bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The First Crested Duck Genome Reveals Clues to Genetic Compensation and Crest Cushion Formation
Authors: Chang Guobin , Yuan Xiaoya , Guo Qixin , Bai Hao , Cao Xiaofang , Liu Meng , Wang Zhixiu , Li Bichun , Wang Shasha , Jiang Yong , Wang Zhiquan , Zhang Yang , Xu Qi , Song Qianqian , Pan Rui , Qiu Lingling , Gu Tiantian , Wu Xinsheng , Bi Yulin , Cao Zhengfeng , Zhang Yu , Chen Yang , Li Hong , Liu Jianfeng , Dai Wangcheng , Chen Guohong
Published: August 2023

The Chinese crested (CC) duck is a unique indigenous waterfowl breed, which has a crest cushion that affects its survival rate. Therefore, the CC duck is an ideal model to investigate the genetic compensation response to maintain genetic stability. In the present study, we first generated a chromosome-level genome of CC ducks. Comparative genomics revealed that genes related to tissue repair, immune function, and tumors were under strong positive selection, indicating that these adaptive changes might enhance cancer resistance and immune response to maintain the genetic stability of CC ducks. We also assembled a Chinese spot-billed (Csp-b) duck genome, and detected the structural variations (SVs) in the genome assembl  ies of three ducks (i.e., CC duck, Csp-b duck, and Peking duck). Functional analysis revealed that several SVs were related to the immune system of CC ducks, further strongly suggesting that genetic compensation in the anti-tumor and immune systems supports the survival of CC ducks. Moreover, we confirmed that the CC duck originated from the mallard ducks. Finally, we revealed the physiological and genetic basis of crest traits and identified a causative mutation in TAS2R40 that leads to crest formation. Overall, the findings of this study provide new insights into the role of genetic compensation in adaptive evolution.
Doing Moral Philosophy Without ‘Normativity’
Authors: DANNENBERG JORAH
Published: August 2023

This essay challenges widespread talk about morality's ‘normativity’. My principal target is not any specific claim or thesis in the burgeoning literature on ‘normativity’, however. Rather, I aim to discourage the use of the word among moral philosophers altogether and to reject a claim to intradisciplinary authority that is both reflected in and reinforced by the role the word has come to play in the discipline. My hope is to persuade other philosophers who, like me, persist in being interested in long-standing questions about our morals to be considerably more suspicious about the word's actual value for us and to see those studying ‘normativity’ itself as having little to offer us when it comes to posing our questions about morals and debating the answers to them.
Adaptation of a population to a changing environment in the light of quasi-stationarity
Authors: Velleret Aurélien
Published: August 2023

We analyze the long-term stability of a stochastic model designed to illustrate the adaptation of a population to variation in its environment. A piecewise deterministic process modeling adaptation is coupled to a Feller logistic diffusion modeling population size. As the individual features in the population become further away from the optimal ones, the growth rate declines, making population extinction more likely. Assuming that the environment changes deterministically and steadily in a constant direction, we obtain the existence and uniqueness of the quasi-stationary distribution, the associated survival capacity, and theQ-process. Our approach also provides several exponential convergence results (in total variation for the measures). From this synthetic information, we can characterize the efficiency of internal adaptation (i.e. population turnover from mutant invasions). When the latter is lacking, there is still stability, but because of the high level of population extinction. Therefore, any characterization of internal adaptation should be based on specific features of this quasi-ergodic regime rather than the mere existence of the regime itself.
Improved Metropolis–Hastings algorithms via landscape modification with applications to simulated annealing and the Curie–Weiss model
Authors: Choi Michael C. H.
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we propose new Metropolis–Hastings and simulated annealing algorithms on a finite state space via modifying the energy landscape. The core idea of landscape modification rests on introducing a parameter c, such that the landscape is modified once the algorithm is above this threshold parameter to encourage exploration, while the original landscape is utilized when the algorithm is below the threshold for exploitation purposes. We illustrate the power and benefits of landscape modification by investigating its effect on the classical Curie–Weiss model with Glauber dynamics and external magnetic field in the subcritical regime. This leads to a landscape-modified mean-field equation, and with appropriate choice of c the free energy landscape can be transformed from a double-well into a single-well landscape, while the location of the global minimum is preserved on the modified landscape. Consequently, running algorithms on the modified landscape can improve the convergence to the ground state in the Curie–Weiss model. In the setting of simulated annealing, we demonstrate that landscape modification can yield improved or even subexponential mean tunnelling time between global minima in the low-temperature regime by appropriate choice of c, and we give a convergence guarantee using an improved logarithmic cooling schedule with reduced critical height. We also discuss connections between landscape modification and other acceleration techniques, such as Catoni’s energy transformation algorithm, preconditioning, importance sampling, and quantum annealing. The technique developed in this paper is not limited to simulated annealing, but is broadly applicable to any difference-based discrete optimization algorithm by a change of landscape.
The use and misuse of evolutionary psychology in online manosphere communities: The case of female mating strategies
Authors: Bachaud Louis , Johns Sarah E.
Published: August 2023

