bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow dynamics in sinusoidal channels at moderate Reynolds numbers
Authors: Gepner S.W. , Floryan J.M.
Published: September 2023

Pressure-gradient-driven flows through sinusoidal channels have been studied. The analysis was carried out up to the formation of secondary nonlinear states and spanned a range of low and moderate Reynolds numbers. Direct numerical simulations were used to identify and determine the properties of steady as well as non-stationary, two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional secondary flows. Our results indicate the existence of several distinct solution types. Two-dimensional, stationary flows with periodicity determined by the corrugation represent the first type. The second type is associated with the appearance of 2-D oscillatory flows arising from the onset of unstable travelling waves. Such oscillatory solutions are generally out of phase with the wall corrugation but could be in phase in special cases determined by the ratio of the critical disturbance wavelength and the channel corrugation wavelength. Consequently, several distinct types of time-dependent solutions are possible. The third type of solution results from the centrifugal effect caused by wall curvature and leads to three-dimensionalization of the flow through the onset of stationary streamwise vortices. Finally, various states resulting from the interaction of different solution types are possible. We examine those states and present a bifurcation diagram illustrating the formation of some of them. The results presented in this paper might help with the development of small-scale flow measurement and detection devices operating at low and moderate Reynolds numbers, as well as in the use of wall topographies for the intensification of mixing in flows with moderate, subturbulent Reynolds numbers.
Big Banks, Household Credit Access, and Intergenerational Economic Mobility
Authors: Mayer Erik J.
Published: September 2023

Consolidation in the U.S. banking industry has led to larger banks. I find that low-income households face reduced access to credit when local banks are large. This result appears to stem from large banks’ comparative disadvantage using soft information, which is particularly important for lending to low-income households. In contrast, the size of local banks has little or no effect on high-income households. Consistent with low-income parents’ credit constraints limiting investment in their children’s human capital, areas with larger banks exhibit a greater sensitivity of educational attainment to parental income, and less intergenerational economic mobility.
Russia’s Arctic policy: Upcoming change?
Authors: Staun Jørgen
Published: September 2023

Russia’s Arctic policy since 2008 has been influenced by two competing foreign policy lines (discourses): the “Arctic as a resource base” and the “sovereignty discourse”. The “Arctic as a resource base” has been the dominant one since the first Russian Arctic Strategy in 2008. It is primarily about exploiting the vast oil and gas resources estimated to be located there, as well as turn the Northern Sea Route into a “global transport corridor”. In Russia’s Arctic Strategy of 2020, however, there is enhanced emphasis on sovereignty and power balancing in Russian Arctic policy. And the focus on sovereignty was heightened with the amendments to Russia’s Arctic Strategy in March 2023. This increased emphasis on sovereignty, territorial defence and balance of power in Russian Arctic policy is likely to be further reinforced by the growing great-power competition between the USA and Russia, which has gained new momentum following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Infant epigenetic aging moderates the link between Black maternal childhood trauma and offspring symptoms of psychopathology
Authors: McKenna Brooke G. , Knight Anna K. , Smith Alicia K. , Corwin Elizabeth J. , Carter Sierra E. , Palmer Rohan H.C. , Dunlop Anne L. , Brennan Patricia A.
Published: September 2023

Although offspring of women exposed to childhood trauma exhibit elevated rates of psychopathology, many children demonstrate resilience to these intergenerational impacts. Among the variety of factors that likely contribute to resilience, epigenetic processes have been suggested to play an important role. The current study used a prospective design to test the novel hypothesis that offspring epigenetic aging – a measure of methylation differences that are associated with infant health outcomes – moderates the relationship between maternal exposure to childhood adversity and offspring symptomatology. Maternal childhood adversity was self-reported during pregnancy via the ACEs survey and the CTQ, which assessed total childhood trauma as well as maltreatment subtypes (i.e., emotional, physical, and sexual abuse). Offspring blood samples were collected at or shortly after birth and assayed on a DNA methylation microarray, and offspring symptomatology was assessed with the CBCL/1.5–5 when offspring were 2–4 years old. Results indicated that maternal childhood trauma, particularly sexual abuse, was predictive of offspring symptoms (ps = 0.003–0.03). However, the associations between maternal sexual abuse and offspring symptomatology were significantly attenuated in offspring with accelerated epigenetic aging. These findings further our understanding of how epigenetic processes may contribute to and attenuate the intergenerational link between stress and psychopathology.
Do shape and size matter? The distribution ofAmphore Crétoise4 containers, 1st–3rd c. CE
Authors: Gallimore Scott
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the distinctive distribution patterns ofAmphore Crétoise(AC) 4 amphoras within Roman trade networks through critical assessment of the morphological attributes of this amphora type compared to AC1–3 jars and through consideration of the mechanisms that underlie these patterns. This builds on a growing number of studies that have focused on the design attributes of amphoras as important factors tied to their economic role. It also demonstrates the importance of engaging in more nuanced and detailed investigations that question assumptions about amphora distribution within the Roman world. The AC4 is the primary, and often only, Cretan type found at sites in Rome's northwestern provinces and along the Danube frontier. A narrower profile and smaller capacity appear to have made this amphora type more attractive than other Cretan forms for transport along river and overland routes.
Domains and Psychometric Properties of Scales Measuring Disaster Preparedness among General Population: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Osman Marwa , Altıntaş Kerim Hakan
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

There is no universal tool for measuring disaster preparedness in the general population. This study aimed to provide a summary of the domains and psychometric properties of the available scales that assess preparedness for disasters, or one of its main types, among individuals or households.

