bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping Vertical Land Motion in Challenging Terrain: Six‐Year Trends on Tutuila Island, American Samoa, With PS‐InSAR, GPS, Tide Gauge, and Satellite Altimetry Data
Authors: Huang Stacey A. , Sauber Jeanne M. , Ray Richard
Published: November 2022

Sea level rise is a major challenge facing coastlines worldwide and can be strongly exacerbated by land subsidence. However, detailed characterization of vertical land motion (VLM) is limited for many tectonically active islands, as many remote sensing methods are hindered by dense vegetation and thick cloud cover. In American Samoa, strong post‐seismic deformation from the 2009 Samoa‐Tonga earthquake has increased flooding, but large uncertainties remain in hazard forecasting as only point measurements of VLM have been available. Here, we present novel VLM results over Tutuila, the largest and most populated island in American Samoa, using interferometric synthetic aperture radar, GPS, tide gauge, and satellite altimetry data. Measurements cover populated areas, with subsidence rates of 6–9 mm/yr and uncertainties of <1 mm/yr; the highest rates lie along the coastlines. We find differences in rate changes across the island, suggesting that local processes need to be well‐constrained for effective flood forecasting efforts.
Correlation Between Bandwidth and Frequency of Plasmaspheric Hiss Uncovered With Unsupervised Machine Learning
Authors: Vech Daniel , Malaspina David M. , Drozdov Alexander , Saikin Anthony
Published: November 2022

Previous statistical studies of plasmaspheric hiss investigated the averaged shape of the magnetic field power spectra at various points in the magnetosphere. However, this approach does not consider the fact that very diverse spectral shapes exist at a given L‐shell and magnetic local time. Averaging the data together means that important features of the spectral shapes are lost. In this paper, we use an unsupervised machine learning technique to categorize plasmaspheric hiss. In contrast to the previous studies, this technique allows us to identify power spectra that have “similar” shapes and study their spatial distribution without averaging together vastly different spectral shapes. We show that strong negative correlations exist between the hiss frequency and bandwidth.
Properties of Turbulent Alfvénic Fluctuations and Wave‐Particle Interaction Associated With Io's Footprint Tail
Authors: Janser S. , Saur J. , Clark G. , Sulaiman A. H. , Szalay J. R.
Published: November 2022

We investigate the small‐scale magnetic field fluctuations and their associated turbulent nature in the Io flux tube (IFT) connected to Io's footprint tail (IFPT). Our study is based on the recent magnetic field measurements by the Juno spacecraft during the PJ12 Juno flyby. Here, we are interested in understanding what type of turbulence is consistent with the fluctuations in the quasi‐dispersionless frequency range of 0.2–800 Hz as observed by Sulaiman et al. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088432. Knowledge of the turbulent fluctuations is important to constrain the acceleration mechanisms for ions and electrons in the IFT. In this work, we suggest that the observed temporal fluctuations in the spacecraft frame correspond to Doppler‐shifted spatial fluctuation structured perpendicular to the background magnetic field. This would imply an alternative reinterpretation of the spectral index of the observed magnetic power spectral density to be potentially the result of weak‐MHD and sub‐ion scale kinetic Alfvén wave turbulence in the low‐frequency regime. Our theoretical modelings show that turbulence can be driven both in the torus region and at high‐latitudes rendering results in agreement with the Juno measurements. Calculated turbulence heating rates are consistent with observed energy fluxes in the IFT and represent efficient drivers for particle acceleration. Moreover, a widening of the IFPT structure with respect to the IFT extent is consistent with propagating dispersive Alfvén waves modified by kinetic effects on their group velocities.
Modeling Sequences of Earthquakes and Aseismic Slip (SEAS) in Elasto‐Plastic Fault Zones With a Hybrid Finite Element Spectral Boundary Integral Scheme
Authors: Abdelmeguid Mohamed , Elbanna Ahmed
Published: November 2022

We present a coupled finite element spectral boundary integral framework for modeling sequences of earthquakes and aseismic slip on a 2‐D planar rate‐and‐state fault with off‐fault visco‐plastic response in the plane strain approximation. The model resolves both slow aseismic deformation and inertia effects during rapid slip. As an application, we perform two sets of simulations with different choices of cohesion to explore the co‐evolution of fault slip, bulk plasticity and local stress fields. The first set implements a relatively large value of the cohesion parameter, which results in limiting inelastic strain accumulation to dynamic rupture phases. The second set implements a smaller cohesion, allowing for plastic strain to accumulate in both seismic and aseismic phases. For the first model, our results indicate that the extent and distribution of plastic strain depend on the angle of maximum compressive principal stress. At larger angles, inelastic strain accumulates on the extensional side of a dynamically propagating rupture. At smaller angles, the extent of plasticity is limited to the compressional side of the domain. At smaller cohesion values, off‐fault plasticity may occur during aseismic slip, which alters the nucleation characteristics and earthquake sequence pattern. Furthermore, our results at lower cohesion values indicate that plastic strain accumulation may occur in both the extensional and compressional sides of the off‐fault bulk even at higher angles of maximum compression. This produces damage patterns that deviate from the traditional off‐fault fan‐like distribution observed in dynamic rupture simulations and emphasizes the significance of long‐term deformation in interpreting observations.
Using Polarimetric Radar Observations to Characterize First Echoes of Thunderstorms and Nonthunderstorms: A Comparative Study
Authors: Zhao Chuanhong , Zhang Yijun , Zheng Dong , Liu Xiantong , Zhang Yang , Fan Xiangpeng , Yao Wen , Zhang Wenjuan
Published: November 2022

