bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Puzzling out graphic codes
Authors: Morin Olivier
Published: October 2023

This response takes advantage of the diverse and wide-ranging series of commentaries to clarify some aspects of the target article, and flesh out other aspects. My central point is a plea to take graphic codes seriously as codes, rather than as a kind of visual art or as a byproduct of spoken language; only in this way can the puzzle of ideography be identified and solved. In this perspective, I argue that graphic codes do not derive their expressive power from iconicity alone (unlike visual arts), and I clarify the peculiar relationship that ties writing to spoken language. I then discuss three possible solutions to the puzzle of ideography. I argue that a learning account still cannot explain why ideographies fail to evolve, even if we emancipate the learning account from the version that Liberman put forward; I develop my preferred solution, the “standardization account,” and contrast it with a third solution suggested by some commentaries, which says that ideographies do not evolve because they would make communication too costly. I consider, by way of conclusion, the consequences of these views for the future evolution of ideography.
Experiences of COVID-19 lockdown among older people in Aotearoa: idyllic or dystopian?
Authors: Breheny Mary , Stephens Christine
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted concern about the wellbeing of older people, however, there have also been accounts of increased sense of community in response to the disruption of established routines. To explore how older people experienced lockdown in Aotearoa/New Zealand, we analysed 635 written comments on the 2020 wave of the Health, Work and Retirement longitudinal survey of people aged 55–85 years. Using narrative genre analysis, we discuss two narratives of lockdown: a narrative of lockdown as ‘idyllic’ and a ‘dystopian’ narrative of distrust. Using the idyllic narrative, people described pleasant activities and linked these stories to earlier times when community life was less time-pressured and people were more connected to one another. The dystopian narrative was used to describe politicians and the media as untrustworthy and to depict new vulnerabilities created by the rules of lockdown. These narrative genres provide different positions for older people. In the idyllic narrative, older people are treasured and supported by younger community members, whereas in the dystopian narrative older people feel abandoned and manipulated. These genres draw on possible late-life futures that are familiar to older people: either treasured or discarded. Identifying these narrative genres reveals the different vulnerabilities older people experience. This information can be used to support older people to experience security and to flourish in uncertain times.
The dark legacy of Nuremberg: Inhumane air warfare, judicial desuetudo and the demise of the principle of distinction in International Humanitarian Law
Authors: von Bernstorff Jochen , Mensching Enno L.
Published: October 2023

On its seventy-fifth anniversary last year, the Nuremberg war crime trials moved again into the spotlight of public attention. To the present day, Nuremberg is mainly portrayed as the birth of international criminal law being the first tribunal that held individuals accountable for war crimes committed during the Second World War. As we argue in this article, there is an often-overseen dark legacy of Nuremberg as it represents an unused opportunity to establish accountability for inhumane military practices, especially in air warfare, being of tragic influence for the postwar development of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as a whole. Going beyond the existing criticism already voiced on Nuremberg’s shortcomings, we hold that the Tribunal’s reluctance to prosecute bombing practices sowed the seeds for the decay of IHL by creating institutionalized silences, especially for massive violations of the principle of distinction. The tribunal thereby sidelined pre-war IHL and infected the development of post-war IHL by retroactively legitimating the bombing practices of the Axis powers and at least indirectly of the Allies. We argue that the failure to prosecute ‘total war’-practices and reestablish former restrictive legal structures regarding aerial bombardment has fundamentally eroded the pre-war meaning of the principle of distinction leading to its downfall in the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention of 1977. We describe these developments as a form of judicial desuetudo, meaning the abrogation of a rule through its subsequent non-enforcement by an international court during and after massive law violations because of perceived or real political constraints.
Automatic identification of crystal structures and interfaces via artificial-intelligence-based electron microscopy
Authors: Leitherer Andreas , Yeo Byung Chul , Liebscher Christian H. , Ghiringhelli Luca M.
Published: October 2023

Characterizing crystal structures and interfaces down to the atomic level is an important step for designing advanced materials. Modern electron microscopy routinely achieves atomic resolution and is capable to resolve complex arrangements of atoms with picometer precision. Here, we present AI-STEM, an automatic, artificial-intelligence based method, for accurately identifying key characteristics from atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images of polycrystalline materials. The method is based on a Bayesian convolutional neural network (BNN) that is trained only on simulated images. AI-STEM automatically and accurately identifies crystal structure, lattice orientation, and location of interface regions in synthetic and experimental images. The model is trained on cubic and hexagonal crystal structures, yielding classifications and uncertainty estimates, while no explicit information on structural patterns at the interfaces is included during training. This work combines principles from probabilistic modeling, deep learning, and information theory, enabling automatic analysis of experimental, atomic-resolution images.
Aggregative adherence fimbriae form compact structures as seen by SAXS
Authors: Jønsson Rie , Björling Alexander , Midtgaard Søren Roi , Jensen Grethe Vestergaard , Skar-Gislinge Nicholas , Arleth Lise , Matthews Steve , Krogfelt Karen Angeliki , Jenssen Håvard
Published: October 2023

