learning, and synaptic plasticity. From RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we identify
Asic4
as a critical downstream target gene regulated by FST. Our work demonstrates that FST functions in the hippocampus at least in part through regulating
Asic4
expression. Overall, we illustrate the role of hippocampal
Fst
in learning and synaptic plasticity.
The citron homology domain as a scaffold for Rho1 signaling
Authors: Bartual Sergio G. , Wei Wenfan , Zhou Yao , Pravata Veronica M. , Fang Wenxia , Yan Kaizhou , Ferenbach Andrew T. , Lockhart Deborah E. A. , van Aalten Daan M. F.
Published: September 2021

Significance

Aspergillus fumigatus
gives rise to invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The rise of
A. fumigatus
antifungal resistance threatens a limited arsenal of treatment options. Here, we use genetic and molecular approaches to dissect the contribution of the citron homology (CNH) domain of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Rom2 in regulating the biosynthesis of the essential and unique fungal cell wall, an important target of antifungal compounds. The CNH domain plays an essential role as a stabilizer for the small GTPase Rho1, a key regulator of glucan biosynthesis. This work provides a model for their interaction, revealing a promising molecular mechanism to explore in the quest for novel antifungal compounds.
Temporal structures in Occitan and French oral narrative
Authors: Carruthers Janice , Vergez-Couret Marianne
Published: September 2021

This article explores the temporal structuring of Occitan and French oral narratives. Using contemporary linguistic theory and through a corpus-based analysis, it aims to explore the relationship between language and orality, with a specific focus on two key temporal features of oral narrative, i.e. frames and connectives. The authors create a digitised corpus involving three sub-corpora demonstrating different degrees of orality in Occitan and these are also compared with a French oral corpus. The analysis shows that there is quantitative evidence to support the idea that frames and connectives have complementary roles in narrative, with inverse proportions of frames and connectives in the four sub-corpora. In terms of degrees of orality, the results suggest that not only is the use of particular connectives strongly associated with oral as opposed to written narratives but also that factors relating to sources, transmission and storytelling practice are highly influential and interact with each other in complex ways. Frames are generally ‘primarily structural’ in function rather than ‘temporal and structural’ and certain frame introducers recur in all the sub-corpora but there are complex differences between the different sub-corpora and a clear link with story-type. Questions of sources, transmission and narrative practice are central to our argumentation throughout and are particularly striking in the case of the contemporary Occitan sub-corpus.
Genetic Differentiation Between and Within Northern Native American Language Groups: An Argument for the Expansion of the Native American CODIS Database
Authors: Weise Jessica A. , Ng Jillian , Oldt Robert F. , Viray Joy , McCulloh Kelly L. , Smith David Glenn , Kanthaswamy Sreetharan
Published: September 2021

The National Research Council recommends that genetic differentiation among subgroups of ethnic samples be lower than 3% of the total genetic differentiation within the ethnic sample to be used for estimating reliable random match probabilities for forensic use. Native American samples in the United States’ Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database represent four language families: Algonquian, Na-Dene, Eskimo-Aleut, and Salishan. However, a minimum of 27 Native American language families exists in the US, not including language isolates. Our goal was to ascertain whether genetic differences are correlated with language groupings and, if so, whether additional language families would provide a more accurate representation of current genetic diversity among tribal populations. The 21 short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the Globalfiler® PCR Amplification Kit were used to characterize six indigenous language families, including three of the four represented in the CODIS database (i.e. Algonquian, Na-Dene, and Eskimo-Aleut), and two language isolates (Miwok and Seri) using major population genetic diversity metrics such as F statistics and Bayesian clustering analysis of genotype frequencies. Most of the genetic variation (97%) was found to be within language families instead of among them (3%). In contrast, when only the three of the four language families represented in both the CODIS database and the present study were considered, 4% of the genetic variation occurred among the language groups. Bayesian clustering resulted in a maximum posterior probability indicating three genetically distinct groups among the eight language families and isolates: (1) Eskimo, (2) Seri, and (3) all other language groups and isolates, thus confirming genetic subdivision among subgroups of the CODIS Native American database. This genetic structure indicates the need for an increased number of Native American populations based on language affiliation in the CODIS database as well as more robust sample sets for those language families.
Plasma sheath modelling to predict etch-induced overlay
Authors: Džafić Harun , R Kamali Mohammad , P Venugopalan Syam
Published: September 2021

