bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Books and Bullies: Responses to Bullying in Preschool Students
Authors: Rosen Lisa H. , Scott Shannon R. , Higgins Meredith G.
Published: May 2023

Bullying begins in the preschool years and presents a public health concern for children of all ages with negative outcomes observed for victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. With an eye on intervention, research suggests that reading and discussing books may help to encourage perspective taking and compassion for others, even at an early age. The current study presented preschoolers withThe New York Timesbestselling storybook featuring an active bystander in a bullying situation and examined definitions of and responses to bullying both before and after reading the storybook. At the end of the study, participants reported what they learned from the storybook. Responses were categorized as direct defending (e.g., confronting the bully), indirect defending (e.g., supporting the victim), and inaction (e.g., remaining quiet). Participants included 89 children recruited from preschools in the Southwestern United States. When asked to consider themselves in the role of a bystander, results indicated that children were more likely to engage in an active response to bullying after reading the storybook. Findings suggest that educators may be able to use books highlighting active bystanders to discourage bullying behavior among preschool students.
An analytical model to study the frequency response of ultrasonic welding transducers
Authors: Yazdian Amir , Karafi Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2023

This paper develops an analytical 3D model of ultrasonic welding transducers. The presented model investigates the effects of the workpiece's stiffness and material properties on transducers' frequency response and mode shape. Longitudinal and lateral vibration is taken into account in the model. To analyze the forced vibration of the transducer, the effect of piezoelectric and excitation electrical fields are considered. The structural damping is considered as an imaginary Young's modulus. For validation of the model, a transducer, booster, and horn with specific dimensions and physical properties is modeled in ANSYS software. Its resonant frequency is compared with the mathematical model. Then, the system is fabricated for experimental tests. The resonant frequency in the analytical model, simulation, and experimental test is achieved, 19,208, 19,280 , and 19,203 Hz, respectively. There is a 0.02% error between the analytical model and the experimental test. The Anti-resonant frequency in the analytical model is 19265 Hz which has a 0.02% error with the experiment (19,270 Hz). The admittance at a resonant frequency in the analytical model is 0.01755 mS which has a 0.2% error with the experiment (0.0176 mS). The mechanical quality factor of the transducer and its vibration amplitude is calculated by the developed analytical model according to the mechanical properties of the components.
Metagenomics-metabolomics analysis of microbial function and metabolism in petroleum-contaminated soil
Authors: Li Yong-Quan , Xin Ying , Li Caili , Liu Jin , Huang Tao
Published: May 2023

Contamination of soil by petroleum is becoming increasingly serious in the world today. However, the research on gene functional characteristics, metabolites and distribution of microbial genomes in oil-contaminated soil is limited. Considering that, metagenomic and metabonomic were used to detect microbes and metabolites in oil-contaminated soil, and the changes of functional pathways were analyzed. We found that oil pollution significantly changed the composition of soil microorganisms and metabolites, and promoted the relative abundance of Pseudoxanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Immundisolibacter, etc. The degradation of toluene, xylene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and fluorobenzoate increased in Xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism. Key monooxygenases and dioxygenase systems were regulated to promote ring opening and degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons. Metabolite contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as 9-fluoronone and gentisic acid increased significantly. The soil microbiome degraded petroleum pollutants into small molecular substances and promoted the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. Besides, we discovered the complete degradation pathway of petroleum-contaminated soil microorganisms to generate gentisic acid from the hydroxylation of naphthalene in PAHs by salicylic acid. This study offers important insights into bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil from the aspect of molecular regulation mechanism and provides a theoretical basis for the screening of new oil degrading bacteria.
Investigating PGPR bacteria for their competence to protect hybrid maize from the factor drought stress
Authors: Kálmán Csaba Dániel , Nagy Zoltán , Berényi Attila , Kiss Erzsébet , Posta Katalin
Published: May 2023

Drought and heat are severe environmental stresses that constantly affect plant growth and development. Maize (Zea mays L.) is known for its sensitivity to abiotic stresses, which often causes significant yield losses. With plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), the harmful effects of drought and heat stress on plants can be alleviated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological traits of plants affected by drought stress in a treatment including four PGPR bacteria, two regimes of irrigation and two stages of phenophases, and the analysis of the influence of the individual factors and their combined effects, respectively. In addition, the investigations covered the testing of the nutrient acquisition ability and nutrient use efficiency, the plant growth stimulating effect of PGPR bacteria, and the analysis of the performance trials. The largest amount of soluble orthophosphate was produced by Pseudomonas putida (51.636 µg/cm3). This is significantly more than the amount of phosphate solubilized by Bacillus pumilus (15.601 µg/cm3), Pseudomonas fluorescens (14.817 µg/cm3) and Bacillus megaterium (14.621 µg/cm3). The germination vigour of the seedlings in the treatment with Pseudomonas putida was 55% higher, represented by the value of 15,237.125, in comparison with the control, with the value of 9792.188. The Pseudomonas putida treatment resulted in the most outstanding fresh/dry weight ratio (7.312) compared to the control (7.780), when the interaction between all factors was taken into account under stressed conditions at 50% female flowering stage. The highest dry matter content of the plants (18.344%) compared to the control (17.344%) was measured in the case of the Pseudomonas putida treatment during the milk stage of development under stressed conditions. In the field trial, the plants treated with KD2 (Bacillus pumilus and Pseudomonas putida) presented significantly higher results in the aspect of grain yield (6.278 t/ha) compared to the control (5.468 t/ha).
Colonization–competition dynamics of basal species shape food web complexity in island metacommunities
Authors: Guo Guanming , Zhao Fei , Nijs Ivan , Liao Jinbao
Published: May 2023

