bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a 7T Epilepsy Task Force consensus imaging protocol for routine presurgical epilepsy work-up: effect on diagnostic yield and lesion delineation
Authors: Hangel Gilbert , Kasprian Gregor , Chambers Stefanie , Haider Lukas , Lazen Philipp , Koren Johannes , Diehm Robert , Moser Katharina , Tomschik Matthias , Wais Jonathan , Winter Fabian , Zeiser Vitalij , Gruber Stephan , Aull-Watschinger Susanne , Traub-Weidinger Tatjana , Baumgartner Christoph , Feucht Martha , Dorfer Christian , Bogner Wolfgang , Trattnig Siegfried , Pataraia Ekaterina , Roessler Karl
Published: October 2023

Objective

Recently, the 7 Tesla (7 T) Epilepsy Task Force published recommendations for 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with pharmaco-resistant focal epilepsy in pre-surgical evaluation. The objective of this study was to implement and evaluate this consensus protocol with respect to both its practicability and its diagnostic value/potential lesion delineation surplus effect over 3 T MRI in the pre-surgical work-up of patients with pharmaco-resistant focal onset epilepsy.

Methods

The 7 T MRI protocol consisted of T1-weighted, T2-weighted, high-resolution-coronal T2-weighted, fluid-suppressed, fluid-and-white-matter-suppressed, and susceptibility-weighted imaging, with an overall duration of 50 min. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the ability of lesion identification, the detection confidence for these identified lesions, and the lesion border delineation at 7 T compared to 3 T MRI.

Results

Of 41 recruited patients > 12 years of age, 38 were successfully measured and analyzed. Mean detection confidence scores were non-significantly higher at 7 T (1.95 ± 0.84 out of 3 versus 1.64 ± 1.19 out of 3 at 3 T, p = 0.050). In 50% of epilepsy patients measured at 7 T, additional findings compared to 3 T MRI were observed. Furthermore, we found improved border delineation at 7 T in 88% of patients with 3 T-visible lesions. In 19% of 3 T MR-negative cases a new potential epileptogenic lesion was detected at 7 T.

Conclusions

The diagnostic yield was beneficial, but with 19% new 7 T over 3 T findings, not major. Our evaluation revealed epilepsy outcomes worse than ILAE Class 1 in two out of the four operated cases with new 7 T findings.
Computing Generalized Rank Invariant for 2-Parameter Persistence Modules via Zigzag Persistence and Its Applications
Authors: Dey Tamal K. , Kim Woojin , Mémoli Facundo
Published: October 2023

The notion of generalized rank in the context of multiparameter persistence has become an important ingredient for defining interesting homological structures such as generalized persistence diagrams. However, its efficient computation has not yet been studied in the literature. We show that the generalized rank over a finite interval I of a $$\textbf{Z}^2$$

Z
2

-indexed persistence module M is equal to the generalized rank of the zigzag module that is induced on a certain path in I tracing mostly its boundary. Hence, we can compute the generalized rank of M over I by computing the barcode of the zigzag module obtained by restricting to that path. If M is the homology of a bifiltration F of $$t$$
t
simplices (while accounting for multi-criticality) and I consists of $$t$$
t
points, this computation takes $$O(t^\omega )$$

O
(

t
ω

)

time where $$\omega \in [2,2.373)$$

ω
∈
[
2
,
2.373
)

is the exponent of matrix multiplication. We apply this result to obtain an improved algorithm for the following problem. Given a bifiltration inducing a module M, determine whether M is interval decomposable and, if so, compute all intervals supporting its indecomposable summands.
Chemical Exchange Rate Study by NMR CPMG Method
Authors: Mohorič Aleš , Stepišnik Janez
Published: October 2023

Analysis of the NMR CPMG method is presented that enables direct sampling of the spectral-density function of the chemical exchange processes. The approach is demonstrated on a solution of sucrose in water. The result confirms that the method can provide insight into the details of the dynamics of molecular conformations beyond a single-parameter description by an exchange rate. The results of the method are not limited to a single exchange process but can be of advantage if a large and potentially unknown number of exchange processes is contributing to the dynamics of a spin system.
Changes in extreme wave events in the southwestern South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Gramcianinov Carolina B. , Staneva Joanna , de Camargo Ricardo , da Silva Dias Pedro L.
Published: October 2023

The southwestern South Atlantic (SWSA) has faced several extreme events that caused coastal and ocean hazards associated with high waves. This study aimed to investigate the extreme wave climate trends in the SWSA using percentile- and storm-based approaches to determine potential coastal impacts. Changes in extreme wave event characteristics were evaluated through distribution maps and directional density distributions. Our results showed an overall increase in the 95$$^{th}$$

th

-percentile of the significant wave height (Hs), mostly in the northern and southern portions of the domain. There was a general increase in the area affected by the events and in their lifetimes in the austral summer. In contrast, winter events had higher maximum intensities, which were not homogeneous throughout the domain. Changes in the wave power direction affected most of the analysed locations, showing a clockwise shift of summer events and a large directional spread of events from the southern quadrant (SW–SE). These changes were related to the southwards shift of the subtropical branch of the storm track, reflecting increased cyclonic activity at 30$$^\circ $$

