bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural variation and eQTL analysis in two experimental populations of chickens divergently selected for feather-pecking behavior
Authors: Falker-Gieske Clemens , Bennewitz Jörn , Tetens Jens
Published: November 2022

Feather pecking (FP) is a damaging nonaggressive behavior in laying hens with a heritable component. Its occurrence has been linked to the immune system, the circadian clock, and foraging behavior. Furthermore, dysregulation of miRNA biogenesis, disturbance of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) system, as well as neurodevelopmental deficiencies are currently under debate as factors influencing the propensity for FP behavior. Past studies, which focused on the dissection of the genetic factors involved in FP, relied on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short insertions and deletions < 50 bp (InDels). These variant classes only represent a certain fraction of the genetic variation of an organism. Hence, we reanalyzed whole-genome sequencing data from two experimental populations, which have been divergently selected for FP behavior for over more than 15 generations, performed variant calling for structural variants (SVs) as well as tandem repeats (TRs), and jointly analyzed the data with SNPs and InDels. Genotype imputation and subsequent genome-wide association studies, in combination with expression quantitative trait loci analysis, led to the discovery of multiple variants influencing the GABAergic system. These include a significantly associated TR downstream of the GABA receptor subunit beta-3 (GABRB3) gene, two microRNAs targeting several GABA receptor genes, and dystrophin (DMD), a direct regulator of GABA receptor clustering. Furthermore, we found the transcription factor ETV1 to be associated with the differential expression of 23 genes, which points toward a role of ETV1, together with SMAD4 and KLF14, in the disturbed neurodevelopment of high-feather pecking chickens.
Comprehensive transcriptomic profiling and mutational landscape of primary gastric linitis plastica
Authors: Liu Zhu , Hong Lian-Lian , Zheng Jin-Sen , Ling Zhe-Nan , Zhang Zhi-Long , Qi Ya-Nan , Zhang Xin-Yu , Zhu Tian-Yu , Wang Jiu-Li , Han Jing , Chen Xiang-Liu , Yu Qi-Ming , Wang Shi , Li Pei , Ling Zhi-Qiang
Published: November 2022

Background

Primary gastric linitis plastica (GLP) is a distinct phenotype of gastric cancer with poor survival. Comprehensive molecular profiles and putative therapeutic targets of GLP remain undetermined.

Methods

We subjected 10 tumor-normal tissue pairs to whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS). 10 tumor samples were all GLP which involves 100% of the gastric wall macroscopically. TCGA data were compared to generate the top mutated genes and the overexpressed genes in GLP.

Results

Our results reveal that GLP has distinctive genomic and transcriptomic features, dysfunction in the Hippo pathway is likely to be a key step during GLP development. 6 genes were identified as significantly highly mutated genes in GLP, including AOX1, ANKRD36C, CPXM1, PTPN14, RPAP1, and DCDC1). MUC6, as a previously identified gastric cancer driver gene, has a high mutation rate (20%) in GLP. 20% of patients in our GLP cohort had CDH1 mutations, while none had RHOA mutations. GLP exhibits high immunodeficiency and low AMPK pathway activity. Our WTS results showed that 3 PI3K-AKT pathway-related genes (PIK3R2, AKT3, and IGF1) were significantly up-regulated in GLP. Two genes were identified using immunohistochemistry (IHC), IGF2BP3 and MUC16, which specifically expressed in diffuse-type-related gastric cancer cell lines, and its knockdown inhibits PI3K-AKT pathway activity.

Conclusions

We provide the first integrative genomic and transcriptomic profiles of GLP, which may facilitate its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Wahlerfolg der AfD und die Flüchtlingskrise: Spielen regionale Disparitäten eine Rolle?
Authors: Bartholomae Florian W. , Nam Chang Woon , Rafih Pierre
Published: November 2022

Während Populismus in Europa weiterhin weitverbreitet ist, sieht sich der Kontinent mit einer neuen Flüchtlingsdynamik konfrontiert. Nach der Krise von 2015/2016 ist die EU nun damit beschäftigt, die Herausforderungen der ukrainischen Zuwanderung besser und effizienter zu bewältigen. Aufgrund geopolitischer Veränderungen und zunehmender globaler Ungleichheit ist auch in Zukunft mit weiterer Zuwanderung zu rechnen. Da häufig die These vertreten wird, dass die Zuwanderung Populismus und die Unterstützung für rechtsextreme Parteien verstärkt, kann dies zu politischer Instabilität und Spaltung führen. In diesem Beitrag wird der Zusammenhang zwischen regionalen Disparitäten in der Flüchtlingskrise 2015/2016 und dem Erfolg der AfD bei der Bundestagswahl 2017 untersucht.
Behebung eines Webfehlers: Wie die Konjunkturkomponente demokratisch legitimiert und nachhaltiger werden könnte
Authors: Schuster Florian , Sigl-Glöckner Philippa
Published: November 2022