Exploring how food web complexity emerges and evolves in island ecosystems remains a major challenge in ecology. Food webs assembled from multiple islands are commonly recognized as highly complex trophic networks that are dynamic in both space and time. In the context of global climate change, it remains unclear whether food web complexity will decrease in a monotonic fashion when undergoing habitat destruction (e.g., the inundation of islands due to sea-level rise). Here, we develop a simple yet comprehensive patch-dynamic framework for complex food web metacommunities subject to the competition-colonization tradeoff between basal species. We found that oscillations in food web topological complexity (characterized by species diversity, mean food chain length and the degree of omnivory) emerge along the habitat destruction gradient. This outcome is robust to changing parameters or relaxing the assumption of a strict competitive hierarchy. Having oscillations in food web complexity indicates that small habitat changes could have disproportionate negative effects on species diversity, thus the success of conservation actions should be evaluated not only on changes in biodiversity, but also on system robustness to habitat alteration. Overall, this study provides a parsimonious mechanistic explanation for the emergence of food web complexity in island ecosystems, further enriching our understanding of metacommunity assembly.
They shall be fair, transparent, and robust: auditing learning analytics systems
Authors: Simbeck Katharina
Published: May 2023

In the near future, systems, that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods, such as machine learning, are required to be certified or audited for fairness if used in ethically sensitive fields such as education. One example of those upcoming regulatory initiatives is the European Artificial Intelligence Act. Interconnected with fairness are the notions of system transparency (i.e. how understandable is the system) and system robustness (i.e. will similar inputs lead to similar results). Ensuring fairness, transparency, and robustness requires looking at data, models, system processes, and the use of systems as the ethical implications arise at the intersection between those. The potential societal consequences are domain specific, it is, therefore, necessary to discuss specifically for Learning Analytics (LA) what fairness, transparency, and robustness mean and how they can be certified. Approaches to certifying and auditing fairness in LA include assessing datasets, machine learning models, and the end-to-end LA process for fairness, transparency, and robustness. Based on Slade and Prinsloo’s six principals for ethical LA, relevant audit approaches will be deduced. Auditing AI applications in LA is a complex process that requires technical capabilities and needs to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for auditing AI applications in LA systems from the perspective of learners' autonomy, provides insights into different auditing methodologies, and emphasizes the importance of reflection and dialogue among providers, buyers, and users of these systems to ensure their ethical and responsible use.
Effect of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block on postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting in thyroid surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cai Yujing , Nong Lidan , Li Haifeng , Luo Quehua , Zhu Yi , Shu Haihua
Published: May 2023

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is widely used in thyroid surgery. However, its ability to reduce patients’ perioperative pain remains controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the value of using BSCPB perioperatively for thyroid surgery by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant clinical studies. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to collect all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used BSCPB for thyroid surgery. The included studies were then analyzed for heterogeneity using the chi-square test, and studies with large heterogeneity were subjected to subgroup or sensitivity analyses. Treatment effects were measured using odds ratio (OR) or weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 19 RCTs with 1,365 patients who underwent thyroid surgery (713 and 652 patients in the BSCPB and control groups, respectively) were included in this systematic review. Most of the studies reported that cervical plexus blocks were used preoperatively, and the main drugs used were 0.25–0.75% ropivacaine or bupivacaine. The BSCPB procedure could significantly reduce visual analog scale scores in the immediate (WMD: −1.12, 95% CI: −1.51 to −0.73, P < 0.00001), 6-h (WMD: −1.06, 95% CI: −1.60 to −0.53, P = 0.0001) and 24-h (WMD: −0.87, 95% CI: −1.29 to −0.45, P < 0.0001) postoperative period and also reduce opioid requirements for patients in the post-anesthesia care unit (50.99% vs 72.92%, OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.52, P < 0.0001) and in the wards (39.80% vs 59.79%, OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.59, P = 0.001). Additionally, BSCPB reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.87, P = 0.01). Due to the large heterogeneity, the results only suggest decrease use of intraoperative fentanyl and postoperative morphine in the BSCPB group. The use of BSCPB alleviates of postoperative pain, opioid requirement, and reduces incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients who have undergone thyroid surgery. More clinical studies are needed for further conclusions.
Algorithmic Information Dynamics
Authors: Zenil Hector , Kiani Narsis A. , Tegnér Jesper
Published: May 2023