This work compares the characteristics of the first echoes of thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms retrieved from S‐band polarimetric radar observations. Observations of 57 (39) isolated thunderstorm (nonthunderstorm) cells with roughly equivalent aerosol and water vapor conditions but different convective available potential energy were obtained with a S‐band polarimetric radar and three independent lightning location systems during 2016/2017 in southern China. Storms with the first echoes were divided into three types based on echo top heights, namely, type 1 (below 0°C layer), type 2 (0°C to −10°C), and type 3 (above −10°C layer). Our observations show median values of radar reflectivity (ZH) and differential reflectivity (ZDR) of type 1 and type 2 in warm phase layer (below 0°C layer) are obviously greater in nonthunderstorms than in thunderstorms, but this feature is not significant in type 3 storms. In the mixed 1 phase layer (0°C to −10°C), median ZH in type 2 is greater in nonthunderstorms while median ZDR in type 3 is slightly smaller. In the mixed 2 phase layer (−10°C to −38°C), median ZH is greater in thunderstorms while median ZDR is smaller, and ZDR values in nonthunderstorms are closer to zero. Although results of ZDR comparisons in the mixed phase are likely affected by random errors and/or residual bias errors, these different signatures suggest different characteristics of liquid or ice particles between thunderstorms and nonthunderstorms. This study is expected to advance our understanding of physical processes responsible for the generation of the first flash.
Topographic Diffusion Revisited: Small Crater Lifetime on the Moon and Implications for Volatile Exploration
Authors: Fassett Caleb I. , Beyer Ross A. , Deutsch Ariel N. , Hirabayashi Masatoshi , Leight CJ , Mahanti Prasun , Nypaver Cole A. , Thomson Bradley J. , Minton David A.
Published: November 2022

Crater degradation and erosion control the lifetime of craters in the meter‐to‐kilometer diameter range on the lunar surface. A consequence of this crater degradation process is that meter‐scale craters survive for a comparatively short time on the lunar surface in geologic terms. Here, we derive crater lifetimes for craters of <∼200 m in diameter by analyzing existing functional expressions for crater population equilibrium and production. These lifetimes allow us to constrain the topographic degradation needed at different scales to explain when craters become undetectable on equilibrium surfaces. We show how topographic degradation can be treated as a process of anomalous (scale‐dependent) topographic diffusion and find large differences in effective diffusivities at different scales, consistent with a wide range of evidence besides equilibrium behavior. Understanding the range of morphology of meter‐scale craters is particularly relevant for future exploration of the lunar surface with rovers. We illustrate expectations for the d/D distribution of small lunar craters on surfaces with negligible regional‐scale slopes. Our results imply that if volatiles are found in preserved <4 m craters and were delivered after crater formation, the volatiles must have been emplaced in the last ∼50 Ma. Given the rates of surface evolution we infer, the most likely emplacement time for any volatiles discovered at or near the surface in the interior of fresh, small craters may be much younger than this upper limit.
Seasonal Variation of Long‐Chain Alkyl Diols Proxies in Suspended Particulate Matter of the Changjiang River Estuary
Authors: Wang Zimin , Zhou Yang , Xing Lei , Bao Rui , Zhang Junjie
Published: November 2022

Long‐chain alkyl diols (LCDs) were applied as indicators of salinity, sea surface temperature (SST), upwelling, and nutrient conditions in marine settings. While increasing the body of most applications of LCDs proxies reconstructed paleo‐environment information, few studies reported seasonal variation in LCDs and evaluated their applicability as environmental indicators in modern marine environments. Here, the composition and distribution of LCDs in suspended particulate matter (SPM) in three seasons in the Changjiang River Estuary (CRE) were analyzed to evaluate seasonal influence on the application of LCDs as environmental indicators. We found that the reconstructed temperature based on the long‐chain diol index (LDI; LDI = C30 1,15‐diol/(C28 1,13‐diol + C30 1,13‐diol + C30 1,15‐diol)) was not consistent with satellite‐measured SST, likely due to vertical mixing of LCDs in this region. The 1,14‐diols previously used to indicate upwelling conditions, did not reflect the nutrient distribution of this region due to the Changjiang River (CR) nutrients discharge. Our results showed that the mean relative proportions of FC32 1,15‐diol (FC32 1,15‐diol = C32 1,15‐diol × 100%/(C28 1,13‐diol + C30 1,13‐diol + C30 1,15‐diol + C32 1,15‐diol)) gradually decreased from nearshore to offshore (71.1%, 37.4%, and 16.5%, respectively), suggesting that FC32 1,15‐diol was a reliable proxy for riverine input to the CRE. We found that the diol index (DI; DI = C30 1,15‐diol × 100/(C30 1,15‐diol + C32 1,15‐diol)) values were correlated strongly with salinities in spring (R2 = 0.82) and summer (R2 = 0.94), indicating that DI can be considered as a useful indicator for salinity construction in this estuary.
Hybrid magnetic resonance and optoacoustic tomography (MROT) for preclinical neuroimaging
Authors: Chen Zhenyue , Gezginer Irmak , Augath Mark-Aurel , Ren Wuwei , Liu Yu-Hang , Ni Ruiqing , Deán-Ben Xosé Luís , Razansky Daniel
Published: November 2022