The optimisation of the cyclical adjustment procedure under the German debt brake should focus on how to contribute to a democratically legitimate and sustainable fiscal policy. In this article, we discuss four criteria that should be satisfied: The method must (i) be sufficiently determined, (ii) take the current state of research into account, (iii) incentivise a policy that enhances supply-side capacities, and (iv) be transparent. We show that today’s form of the cyclically adjusted budget balance does not satisfy these criteria, and we propose a reform. Finally, we discuss several recent trends in German fiscal policy, questioning whether such a reform can save the debt brake’s plausibility.
3D CT-Inclusive Deep-Learning Model to Predict Mortality, ICU Admittance, and Intubation in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Di Napoli Alberto , Tagliente Emanuela , Pasquini Luca , Cipriano Enrica , Pietrantonio Filomena , Ortis Piermaria , Curti Simona , Boellis Alessandro , Stefanini Teseo , Bernardini Antonio , Angeletti Chiara , Ranieri Sofia Chiatamone , Franchi Paola , Voicu Ioan Paul , Capotondi Carlo , Napolitano Antonio
Published: November 2022

Chest CT is a useful initial exam in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for assessing lung damage. AI-powered predictive models could be useful to better allocate resources in the midst of the pandemic. Our aim was to build a deep-learning (DL) model for COVID-19 outcome prediction inclusive of 3D chest CT images acquired at hospital admission. This retrospective multicentric study included 1051 patients (mean age 69, SD = 15) who presented to the emergency department of three different institutions between 20th March 2020 and 20th January 2021 with COVID-19 confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Chest CT at hospital admission were evaluated by a 3D residual neural network algorithm. Training, internal validation, and external validation groups included 608, 153, and 290 patients, respectively. Images, clinical, and laboratory data were fed into different customizations of a dense neural network to choose the best performing architecture for the prediction of mortality, intubation, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The AI model tested on CT and clinical features displayed accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and ROC-AUC, respectively, of 91.7%, 90.5%, 92.4%, and 95% for the prediction of patient’s mortality; 91.3%, 91.5%, 89.8%, and 95% for intubation; and 89.6%, 90.2%, 86.5%, and 94% for ICU admission (internal validation) in the testing cohort. The performance was lower in the validation cohort for mortality (71.7%, 55.6%, 74.8%, 72%), intubation (72.6%, 74.7%, 45.7%, 64%), and ICU admission (74.7%, 77%, 46%, 70%) prediction. The addition of the available laboratory data led to an increase in sensitivity for patient’s mortality (66%) and specificity for intubation and ICU admission (50%, 52%, respectively), while the other metrics maintained similar performance results. We present a deep-learning model to predict mortality, ICU admittance, and intubation in COVID-19 patients.

Key Points

• 3D CT-based deep learning model predicted the internal validation set with high accuracy, sensibility and specificity (> 90%) mortality, ICU admittance, and intubation in COVID-19 patients.

• The model slightly increased prediction results when laboratory data were added to the analysis, despite data imbalance. However, the model accuracy dropped when CT images were not considered in the analysis, implying an important role of CT in predicting outcomes.
STAn: analysis of data traces using an event-driven interval temporal logic
Authors: Panizo Laura , Gallardo María-del-Mar
Published: November 2022

The increasing integration of systems into people’s daily routines, especially smartphones, requires ensuring correctness of their functionality and even some performance requirements. Sometimes, we can only observe the interaction of the system (e.g. the smartphone) with its environment at certain time points; that is, we only have access to the data traces produced due to this interaction. This paper presents the toolSTAn, which performs runtime verification on data traces that combine timestamped discrete events and sampled real-valued magnitudes.STAnuses theSpinmodel checker as the underlying execution engine, and analyzes traces against properties described in the so-called event-driven interval temporal logic () by transforming each formula into a network of concurrent automata, written inPromela, that monitors the trace. We present two different transformations for online and offline monitoring, respectively. Then,Spinexplores the state space of the automata network and the trace to return a verdict about the corresponding property. We use the proposal to analyze data traces obtained during mobile application testing in different network scenarios.
Spoof, Bluff, Go For It: A Defence of Spoofing
Authors: Khorasanee Kasim
Published: November 2022

Spoofing—placing orders on financial exchanges intending to withdraw them prior to execution—is widely legally prohibited. I argue instead on two main grounds that spoofing should be permitted and legalised. The first is that spoofing as a form of bluffing remains within the market practice of making legally binding offers—as opposed to lying or betraying trust—and primarily concerns the spoofer’s personal information. As a form of bluffing spoofing helps prevent financial speculators, in particular high-frequency algorithmic traders, from easily profiting by other market actors reliably revealing their underlying preferences through their market activity. The second is that at the systemic level permitting spoofing would benefit non-speculative actors who place orders to hedge economic risk and whose activities provide the raison d’être for financial exchanges, differentiating them from simple forums for gambling. I also address potential concerns that legalised spoofing would drive speculators out of financial markets entirely and, therefore, undermine market liquidity. This work contributes to the wider debate in business ethics regarding bluffing by illustrating the acceptability of bluffs which do not betray counterparty trust or reliance on testimony by remaining within the framework of market practices.
Phosphorylated chitosan accelerates dermal wound healing in diabetic wistar rats
Authors: Anushree U. , Punj Pratik , Vasumathi  , Bharati Sanjay
Published: November 2022