∘

S (summer) and 45$$^\circ $$

∘

S (winter). These storm track shifts allowed the development of large fetches on the southern edge of the domain, promoting the propagation of long waves.
Deleterious and ethnic-related BRCA1/2 mutations in tissue and blood of Egyptian colorectal cancer patients and its correlation with human papillomavirus
Authors: Youssef Amira Salah El-Din , Zekri Abdel Rahman N. , Mohanad Marwa , Loutfy Samah A. , Abdel Fattah Nasra F. , Elberry Mostafa H. , El Leithy Asmaa A. , El-Touny Ahmed , Rabie Ahmed Samy , Shalaby Mohamed , Hanafy Ayman , Lotfy Mai M. , El-sisi Enas R. , El-Sayyad Gharieb S. , Nassar Auhood
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to identify BRCA1/2 mutational patterns in the tissue and blood of Egyptian colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to study the possible correlation of this mutational pattern with Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Eighty-two colonoscopic biopsies and forty-six blood samples were collected from Egyptian CRC patients, as well as blood samples of age and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 43) were enrolled. The libraries were performed using Qiaseq Human BRCA1 and BRCA2 targeted DNA panel and sequenced via Ion proton sequencer. Also, the CRC tissues were subjected to conventional PCR targeting the HPV Late 1 (L1) region. Our analysis revealed that the BRCA-DNA damage pathway had been altered in more than 65% of the CRC patients. Comparing tissue and blood samples from CRC patients, 25 somatic mutations were found exclusively in tissue, while 41 germline mutations were found exclusively in blood. Additionally, we identified 23 shared BRCA1/2 pathogenic (PVs) mutations in both blood and tissue samples, with a significantly higher frequency in blood samples compared to tissue samples. The most affected exon in BRCA1 was exon 10, while the most affected exons in BRCA2 were 11, 14, 18, 24, and 27 exons. Notably, we revealed an ethnic-related cluster of polymorphism variants in our population closely related to South Asian and African ethnicities. Novel PVs were identified and submitted to the ClinVar database. HPV was found in 23.8% of the CRC tissues, and 54% of HPV-positive cases had somatic BRCA1/2 PVs. The results of this research point to a possible connection between infection with HPV and BRCA1/2 mutations in the occurrence of colorectal cancer in the Egyptian population, which has a mixed ethnic background. Our data also indicate that liquid biopsy (blood samples) may be more representative than tissue samples for detecting BRCA1/2 mutations. These findings may have implications for cancer screening and the development of personalized, targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors, which can effectively target BRCA1/2 mutations.
Efficiency enhancement and chrono-photoelectron generation in dye-sensitized solar cells based on spin-coated TiO2 nanoparticle multilayer photoanodes and a ternary iodide gel polymer electrolyte
Authors: Bandara T. M. W. J. , Gunathilake S. M. S. , Nishshanke G. B. M. M. M. , Dissanayake M. A. K. L. , Chaure N. B. , Olusola O. I. , Mellander B.-E. , Furlani M. , Albinsson Ingvar
Published: October 2023

The effect of the thickness of a multilayer TiO2 photoanode on the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) made with a polyethylene oxide-based gel polymer electrolyte containing ternary iodides and performance enhancer 4-tert-butylpyridine is studied. Multilayer photoanodes consisting of up to seven layers of TiO2 nano-particles (13 nm and 21 nm) are prepared by spin coating of successive layers. XRD results confirm the predominant presence of the anatase phase of TiO2 in the multilayer structure after sintering. The SEM images reveal the formation of a single TiO2 film upon sintering due to merging of individually deposited layers. The photocurrent density (JSC) and the efficiency increase with the number of TiO2 layers exhibiting the maximum efficiency and JSC of 5.5% and 12.5 mA cm−2, respectively, for the 5-layered electrode of total thickness 4.0 µm with a 9.66 × 10–8 mol cm−2 surface dye concentration. The present study introduces a method of determining the rate of effective photoelectron generation and the average time gap between two successive photon absorptions where the respective results are 1.34 molecule−1 s−1 and 0.74 s for the most efficient cell studied in this work.
Zinc selenide based dual-channel SPR optical biosensor for HIV genome DNA hybridization detection
Authors: El-assar Mohamed , Taha Taha E. , El-Samie Fathi E. Abd , Fayed Heba A. , Aly Moustafa H.
Published: October 2023

Simultaneous measurement of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genome DNA hybridization and the DNA melting temperature in a prism-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor is modeled theoretically using a simple dual-channel construction. The proposed sensor consists of a BK7 prism coated with silver as a plasmonic material. The metal surface is divided into two channels to detect medium refractive index (RI) and temperature. One half is covered with zinc selenide (ZnSe) semiconductor to enhance the hybridization detection sensitivity and to protect silver from oxidation. The other half is covered with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer to detect the temperature variations. The proposed sensor is optimized numerically, and the optimum structure provides an excellent sensitivity of 208 deg/RIU, thanks to the use of the ZnSe layer, which is greater than double the reported dual-channel prism-based sensor in thickness. The polymer channel shows high sensitivity to the temperature variations of − 0.125 deg/°C, which is nearly 10 times the response of the RI channel to temperature variations. The data obtained from the polymer channel is used to compensate for the thermal perturbations of the sensing medium RI, and at the same time, to monitor the increments of the temperature in order to avoid reaching the DNA melting temperature. A mathematical expression is provided to consider the effect of the temperature variations on the RI of the sensing medium to get a better accurate detection process. The DNA hybridization detection of HIV is theoretically discussed in detail starting from the preparation of the sensing medium with the different ingredients until the hybridization between probe and complementary target DNA (ct-DNA) molecules.
Animal navigation without mental representation
Authors: van Woerkum Bas
Published: October 2023