In this work a two-dimensional, axisymmetric plasma sheath model is presented that is used to predict ion trajectory deviations in the plasma-wafer interface for a given set of physical etch conditions and chamber geometries. The model successfully predicts the plasma sheath deformation and the associated ion tilt in the vicinity of the wafer edge due to electrical discontinuities. We couple the predictive power of the plasma sheath model with a feature-scale kinetic Monte Carlo etch model to determine the asymmetries in post-etched structures and hence on-product overlay. The feature-scale model serves as a tool to translate the ion tilt within plasma sheath to the sidewall angle asymmetries in the etched trenches and the resulting overlay errors in two adjacent layers of a semiconductor device that could ultimately affect the device yield.
Power Generation using Thermoelectric Power Generator with Parabolic Solar Dish Concentrator
Authors: Nanggar Nyandang Aneurin , Singh Baljit , Fairuz Remeli Muhammad , Oberoi Amandeep
Published: September 2021

Solar Thermoelectric Generator (STEG), a hybridization system of thermoelectric generator (TEG) with a heat exchanger have been thoroughly explored because of its ability to produce both electricity and heat simultaneously. In this research, two tests were conducted: single TEG characterization test and STEG application. A theoretical modelling was developed based on the characterization test. For the STEG application, a solar parabolic dish concentrator and a single TEG were used to produce both heat and electricity simultaneously. An absorber plate placed on the focal point of the dish was used to facilitate the heat transfer of the reflected solar radiation to the TEG through the plate. The effects of various temperature difference were investigated. The absorber plate thickness was 1 mm and made up from copper to ensure high heat transfer rate and was well insulated so as to ensure minimal heat loss. To evaluate the performance of the TEG under the various temperatures, water-cooled cooling method (with water cooling jacket) and air-cooled cooling method (with finned heat sink and USB powered fan) were employed. Results showed that water-cooled cooling method was able to enhance the performance of STEG for higher power generation than air-cooled cooling method.
Characteristics of Ar Plasma Jet Generated by 50 Hz Alternating Current
Authors: Honglertkongsakul K , Nilgumhang K , Mongkolnavin R , Tangjitsomboon P , Acharry S , Ngamrungroj D
Published: September 2021

Plasma jet generated by dielectric barrier discharge system has gain importance in surface modification processes. Characteristics of plasma of the plasma jet depend on type of gas, flow rate of gas, design of electrodes, power and frequency of the power source. In this research, the argon gas is flowed through a hollow tube is investigated. Alternating high voltage power supply connected to electrodes is operated with frequency of 50 Hz. It was found that the lengths of the plasma jet generated by this system ranges from 0.5 cm and 1 cm. The minimum and the maximum electron temperature of the plasma was 0.44 eV and 0.86 eV respectively. The electron temperature increased as the applied voltage was increased. However, the electron temperature decreased when the operating voltage was increased above 6.5 kV to 7.5 kV. It can be explained by the effect of arcing between the electrodes which causes the lost in energy. Also, increasing of the flow rate over a critical limit produces turbulence that also causes reduction in electron temperature of the plasma jet.
Heat Distribution of Aluminum Block with Profile for Portable Thermal Cycler Calculated Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Sakti S P , Abdurrouf  , Kusuma F J
Published: September 2021

