bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Reciprocal Illumination” of Hinduism, Human Rights, and the Comparative Study of Religion: Arvind Sharma’s Contributions
Authors: Martin Nancy M.
Published: March 2024

Arvind Sharma has made immensely significant contributions in the fields of both comparative religion and the study of Hinduism through his methodology of “reciprocal illumination” and his prominent role in international conversations on women and religion, religion and human rights, freedom of religion, and religious tolerance and conflict. Aware of the power of religion and its negative valuation, especially post-September 11, he displays a deep commitment to fostering interreligious understanding, arguing for religion as an essential and positive partner in envisioning and actualizing human flourishing, upholding human dignity, and engaging in global ethical cooperation, and equally he demonstrates Hinduism’s potential contribution both to these endeavors and to moving the field of comparative studies beyond its Western, Christian, and colonialist origins and assumptions. This essay details these contributions and Sharma’s place as an interpreter of Hinduism for those inside and outside the tradition in our time.
Digitalisierungsbezogene Lehrkräftefortbildungen – Analysen zu Zusammenhängen mit Lehrpersonen- und Schulmerkmalen sowie zum wahrgenommenen Fortbildungserfolg durch Lehrkräfte in Deutschland
Authors: Gerick Julia , Annemann Christiane , Niemann Theresa , Drossel Kerstin
Published: March 2024

Mit voranschreitender digitaler Transformation und den damit verbundenen Herausforderungen für Schule und Unterricht steigt die Bedeutsamkeit digitalisierungsbezogener Fortbildungen für Lehrkräfte. Im Fokus dieses Beitrags steht die Frage, wie mögliche Voraussetzungen für eine Teilnahme an digitalisierungsbezogenen Lehrkräftefortbildungen mit der tatsächlichen Teilnahme zusammenhängen und welche Zusammenhänge sich mit wahrgenommenen Erfolgen dieser Fortbildungen durch die Lehrkräfte zeigen. Dieser Fragestellung wird auf Grundlage der in Deutschland repräsentativen Lehrkräfte- und Schuldaten aus der International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS 2018) nachgegangen. Den theoretischen Bezugsrahmen bietet das Angebots-Nutzungs-Modell zu Einflussfaktoren im Kontext von Lehrkräftefortbildungen von Lipowsky und Rzejak (2021). Die Befunde zeigen, dass insbesondere der Schulkontext (z. B. digitalisierungsbezogene Prioritäten der Schulleitung, Lehrkräftekooperation, IT-Ausstattung der Schule), jedoch nicht die Voraussetzungen der Lehrkräfte (Berufserfahrung mit digitalen Medien und digitalisierungsbezogene Bestandteile der Ausbildung) damit zusammenhängen, ob und wie häufig Lehrkräfte an digitalisierungsbezogenen Fortbildungen teilnehmen. Zusammenhänge mit dem wahrgenommenen Erfolg der Fortbildungen, welcher über die Einschätzungen der Lehrkräfte erfasst wurde, zeigen sich sowohl auf Ebene der Lehrkräfte selbst hinsichtlich ihrer digitalisierungsbezogenen Einstellungen und eingeschätzten Kompetenzen, als auch auf Ebene des Unterrichts bezüglich der Nutzung digitaler Medien und der nachdrücklichen Förderung ‚digitaler‘ Kompetenzen bei den Schülerinnen und Schülern.
Cognitive ergonomics and robotic surgery
Authors: Wong Shing Wai , Crowe Philip
Published: March 2024

Cognitive ergonomics refer to mental resources and is associated with memory, sensory motor response, and perception. Cognitive workload (CWL) involves use of working memory (mental strain and effort) to complete a task. The three types of cognitive loads have been divided into intrinsic (dependent on complexity and expertise), extraneous (the presentation of tasks) and germane (the learning process) components. The effect of robotic surgery on CWL is complex because the postural, visualisation, and manipulation ergonomic benefits for the surgeon may be offset by the disadvantages associated with team separation and reduced situation awareness. Physical fatigue and workflow disruptions have a negative impact on CWL. Intraoperative CWL can be measured subjectively post hoc with the use of self-reported instruments or objectively with real-time physiological response metrics. Cognitive training can play a crucial role in the process of skill acquisition during the three stages of motor learning: from cognitive to integrative and then to autonomous. Mentorship, technical practice and watching videos are the most common traditional cognitive training methods in surgery. Cognitive training can also occur with computer-based cognitive simulation, mental rehearsal, and cognitive task analysis. Assessment of cognitive skills may offer a more effective way to differentiate robotic expertise level than automated performance (tool-based) metrics.
Understanding transaction costs of energy efficiency renovations in the Swedish residential sector
Authors: Lundmark Robert
Published: March 2024