Phosphorylated chitosan (PC), a water-soluble derivative of chitosan possesses several biological and chemical properties suitable for diabetic wound healing. In the present study, we report the synthesis and diabetic wound healing capabilities of PC. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, 13C-NMR and 31P-NMR techniques were employed for the chemical characterization of PC. In vitro, antioxidant properties of PC were determined in terms of Fe3+ reducing, metal chelating, lipid peroxidation and superoxide scavenging ability. The wound healing potential of PC was assessed in diabetic excisional wound rat model. PC exhibited good water solubility, and in vitro antioxidant capacity. Wound contraction was higher in PC-treated wounds (91.11%) as compared to untreated wounds (67.26%) on 14th-day post wound creation. Histopathology of PC-treated wounds revealed improved tissue morphology with higher number of fibroblasts, a thicker epithelial layer, enhanced collagen deposits and angiogenesis as compared to untreated wounds. An overall increase of 57% and 25% in hydroxylamine and hexosamine content respectively were noted as compared to untreated wounds. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in SOD activity and a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxides were recorded in PC-treated wounds as compared to untreated wounds. These observations demonstrated that PC can be used as an effective agent in diabetic wound healing.

Graphical Abstract

Illustration of phosphorylated chitosan (PC) synthesis and its wound healing potential: Chitosan was phosphorylated to impart diabetic wound healing properties. Chemical characterizations such as elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR confirmed successful phosphorylation of chitosan. PC exhibited good in vitro antioxidant properties. To assess the diabetic wound healing potential, an excisional wound model was developed in diabetic rats. PC treatment demonstrated accelerated wound healing.
Variant analysis of grain size related genes in the genus Sorghum
Authors: Ananda Galaihalage K. S. , Norton Sally L. , Barnes Eve , Furtado Agnelo , Møller Birger Lindberg , Gleadow Roslyn , Henry Robert J.
Published: November 2022

Grain size and weight are two of the most important determinants of crop yield. Key genes associated with the grain size and weight have been identified in major crops. However, studies on the genetic basis of the grain size and weight related genes in wild Sorghum are limited. In this study, we analysed the variation of grain size related genes using variant analysis of 15 accessions across one cultivated and six tertiary gene pool species representing the five subgenera of Sorghum. A wide variation in grain size related parameters was observed. The highest grain weight, width, and thickness was observed for the accession S. bicolor (L.) Moench 314,746, while the highest grain length was observed for the accession S. macrospermum E.D. Garber 302,367. The wild sorghum species exhibited high morphological diversity. The six candidate genes related to grain size, Sobic.001G335800 (qGW7/GL7), Sobic.001G341700 (GS3), Sobic.002G257900 (GW8), Sobic.003G035400 (GW5/qSW5), Sobic.004G107300 (GW2), and Sobic.009G053600 (GS5) showed polymorphism in the coding sequence regions including variants generating premature stop codons. These variants might contribute to the observed variation in grain size and weight. The tertiary wild sorghum species may be a useful source of genes for understanding and engineering grain size in sorghum and other cereals.
Structure of university licensing networks
Authors: Modic Dolores , Lužar Borut , Yoshioka-Kobayashi Tohru
Published: November 2022

We study the structure and evolution of networks of inventors involved in university licensing and patenting. In particular, we focus on networks of inventors that have successfully licensed a university patent (i.e.,licensing networks), and investigate levels of their fragmentation, cliquishness, and whether they exhibit the small world phenomenon. We find that these licensing networks are more fragmented and cliquish than the networks of inventors engaged in all (not necessarily licensed) patents (i.e.,patenting networks), and that they are not small worlds. Additionally, by comparing the created licensing networks to random subnetworks of the patenting networks, we find that concerns in regard to the potential effects of opportunistic behavior are, to some degree, justified. We detect an interesting collaboration behavior of inventors who license, which we designate as dualistic opportunistic behavior.
Somatic embryogenesis in Abies nebrodensis, an endangered Sicilian fir
Authors: Jouini Nourhene , Yahyaoui Emna , Tarraf Waed , İzgü Tolga , Benelli Carla , Lambardi Maurizio , Germanà Maria Antonietta
Published: November 2022