While early evolutionary accounts of female sexuality insisted on coyness and monogamous tendencies, evidence from the field of primatology started challenging those assumptions in the 1970s. Decades later, there exist many competing and overlapping hypotheses stressing the potential fitness benefits of female short-term and extra-pair mating. Female mammals are now seen as enacting varied and flexible reproductive strategies. This is both a victory for science, with a better fit between theory and reality, and for feminism, with the downfall of narrow stereotypes about female sexuality. However, evolutionary hypotheses on female mating strategies are routinely invoked among the antifeminist online communities collectively known as ‘the manosphere’. Based on extensive qualitative analysis of manosphere discourse, this study shows how these hypotheses are sometimes interpreted in misogynistic online spaces. Indeed, evolutionary scholars might be surprised to see sexist worldviews reinforced by the ‘dual mating strategy’ and ‘sexy son’ hypotheses, or by the latest research on the ovulatory cycle. The manosphere has its own version of evolutionary psychology, mingling cutting-edge scientific theories and hypotheses with personal narratives, sexual double standards and misogynistic beliefs. After analysing this phenomenon, this article suggests ways to mitigate it.
The butyrate-producing and spore-forming bacterial genus Coprococcus as a potential biomarker for neurological disorders
Authors: Notting Fleur , Pirovano Walter , Sybesma Wilbert , Kort Remco
Published: August 2023

The host–intestinal microbiome interaction has gained much scientific attention in the past two decades, boosted by advances in DNA sequencing and cultivation techniques. An accumulating amount of evidence shows that gut microbes play crucial roles in gut homeostasis, immune system education, and are associated with quality-of-life indicators. Beneficial health factors are associated with the digestion of dietary fibres in the colon and the subsequent production of short-chain fatty acids, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Coprococcus is a butyrate-producing genus in the phylum Firmicutes, and its abundance is inversely correlated with several neuropsychological and neurodegenerative disorders. Case–control studies provide strong evidence of decreased abundance of Coprococcus spp. in depressed individuals. The species Coprococcus eutactus has the unique capacity to use two separate pathways for butyrate synthesis and has been found to be depleted in children with delayed language development and adults with Parkinson’s disease. The combined literature on Coprococcus and the gut microbiota–brain axis points towards enhanced butyrate production and reduced colonisation of pathogenic clades as factors explaining its association with health effects. The genus Coprococcus is a promising candidate for a mental health biomarker and an interesting lead for novel dietary-based preventive therapies for specific neurological disorders.
eXawatt Center for Extreme Light Studies
Authors: Khazanov Efim , Shaykin Andrey , Kostyukov Igor , Ginzburg Vladislav , Mukhin Ivan , Yakovlev Ivan , Soloviev Alexander , Kuznetsov Ivan , Mironov Sergey , Korzhimanov Artem , Bulanov Denis , Shaikin Ilya , Kochetkov Anton , Kuzmin Alexey , Martyanov Mikhail , Lozhkarev Vladimir , Starodubtsev Mikhail , Litvak Alexander , Sergeev Alexander
Published: August 2023

The eXawatt Center for Extreme Light Studies project aimed to create a large scientific infrastructure based on lasers with giant peak power. The project relies on the significant progress achieved in the last decade. The planned infrastructure will incorporate a unique light source with a pulse power of 600 PW using optical parametric chirped pulse amplification in large-aperture KD2PO4, deuterated potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals. The interaction of such laser radiation with matter represents a completely new fundamental physics. The direct study of the space–time structure of vacuums and other unknown phenomena at the frontier of high-energy physics and the physics of superstrong fields will be challenged. Expected applications will include the development of compact particle accelerators, the generation of ultrashort pulses of hard X-ray and gamma radiation for material science enabling one to probe material samples with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, the development of new radiation and particle sources, etc. The paper is translation from Russian [Kvantovaya Elektronika 53, 95 (2023)].
A thermodynamically consistent diffuse interface model for the wetting phenomenon of miscible and immiscible ternary fluids
Authors: Wang Fei , Zhang Haodong , Wu Yanchen , Nestler Britta
Published: August 2023

The wetting effect has attracted great scientific interest because of its natural significance as well as technical applications. Previous models mostly focus on one-component fluids or binary immiscible liquid mixtures. Modelling of the wetting phenomenon for multicomponent and multiphase fluids is a knotty issue. In this work, we present a thermodynamically consistent diffuse interface model to describe the wetting effect for ternary fluids, as an extension of Cahn's theory for binary fluids. In particular, we consider both immiscible and miscible ternary fluids. For miscible fluids, we validate the equilibrium contact angle and the thermodynamic pressure with Young's law and the Young–Laplace equation, respectively. Distinct flow patterns for dynamic wetting are presented when the surface tension and the viscous force dominate the wetting effect. For immiscible ternary fluids, we manipulate the wettability of two contact droplets deposited on a solid substrate according to three scenarios: (I) both droplets are hydrophilic; (II) a hydrophilic droplet in contact with a hydrophobic one; (III) both droplets are hydrophobic. The contact angles at each triple junction from the simulations are compared with Young's contact angle and Neumann's triangle rule. Simulations for the validation of our work are performed in two and three dimensions. In addition, we model the evaporation process of a ternary droplet and obtain the same power law as that of previous experiments. Our model allows one to relate the interfacial energies with surface composition, enabling the modelling of the coffee-ring phenomenon in further perspective.
Exact coherent structures in fully developed two-dimensional turbulence
Authors: Zhigunov Dmitriy , Grigoriev Roman O.
Published: August 2023