The residential sector has a large potential to reduce its energy use. Improving the energy performance of buildings is one way to realise this potential. For single-family buildings, improving the energy efficiency by energy renovations can produce a net financial gain. However, there are unaccounted barriers that act as impediments for house-owners to undertake energy efficiency measures. This study postulates that transaction costs are such a barrier. Transaction costs are defined as the cost of making an economic exchange on a market in addition to the market price. The purpose is to empirically estimate the magnitude of the transactions costs and its determinants for energy efficiency measures in the residential sector. Specifically, the transaction costs for heat insulation and energy-saving windows in Swedish single-family buildings are assessed. The analysis is based on a unique dataset, constructed from a web-based survey. The results indicate that transaction costs for energy efficiency measures are considerable. The average transaction cost to make additional heat insulation is SEK 18,046 (EUR 1,510) and SEK 21,106 (EUR 1,766) to install energy-saving windows. The determinants of the transaction costs are cognitive limitations, social connectedness, asset specificity and previous experiences. Therefore, to reduce the transaction costs, the complexity of energy efficiency measures must be addressed, potential opportunistic behaviour must be reduced, and financial options expanded.
Four new deciduous species of Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae: Gardenieae) from western Madagascar: the sofikomba alliance
Authors: Rakotonasolo F. , Davis A. P.
Published: March 2024

The genusHyperacanthuscomprises 11 species, nine in Madagascar and two in Africa, although many Madagascan species remain undescribed. All Madagascan species ofHyperacanthusare evergreen trees occurring in humid and semi-humid forest. Four deciduous species occur in the dry forests of northern, western, and southern Madagascar but are unknown to science. These four species, collectively and informally referred to as the sofikomba alliance, are described here:H. decaryi,H. piliformis,H. septentrionaleandH. sofikomba. Three of the four species are illustrated and all four are mapped. A key to species, species descriptions, other key taxonomic information, and preliminary conservation assessments are also provided.
Development of an action classification method for construction sites combining pose assessment and object proximity evaluation
Authors: Kikuta Toshiya , Chun Pang-jo
Published: March 2024

Addressing the inherent hazards of on-site construction work and stagnant labor productivity is crucial in the construction industry. To tackle these challenges, automated monitoring of construction sites and analysis of workers' actions play a pivotal role. In this study, we developed a method for classifying actions at a construction site from video, using deep learning. Specifically, we used two image processing techniques, pose assessment and object detection, and found that the accuracy of action classification was improved by extracting information on the proximity of workers to equipment installed at the construction site, and also by considering the pose information. For classification, LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory), CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), and XGBoost models were used, and the presence of proximity information improved average recall by 7.0% to 8.5% for all models used. The final model was developed as an ensemble of these methods, offering accuracy and average recall that are higher than with conventional methods. The methodology developed in this research enables quantification and visualization of work content at construction sites, contributing to the overall enhancement of safety and productivity within the construction industry.
Predicting Hurricane Evacuation Decisions with Interpretable Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Sun Yuran , Huang Shih-Kai , Zhao Xilei
Published: March 2024

Facing the escalating effects of climate change, it is critical to improve the prediction and understanding of the hurricane evacuation decisions made by households in order to enhance emergency management. Current studies in this area often have relied on psychology-driven linear models, which frequently exhibited limitations in practice. The present study proposed a novel interpretable machine learning approach to predict household-level evacuation decisions by leveraging easily accessible demographic and resource-related predictors, compared to existing models that mainly rely on psychological factors. An enhanced logistic regression model (that is, an interpretable machine learning approach) was developed for accurate predictions by automatically accounting for nonlinearities and interactions (that is, univariate and bivariate threshold effects). Specifically, nonlinearity and interaction detection were enabled by low-depth decision trees, which offer transparent model structure and robustness. A survey dataset collected in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two of the most intense tropical storms of the last two decades, was employed to test the new methodology. The findings show that, when predicting the households’ evacuation decisions, the enhanced logistic regression model outperformed previous linear models in terms of both model fit and predictive capability. This outcome suggests that our proposed methodology could provide a new tool and framework for emergency management authorities to improve the prediction of evacuation traffic demands in a timely and accurate manner.
Teachers’ Burnout – The Role of Social Support, Gratitude, Hope, Entitlement and Loneliness
Authors: Einav Michal , Confino Dan , Geva Noa , Margalit Malka
Published: March 2024

Psychological burnout is strongly associated with negative effects on people’s life, including their emotional well-being and physical health. Due to prolonged periods of stress, heavy workloads, limited resources and time constraints, teachers are prone to burnout, leading to aversive, prolonged consequences. While previous studies have investigated various factors associated with their burnout, we explored the association between teachers’ relational and personal variables, applying a cross-sectional method. The sample consisted of 248 Israeli teachers (85.1% worked in educational settings for typically developing children, 52.4% were employed in high schools), who completed the following questionnaires: Teachers’ burnout, Perceived social support, Gratitude, Hope, Active entitlement and Loneliness. Results demonstrated negative links between burnout and social support, gratitude and hope as well as a positive link with loneliness. A serial multiple mediation revealed that, whereas social support and hope were associated with lower levels of burnout, feelings of loneliness and a sense of entitlement were related to higher levels of it. Furthermore, gratitude, hope, a sense of entitlement, and loneliness linked social support with burnout. We concluded with a discussion of the implications for future research, theory, and interventions.
Modified hemp fibers as a novel and green adsorbent for organic dye adsorption: adsorption, kinetic studies and modeling
Authors: Viscusi Gianluca , Napolitano Francesco , Gorrasi Giuliana
Published: March 2024