Methods:

This study is a systematic review of the literature on disaster preparedness tools. Studies published up to December 2022 were identified through a systematic search of four databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) were used to review and evaluate the psychometric properties. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used to report this article.

Results:

Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Among them, five scales measured general disaster preparedness, five measured earthquake preparedness, one measured flood preparedness, and one measured bushfire preparedness. The scales had a number of dimensions ranging from one to six. The most common item topics in the included scales were as follows: having an evacuation plan (n = 7), information source (n = 7), fire extinguisher (n = 6), and emergency kit (n = 5). The scales were rated sufficient for content validity (n = 10), structural validity (n = 5), internal consistency (n = 5), and test-re-test reliability (n = 6). One scale was checked for criterion validity and was rated as insufficient according to the COSMIN guidelines.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest the need to improve the psychometric properties of the scales, expand their contents, and develop scales relevant to target populations. This study provides useful information for researchers to develop comprehensive assessment tools and valuable sources of items for future scales.
The Promise and Limits of Grounding in Law
Authors: Tripkovic Bosko , Patterson Dennis
Published: September 2023

Discussions of metaphysical grounding have recently found their way into general jurisprudence. It is becoming increasingly common to frame the debate between positivism and antipositivism as a disagreement about what facts metaphysically ground legal facts. In this article we critically evaluate this grounding turn. First, we argue that articulating the debate about the nature of law in terms of grounding holds the promise of recasting it in a common vocabulary. Second, we argue that this comes at a cost: framing the debate in this way obscures a range of further disagreements that cannot be usefully analyzed in terms of metaphysical grounding. We conclude that grounding may give us a clearer picture of what we already knew, while obfuscating a number of important questions to which it cannot, and is not intended to, provide answers.
What do we know about religion and interreligious peace? A review of the quantitative literature
Authors: Köbrich Julia , Hoffmann Lisa
Published: September 2023

Interreligious relations remain an important dimension of human coexistence and we currently observe an increase in religiously motivated violence and discrimination. Hence, we need to better understand determinants of interreligious peace. Building on a new concept of interreligious peace which includes but exceeds the absence of interreligious physical violence, we provide a systematic review of 83 quantitative empirical studies examining religious determinants of interreligious physical violence, hostile attitudes, threat perceptions, trust, and cooperation. We find that religious ideas foster or hinder interreligious peace depending on their content. Religious identities have negative effects but must be considered in context. Evidence regarding the role of religious practice is mixed and the role of religious actors and institutions remains understudied. Our results show the need for (1) more conceptual clarity, (2) replications in different contexts, (3) research on dimensions of religion beyond identities, and (4) a better integration of different strands of literature.
Integration pflegerelevanter Risiken für Munderkrankungen in die Strukturierte Informationssammlung
Authors: Hillebrecht Anna-Lena , Waterkotte Ramona , Ludwig Elmar , Barbe Anna Greta
Published: September 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Defizitäre Mundhygiene und orale Erkrankungen sind hochprävalent bei zu Pflegenden. Es liegt kein Assessment zur Anwendung durch Pflegefachpersonen vor, das die Risiken für Munderkrankungen abbildet. Die Strukturierte Informationssammlung (SIS) ist ein Konzept zum Pflegeprozess-Einstieg und ermöglicht eine individuelle Maßnahmenplanung. Ziel: Ziel war es, Munderkrankungen als pflegerelevantes Risiko in die SIS zu integrieren und ein Assessmentinstrument für Mundhygienedefizite/-erkrankungen – eingeordnet in die SIS-Themenfelder – zu entwickeln. Methoden: Auf Basis einer Literaturrecherche wurden 21 systematische Übersichtsarbeiten analysiert und mit Mundgesundheits-Assessmentinstrumenten und Screeningkriterien, die im Expertenstandard zur Förderung der Mundgesundheit in der Pflege empfohlen werden, abgeglichen. Da kein Assessment alle Mundgesundheitsrisiken und Screening-Kriterien des Expertenstandards abdeckt, wurde der Bereich „Munderkrankung“ als zusätzliche Kategorie in die SIS integriert und ein auf die SIS abgestimmtes Assessment entwickelt. Ergebnisse: Es wird die um das pflegerelevante Munderkrankungsrisiko erweiterte SIS und das neu entwickelte Mund-Risiko-Assessment-Pflege (Mu-RAP) zur Anwendung durch Pflegefachpersonen dargestellt. Schlussfolgerungen: Die um Munderkrankungen erweiterte SIS und das Mu-RAP zur Identifizierung von Mundhygienedefiziten/-erkrankungen decken pflegerelevante Mundgesundheitsrisiken ab. Weitere Untersuchungen zur Reliabilität, Validität sowie zu versorgungswirksamen und patientenrelevanten Effekten sind notwendig.
Simultaneous Global Ionospheric Disturbances Associated With Penetration Electric Fields During Intense and Minor Solar and Geomagnetic Disturbances
Authors: Zhang Shun‐Rong , Nishimura Yukitoshi , Vierinen Juha , Lyons Larry R. , Knipp Delores J. , Gustavsson Björn J. , Waghule Bhagyashree V. , Erickson Philip J. , Coster Anthea J. , Aa Ercha , Spicher Andres
Published: September 2023