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) becomes one of the essential tools during the COVID pandemic. The heart of the PCR is a thermal cycler. The thermal cycler is a temperature cycle instrument that changes and maintains the vial sample’s temperature at a specific target temperature. A simple thermal cycler can be made using thermoelectric as the heater and cooler to control the temperature state. The thermal block temperature distribution is important to make all the vials treated at the same temperature condition. The thermal distribution of an aluminum block as the thermal block for a portable PCR was calculated using the finite element method. The heat source and cooler with a power of 60W were placed at the bottom of the aluminum block. The temperature gradient inside the aluminum body, where the vial was placed, was calculated. The heating and cooling speed were calculated using the model. It was found that the temperature difference between the bottom surface and top surface of the aluminum block is 2.5°C during the transient time. The temperature distribution in a horizontal direction is homogenous, with a temperature difference among the surface being less than 0.01°C. The time required to heating from 24°C to 95°C is 31.05 seconds while cooling from 95°C to 55°C can be reached in 18.05 seconds.
Nonparametric Double EWMA Control Charts based on Mood Statistic for Process Variability
Authors: Petcharat K
Published: September 2021

This research aims to propose a nonparametric double exponentially weighted moving average (NDEWMA) control chart for detecting shifts in a process using the Mood statistic. A Monte Carlo simulation study was used. The data had a normal distribution and a non-normal distribution where the magnitude of shift size (δ) was δ = 1, 1.05, 1.10 - 2.00 and 3.00, respectively. A performance comparison of the control charts was evaluated by using the Average Run Length (ARL). In the case of an in-control process, a large ARL value is desired, while a small ARL value is desired when the process is out-of-control. From the results of the simulation study, it was observed that the proposed NDEWMA control chart is effective in detecting small shifts in the process and gives better performance compared to the nonparametric exponentially weighted moving average control (NEWMA) control chart based on Mood statistics.
RETRACTED: There can be no dark energy or space expansion because radiation pressure forces can cause the universe to expand
Authors: Zhang G , Wang X
Published: September 2021

Space expansion or dark energy are usually used to explain the fact that our universe is expanding at accelerating speeds. However, calculations show that the sun’s total gravitational forces towards the entire universe, excluding nearby galaxies, is 1.645×1019N, while the sun’s average total radiation pressure force is 1.33×1021N. So, the sun’s radiation pressure force is much (80 times) larger than its gravitational force. Thus the sun’s overall effect towards the universe is to push the universe to expand instead of pulling the universe to contract. Because the sun is just a normal star, the total expanding forces (stars’ radiation pressure force) inside universe are much bigger than the total contracting forces (gravitational force) inside the universe, resulting in a universe expanding at accelerating rates. In addition, factors such as cosmic rays also help to cause the universe to expand. Thus, there is no need to use dark energy or space expansion theory to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe. Specifically, it is deduced that the relationship between the total radiation pressure force (F) of a star and the power (P) of the star is: F=(1+ρ)P/C.
Modeling the influence of the intensive crystallization level height on the cumulonimbus cloud parameters
Authors: Kuznetsov A , Simakina T , Kryukova S
Published: September 2021

The importance of information on the ice particles amount and formation height in understanding the processes taking place in a cumulonimbus cloud is shown. In radar meteorology the intense crystallization level NIC
is one of the criteria for the cloud transition to the thunderstorm activity stage. Modeling of a cumulonimbus cloud parameters with the intensive crystallization level height change has been carried out. With an increase in NIC
there is a decrease in the hydrometeors number entering the crystallized area, an increase in the area volume with the highest water content in the cloud center, its rise, and a change in the orientation of the large drops «nursery» with a water content of more than 8 g/m3 from horizontal to vertical shape. The dependence of the hydrometeor size in the central part of the cloud jet and the lifetime on the NIC
level has been detected.
Investigation of the evolution of thunderstorm with hail in North-Western region of Russia by three-dimensional numerical simulation
Authors: Dovgaluk Yu A , Veremei N E , Toropova M L , Mikhailovskii Yu P
Published: September 2021