This paper reports several new classes of unstable recurrent solutions of the two-dimensional Euler equation on a square domain with periodic boundary conditions. These solutions are in many ways analogous to recurrent solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation which are often referred to as exact coherent structures. In particular, we find that recurrent solutions of the Euler equation are dynamically relevant: they faithfully reproduce large-scale flows in simulations of turbulence at very high Reynolds numbers. On the other hand, these solutions have a number of properties which distinguish them from their Navier–Stokes counterparts. First of all, recurrent solutions of the Euler equation come in infinite-dimensional continuous families. Second, solutions of different types are connected, e.g. an equilibrium can be smoothly continued to a travelling wave or a time-periodic state. Third, and most important, they are only weakly unstable and, as a result, fully developed turbulence mimics some of these solutions remarkably frequently and over unexpectedly long temporal intervals.
Macroscopic model for generalised Newtonian inertial two-phase flow in porous media
Authors: Sánchez-Vargas Jessica , Valdés-Parada Francisco J. , Trujillo-Roldán Mauricio A. , Lasseux Didier
Published: August 2023

A closed macroscopic model for quasi-steady, inertial, incompressible, two-phase generalised Newtonian flow in rigid and homogeneous porous media is formally derived. The model consists of macroscopic equations for mass and momentum balance as well as an expression for the macroscopic pressure difference between the two fluid phases. The model is obtained by upscaling the pore-scale equations, employing a methodology based on volume averaging, the adjoint method and Green's formulation, only assuming the existence of a representative elementary volume and the separation of scales between the microscale and the macroscale. The average mass equations coincide with those for Newtonian flow. The macroscopic momentum balance equation in each phase expresses the seepage velocity in terms of a dominant and a coupling Darcy-like term, a contribution from interfacial tension effects and another one from interfacial inertia. Finally, the expression of the macroscopic pressure difference is obtained in terms of the macroscopic pressure gradient and body force in each phase, and interfacial terms that account for capillary effects and inertia, if present when the interface is not stationary. All terms involved in the macroscale equations are predicted from the solution of adjoint closure problems in periodic representative domains. Numerical predictions from the upscaled models are compared with direct numerical simulations for two-dimensional configurations, considering flow of a Newtonian non-wetting fluid and a Carreau wetting fluid. Excellent agreement between the two approaches confirms the pertinence of the macroscopic models derived here.
The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey III: Spectra and Polarisation In Cutouts of Extragalactic Sources (SPICE-RACS) first data release
Authors: Thomson Alec J. M. , McConnell David , Lenc Emil , Galvin Timothy J. , Rudnick Lawrence , Heald George , Hale Catherine L. , Duchesne Stefan W. , Anderson Craig S. , Carretti Ettore , Federrath Christoph , Gaensler B. M. , Harvey-Smith Lisa , Haverkorn Marijke , Hotan Aidan W. , Ki Ma Yik , Murphy Tara , McClure-Griffiths N. M. , Moss Vanessa A. , O’Sullivan Shane P. , Raja Wasim , Seta Amit , Van Eck Cameron L. , West Jennifer L. , Whiting Matthew T. , Wieringa Mark H.
Published: August 2023

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope has carried out a survey of the entire Southern Sky at 887.5 MHz. The wide area, high angular resolution, and broad bandwidth provided by the low-band Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS-low) allow the production of a next-generation rotation measure (RM) grid across the entire Southern Sky. Here we introduce this project as Spectral and Polarisation in Cutouts of Extragalactic sources from RACS (SPICE-RACS). In our first data release, we image 30 RACS-low fields in StokesI,Q,Uat 25$^{\prime\prime}$angular resolution, across 744–1032 MHz with 1 MHz spectral resolution. Using a bespoke, highly parallelised, software pipeline we are able to rapidly process wide-area spectro-polarimetric ASKAP observations. Notably, we use ‘postage stamp’ cutouts to assess the polarisation properties of 105912 radio components detected in total intensity. We find that our StokesQandUimages have anrmsnoise of$\sim$80$\unicode{x03BC}$Jy PSF$^{-1}$, and our correction for instrumental polarisation leakage allows us to characterise components with$\gtrsim$1% polarisation fraction over most of the field of view. We produce a broadband polarised radio component catalogue that contains 5818 RM measurements over an area of$\sim$1300 deg$^{2}$with an average error in RM of$1.6^{+1.1}_{-1.0}$rad m$^{-2}$, and an average linear polarisation fraction$3.4^{+3.0}_{-1.6}$%. We determine this subset of components using the conditions that the polarised signal-to-noise ratio is$>$8, the polarisation fraction is above our estimated polarised leakage, and the StokesIspectrum has a reliable model. Our catalogue provides an areal density of$4\pm2$RMs deg$^{-2}$; an increase of$\sim$4 times over the previous state-of-the-art (Taylor, Stil, Sunstrum 2009, ApJ, 702, 1230). Meaning that, having used just 3% of the RACS-low sky area, we have produced the 3rd largest RM catalogue to date. This catalogue has broad applications for studying astrophysical magnetic fields; notably revealing remarkable structure in the Galactic RM sky. We will explore this Galactic structure in a follow-up paper. We will also apply the techniques described here to produce an all-Southern-sky RM catalogue from RACS observations. Finally, we make our catalogue, spectra, images, and processing pipeline publicly available.
The SISAL webApp: exploring the speleothem climate and environmental archives of the world
Authors: Hatvani István Gábor , Kern Zoltán , Tanos Péter , Wilhelm Micah , Lechleitner Franziska A. , Kaushal Nikita
Published: August 2023