A new observational phenomenon, named Simultaneous Global Ionospheric Density Disturbance (SGD), is identified in GNSS total electron content (TEC) data during periods of three typical geospace disturbances: a Coronal Mass Ejection‐driven severe disturbance event, a high‐speed stream event, and a minor disturbance day with a maximum Kp of 4. SGDs occur frequently on dayside and dawn sectors, with a ∼1% TEC increase. Notably, SGDs can occur under minor solar‐geomagnetic disturbances. SGDs are likely caused by penetration electric fields (PEFs) of solar‐geomagnetic origin, as they are associated with Bz southward, increased auroral AL/AU, and solar wind pressure enhancements. These findings offer new insights into the nature of PEFs and their ionospheric impact while confirming some key earlier results obtained through alternative methods. Importantly, the accessibility of extensive GNSS networks, with at least 6,000 globally distributed receivers for ionospheric research, means that rich PEF information can be acquired, offering researchers numerous opportunities to investigate geospace electrodynamics.
Dominant Cloud Controlling Factors for Low‐Level Cloud Fraction: Subtropical Versus Extratropical Oceans
Authors: Naud Catherine M. , Elsaesser Gregory S. , Booth James F.
Published: September 2023

To improve cloud feedback understanding and simulation, observations have been used to quantify the rate of change of cloud radiative properties as a function of specific environmental metrics (or cloud controlling factors; CCFs). The study focuses on low‐level cloud dominated regions during 2006–2010. For each ocean gridpoint, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of daily mean observed cloud fraction versus (a) 10‐m wind, (b) sensible heat flux (SHF), (c) sea surface temperature, (d) estimated inversion strength (EIS), (e) 850 hPa vertical velocity, and (f) the M parameter () are sorted to identify the dominant CCFs in both extratropics (30°–60°N/S) and subtropics (30°S–30°N). A novel map for visualizing dominant CCFs for low‐level cloud fraction reveals that: dominates in the subtropical stratocumulus regions while 10‐m winds dominate in shallow cumulus regions but in the extratropics, a different inversion structure diagnostic (EIS) dominates, while SHF dominates in western boundary current areas.
The Stepwise Reduction of Multiyear Sea Ice Area in the Arctic Ocean Since 1980
Authors: Babb D. G. , Galley R. J. , Kirillov S. , Landy J. C. , Howell S. E. L. , Stroeve J. C. , Meier W. , Ehn J. K. , Barber D. G.
Published: September 2023

The loss of multiyear sea ice (MYI) in the Arctic Ocean is a significant change that affects all facets of the Arctic environment. Using a Lagrangian ice age product, we examine MYI loss and quantify the annual MYI area budget from 1980 to 2021 as the balance of export, melt, and replenishment. Overall, MYI area declined at 72,500 km2/yr; however, a majority of the loss occurred during two stepwise reductions that interrupt an otherwise balanced budget and resulted in the northward contraction of the MYI pack. First, in 1989, a change in atmospheric forcing led to a +56% anomaly in MYI export through Fram Strait. The second occurred from 2006 to 2008 with anomalously high melt (+25%) and export (+23%) coupled with low replenishment (−8%). In terms of trends, melt has increased since 1989, particularly in the Beaufort Sea, export has decreased since 2008 due to reduced MYI coverage north of Fram Strait, and replenishment has increased over the full time series due to a negative feedback that promotes seasonal ice survival at higher latitudes exposed by MYI loss. However, retention of older MYI has significantly declined, transitioning the MYI pack toward younger MYI that is less resilient than previously anticipated and could soon elicit another stepwise reduction. We speculate that future MYI loss will be driven by increased melt and reduced replenishment, both of which are enhanced with continued warming and will one day render the Arctic Ocean free of MYI, a change that will coincide with a seasonally ice‐free Arctic Ocean.
Glacier‐Derived Particles as a Regional Control on Marine Dissolved Pb Concentrations
Authors: Krause Jana , Zhu Xunchi , Höfer Juan , Achterberg Eric P. , Engel Anja , Meire Lorenz , Stuart‐Lee Alice E. , Hopwood Mark J.
Published: September 2023

Higher than expected concentrations of dissolved lead (dPb) have been consistently observed along glaciated coastlines and it is widely hypothesized that there is a net release of dPb from glacier‐derived sediments. Here we further corroborate that dPb concentrations in diverse locations around west Greenland (3.2–252 pM) and the Western Antarctic Peninsula (7.7–107 pM) appear to be generally higher than can be explained by addition of dPb from glacier‐derived freshwater. The distribution of dPb across the salinity gradient is unlike any other commonly studied trace element (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Al) implying a dynamic, reversible exchange between dissolved and labile particulate Pb. Incubating a selection of glacier‐derived particles from SW Greenland (Ameralik and Nuup Kangerlua) and Svalbard (Kongsfjorden), with a range of labile particulate Pb (LpPb) content (11–113 nmol g−1), the equivalent of 2–46% LpPb was released as dPb within 24 hr of addition to Atlantic seawater. Over longer time periods, the majority of this dPb was typically readsorbed. Sediment loading was the dominant factor influencing the net release of dPb into seawater, with a pronounced decline in net dPb release efficiency when sediment load increased from 20 to 500 mg L−1. Yet temperature also had some effect with 68 ± 22% higher dPb release at 11°C compared to 4°C. Future regional changes in dPb dynamics may therefore be more sensitive to short‐term suspended sediment dynamics, and potentially temperature changes, than to changing interannual runoff volume.
Enhanced YOLOv5 network-based object detection (BALFilter Reader) promotes PERFECT filter-enabled liquid biopsy of lung cancer from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)
Authors: Liu Zheng , Zhang Jixin , Wang Ningyu , Feng Yun’ai , Tang Fei , Li Tingyu , Lv Liping , Li Haichao , Wang Wei , Liu Yaoping
Published: September 2023