Synthetic dyes represent a serious hazard to aquatic environments. Many approaches for eliminating these contaminants have been devised and applied. This manuscript reports the production of a novel, low-cost and ecologically friendly bioadsorbent based on hemp fibers that are functionalized with graphite oxide through bridging with an organosilane. Methylene blue was selected as a typical pollutant to be removed from wastewaters. The adsorbent was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. An investigation of the effects of pH and temperature on the adsorption process was carried out. The adsorption capacity increased with increasing contact time as well as with the temperature, proving that the process shows endothermic behavior. Moreover, the process was found to be dependent on the pH level and, to corroborate the collected results, the point of zero charge was evaluated. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 57 mg/g, which was achieved with the following parameters: pH = 7.5, T = 80 °C and an initial dye concentration equal to 5 mg/L. Reusability studies showed a 15% decrease in adsorption capacity after 30 adsorption tests, proving the possibility of reusing the produced adsorbent without any great decay in performance. Finally, a potential adsorption mechanism is reported and discussed. The reported results prove that it is feasible to apply the designed adsorbent of organic dyes to the purification of wastewaters.

Graphical abstract
Wer wird nominiert, wer gewinnt?
Authors: Schilling Erik , Harsch Corinna , Hipp Lena , Knobloch Marcel , Munnes Stefan , Vogel Johannes S.
Published: March 2024

Wir nehmen eine vergleichende Untersuchung der Nominierten und Preisträger:innen von sieben Buchpreisen im deutschsprachigen Raum vor, die mit einer vorab veröffentlichten Long- und/oder Shortlist arbeiten. Dazu vergleichen wir die Preise in Bezug auf soziodemographische Faktoren der Autor:innen (Geschlecht, Alter und Muttersprache), deren Bekanntheit zum Zeitpunkt der Nominierung (Aufrufe auf Wikipedia), die Anzahl vorheriger Nominierungen der Autor:innen für den gleichen Buchpreis, die ›Qualität‹ der ausgezeichneten Bücher (Anzahl der Rezensionen des nominierten Buches, positive bzw. negative Beurteilung in Rezensionen sowie die Einigkeit der Rezensent:innen darüber), das Ansehen der Verlage und die Geschlechterzusammensetzung der Jurys. Der Analysezeitraum umfasst 15 Jahre. Unser Datensatz beinhaltet Informationen zu 428 Autor:innen mit insgesamt 627 zwischen den Jahren 2005 und 2020 nominierten Büchern und 2.469 Rezensionen zu diesen Büchern. Der Datensatz wurde mittels mehrerer Methoden (z. B. Web-Scraping, Hand-Kodierung, Expert:innenbewertungen) aus verschiedenen Quellen (z. B. Web-Daten, Bibliothekskataloge, Expert:innenbewertungen) zusammengestellt. Auf diese Weise können wir unter anderem zeigen, dass für alle untersuchten Preise überwiegend deutsche Muttersprachler:innen mit gut rezensierten Büchern aus renommierten Verlagen nominiert werden und die Preise gewinnen.
Spirits and Bodies as an Interdependent Network of Relations and Approach to the Study of Religion in Brazil
Authors: van der Hoek Stefan
Published: March 2024

In the ever-evolving religious landscape of Brazil, researchers who study contemporary phenomena of religions face a complex and often contradictory reality. The practical application of theoretical categories and concepts in this domain is an endeavor that continues to challenge researchers. Brazil’s religious landscape is characterized by an impressive diversity of beliefs, practices, and convictions that often merge and overlap across different boundaries. This complex reality poses a serious challenge to religious studies, which strives to classify, analyze, and compare phenomena in historical and contemporary dimensions. The problems begin with the basic categories, which are often blurred in their applicability and meaning. Therefore, the focus of this article is to argue that the rapid change and impermanence of categories used in religious studies are due to the deep-rooted contradictions in Brazilian religious reality, which (e)merge, transform, and respond to social, cultural, and political changes in a constant state of flux. These changes cause defined categories that may have made sense at certain times. This article argues, however, that a phenomenological perspective is needed to conceptualize the centrality of spiritual entities to comparative religion. The omnipresence of spirits pervades the entire religious field of Pentecostalism, traditional Christianity, indigenous religions and Shamanism, as well as African-derived religions, which will be exemplified in terms of their references and striking parallels when it comes to the concept of spirits while manifested in human bodies and practices.
Economic analysis of China’s grain for green policy: theory and evidence
Authors: Jin Chenghua , Yabuta Masahiro
Published: March 2024

