bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Culture, Economic Growth, and Interstate Power Shift
Authors: Chan Steve
Published: February 2024

A country's culture influences its economic growth, which in turn influences its international position. Confucian heritage appears to be the common factor explaining the rapid economic growth of East Asian countries, including China's meteoric rise in recent years. Ironically, Confucianism has been criticized not too long ago for hindering progress in these countries. At the same time, Protestant countries, once the vanguards of economic development, have seen weak growth., These developed economies are undergoing a cultural transformation from an emphasis on materialist concerns to postmaterialist ones. What do these trends augur for their economic growth and international competitiveness, particularly in the context of ongoing power shifts between China and the United States?
Turbulent free-surface in self-aerated flows: superposition of entrapped and entrained air
Authors: Kramer Matthias
Published: February 2024

The characterisation and the modelling of air concentration distributions in self-aerated free-surface flows has been subject to sustained research interest since the 1970s. Recently, a novel two-state formulation of the structure of a self-aerated flow was proposed by Kramer & Valero (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 966, 2023, A37), which physically explains the air concentration through the weak interaction of two canonical flow momentum layers, comprising a turbulent boundary layer and a turbulent wavy layer (TWL). The TWL was modelled using a Gaussian error function, assuming that the most dominant contribution are wave troughs. Here, it is shown that air bubbles form an integral part of the TWL, and its formulation is expanded by adopting a superposition principle of entrapped air (waves) and entrained air (bubbles). Combining the superposition principle with the two-state formulation, an expression for the depth-averaged (mean) air concentration is derived, which allows us to quantify the contribution of different physical mechanisms to the mean air concentration. Overall, the presented concepts help to uncover new flow physics, thereby contributing fundamentally to our understanding of self-aerated flows.
Free-surface channel flow around a square cylinder
Authors: Eames Ian , Robinson Tristan
Published: February 2024

The free-surface channel flow around a square cylinder is analysed, over a wide range of blocking ratios, using three-dimensional simulations. The state of the flow is characterised in terms of the Froude number upstream and downstream of the square cylinder. The simulations confirm the presence of the subcritical and choked states, and provide new insight into the supercritical state and band-gap through an analysis of how the momentum flux varies with Froude number along the channel. The influence of the blocking ratio on the flow state and drag force is analysed and shows the significant rise of drag in the choked regime.
Converging material with two bulges
Authors: Whitehead J.A.
Published: February 2024

In numerical studies of thermal convection that includes a layer of lighter surface fluid, the light fluid naturally forms clusters that bulge downward at downwelling sites. A curious result is that in some cases, the clusters have maximum bulging downward near the sides of the cluster instead of a single bulge downward centred above the downwelling. The fluid mechanics leading to this ‘double bulge’ formation is analysed. To accomplish this, a simplified model replaces the thermally driven convection cells with driving cells with a fixed speed. Adding a layer of dense fluid on the bottom to the previous configuration leads to bulges along the top and bottom. More importantly, this allows a new scaling that reduces the number of governing parameters from four to three and even to two in this study. The mechanism for the double bulges comes from buoyancy of the clusters. This produces localized vorticity at the sides of the cluster that has the opposite sign of the driving cells. When this vorticity is approximately the same order of magnitude as the driving cell vorticity, a divergence in the middle of each cluster leads to the double bulges. The effect can be so great that the underlying flow cells are tilted so that vertical motion is reversed under the middle of each bulge.
On the Troped ‘Kyrie Eleison’: A Thomistic Perspective
Authors: Belleza Jose
Published: February 2024

This paper examines, from a Thomistic perspective, the possible consequences of the twentieth-century reform of the ‘Kyrie eleison’ from ninefold set of invocations to a sixfold call-and-response structure. First, we present Aquinas’s distinctly Trinitarian exegesis of the ‘Kyrie’ in light of the history of troped liturgical texts. Next, we will account for the historical diversity of the troped ‘Kyrie’ genre while emphasizing importance of the Trinitarian elements. The third section recounts recent work on Aquinas’s theory of the passions and their effects of language formation; this leads to the fourth section, which casts a philosophical eye on the role of melisma in the liturgy. To conclude this study, we suggest the restoration of some troped ‘Kyrie’ texts in the Roman Rite.
The Bretskyan hierarchy, multiscale allopatry, and geobiomes—on the nature of evolutionary things
Authors: Spiridonov Andrej , Eldredge Niles
Published: February 2024