Liquid biopsy of cancers, detecting tumor-related information from liquid samples, has attracted wide attentions as an emerging technology. Our previously reported large-area PERFECT (Precise-Efficient-Robust-Flexible-Easy-Controllable-Thin) filter has demonstrated competitive sensitivity in recovering rare tumor cells from clinical samples. However, it is time-consuming and easily biased to manually inspect rare target cells among numerous background cells distributed in a large area (Φ ≥ 13 mm). This puts forward an urgent demand for rapid and bias-free inspection. Hereby, this paper implemented deep learning-based object detection for the inspection of rare tumor cells from large-field images of PERFECT filters with hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained cells recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). CenterNet, EfficientDet, and YOLOv5 were trained and validated with 240 and 60 image blocks containing tumor and/or background cells, respectively. YOLOv5 was selected as the basic network given the highest mAP@0.5 of 92.1%, compared to those of CenterNet and EfficientDet at 85.2% and 91.6%, respectively. Then, tricks including CIoU loss, image flip, mosaic, HSV augmentation and TTA were applied to enhance the performance of the YOLOv5 network, improving mAP@0.5 to 96.2%. This enhanced YOLOv5 network-based object detection, named as BALFilter Reader, was tested and cross-validated on 24 clinical cases. The overall diagnosis performance (~2 min) with sensitivity@66.7% ± 16.7%, specificity@100.0% ± 0.0% and accuracy@75.0% ± 12.5% was superior to that from two experienced pathologists (10–30 min) with sensitivity@61.1%, specificity@16.7% and accuracy@50.0%, with the histopathological result as the gold standard. The AUC of the BALFilter Reader is 0.84 ± 0.08. Moreover, a customized Web was developed for a user-friendly interface and the promotion of wide applications. The current results revealed that the developed BALFilter Reader is a rapid, bias-free and easily accessible AI-enabled tool to promote the transplantation of the BALFilter technique. This work can easily expand to other cytopathological diagnoses and improve the application value of micro/nanotechnology-based liquid biopsy in the era of intelligent pathology.
Nitrogen transfer and cross-feeding between Azotobacter chroococcum and Paracoccus aminovorans promotes pyrene degradation
Authors: Wang Xia , Teng Ying , Wang Xiaomi , Xu Yongfeng , Li Ran , Sun Yi , Dai Shixiang , Hu Wenbo , Wang Hongzhe , Li Yanning , Fang Yan , Luo Yongming
Published: September 2023

Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for degraders function in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. Biological nitrogen fixation by diazotrophs is a natural solution for supplying bioavailable nitrogen. Here, we determined whether the diazotroph Azotobacter chroococcum HN can provide nitrogen to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium Paracoccus aminovorans HPD-2 and further explored the synergistic interactions that facilitate pyrene degradation in nitrogen-deprived environments. We found that A. chroococcum HN and P. aminovorans HPD-2 grew and degraded pyrene more quickly in co-culture than in monoculture. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with 15N stable isotope probing (SERS − 15N SIP) demonstrated that A. chroococcum HN provided nitrogen to P. aminovorans HPD-2. Metabolite analysis and feeding experiments confirmed that cross-feeding occurred between A. chroococcum HN and P. aminovorans HPD-2 during pyrene degradation. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further revealed that co-culture significantly upregulated key pathways such as nitrogen fixation, aromatic compound degradation, protein export, and the TCA cycle in A. chroococcum HN and quorum sensing, aromatic compound degradation and ABC transporters in P. aminovorans HPD-2. Phenotypic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays demonstrated that A. chroococcum HN produced large amounts of biofilm and was located at the bottom of the biofilm in co-culture, whereas P. aminovorans HPD-2 attached to the surface layer and formed a bridge-like structure with A. chroococcum HN. This study demonstrates that distinct syntrophic interactions occur between A. chroococcum HN and P. aminovorans HPD-2 and provides support for their combined use in organic pollutant degradation in nitrogen-deprived environments.
Organic cation transporter 2 contributes to SSRI antidepressant efficacy by controlling tryptophan availability in the brain
Authors: Orrico-Sanchez Alejandro , Guiard Bruno P. , Manta Stella , Callebert Jacques , Launay Jean-Marie , Louis Franck , Paccard Antoine , Gruszczynski Carole , Betancur Catalina , Vialou Vincent , Gautron Sophie
Published: September 2023