Do animals require rich internal representations, such as cognitive maps, to navigate complex environments? Some researchers believe so, as they argue that sensory information is “too poor” to account for animals’ wayfinding abilities. However, this assumption is debatable, as James J. Gibson showed. Gibson proposed that wayfinding involves detecting information about environmental structure over time and used the concepts of “vistas” and “transitions” to explain terrestrial navigation. While these concepts may not apply universally to animal navigation, they highlight the importance of exploiting stable environmental structures for wayfinding. By searching for species-relative environmental structures, we may gain insight into the navigational abilities of different nonhuman animals, while recognizing the unique evolutionary histories and ecological contexts that have shaped these abilities.
What stay-at-home orders reveal about dependence on transportation network companies
Authors: Hanig Lily , Nock Destenie , Harper Corey D.
Published: October 2023

Transportation Network Companies (TNC) such as Uber and Lyft set out to provide transportation not fulfilled by private vehicles or public transit. The social value of TNCs for essential trips (i.e., necessary trips that cannot be fulfilled by another mode of transportation) is difficult to discern in normal conditions. The COVID-19 stay-at-home order is used as a natural experiment to investigate the heterogeneous ability to avoid TNCs by income areas of trip origins. We measure the sensitivity of different populations’ ability to respond to policies and to avoid TNC trips (e.g., early stay-at-home orders) using a difference-in-difference style regression. Previous studies have indicated that under normal conditions TNCs primarily serve high-income areas, indicating that TNCs may not be improving transportation equity but instead serve as an additional mode of transportation for passengers with multiple options. We fill a gap in the literature by evaluating the role TNCs play in serving unavoidable and essential trips. We find that high-income community areas showed greater sensitivity to the stay-at-home order with a 56% greater decrease in TNC ridership during the stay-at-home order compared to low-income community areas. Specifically, TNC trips from high-income areas decreased by 80%. This indicates that although riders from high-income community areas might make up the majority of trips in normal conditions, low-income community areas are less able to adapt to stay-at-home orders because of a higher degree of non-flexible and essential jobs or less access to TNC alternatives like private vehicles and public transit.
A Short Communication on Functional, Rheological, and Extrusion Properties of High Protein Fractions from Pulses Obtained by Air Classification
Authors: Bresciani Andrea , Chiodaroli Giulia , Landers Michael , Müller Jens , Wiertz Jessica , Marti Alessandra
Published: October 2023

Animal-based foods have a large impact on the environment; for this reason, plant-based meat analogous are now in the spotlight. Although protein concentrates/isolates from soy are the most used raw materials for meat analogues, some concerns about allergenicity, loss of biodiversity, and low sustainability of their production rise from their uses. In this context, high protein fractions obtained by air classification of pulse flours are here proposed as substitutes of protein concentrates. Thus, this work is aimed at understanding the aptitude of high protein fraction from pulses to be transformed into meat analogous through high moisture extrusion process. Differences in functional and rheological properties among high protein fractions resulted in different high moisture extrusion properties and thus products with different appearance. Specifically, the foaming capacity of high protein fraction from red lentil resulted in expansion at the end of the extruder creating a heterogeneous structure, whereas the high lipid content of high protein fraction from chickpea can account for the unsuitability of this raw material to high moisture extrusion. On the contrary, high protein fraction from both fava bean and yellow pea presented a fibrous structure. However, the structure and textual properties of the final products need to be further investigated.
Evaluation of the Safety and Potential Benefits of Beetroot-Based Dietary Supplements According to Their Elemental Composition
Authors: Brzezińska-Rojek Joanna , Rutkowska Małgorzata , Ośko Justyna , Konieczka Piotr , Prokopowicz Magdalena , Grembecka Małgorzata
Published: October 2023

The study aimed to assess the health value and safety associated with the consumption of the chosen 37 beetroot-based dietary supplements (DSs). An optimized and validated analytical procedure, using a method called microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES), was developed to determine the profiles of 19 elements (Na, K, Fe, Ca, Pt, Zn, Cd, Cu, V, Co, Ni, Pb, Mo, Mg, Al, Mn, Sr, Cr, Ba) in the DSs. The products were assessed for compliance with the recommended daily doses for the chosen elements, and any deviations were identified. Results showed that powders constituted a richer source of elements than capsules and tablets. The exception was iron-enriched products, which provided the highest dose of Fe (3.75 to 25 mg/daily dose). Safety assessment was evaluated in 3 steps, including (1) the determination of levels of Al, Ba, Cd, and Pb; (2) comparison of their content with the permissible contamination limits; and (3) comparison of the weekly or monthly intake of Al and Cd with the provisional tolerable weekly (PTWI) or monthly (PTMI) intake, respectively. The content of Ba was evaluated because of the oral reference dose (RfD). Five products were significantly contaminated with Cd (4–134% of PTMI Cd), two with Al (11–12%), and three with Ba (1.085–1.331 µg/d.d.). Lead was not detected above the LOQ (0.035 mg/kg). Factor analysis was employed to differentiate between the pharmaceutical forms (capsules, tablets, and powders) and determine the origin of the powder contained in the capsules. These results highlight the importance of implementing more stringent control measures and regulatory changes in the DSs market to ensure consumer safety.
Sharing decision-making tools for pest management may foster implementation of Integrated Pest Management
Authors: Rossi Vittorio , Caffi Tito , Salotti Irene , Fedele Giorgia
Published: October 2023