The process of evolution and the structures it produces are best understood in the light of hierarchy theory. The biota traditionally is described by either the genealogical Linnaean hierarchy or economic hierarchies of communities or ecosystems. Here we describe the Bretskyan hierarchy—a hybrid eco-genealogical hierarchy that consists of nested sets of different-sized, usually polyphyletic communities of interacting individuals separated from other such communities in space and time at multiple scales. The Bretskyan hierarchy consists of elements that have both genealogical and economic properties and functions—situated between, and connecting the elements of, the economic hierarchies (Vernadskyan) and the genealogical (Linnaean) hierarchy. The described hierarchy at lower tiers is populated by holobionts, individuals composed of multiple polyphyletic lineages integrated by functional interactions or biotically fabricated structures, such as membranes. At larger spatial tiers and longer time scales, the members of the Bretskyan hierarchy are of a more diffuse nature, partially due to the small size and relatively short duration of us as observers of larger and longer-lasting structures, here described as geobiomes. Their individuality is externally forced and directly tied to the spatial and temporal physical structures of our planet. These are sub-bioprovinces and bioprovinces—large and effectively isolated spatiotemporal structures of biota integrated internally by coevolution and individuated externally by a hierarchy of barriers. Gaia is here understood as the largest eco-genealogical individual compartmentalized by the outer space of the Earth and integrated at long time scales by biotic interactions and plate tectonic mixing of biota. The existence of a hierarchy of barriers and multilevel allopatry suggests that geographic isolation takes part not only in individuating species lineages, but also in producing coherent complexes of separate lineages forming bioprovinces at multiple space and time scales. The sizes, configurations, and durations of Bretskyan units are directly tied to geodynamics, demonstrating the central role of the physical planet in the processes of individuation and merging of geobiomes and the control of coevolution, and all its ramifications, at multiple space and time scales. The Bretskyan hierarchy also allows the integration of previously unconnected themes—“egalitarian” major transitions in individuality (e.g., eukaryogenesis) and some of the megatrajectories in the history of life—into a single theoretical framework of spatial and temporal scaling of eco-genealogy. The pervasive scaling of geodynamical processes and the direct connection of geodynamics to the dynamics of Bretskyan units allows us to formulate conjectures on the scales and limits of spatial and temporal contingency and competitiveness of biotas in evolution.
Enter Children, with Childhood
Authors: COOMBES T. F.
Published: February 2024

Anglo-American musicology is having a childhood moment. The foundation of the American Musicological Society’s Music and Childhood Study Group marked this moment most clearly, together with the launch in 2021 of an accompanying website maintained by Susan Boynton and Ryan Bunch.1 Not that children and childhood are anything new as a topic of enquiry in music studies: since the mid- to late twentieth century, children’s musical cultures have formed a steadily expanding subject for ethnomusicologists, to some extent predating the institutionalization of the study of childhood in anthropology generally.2 Since Boynton and Roe-Min Kok published an early state-of-the-field collection in 2006 (as the outgrowth of an International Musicological Society conference), studies of music and childhood have burgeoned principally at the intersection of ethnomusicology and other fields – notably popular music, as in Kyra D. Gaunt’s The Games Black Girls Play, as well as music education and technology studies, both of which intertwine in Tyler Bickford’s Schooling New Media.3 At present, the relation between popular music, mass media and youth culture forms the most prominent subject of musicological debate about childhood.4 Contrary, then, to the implications of this article’s title, we might say as music scholars that children have always been around, but that large parts of the discipline have not paid them much attention.
Moving toward the Median: Compulsory Voting and Political Polarization
Authors: OPREA ALEXANDRA , MARTIN LUCY , BRENNAN GEOFFREY H.
Published: February 2024

Should turning out to vote in mass elections be voluntary or compulsory? Previous normative arguments for compulsory voting often rely on contested normative claims about the moral duty to vote or about the democratic legitimacy conveyed by high turnout. Our article strengthens the normative case for compulsory voting by arguing that it could improve democracy by reducing polarization, which existing work suggests can lead to democratic backsliding. Drawing on spatial models of electoral competition, we argue that, by reducing more extreme voters’ ability to threaten to abstain due to alienation, the introduction of compulsory voting can push party platforms toward the median voter’s preferences. This directly decreases party polarization, defined as the distance between party platforms. We examine potential normative and empirical objections to this argument and provide scope conditions under which compulsory voting is likely to decrease polarization.
Bridging the gaping hole: central bank economists’ role in the rise of macro-finance post-crisis
Authors: Thiemann Matthias , Priester Stefan
Published: February 2024