We present the ‘SISAL webApp’—a web-based tool to query the Speleothem Isotope Synthesis and AnaLysis (SISAL) database. The software provides an easy-to-use front-end interface to mine data from the SISAL database while providing the SQL code alongside as a learning tool. It allows for simple and increasingly complex querying of the SISAL database based on various data and metadata fields. The SISAL webApp version currently hosts SISALv2 of the database with 691 records from 294 sites, 512 of which have standardized chronologies. The SISAL webApp has sufficient flexibility to host future versions of the SISAL database, which may include allied speleothem information such as trace elements and cave-monitoring records. The SISAL webApp will increase accessibility to the SISAL database while also functioning as a learning tool for more advanced ways of querying paleoclimate databases. The SISAL webApp is available at http://geochem.hu/SISAL_webApp.
i-Frame interventions enhance s-frame interventions
Authors: Zhao Jiaying , Chen Frances S.
Published: August 2023

We argue that i-frame interventions can and do increase support for systemic reforms, and s-frame interventions should be pursued in parallel to address key societal issues. Without accompanying i-frame interventions, s-frame interventions can fail. We offer an operant conditioning framework to generate positive spillover effects. Behavioral scientists should develop i-frame interventions that enhance, rather than compete with, s-frame interventions.
Optimizing behavior change through integration of individual- and system-level intervention approaches
Authors: Hagger Martin S. , Hamilton Kyra
Published: August 2023

We contend that individual-level (“i-frame”) intervention strategies can be appropriately integrated with system-level (“s-frame”) strategies to optimize population-level behavior change. We outline instances of effective “i-frame” interventions, and how coordinated, integrated, well-resourced interventions that encompass components at both levels, and has organizational and user-group support, may optimize sustained behavior change intervention efforts, and allay practices that undermine “s-frame” components.
Evaluating evidence for the reliability and validity of lexical diversity indices in L2 oral task responses
Authors: Kyle Kristopher , Sung Hakyung , Eguchi Masaki , Zenker Fred
Published: August 2023

Although lexical diversity is often used as a measure of productive proficiency (e.g., as an aspect of lexical complexity) in SLA studies involving oral tasks, relatively little research has been conducted to support the reliability and/or validity of these indices in spoken contexts. Furthermore, SLA researchers commonly use indices of lexical diversity such as Root TTR (Guiraud’s index) and D (vocd-D and HD-D) that have been preliminarily shown to lack reliability in spoken L2 contexts and/or have been consistently shown to lack reliability in written L2 contexts. In this study, we empirically evaluate lexical diversity indices with respect to two aspects of reliability (text-length independence and across-task stability) and one aspect of validity (relationship with proficiency scores). The results indicated that neither Root TTR nor D is reliable across different text lengths. However, support for the reliability and validity of optimized versions of MATTR and MTLD was found.
Effectiveness of ultraviolet-C disinfection systems for reduction of multi-drug resistant organism infections in healthcare settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sun YanLin , Wu Qi , Liu Jinzhi , Wang Qian
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to summarise the findings of the studies assessing the effectiveness of ultraviolet C (UV-C) room disinfection in reducing the incidence rate of healthcare-associated multi-drug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections. A systematic screening was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental studies, and before–after studies, which assessed the efficacy of the UV-C disinfectant system in reducing the incidence of MDRO infections. A random-effects model was used for the analysis. Effect sizes were described as incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Nine studies were included, all of which were conducted in the USA. No statistically significant reduction in Clostridioides difficile (CD) (IRR: 0.90, 95% CI; 0.62–1.32) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) infection rates (IRR 0.72, 95% CI; 0.38–1.37) was observed with the use of UV-C, but the risk of Gram-negative rod infection was reduced (IRR 0.82, 95% CI; 0.68–0.99).
Hippocampal functional connectivity mediates the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in healthy young adults
Authors: Won Junyeon , Callow Daniel D. , Purcell Jeremy J. , Smith J. Carson
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) induces neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus, a key brain region for memory and learning. We investigated the association between CRF and functional connectivity (FC) of the hippocampus in healthy young adults. We also examined the association between hippocampal FC and neurocognitive function. Lastly, we tested whether hippocampal FC mediates the association between 2-Min Walk Test (2MWT) and neurocognitive function.