Multi-modal imaging is essential for advancing our understanding of brain function and unraveling pathophysiological processes underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance (MR) and optoacoustic (OA) imaging have been shown to provide highly complementary contrasts and capabilities for preclinical neuroimaging. True integration between these modalities can thus offer unprecedented capabilities for studying the rodent brain in action. We report on a hybrid magnetic resonance and optoacoustic tomography (MROT) system for concurrent noninvasive structural and functional imaging of the mouse brain. Volumetric OA tomography was designed as an insert into a high-field MR scanner by integrating a customized MR-compatible spherical transducer array, an illumination module, and a dedicated radiofrequency coil. A tailored data processing pipeline has been developed to mitigate signal crosstalk and accurately register image volumes acquired with T1-weighted, angiography, and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) sequences onto the corresponding vascular and oxygenation data recorded with the OA modality. We demonstrate the concurrent acquisition of dual-mode anatomical and angiographic brain images with the scanner, as well as real-time functional readings of multiple hemodynamic parameters from animals subjected to oxygenation stress. Our approach combines the functional and molecular imaging advantages of OA with the superb soft-tissue contrast of MR, further providing an excellent platform for cross-validation of functional readings by the two modalities.
The association between eicosanoids and incident atrial fibrillation in the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Kornej Jelena , Qadan Maha A. , Alotaibi Mona , Van Wagoner David R. , Watrous Jeramie D. , Trinquart Ludovic , Preis Sarah R. , Ko Darae , Jain Mohit , Benjamin Emelia J. , Cheng Susan , Lin Honghuang
Published: November 2022

Chronic inflammation is a continuous low-grade activation of the systemic immune response. Whereas downstream inflammatory markers are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), upstream inflammatory effectors including eicosanoids are less studied. To examine the association between eicosanoids and incident AF. We used a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the non-targeted measurement of 161 eicosanoids and eicosanoid-related metabolites in the Framingham Heart Study. The association of each eicosanoid and incident AF was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models and adjusted for AF risk factors, including age, sex, height, weight, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, current smoking, antihypertensive medication, diabetes, history of myocardial infarction and heart failure. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to adjust for multiple testing. Eicosanoids with FDR < 0.05 were considered significant. In total, 2676 AF-free individuals (mean age 66 ± 9 years, 56% females) were followed for mean 10.8 ± 3.4 years; 351 participants developed incident AF. Six eicosanoids were associated with incident AF after adjusting for multiple testing (FDR < 0.05). A joint score was built from the top eicosanoids weighted by their effect sizes, which was associated with incident AF (HR = 2.72, CI = 1.71–4.31,P = 2.1 × 10–5). In conclusion, six eicosanoids were associated with incident AF after adjusting for clinical risk factors for AF.
Enhancing high-fidelity nonlinear solver with reduced order model
Authors: Kadeethum Teeratorn , O’Malley Daniel , Ballarin Francesco , Ang Ida , Fuhg Jan N. , Bouklas Nikolaos , Silva Vinicius L. S. , Salinas Pablo , Heaney Claire E. , Pain Christopher C. , Lee Sanghyun , Viswanathan Hari S. , Yoon Hongkyu
Published: November 2022

We propose the use of reduced order modeling (ROM) to reduce the computational cost and improve the convergence rate of nonlinear solvers of full order models (FOM) for solving partial differential equations. In this study, a novel ROM-assisted approach is developed to improve the computational efficiency of FOM nonlinear solvers by using ROM’s prediction as an initial guess. We hypothesize that the nonlinear solver will take fewer steps to the converged solutions with an initial guess that is closer to the real solutions. To evaluate our approach, four physical problems with varying degrees of nonlinearity in flow and mechanics have been tested: Richards’ equation of water flow in heterogeneous porous media, a contact problem in a hyperelastic material, two-phase flow in layered porous media, and fracture propagation in a homogeneous material. Overall, our approach maintains the FOM’s accuracy while speeding up nonlinear solver by 18–73% (through suitable ROM-assisted FOMs). More importantly, the proximity of ROM’s prediction to the solution space leads to the improved convergence of FOMs that would have otherwise diverged with default initial guesses. We demonstrate that the ROM’s accuracy can impact the computational efficiency with more accurate ROM solutions, resulting in a better cost reduction. We also illustrate that this approach could be used in many FOM discretizations (e.g., finite volume, finite element, or a combination of those). Since our ROMs are data-driven and non-intrusive, the proposed procedure can easily lend itself to any nonlinear physics-based problem.
Community succession and functional prediction of microbial consortium with straw degradation during subculture at low temperature
Authors: Zhang Xin , Borjigin Qinggeer , Gao Ju-Lin , Yu Xiao-Fang , Hu Shu-Ping , Zhang Bi-Zhou , Han Sheng-Cai
Published: November 2022