How has mainstream academic economic discourse evolved to regain its epistemic authority after the financial crisis of 2008 revealed serious blind spots in economic modelling that shattered the profession’s claim to be able to predict and control macroeconomic variables? To answer this question, we combine content with bibliometric analyses of nearly 70,000 papers on macroeconomics and finance published in academic journals from 1990 to 2019. These analyses reveal how a structural rapprochement between macroeconomics and finance created the new subfield of macro-finance. We show that contributions by central bank economists, driven by central banks’ newly acquired macroprudential mandate, were key to its establishment. Acting within the space of regulatory science, they connected macroeconomic and financial knowledge to satisfy their employers’ administrative needs, while also helping to bridge the gaping hole in economic discourse, thereby taking on an important stabilizing role for the epistemic authority of economics.
HELLENISTIC POETRY, MAGICAL GEMS AND ‘THE SWORD OF DARDANUS’ IN APULEIUS’ CUPID AND PSYCHE
Authors: May Regine
Published: February 2024

Apuleius’ tale of Cupid and Psyche is shown to feature detailed knowledge of ancient magic integrated into the plot, especially the magic of the so-called ‘Sword of Dardanus’ spell and of other papyri with Middle Platonic content. A recently published gemstone from Perugia testifies to the wide distribution of the ‘Sword’. Apuleius’ allusion to the erotic spell involves both Cupid and Venus torturing Psyche. Although Venus’ intentions are to prevent the bond between the lovers, her actions inadvertently echo those depicted in the ‘Sword’ and contribute to the couple's eternal union. Ancient magic is therefore shown to be potent and effective, despite Venus’ plans. This is a methodology Apuleius is known to use widely, for example in his obvious allusions to, and adaptations of, Hellenistic poetry in the story. Magic joins poetry and philosophy as a category of texts shown to be playfully integrated into Apuleius’ construction of the plot of Cupid and Psyche.
Jersey, Guernsey and English Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under Henry VII
Authors: THORNTON TIM
Published: February 2024

Papal bulls transferring jurisdiction over the Channel Islands from the bishopric of Coutances (Normandy) first to the diocese of Salisbury and then to Winchester have an important place in the historiography of the allegedly centripetal forces of royal and ecclesiastical authority under Henry VII. This article corrects the chronology, and questions the disruptive impact of international tensions and the role of English bishops’ or governors’ ambitions. Instead, it points to the influence of Breton clergy. Further, that Henry abandoned the initiative for a financial contribution from the islanders sheds light on his policy towards his rights over the Church and beyond.
Space–time structure of weak magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Azelis Augustus A. , Perez Jean C. , Bourouaine Sofiane
Published: February 2024

The two-time energy spectrum of weak magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is found by applying a wave-turbulence closure to the cumulant hierarchy constructed from the dynamical equations. Solutions are facilitated via asymptotic expansions in terms of the small parameter

$\varepsilon$

, describing the ratio of time scales corresponding to Alfvénic propagation and nonlinear interactions between counter-propagating Alfvén waves. The strength of nonlinearity at a given spatial scale is further quantified by an integration over all possible delta-correlated modes compliant in a given set of three-wave interactions that are associated with energy flux through the said scale. The wave-turbulence closure for the two-time spectrum uncovers a secularity occurring on a time scale of order

$\varepsilon ^{-2}$

, and the asymptotic expansion for the spectrum is reordered in a manner comparable to the one-time case. It is shown that for the regime of stationary turbulence, the two-time energy spectrum exponentially decays on a lagged time scale

$(\varepsilon ^2 \gamma _k^s)^{-1}$

in proportion to the strength of the associated three-wave interactions, characterized by nonlinear decorrelation frequency

$\gamma _k^s$

. The scaling of the form

$k_{\perp } v_0 \chi _0$

exhibited by this frequency is reminiscent of random sweeping by the outer scale with characteristic fluctuation velocity

$v_0$

that is modified due to competition with Alfvénic propagation (characterized by

$\chi _0$

) at the said scale. A brief calculation of frequency broadening of the power spectrum due to nonlinear interactions is also presented.
Gal 2.16c und die Logik von 3.10(–12)
Authors: Bachmann Michael
Published: February 2024

German Abstract

Das Papier bezieht sich auf die exegetische Auffassung, es beruhe die Argumentation von Gal 3,10 gerade auch auf einer unterdrückten praemissa minor („die Toravorschriften lassen sich nicht vollständig einhalten“), und es richtet sich gegen die These von P. C. Moore, nach welcher die in 2,16c aufgenommenen Worte aus Ps 143(142),2 genau diese Prämisse bieten sollen. Nicht zuletzt die Aufeinanderfolge der Partikeln γάρ, (ὅτι) δέ, ὅτι und δέ in Gal 3,10b, 11a, 11b und 12a lässt auf ein deutlich wahrscheinlicheres Szenario aufmerken: Paulus argumentiert in 3,10-12 mittels zweier Syllogismen, und er benutzt dabei letztlich durch biblische Formulierungen (aus: Deut 27,26; Hab 2,4; Lev 18,5) vorgegebene, abgesicherte Prämissen.
Moses, Elijah, and Jesus’ Divine Glory (Mark 9.2–8)
Authors: Friedeman Caleb T.
Published: February 2024