Using numerical non-stationary three-dimensional Cu model the investigation of the evolution of thunderstorm with hail was carried out in North-Western region of Russia. Spatial and temporal variations of the main cloud and precipitation characteristics obtained, especially, cloud electrification intensity, volume charge density and electric field strength. It was shown that the main role in cloud electrification under given conditions has the polarization one. On the contrary, ice-ice collision was not so intensive because of small mass of cloud ice crystals.
Investigation of the bubble structure of hail droplet nuclei
Authors: Khuchunaev A B
Published: September 2021

The paper is devoted to the study of the bubble structure of hail droplet nuclei at different temperatures and Nusselt numbers. On the basis of laboratory studies, equations are obtained that allow the measured values of the arithmetic mean diameter and the concentration of air inclusions in the droplet nuclei of hail to determine the temperature at which they were formed. The effect of changes in the Nusselt number on the bubble structure of hail droplet nuclei analyses in the article. The results of estimating the temperature and the Nusselt number at the level of formation of drop nuclei of natural hailstones that fell on 7.06.2012 are presented. For calculations, previously obtained data on the arithmetic mean diameter and concentration of air inclusions in the droplet nuclei of hailstones were used. The paper presents the results of comparing the formation temperatures of natural droplet nuclei calculated by formulas proposed by different authors. It is found that the difference in the temperature of the formation of droplet nuclei, calculated from the bubble structure according to Tlisov’s data and according to our data, is 2.3 °C. The maximum difference between our data and the List data is 2 °C.
Aerosol formation in the filtered atmospheric air and regularities of their evolution
Authors: Ivanov V N , Paley A A , Pisanko Yu V , Romanov N P
Published: September 2021

Presented is the study of atmospheric aerosol particle formation and evolution processes arising in filtered atmospheric air in complete darkness. Studies were carried out in the Large Aerosol Chamber (LAC) of RPA «Typhoon» with 3200 m3 volume under conditions close to natural atmospheric ones. The large volume of the chamber and its design features make it possible to exclude the influence of boundary conditions as well as any additional pollution sources from the chamber walls and from the equipment inside the LAC on the processes under study. We observe the formation of nanoparticles apparently due to gas-to-particle conversion in the absence of UV radiation. We investigate these newly formed particle growth regularities from 15 nm size to cloud condensation nuclei characteristic sizes under controlled conditions. The observed evolution regularities of the newly formed due to gas-to-particle conversion aerosol spectra can significantly contribute to the understanding of atmospheric aerosol formation processes responsible for cloudiness and precipitation.
Electronic service for providing users with data of hail suppression activities
Authors: Appaeva Zh Yu , Gekkieva J M
Published: September 2021

Database managed by MS Access is intended for automated access to the data of hail suppression activities carried out by the paramilitary services of Roshydromet. The main function of the database is to store information and provide it to network users for carrying out scientific analysis and obtaining reference information. On the base of the collected and processed hailfall data, it is possible to automatically calculate the annual average and maximum number of days with hail in a year, the annual average of hail damaged area reduced to 100% loss, the annual average percentage of crop losses and annual hail damage. This information will help specialists study hailstorm development more in detail, including in particular categories of seeding targets, number of expended rockets, and evaluate the effectiveness of the cloud seeding operations, taking into account the accumulated operational data.
A methodological approach to assessing the current opportunities for changing the number of clouds in large areas in the interests of solving applied problems
Authors: Doronin A P , Shchukin G G , Kozlova N A , Petrochenko V M
Published: September 2021

The article presents a methodological approach to assessing the current possibilities for changing the number of clouds on an area of thousands-tens of thousands of km2. A method based on the use of means of dissipation supercooled undulatus clouds is considered. Quantitative estimates of the suitability for dissipation of clouds of these forms in various physical and geographical regions of Russia are given. Practical recommendations on the application of methods and means of dissipation supercooled undulatus clouds over large areas are given.
Comprehensive analysis of snow cover in the south of Russia
Authors: Tashilova A A , Kalov Kh M , Kesheva L A , Teunova N V
Published: September 2021