Bacterial colonization is mediated by fimbriae, which are thin hair-like appendages dispersed from the bacterial surface. The aggregative adherence fimbriae from enteroaggregative E. coli are secreted through the outer membrane and consist of polymerized minor and major pilin subunits. Currently, the understanding of the structural morphology and the role of the minor pilin subunit in the polymerized fimbriae are limited. In this study we use small-angle X-ray scattering to reveal the structural morphology of purified fimbriae in solution. We show that the aggregative fimbriae are compact arrangements of subunit proteins Agg5A + Agg3B which are assembled pairwise on a flexible string rather than extended in relatively straight filaments. Absence of the minor subunit leads to less compact fimbriae, but did not affect the length. The study provides novel insights into the structural morphology and assembly of the aggregative adherence fimbriae. Our study suggests that the minor subunit is not located at the tip of the fimbriae as previously speculated but has a higher importance for the assembled fimbriae by affecting the global structure.
Climate-related experiences and harms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a survey of 152,088 Mexican youth
Authors: Regules Ricardo , Pinchoff Jessie , Gomez-Ugarte Ana C. , Abularrage Tara F. , Vieitez Isabel , Ngo Thoai D.
Published: October 2023

The dual crises of COVID-19 and climate change are impacting the lives of adolescents and young people as they transition to adulthood in an uncertain world, yet they are often excluded from research and political discourse. We surveyed young people about their needs and experiences, critical to engaging them and designing effective programs and policies to address these intersecting harms. The 2022 round of a national online survey through the Violence Outcomes in COVID-19 Epoch (VoCes) Study surveyed 152,088 Mexican youth (15–24 years). Logistic regressions were implemented to identify characteristics associated with four climate responses (economic, work-related, receiving government support, or social network support). Overall, 8.1% of participants experienced a recent climate hazard, with major impacts including housing damage from floods, and crop/livestock losses from drought. Participants who experienced a climate hazard were more likely to have experienced a pandemic-related harm, suggesting a dual impact. Poor youth were more likely to report economic losses from both the pandemic and a climate event but least likely to receive government support. Economic effects from the pandemic are exacerbating climate-related harms, unequally threatening the poorest youth. Engaging young people in decision-making and supporting the most vulnerable youth is critical for the next generation to thrive.
The role of dexamethasone in mediating the contradictory effects of Wnt antagonists SFRP2 and SFRP3 on human hair follicle growth
Authors: Hamida Ons Ben , Kim Moon Kyu , Kwack Mi Hee
Published: October 2023

Stress can be one of the leading causes of hair loss. Stress related hormones, glucocorticoids (GCs), secretion by hair follicle have been mentioned in literature and proven to exert an inhibitory effect on hair follicle cells growth by modulating the expression of target genes related to cell proliferation and cycling. The gene modulating effect of the synthetic GC, dexamethasone (DEX), in human dermal papilla (DP) cells has been outlined in this study by mediating a contradictory effect on the expression of secreted frizzled related protein 2 (SFRP2) and SFRP3. The SFRP2 and SFRP3 possess a regulating effect on wnt signaling pathway. Their structural similarities to the cysteine-rich-domain of the frizzled receptors (FZD) allow their binding to the wnt ligands causing the blocking of the wnt ligands-receptors complex. The SFRP family members have been known as inhibitors of the wnt signaling modulating the proliferation and development of various cells. In hair follicle cells, SFRP2 activity has been reported positively on the proliferation of keratinocytes. However, the SFRP3 effect hasn’t been well addressed. Under stress, the investigation of the mRNA and protein expressions of SFRP members in human DP cells revealed opposite expressions where SFRP2 decreased while SFRP3 increased by DEX. The proliferation rate of hair keratinocytes outer root sheath was detected via immunofluorescence highlighting the stimulatory effect of SFRP2 and the inhibitory effect of SFRP3. Here, we sought to determine the effect of GC agonist on SFRPs expression and their effect on hair follicle growth.
The estimated glomerular filtration rate predicts pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy
Authors: Oida Mitsunori , Hasumi Eriko , Kohsaku Goto , Kunihiro Kani , Oshima Tsukasa , Matsubara Takumi J. , Matsuda Jun , Shimizu Yu , Oguri Gaku , Kojima Toshiya , Fujiu Katsuhito , Komuro Issei
Published: October 2023

Clinical predictors for pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) (e.g., a wide QRS duration and left bundle branch block at baseline) have been reported. However, factors involved in the development of PICM in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for PICM in patients with preserved LVEF. The data of 113 patients (average age: 71.3 years; men: 54.9%) who had echocardiography before and after pacemaker implantation (PMI) among 465 patients undergoing dual-chamber PMI were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with PICM (18.0/100 person-years; 95% CI 12.8–25.2). A univariate Cox regression analysis showed that an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 3.47; 95% CI 1.48–8.16) and a past medical history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (HR 2.76; 95% CI 1.36–5.60) were significantly associated with the onset of PICM. After adjusting for clinical variables, an eGFR ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.62; 95% CI 1.09–6.29) and a medical history of CAD (HR 2.32; 95% CI 1.13–4.80) were independent risk factors for developing PICM. A medical history of CAD and low eGFR are independent risk factors for PICM in patients with preserved LVEF at baseline. These results could be helpful in predicting a decreased LVEF by ventricular pacing before PMI. Close follow-up by echocardiography is recommended to avoid a delay in upgrading to physiological pacing, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy or conduction system pacing.
Pre-radiotherapy ctDNA liquid biopsy for risk stratification of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Semenkovich Nicholas P. , Badiyan Shahed N. , Samson Pamela P. , Stowe Hayley B. , Wang Yun E. , Star Rachel , Devarakonda Siddhartha , Govindan Ramaswamy , Waqar Saiama N. , Robinson Clifford G. , Vlacich Gregory , Pellini Bruna , Chaudhuri Aadel A.
Published: October 2023