First phase of the grain for green (GFG) policy, one of the China’s forest policies, was implemented in the late 1990s and ended in 2012. The first phase of the GFG policy was successful from a macro perspective, although there were some failures. Based on these outcomes, the second phase of the GFG policy was implemented from 2014 to 2020. This study used panel data to develop an empirical land use model and conduct a comparative static analysis focusing on the GFG policy. Results of the static analysis confirmed factors that affect GFG for the years 2002–2018. In addition, differences in the explanatory variables between the first (2002–2012) and second periods (2014–2018) were determined. Furthermore, differences in GFG subsidies between the northern and southern provinces in the first phase were analyzed for their effects on a reforestation area. The main results revealed that the amount of investment in GFG and rural livelihood security had a positive effect on the expansion of the area of GFG. In addition, the amount of investment in GFG was more effective during the second period than the first period.
Biofabrication of nanocomposite-based scaffolds containing human bone extracellular matrix for the differentiation of skeletal stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Kim Yang-Hee , Kanczler Janos M. , Lanham Stuart , Rawlings Andrew , Roldo Marta , Tozzi Gianluca , Dawson Jonathan I. , Cidonio Gianluca , Oreffo Richard O. C.
Published: March 2024

Autograft or metal implants are routinely used in skeletal repair. However, they fail to provide long-term clinical resolution, necessitating a functional biomimetic tissue engineering alternative. The use of native human bone tissue for synthesizing a biomimetic material ink for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting of skeletal tissue is an attractive strategy for tissue regeneration. Thus, human bone extracellular matrix (bone-ECM) offers an exciting potential for the development of an appropriate microenvironment for human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSCs) to proliferate and differentiate along the osteogenic lineage. In this study, we engineered a novel material ink (LAB) by blending human bone-ECM (B) with nanoclay (L, Laponite®) and alginate (A) polymers using extrusion-based deposition. The inclusion of the nanofiller and polymeric material increased the rheology, printability, and drug retention properties and, critically, the preservation of HBMSCs viability upon printing. The composite of human bone-ECM-based 3D constructs containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhanced vascularization after implantation in an ex vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The inclusion of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) with the HBMSCs further enhanced vascularization and mineralization after only seven days. This study demonstrates the synergistic combination of nanoclay with biomimetic materials (alginate and bone-ECM) to support the formation of osteogenic tissue both in vitro and ex vivo and offers a promising novel 3D bioprinting approach to personalized skeletal tissue repair.

Graphic abstract
Analysing food groups and nutrient intake in adults who met and did not meet the daily recommended vegetable intake of 350 g: the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan
Authors: Yuan Xiaoyi , Tajima Ryoko , Matsumoto Mai , Fujiwara Aya , Aoyama Tomoko , Okada Chika , Okada Emiko , Takimoto Hidemi
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to compare the differences in the intake of food groups and nutrients between Japanese adults who consumed the recommended daily vegetable intake (350 g/day) and those who did not. Dietary information was obtained from one-day dietary records collected from the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey, which was conducted in 46 prefectures in Japan. The participants aged ≥20 years (n = 21,606; 53.8% women) were classified into the < and ≥350 g/day groups. Inter-group differences for 17 food groups and 27 nutrients were assessed as percentages of consumers (food groups only) and energy-adjusted intake (units/MJ/d or % of total energy intake). Overall, 29% of participants consumed ≥350 g/day of vegetables. The ≥350 g/day group had a higher percentage of consumers and energy-adjusted intakes for all vegetable subgroups than the <350 g/day group. For other food groups, the ≥350 g/day group had higher percentages of consumers for all food groups, except for cereals, eggs, and condiments and seasonings, which showed no significant differences. However, the ≥350 g/day group had a significantly higher energy-adjusted intake for potatoes and other tubers, mushrooms, meats, and condiments and seasonings but a significantly lower value for cereals, eggs, savoury snacks and confectionaries, and beverages. The ≥350 g/day group had a significantly higher intake of almost all (25/27) nutrients, including sodium, than the <350 g/day group. Participants with vegetable intake ≥350 g/day might have a more favourable intake of food groups and nutrients; however, watching for salt intake is necessary when promoting vegetable intake.
Otogenic brain complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gkrinia Eleni , Brotis Alexandros G , Vallianou Kyriaki , Ntziovara Anna Maria , Hajiioannou Jiannis
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to form astute deductions regarding the presentation, treatment and mortality of otogenic brain complications.

Methods

A systematic literature search of four medical databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus) was conducted. Studies associated with otogenic brain complications were considered eligible. Fixed- and random-effects model meta-analysis was developed to assess the proportion estimate for each outcome individually.

Results

Twenty-eight studies, with 1650 patients in total, were included. In 66 per cent of patients there was a known history of chronic otitis media. The most common symptoms were purulent otorrhoea (84 per cent), headache (65 per cent) and otalgia (45 per cent). A brain abscess was observed in 49 per cent of patients, followed by meningitis (34 per cent) and sinus thrombosis (22 per cent). A combination of surgical and conservative therapy was chosen in 84.3 per cent of cases and the mortality rate approached 11.1 per cent.