To systematically explore and analyze the microbial composition and function of microbial consortium M44 with straw degradation in the process of subculture at low temperature. In this study, straw degradation characteristics of samples in different culture stages were determined. MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the evolution of community structure and its relationship with degradation characteristics of microbial consortium in different culture periods, and the PICRUSt function prediction analysis was performed. The results showed that straw degradation rate, endoglucanase activity, and filter paper enzyme activity of M44 generally decreased with increasing culture algebra. The activities of xylanase, laccase, and lignin peroxidase, as well as VFA content, showing a single-peak curve change with first an increase and then decrease. In the process of subculture, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were dominant in different culture stages. Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Devosia, Brevundimonas, Trichococcus, Acinetobacter, Dysgonomonas, and Rhizobium were functional bacteria in different culture stages. It was found by PICRUSt function prediction that the functions were concentrated in amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transship and metabolism related genes, which may contain a large number of fibers and lignin degrading enzyme genes. In this study, the microbial community succession and the gene function in different culture periods were clarified and provide a theoretical basis for screening and rational utilization of microbial consortia.
Characterizing equitable access to grocery stores during disasters using location-based data
Authors: Esmalian Amir , Coleman Natalie , Yuan Faxi , Xiao Xin , Mostafavi Ali
Published: November 2022

Natural hazards cause disruptions in access to critical facilities, such as grocery stores, impeding residents’ ability to prepare for and cope with hardships during the disaster and recovery; however, disrupted access to critical facilities is not equal for all residents of a community. In this study, we examine disparate access to grocery stores in the context of the 2017 Hurricane Harvey in Harris County, Texas. We utilized high-resolution location-based datasets in implementing spatial network analysis and dynamic clustering techniques to uncover the overall disparate access to grocery stores for socially vulnerable populations during different phases of the disaster. Three access indicators are examined using network-centric measures: number of unique stores visited, average trip time to stores, and average distance to stores. These access indicators help us capture three dimensions of access: redundancy, rapidity, and proximity. The findings show the insufficiency of focusing merely on the distributional factors, such as location in a food desert and number of facilities, to capture the disparities in access, especially during the preparation and impact/short-term recovery periods. Furthermore, the characterization of access by considering combinations of access indicators reveals that flooding disproportionally affects socially vulnerable populations. High-income areas have better access during the preparation period as they are able to visit a greater number of stores and commute farther distances to obtain supplies. The conclusions of this study have important implications for urban development (facility distribution), emergency management, and resource allocation by identifying areas most vulnerable to disproportionate access impacts using more equity-focused and data-driven approaches.
Effects of implementing a clinical pathway on antibiotic prophylaxis for patients who underwent an elective surgery
Authors: Park Somin , Kim Sooyeon , Kim Hong Bin , Youn Sang Woong , Ahn Soyeon , Kim Kidong
Published: November 2022

A reduction in the unnecessary use of antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent antibiotic resistance and adverse drug events. We aimed to evaluate the effects of implementing clinical pathways (CPs) on adherence to a systematic and appropriate duration of antibiotic prophylaxis. We identified 61 eligible CPs and a total of 44,062 patients who underwent elective surgeries associated with CPs. The Poisson mixed model with an interrupted time-series analysis frame was applied to the patient-level data. This enabled a comparison of the adherence rate before and after CP implementation. Furthermore, we examined the effect of application or completion of CP on the adherence rate after implementation. Adherence to the antibiotic prophylaxis guideline substantially increased (incident rate ratio [IRR] 8.05; 95 confidence interval [CI] 2.64–24.55), compared with that before implementation. Following the implementation into the electronic entry system, we observed an improved adherence not only in CP completion but also in attempted CP execution (IRR of the executed but not completed cases 1.54; 95% CI 1.17–2.04; IRR of the executed and competed cases, 1.94; 95% CI 1.4–2.69). The implementation of CP into the electronic prescribing system was associated with a significant increase in the appropriate use of antibiotic prophylaxis among patients who underwent elective surgeries. The results suggest that a computer-assisted CP system for electronic health records could improve antibiotic adherence without significant expense.
Serial dependence in estimates of the monetary value of coins
Authors: Morimoto Yukihiro , Makioka Shogo
Published: November 2022

Perceptions of current stimuli are sometimes biased toward or away from past perceptions. This phenomenon is called serial dependence. However, it remains unclear whether serial dependence originates from lower-order perceptual processing, higher-order perceptual processing or cognitive processing. We examined the effects of serial dependence when participants estimated the total number of coins or the monetary value of coins displayed and found attractive effects in both tasks. The attractive effect observed in the value estimation task suggests that serial dependence occurs through higher-order cognitive processes during calculation. We also examined the effect of response history (i.e., the responses of participants on previous trials), with multiple regression analyses that simultaneously evaluated the effects of the previous stimuli and responses. In both number and value estimation tasks, the immediately prior response had an attractive effect on current responses, while the immediately prior stimuli exerted a repulsive effect. This pattern suggests that the attractive serial dependence found in the single regression analysis was due to the correlation between stimulus and response in the previous trials and that the effect of past stimuli per se may be an adaptation that increases sensitivity to current stimuli.
A study on Sr/Zn phytate complexes: structural properties and antimicrobial synergistic effects against Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Asensio Gerardo , Hernández-Arriaga Ana M. , Martín-del-Campo Marcela , Prieto M. Auxiliadora , Rojo Luis , Vázquez-Lasa Blanca
Published: November 2022