Somatic embryogenesis, as a promising biotechnological tool for many conifer trees, has never been applied for the Abies nebrodensis species. Although all the encouraging results previously obtained by the EU LIFE (European LIFE program) funded projects in over ten years, the critically endangered Sicilian fir remains alarmingly close to extinction. In this study, we reported the first protocol of somatic embryogenesis obtained from mature zygotic embryos of the Abies nebrodensis. Seeds from Abies adult trees with specific identification numbers (IN) were collected and full seeds were identified by X-ray. Different experiments were carried out for callus initiation, from both zygotic immature and mature embryos, testing different culture media. The immature embryos did not give embryogenic tissue (ET). Embryogenic callus (EC) was successfully induced from mature embryos with variable frequencies (0–40%). Schenk and Hilderbrandt (SH) was the most suitable initiation medium where the obtained callus initiation rate reached up to 40% for IN7 (first experiment). 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) showed to be essential to induce EC (second experiment). IN8 presented the highest callus initiation rate (40%) among all tested donor trees, whereas IN13 recorded the lowest rate with 4% (third experiment). ET maturation from each singular embryo of IN7, IN8, IN10 and IN21 was successfully achieved in SH medium containing 37,83 µM abscisic acid (ABA), 8% of polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000) and 4% maltose. The encapsulation technology was assessed on the obtained ET and its proliferation was observed after encapsulation.
High current limits in chemical vapor deposited graphene spintronic devices
Authors: Belotcerkovtceva Daria , Panda J. , Ramu M. , Sarkar Tapati , Noumbe Ulrich , Kamalakar M. Venkata
Published: November 2022

Understanding the stability and current-carrying capacity of graphene spintronic devices is key to their applications in graphene channel-based spin current sensors, spin-torque oscillators, and potential spin-integrated circuits. However, despite the demonstrated high current densities in exfoliated graphene, the current-carrying capacity of large-scale chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene is not established. Particularly, the grainy nature of chemical vapor deposited graphene and the presence of a tunnel barrier in CVD graphene spin devices pose questions about the stability of high current electrical spin injection. In this work, we observe that despite structural imperfections, CVD graphene sustains remarkably highest currents of 5.2 × 108 A/cm2, up to two orders higher than previously reported values in multilayer CVD graphene, with the capacity primarily dependent upon the sheet resistance of graphene. Furthermore, we notice a reversible regime, up to which CVD graphene can be operated without degradation with operating currents as high as 108 A/cm2, significantly high and durable over long time of operation with spin valve signals observed up to such high current densities. At the same time, the tunnel barrier resistance can be modified by the application of high currents. Our results demonstrate the robustness of large-scale CVD graphene and bring fresh insights for engineering and harnessing pure spin currents for innovative device applications.
Scene text recognition via context modeling for low-quality image in logistics industry
Authors: Heng Herui , Li Peiji , Guan Tuxin , Yang Tianyu
Published: November 2022

Text recognition has been applied in many fields recently, such as robot vision, video retrieval, and scene understanding. However, minimal research has been conducted in the field of logistics wherein images of express sheets captured by cameras are mostly curved, distorted, and have low resolution. In this study, a new method is proposed to address the aforementioned research gap while simultaneously considering irregular and low-resolution English letters. The entire approach comprises a rectification module, a convolutional neural network (CNN) extractor, a semantic context module (SCM), a global context module (GCM), and a lightweight transformer decoder that can exhibit improved training speed. In particular, we propose the idea of context modeling in our proposed method. (1) The proposed SCM is introduced to capture full-image dependencies and generates rich semantic context information. (2) We propose the GCM, which not only enhances long-range dependencies from the output of SCM but also outputs abundant pixel information to the self-attention decoder. (3) To solve the low-resolution text recognition problem in a large number of express sheet scenes, we propose Chinese datasets for improving intelligent logistics. Experiments conducted on six public benchmarks demonstrate that the developed method achieves better robustness to low-resolution and irregular text images.
Triangular modular curves of small genus
Authors: Duque-Rosero Juanita , Voight John
Published: November 2022

Triangular modular curves are a generalization of modular curves that arise from quotients of the upper half-plane by congruence subgroups of hyperbolic triangle groups. These curves also arise naturally as a source of Belyi maps with monodromy $$\text {PGL}_2(\mathbb {F}_q)$$

PGL
2

(

F
q

)

or $$\text {PSL}_2(\mathbb {F}_q)$$

PSL
2

(

F
q

)

. We present a computational approach to enumerate Borel-type triangular modular curves of low genus, and we carry out this enumeration for prime level and small genus.
Fulfilling social needs through anthropomorphic technology? A reflection on existing research and empirical insights of an interview study
Authors: Christoforakos Lara , Diefenbach Sarah
Published: November 2022

As interactive technologies, such as chatbots or voice assistants, increasingly become social counterparts and resemble human interaction partners in many ways, the question arises whether they are also able to address users’ social needs. This paper explores whether interaction with technology can address social needs and what role technology anthropomorphism plays in this. While previous research shows somewhat contradictory results potentially related to challenges of applied assessment methods of anthropomorphism and social needs, we complement this by means of a qualitative interview study (n = 8). Our study findings support a potential of anthropomorphic technology to address users’ social needs but also highlight differences between the quality of human-technology and interpersonal interaction. In addition, our findings hint at a social desirability bias, since people see social need fulfillment through technology as silly or inappropriate. Design and societal implications are discussed.