Biological systems are extensively studied as interactions forming complex networks. Reconstructing causal knowledge from, and principles of, these networks from noisy and incomplete data is a challenge in the field of systems biology. Based on an online course hosted by the Santa Fe Institute Complexity Explorer, this book introduces the field of Algorithmic Information Dynamics, a model-driven approach to the study and manipulation of dynamical systems . It draws tools from network and systems biology as well as information theory, complexity science and dynamical systems to study natural and artificial phenomena in software space. It consists of a theoretical and methodological framework to guide an exploration and generate computable candidate models able to explain complex phenomena in particular adaptable adaptive systems, making the book valuable for graduate students and researchers in a wide number of fields in science from physics to cell biology to cognitive sciences.
Developing relevant assessments of community-engaged research partnerships: A community-based participatory approach to evaluating clinical and health research study teams
Authors: Samuels Elias , Vereen Donald , Piechowski Patricia , McKay Athena , De Loney E. Hill , Bailey Sarah , Evans Luther , Campbell Bettina , Lewis Yvonne , Greene-Moton Ella , Key Kent , Robinson DeWaun , Sparks Arlene , Champagne Ellen , Woolford Susan
Published: May 2023

Background/Objective:

In 2017, the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) and community partners in Flint, Michigan collaborated to launch a research funding program and evaluate the dynamics of those research partnerships receiving funding. While validated assessments for community-engaged research (CEnR) partnerships were available, the study team found none sufficiently relevant to conducting CEnR in the context of the work. MICHR faculty and staff along with community partners living and working in Flint used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to develop and administer a locally relevant assessment of CEnR partnerships that were active in Flint in 2019 and 2021.

Methods:

Surveys were administered each year to over a dozen partnerships funded by MICHR to evaluate how community and academic partners assessed the dynamics and impact of their study teams over time.

Results:

The results suggest that partners believed that their partnerships were engaging and highly impactful. Although many substantive differences between community and academic partners’ perceptions over time were identified, the most notable regarded the financial management of the partnerships.

Conclusion:

This work contributes to the field of translational science by evaluating how the financial management of community-engaged health research partnerships in a locally relevant context of Flint can be associated with these teams’ scientific productivity and impact with national implications for CEnR. This work presents evaluation methods which can be used by clinical and translational research centers that strive to implement and measure their use of CBPR approaches.
Age, Gender, and Disease as Determinants of Social Distancing: Germany as a Case Study
Authors: Lane Hakan , Killingsworth Jayanna , Walker Mark David , Otto Philipp
Published: May 2023

A mix of guidance and mandated regulations during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic served to reduce the number of social contacts, to ensure distancing in public spaces, and to maintain the isolation of infected individuals. Individual variation in compliance to social distancing in Germany, relating to age, gender, or the presence of pre-existing health conditions, was examined using results from a total of 39 375 respondents to a web-based behavioral survey.

Older people and females were more willing to engage in social distancing. Those with chronic conditions showed overall higher levels of compliance, but those with cystic fibrosis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and epilepsy showed less adherence to general social distancing measures but were significantly more likely to isolate in their homes. Behavioral differences partly lie in the nature of each condition, especially with those conditions likely to be exacerbated by COVID-19. Compliance differences for age and gender are largely in line with previous studies.
New exact Betchov-like relation for the helicity flux in homogeneous turbulence
Authors: Capocci Damiano , Johnson Perry L. , Oughton Sean , Biferale Luca , Linkmann Moritz
Published: May 2023

In homogeneous and isotropic turbulence, the relative contributions of different physical mechanisms to the energy cascade can be quantified by an exact decomposition of the energy flux (Johnson, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 124, 2020, 104501; J. Fluid Mech., vol. 922, 2021, A3). We extend the formalism to the transfer of kinetic helicity across scales, important in the presence of large-scale mirror‐breaking mechanisms, to identify physical processes resulting in helicity transfer and quantify their contributions to the mean flux in the inertial range. All subfluxes transfer helicity from large to small scales. Approximately 50 % of the mean flux is due to the scale-local vortex flattening and vortex twisting. We derive a new exact relation between these effects, similar to the Betchov relation for the energy flux, revealing that the mean contribution of the former is three times larger than that of the latter. Multi-scale effects account for the remaining 50 % of the mean flux, with approximate equipartition between multi-scale vortex flattening, twisting and entangling.
Investigation of the functions of n-3 very-long-chain PUFAs in skin using in vivo Atlantic salmon and in vitro human and fish skin models
Authors: Torrissen Martina , Ytteborg Elisabeth , Svensen Harald , Stoknes Iren , Nilsson Astrid , Østbye Tone-Kari , Berge Gerd Marit , Bou Marta , Ruyter Bente
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary n-3 very-long-chain PUFA (n-3 VLC-PUFA) on the maturation and development of skin tissue in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in vivo, as well as their effects on skin keratocyte and human skin fibroblast cell migration in vitro. Atlantic salmon were fed different dietary levels of n-3 VLC-PUFA from an initial weight of 6 g to a final weight of 11 g. Changes in skin morphology were analysed at two time points during the experiment, and the effects on skin tissue fatty acid composition were determined. Additionally, in vitro experiments using human dermal fibroblasts and primary Atlantic salmon keratocytes were conducted to investigate the effect of VLC-PUFA on the migration capacity of the cells. The results demonstrated that increased dietary levels of n-3 VLC-PUFA led to an increased epidermis thickness and more rapid scale maturation in Atlantic salmon skin in vivo, leading to a more mature skin morphology, and possibly more robust skin, at an earlier life stage. Additionally, human skin fibroblasts and salmon skin keratocytes supplemented with n-3 VLC-PUFA in vitro showed more rapid migration, indicating potentially beneficial effects of VLC-PUFA in wound healing. In conclusion, VLC-PUFA may have beneficial effects on skin tissue development, function and integrity.
From Typology and Biography to Multiplicity: Bracers as ‘Process Objects’
Authors: Tsoraki Christina , Barton Huw , Crellin Rachel J. , Harris Oliver J.T.
Published: May 2023