Conclusion

Otogenic brain complications are a possibly life-threatening condition. Prompt imaging examination may set the final diagnosis and lead to an effective treatment.
Integrative research of Mediterranean climate regions: a global call to action
Authors: Arranz Ignasi , Batllori Enric , Linares Cristina , Ripple William J. , Bonada Núria
Published: March 2024

Mediterranean climate regions (hereafter ‘Med-regions’) cover small areas globally but harbour a wide diversity of ecosystems that are under serious threat due to current global climate change. Despite intensive research and conservation efforts in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems to prevent the consequences of habitat fragmentation, overfishing and changes in fire regimes and heatwaves, there is still no global consensus on how to conserve and manage Med-region ecosystems. We define integrative research as an interdisciplinary approach with common concepts and metrics enabling a better understanding of the general mechanisms underlying ecosystems. Building upon existing literature that promotes integrative research in Med-region ecosystems, we advocate for a more integrative approach that takes into consideration cross-ecosystem generalities and common resilience mechanisms. We propose examples of potential studies for implementing such integrative research, including: (1) integrative research across ecosystems; (2) integrative research across Med-regions; and (3) integrative research across political boundaries. We then offer recommendations for promoting integrative studies, including leveraging biodiversity data, establishing working groups in research syntheses and testing theoretical frameworks. Promoting integrative research in Med-regions would enable and facilitate the roadmap towards a better understanding of Med-region ecosystems’ responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and the identification of ecological baselines. We seek to foster future research synergies to identify tipping points across ecosystems and aid in determining desired future conditions in Med-regions globally.
Genetic and phenotypic evidence of the predictive validity of preschool parent reports of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention
Authors: Dionne Ginette , Mascheretti Sara , Feng Bei , Paradis Hélène , Brendgen Mara , Vitaro Frank , Tremblay Richard , Boivin Michel
Published: March 2024

To determine the validity of parent reports (PRs) of ADHD in preschoolers, we assessed hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) and inattention (IN) in 1114 twins with PRs at 1.5, 2.5, 4, 5, 14, 15, and 17 years, and teacher-reports at 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12. We examined if preschool PRs (1) predict high HI/IN trajectories, and (2) capture genetic contributions to HI/IN into adolescence. Group-based trajectory analyses identified three 6–17 years trajectories for both HI and IN, including small groups with high HI (N = 88, 10.4%, 77% boys) and IN (N = 158, 17.3%, 75% boys). Controlling for sex, each unit of HI PRs starting at 1.5 years and at 4 years for IN, increased more than 2-fold the risk of belonging to the high trajectory, with incremental contributions (Odds Ratios = 2.5–4.5) at subsequent ages. Quantitative genetic analyses showed that genetic contributions underlying preschool PRs accounted for up to a quarter and a third of the heritability of later HI and IN, respectively. Genes underlying 1.5-year HI and 4-year IN contributed to 6 of 8 later HI and IN time-points and largely explained the corresponding phenotypic correlations. Results provide phenotypic and genetic evidence that preschool parent reports of HI and IN are valid means to predict developmental risk of ADHD.
The credit-augmented Divisia aggregates and the monetary business cycle
Authors: Serletis Apostolos , Xu Libo
Published: March 2024

We follow Belongia and Ireland (2021) and investigate the role that the Center for Financial Stability credit card-augmented Divisia monetary aggregates could play in monetary policy and business cycle analysis. We use Bayesian methods to estimate a structural VAR under priors that reflect Keynesian channels of monetary transmission, but produce posterior distributions for the structural parameters consistent with classical channels. We also find that valuable information is contained in the credit-augmented Divisia monetary aggregates and that they perform even better than the conventional Divisia aggregates, in terms of highlighting the role of the money supply in aggregate demand.
Associations of Suicide Referents With Different Moral Connotation With Actual Suicides
Authors: Niederkrotenthaler Thomas , Tran Ulrich S. , Till Benedikt
Published: March 2024

Abstract: Background: Different words used for suicide (so-called suicide referents) have different moral connotations, and neutral referents are recommended in media reporting guidelines. Aims: To assess how different referents in media reports are related to actual suicides. Method: Austrian news articles for each month between 2000 and 2021 ( n = 276 months) were obtained from the Austrian Press Agency. Time series were modeled for media items referring to suicide as a crime [Selbstmord], an act of freedom [Freitod], or neutral connotation [Suizid]. Temporal associations with suicides in the month before, during, and after the reporting were examined. Results: Terminology referring to suicide as an act of free will [Freitod] was weakly associated with increases in total, male, and female suicides and with suicides in up to 64-year-olds in the same month. No other statistically significant associations were found. Limitations: No detailed content analysis of media reports was done. Conclusion: During times of prevalent use of referents suggesting suicide to be an act of freedom, there are small-sized increases in suicides. The simultaneous occurrence of this referent and suicides might reflect effects of a societal framing present in both the media and the community rather than a sheer media effect.
Magma Evolution During Main‐Phase Continental Flood Basalt Volcanism: A Case for Recharge‐Evacuation‐Assimilation‐Fractional Crystallization in the Ethiopian Low‐Ti Province
Authors: Krans S. R. , Rooney T. O. , Kappelman J. W. , Yirgu G. , Ayalew D.
Published: March 2024