Methods:

913 young adults (28.7 ± 3.7 years) from the Human Connectome Project were included in the analyses. The 2MWT performance result was used as a proxy for cardiovascular endurance. Fluid and crystalized composite neurocognitive scores were used to assess cognition. Resting-state functional MRI data were processed to measure hippocampal FC. Linear regression was used to examine the association between 2MWT, hippocampal FC, and neurocognitive outcomes after controlling for age, sex, years of education, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and gait speed.

Results:

Better 2MWT performance was associated with greater FC between the anterior hippocampus and right posterior cingulate and left middle temporal gyrus. No associations between 2MWT and posterior hippocampal FC, whole hippocampal FC, and caudate FC (control region) were observed. Greater anterior hippocampal FC was associated with better crystalized cognition scores. Lastly, greater FC between the anterior hippocampus and right posterior cingulate mediated the association between better 2MWT scores and higher crystalized cognition scores.

Conclusions:

Anterior hippocampal FC may be one underlying neurophysiological mechanism that promotes the association between 2MWT performance and crystalized composite cognitive function in healthy young adults.
Effective communication in palliative care from the perspectives of patients and relatives: A systematic review
Authors: Engel Marijanne , Kars Marijke C. , Teunissen Saskia C.C.M. , van der Heide Agnes
Published: August 2023

Objectives

In palliative care, effective communication is essential to adequately meet the needs and preferences of patients and their relatives. Effective communication includes exchanging information, facilitates shared decision-making, and promotes an empathic care relationship. We explored the perspectives of patients with an advanced illness and their relatives on effective communication with health-care professionals.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted. We searched Embase, Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane for original empirical studies published between January 1, 2015 and March 4, 2021.

Results

In total, 56 articles on 53 unique studies were included. We found 7 themes that from the perspectives of patients and relatives contribute to effective communication: (1) open and honest information. However, this open and honest communication can also trigger anxiety, stress, and existential disruption. Patients and relatives also indicated that they preferred (2) health-care professionals aligning to the patient’s and relative’s process of uptake and coping with information; (3) empathy; (4) clear and understandable language; (5) leaving room for positive coping strategies, (6) committed health-care professionals taking responsibility; and (7) recognition of relatives in their role as caregiver. Most studies in this review concerned communication with physicians in a hospital setting.

Significance of results

Most patients and relatives appreciate health-care professionals to not only pay attention to strictly medical issues but also to who they are as a person and the process they are going through. More research is needed on effective communication by nurses, in nonhospital settings and on communication by health-care professionals specialized in palliative care.
Characterizing Reef Net Metabolism Via the Diel Co‐Variation of pH and Dissolved Oxygen From High Resolution in Situ Sensors
Authors: Cryer Sarah E. , Evans Claire , Fowell Sara E. , Andrews Gilbert , Brown Peter , Carvalho Filipa , Degallerie Diana , Ludgate Jake , Rosado Samir , Sanders Richard , Strong James A. , Theophille Derrick , Young Arlene , Loucaides Socratis
Published: August 2023

Coral reefs are subject to degradation by multiple environmental stressors which are predicted to intensify. Stress can alter ecosystem composition, with shifts from hard coral to macroalgae dominated reefs often accompanied by an increase in soft corals and sponges. Such changes may alter net ecosystem metabolism and biogeochemistry by shifting the balance between photosynthesis, respiration, calcification and dissolution. We deployed high temporal resolution pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors at four Caribbean reef sites with varying covers of hard and soft corals, sponges and macroalgae. The resultant data indicated that the strength of the “metabolic pulse”, specifically the co‐variation in daily pH and DO oscillations, was driven by the net balance of light ‐dependent and ‐independent metabolism. pH and DO were positively correlated over the diel cycle at coral dominated sites, suggesting that photosynthesis and respiration were the major controlling processes, and further indicated by agreement with a simple production:respiration model. Whereas, at a site with high macroalgal cover, pH and DO decoupling was observed during daylight hours. This indicates that an unidentified light‐driven process altered the expected pH:DO relationship. We hypothesize that this could be mediated by the higher levels of macroalgae, which either stimulated bacterial‐mediated carbonate dissolution via the production and release of allelopathic compounds or retained oxygen, evolved during photosynthesis, in the gaseous form in seawater (ebullition). Our work demonstrates that high resolution monitoring of pH and DO provides insight into coral reef biogeochemical functioning and can be key for understanding long‐term changes in coral reef metabolism.
Deuterium Content and Site Occupancy in Iron Sulfide at High Pressure and Temperature Determined Using In Situ Neutron Diffraction Measurements
Authors: Abeykoon Sumith , Howard Christopher , Dominijanni Serena , Eberhard Lisa , Kurnosov Alexander , Frost Daniel J. , Ballaran Tiziana Boffa , Terasaki Hidenori , Sakamaki Tatsuya , Suzuki Akio , Ohtani Eiji , Sano‐Furukawa Asami , Abe Jun
Published: August 2023