Phytic acid (PA) is an abundant natural plant component that exhibits a versatility of applications benefited from its chemical structure, standing out its use as food, packing and dental additive due to its antimicrobial properties. The capacity of PA to chelate ions is also well-established and the formation and thermodynamic properties of different metallic complexes has been described. However, research studies of these compounds in terms of chemistry and biological features are still demanded in order to extend the application scope of PA complexes. The main goal of this paper is to deepen in the knowledge of the bioactive metal complexes chemistry and their bactericide activity, to extend their application in biomaterial science, specifically in oral implantology. Thus, this work presents the synthesis and structural assessment of two metallic phytate complexes bearing the bioactive cations Zn2+ and Sr2+ (ZnPhy and SrPhy respectively), along with studies on the synergic biological properties between PA and cations. Metallic phytates were synthesized in the solid-state by hydrothermal reaction leading to pure solid compounds in high yields. Their molecular formulas were C6H12024P6Sr4·5H2O and C6H12024P6Zn6·6H2O, as determined by ICP and HRES-TGA. The metal coordination bond of the solid complexes was further analysed by EDS, Raman, ATR-FTIR and solid 13C and 31P-NMR spectroscopies. Likewise, we evaluated the in vitro ability of the phytate compounds for inhibiting biofilm production of Streptococcus mutans cultures. Results indicate that all compounds significantly reduced biofilm formation (PA < SrPhy < ZnPhy), and ZnPhy even showed remarkable differences with respect to PA and SrPhy. Analysis of antimicrobial properties shows the first clues of the possible synergic effects created between PA and the corresponding cation in different cell metabolic processes. In overall, findings of this work can contribute to expand the applications of these bioactive metallic complexes in the biotechnological and biomedical fields, and they can be considered for the fabrication of anti-plaque coating systems in the dentistry field.
Electron-beam patterned calibration structures for structured illumination microscopy
Authors: Hari Sangeetha , Slotman Johan A. , Vos Yoram , Floris Christian , van Cappellen Wiggert A. , Hagen C. W. , Stallinga Sjoerd , Houtsmuller Adriaan B. , Hoogenboom Jacob P.
Published: November 2022

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy can be achieved by image reconstruction after spatially patterned illumination or sequential photo-switching and read-out. Reconstruction algorithms and microscope performance are typically tested using simulated image data, due to a lack of strategies to pattern complex fluorescent patterns with nanoscale dimension control. Here, we report direct electron-beam patterning of fluorescence nanopatterns as calibration standards for super-resolution fluorescence. Patterned regions are identified with both electron microscopy and fluorescence labelling of choice, allowing precise correlation of predefined pattern dimensions, a posteriori obtained electron images, and reconstructed super-resolution images.
Efficacy of violet–blue light to inactive microbial growth
Authors: Amodeo Davide , Lucarelli Valentina , De Palma Isa , Puccio Alessandro , Nante Nicola , Cevenini Gabriele , Messina Gabriele
Published: November 2022

The increase in health care-associated infections and antibiotic resistance has led to a growing interest in the search for innovative technologies to solve these problems. In recent years, the interest of the scientific community has focused on violet–blue light at 405 nm (VBL405). This study aimed to assess the VBL405 efficiency in reducing microbial growth on surfaces and air. This descriptive study run between July and October 2020. Petri dishes were contaminated with P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, K. pneumoniae and were placed at 2 and 3 m from a LED light source having a wavelength peak at 405 nm and an irradiance respectively of 967 and 497 µW/cm2. Simultaneously, the air in the room was sampled for 5 days with two air samplers (SAS) before and after the exposition to the VBL405 source. The highest microbial reduction was reached 2 m directly under the light source: S. typhimurium (2.93 log10), K. pneumoniae (2.30 log10), S. aureus (3.98 log10), E. coli (3.83 log10), P. aeruginosa (3.86 log10). At a distance of 3 m from the light source, the greatest reduction was observed for S. aureus (3.49 log10), and P. aeruginosa (3.80 log10). An average percent microbial reduction of about 70% was found in the sampled air after 12 h of exposure to VBL405. VBL405 has proven to contrast microbial growth on the plates. Implementing this technology in the environment to provide continuous disinfection and to control microbial presence, even in the presence of people, may be an innovative solution.
Effects of constructing farmland with large amounts of iron tailings as soil reconstruction materials on soil properties and crop growth
Authors: Jin Wenjuan , Wei Zhongyi , Liu Xinzheng , Li Qi , Han Chunlan , Bian Zhenxing , Zhang Xufeng , Qian Fengkui , Liu Yonghai
Published: November 2022