Lavas erupted in Continental Flood Basalt (CFB) provinces are not primary magmas; they are differentiated products that result from large volumes of melt migrating and stalling in the lithosphere prior to eruption, resulting in complex liquid lines of descent. Geochemical models can be used to constrain the various influencers of magma differentiation (recharge, assimilation, fractional crystallization (FC), eruption, and mixing). Temporal constraints for changes in plumbing system dynamics are recorded in the petrography and stratigraphy of the erupted lava flows. This study focuses on the flow‐stratigraphy preserved within the Oligocene Ethiopian low‐Ti flood basalt province, located on the NW Ethiopian Plateau. We present new bulk rock geochemistry from 107 lavas and interpret these data within a petrostratigraphic framework. Our model results suggest that both a deep (∼0.6 GPa) and shallow (<0.2 GPa) magmatic system are active throughout the main phase of volcanism. Our recharge evacuation assimilation and fractional crystallization models (REAFC) show that during the main phase of magmatism evacuation from both the deep (65%) and shallow (55%) systems reached an apex. During the terminal phases, magma evacuation from the deeper system ceases while evacuation from the shallow system is much reduced (25%). The degree of crustal contamination predicted by REAFC (4%–10%) is lower than previous estimates determined for this region using assimilation with FC only models (12%–25%). Our study highlights the importance of evaluating petrography while interpreting geochemical models in CFB.
Optical Characterization of Marine Aerosols Using a Morphologically Realistic Model With Varying Water Content: Implications for Lidar Applications and Passive Polarimetric Remote Sensing
Authors: Kahnert M. , Kanngießer F.
Published: March 2024

Retrieving the physical properties and water content of marine aerosols requires understanding the links between the particles' optical and microphysical properties. By using a morphologically realistic model with varying salt mass fractions fm, describing the transition from irregularly shaped, dry salt crystals to brine‐coated geometries, optical properties relevant to polarimetric remote sensing are computed at wavelengths of 532 and 1,064 nm. The extinction cross section and its color ratio depend on particle size, but are insensitive to changes in fm; thus, measured extinction coefficients at two wavelengths contain information on both particle number and size. The lidar ratio's dependence on both size and wavelength has implications for inverting the lidar equation. The results suggest that active observations of the backscattering cross section's color ratio and the depolarization ratio, as well as, passive observations of the degree of linear polarization offer avenues to obtain the water content of marine aerosols.
Tilting‐Axis Anisotropic Tomography and Subduction Dynamics of the Java‐Banda Arc
Authors: Xie Fan , Wang Zewei , Zhao Dapeng , Gao Rui , Chen Xiaofei
Published: March 2024

The 180° curvature of the Banda arc at the eastern end of the Java‐Banda subduction zone reflects complicated geodynamic processes. A detailed investigation of its anisotropic structure would reveal its subduction dynamics, further resolving the controversial issue on how the highly arcuate Banda arc formed. We apply tilting‐axis anisotropic tomography to obtain a high‐resolution 3‐D anisotropic model beneath the Java‐Banda region. Our results show significant differences between Java and Banda in the pattern of anisotropy in both the subducting slab and its surrounding mantle, which reflect two distinctly different deformation modes in the two domains. Our results support the single‐slab subduction model for the Banda region. In addition, trench‐normal and upright fast‐velocity‐planes appear in the deep upper mantle, which may indicate material migrations in the big mantle wedge. Fast‐velocity‐planes in the shallow mantle exhibit a toroidal distribution, reflecting past counter‐clockwise rotation and asthenospheric material extrusion.
Occurrence Frequency of Global Atmospheric River (AR) Events: A Data Fusion Analysis of 12 Identification Data Sets
Authors: Wang Hong‐Ru , Li Fang‐Fang , Grigorev Georgii V. , Yao Zhan‐Yu , Ge Dong , Wang Guang‐Qian , Qiu Jun
Published: March 2024

The atmospheric river (AR) is a long, narrow, and transient corridor of strong horizontal water vapor transport. Various AR detection methods have been proposed, which have introduced significant uncertainty to the identified AR characteristics. This study has designed a data fusion algorithm to merge 12 data sets of different global and regional AR identification algorithms published by the Atmospheric River Tracking Method Intercomparison Project (ARTMIP) covering the period from 1980 to 2016. It aims to conduct frequency statistics to further research the global distribution, interannual variation, the trends in poleward shifting, and the impacted factors of AR occurrence. The quantitative results indicate an overall increasing trend in interannual variation, with a more pronounced growth trend observed in the oceanic region between 40 and 60ºS. Additionally, the study identifies a poleward shift in the peak latitude of AR occurrence frequency, with speeds of 0.589° and 0.769° per decade in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively. This shift may be associated with the tropical poleward expansion. Upon examining the relationship between AR frequency and sea surface temperature (SST) as well as zonal wind, the study finds that distinct dominant factors influence AR in different regions. AR events near the 30°N/S ocean are influenced more significantly by zonal wind than by SST. These findings shed light on the global characteristics of AR occurrences and provide insights into the factors governing their variability across different areas.
A Complex Interplay Between Pluton Emplacement, Tectonic Deformation, and Plate Kinematics in the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada Magmatic Arc, California
Authors: Tomek Filip , Žák Jiří , Verner Kryštof , Ježek Josef , Paterson Scott R.
Published: March 2024