We have performed in situ time‐of‐flight neutron diffraction experiments to examine the uptake of deuterium in iron monosulfide at pressures up to 11.4 GPa and temperatures to 1300 K. A D2 fluid was formed in the experiments through the decomposition of ND3BD3, resulting in an oxygen fugacity of approximately 1.2 log units below the iron‐wüstite buffer. Deuterium positions and site occupancies were determined in FeS V, using Rietveld refinements of the powder neutron diffraction patterns. Our structural model indicates that two normally unoccupied sites in the P63/mmc FeS V structure, at Wyckoff positions 6h and 4f, are partially occupied by D atoms, with the latter being more dominant. The deuterium content Dx in FeSDX increases with both pressure and temperature over the experimental conditions explored, from 0.126 (14) at 2.3 GPa and 787 K to 1.20 (16) at 9.7 GPa and 1300 K. The unit‐cell volume expansion per deuterium atom is 1.53 ± 0.16 Å3 at 6.9 GPa and 960 K, which is smaller than that determined for metallic iron phases at similar conditions. The variation in unit‐cell volume indicates that most deuterium is lost from FeS V upon temperature quenching at high‐pressures. By fitting the obtained FeS V deuterium site occupancies to a thermodynamic model, estimates for the hydrogen contents of iron monosulfide at conditions and oxygen fugacities consistent with the base of the cratonic lithosphere can be made. This results in values in the range of 1,700–2,700 ppm, which contribute to approximately 2–3 ppm hydrogen in the bulk mantle.
Frequent ZNF217 mutations lead to transcriptional deregulation of interferon signal transduction via altered chromatin accessibility in B cell lymphoma
Authors: Briest Franziska , Noerenberg Daniel , Hennch Cornelius , Yoshida Kenichi , Hablesreiter Raphael , Nimo Jose , Sasca Daniel , Kirchner Marieluise , Mansouri Larry , Inoue Yoshikage , Wiegand Laura , Staiger Annette M. , Casadei Beatrice , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Weiner January , Lopez-Guillermo Armando , Warth Arne , Schneider Tamás , Nagy Ákos , Klapper Wolfram , Hummel Michael , Kanellis George , Anagnostopoulos Ioannis , Mertins Philipp , Bullinger Lars , Rosenquist Richard , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P. , Ott German , Ogawa Seishi , Damm Frederik
Published: August 2023

Recent exome-wide studies discovered frequent somatic mutations in the epigenetic modifier ZNF217 in primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and related disorders. As functional consequences of ZNF217 alterations remain unknown, we comprehensively evaluated their impact in PMBCL. Targeted sequencing identified genetic lesions affecting ZNF217 in 33% of 157 PMBCL patients. Subsequent gene expression profiling (n = 120) revealed changes in cytokine and interferon signal transduction in ZNF217-aberrant PMBCL cases. In vitro, knockout of ZNF217 led to changes in chromatin accessibility interfering with binding motifs for crucial lymphoma-associated transcription factors. This led to disturbed expression of interferon-responsive and inflammation-associated genes, altered cell behavior, and aberrant differentiation. Mass spectrometry demonstrates that ZNF217 acts within a histone modifier complex containing LSD1, CoREST and HDAC and interferes with H3K4 methylation and H3K27 acetylation. Concluding, our data suggest non-catalytic activity of ZNF217, which directs histone modifier complex function and controls B cell differentiation-associated patterns of chromatin structure.
Raman amplification at 2.2 μm in silicon core fibers with prospects for extended mid-infrared source generation
Authors: Huang Meng , Sun Shiyu , Saini Than S. , Fu Qiang , Xu Lin , Wu Dong , Ren Haonan , Shen Li , Hawkins Thomas W. , Ballato John , Peacock Anna C.
Published: August 2023

Raman scattering provides a convenient mechanism to generate or amplify light at wavelengths where gain is not otherwise available. When combined with recent advancements in high-power fiber lasers that operate at wavelengths ~2 μm, great opportunities exist for Raman systems that extend operation further into the mid-infrared regime for applications such as gas sensing, spectroscopy, and biomedical analyses. Here, a thulium-doped fiber laser is used to demonstrate Raman emission and amplification from a highly nonlinear silicon core fiber (SCF) platform at wavelengths beyond 2 μm. The SCF has been tapered to obtain a micrometer-sized core diameter (~1.6 μm) over a length of 6 cm, with losses as low as 0.2 dB cm−1. A maximum on-off peak gain of 30.4 dB was obtained using 10 W of peak pump power at 1.99 μm, with simulations indicating that the gain could be increased to up to ~50 dB by extending the SCF length. Simulations also show that by exploiting the large Raman gain and extended mid-infrared transparency of the SCF, cascaded Raman processes could yield tunable systems with practical output powers across the 2–5 μm range.
Optimal glycan density for interactions between Siglec-8 and sialyl sulfo oligosaccharides
Authors: Naka Risa , Law Simon Sau Yin , Tateishi Ayaka , Numata Keiji , Ohmae Masashi
Published: August 2023