Agriculture needs to reduce its current dependence toward pesticides while reducing crop losses caused by pests and ensuring food security; Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is considered the most appropriate approach to achieve the goal. More specifically, growers should use tools that enable informed decisions on whether and when crop protection is needed, and which methods should be used. These tools include risk algorithms, decision rules, intervention thresholds, and decision support systems (DSSs), collectively named decision tools (DTs). A large number of DTs have been developed and made available to advisors and farmers, mainly through Internet-based systems. The adoption rate of these systems, however, has been low because of technical limitations and farmer perceptions. Fragmentation of the DTs offered, poor local implementation, and restriction to particular users are among the causes for low adoption. If properly mobilised, the use and effects of DTs could substantially be increased. Sharing of IPM DTs has a strong potential for providing wider access to the existing knowledge, for fostering IPM implementation, and for supporting plant health policies. In this article, we outline an overall approach to develop a web-based platform, in which DTs are shared and made widely available. Such a platform can include a range of ready-to-use DTs, i.e. DTs which are currently available, that have been field-validated, and which are already being used in some agricultural contexts. The platform also provides open, full documentation of DTs, makes DTs available for validation and adaptation in different agricultural contexts, and makes DTs easily available for multiple kinds of end-users involved in IPM (farmers, IPM experts, public and private information and service providers, and policy makers). We also consider how DT sharing can reduce both the technological and behavioural limitations of existing plant health management systems.
Effectively Modulating Oxygen Vacancies in Flower-Like δ-MnO2 Nanostructures for Large Capacity and High-Rate Zinc-Ion Storage
Authors: Wang Yiwei , Zhang Yuxiao , Gao Ge , Fan Yawen , Wang Ruoxin , Feng Jie , Yang Lina , Meng Alan , Zhao Jian , Li Zhenjiang
Published: October 2023

In recent years, manganese-based oxides as an advanced class of cathode materials for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted a great deal of attentions from numerous researchers. However, their slow reaction kinetics, limited active sites and poor electrical conductivity inevitably give rise to the severe performance degradation. To solve these problems, herein, we introduce abundant oxygen vacancies into the flower-like δ-MnO2 nanostructure and effectively modulate the vacancy defects to reach the optimal level (δ-MnO2−x−2.0). The smart design intrinsically tunes the electronic structure, guarantees ion chemisorption–desorption equilibrium and increases the electroactive sites, which not only effectively accelerates charge transfer rate during reaction processes, but also endows more redox reactions, as verified by first-principle calculations. These merits can help the fabricated δ-MnO2−x−2.0 cathode to present a large specific capacity of 551.8 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, high-rate capability of 262.2 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and an excellent cycle lifespan (83% of capacity retention after 1500 cycles), which is far superior to those of the other metal compound cathodes. In addition, the charge/discharge mechanism of the δ-MnO2−x−2.0 cathode has also been elaborated through ex situ techniques. This work opens up a new pathway for constructing the next-generation high-performance ZIBs cathode materials.
Pavlov's Legacy
Authors: Boakes Robert A.
Published: October 2023

Pavlov claimed that his experiments with dogs would transform the study of psychology and the treatment of mental illness. His work inspired researchers to study how animals learn to traverse mazes, avoid shocks, or press levers to obtain food, and also to compare the learning and cognitive abilities of different species, ranging from apes and dolphins to rats and pigeons. This book describes five decades of research into animal learning and comparative psychology, examining Pavlov's influence on this research and discoveries made by scientists who accepted many of his claims, while others looked for evidence to reject them. Drawing together diverse strands of research and providing historical and biographical information to bring the details to life, this is an ideal resource for graduate students and researchers in behavioural neuroscience, as well as for anyone in adjacent fields with an interest in learning theory.
Caring for Mom and Dad
Authors: Stein-Roggenbuck Susan
Published: October 2023

Throughout the twentieth-century, the United States implemented social policies targeting the needs of dependent parents – parents who were no longer able to work but lacked sufficient financial resources to support themselves. These parent dependency policies either encouraged or required family members, particularly adult children, to provide support as an alternative to government benefits. Debates over how best to support aging parents centered on conceptualizations of dependency and the moral obligations family owed their parents. Measures of dependency often inhibited aging Americans' access to benefits they needed, focusing instead on ensuring that they were, in fact, dependent and that other family resources were not available. Susan Stein-Roggenbuck highlights this understudied aspect of the modern US welfare state, highlighting the limited support provided to aging parents and the hardship they and their adult children endured in the efforts to minimize public expenditures.
The Opioid Epidemic
Authors: Bryson Ethan O. , Boxhorn Christine E.
Published: October 2023