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are common first-line treatments for major depression. However, a significant number of depressed patients do not respond adequately to these pharmacological treatments. In the present preclinical study, we demonstrate that organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), an atypical monoamine transporter, contributes to the effects of SSRI by regulating the routing of the essential amino acid tryptophan to the brain. Contrarily to wild-type mice, OCT2-invalidated mice failed to respond to prolonged fluoxetine treatment in a chronic depression model induced by corticosterone exposure recapitulating core symptoms of depression, i.e., anhedonia, social withdrawal, anxiety, and memory impairment. After corticosterone and fluoxetine treatment, the levels of tryptophan and its metabolites serotonin and kynurenine were decreased in the brain of OCT2 mutant mice compared to wild-type mice and reciprocally tryptophan and kynurenine levels were increased in mutants’ plasma. OCT2 was detected by immunofluorescence in several structures at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or brain-CSF interface. Tryptophan supplementation during fluoxetine treatment increased brain concentrations of tryptophan and, more discreetly, of 5-HT in wild-type and OCT2 mutant mice. Importantly, tryptophan supplementation improved the sensitivity to fluoxetine treatment of OCT2 mutant mice, impacting chiefly anhedonia and short-term memory. Western blot analysis showed that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) intracellular signaling was impaired in OCT2 mutant mice brain after corticosterone and fluoxetine treatment and, conversely, tryptophan supplementation recruited selectively the mTOR protein complex 2. This study provides the first evidence of the physiological relevance of OCT2-mediated tryptophan transport, and its biological consequences on serotonin homeostasis in the brain and SSRI efficacy.
Formation of binary magnon polaron in a two-dimensional artificial magneto-elastic crystal
Authors: Majumder Sudip , Drobitch J. L. , Bandyopadhyay Supriyo , Barman Anjan
Published: September 2023

We observed strong tripartite magnon-phonon-magnon coupling in a two-dimensional periodic array of magnetostrictive nanomagnets deposited on a piezoelectric substrate, forming a 2D magnetoelastic “crystal”; the coupling occurred between two Kittel-type spin wave (magnon) modes and a (non-Kittel) magnetoelastic spin wave mode caused by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) (phonons). The strongest coupling occurred when the frequencies and wavevectors of the three modes matched, leading to perfect phase matching. We achieved this condition by carefully engineering the frequency of the SAW, the nanomagnet dimensions and the bias magnetic field that determined the frequencies of the two Kittel-type modes. The strong coupling (cooperativity factor exceeding unity) led to the formation of a new quasi-particle, called a binary magnon-polaron, accompanied by nearly complete (~100%) transfer of energy from the magnetoelastic mode to the two Kittel-type modes. This coupling phenomenon exhibited significant anisotropy since the array did not have rotational symmetry in space. The experimental observations were in good agreement with the theoretical simulations.
Reducing risks of antibiotics to crop production requires land system intensification within thresholds
Authors: Zhao Fangkai , Yang Lei , Yen Haw , Feng Qingyu , Li Min , Chen Liding
Published: September 2023

Land system intensification has substantially enhanced crop production; however, it has also created soil antibiotic pollution, undermining crop production. Here, we projected soil antibiotic pollution risks to crop production at multiple geographical scales in China and linked them to land system intensification (including arable land expansion and input increase). Our projections suggest that crop production will substantially decrease when the soil antibiotic pollution risk quotient exceeds 8.30–9.98. Land systems explain most of the variability in antibiotic pollution risks (21–66%) across spatial scales. The convex nonlinearities in tradeoffs between antibiotic pollution risk and crop production indicate that vegetable and wheat production have higher thresholds of land system intensification at which the risk–yield tradeoffs will peak than do maize and rice production. Our study suggests that land system intensification below the minimum thresholds at multiple scales is required for acceptable antibiotic pollution risks related to crop yield reduction.
A Lagrangian model for drifting ecosystems reveals heterogeneity-driven enhancement of marine plankton blooms
Authors: Ser-Giacomi Enrico , Martinez-Garcia Ricardo , Dutkiewicz Stephanie , Follows Michael J.
Published: September 2023

Marine plankton play a crucial role in carbon storage, global climate, and ecosystem function. Planktonic ecosystems are embedded in patches of water that are continuously moving, stretching, and diluting. These processes drive inhomegeneities on a range of scales, with implications for the integrated ecosystem properties, but are hard to characterize. We present a theoretical framework that accounts for all these aspects; tracking the water patch hosting a drifting ecosystem along with its physical, environmental, and biochemical features. The theory resolves patch dilution and internal physical mixing as a function of oceanic strain and diffusion. Ecological dynamics are parameterized by an idealized nutrient and phytoplankton population and we specifically capture the time evolution of the biochemical spatial variances to represent within-patch heterogeneity. We find that, depending only on the physical processes to which the water patch is subjected, the plankton biomass response to a resource perturbation can vary in size up to six times. This work indicates that we must account for these processes when interpreting and modeling marine ecosystems and provides a framework with which to do so.
Iron oxide nanozymes stabilize stannous fluoride for targeted biofilm killing and synergistic oral disease prevention
Authors: Huang Yue , Liu Yuan , Pandey Nil Kanatha , Shah Shrey , Simon-Soro Aurea , Hsu Jessica C. , Ren Zhi , Xiang Zhenting , Kim Dongyeop , Ito Tatsuro , Oh Min Jun , Buckley Christine , Alawi Faizan , Li Yong , Smeets Paul J. M. , Boyer Sarah , Zhao Xingchen , Joester Derk , Zero Domenick T. , Cormode David P. , Koo Hyun
Published: September 2023