Snow cover is one of the components of the natural environment that determines the weather and climate. In recent decades, there have been changes in all characteristics of the snow cover, which are associated with climate warming. This work is devoted to the analysis of changes in various characteristics of snow cover in different climatic zones of the Caucasus region for the period 1960-2018 and the construction of a regression model of seasonal variability of snow cover thickness (SCT) in the south of the European territory of Russia (ETR). Based on the data from the series of snow cover thickness, the number of days from the snow cover (SC), the dates of the beginning and end of the SC descent, the dates of the establishment / destruction of the stable SC in the cold seasons of 1961-2018 in the south of the ETR, an assessment of the change in these characteristics was carried out. As a result of the analysis, it was found that, against the background of global warming, the number of days with snow cover decreases, the dates of the beginning and descent of a stable SC are shifted towards a reduction in the duration of the SC occurrence, and at the same time, an increase in the SC height is observed. A regression model of seasonal variability of the thickness of the snow cover has been built. The analysis of the seasonal variability of the SCT showed that the thickness of the snow cover for the southern regions of Russia has a pronounced seasonal variation with a determination coefficient no worse than 55%. The fields of the parameters of the seasonal variation are quite smooth, and their variability is well physically conditioned.
Betelgeuse’s ‘great dimming’ explained
Authors: Cooper Keith
Published: September 2021

Astronomers have proposed that a cold spot on the surface of the star Betelgeuse was responsible for an event in 2019 that caused much excitement around the world, as Keith Cooper reports
NASA scientist imprisoned for denial over China links
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: September 2021

A court in New York has sentenced former NASA scientist Meyya Meyyappan to 30 days in prison for “making false statements” to the FBI about his connections with overseas universities.
Millions of insects go under the X-ray light at the UK’s Diamond synchrotron
Authors: Johnston Hamish
Published: September 2021

Scientists at the UK’s Diamond Light Source synchrotron facility in Oxfordshire have joined forces with colleagues at the Natural History Museum to create digital 3D images of some of the 35 million insect specimens in the museum’s collection.
LEGO microscope ‘lowers the barrier’ into the microscopic world
Authors: Skuse Ben
Published: September 2021

A fully functional modular microscope has been built using LEGO bricks and low-cost smartphone lenses.
Einstein Telescope gets Europe’s backing
Authors: Cartlidge Edwin
Published: September 2021

An ambitious project to detect gravitational waves underground is one of 11 proposals in an updated European wish list of future facilities.
Physics on holiday
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: September 2021

From sandcastles to rollercoasters, there’s physics wherever you look on holiday
The business of holidays
Authors: McKenzie James
Published: September 2021

Can a holiday make you money? James McKenzie explains how business ideas – both big and small – often arise when you’re away on vacation
Holiday hotspots for physicists
Authors: Bawagan Juanita
Published: September 2021

After a difficult year spent largely indoors, we’re all in need of a getaway. Juanita Bawagan explores some dream destinations – from scientific wonders in our backyard to flights into outer space
Spending your summer wisely
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: September 2021

As a student, you don’t have to spend your summer sunbathing on the beach or bingeing on reality TV. Laura Hiscott speaks to some early-career physicists who did summer internships in different places, from start-ups to university departments, and shares their advice for making the most of these opportunities
The candyfloss cosmos
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: September 2021

We buy it in bags at fairs and at the seaside, stuffing it in our mouths for a few seconds of sensory magic. But what exactly is this strange substance and how do we make it?
Distinctive Flow Cytometric and Mutational Profile of Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;16)(p11;p13) Translocation
Authors: Aqil Barina , Gao Juehua , Stalling Melissa , Sukhanova Madina , Duncavage Eric J , Lu Xinyan , Wolniak Kristy L , Kreisel Friederike , Yaseen Nabeel R
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;16)(p11;p13) abnormalities is a rare, aggressive, and diagnostically challenging subtype that results in KAT6A-CREBBP gene fusion.

Methods

To investigate their immunophenotype and genomic features, we identified 5 cases of AML with t(8;16) through a retrospective review of the databases at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, and Washington University Medical Center, in St Louis, MO.