Opioid misuse is now a worldwide epidemic and major public health issue with widespread implications. This fascinating book provides a collection of compelling arguments on how the course of the opioid epidemic can be changed. It offers an overview of the historical origins of opioid addiction, a summary of the current state of the worldwide epidemic and an examination of the likelihood of success for current and proposed solutions. Specific chapters focus on why some people are affected by addiction, the effect of policy and regulations, changing trends in opioid use, detoxification, the financial cost of addiction treatment, and proactive measures to prevent addiction. Drawing upon both past and current academic research as well as personal accounts, ideas and concepts are presented in a clear and accessible narrative. This book is a convenient single source of information for healthcare professionals, students and individuals personally affected by opioid addiction.
An Introduction to Fantasy
Authors: Sangster Matthew
Published: October 2023

Providing an engaging and accessible introduction to the Fantasy genre in literature, media and culture, this incisive volume explores why Fantasy matters in the context of its unique affordances, its disparate pasts and its extraordinary current flourishing. It pays especial attention to Fantasy's engagements with histories and traditions, its manifestations across media and its dynamic communities. Matthew Sangster covers works ancient and modern; well-known and obscure; and ranging in scale from brief poems and stories to sprawling transmedia franchises. Chapters explore the roles Fantasy plays in negotiating the beliefs we live by; the iterative processes through which fantasies build, develop and question; the root traditions that inform and underpin modern Fantasy; how Fantasy interrogates the preconceptions of realism and Enlightenment totalisations; the practices, politics and aesthetics of world-building; and the importance of Fantasy communities for maintaining the field as a diverse and ever-changing commons.
Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience
Authors: Sterratt David , Graham Bruce , Gillies Andrew , Einevoll Gaute , Willshaw David
Published: October 2023

Taking a step-by-step approach to modelling neurons and neural circuitry, this textbook teaches students how to use computational techniques to understand the nervous system at all levels, using case studies throughout to illustrate fundamental principles. Starting with a simple model of a neuron, the authors gradually introduce neuronal morphology, synapses, ion channels and intracellular signalling. This fully updated new edition contains additional examples and case studies on specific modelling techniques, suggestions on different ways to use this book, and new chapters covering plasticity, modelling extracellular influences on brain circuits, modelling experimental measurement processes, and choosing appropriate model structures and their parameters. The online resources offer exercises and simulation code that recreate many of the book's figures, allowing students to practice as they learn. Requiring an elementary background in neuroscience and high-school mathematics, this is an ideal resource for a course on computational neuroscience.
Microphysical Characteristics of Cyclonic Rainfall: A GPM‐DPR Based Study Over the Arabian Sea
Authors: Kumar Amit , Srivastava A. K. , Sunilkumar K. , Srivastava Manoj K.
Published: October 2023

The precipitation characteristics of tropical cyclone (TC) formed over the Arabian Sea during the onset phase of the Indian summer monsoon (i.e., late‐May and early‐June months) and in the post‐monsoon season were investigated during the period from 2014 to 2021 using the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite level 2 V07 data. For the cyclonic precipitation, 2‐D frequency distribution between liquid water content (LWC) and non‐liquid water content, that is, ice water content (IWC) shows significant variation with the rain type and season. A large proportion of rain droplets are within the LWC (IWC) range of 0–800 (0–350) g/m2 for the stratiform precipitation of TCs in both seasons. The average value of the mass‐weighted mean diameter (Dm), for the stratiform and convective precipitation at 2 km above the mean sea level in the monsoon (post‐monsoon) season is 1.29 (1.27) mm and 1.47 (1.31) mm, respectively. A gradual decrease in the normalized intercept parameters (Nw) is found to occur with an increase in Dm, irrespective of cloud type and season. There is an enormously high concentration of supercooled liquid and ice particles observed above the melting layer during the convection precipitation in both seasons. In the stratiform cyclonic cloud, the contribution of the collision‐coalescence and breaking‐up process is about 36.62% (47.58%) and 52.52% (41.52%) during the monsoon (post‐monsoon) season. However, the collision‐coalescence process (63.45% in monsoon and 70.2% in post‐monsoon) is acting as dominating microphysical process in the convective precipitation as compared to the break‐up process.
Passing Planetary Boundaries Requires Synergistic Solutions
Authors: Sidik Saima
Published: October 2023

Considering Earth’s interacting systems could pull the planet back into a stable operating space.
Spatial Optimization Methods for Malaria Risk Mapping in Sub‐Saharan African Cities Using Demographic and Health Surveys
Authors: Morlighem Camille , Chaiban Celia , Georganos Stefanos , Brousse Oscar , van Lipzig Nicole P. M. , Wolff Eléonore , Dujardin Sébastien , Linard Catherine
Published: October 2023