The optimal treatment paradigm for patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Some patients with oligometastatic disease experience prolonged remission after locally consolidative radiation therapy (RT), while others harbor micrometastatic disease (below limits of detection by imaging) and benefit from systemic therapy. To risk-stratify and identify the patients most likely to benefit from locally consolidative RT, we performed a multi-institutional cohort study of 1487 patients with oligometastatic NSCLC undergoing liquid biopsy analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). In total, 1880 liquid biopsies were performed and approximately 20% of patients (n = 309) had ctDNA measured prior to RT and after their diagnosis of oligometastatic disease. Patients with undetectable ctDNA (pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in plasma using the Tempus xF assay) before RT had significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.004) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.030). ctDNA maximum variant allele frequency (VAF) pre-RT and ctDNA mutational burden pre-RT were both significantly inversely correlated with PFS (maximum VAF P = 0.008, mutational burden P = 0.003) and OS (maximum VAF P = 0.007, mutational burden P = 0.045). These findings were corroborated by multivariate Cox proportional hazards models that included eight additional clinical and genomic parameters. Overall, these data suggest that in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC, pre-RT ctDNA can potentially identify the patients most likely to benefit from locally consolidative RT and experience prolonged PFS and OS. Similarly, ctDNA may be useful to identify undiagnosed micrometastatic disease where it may be appropriate to prioritize systemic therapies.
Task-specific odorant receptor expression in worker antennae indicates that sensory filters regulate division of labor in ants
Authors: Caminer Marcel A. , Libbrecht Romain , Majoe Megha , Ho David V. , Baumann Peter , Foitzik Susanne
Published: October 2023

Division of labor (DOL) is a characteristic trait of insect societies, where tasks are generally performed by specialized individuals. Inside workers focus on brood or nest care, while others take risks by foraging outside. Theory proposes that workers have different thresholds to perform certain tasks when confronted with task-related stimuli, leading to specialization and consequently DOL. Workers are presumed to vary in their response to task-related cues rather than in how they perceive such information. Here, we test the hypothesis that DOL instead stems from workers varying in their efficiency to detect stimuli of specific tasks. We use transcriptomics to measure mRNA expression levels in the antennae and brain of nurses and foragers of the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. We find seven times as many genes to be differentially expressed between behavioral phenotypes in the antennae compared to the brain. Moreover, half of all odorant receptors are differentially expressed, with an overrepresentation of the 9-exon gene family upregulated in the antennae of nurses. Nurses and foragers thus apparently differ in the perception of their olfactory environment and task-related signals. Our study supports the hypothesis that antennal sensory filters predispose workers to specialize in specific tasks.
Meat taxes in Europe can be designed to avoid overburdening low-income consumers
Authors: Klenert D. , Funke F. , Cai M.
Published: October 2023

Consumption taxes on meat have recently been under consideration in several European countries as part of their effort to achieve more sustainable food systems. Yet a major concern is that these taxes might burden low-income households disproportionately. Here we compare different meat tax designs and revenue recycling schemes in terms of their distributional impacts in a large sample of European countries. We find that across all selected tax designs, uncompensated meat taxes are slightly regressive. However, the effect on inequality is mild and can be reversed through revenue recycling via uniform lump-sum transfers in most cases. Using meat tax revenues towards lowering value-added taxes on fruit and vegetable products dampens but does not fully offset the regressive effect. Variation in the distributional impact can be explained by cross-country heterogeneity in consumption patterns, design choices between unit-based and ad valorem taxation and differentiation according to greenhouse gas intensities.
Centuries of genome instability and evolution in soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, bivalve transmissible neoplasia
Authors: Hart Samuel F. M. , Yonemitsu Marisa A. , Giersch Rachael M. , Garrett Fiona E. S. , Beal Brian F. , Arriagada Gloria , Davis Brian W. , Ostrander Elaine A. , Goff Stephen P. , Metzger Michael J.
Published: October 2023

Transmissible cancers are infectious parasitic clones that metastasize to new hosts, living past the death of the founder animal in which the cancer initiated. We investigated the evolutionary history of a cancer lineage that has spread though the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population by assembling a chromosome-scale soft-shell clam reference genome and characterizing somatic mutations in transmissible cancer. We observe high mutation density, widespread copy-number gain, structural rearrangement, loss of heterozygosity, variable telomere lengths, mitochondrial genome expansion and transposable element activity, all indicative of an unstable cancer genome. We also discover a previously unreported mutational signature associated with overexpression of an error-prone polymerase and use this to estimate the lineage to be >200 years old. Our study reveals the ability for an invertebrate cancer lineage to survive for centuries while its genome continues to structurally mutate, likely contributing to the evolution of this lineage as a parasitic cancer.
Arctic cyclones have become more intense and longer-lived over the past seven decades
Authors: Zhang Xiangdong , Tang Han , Zhang Jing , Walsh John E. , Roesler Erika L. , Hillman Benjamin , Ballinger Thomas J. , Weijer Wilbert
Published: October 2023