In this article we put forward an alternative account of the famous wristguards, or bracers, of the European Early Bronze Age. Combining new materialism with empirical microwear analysis, we study 15 examples from Britain in detail and suggest a different way of conceptualizing these objects. Rather than demanding they have a singular function, we treat these objects as ‘multiplicities’ and as always in process. This, in turn, has significant implications for the important archaeological concepts of typology and object biography and our understandings of material culture more widely.
Floating-point arithmetic
Authors: Boldo Sylvie , Jeannerod Claude-Pierre , Melquiond Guillaume , Muller Jean-Michel
Published: May 2023

Floating-point numbers have an intuitive meaning when it comes to physics-based numerical computations, and they have thus become the most common way of approximating real numbers in computers. The IEEE-754 Standard has played a large part in making floating-point arithmetic ubiquitous today, by specifying its semantics in a strict yet useful way as early as 1985. In particular, floating-point operations should be performed as if their results were first computed with an infinite precision and then rounded to the target format. A consequence is that floating-point arithmetic satisfies the ‘standard model’ that is often used for analysing the accuracy of floating-point algorithms. But that is only scraping the surface, and floating-point arithmetic offers much more.

In this survey we recall the history of floating-point arithmetic as well as its specification mandated by the IEEE-754 Standard. We also recall what properties it entails and what every programmer should know when designing a floating-point algorithm. We provide various basic blocks that can be implemented with floating-point arithmetic. In particular, one can actually compute the rounding error caused by some floating-point operations, which paves the way to designing more accurate algorithms. More generally, properties of floating-point arithmetic make it possible to extend the accuracy of computations beyond working precision.
COVID-19 und psychische Störungen bei Minderjährigen: Veränderungen der Behandlungen nach der Krankenhausstatistik
Authors: Kölch Michael G. , Reis Olaf , Ulbrich Lisa , Schepker Renate
Published: May 2023

Zusammenfassung: Während der COVID-19-Pandemie zeigte sich eine Zunahme an psychischen Belastungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Inwieweit Kinder und Jugendliche notwendige stationäre Behandlung erhielten und ob sich die in Studien gefundene Zunahme an affektiven und Essstörungen auch in der Krankenhausbehandlung wiederfindet, ist bisher unklar. Deshalb wurde anhand von Krankenhaus-Routinedatenfiles nach § 21 KHG (Krankenhausfinanzierungsgesetz) des Instituts für das Entgeltsystem im Krankenhaus (InEK) ein präpandemischer und ein pandemischer Halbjahreszeitraum (1. HJ 2019 vs. 1. HJ 2021) hinsichtlich der Fallzahlen, Diagnosen und Verweildauern in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie (KJPP) und der Pädiatrie deskriptiv analysiert. Zusätzlich wurde die Zahl der Notfallaufnahmen in der KJPP ausgewertet. Es zeigte sich eine Zunahme internalisierender Störungen (Depression, Anorexia nervosa, Belastungsstörungen) und eine Abnahme von Störungen des Sozialverhaltens mit emotionaler Störung in der KJPP. Daneben bildete sich eine deutliche Zunahme von Anorexien in der Pädiatrie ab, während die Behandlungen wegen Alkoholintoxikation sich dort halbierten. Das Notfallaufkommen in der KJPP veränderte sich im Bundesdurchschnitt nicht. In Regionen mit niedriger Bettenmessziffer (BMZ) wurde die Notfallversorgung in der KJPP priorisiert und die Verweildauer nahm ab, in Regionen mit guter BMZ und in der Pädiatrie nahm die Verweildauer tendenziell zu. Ein kontinuierliches Monitoring der Krankenhausversorgung unter Pandemiebedingungen unter Berücksichtigung sozial benachteiligter Kinder und Jugendlicher ist zu empfehlen.
Diffusion of Hydroxylated Si Vacancies in Olivine, and Its Relevance to Si Diffusion
Authors: Jollands Michael C.
Published: May 2023