Vector‐borne diseases, such as malaria, are affected by the rapid urban growth and climate change in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). In this context, intra‐urban malaria risk maps act as a key decision‐making tool for targeting malaria control interventions, especially in resource‐limited settings. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) provide a consistent malaria data source for mapping malaria risk at the national scale, but their use is limited at the intra‐urban scale because survey cluster coordinates are randomly displaced for ethical reasons. In this research, we focus on predicting intra‐urban malaria risk in SSA cities—Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Ouagadougou—and investigate the use of spatial optimization methods to overcome the effect of DHS spatial displacement. We modeled malaria risk using a random forest regressor and remotely sensed covariates depicting the urban climate, the land cover and the land use, and we tested several spatial optimization approaches. The use of spatial optimization mitigated the effects of DHS spatial displacement on predictive performance. However, this comes at a higher computational cost, and the percentage of variance explained in our models remained low (around 30%–40%), which suggests that these methods cannot entirely overcome the limited quality of epidemiological data. Building on our results, we highlight potential adaptations to the DHS sampling strategy that would make them more reliable for predicting malaria risk at the intra‐urban scale.
Valence conversion and site reconstruction in near-infrared-emitting chromium-activated garnet for simultaneous enhancement of quantum efficiency and thermal stability
Authors: Liu Dongjie , Li Guogang , Dang Peipei , Zhang Qianqian , Wei Yi , Qiu Lei , Lian Hongzhou , Shang Mengmeng , Lin Jun
Published: October 2023

Achievement of high photoluminescence quantum efficiency and thermal stability is challenging for near-infrared (NIR)-emitting phosphors. Here, we designed a “kill two birds with one stone” strategy to simultaneously improve quantum efficiency and thermal stability of the NIR-emitting Ca3Y2-2x(ZnZr)xGe3O12:Cr garnet system by chemical unit cosubstitution, and revealed universal structure-property relationship and the luminescence optimization mechanism. The cosubstitution of [Zn2+–Zr4+] for [Y3+–Y3+] played a critical role as reductant to promote the valence transformation from Cr4+ to Cr3+, resulting from the reconstruction of octahedral sites for Cr3+. The introduction of [Zn2+–Zr4+] unit also contributed to a rigid crystal structure. These two aspects together realized the high internal quantum efficiency of 96% and excellent thermal stability of 89%@423 K. Moreover, information encryption with “burning after reading” was achieved based on different chemical resistance of the phosphors to acid. The developed NIR-emitting phosphor-converted light-emitting diode demonstrated promising applications in bio-tissue imaging and night vision. This work provides a new perspective for developing high-performance NIR-emitting phosphor materials.
URI alleviates tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced ferroptosis by reprogramming lipid metabolism in p53 wild-type liver cancers
Authors: Ding Zhiwen , Pan Yufei , Shang Taiyu , Jiang Tianyi , Lin Yunkai , Yang Chun , Pang Shujie , Cui Xiaowen , Wang Yixiu , Feng Xiao fan , Xu Mengyou , Pei Mengmiao , Chen Yibin , Li Xin , Ding Jin , Tan Yexiong , Wang Hongyang , Dong Liwei , Wang Lu
Published: October 2023

The clinical benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)-based systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited due to drug resistance. Here, we uncover that lipid metabolism reprogramming mediated by unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor (URI) endows HCC with resistance to TKIs-induced ferroptosis. Mechanistically, URI directly interacts with TRIM28 and promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation in a TRIM28-MDM2 dependent manner. Importantly, p53 binds to the promoter of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and represses its transcription. High expression of URI is correlated with high level of SCD1 and their synergetic expression predicts poor prognosis and TKIs resistance in HCC. The combination of SCD1 inhibitor aramchol and deuterated sorafenib derivative donafenib displays promising anti-tumor effects in p53-wild type HCC patient-derived organoids and xenografted tumors. This combination therapy has potential clinical benefits for the patients with advanced HCC who have wild-type p53 and high levels of URI/SCD1.
Super-enhancer hijacking drives ectopic expression of hedgehog pathway ligands in meningiomas
Authors: Youngblood Mark W. , Erson-Omay Zeynep , Li Chang , Najem Hinda , Coșkun Süleyman , Tyrtova Evgeniya , Montejo Julio D. , Miyagishima Danielle F. , Barak Tanyeri , Nishimura Sayoko , Harmancı Akdes Serin , Clark Victoria E. , Duran Daniel , Huttner Anita , Avşar Timuçin , Bayri Yasar , Schramm Johannes , Boetto Julien , Peyre Matthieu , Riche Maximilien , Goldbrunner Roland , Amankulor Nduka , Louvi Angeliki , Bilgüvar Kaya , Pamir M. Necmettin , Özduman Koray , Kilic Türker , Knight James R. , Simon Matthias , Horbinski Craig , Kalamarides Michel , Timmer Marco , Heimberger Amy B. , Mishra-Gorur Ketu , Moliterno Jennifer , Yasuno Katsuhito , Günel Murat
Published: October 2023