Intense cyclones driving extreme Arctic weather and climate events have been more frequently observed during recent years, causing dramatic environmental and socioeconomic impacts. However, inconsistencies have emerged about long-term changes in Arctic cyclone activity. Here we analyze multiple reanalysis datasets covering a multidecadal period with improvements to the cyclone tracking algorithm and the integrated cyclone activity metric. The results indicate an intensification of Arctic cyclone activity over the last seven decades. There has been a long-term shift of the maximum cyclone counts from weaker to stronger cyclones and a pronounced lengthening of the duration of strong cyclones. Spatial analysis shows increased strong cyclone frequency over the Arctic, driven by enhanced lower troposphere baroclinicity, amplified winter jet stream waves over the subpolar North Atlantic, and a strengthened summer tropospheric vortex over the central Arctic. The stratospheric vortex has also intensified the tropospheric waves and vortex with distinct dynamics between winter and summer. Recently enhanced baroclinicity over large areas of the Arctic and midlatitudes suggests more complicated atmospheric dynamics than what is hypothesized with Arctic-amplification-induced decrease in meridional temperature gradients.
Fibrous dolomite formation at a Miocene methane seep may reflect Neoproterozoic aragonite-dolomite sea conditions
Authors: Lu Yang , Paulmann Carsten , Mihailova Boriana , Malcherek Thomas , Birgel Daniel , López Correa Matthias , Lin Zhiyong , Lu Liuyi , Milker Yvonne , Peckmann Jörn
Published: October 2023

Fibrous dolomite widely formed in Neoproterozoic marine sedimentary environments, but apparently disappeared in the Phanerozoic. Here, fibrous dolomite is recognised in a Miocene methane seep limestone (Marmorito, Italy) by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, length slow crystal optics and primary zonation under cathodoluminescence, which is unexpected. Low δ13C values and their negative correlation with MgCO3 contents indicate a formation driven by highly alkaline pore waters and catalysis of dissolved sulphide generated by sulphate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane. Cementing cavities of reefal carbonate, Neoproterozoic fibrous dolomite might have formed under sulphate-reducing conditions like Quaternary reef microbialites. Since the cavities of Neoproterozoic reefs were restricted microenvironments, the formation of fibrous dolomite was possibly favoured by catalysis similar to its Miocene seep counterpart. Our findings reinforce the concept of penecontemporaneous dolomite formation by sulphide catalysis and contribute to our understanding of the environmental conditions of the Neoproterozoic.
Tailoring the phase composition of carbon-coated nickel sulfides to achieve a high specific capacitance
Authors: Kurtan Ü. , Üstün B. , Aydın H. , Koç S. N.
Published: October 2023

As significant transition metal sulfides, nickel sulfides integrated with carbon were successfully synthesized in the presence of polyethylenimine and glutaraldehyde with a solvothermal route at 180 °C followed by carbonization.
Iron(ii) complexes of 2,6-bis(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl)pyridine and related ligands with annelated distal heterocyclic donors
Authors: Kulmaczewski Rafal , Halcrow Malcolm A.
Published: October 2023

The compounds shown are mostly high-spin in the solid state, but exhibit thermal spin-crossover equilibria in solution with a ligand-centred room-temperature emission. Iron(ii) complexes of two related ligands are also investigated.
Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles under Cp*Co(iii)-catalysis
Authors: Dahiya Pardeep , Garg Nidhi , Poli Rinaldo , Sundararaju Basker
Published: October 2023

One-step bidirectional hydrogenation–dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles is demonstrated under Cp*Co(iii)-catalysis in water using HCO2H as an LOHC or O2 as an oxidant.
New insight into environmental oxidation of phosmet insecticide initiated by HO˙ radicals in gas and water – a theoretical study
Authors: K. Al Rawas Hisham , Al Mawla Reem , Pham Thi Yen Nhi , Truong Dinh Hieu , Nguyen Thi Le Anh , Taamalli Sonia , Ribaucour Marc , El Bakali Abderrahman , Černušák Ivan , Dao Duy Quang , Louis Florent
Published: October 2023

Phosmet is an organophosphorus insecticide widely used in agriculture to control a range of insects; recently, it was banned by the European Union in 2022 due to its harmful effects.
Source to tap investigation of natural organic matter in non-disinfected drinking water distribution systems
Authors: Gabrielli Marco , Pulcini Fabio , Barbesti Giacomo , Antonelli Manuela
Published: October 2023

Characteristics of natural organic matter present in drinking water from an undisinfected system fed on groundwater were investigated by spectroscopic methods highlighting changes due to seasonality, treatment and water distribution.
In situ modified nanocellulose/alginate hydrogel composite beads for purifying mining effluents
Authors: Georgouvelas Dimitrios , Abdelhamid Hani Nasser , Edlund Ulrica , Mathew Aji P.
Published: October 2023