Practical Relevance: This article explores the potential of technology to address users’ social needs and discusses practical implications for marketing and design, e.g., how technologies should be designed in order to affect users’ social needs and which contexts of application might be suitable. Moreover, the article also reflects on societal implications resulting from a potential effect of interaction with technology on users’ social needs.
Optimization Model of Raw Material Selection Process for Complex Industry Based on Improved Sequential Quadratic Programming Algorithm
Authors: He Xiuli , Zhang Yang , Hong Mengna , Li Jigeng
Published: November 2022

Raw materials for industrial production mainly come from nature with wide sources and uneven quality, while production requires strictly with the materials’ quality and their quality indicators are very mutual coupling. In actual production, unreasonable combination and formula often exist in the process of raw material selection, impeding the improvement of production efficiency, quality, energy-saving, and emission reduction. Unfortunately, research on this actual issue is currently vacant, so the main object of this paper is to address the selection of raw materials and formulations in actual production. Based on the designed logical combination algorithm and improved SQP algorithm, this study established the batch combination model and formula calculation model from the perspective of optimal combination and formula. Finally, a practical example of actual production is given to demonstrate the utility and application of this research.
MnBi2Te4 – a good platform for topological quantum physics study
Authors: Tan Weilun , Liu Jing , Li Hui , Guan Dandan , Jia Jin-Feng
Published: November 2022

Magnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 is an intrinsic van der Waals layer structure compound. The interplay between magnetism and topology makes MnBi2Te4 a good platform to investigate controllable topological phase transition and emerging physical states such as quantum anomalous Hall state and Weyl semimetal phase. Crystal characterization showed a rhombohedral unit cell composing of Te-Bi-Te-Mn-Te-Bi-Te septuple layer (SL) coupled antiferromagnetically. Systematically investigation of surface states with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and of bulk states with transport measurement showed detailed electronic structure of MnBi2Te4 crystal. Rich topological phases were observed in MnBi2Te4. Temperature, doping and external magnetic field could affect the different topological phases and induce phase transitions in certain conditions. Quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) was realized at as high as 6.5 K in 5-SLs MnBi2Te4 flake. Furthermore, the negative to positive magnetoresistance transition and the thickness dependent QAHE Chern number of MnBi2Te4 provide strong evidences for the Weyl semimetal states in this material. Based on experiments done from 2019 to 2022, our review should shed light on future research opportunities on MnBi2Te4 compound.
Hydrodynamics and sediment transport patterns on intertidal flats along middle Jiangsu coast
Authors: Xing Fei , Wang Ya Ping , Jia Jianjun
Published: November 2022

Two field campaigns in Dafeng and Jianggang were organized to compare spatial variations of hydrodynamic characteristics and sediment transport patterns on intertidal flats of different types with distinct human interferences along middle Jiangsu coast, China. The major contributors to the different patterns of sediment dynamics between the two tidal flats were offshore tidal current field and human interference. Offshore tidal force provide the basic setup of tidal current patterns on tidal flats, which is then modified by local morphology. Seawalls parallel to coast reduce tidal flat width, forcing tidal energy to dissipate within a shorter distance and thus influencing tidal flat morphology. Seawalls vertical to coast and major tidal current significantly reduce tidal current speed, which favors sediment deposition on tidal flats. Two seawalls built on both sides of the observational tidal flat profile caused much reduced current speed at Dafeng tidal flat, comparing to the offshore station. Being exposed to offshore radial tidal currents, hydrodynamics at Jianggang was much stronger than that at Dafeng. Residual currents at both areas showed net landward transport at the lower flat and net seaward transport at the upper flat, in favor to sediment accumulation at the middle flat. Sediment flux over tidal cycles showed net landward sediment transport at Dafeng, and net seaward transport at Jianggang, consistent with the convex-up accretion-dominated profile observed at Dafenge, and concave-up erosion-dominated profile observed at Jianggang. The instantaneons sediment flux changed significantly due to variations in velocity and sediment concentrations, but these terms counteracted with each other within tidal cycles, leading to the dominant role of Eulerian flux in determining net sediment flux over tidal cycles.
Western Countries Have Shown Poorer Rather Than Better Performance Against COVID-19
Authors: Boretti Alberto
Published: November 2022

Western countries have been subjectively claimed to have performed much better than other countries in combatting COVID-19 because of their alleged democratic governance. Here, I show that the performance of their pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures has in fact been poorer than that in non-Western countries, not because of democratic governance but only because of poor decision-making.
The role of mass loss in chemodynamical evolution of galaxies
Authors: Kobayashi Chiaki
Published: November 2022

Thanks to the long-term collaborations between nuclear and astrophysics, we have good understanding on the origin of elements in the universe, except for the elements around Ti and some neutron-capture elements. From the comparison between observations of nearby stars and Galactic chemical evolution models, a rapid neutron-capture process associated with core-collapse supernovae is required. The production of C, N, F and some minor isotopes depends on the rotation of massive stars, and the observations of distant galaxies with ALMA indicate rapid cosmic enrichment. It might be hard to find very metal-poor or Population III (and dust-free) galaxies at very high redshifts even with JWST.
Situating Politics: Spatial Heterogeneity and the Study of Political History
Authors: Slez Adam
Published: November 2022