The relation of plate kinematics to the structural record of arc plutons and their host rocks is complex and still not fully understood. We address this issue through a combination of field mapping, structural analysis, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility analysis, and fabric modeling in the Late Cretaceous Tuolumne Intrusive Complex, Sierra Nevada, California. A pattern of anti‐clockwise rotation from ∼NNW–SSE to WNW–ESE steep foliations and change in fabric ellipsoid shape from oblate to prolate was revealed in successively emplaced Kuna Crest (∼95–92 Ma), Half Dome (∼92–89 Ma), and Cathedral Peak (∼89–84 Ma) granodiorites. The numerical model indicates that the Kuna Crest was emplaced in a transpressional setting with an angle of convergence α = 60–40°, whereas the Half Dome and Cathedral Peak required simultaneous vertical constriction overprinted by transpression with α = 35–15°. This transition, which occurred at ∼92 Ma, is accompanied by a shallowing of the lineation plunge observed also in other ∼88–84 Ma central Sierra Nevada plutons. Provided that the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada arc was constructed during overall dextral transpression, these transitions reflect significant changes in kinematics, where ∼107–92 Ma plutons were emplaced during pure shear‐dominated transpression, which was followed by a transition to wrench‐dominated transpression recorded in ∼92–84 Ma plutons. Such a transition in kinematics is explained as a result of progressively increasing obliquity of the relative convergence of the Farallon plate subducting beneath the North American continental margin, in agreement with most paleogeographic reconstructions.
The Open Ocean, Aerosols, and Every Other Breath You Take
Authors: Shelley Rachel , Perron Morgane , Hamilton Douglas , Ito Akinori
Published: March 2024

Phytoplankton and other marine plants produce half of Earth’s atmospheric oxygen and have big effects on food webs and climate. To do so, they rely on nutrients from the sky that are hard to quantify.
Key homeobox transcription factors regulate the development of the firefly’s adult light organ and bioluminescence
Authors: Fu Xinhua , Zhu Xinlei
Published: March 2024

Adult fireflies exhibit unique flashing courtship signals, emitted by specialized light organs, which develop mostly independently from larval light organs during the pupal stage. The mechanisms of adult light organ development have not been thoroughly studied until now. Here we show that key homeobox transcription factors AlABD-B and AlUNC-4 regulate the development of adult light organs and bioluminescence in the firefly Aquatica leii. Interference with the expression of AlAbd-B and AlUnc-4 genes results in undeveloped or non-luminescent adult light organs. AlABD-B regulates AlUnc-4, and they interact with each other. AlABD-B and AlUNC-4 activate the expression of the luciferase gene AlLuc1 and some peroxins. Four peroxins are involved in the import of AlLUC1 into peroxisomes. Our study provides key insights into the development of adult light organs and flash signal control in fireflies.
Lactate dehydrogenase A regulates tumor-macrophage symbiosis to promote glioblastoma progression
Authors: Khan Fatima , Lin Yiyun , Ali Heba , Pang Lizhi , Dunterman Madeline , Hsu Wen-Hao , Frenis Katie , Grant Rowe R. , Wainwright Derek A. , McCortney Kathleen , Billingham Leah K. , Miska Jason , Horbinski Craig , Lesniak Maciej S. , Chen Peiwen
Published: March 2024

Abundant macrophage infiltration and altered tumor metabolism are two key hallmarks of glioblastoma. By screening a cluster of metabolic small-molecule compounds, we show that inhibiting glioblastoma cell glycolysis impairs macrophage migration and lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor stiripentol emerges as the top hit. Combined profiling and functional studies demonstrate that lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)-directed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway activates yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) transcriptional co-activators in glioblastoma cells to upregulate C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and CCL7, which recruit macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. Reciprocally, infiltrating macrophages produce LDHA-containing extracellular vesicles to promote glioblastoma cell glycolysis, proliferation, and survival. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis markedly suppresses tumor progression and macrophage infiltration in glioblastoma mouse models. Analysis of tumor and plasma samples of glioblastoma patients confirms that LDHA and its downstream signals are potential biomarkers correlating positively with macrophage density. Thus, LDHA-mediated tumor-macrophage symbiosis provides therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.
Machine learning-aided design and screening of an emergent protein function in synthetic cells
Authors: Kohyama Shunshi , Frohn Béla P. , Babl Leon , Schwille Petra
Published: March 2024