Biobased adsorbent beads with anionic charge used in three-dimensional (3-D) column filters for large-volume, high flux water treatment under atmospheric pressure.
Reduced-dimensional perovskites with dithioketal-containing intercalating cations for near-infrared light-emitting diodes
Authors: Li Wenxuan , Yao Guoying , Zhang Yilan , Zhang Lingjiao , Hu Sujuan , Liu Chuan , Liu Baiquan , Zeng Tao , Yang Zhenyu
Published: October 2023

Reduced-dimensional (RD) metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have received much attention from scientific researchers for their highly tunable optoelectronic properties and solution processability.
Uniform distribution of metallic lithium and carbon on the nanoscale for highly stable carbon-based lithium metal anodes
Authors: Jiang Zipeng , Liu Haiyan , Liu Tao , Meng Chenyang , Jiang Zhijie , Tabish Mohammad , Yu Xiaoqi , Li Ang , Chen Xiaohong , Song Huaihe
Published: October 2023

The highly dispersed internal structure of Li metal ensures a higher electrolyte/electrode contact area and rapid charge transfer. Therefore, the local volume change and dendritic Li were suppressed.
ppb-Level detection of isopropanol based on porous ZnSnO3/Ag through the synergistic effects of Ag and amorphous nanocube structures
Authors: Zhou Fangling , Mu Zhuangzhuang , Yuan Zhenyu , Zhu Hongmin , Yan Xin , Gao Hongliang , Meng Fanli
Published: October 2023

The incorporation of Ag as an active site enhances the adsorption of oxygen and converts them into adsorbed ions. This facilitates a more efficient reaction with isopropanol and enables the sensor to achieve detection at the ppb level.
Uranium and lithium extraction from seawater: challenges and opportunities for a sustainable energy future
Authors: Lim Yu Jie , Goh Kunli , Goto Atsushi , Zhao Yanli , Wang Rong
Published: October 2023

Our analysis of the current literature shows that advances in extractive technologies for U/Li recovery lie at the intersection between molecular simulation, nanotechnology and materials science, electrochemistry, and membrane engineering.
Components and physical properties of hydrogels modulate inflammatory response and cartilage repair
Authors: Gao Yongli , Dai Wenling , Li Shikui , Zhao Xingchen , Wang Jing , Fu Weili , Guo Likun , Fan Yujiang , Zhang Xingdong
Published: October 2023

The moderate activation of macrophages adjusted by hydrogel components and physical properties is critical in modulating inflammation and cartilage regeneration.
Rational molecular design of phenanthroimidazole–azine derivatives for efficient non-doped blue organic light-emitting diodes with low-efficiency roll-off
Authors: Chasing Pongsakorn , Kumsampao Jakkapan , Janthakit Pattarapapa , Nalaoh Phattananawee , Loythaworn Thidarat , Waengdongbung Wijitra , Wongkaew Praweena , Sudyoadsuk Taweesak , Promarak Vinich
Published: October 2023

A family of phenanthroimidazole–azine derivatives (TrBPI, 4PyBPI, 2PyBPI, and 2PyTPI) bearing various kinds of azine acceptors (2,4-diphenyltriazine, 4,6-diphenylpyrimidine, and 2,6-diphenylpyrimidine) are successfully developed.
Ferrovalley and topological phase transition behavior in monolayer Ru(OH)2
Authors: Wu Yanzhao , Deng Li , Tong Junwei , Yin Xiang , Tian Fubo , Qin Gaowu , Zhang Xianmin
Published: October 2023

Monolayer Ru(OH)2 is an FV semiconductor with a high Curie temperature, and it also exhibits topological phase transition behavior under strain.
The statistical probability factor in triplet mediated photon upconversion: a case study with perylene
Authors: Naimovičius Lukas , Radiunas Edvinas , Dapkevičius Manvydas , Bharmoria Pankaj , Moth-Poulsen Kasper , Kazlauskas Karolis
Published: October 2023

Experimentally determined statistical probability factor in TTA-mediated photon upconversion for perylene is ∼18%, predominantly dictated by the energy-gap law. This limits the maximum TTA-UC quantum yield to 9.0 % (out of 50%) for this annihilator.
Pressure dependence of ionic conductivity in site disordered lithium superionic argyrodite Li6PS5Br
Authors: Faka Vasiliki , Agne Matthias T. , Till Paul , Bernges Tim , Sadowski Marcel , Gautam Ajay , Albe Karsten , Zeier Wolfgang G.
Published: October 2023

The activation volume of a mobile ion can be determined from pressure dependent conductivity measurements. In Br−/S2− site disordered lithium argyrodites Li6PS5Br, the activation volume is increasing with increasing site disorder.
Web accessibility in Spanish city councils: a challenge for the democratic inclusion and well-being of citizens
Authors: Fernández-Díaz Elena , Jambrino-Maldonado Carmen , Iglesias-Sánchez Patricia P. , de las Heras-Pedrosa Carlos
Published: October 2023