While quantitative methods are routinely used to examine historical materials, critics take issue with the use of global regression models that attach a single parameter to each predictor, thereby ignoring the effects of time and space, which together define the context in which historical events unfold. This problem can be addressed by allowing for parameter heterogeneity, as highlighted by the proliferation of work on the use of time-varying parameter models. In this article, I show how this approach can be extended to the case of spatial data using spatially varying coefficient models, with an eye toward the study of electoral politics, where the use of spatial data is especially common in historical settings. Toward this end, I revisit a critical case in the field of quantitative history: the rise of electoral Populism in the American West in the period between 1890 and 1896. Upending popular narratives about the correlates of third-party support in the late nineteenth century, I show that the association between third-party vote share and traditional predictors such as economic hardship and ethnic composition varied considerably from one place to the next, giving rise to distinct varieties of electoral Populism—a finding that is missed by global models, which mistake the mathematically particular for the historically general. These findings have important theoretical and empirical implications for the study of political action in a world where parameter heterogeneity is increasingly recognized as a standard feature of modern social science.
Young Lads and Old Tars: Changing Age Structure of the Nordic Sailors, 1750s–1930s
Authors: Ojala Jari , Eloranta Jari , Pehkonen Jaakko , Ojala Anu
Published: November 2022

This article analyzes the changing age structure of Swedish and Finnish sailors for almost 200 years. We show that the proportion of the youngest men increased during the age of sail (i.e., the older technology). The average age increased significantly during the early twentieth century as steam (i.e., the newer technology) replaced sail in Nordic shipping. Thus, a technological revolution did not displace the older workers, but rather diminished the demand for the younger ones. This study shows, however, that technological changes were not the only drivers of changes in the age structure of Nordic sailors. Institutional and societal changes also played an important role, though they were at least partly coevolving with the technological changes. This study also shows that the maritime industry experienced professionalization especially during the latter part of the period.
Wealth mobility in the United States: 1860–1870
Authors: Dupont Brandon , Rosenbloom Joshua L.
Published: November 2022

We offer new evidence on the dynamics of wealth holding in the United States over the Civil War decade based on a hand-linked random sample of wealth holders drawn from the 1860 census. Despite the wealth shock caused by emancipation, we find that patterns of wealth mobility were broadly similar for northern and southern residents in 1860. Looking at the determinants of individual wealth holding in 1870, we find that the elasticity with respect to 1860 wealth was quite low in both regions – consistent with high levels of wealth mobility.
The Differential Relationship Between Self-Reported Interoceptive Accuracy and Attention With Psychopathology
Authors: Brand Sebastian , Petzke Tara M. , Witthöft Michael
Published: November 2022

Abstract. Background: Only recently has interoception been discussed as a common risk factor for psychopathology. Recent approaches distinguish between the ability to accurately perceive ( interoceptive accuracy) and the propensity to attend ( interoceptive attention) to internal signals. Objective: To examine the latent structure of self-reported interoceptive accuracy and attention and their relationships to psychopathology. Methods: We used a confirmatory factor analysis to clarify the latent structure of interoceptive accuracy and attention. Structural equation modeling was utilized to determine relationships between both abilities with internalizing and somatoform symptomatology according to the HiTOP model ( Kotov et al., 2017 ). Data from N = 619 persons from the German general population were analyzed. Results: Interoceptive attention showed significant positive relationships with all psychopathological traits ( r = .221 to r = .377), whereas interoceptive accuracy was negatively associated with internalizing symptomatology ( r = -.106). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that personal beliefs about interoceptive abilities have different influences on psychopathological developments.
Multi‐Step Vertical Coupling During the January 2017 Sudden Stratospheric Warming
Authors: Becker Erich , Goncharenko Larisa , Harvey V. Lynn , Vadas Sharon L.
Published: November 2022

This study analyzes a simulation of the Arctic winter 2016–2017 with focus on multi‐step vertical coupling (MSVC) by primary, secondary, and higher‐order gravity waves (GWs). We employ the HIgh Altitude Mechanistic general Circulation Model with nudging of the large scales to MERRA‐2 reanalysis. Simulation results confirm the well‐known effects from primary GWs in the winter middle atmosphere regarding strong westward GW drag and a warm winter polar stratopause during the strong‐vortex period in late December 2016, as well as weak eastward GW drag and mesospheric cooling during the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in late January and early February 2017. Since the amplitudes of the primary GWs that dissipate in the middle atmosphere are weaker for a reversed or weakened polar vortex, the theory for secondary GW generation predicts reduced MSVC in this case. This is confirmed by strongly reduced secondary and higher‐order GW amplitudes during the SSW and the weak‐vortex period in February. The wintertime higher‐order GWs show partial concentric ring structures above their sources in the lower thermosphere. We find that mostly those higher‐order GWs propagate to higher altitudes that have horizontal propagation directions against the tidal winds. The simulated GWs at 300 km height and observed perturbations of total electron content over Europe and North America during selected days of low geomagnetic activity show very good agreement regarding (a) the wave characteristics and (b) the reduction of amplitudes during the SSW and early February as compared to late December.
Secular Changes of the Decadal Relationship Between the Northern Hemisphere Land Monsoon Rainfall and Sea Surface Temperature Over the Past Millennium in Climate Model Simulations
Authors: Shen Tianyin , Sun Weiyi , Liu Jian , Wang Bin , Chen Deliang , Ning Liang , Chen Kefan
Published: November 2022