Dental caries is the most common human disease caused by oral biofilms despite the widespread use of fluoride as the primary anticaries agent. Recently, an FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticle (ferumoxytol, Fer) has shown to kill and degrade caries-causing biofilms through catalytic activation of hydrogen peroxide. However, Fer cannot interfere with enamel acid demineralization. Here, we show notable synergy when Fer is combined with stannous fluoride (SnF2), markedly inhibiting both biofilm accumulation and enamel damage more effectively than either alone. Unexpectedly, we discover that the stability of SnF2 is enhanced when mixed with Fer in aqueous solutions while increasing catalytic activity of Fer without any additives. Notably, Fer in combination with SnF2 is exceptionally effective in controlling dental caries in vivo, even at four times lower concentrations, without adverse effects on host tissues or oral microbiome. Our results reveal a potent therapeutic synergism using approved agents while providing facile SnF2 stabilization, to prevent a widespread oral disease with reduced fluoride exposure.
Mild replication stress causes premature centriole disengagement via a sub-critical Plk1 activity under the control of ATR-Chk1
Authors: Dwivedi Devashish , Harry Daniela , Meraldi Patrick
Published: September 2023

A tight synchrony between the DNA and centrosome cycle is essential for genomic integrity. Centriole disengagement, which licenses centrosomes for duplication, occurs normally during mitotic exit. We recently demonstrated that mild DNA replication stress typically seen in cancer cells causes premature centriole disengagement in untransformed mitotic human cells, leading to transient multipolar spindles that favour chromosome missegregation. How mild replication stress accelerates the centrosome cycle at the molecular level remained, however, unclear. Using ultrastructure expansion microscopy, we show that mild replication stress induces premature centriole disengagement already in G2 via the ATR-Chk1 axis of the DNA damage repair pathway. This results in a sub-critical Plk1 kinase activity that primes the pericentriolar matrix for Separase-dependent disassembly but is insufficient for rapid mitotic entry, causing premature centriole disengagement in G2. We postulate that the differential requirement of Plk1 activity for the DNA and centrosome cycles explains how mild replication stress disrupts the synchrony between both processes and contributes to genomic instability.
Efficient plant genome engineering using a probiotic sourced CRISPR-Cas9 system
Authors: Zhong Zhaohui , Liu Guanqing , Tang Zhongjie , Xiang Shuyue , Yang Liang , Huang Lan , He Yao , Fan Tingting , Liu Shishi , Zheng Xuelian , Zhang Tao , Qi Yiping , Huang Jian , Zhang Yong
Published: September 2023

Among CRISPR-Cas genome editing systems, Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9), sourced from a human pathogen, is the most widely used. Here, through in silico data mining, we have established an efficient plant genome engineering system using CRISPR-Cas9 from probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus. We have confirmed the predicted 5’-NGAAA-3’ PAM via a bacterial PAM depletion assay and showcased its exceptional editing efficiency in rice, wheat, tomato, and Larix cells, surpassing LbCas12a, SpCas9-NG, and SpRY when targeting the identical sequences. In stable rice lines, LrCas9 facilitates multiplexed gene knockout through coding sequence editing and achieves gene knockdown via targeted promoter deletion, demonstrating high specificity. We have also developed LrCas9-derived cytosine and adenine base editors, expanding base editing capabilities. Finally, by harnessing LrCas9’s A/T-rich PAM targeting preference, we have created efficient CRISPR interference and activation systems in plants. Together, our work establishes CRISPR-LrCas9 as an efficient and user-friendly genome engineering tool for diverse applications in crops and beyond.
TMEM135 links peroxisomes to the regulation of brown fat mitochondrial fission and energy homeostasis
Authors: Hu Donghua , Tan Min , Lu Dongliang , Kleiboeker Brian , Liu Xuejing , Park Hongsuk , Kravitz Alexxai V. , Shoghi Kooresh I. , Tseng Yu-Hua , Razani Babak , Ikeda Akihiro , Lodhi Irfan J.
Published: September 2023

Mitochondrial morphology, which is controlled by mitochondrial fission and fusion, is an important regulator of the thermogenic capacity of brown adipocytes. Adipose-specific peroxisome deficiency impairs thermogenesis by inhibiting cold-induced mitochondrial fission due to decreased mitochondrial membrane content of the peroxisome-derived lipids called plasmalogens. Here, we identify TMEM135 as a critical mediator of the peroxisomal regulation of mitochondrial fission and thermogenesis. Adipose-specific TMEM135 knockout in mice blocks mitochondrial fission, impairs thermogenesis, and increases diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Conversely, TMEM135 overexpression promotes mitochondrial division, counteracts obesity and insulin resistance, and rescues thermogenesis in peroxisome-deficient mice. Mechanistically, thermogenic stimuli promote association between peroxisomes and mitochondria and plasmalogen-dependent localization of TMEM135 in mitochondria, where it mediates PKA-dependent phosphorylation and mitochondrial retention of the fission factor Drp1. Together, these results reveal a previously unrecognized inter-organelle communication regulating mitochondrial fission and energy homeostasis and identify TMEM135 as a potential target for therapeutic activation of BAT.
CNOT circuits need little help to implement arbitrary Hadamard-free Clifford transformations they generate
Authors: Maslov Dmitri , Yang Willers
Published: September 2023