Public institutions find an open window and greater transparency towards citizens in the digital sphere. So much so that the websites of local corporations can be considered an instrument of democratic inclusion and overall well-being. However, web accessibility continues to be a pending issue in order to encourage any person, regardless of their physical, mental or age capabilities, to interact without any kind of barrier. This paper analyses the web accessibility of 18 provincial capital city councils in Spain, comparing two periods to detect compliance with the requirements of adaptation to citizenship by applying the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The results show that accessibility to the websites of local corporations is still an unresolved issue. The commitment to web accessibility is not related to the size of cities or their budgetary level. It is necessary to undertake the appropriate improvements if they want, in their commitment to all citizens, to not leave out two key groups: people with functional diversity and the elderly. The contribution of this work goes beyond the need to use a type of analysis model to evaluate the democratisation of websites as digital public services and, consequently, it raises a series of practical implications relevant to the political decision-making bodies of local councils.
Reinforcement learning for photonic component design
Authors: Witt Donald , Young Jeff , Chrostowski Lukas
Published: October 2023

We present a new fab-in-the-loop reinforcement learning algorithm for the design of nano-photonic components that accounts for the imperfections present in nanofabrication processes. As a demonstration of the potential of this technique, we apply it to the design of photonic crystal grating couplers fabricated on an air clad 220 nm silicon on insulator single etch platform. This fab-in-the-loop algorithm improves the insertion loss from 8.8 to 3.24 dB. The widest bandwidth designs produced using our fab-in-the-loop algorithm can cover a 150 nm bandwidth with less than 10.2 dB of loss at their lowest point.
Highly conductive tungsten suboxide nanotubes
Authors: Huez Cécile , Berthe Maxime , Volatron Florence , Guigner Jean-Michel , Brouri Dalil , Chamoreau Lise-Marie , Baptiste Benoît , Proust Anna , Vuillaume Dominique
Published: October 2023

We demonstrate a high electron conductivity (>102 S/cm and up to 103 S/cm) of tungsten suboxide W18O52.4−52.9 (or equivalently WO2.91−2.94) nanotubes (2–3 nm in diameter, ∼μm long). The conductivity is measured in the temperature range of 120–300 K by a four-probe scanning tunneling microscope in ultrahigh vacuum. The nanotubes are synthesized by a low-temperature and low-cost solvothermal method. They self-assemble in bundles of hundreds of nanotubes forming nanowires (∼μm long, few tens nm wide). We observe a large anisotropy of the conductivity with a ratio (longitudinal conductivity/perpendicular conductivity) of ∼105. A large fraction of them (∼65%–95%) shows a metallic-like, thermal activation-less electron transport behavior. Few of them, with a lower conductivity from 10 to 102 S/cm, display a variable range hopping behavior. In this latter case, a hopping barrier energy of ∼0.24 eV is inferred in agreement with the calculated energy level of the oxygen vacancy below the conduction band. This result is in agreement with a relative average concentration of oxygen vacancies of ∼3%, for which a semiconductor-to-metal transition was theoretically predicted. These tungsten suboxide nanostructures are prone to a wide range of applications in nanoelectronics.
Characteristics and anatomic location of PD-1
+
TCF1
+
stem-like CD8 T cells in chronic viral infection and cancer
Authors: Im Se Jin , Obeng Rebecca C. , Nasti Tahseen H. , McManus Daniel , Kamphorst Alice O. , Gunisetty Sivaram , Prokhnevska Nataliya , Carlisle Jennifer W. , Yu Ke , Sica Gabriel L. , Cardozo Lucas E. , Gonçalves André N. A. , Kissick Haydn T. , Nakaya Helder I. , Ramalingam Suresh S. , Ahmed Rafi
Published: October 2023

CD8 T cells play an essential role in antitumor immunity and chronic viral infections. Recent findings have delineated the differentiation pathway of CD8 T cells in accordance with the progenitor-progeny relationship of TCF1
+
stem-like and Tim-3
+
TCF1
−
more differentiated T cells. Here, we investigated the characteristics of stem-like and differentiated CD8 T cells isolated from several murine tumor models and human lung cancer samples in terms of phenotypic and transcriptional features as well as their location compared to virus-specific CD8 T cells in the chronically lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-infected mice. We found that CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in both murine and human tumors exhibited overall similar phenotypic and transcriptional characteristics compared to corresponding subsets in the spleen of chronically infected mice. Moreover, stem-like CD8 TILs exclusively responded and produced effector-like progeny CD8 T cells in vivo after antigenic restimulation, confirming their lineage relationship and the proliferative potential of stem-like CD8 TILs. Most importantly, similar to the preferential localization of PD-1
+
stem-like CD8 T cells in T cell zones of the spleen during chronic LCMV infection, we found that the PD-1
+
stem-like CD8 TILs in lung cancer samples are preferentially located not in the tumor parenchyma but in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). The stem-like CD8 T cells are present in TLSs located within and at the periphery of the tumor, as well as in TLSs closely adjacent to the tumor parenchyma. These findings suggest that TLSs provide a protective niche to support the quiescence and maintenance of stem-like CD8 T cells in the tumor.
Hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate accumulation reveals MEP pathway regulation for high CO
2
-induced suppression of isoprene emission
Authors: Sahu Abira , Mostofa Mohammad Golam , Weraduwage Sarathi M. , Sharkey Thomas D.
Published: October 2023