Understanding the decadal variability of Northern Hemisphere land monsoon rainfall (NHLMR) is crucial to social‐economic development. However, due to the temporal limitation of instrumental data, the decadal relationship between NHLMR and sea surface temperature (SST) remains uncertain. The extended El Niño–Southern Oscillation (XEN) SST index and the North Atlantic–south Indian Ocean dipole (NAID) SST index can be the predictors to help us understand the decadal relationship between NHLMR and SST. In this study, using the Community Earth System Model‐Last Millennium Ensemble (CESM‐LME) simulations, we find a significant and stable decadal correlation between the NHLMR and XEN in the all‐forcing (AF) (with natural and anthropogenic forcings, AF), control (internal variability only), and other external forcings run over the past millennium, which means that this simulated NHLMR‐XEN relationship is caused by internal variability. The AF experiments show that the decadal relationship between NHLMR and NAID is practically non‐existent until an abrupt and significant increase in volcanic eruptions at about 1700, which is also indicated by the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project Phase 3) simulations. Using the volcanic forcing sensitivity experiments, we find that the successive strong volcanic eruptions in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) significantly strengthen the synchronous changes of NHLMR and NAID after 1700, with a periodicity of 20–40‐year for NHLMR and NAID. Specifically, successive NH eruptions weaken the north‐south hemispheric thermal contrast, contributing to the weakened NAID index. The cross‐equator flow is thus weakened, decreasing the NHLMR, which cause a resonant behavior of NHLMR and NAID.
Impact of Wettability Alteration on the Front Instability of Immiscible Displacement in Porous Media
Authors: Hosseinzadehsadati S. , Eftekhari A. A. , Nick H. M.
Published: November 2022

Wettability alteration that occurs as a result of changing the brine composition or using chemicals that lower the interfacial tension can significantly alter the mobility of nonaqueous liquid (NAPL)/water phases. Here, we show that including dynamic wettability alternation (moving from non‐water‐wet to water‐wet) or interpolating between two sets of relative permeability curves may create an unstable displacement of the residence‐fluid by the injected fluid. The instability occurs due to not only the viscosity ratio but also the new shape of relative permeability curves and their end‐point values. We perform a full factorial design on Corey relative permeability parameters to determine the most destabilizing factors when the viscosity ratio is one. The observations indicate that instability proliferates when the end‐point relative permeability to the NAPL phase of modified salinity brine increases, and their corresponding exponents decrease compared with high salinity brine (seawater or formation water). Besides, numerical simulations of such a displacement demonstrate that modified salinity water (MSW)'s breakthrough is accelerated by wettability change toward water‐wet compared with a non‐fingering analytical solution. This may result in a delayed mobilization of the NAPL phase in porous media. We also discuss the role of capillary pressure, heterogeneity, and secondary and tertiary injection of MSW in stabilizing the shock front.
The push-pull principle: an electrostatic actuator concept for low distortion acoustic transducers
Authors: Kaiser Bert , Schenk Hermann A. G. , Ehrig Lutz , Wall Franziska , Monsalve Jorge M. , Langa Sergiu , Stolz Michael , Melnikov Anton , Conrad Holger , Schuffenhauer David , Schenk Harald
Published: November 2022

Electrostatic actuators are of particular interest for microsystems (MEMS), and in particular for MEMS audio transducers for use in advanced true wireless applications. They are attractive because of their typically low electrical capacitance and because they can be fabricated from materials that are compatible with standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. For high audio performance and in particular low harmonic distortion (THD) the implementation of the push-pull principle provides strong benefits. With an arrangement of three electrodes in a conjunct moving configuration on a beam, we demonstrate here for the first time a balanced bending actuator incarnating the push-pull principle operating at low voltages. Our first design already exhibits a harmonic distortion as low as 1.2% at 79 dB using a signal voltage of only 6 Vpand a constant voltage of only ±10 Vdcin a standard acoustic measurement setup. Thus, exceeding our previously reported approach in all three key performance indications at the same time. We expect that our novel electrode configurations will stimulate innovative electrostatic actuator developments for a broad range of applications. In this paper we report the basic theory, the fabrication and the performance of our novel actuator design acting as an audio transducer.
FFAR4 improves the senescence of tubular epithelial cells by AMPK/SirT3 signaling in acute kidney injury
Authors: Yang Letian , Wang Bo , Guo Fan , Huang Rongshuang , Liang Yan , Li Lingzhi , Tao Sibei , Yin Ting , Fu Ping , Ma Liang
Published: November 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical complication with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite substantial progress in understanding the mechanism of AKI, no effective therapy is available for treatment or prevention. We previously found that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family member free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4) agonist TUG891 alleviated kidney dysfunction and tubular injury in AKI mice. However, the versatile role of FFAR4 in kidney has not been well characterized. In the study, the expression of FFAR4 was abnormally decreased in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) of cisplatin, cecal ligation/perforation and ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced AKI mice, respectively. Systemic and conditional TEC-specific knockout of FFAR4 aggravated renal function and pathological damage, whereas FFAR4 activation by TUG-891 alleviated the severity of disease in cisplatin-induced AKI mice. Notably, FFAR4, as a key determinant, was firstly explored to regulate cellular senescence both in injured kidneys of AKI mice and TECs, which was indicated by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, marker protein p53, p21, Lamin B1, phospho-histone H2A.X, phospho-Rb expression, and secretory phenotype IL-6 level. Mechanistically, pharmacological activation and overexpression of FFAR4 reversed the decrease of aging-related SirT3 protein, where FFAR4 regulated SirT3 expression to exhibit anti-senescent effect via Gq subunit-mediated CaMKKβ/AMPK signaling in cisplatin-induced mice and TECs. These findings highlight the original role of tubular FFAR4 in cellular senescence via AMPK/SirT3 signaling and identify FFAR4 as a potential drug target against AKI.
Overcoming the low reactivity of biobased, secondary diols in polyester synthesis
Authors: Weinland Daniel H. , van der Maas Kevin , Wang Yue , Bottega Pergher Bruno , van Putten Robert-Jan , Wang Bing , Gruter Gert-Jan M.
Published: November 2022