Results

In all, 4 of 5 cases were therapy related and 1 was possibly therapy related. The leukemic blasts showed distinctive features, including bright CD45 expression and remarkably high side scatter that overlapped with maturing myeloid elements, making the blasts difficult to identify on initial examination. They were positive for CD13, CD33, and CD64 and negative for CD34 and CD117. Next-generation sequencing profiling of 4 cases revealed pathogenic ASXL1 (2 cases), FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations (2 cases), and other pathogenic mutations. In 3 patients, t(8;16) was the sole cytogenetic abnormality; additional aberrations were found in 2 patients. Single nucleotide polymorphism microarray revealed 1 case with 7q deletion as a secondary clone.

Conclusions

Our data highlight the distinctive immunophenotypic profile of AML with t(8;16), which, along with its unique morphology, often presents a diagnostic challenge. We showed that mutations of either ASXL1 or FLT3-TKD are seen in most cases of this leukemia.
Early-Life Adversity Due to Bereavement and Inflammatory Diseases in the Next Generation: A Population Study in Transgenerational Stress Exposure
Authors: Brew Bronwyn K , Lundholm Cecilia , Caffrey Osvald Emma , Chambers Georgina , Öberg Sara , Fang Fang , Almqvist Catarina
Published: September 2021

Emerging evidence suggests that trauma experienced in childhood has negative transgenerational implications for offspring mental and physical health. We aimed to investigate whether early-life adversity experienced as bereavement is associated with chronic inflammatory health in offspring. The study population included 3 generations of Swedish families with a base population of 453,516 children (generation 3) born in 2001–2012. Exposure was defined as the middle generation’s (generation 2) experiencing bereavement in childhood due to the death of a parent (generation 1). Outcomes in generation 3 included 2 diagnoses of inflammatory diseases, including asthma, allergic diseases, eczema, and autoimmune diseases. Survival analysis was used to identify causal pathways, including investigation of mediation by generation 2 mood disorders and socioeconomic status (SES). We found that early-life bereavement experienced by women was associated with early-onset offspring asthma (hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.23); mediation analysis revealed that 28%–33% of the association may be mediated by SES and 9%–20% by mood disorders. Early-life bereavement experienced by men was associated with autoimmune diseases in offspring (hazard ratio = 1.31, 95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.62), with no evidence of mediation. In conclusion, adversity experienced early in life may contribute to an increased risk of inflammatory diseases which is partly mediated by mood disorders and SES.
Continual knowledge infusion into pre-trained biomedical language models
Authors: Jha Kishlay , Zhang Aidong
Published: September 2021

Motivation

Biomedical language models produce meaningful concept representations that are useful for a variety of biomedical natural language processing (bioNLP) applications such as named entity recognition, relationship extraction and question answering. Recent research trends have shown that the contextualized language models (e.g. BioBERT, BioELMo) possess tremendous representational power and are able to achieve impressive accuracy gains. However, these models are still unable to learn high-quality representations for concepts with low context information (i.e. rare words). Infusing the complementary information from knowledge-bases (KBs) is likely to be helpful when the corpus-specific information is insufficient to learn robust representations. Moreover, as the biomedical domain contains numerous KBs, it is imperative to develop approaches that can integrate the KBs in a continual fashion.

Results

We propose a new representation learning approach that progressively fuses the semantic information from multiple KBs into the pretrained biomedical language models. Since most of the KBs in the biomedical domain are expressed as parent-child hierarchies, we choose to model the hierarchical KBs and propose a new knowledge modeling strategy that encodes their topological properties at a granular level. Moreover, the proposed continual learning technique efficiently updates the concepts representations to accommodate the new knowledge while preserving the memory efficiency of contextualized language models. Altogether, the proposed approach generates knowledge-powered embeddings with high fidelity and learning efficiency. Extensive experiments conducted on bioNLP tasks validate the efficacy of the proposed approach and demonstrates its capability in generating robust concept representations.