Isoprene is emitted by some plants and is the most abundant biogenic hydrocarbon entering the atmosphere. Multiple studies have elucidated protective roles of isoprene against several environmental stresses, including high temperature, excessive ozone, and herbivory attack. However, isoprene emission adversely affects atmospheric chemistry by contributing to ozone production and aerosol formation. Thus, understanding the regulation of isoprene emission in response to varying environmental conditions, for example, elevated CO
2
, is critical to comprehend how plants will respond to climate change. Isoprene emission decreases with increasing CO
2
concentration; however, the underlying mechanism of this response is currently unknown. We demonstrated that high-CO
2
-mediated suppression of isoprene emission is independent of photosynthesis and light intensity, but it is reduced with increasing temperature. Furthermore, we measured methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway metabolites in poplar leaves harvested at ambient and high CO
2
to identify why isoprene emission is reduced under high CO
2
. We found that hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate (HMBDP) was increased and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) decreased at high CO
2.
This implies that high CO
2
impeded the conversion of HMBDP to DMADP, possibly through the inhibition of HMBDP reductase activity, resulting in reduced isoprene emission. We further demonstrated that although this phenomenon appears similar to abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent stomatal regulation, it is unrelated as ABA treatment did not alter the effect of elevated CO
2
on the suppression of isoprene emission. Thus, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of the MEP pathway and isoprene emission in the face of increasing CO
2
.
Collective motion in hcp-Fe at Earth’s inner core conditions
Authors: Zhang Youjun , Wang Yong , Huang Yuqian , Wang Junjie , Liang Zhixin , Hao Long , Gao Zhipeng , Li Jun , Wu Qiang , Zhang Hong , Liu Yun , Sun Jian , Lin Jung-Fu
Published: October 2023

Earth’s inner core is predominantly composed of solid iron (Fe) and displays intriguing properties such as strong shear softening and an ultrahigh Poisson’s ratio. Insofar, physical mechanisms to explain these features coherently remain highly debated. Here, we have studied longitudinal and shear wave velocities of hcp-Fe (hexagonal close-packed iron) at relevant pressure–temperature conditions of the inner core using in situ shock experiments and machine learning molecular dynamics (MLMD) simulations. Our results demonstrate that the shear wave velocity of hcp-Fe along the Hugoniot in the premelting condition, defined as

T/T
m

(

T
m

: melting temperature of iron) above 0.96, is significantly reduced by ~30%, while Poisson’s ratio jumps to approximately 0.44. MLMD simulations at 230 to 330 GPa indicate that collective motion with fast diffusive atomic migration occurs in premelting hcp-Fe primarily along [100] or [010] crystallographic direction, contributing to its elastic softening and enhanced Poisson’s ratio. Our study reveals that hcp-Fe atoms can diffusively migrate to neighboring positions, forming open-loop and close-loop clusters in the inner core conditions. Hcp-Fe with collective motion at the inner core conditions is thus not an ideal solid previously believed. The premelting hcp-Fe with collective motion behaves like an extremely soft solid with an ultralow shear modulus and an ultrahigh Poisson’s ratio that are consistent with seismic observations of the region. Our findings indicate that premelting hcp-Fe with fast diffusive motion represents the underlying physical mechanism to help explain the unique seismic and geodynamic features of the inner core.
A sparrow search algorithm-optimized convolutional neural network for imbalanced data classification using synthetic minority over-sampling technique
Authors: Deng Wu , He Qi , Zhou Xiangbing , Chen Huayue , Zhao Huimin
Published: October 2023

Due to the large span of flight delay, numerous influencing factors and large number of flights, the collected flight delay data is characterized by large-scale and imbalance, which is considered as one of the largest challenges in balanced flight delay data classification by using conventional classification algorithms. To solve this problem, an adaptive multi-class classification approach of imbalanced flight delay data using synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE)-based convolutional neural network with sparrow search algorithm, namely SSA-LTCNN is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the SMOTE is used to reduce the imbalance between the classes of the flight delay data. Then, the qualitative analysis method is employed to determine the key parameters of the CNN, which are optimized by using SSA to establish an optimized CNN model. Finally, the optimized CNN model with more effective feature representation ability is employed to extract discriminative features from the balanced flight delay data automatically. The obtained features in the last fully connected layer of the optimized CNN model are used for flight delay classification. The MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Data is selected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SSA-LTCNN method and the confusion matrix, classification accuracy, precision, recall and F1 score are also used to evaluate the performance of the proposed SSA-LTCNN method, which can get better performance than RF, DT, LR, CNN and QRSCNN. The actual flight delay data is processed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed classification approach, which can achieve higher accuracy than KNN, NB, UCNN, CNN, SSA-LCNN and SSA-TCNN in different time periods. The experimental results show that the SSA-LTCNN can fast and effectively realize the classification of MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Data and flight delay data.
High-efficiency photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and molecular docking study to treat the omicron variant of COVID-19 infection using biosynthesized ZnO@Fe3O4 nanocomposites
Authors: Meneceur Souhaila , Bouafia Abderrhmane , Laouini Salah Eddine , Mohammed Hamdi Ali , Daoudi Henda , Hasan Gamil Gamal , Salmi Chaima
Published: October 2023