Recently, utilization of Machine Learning (ML) has led to astonishing progress in computational protein design, bringing into reach the targeted engineering of proteins for industrial and biomedical applications. However, the design of proteins for emergent functions of core relevance to cells, such as the ability to spatiotemporally self-organize and thereby structure the cellular space, is still extremely challenging. While on the generative side conditional generative models and multi-state design are on the rise, for emergent functions there is a lack of tailored screening methods as typically needed in a protein design project, both computational and experimental. Here we describe a proof-of-principle of how such screening, in silico and in vitro, can be achieved for ML-generated variants of a protein that forms intracellular spatiotemporal patterns. For computational screening we use a structure-based divide-and-conquer approach to find the most promising candidates, while for the subsequent in vitro screening we use synthetic cell-mimics as established by Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology. We then show that the best screened candidate can indeed completely substitute the wildtype gene in Escherichia coli. These results raise great hopes for the next level of synthetic biology, where ML-designed synthetic proteins will be used to engineer cellular functions.
Riboformer: a deep learning framework for predicting context-dependent translation dynamics
Authors: Shao Bin , Yan Jiawei , Zhang Jing , Liu Lili , Chen Ye , Buskirk Allen R.
Published: March 2024

Translation elongation is essential for maintaining cellular proteostasis, and alterations in the translational landscape are associated with a range of diseases. Ribosome profiling allows detailed measurements of translation at the genome scale. However, it remains unclear how to disentangle biological variations from technical artifacts in these data and identify sequence determinants of translation dysregulation. Here we present Riboformer, a deep learning-based framework for modeling context-dependent changes in translation dynamics. Riboformer leverages the transformer architecture to accurately predict ribosome densities at codon resolution. When trained on an unbiased dataset, Riboformer corrects experimental artifacts in previously unseen datasets, which reveals subtle differences in synonymous codon translation and uncovers a bottleneck in translation elongation. Further, we show that Riboformer can be combined with in silico mutagenesis to identify sequence motifs that contribute to ribosome stalling across various biological contexts, including aging and viral infection. Our tool offers a context-aware and interpretable approach for standardizing ribosome profiling datasets and elucidating the regulatory basis of translation kinetics.
DJ-1 protects proteins from acylation by catalyzing the hydrolysis of highly reactive cyclic 3-phosphoglyceric anhydride
Authors: Akhmadi Aizhan , Yeskendir Adilkhan , Dey Nelly , Mussakhmetov Arman , Shatkenova Zariat , Kulyyassov Arman , Andreeva Anna , Utepbergenov Darkhan
Published: March 2024

Mutations in the human PARK7 gene that encodes protein DJ-1 lead to familial Parkinsonism due to loss of dopaminergic neurons. However, the molecular function of DJ-1 underpinning its cytoprotective effects are unclear. Recently, DJ-1 has been shown to prevent acylation of amino groups of proteins and metabolites by 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. This acylation is indirect and thought to proceed via the formation of an unstable intermediate, presumably a cyclic 3-phosphoglyceric anhydride (cPGA). Several lines of evidence indicate that DJ-1 destroys cPGA, however this enzymatic activity has not been directly demonstrated. Here, we report simple and effective procedures for synthesis and quantitation of cPGA and present a comprehensive characterization of this highly reactive acylating electrophile. We demonstrate that DJ-1 is an efficient cPGA hydrolase with kcat/Km = 5.9 × 106 M−1s−1. Experiments with DJ-1-null cells reveal that DJ-1 protects against accumulation of 3-phosphoglyceroyl-lysine residues in proteins. Our results establish a definitive cytoprotective function for DJ-1 that uses catalytic hydrolysis of cPGA to mitigate the damage from this glycolytic byproduct.
Mesoporous Ag@WO3 core–shell, an investigation at different concentrated environment employing laser ablation in liquid
Authors: Salim Evan T. , Saimon Jehan A. , Muhsin Maryam S. , Fakhri Makram A. , Amin Mustafa H. , Azzahrani Ahmad S. , Ibrahim Raed Khalid
Published: March 2024

In this study, silver-tungsten oxide core–shell nanoparticles (Ag–WO3 NPs) were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquid employing a (1.06 µm) Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, at different Ag colloidal concentration environment (different core concentration). The produced Ag–WO3 core–shell NPs were subjected to characterization using UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy, electrical analysis, and photoluminescence PL. The UV–visible spectra exhibited distinct absorption peaks at around 200 and 405 nm, which attributed to the occurrence of surface Plasmon resonance of Ag NPs and WO3 NPs, respectively. The absorbance values of the Ag–WO3 core–shell NPs increased as the core concentrations rose, while the band gap decreased by 2.73–2.5 eV, The (PL) results exhibited prominent peaks with a central wavelength of 456, 458, 458, 464, and 466 nm. Additionally, the PL intensity of the Ag–WO3-NP samples increased proportionally with the concentration of the core. Furthermore, the redshift seen at the peak of the PL emission band may be attributed to the quantum confinement effect. EDX analysis can verify the creation process of the Ag–WO3 core–shell nanostructure. XRD analysis confirms the presence of Ag and WO3 (NPs). The TEM images provided a good visualization of the core-spherical shell structure of the Ag–WO3 core–shell NPs. The average size of the particles ranged from 30.5 to 89 (nm). The electrical characteristics showed an increase in electrical conductivity from (5.89 × 10−4) (Ω cm)−1 to (9.91 × 10−4) (Ω cm)−1, with a drop in average activation energy values of (0.155 eV) and (0.084 eV) at a concentration of 1.6 μg/mL of silver.