With continuous population growth and farmland decrease, the food security is seriously threatened. Farmland reclamation has been used as a means of raising the agricultural productivity and improving the ecological environment. However, the lack of reclaimed soil represents a serious problem. To verify the feasibility and effect of using large amounts of iron tailings to construct farmland, ten treatments (T1–T10) were designed to represent different soil profiles of regional normal farmland and constructed profiles using iron tailings. All treatments involving an iron tailings layer below topsoil exhibited higher soil water contents. The field capacity under T3 (20-cm iron tailings layer below cinnamon soil (b)) was 19.20% higher than that under T7 (20-cm red clay layer below cinnamon soil (b)), and the field capacity under T5 (20-cm iron tailings layer below cinnamon soil (a)) was 2.26% higher than that under T9 (20-cm red clay layer below cinnamon soil (a)). The soil water contents under T3 and T5 were almost the same as those under T7 and T9, respectively. The water-holding capacity of the 30-cm iron tailings layer (T6) was better than that of the 20-cm iron tailings layer (T2). Additionally, none of the treatments caused salt injury to maize. The maize height and stem thickness under the treatments employing iron tailings layers below topsoil were significantly greater than those in normal farmland; the maize height and stem thickness under T3 were 136.82% and 32.02% greater, respectively, than those under T7, and the values under T5 were 9.13% and 9.56% greater, respectively, than those under T9. The maize yields matched or even surpassed those in normal farmland, namely, the maize yield under T5 was equal to that under T9, and the maize yield under T3 was 12.69% higher than that under T7. In general, the application of an iron tailings layer below topsoil to construct farmland is a feasible and environmentally friendly way to realize sustainable farmland utilization and is beneficial to soil quality and crop yield improvement. Collectively, these results provide insight into the efficient utilization of iron tailings and environmental protection.
Face familiarity revealed by fixational eye movements and fixation-related potentials in free viewing
Authors: Kadosh Oren , Bonneh Yoram
Published: November 2022

Event-related potentials (ERPs) and the oculomotor inhibition (OMI) in response to visual transients are known to be sensitive to stimulus properties, attention, and expectation. We have recently found that the OMI is also sensitive to face familiarity. In natural vision, stimulation of the visual cortex is generated primarily by saccades, and it has been recently suggested that fixation-related potentials (FRPs) share similar components with the ERPs. Here, we investigated whether FRPs and microsaccade inhibition (OMI) in free viewing are sensitive to face familiarity. Observers freely watched a slideshow of seven unfamiliar and one familiar facial images presented randomly for 4-s periods, with multiple images per identity. We measured the occipital fixation-related N1 relative to the P1 magnitude as well as the associated fixation-triggered OMI. We found that the average N1-P1 was significantly smaller and the OMI was shorter for the familiar face, compared with any of the seven unfamiliar faces. Moreover, the P1 was suppressed across saccades for the familiar but not for the unfamiliar faces. Our results highlight the sensitivity of the occipital FRPs to stimulus properties such as face familiarity and advance our understanding of the integration process across successive saccades in natural vision.
Finding the influential clinical traits that impact on the diagnosis of heart disease using statistical and machine-learning techniques
Authors: Talin Iffat Ara , Abid Mahmudul Hasan , Khan Md. Al-Masrur , Kee Seong-Hoon , Nahid Abdullah-Al
Published: November 2022

In recent years, the omnipresence of cardiac problems has been recognized as an epidemic. With the correct and quick diagnosis, both mortality and morbidity from cardiac disorders can be dramatically reduced. However, frequent medical check-ups are pricey and out of reach for a large number of people, particularly those living in low-income areas. In this paper, certain time-honored statistical techniques are used to determine the factors that lead to heart disease. Also, the findings were validated using various promising machine learning tools. Feature importance approach was employed to rank the clinical parameters of the patients based on the correlation of heart disease. In the case of statistical investigations, nonparametric tests such as the Mann Whitney U test and the Chi square test, as well as correlation analysis with Pearson correlation and Spearman Correlation were used. For additional validation, seven of the potential feature important based ML algorithms were applied. Moreover, Borda count was implemented to acknowledge the combined observation of those ML models. On top of that, SHAP value was calculated as a feature importance technique and for detailed evaluation. This research reveals two aspects of heart disease diagnosis.We found that eight clinical traits are sufficient to diagnose cardiac disorders, in which three traits are the most important sign of heart disease. One of the discoveries of this investigation uncovered chest pain, number of major blood vessels, thalassemia, age, maximum heart rate, cholesterol, oldpeak, and sex as sufficient clinical signs of individuals for the diagnosis of cardiac disorders. Over the above, considering the findings of all three approaches, chest pain, the number of major blood vessels, and thalassemia were identified as the prime factors of heart disease. The research also found, fasting blood sugar does not have a direct impact on cardiac disease. These findings will have the potency to be incredibly useful in clinical investigations as well as risk assessment for patients. Limiting the most critical features can have a significant impact on the diagnosis of heart disease and reduce the severity of health risks and death of patients.
KTN1-AS1, a SOX2-mediated lncRNA, activates epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Liying , Lu Juntao , Xu Tongxin , Yan Zhaoyang , Guo Yanli , Dong Zhiming , Guo Wei
Published: November 2022