A Hadamard-free Clifford transformation is a circuit composed of quantum Phase (P), CZ, and CNOT gates. It is known that such a circuit can be written as a three-stage computation, -P-CZ-CNOT-, where each stage consists only of gates of the specified type. In this paper, we focus on the minimization of circuit depth by entangling gates, corresponding to the important time-to-solution metric and the reduction of noise due to decoherence. We consider two popular connectivity maps: Linear Nearest Neighbor (LNN) and all-to-all. First, we show that a Hadamard-free Clifford operation can be implemented over LNN in depth 5n, i.e., in the same depth as the -CNOT- stage alone. This allows us to implement arbitrary Clifford transformation over LNN in depth no more than 7n − 4, improving the best previous upper bound of 9n. Second, we report heuristic evidence that on average a random uniformly distributed Hadamard-free Clifford transformation over n > 6 qubits can be implemented with only a tiny additive overhead over all-to-all connected architecture compared to the best-known depth-optimized implementation of the -CNOT- stage alone. This suggests the reduction of the depth of Clifford circuits from $$2n\,+\,O({\log }^{2}(n))$$

2
n

+

O

(

log

2

(

n

)

)

to $$1.5n\,+\,O({\log }^{2}(n))$$

1.5
n

+

O

(

log

2

(

n

)

)

over unrestricted architectures.
Oblique stagnation point flow of magnetized Maxwell fluid over a stretchable Riga plate with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux and convective conditions
Authors: Baig Mirza Naveed Jahangeer , Salamat Nadeem , Akhtar Salman , Nadeem Sohail
Published: September 2023

The current work deals with the oblique stagnation point flow phenomenon of a rate-type Maxwell fluid with the significance of the Cattaneo-Christov double diffusion theory. The Cattaneo-Christov theory is illustrated through the modified form of Fourier’s and Fick’s laws. The steady magnetized flow mechanism is observed in two dimensions through a stretchable convective Riga plate. In the mass and heat transfer analysis, the consequences of chemical reactions and thermal radiation are also incorporated. With the contribution of relevant dimensionless quantities, the setup of dimensionless equations is acquired which further takes the form of nonlinear equations. The physical significance of the numerous parameters on different features of the flow phenomenon is graphically exhibited. The interesting physical quantities are computed and numerically evaluated relative to the pertinent parameters. This study reveals that the thermal relaxation time parameter lowers the rate of heat transfer, and the thermal Biot number enhances the rate of heat transport. Moreover, the Deborah number minimizes the flow field of both tangential and axial velocities.
Multi-structural molecular docking (MOD) combined with molecular dynamics reveal the structural requirements of designing broad-spectrum inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry to host cells
Authors: Da Anqi , Wu-Lu Meritxell , Dragelj Jovan , Mroginski Maria Andrea , Ebrahimi Kourosh H.
Published: September 2023

New variants of SARS-CoV-2 that can escape immune response continue to emerge. Consequently, there is an urgent demand to design small molecule therapeutics inhibiting viral entry to host cells to reduce infectivity rate. Despite numerous in silico and in situ studies, the structural requirement of designing viral-entry inhibitors effective against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 has yet to be described. Here we systematically screened the binding of various natural products (NPs) to six different SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) structures. We demonstrate that Multi-structural Molecular Docking (MOD) combined with molecular dynamics calculations allowed us to predict a vulnerable site of RBD and the structural requirement of ligands binding to this vulnerable site. We expect that our findings lay the foundation for in silico screening and identification of lead molecules to guide drug discovery into designing new broad-spectrum lead molecules to counter the threat of future variants of SARS-CoV-2.
A fast and accurate identification model for Rhinolophus bats based on fine-grained information
Authors: Cao Zhong , Li Chuxian , Wang Kunhui , He Kai , Wang Xiaoyun , Yu Wenhua
Published: September 2023

Bats are a crucial component within ecosystems, providing valuable ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control. In practical conservation efforts, the classification and identification of bats are essential in order to develop effective conservation management programs for bats and their habitats. Traditionally, the identification of bats has been a manual and time-consuming process. With the development of artificial intelligence technology, the accuracy and speed of identification work of such fine-grained images as bats identification can be greatly improved. Bats identification relies on the fine features of their beaks and faces, so mining the fine-grained information in images is crucial to improve the accuracy of bats identification. This paper presents a deep learning-based model designed for the rapid and precise identification of common horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae:Rhinolophus) from Southern China. The model was developed by utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 883 high-resolution images of seven distinctRhinolophusspecies which were collected during surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022. An improved EfficientNet model with an attention mechanism module is architected to mine the fine-grained appearance of theseRhinolophus. The performance of the model beat other classical models, including SqueezeNet, AlexNet, VGG16_BN, ShuffleNetV2, GoogleNet, ResNet50 and EfficientNet_B0, according to the predicting precision, recall, accuracy, F1-score. Our model achieved the highest identification accuracy of 94.22% and an F1-score of 0.948 with low computational complexity. Heat maps obtained with Grad-CAM show that our model meets the identification criteria of the morphology ofRhinolophus. Our study highlights the potential of artificial intelligence technology for the identification of small mammals, and facilitating fast species identification in the future.
Chronic hyperpalatable diet induces impairment of hippocampal-dependent memories and alters glutamatergic and fractalkine axis signaling
Authors: Ribeiro Roberta , Silva Emanuele Guimarães , Moreira Felipe Caixeta , Gomes Giovanni Freitas , Cussat Gabriela Reis , Silva Barbara Stehling Ramos , da Silva Maria Carolina Machado , de Barros Fernandes Heliana , de Sena Oliveira Carolina , de Oliveira Guarnieri Leonardo , Lopes Victoria , Ferreira Cláudia Natália , de Faria Ana Maria Caetano , Maioli Tatiani Uceli , Ribeiro Fabíola Mara , de Miranda Aline Silva , Moraes Grace Schenatto Pereira , de Oliveira Antônio Carlos Pinheiro , Vieira Luciene Bruno
Published: September 2023