Siglec-8, a lectin involved in the suppression of allergic responses, is considered a therapeutic target for developing glycan materials that enable the regulation of inflammatory diseases. In developing such glycan materials, the “multivalent effect” is essential for regulating immune responses. The “multivalent effect” dramatically increases the apparent affinities (avidities) of glycan-lectin interactions by clustering the glycan ligand multivalently. Numerous lectin-glycan interactions utilize this effect in immunological reactions, and Siglec-8 is thought to show an effect similar to those of other lectins. However, we hypothesized that increasing the local concentration of glycan ligands and modulating the glycan density are essential in allowing glycan ligands to interact effectively with Siglec-8. Here, we investigate the density-dependent changes in avidities between Siglec-8 and sialyl sulfo-oligosaccharides with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) for the first time. As a result, it was determined that Siglec-8 has an optimal glycan density (~9.2 × 102 molecules μm−2) for preferred interactions. Additionally, this suggests that the regulation of glycan density is key to developing therapeutic materials targeting Siglec-8. The results described here will promote the development of glycan materials that ameliorate immune disorders such as inflammation and anaphylaxis.
Revealing the role of interfacial water and key intermediates at ruthenium surfaces in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Chen Xing , Wang Xiao-Ting , Le Jia-Bo , Li Shu-Min , Wang Xue , Zhang Yu-Jin , Radjenovic Petar , Zhao Yu , Wang Yao-Hui , Lin Xiu-Mei , Dong Jin-Chao , Li Jian-Feng
Published: August 2023

Ruthenium exhibits comparable or even better alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction activity than platinum, however, the mechanistic aspects are yet to be settled, which are elucidated by combining in situ Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations herein. We simultaneously capture dynamic spectral evidence of Ru surfaces, interfacial water, *H and *OH intermediates. Ru surfaces exist in different valence states in the reaction potential range, dissociating interfacial water differently and generating two distinct *H, resulting in different activities. The local cation tuning effect of hydrated Na+ ion water and the large work function of high-valence Ru(n+) surfaces promote interfacial water dissociation. Moreover, compared to low-valence Ru(0) surfaces, high-valence Ru(n+) surfaces have more moderate adsorption energies for interfacial water, *H, and *OH. They, therefore, facilitate the activity. Our findings demonstrate the regulation of valence state on interfacial water, intermediates, and finally the catalytic activity, which provide guidelines for the rational design of high-efficiency catalysts.
Targeted mechanical stimulation via magnetic nanoparticles guides in vitro tissue development
Authors: Abdel Fattah Abdel Rahman , Kolaitis Niko , Van Daele Katrien , Daza Brian , Rustandi Andika Gregorius , Ranga Adrian
Published: August 2023

Tissues take shape through a series of morphogenetic movements guided by local cell-scale mechanical forces. Current in vitro approaches to recapitulate tissue mechanics rely on uncontrolled self-organization or on the imposition of extrinsic and homogenous forces using matrix or instrument-driven stimulation, thereby failing to recapitulate highly localized and spatially varying forces. Here we develop a method for targeted mechanical stimulation of organoids using embedded magnetic nanoparticles. We show that magnetic clusters within organoids can be produced by sequential aggregation of magnetically labeled and non-labeled human pluripotent stem cells. These clusters impose local mechanical forces on the surrounding cells in response to applied magnetic fields. We show that precise, spatially defined actuation provides short-term mechanical tissue perturbations as well as long-term cytoskeleton remodeling in these organoids, which we term “magnetoids”. We demonstrate that targeted magnetic nanoparticle-driven actuation guides asymmetric tissue growth and proliferation, leading to enhanced patterning in human neural magnetoids. This approach, enabled by nanoparticle technology, allows for precise and locally controllable mechanical actuation in human neural tube organoids, and could be widely applicable to interrogate the role of local mechanotransduction in developmental and disease model systems.
An orexigenic subnetwork within the human hippocampus
Authors: Barbosa Daniel A. N. , Gattas Sandra , Salgado Juliana S. , Kuijper Fiene Marie , Wang Allan R. , Huang Yuhao , Kakusa Bina , Leuze Christoph , Luczak Artur , Rapp Paul , Malenka Robert C. , Hermes Dora , Miller Kai J. , Heifets Boris D. , Bohon Cara , McNab Jennifer A. , Halpern Casey H.
Published: August 2023

Only recently have more specific circuit-probing techniques become available to inform previous reports implicating the rodent hippocampus in orexigenic appetitive processing1–4. This function has been reported to be mediated at least in part by lateral hypothalamic inputs, including those involving orexigenic lateral hypothalamic neuropeptides, such as melanin-concentrating hormone5,6. This circuit, however, remains elusive in humans. Here we combine tractography, intracranial electrophysiology, cortico-subcortical evoked potentials, and brain-clearing 3D histology to identify an orexigenic circuit involving the lateral hypothalamus and converging in a hippocampal subregion. We found that low-frequency power is modulated by sweet-fat food cues, and this modulation was specific to the dorsolateral hippocampus. Structural and functional analyses of this circuit in a human cohort exhibiting dysregulated eating behaviour revealed connectivity that was inversely related to body mass index. Collectively, this multimodal approach describes an orexigenic subnetwork within the human hippocampus implicated in obesity and related eating disorders.
Anthropogenic fingerprints in daily precipitation revealed by deep learning
Authors: Ham Yoo-Geun , Kim Jeong-Hwan , Min Seung-Ki , Kim Daehyun , Li Tim , Timmermann Axel , Stuecker Malte F.
Published: August 2023