The diffusion coefficient associated with the 3,612 cm−1 infrared absorbance band in H‐bearing olivine, attributed to a defect involving a vacant Si site balanced by four H+ (i.e., ), was determined in H in‐diffusion experiments at 1200°C–1400°C and 1.5–3.0 GPa in piston‐cylinder and multi‐anvil apparatuses. The retrieved values are in good agreement with experimentally determined diffusion coefficients ascribed to the same process from previous experiments, despite those being conducted at atmospheric pressure and representing out‐diffusion rather than in‐diffusion. Overall, the diffusivity of the Si vacancy is several orders of magnitude lower than that of the M‐site vacancy (∼4 orders of magnitude at 1000°C), with a higher activation energy (∼450–500 vs. 200–250 kJ mol−1), when both are charge‐compensated solely by H+. From these data, the diffusion coefficient of Si in H‐bearing olivine can be estimated using the relationship between vacancy concentration, vacancy diffusivity, and diffusivity of an ion moving by a vacancy mechanism. However, these diffusivities are inconsistent with published results for Si diffusivity, with a considerable discrepancy of around two orders of magnitude. This suggests that simple relationships between diffusion coefficients of vacancies and species moving by vacancy diffusion mechanisms may be inappropriate, highlighting again the complexity of H incorporation and diffusion mechanisms in olivine.
First Onset of Unrest Captured at Socompa: A Recent Geodetic Survey at Central Andean Volcanoes in Northern Chile
Authors: Liu F. , Elliott J. R. , Ebmeier S. K. , Craig T. J. , Hooper A. , Novoa Lizama C. , Delgado F.
Published: May 2023

We report the first detection of unrest at Socompa volcano during our recent survey of Central Andean volcanos in Northern Chile using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar measurements spanning January 2018 to October 2021. We find that Socompa volcano, whilst initially undeforming and no recorded eruptions for 7.2 kyr, shows a steady uplift (17.5 mm/yr) from November 2019, independently recorded by near‐field continuous Global Positioning System data. The deformation pattern can be fitted with pressure increase in an ellipsoidal source region stretching from 2.1 to 10.5 km, with a volume change rate of ∼6.2 × 106 m3/yr. Our observations of the onset of uplift suggest it is unlikely that a nearby Mw 6.8 deep intraslab earthquake on 3 June 2020 triggered the unrest. The deformation signal we detect indicates the initiation of unrest at Socompa, after at least two decades without measurable deformation, and many thousands of years without volcanic activity.
Coefficients of Reaction‐Diffusion Processes Derived From Patterns in Rocks
Authors: Liu Chong , Calo Victor M. , Regenauer‐Lieb Klaus , Hu Manman
Published: May 2023

Self‐organizing diffusion‐reaction systems naturally form complex patterns under far‐from‐equilibrium conditions. A representative example is the rhythmic concentration pattern of Fe‐oxides in Zebra rocks; these patterns include reddish‐brown stripes, rounded rods, and elliptical spots. Similar patterns are observed in the banded iron formations, which are presumed to have formed in the early earth under global glaciation. We propose that such patterns can be used directly (e.g., by computer‐vision‐analysis) to infer basic quantities relevant to their formation giving information on generalized chemical gradients. Here we present a phase‐field model that quantitatively captures the distinct Zebra rock patterns based on the concept of phase separation that describes the process forming Liesegang stripes. We find that diffusion coefficients (the bulk self‐diffusivities of the native species and the mobility of the reaction product) play an essential role in controlling the appearance of regular stripe patterns as well as the transition from stripes to spots. The numerical results are carefully benchmarked with well‐established empirical spacing law, width law, timing law and the Matalon‐Packter law. Using this model, we invert for the important process parameters originating from the intrinsic material properties, the self‐diffusivity ratio and the mobility of Fe‐oxides with a series of Zebra rock samples. This study allows a quantitative prediction of the generalized chemical gradients in mineralized source rocks without intrusive measurements, providing a better intuition for the mineral exploration space.
Overview and Results From the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover's First Science Campaign on the Jezero Crater Floor
Authors: Sun Vivian Z. , Hand Kevin P. , Stack Kathryn M. , Farley Ken A. , Simon Justin I. , Newman Claire , Sharma Sunanda , Liu Yang , Wiens Roger C. , Williams Amy J. , Tosca Nicholas , Alwmark Sanna , Beyssac Olivier , Brown Adrian , Calef Fred , Cardarelli Emily L. , Clavé Elise , Cohen Barbara , Corpolongo Andrea , Czaja Andrew D. , Del Sesto Tyler , Fairen Alberto , Fornaro Teresa , Fouchet Thierry , Garczynski Brad , Gupta Sanjeev , Herd Chris D. K. , Hickman‐Lewis Keyron , Horgan Briony , Johnson Jeffrey , Kinch Kjartan , Kizovski Tanya , Kronyak Rachel , Lange Robert , Mandon Lucia , Milkovich Sarah , Moeller Robert , Núñez Jorge , Paar Gerhard , Pyrzak Guy , Quantin‐Nataf Cathy , Shuster David L. , Siljestrom Sandra , Steele Andrew , Tice Michael , Toupet Olivier , Udry Arya , Vaughan Alicia , Wogsland Brittan
Published: May 2023