Chronic consumption of hyperpalatable and hypercaloric foods has been pointed out as a factor associated with cognitive decline and memory impairment in obesity. In this context, the integration between peripheral and central inflammation may play a significant role in the negative effects of an obesogenic environment on memory. However, little is known about how obesity-related peripheral inflammation affects specific neurotransmission systems involved with memory regulation. Here, we test the hypothesis that chronic exposure to a highly palatable diet may cause neuroinflammation, glutamatergic dysfunction, and memory impairment. For that, we exposed C57BL/6J mice to a high sugar and butter diet (HSB) for 12 weeks, and we investigated its effects on behavior, glial reactivity, blood–brain barrier permeability, pro-inflammatory features, glutamatergic alterations, plasticity, and fractalkine-CX3CR1 axis. Our results revealed that HSB diet induced a decrease in memory reconsolidation and extinction, as well as an increase in hippocampal glutamate levels. Although our data indicated a peripheral pro-inflammatory profile, we did not observe hippocampal neuroinflammatory features. Furthermore, we also observed that the HSB diet increased hippocampal fractalkine levels, a key chemokine associated with neuroprotection and inflammatory regulation. Then, we hypothesized that the elevation on glutamate levels may saturate synaptic communication, partially limiting plasticity, whereas fractalkine levels increase as a strategy to decrease glutamatergic damage.
Correlation of elemental hyperaccumulation among the succulent and non-succulent halophytes of Gujarat, India
Authors: Vyas Suhas , Agoramoorthy Govindasamy , Gadhvi Kamlesh , Gamit Sandip , Dangar Kiran
Published: September 2023

This paper presents new data on the salt tolerance and avoidance mechanisms among various groups of halophytes in India. The halophytic flora in general has positive effect of high saline environments on growth and physiology. The coastal area of the Kachchh district in Gujarat includes about 350 km of shoreline along the Gulf of Kachchh. This study presents data on the elemental accumulation mechanisms in soil and halophytic flora (succulent and non-succulents). The halophytes were divided into two groups namely succulent with thick and fleshy leaves and stems as well as non-succulents with thin leaves and stem. The succulent halophytes included species such asSalicornia brachiata,Suaeda fruticosaandSuaeda nudiflora. The non-succulent halophytes includeAeluropus lagopoidesandUrochondra setulosa. Plant parts namely leaves (Phylloclade forSalicornia), stems and roots were analyzed during the monsoon season. The results of soil and plant mineral ion contents differed widely across the intertidal zones in the same habitat. Likewise, the intra species have varied in all nutrient levels and salt concentration. The accumulation of elemental concentration was high during the monsoon season in the succulentSalicornia brachiata, especially in leaves that showed Na+reaching high up to 7.6 meq g−1, whereas Cl−was noted to be 4.34 meq g−1. In the non-succulent halophytes, the accumulation of mineral ion concentration was lower when compared to succulent plants.
A repertoire of candidate effector proteins of the fungus Ceratocystis cacaofunesta
Authors: Ramos-Lizardo Gabriela N. , Mucherino-Muñoz Jonathan J. , Aguiar Eric R. G. R. , Pirovani Carlos Priminho , Corrêa Ronan Xavier
Published: September 2023

The genus Ceratocystis includes many phytopathogenic fungi that affect different plant species. One of these is Ceratocystis cacaofunesta, which is pathogenic to the cocoa tree and causes Ceratocystis wilt, a lethal disease for the crop. However, little is known about how this pathogen interacts with its host. The knowledge and identification of possible genes encoding effector proteins are essential to understanding this pathosystem. The present work aimed to predict genes that code effector proteins of C. cacaofunesta from a comparative analysis of the genomes of five Ceratocystis species available in databases. We performed a new genome annotation through an in-silico analysis. We analyzed the secretome and effectorome of C. cacaofunesta using the characteristics of the peptides, such as the presence of signal peptide for secretion, absence of transmembrane domain, and richness of cysteine residues. We identified 160 candidate effector proteins in the C. cacaofunesta proteome that could be classified as cytoplasmic (102) or apoplastic (58). Of the total number of candidate effector proteins, 146 were expressed, presenting an average of 206.56 transcripts per million. Our database was created using a robust bioinformatics strategy, followed by manual curation, generating information on pathogenicity-related genes involved in plant interactions, including CAZymes, hydrolases, lyases, and oxidoreductases. Comparing proteins already characterized as effectors in Sordariomycetes species revealed five groups of protein sequences homologous to C. cacaofunesta. These data provide a valuable resource for studying the infection mechanisms of these pathogens in their hosts.