According to twenty-first century climate-model projections, greenhouse warming will intensify rainfall variability and extremes across the globe1–4. However, verifying this prediction using observations has remained a substantial challenge owing to large natural rainfall fluctuations at regional scales3,4. Here we show that deep learning successfully detects the emerging climate-change signals in daily precipitation fields during the observed record. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN)5 with daily precipitation fields and annual global mean surface air temperature data obtained from an ensemble of present-day and future climate-model simulations6. After applying the algorithm to the observational record, we found that the daily precipitation data represented an excellent predictor for the observed planetary warming, as they showed a clear deviation from natural variability since the mid-2010s. Furthermore, we analysed the deep-learning model with an explainable framework and observed that the precipitation variability of the weather timescale (period less than 10 days) over the tropical eastern Pacific and mid-latitude storm-track regions was most sensitive to anthropogenic warming. Our results highlight that, although the long-term shifts in annual mean precipitation remain indiscernible from the natural background variability, the impact of global warming on daily hydrological fluctuations has already emerged.
Relationship between bibliometric indicators and university ranking positions
Authors: Szluka Péter , Csajbók Edit , Győrffy Balázs
Published: August 2023

A growing interest for demonstrating prestige and status of higher education institutions has spurred the establishment of several international ranking systems. A major percentage of these rankings include parameters related to scientific productivity. Here, we examined the differences between diverse rankings as well as correlation with bibliometric parameters and disciplines for the top universities. We investigated the top 300 universities from four international rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE), the QS World University Rankings (QS) the ShanghaiRanking-Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and the U.S.News Best Global Universities Ranking (USNews). The assessed parameters include ranking positions, size related and bibliometrics-related indicators of each selected ranking. The weight of scientometric parameters ranges between 20% (QS) and 75% (USNews). The most important parameters defining ranking positions include citations, international reputation, and the number of researchers, but the correlation strength varies among ranking systems. The absolute number of publications and citations are particularly important in ARWU and USNews rankings, and scientific category normalized (field weighted) citation impact is central in THE and USNews rankings. Our results confirm that universities having outstanding results in rankings using size-independent indicators (QS and THE) compared to others have significantly lower number of students. High impact research can improve position in ARWU and USNews ranking lists. Regarding to different disciplines, the main results show that outstanding universities in THE ranking have higher publication activity in social sciences and universities which perform better in USNews and QS ranking have more publications in science, technology, and medicine fields and lower score in social sciences. In brief, here we present a comprehensive analysis of the correlation between scientometric parameters and university ranking positions, as well as the performance of outstanding universities and their correlation with different disciplines, to help decision makers select parameters for strengthening and to attract the interest of prospective students and their parents via a better understanding of the functions of different ranks.
A display and analysis platform for gut microbiomes of minority people and phenotypic data in China
Authors: Li Jun , Wei Chunxue , Zhou Ting , Mo Chunfen , Wang Guanjun , He Feng , Wang Pengyu , Qin Ling , Peng Fujun
Published: August 2023

The minority people panmicrobial community database (MPPCD website: http://mppmcdb.cloudna.cn/) is the first microbe-disease association database of Chinese ethnic minorities. To research the relationships between intestinal microbes and diseases/health in the ethnic minorities, we collected the microbes of the Han people for comparison. Based on the data, such as age, among the different ethnic groups of the different regions of Sichuan Province, MPPCD not only provided the gut microbial composition but also presented the relative abundance value at the phylum, class, order, family and genus levels in different groups. In addition, differential analysis was performed in different microbes in the two different groups, which contributed to exploring the difference in intestinal microbe structures between the two groups. Meanwhile, a series of related factors, including age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, physical condition, and living altitude, were included in the MPPCD, with special focus on living altitude. To date, this is the first intestinal microbe database to introduce altitude features. In conclusion, we hope that MPPCD will serve as a fundamental research support for the relationship between human gut microbes and host health and disease, especially in ethnic minorities.
Tracking the flight and landing behaviour of western flower thrips in response to single and two-colour cues
Authors: Lopez-Reyes Karla , Lankheet Martin J. , van Tol Robert W. H. M. , Butler Ruth C. , Teulon David A. J. , Armstrong Karen F.
Published: August 2023

Real-time 3D tracking and high-speed videography was used to examine the behaviour of a worldwide greenhouse pest, the western flower thrips (WFT), in response to different colours in the context of improving trap design. Measurements were taken of the number of landings on, and flight activity near, a lamp containing two LEDs of either the same colour or a combination of two colours presented side by side. Main findings show that landing patterns of WFT are different between colours, with landings on UV(+ red) as highly attractive stimulus being mostly distributed at the bottom half of the lamp, while for yellow also as very attractive and green as a ‘neutral’ stimulus, landings were clearly on the upper rim of the lamp. Additionally, a positive interaction with the UV-A(+ red) and yellow combination elicited the highest number of landings and flight time in front of the LED lamp. Conversely, a negative interaction was observed with decreased landings and flight time found for yellow when blue was present as the adjacent colour. Overall, differences between treatments were less obvious for flight times compared to number of landings, with tracking data suggesting that WFT might use different colours to orientate at different distances as they approach a visual stimulus.