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater on 18 February 2021. After a 100‐sol period of commissioning and the Ingenuity Helicopter technology demonstration, Perseverance began its first science campaign to explore the enigmatic Jezero crater floor, whose igneous or sedimentary origins have been much debated in the scientific community. This paper describes the campaign plan developed to explore the crater floor's Máaz and Séítah formations and summarizes the results of the campaign between sols 100–379. By the end of the campaign, Perseverance had traversed more than 5 km, created seven abrasion patches, and sealed nine samples and a witness tube. Analysis of remote and proximity science observations show that the Máaz and Séítah formations are igneous in origin and composed of five and two geologic members, respectively. The Séítah formation represents the olivine‐rich cumulate formed from differentiation of a slowly cooling melt or magma body, and the Máaz formation likely represents a separate series of lava flows emplaced after Séítah. The Máaz and Séítah rocks also preserve evidence of multiple episodes of aqueous alteration in secondary minerals like carbonate, Fe/Mg phyllosilicates, sulfates, and perchlorate, and surficial coatings. Post‐emplacement processes tilted the rocks near the Máaz‐Séítah contact and substantial erosion modified the crater floor rocks to their present‐day expressions. Results from this crater floor campaign, including those obtained upon return of the collected samples, will help to build the geologic history of events that occurred in Jezero crater and provide time constraints on the formation of the Jezero delta.
Optimizing Managed Aquifer Recharge Locations in California's Central Valley Using an Evolutionary Multi‐Objective Genetic Algorithm Coupled With a Hydrological Simulation Model
Authors: Kourakos Georgios , Brunetti Giuseppe , Bigelow Daniel P. , Wallander Steven , Dahlke Helen E.
Published: May 2023

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can provide long‐term storage of excess surface water for later use. While decades of research have focused on the physical processes of MAR and identifying suitable MAR locations, very little research has been done on how to consider competing factors and tradeoffs in siting MAR facilities. This study proposes the use of a simulation‐optimization (SO) framework to map out a cost‐effectiveness frontier for MAR by combining an evolutionary algorithm with two objective functions that seek to maximize groundwater storage gains while minimizing MAR cost. We present the theoretical framework along with a real‐world application to California's Central Valley. The result of the SO framework is a Pareto front that allows identifying suitable MAR locations for different levels of groundwater storage gain and associated MAR project costs, so stakeholders can evaluate different choices based on cost, benefits, and tradeoffs of MAR sites. Application of the SO framework to the Central Valley shows groundwater can be recharged from high‐magnitude (95th percentile) flows at a marginal cost of $57 to $110 million per km3. If the 10 percent largest flows are recharged the total groundwater storage gain would double and the marginal costs would drop to between $30 and $50 million per km3. If recharge water is sourced from outside local basins (e.g., the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta), groundwater storage gain is approximately 25%–80% greater than can be achieved by recharging local flows, but the total cost is about 10%–15% higher because of additional lift cost.
Femtosecond electron microscopy of relativistic electron bunches
Authors: Wan Yang , Tata Sheroy , Seemann Omri , Levine Eitan Y. , Smartsev Slava , Kroupp Eyal , Malka Victor
Published: May 2023

The development of plasma-based accelerators has enabled the generation of very high brightness electron bunches of femtosecond duration, micrometer size and ultralow emittance, crucial for emerging applications including ultrafast detection in material science, laboratory-scale free-electron lasers and compact colliders for high-energy physics. The precise characterization of the initial bunch parameters is critical to the ability to manipulate the beam properties for downstream applications. Proper diagnostic of such ultra-short and high charge density laser-plasma accelerated bunches, however, remains very challenging. Here we address this challenge with a novel technique we name as femtosecond ultrarelativistic electron microscopy, which utilizes an electron bunch from another laser-plasma accelerator as a probe. In contrast to conventional microscopy of using very low-energy electrons, the femtosecond duration and high electron energy of such a probe beam enable it to capture the ultra-intense space-charge fields of the investigated bunch and to reconstruct the charge distribution with very high spatiotemporal resolution, all in a single shot. In the experiment presented here we have used this technique to study the shape of a laser-plasma accelerated electron beam, its asymmetry due to the drive laser polarization, and its beam evolution as it exits the plasma. We anticipate that this method will significantly advance the understanding of complex beam-plasma dynamics and will also provide a powerful new tool for real-time optimization of plasma accelerators.
Applications of synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields
Authors: Yan Xu , Liu Xu , Zhao Cuihuan , Chen Guo-Qiang
Published: May 2023