In this study, ZnO@Fe3O4 nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized using a green synthesis method with Mentha pulegium leaf extract. Characterization techniques such as UV–vis, FTIR, SEM, TGA, and XRD were employed to confirm the formation of ZnO@Fe3O4 NC and thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate the breakdown of NC in the presence of heat. XRD analysis showed a crystallite size of about 25.59 nm and SEM images of ZnO@Fe3O4 NC revealed spherical-shaped agglomerated particles. The optical bandgap energy of the ZnO@Fe3O4 NC was estimated to be 2.51 eV for direct bandgap and 1.57 eV for allowable indirect bandgap. Photocatalytic activity of the ZnO@Fe3O4 NC was evaluated for the degradation of Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Metronidazole antibiotics under sunlight irradiation, showing degradation efficiencies of 71%, 69%, and 99%, respectively, suggesting the potential of ZnO@Fe3O4 NC for removal of antibiotics from waterways. First-principles theory was employed to establish the adsorption energy (Ead) of the antibiotic species, including Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Metronidazole, on the surface of ZnO@Fe3O4 nanocomposite, which was found to be −8.064, −8.791, and −21.385 eV, respectively, indicating strong adsorption. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were conducted to upgrade Fe3O4 nanoparticles to ZnO@Fe3O4 NC to enhance composite efficiency. Leveraging the FDA-approved use of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their known antiviral activity, our docking experiment demonstrated promising results in the interaction between ZnO@Fe3O4 nanocomposite and the spike protein receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 S Omicron. These findings suggest that ZnO@Fe3O4 nanocomposite could potentially inhibit virus attachment to host cell receptors more stably, providing a promising avenue for further exploration in developing effective medications against SARS-CoV-2.
Tunable full-space light field manipulation based on double-layer Ge2Sb2Te5 metasurfaces
Authors: Guo Kai , Li XiaoYu , Kang Qianlong , Guo Zhongyi
Published: October 2023

Metasurfaces have the strong ability to reshape wave front and are attractive for a wide range of applications. However, metasurface based light field manipulation can be realized usually in either transmission or reflection space individually, which will limit its application scenario of metasuface. In this paper, we design a phase change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) based double-layer dielectric metasurface in mid-infrared bands, which can achieve the light field manipulation in full space and dynamically control the focal intensity of reflected and transmitted light. As proof-of-concepts, two functional metasurfaces are designed and investigated: the first metasurface realizes the dynamically adjustable focus intensity in full-space under left circularly polarized (LCP) light incidence, the second metasurface is designed to provide spin-dependent bifocal in full space, which can generate custom designed two focal points under LCP or right circularly polarized (RCP) light incidence. Our proposed tunable full-space dielectric metasurfaces can be potentially applied for energy-harvesting, optical communication and optical imaging.
A combination of extended finite element method and the Kriging model based crack identification method
Authors: Xie Guizhong , Zhao Chongmao , Li Hao , Du Wenliao , Liu Jun , Wang Yuehui , Zhong Yudong , Wang Liangwen , Wang Haoqi
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we proposed a crack identification method in which the extended finite element method (XFEM) and a surrogate model are employed. The XFEM is used for accurate modeling of fractures, while the employment of Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) ensures a representative sample space for the input parameters. Then, we use a Kriging surrogate model to establish the response surface between the input and output data and to verify the accuracy of the model predictions. The Kriging model is based on a Gaussian process that models the correlation between the sample points, and it provides an efficient way to interpolate between known data points. To find the optimal solution, we combine the Kriging surrogate model with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. From the numerical examples, it can be found that the optimal solutions are in good agreement with the exact solutions.
Thermodynamically consistent model of an active Ornstein–Uhlenbeck particle
Authors: Fritz J H , Seifert U
Published: October 2023

Identifying the full entropy production of active particles is a challenging task. We introduce a microscopic, thermodynamically consistent model, which leads to active Ornstein–Uhlenbeck statistics in the continuum limit. Our minimal model consists of a particle with a fluctuating number of active reaction sites that contribute to its active self-propulsion on a lattice. The model also takes ordinary thermal noise into account. This approach allows us to identify the full entropy production stemming from both thermal diffusion and active driving. Extant methods based on the comparison of forward and time-reversed trajectory underestimate the physical entropy production when applied to the Langevin equations obtained from our model. Constructing microscopic Markovian models can thus provide a benchmark for determining the entropy production in non-Markovian active systems.
A quantitative study of systematic uncertainties due to QED corrections in accurate Compton polarimetry experiments
Authors: Martens A. , Mawas F. , Zomer F.
Published: October 2023

Several new high-energy physics accelerators will exploit
beam polarization as a core part of their program. In several cases
the beam polarization needs to be accurately measured with a
precision better than one per-mille. At this level of precision,
 α
3 QED corrections must be accounted for. In this paper, we
estimate the related correction for the detectors considered for
several projects as ILC and FCC-ee. Two different techniques to
extract the beam polarization are investigated and found to provide
complementary information. The related measurements are dominated by
different sources of systematic uncertainties, either related to QED
corrections or likely to uncontrolled variations of experimental
conditions at the per-mille level. It is found in particular that
the measurement of the spatial distribution of photons, besides
experimental challenges, is more sensitive to QED corrections than
the technique consisting in measuring electrons spatial and energy
distribution.