Shifting away from fossil- to biobased feedstocks is an important step towards a more sustainable materials sector. Isosorbide is a rigid, glucose-derived secondary diol, which has been shown to impart favourable material properties, but its low reactivity has hampered its use in polyester synthesis. Here we report a simple, yet innovative, synthesis strategy to overcome the inherently low reactivity of secondary diols in polyester synthesis. It enables the synthesis of fully biobased polyesters from secondary diols, such as poly(isosorbide succinate), with very high molecular weights (Mn up to 42.8 kg/mol). The addition of an aryl alcohol to diol and diacid monomers was found to lead to the in-situ formation of reactive aryl esters during esterification, which facilitated chain growth during polycondensation to obtain high molecular weight polyesters. This synthesis method is broadly applicable for aliphatic polyesters based on isosorbide and isomannide and could be an important step towards the more general commercial adaption of fully biobased, rigid polyesters.
Aerosol effects on clouds are concealed by natural cloud heterogeneity and satellite retrieval errors
Authors: Arola Antti , Lipponen Antti , Kolmonen Pekka , Virtanen Timo H. , Bellouin Nicolas , Grosvenor Daniel P. , Gryspeerdt Edward , Quaas Johannes , Kokkola Harri
Published: November 2022

One major source of uncertainty in the cloud-mediated aerosol forcing arises from the magnitude of the cloud liquid water path (LWP) adjustment to aerosol-cloud interactions, which is poorly constrained by observations. Many of the recent satellite-based studies have observed a decreasing LWP as a function of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) as the dominating behavior. Estimating the LWP response to the CDNC changes is a complex task since various confounding factors need to be isolated. However, an important aspect has not been sufficiently considered: the propagation of natural spatial variability and errors in satellite retrievals of cloud optical depth and cloud effective radius to estimates of CDNC and LWP. Here we use satellite and simulated measurements to demonstrate that, because of this propagation, even a positive LWP adjustment is likely to be misinterpreted as negative. This biasing effect therefore leads to an underestimate of the aerosol-cloud-climate cooling and must be properly considered in future studies.
Structures of the R-type human Cav2.3 channel reveal conformational crosstalk of the intracellular segments
Authors: Yao Xia , Wang Yan , Wang Zhifei , Fan Xiao , Wu Di , Huang Jian , Mueller Alexander , Gao Sarah , Hu Miaohui , Robinson Carol V. , Yu Yong , Gao Shuai , Yan Nieng
Published: November 2022

The R-type voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels Cav2.3, widely expressed in neuronal and neuroendocrine cells, represent potential drug targets for pain, seizures, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. Despite their physiological importance, there have lacked selective small-molecule inhibitors targeting these channels. High-resolution structures may aid rational drug design. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of human Cav2.3 in complex with α2δ−1 and β3 subunits at an overall resolution of 3.1 Å. The structure is nearly identical to that of Cav2.2, with VSDII in the down state and the other three VSDs up. A phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) molecule binds to the interface of VSDII and the tightly closed pore domain. We also determined the cryo-EM structure of a Cav2.3 mutant in which a Cav2-unique cytosolic helix in repeat II (designated the CH2II helix) is deleted. This mutant, named ΔCH2, still reserves a down VSDII, but PIP2 is invisible and the juxtamembrane region on the cytosolic side is barely discernible. Our structural and electrophysiological characterizations of the wild type and ΔCH2 Cav2.3 show that the CH2II helix stabilizes the inactivated conformation of the channel by tightening the cytosolic juxtamembrane segments, while CH2II helix is not necessary for locking the down state of VSDII.