Synthetic biology aims to design or assemble existing bioparts or bio-components for useful bioproperties. During the past decades, progresses have been made to build delicate biocircuits, standardized biological building blocks and to develop various genomic/metabolic engineering tools and approaches. Medical and pharmaceutical demands have also pushed the development of synthetic biology, including integration of heterologous pathways into designer cells to efficiently produce medical agents, enhanced yields of natural products in cell growth media to equal or higher than that of the extracts from plants or fungi, constructions of novel genetic circuits for tumor targeting, controllable releases of therapeutic agents in response to specific biomarkers to fight diseases such as diabetes and cancers. Besides, new strategies are developed to treat complex immune diseases, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders that are hard to cure via traditional approaches. In general, synthetic biology brings new capabilities to medical and pharmaceutical researches. This review summarizes the timeline of synthetic biology developments, the past and present of synthetic biology for microbial productions of pharmaceutics, engineered cells equipped with synthetic DNA circuits for diagnosis and therapies, live and auto-assemblied biomaterials for medical treatments, cell-free synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields, and DNA engineering approaches with potentials for biomedical applications.
Angiogenic signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer
Authors: Liu Zhen-Ling , Chen Huan-Huan , Zheng Li-Li , Sun Li-Ping , Shi Lei
Published: May 2023

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a complex and dynamic process regulated by various pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules, which plays a crucial role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. With the advances in molecular and cellular biology, various biomolecules such as growth factors, chemokines, and adhesion factors involved in tumor angiogenesis has gradually been elucidated. Targeted therapeutic research based on these molecules has driven anti-angiogenic treatment to become a promising strategy in anti-tumor therapy. The most widely used anti-angiogenic agents include monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. However, the clinical benefit of this modality has still been limited due to several defects such as adverse events, acquired drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and lack of validated biomarkers, which impel further research on mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, the development of multiple drugs and the combination therapy to figure out how to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Here, we broadly summarize various signaling pathways in tumor angiogenesis and discuss the development and current challenges of anti-angiogenic therapy. We also propose several new promising approaches to improve anti-angiogenic efficacy and provide a perspective for the development and research of anti-angiogenic therapy.
Metagenome-derived virus-microbe ratios across ecosystems
Authors: López-García Purificación , Gutiérrez-Preciado Ana , Krupovic Mart , Ciobanu Maria , Deschamps Philippe , Jardillier Ludwig , López-Pérez Mario , Rodríguez-Valera Francisco , Moreira David
Published: May 2023

It is generally assumed that viruses outnumber cells on Earth by at least tenfold. Virus-to-microbe ratios (VMR) are largely based on counts of fluorescently labelled virus-like particles. However, these exclude intracellular viruses and potentially include false positives (DNA-containing vesicles, gene-transfer agents, unspecifically stained inert particles). Here, we develop a metagenome-based VMR estimate (mVRM) that accounts for DNA viruses across all stages of their replication cycles (virion, intracellular lytic and lysogenic) by using normalised RPKM (reads per kilobase of gene sequence per million of mapped metagenome reads) counts of the major capsid protein (MCP) genes and cellular universal single-copy genes (USCGs) as proxies for virus and cell counts, respectively. After benchmarking this strategy using mock metagenomes with increasing VMR, we inferred mVMR across different biomes. To properly estimate mVMR in aquatic ecosystems, we generated metagenomes from co-occurring cellular and viral fractions (>50 kDa–200 µm size-range) in freshwater, seawater and solar saltern ponds (10 metagenomes, 2 control metaviromes). Viruses outnumbered cells in freshwater by ~13 fold and in plankton from marine and saline waters by ~2–4 fold. However, across an additional set of 121 diverse non-aquatic metagenomes including microbial mats, microbialites, soils, freshwater and marine sediments and metazoan-associated microbiomes, viruses, on average, outnumbered cells by barely two-fold. Although viruses likely are the most diverse biological entities on Earth, their global numbers might be closer to those of cells than previously estimated.
Suicidality and mood: the impact of trends, seasons, day of the week, and time of day on explicit and implicit cognitions among an online community sample
Authors: Freichel René , O’Shea Brian A.
Published: May 2023

Decades of research have established seasonality effects on completed and attempted suicides, with rates increasing in spring. Little advancements have been made to explain this phenomenon, with most studies focusing almost exclusively on the number of suicide attempts and deaths. Using more than six years of data collected among a US, UK, and Canadian online community sample (N > 10,000), we used newly developed Prophet forecasting and autoregressive-integrated moving average time-series models to examine the temporal dynamics of explicit and implicit self-harm cognitions. We created three groups (past suicide attempters; suicide ideation and/or non-suicidal self-injury; no previous self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or behaviors). We found a general increase of negative self-harm cognitions across the six years and seasonality effects for mood and desire to die, particularly among those who previously made a suicide attempt. Negative explicit self-harm cognitions peaked in winter (December), with implicit self-harm showing a lagged peak of two months (February). Moreover, daily negative self-harm cognitions consistently peaked around 4–5 am, with implicit cognitions again showing a lagged effect (1-hour). Limitations include the volunteer sample not being representative and the cross-sectional nature of the data being unable to separate between-subject and within-subject structural trends in the time series. Our findings show that negative explicit and implicit cognitions precede the rise in suicidal behaviors in spring. We proposed a conceptual model of seasonal suicide risk that may offer fertile ground for theoretical advancements, including implications for clinical risk assessment and public policies regarding the availability of health services.
Association between brain serotonin 4 receptor binding and reactivity to emotional faces in depressed and healthy individuals
Authors: Sankar Anjali , Ozenne Brice , Dam Vibeke H. , Svarer Claus , Jørgensen Martin B. , Miskowiak Kamilla W. , Frokjaer Vibe G. , Knudsen Gitte M. , Fisher Patrick M.
Published: May 2023