Hedgehog signaling mediates embryologic development of the central nervous system and other tissues and is frequently hijacked by neoplasia to facilitate uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Meningiomas, the most common primary brain tumor, exhibit Hedgehog signaling activation in 6.5% of cases, triggered by recurrent mutations in pathway mediators such as SMO. In this study, we find 35.6% of meningiomas that lack previously known drivers acquired various types of somatic structural variations affecting chromosomes 2q35 and 7q36.3. These cases exhibit ectopic expression of Hedgehog ligands, IHH and SHH, respectively, resulting in Hedgehog signaling activation. Recurrent tandem duplications involving IHH permit de novo chromatin interactions between super-enhancers within DIRC3 and a locus containing IHH. Our work expands the landscape of meningioma molecular drivers and demonstrates enhancer hijacking of Hedgehog ligands as a route to activate this pathway  in neoplasia.
Unveiling the dynamic active site of defective carbon-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide production
Authors: Wu Qilong , Zou Haiyuan , Mao Xin , He Jinghan , Shi Yanmei , Chen Shuangming , Yan Xuecheng , Wu Liyun , Lang Chengguang , Zhang Bin , Song Li , Wang Xin , Du Aijun , Li Qin , Jia Yi , Chen Jun , Yao Xiangdong
Published: October 2023

Active sites identification in metal-free carbon materials is crucial for developing practical electrocatalysts, but resolving precise configuration of active site remains a challenge because of the elusive dynamic structural evolution process during reactions. Here, we reveal the dynamic active site identification process of oxygen modified defective graphene. First, the defect density and types of oxygen groups were precisely manipulated on graphene, combined with electrocatalytic performance evaluation, revealing a previously overlooked positive correlation relationship between the defect density and the 2 e- oxygen reduction performance. An electrocatalytic-driven oxygen groups redistribution phenomenon was observed, which narrows the scope of potential configurations of the active site. The dynamic evolution processes are monitored via multiple in-situ technologies and theoretical spectra simulations, resolving the configuration of major active sites (carbonyl on pentagon defect) and key intermediates (*OOH), in-depth understanding the catalytic mechanism and providing a research paradigm for metal-free carbon materials.
Machine learning electronic structure methods based on the one-electron reduced density matrix
Authors: Shao Xuecheng , Paetow Lukas , Tuckerman Mark E. , Pavanello Michele
Published: October 2023

The theorems of density functional theory (DFT) establish bijective maps between the local external potential of a many-body system and its electron density, wavefunction and, therefore, one-particle reduced density matrix. Building on this foundation, we show that machine learning models based on the one-electron reduced density matrix can be used to generate surrogate electronic structure methods. We generate surrogates of local and hybrid DFT, Hartree-Fock and full configuration interaction theories for systems ranging from small molecules such as water to more complex compounds like benzene and propanol. The surrogate models use the one-electron reduced density matrix as the central quantity to be learned. From the predicted density matrices, we show that either standard quantum chemistry or a second machine-learning model can be used to compute molecular observables, energies, and atomic forces. The surrogate models can generate essentially anything that a standard electronic structure method can, ranging from band gaps and Kohn-Sham orbitals to energy-conserving ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations and infrared spectra, which account for anharmonicity and thermal effects, without the need to employ computationally expensive algorithms such as self-consistent field theory. The algorithms are packaged in an efficient and easy to use Python code, QMLearn, accessible on popular platforms.
Dalpiciclib and pyrotinib in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer: a single-arm phase II trial
Authors: Yan Min , Niu Limin , Lv Huimin , Zhang Mengwei , Wang Jing , Liu Zhenzhen , Chen Xiuchun , Lu Zhenduo , Zhang Chongjian , Zeng Huiai , Zhao Shengnan , Feng Yajing , Sun Huihui , Li Huajun
Published: October 2023

CDK4/6 inhibitors have shown a synergistic effect with anti-HER2 therapy in hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). In this phase 2 study (NCT04293276), we aim to evaluate a dual-oral regimen of CDK4/6 inhibitor dalpiciclib combined with HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib as front-line treatment in women with HER2-positive advanced BC (n = 41) including those with HR-negative disease. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate, and secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. With a median follow-up of 25.9 months, 70% (28/40) of assessable patients have a confirmed objective response, meeting the primary endpoint. The median PFS is 11.0 months (95% CI = 7.3–19.3), and OS data are not mature. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) are decreased white blood cell count (68.3%), decreased neutrophil count (65.9%), and diarrhea (22.0%). Most AEs are manageable, and no treatment-related deaths occur. These findings suggest that this combination may have promising activity and manageable toxicity. Further investigation is needed.
Energy-saving and product-oriented hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis enabled by electrochemistry pairing and product engineering
Authors: Qi Jun , Du Yadong , Yang Qi , Jiang Na , Li Jiachun , Ma Yi , Ma Yangjun , Zhao Xin , Qiu Jieshan
Published: October 2023

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) electrosynthesis through oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is drawing worldwide attention, whereas suffering seriously from the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the difficult extraction of thermodynamically unstable H2O2. Herein, we present an electrosynthesis protocol involving coupling ORR-to-H2O2 with waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) upcycling and the first H2O2 conversion strategy. Ni-Mn bimetal- and onion carbon-based catalysts are designed to catalyze ORR-to-H2O2 and ethylene glycol electrooxidation with the Faradaic efficiency of 97.5% (H2O2) and 93.0% (formate). This electrolysis system runs successfully at only 0.927 V to achieve an industrial-scale current density of 400 mA cm−2, surpassing all reported H2O2 electrosynthesis systems. H2O2 product is upgraded through two downstream routes of converting H2O2 into sodium perborate and dibenzoyl peroxide. Techno-economic evolution highlights the high gross profit of the ORR || PET upcycling protocol over HER || PET upcycling and ORR || OER. This work provides an energy-saving methodology for the electrosynthesis of H2O2 and other chemicals.
Multi-step processing of replication stress-derived nascent strand DNA gaps by MRE11 and EXO1 nucleases
Authors: Hale Anastasia , Dhoonmoon Ashna , Straka Joshua , Nicolae Claudia M. , Moldovan George-Lucian
Published: October 2023