Kinectin 1 antisense RNA 1 (KTN1-AS1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has been proved to have tumor-promoting properties and its expression is enhanced in several human tumors. However, the role of KTN1-AS1 in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the expression status, functional roles, and molecular mechanisms of KTN1-AS1 in the development of ESCC. Considerable upregulation of KTN1-AS1 was confirmed in esophageal cancer cells and ESCC tissues and its expression was associated with TNM stage, pathological differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. SOX2 directly activated transcription of KTN1-AS1, and overexpression of KTN1-AS1 facilitated ESCC cells proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, KTN1-AS1 could bind to retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4) in the nucleus and enhanced its binding with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), thereby activating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process through downregulating E-cadherin expression at the epigenetic level. In conclusion, KTN1-AS1, induced by SOX2, acts as a tumor-promoting gene and may serve as a potential therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for ESCC.
Nanoparticles for super-resolution microscopy: intracellular delivery and molecular targeting
Authors: Pramanik Sumit Kumar , Sreedharan Sreejesh , Tiwari Rajeshwari , Dutta Sourav , Kandoth Noufal , Barman Surajit , Aderinto Stephen O , Chattopadhyay Samit , Das Amitava , Thomas Jim A
Published: November 2022

Following an overview of the approaches and techniques used to acheive super-resolution microscopy, this review presents the advantages supplied by nanoparticle based probes for these applications.
High-dimensional neural network potentials for accurate vibrational frequencies: the formic acid dimer benchmark
Authors: Shanavas Rasheeda Dilshana , Martín Santa Daría Alberto , Schröder Benjamin , Mátyus Edit , Behler Jörg
Published: November 2022

A high-dimensional neural network potential has been developed to study the harmonic and anharmonic frequencies of the formic acid dimer with coupled cluster accuracy.
Interface damage and fracture mechanisms of a ceramic/polymer interface based on atomic-scale simulations
Authors: Hu Linhui , Wang Shuai , Liang Lihong
Published: November 2022

Interface strength and fracture energy of PP/SiO2 were simulated by developing a MD model, the corresponding interface damage process was characterized quantitatively, and the effect of tensile speed was revealed.
Protective effects ofLycium barbarumL. berry extracts against oxidative stress-induced damage of the retina of aging mouse and ARPE-19 cells
Authors: Zheng Hui-li , Li Meng-ting , Zhou Tong , Wang Ying-yi , Shang Er-Xin , Hua Yong-qing , Duan Jin-ao , Zhu Yue
Published: November 2022

In this study, we investigated the preventive effect ofLycium barbarumL. berry extract on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) animal model and the main components responsible for its antioxidant activity.
Anti-obesity effects of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaf extract on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and high fat diet-fed mice
Authors: Oh Mi-Jin , Lee Hye-Bin , Yoo Guijae , Park Miri , Lee Chang-Hyun , Choi Inwook , Park Ho-Young
Published: November 2022

Red pepper leaf extract (PLE) administration could ameliorate high-fat-induced obesity and improve gut dysbiosis by enhancing lipid metabolism of both adipocytes and hepatocytes and the gut environment.
Structural elucidation and anti-nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide
Authors: Liu Wei , Shao Taili , Tian Lei , Ren Zhengrui , Gao Lan , Tang Zhiyan , Fang Zheng , Yuan Pingchuan , Liu Chunyan , Li Jikun , Wang Guodong , Han Jun
Published: November 2022

A structurally novel polysaccharide from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, PCP-1, can improve abnormal lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, and balance the composition of the intestinal microbiota in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mice.
A novel delivery vehicle for copper peptides
Authors: Liu Tianqi , Hu Lu , Lu Beibei , Bo Yiyang , Liao Ya , Zhan Jingbo , Pei Yunlin , Sun Huaiqing , Wang Zhenyuan , Guo Chaowan , Zhang Jiaheng
Published: November 2022

Preparation of green ionic liquid using natural alkaloids and organic acids for efficient transdermal delivery of GHK-Cu.
The scent chemistry of butterflies
Authors: Ehlers Stephanie , Schulz Stefan
Published: November 2022

Butterflies use structurally highly diverse volatile compounds for communication, in addition to visual signals. These compounds originate from plants or a formedde novoespecially by male butterflies that possess specific scent organs.
Polymeric tungsten carbide nanoclusters as potential non-noble metal catalysts for CO oxidation
Authors: Ye Ya-Ling , Wang Wen-Lu , Sun Wei-Ming , Yang Jinlong
Published: November 2022

The possibility of using Pt-like superatoms as building blocks to assemble non-precious superatom-assembled catalysts for CO oxidation has been examined by density functional theory.
Fabrication of graphene-based sensor for exposure to different chemicals
Authors: Afzal Usama , Amin Muhammad Zahid , Arshad Bilal , Afzal Fatima , Maryam Kanza , Zafar Qayyum , Ahmad Naveed , Ali Nazakat , Firdous Mashal
Published: November 2022

Opto-chemical sensors are the most significant type of sensors that are widely used to detect a variety of volatile organic compounds and chemicals.
Porous graphitic carbon nitride with high concentration of oxygen promotes photocatalytic H2 evolution
Authors: Jia Ruokun , Yu Xueli , Yang Xiaohang , Wang Xinzhe , Yang Jiaming , Huo Xuyang , Qi Qiuju
Published: November 2022