Brain serotonergic (5-HT) signaling is posited to modulate neural responses to emotional stimuli. Dysfunction in 5-HT signaling is implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), a disorder associated with significant disturbances in emotion processing. In MDD, recent evidence points to altered 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) levels, a promising target for antidepressant treatment. However, how these alterations influence neural processing of emotions in MDD remains poorly understood. This is the first study to examine the association between 5-HT4R binding and neural responses to emotions in patients with MDD and healthy controls. The study included one hundred and thirty-eight participants, comprising 88 outpatients with MDD from the NeuroPharm clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02869035) and 50 healthy controls. Participants underwent an [11C]SB207145 positron emission tomography (PET) scan to quantify 5-HT4R binding (BPND) and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan during which they performed an emotional face matching task. We examined the association between regional 5-HT4R binding and corticolimbic responses to emotional faces using a linear latent variable model, including whether this association was moderated by depression status. We observed a positive correlation between 5-HT4R BPND and the corticolimbic response to emotional faces across participants (r = 0.20, p = 0.03). This association did not differ between groups (parameter estimate difference = 0.002, 95% CI = −0.008: 0.013, p = 0.72). Thus, in the largest PET/fMRI study of associations between serotonergic signaling and brain function, we found a positive association between 5-HT4R binding and neural responses to emotions that appear unaltered in MDD. Future clinical trials with novel pharmacological agents targeting 5-HT4R are needed to confirm whether they ameliorate emotion processing biases in MDD.
GSDME-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Li Shengyu , Feng Lifeng , Li Guangru , Liu Ruiqing , Ma Changzhen , Wang Lin , Gao Aijiao , Liu Chang , Cui Yujie , Jiang Zecheng , Xie Yuhang , Wu Qiang , Wang Xia , Yang Liang , Qi Zhi , Shen Yanna
Published: May 2023

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the serious chronic microvascular complications of diabetes, and leads to the increased morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Gasdermin E (GSDME)-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway plays important roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, its role and mechanism in DN are still unclear. In this study, we established a rat DN model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) successfully. Structural and functional disorders in the kidney were exhibited on the 12th week after STZ injection; the expressions of caspase-3 and GSDME at protein level in renal cortex were significantly up-regulated. At the 20th week, GSDME-N increased significantly, accompanied by the upregulation of caspase-1 in renal cortex and the release of mature IL-1β (mIL-1β) in serum. Furthermore, we found the protein levels of GSDME, caspase-3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were all increased in HK2 and HBZY-1 cells under high-glucose conditions. We also found that the expression of GSDME-N significantly decreased when caspase-3 was knockdown. In contrast, knockdown of GSDME has no effect on caspase-3. Interestingly, either caspase-3, caspase-1 or GSDME knockdown reduced the release of mIL-1β. Finally, injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) 9-shGSDME into the rat kidney reduced kidney damage and renal cell pyroptosis in comparison with wild-type diabetic rats. These results indicated that the activation of caspase-1 induced IL-1β maturation, and the activation of caspase-3 mediated cleavage of GSDME responsible for the formation of plasma membrane pore, followed by cytoplasmic release of mIL-1β. Overall, we identified a pro-pyroptosis role for GSDME in DN, which does provide an important basis for clinical therapeutic studies.
Ultrafast charge transfer in mixed-dimensional WO3-x nanowire/WSe2 heterostructures for attomolar-level molecular sensing
Authors: Lv Qian , Tan Junyang , Wang Zhijie , Gu Peng , Liu Haiyun , Yu Lingxiao , Wei Yinping , Gan Lin , Liu Bilu , Li Jia , Kang Feiyu , Cheng Hui-Ming , Xiong Qihua , Lv Ruitao
Published: May 2023

Developing efficient noble-metal-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates and unveiling the underlying mechanism is crucial for ultrasensitive molecular sensing. Herein, we report a facile synthesis of mixed-dimensional heterostructures via oxygen plasma treatments of two-dimensional (2D) materials. As a proof-of-concept, 1D/2D WO3-x/WSe2 heterostructures with good controllability and reproducibility are synthesized, in which 1D WO3-x nanowire patterns are laterally arranged along the three-fold symmetric directions of 2D WSe2. The WO3-x/WSe2 heterostructures exhibited high molecular sensitivity, with a limit of detection of 5 × 10−18 M and an enhancement factor of 5.0 × 1011 for methylene blue molecules, even in mixed solutions. We associate the ultrasensitive performance to the efficient charge transfer induced by the unique structures of 1D WO3-x nanowires and the effective interlayer coupling of the heterostructures. We observed a charge transfer timescale of around 1.0 picosecond via ultrafast transient spectroscopy. Our work provides an alternative strategy for the synthesis of 1D nanostructures from 2D materials and offers insights on the role of ultrafast charge transfer mechanisms in plasmon-free SERS-based molecular sensing.