Accumulation of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps in the nascent strand during DNA replication has been associated with cytotoxicity and hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress, particularly upon inactivation of the BRCA tumor suppressor pathway. However, how ssDNA gaps contribute to genotoxicity is not well understood. Here, we describe a multi-step nucleolytic processing of replication stress-induced ssDNA gaps which converts them into cytotoxic double stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). We show that ssDNA gaps are extended bidirectionally by MRE11 in the 3’−5’ direction and by EXO1 in the 5’−3’ direction, in a process which is suppressed by the BRCA pathway. Subsequently, the parental strand at the ssDNA gap is cleaved by the MRE11 endonuclease generating a double strand break. We also show that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which are widespread environmental contaminants due to their use in plastics manufacturing, causes nascent strand ssDNA gaps during replication. These gaps are processed through the same mechanism described above to generate DSBs. Our work sheds light on both the relevance of ssDNA gaps as major determinants of genomic instability, as well as the mechanism through which they are processed to generate genomic instability and cytotoxicity.
Manipulating directional flow in a two-dimensional photonic quantum walk under a synthetic magnetic field
Authors: Lin Quan , Yi Wei , Xue Peng
Published: October 2023

Matter transport is a fundamental process in nature. Understanding and manipulating flow in a synthetic media often have rich implications for modern device design. Here we experimentally demonstrate directional transport of photons in a two-dimensional quantum walk, where the light propagation is highly tunable through dissipation and synthetic magnetic flux. The directional flow hereof underlies the emergence of the non-Hermitian skin effect, with its orientation continuously adjustable through the photon-loss parameters. By contrast, the synthetic magnetic flux originates from an engineered geometric phase, which, by inducing localized cyclotron orbits, suppresses the bulk flow through magnetic confinement. We further demonstrate how the directional flow and synthetic flux impact the dynamics of the Floquet topological edge modes along an engineered boundary. Our results exemplify an intriguing strategy for engineering directed light transport, highlighting the interplay of non-Hermiticity and gauge fields in synthetic systems of higher dimensions.
A hybrid register and questionnaire study of Covid-19 and post-acute sick leave in Denmark
Authors: O’Regan Elisabeth , Svalgaard Ingrid Bech , Sørensen Anna Irene Vedel , Spiliopoulos Lampros , Bager Peter , Nielsen Nete Munk , Hansen Jørgen Vinsløv , Koch Anders , Ethelberg Steen , Hviid Anders
Published: October 2023

Post-acute sick leave is an underexplored indicator of the societal burden of SARS-CoV-2. Here,  we report findings about self-reported sick leave and risk factors thereof from a hybrid survey and register study, which include 37,482 RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases and 51,336 test-negative controls who were tested during the index- and alpha-dominant waves. We observe that an additional 33 individuals per 1000 took substantial sick leave following acute infection compared to persons with no known history of infection, where substantial sick leave is defined as >1 month of sick leave within the period 1–9 months after the RT-PCR test date. Being female, 50–65 years, or having certain pre-existing health conditions such as obesity, chronic lung diseases, and fibromyalgia each increase risk for taking substantial sick leave. Altogether, these results may help motivate improved diagnostic and treatment options for persons living with post-Covid conditions.
Immediate neural impact and incomplete compensation after semantic hub disconnection
Authors: Kocsis Zsuzsanna , Jenison Rick L. , Taylor Peter N. , Calmus Ryan M. , McMurray Bob , Rhone Ariane E. , Sarrett McCall E. , Deifelt Streese Carolina , Kikuchi Yukiko , Gander Phillip E. , Berger Joel I. , Kovach Christopher K. , Choi Inyong , Greenlee Jeremy D. , Kawasaki Hiroto , Cope Thomas E. , Griffiths Timothy D. , Howard Matthew A. , Petkov Christopher I.
Published: October 2023

The human brain extracts meaning using an extensive neural system for semantic knowledge. Whether broadly distributed systems depend on or can compensate after losing a highly interconnected hub is controversial. We report intracranial recordings from two patients during a speech prediction task, obtained minutes before and after neurosurgical treatment requiring disconnection of the left anterior temporal lobe (ATL), a candidate semantic knowledge hub. Informed by modern diaschisis and predictive coding frameworks, we tested hypotheses ranging from solely neural network disruption to complete compensation by the indirectly affected language-related and speech-processing sites. Immediately after ATL disconnection, we observed neurophysiological alterations in the recorded frontal and auditory sites, providing direct evidence for the importance of the ATL as a semantic hub. We also obtained evidence for rapid, albeit incomplete, attempts at neural network compensation, with neural impact largely in the forms stipulated by the predictive coding framework, in specificity, and the modern diaschisis framework, more generally. The overall results validate these frameworks and reveal an immediate impact and capability of the human brain to adjust after losing a brain hub.