Porous structure design and the content regulation of heteroelements have been proved to be effective strategies to boost photocatalytic H2 generation activity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based photocatalyst.
New multicomponent reactions in water: a facile synthesis of 1,3-dioxo-2-indanilidene-heterocyclic scaffolds and indenoquinoxalines through reaction of ninhydrin-malononitrile adduct with diverse N-binucleophiles
Authors: Rahimi Zahra , Bayat Mohammad , Hosseini Hajar
Published: November 2022

A one-pot three-component synthesis of indenoquinoxalines and various exocyclic enaminones, imidazolidin-2-ylidene-indenedione, pyrimidine-2-ylidene-indenedione, in water.
Fabrication of two Se/CsPbBr3 heterojunctions structures for self-powered UV–visible photodetectors
Authors: Liu Jiaojiao , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2022

High performance self-powered UV-visible broadband photodetectors based on single Se wire and CsPbBr3 particles with different constructions (Se/CsPbBr3/1 and Se/CsPbBr3/2) were easily fabricated and there existed similarity and differences between them.
Domain dynamics of phase-separated lipid membranes under shear flow
Authors: Hamada Tsutomu , Mizuno Shino , Kitahata Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

Under external flow, phase-separated lipid vesicles exhibit localization dynamics of lateral domains. The localization pattern depends on the cholesterol content of the membrane.
Mean motion resonance capture in the context of type I migration
Authors: Kajtazi Kaltrina , Petit Antoine C. , Johansen Anders
Published: November 2022

Capture into mean motion resonance (MMR) is an important dynamical mechanism because it shapes the final architecture of a planetary system. We simulate systems of two or three planets undergoing migration with varied initial parameters such as planetary mass and disk surface density and analyse the resulting resonant chains. In contrast to previous studies, our results show that the disk properties are the dominant impact on capture into MMR, while the total planetary mass barely affects the final system configuration as long as the planet does not open a gap in the disk. We confirm that adiabatic resonant capture is the correct framework for understanding the conditions leading to MMR formation because its predictions are qualitatively similar to the numerical results. However, we find that eccentricity damping can facilitate the capture in a given resonance. We find that under typical disk conditions, planets tend to be captured into 2:1 or 3:2 MMRs, which agrees well with the observed exoplanet MMRs. Our results predict two categories of systems: those that have uniform chains of wide resonances (2:1 or 3:2 MMRs), and those whose inner pair is more compact than the outer pair, such as 4:3:2 chains. Both categories of resonant chains are present in observed exoplanet systems. On the other hand, chains whose inner pair is wider than the outer pair are very rare and emerge from stochastic capture. Our work here can be used to link the current configuration of exoplanetary systems to the formation conditions within protoplanetary disks.
A detailed look at the most obscured galactic nuclei in the mid-infrared
Authors: Donnan F. R. , Rigopoulou D. , García-Bernete I. , Pereira-Santaella M. , Alonso-Herrero A. , Roche P. F. , Aalto S. , Hernán-Caballero A. , Spoon H. W. W.
Published: November 2022

Context. Compact obscured nuclei (CONs) represent an extreme phase of galaxy evolution where rapid supermassive black hole growth and/or compact star-forming activity is completely obscured by gas and dust.

Aims. We investigate the properties of CONs in the mid-infrared and explore techniques aimed at identifying these objects, such as through the equivalent width (EW) ratios of their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) features.

Methods. We modelled Spitzer spectra by decomposing the continua into nuclear and star-forming components, from which we then measured the nuclear optical depth, τN, of the 9.8 μm silicate absorption feature. We also used Spitzer spectral maps to investigate how PAH EW ratios vary with aperture size for objects that host CONs.

Results. We find that the nuclear optical depth, τN, strongly correlates with the HCN-vib emission line in the millimetre for CONs, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.91. We find the PAH EW ratio technique to be effective at selecting CONs and robust against highly inclined galaxies, where strong dust lanes may mimic a CON-like spectrum by producing a high τN. Our analysis of the Spitzer spectral maps shows that the efficacy of the PAH EW ratios in isolating CONs is reduced when there is a strong star-forming component from the host galaxy. In addition, we find that the use of the inferred nuclear optical depth is a reliable method for identifying CONs in 36−7+8% of ultra-luminous infrared galaxies and 17−3+3% of luminous infrared galaxies, consistent with previous work.

Conclusions. We confirm mid-infrared spectra to be a powerful diagnostic of CONs. The increased sensitivity of JWST will allow the identification of CONs at cosmic noon, revealing this extreme but hidden phase of galaxy evolution.
Challenging Myelopathy Cases
Authors: Mustafa Rafid , Zalewski Nicholas L. , Flanagan Eoin P. , Kumar Neeraj
Published: November 2022

Misdiagnosis of myelopathies is common and can lead to irreversible disability when diagnosis- and disease-specific treatments are delayed. Therefore, quickly determining the etiology of myelopathy is crucial. Clinical evaluation and MRI spine are paramount in establishing the correct diagnosis and subsequently an appropriate treatment plan. Herein, we review an approach to myelopathy diagnosis focused on the time course of neurologic symptom progression and neuroimaging pearls, and apply them to a variety of inflammatory, structural, and vascular myelopathy cases.