Scholars generally agree that Moses and Elijah appear at the Transfiguration because they are connected to each other in some way, and that this connection informs the significance of the story as a whole. However, there is no consensus regarding how Moses and Elijah are related, and consequently there is significant disagreement about how their presence contributes to the Transfiguration. The present study, which focuses on Mark's account (Mark 9.2–8), argues that Moses and Elijah appear together because they received similar theophanies at Mount Sinai and, as a result, the Transfiguration should be read as a mountaintop theophany in which Jesus constitutes the personal presence of Israel's God.
Can a Slave Serve Two Masters? Jointly Owned Slaves in Documentary Papyri and the Synoptic Gospels
Authors: Alabi Afetame
Published: February 2024

This article examines the synoptic saying on serving two masters (Matt 6.24; Luke 16.13) in light of the evidence for jointly owned slaves in documentary papyri. The saying implies that the slave of two masters will inevitably be more loyal or exclusively loyal to one master. Scholars usually accept this as an accurate depiction of jointly owned slaves. However, the papyrological evidence shows that the relationship between jointly owned slaves and their owners varied in everyday life and that slaves had little control over their loyalty to each master. The saying is, therefore, not a fully realistic portrait of how jointly owned slaves served their masters in antiquity but is possibly a slave stereotype that contributes to the (un)faithful slave imageries in the Gospels.
Not Just One Long Vacation: Revisiting the Importance of Lifestyle Planning in the Transition to Retirement
Authors: Hutchinson Susan L. , Ausman Christine
Published: February 2024

Background

There is a need to further understand the nature and role of planning for one’s lifestyle in retirement.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine retirement planning and how it impacts perceived preparedness and satisfaction with the retirement transition, as well as to explore personal experiences of retirement.

Methods

Canadians (n = 748) fully or partly retired participated in an online survey that included quantitative questions about perceived retirement preparedness and satisfaction and open-ended questions about retirement goals, fears, challenges, and advice.

Findings

Results determined that while both financial and lifestyle planning were significant predictors of higher perceived preparedness, only lifestyle planning was a significant predictor for satisfaction. Overall, no gender differences were detected. Open-ended comments highlighted the importance of planning for one’s lifestyle in retirement, including meaningful activities and social connections.

Discussion

Individualized career advising as well as group-based educational programs or peer-assisted learning initiatives appear warranted to support people in planning for their lifestyle in retirement.
Politik pflegen?
Authors: Hänel Jonas
Published: February 2024

Zusammenfassung: Die politische Bildung fristet im Pflegeunterricht bisher eher ein Schattendasein. Der Beitrag möchte angesichts dessen auf die Vielfalt des Politischen im Pflegekontext aufmerksam machen und Verbindungen zwischen dem Anliegen der Politikdidaktik und der Pflegedidaktik aufzeigen. Es werden dabei anwendungsbezogene Prinzipien und Anregungen formuliert, wie der Pflegeunterricht verstärkt Elemente politischer Bildung integrieren könnte.
Temperature Dependence of H2O Solubility in Al‐Free Stishovite
Authors: Purevjav Narangoo , Fei Hongzhan , Ishii Takayuki , Criniti Giacomo , Lin Yanhao , Mao Ho‐Kwang , Katsura Tomoo
Published: February 2024

The role of stishovite in transporting water in subducting slabs has been a subject of debate for several decades. Here we investigated stishovite's water solubility and its potential role in water transportation as a function of temperature from 1300 to 2100°C at 22 GPa. Under water‐saturated conditions, high‐quality, Al‐free stishovite single crystals were synthesized with multi‐anvil press, and their water contents were measured using infrared spectroscopy. The H2O solubility in stishovite increases from 128(20) to 521(47) wt. ppm with increasing temperature from 1300 to 1700°C and decreased to 145(26) wt. ppm at 2100°C. The maximum H2O content was about seven times larger than earlier high‐temperature multi‐anvil studies but significantly lower than recent laser‐heated diamond anvil cell and low‐temperature multi‐anvil studies. We suggest that Al‐free stishovite may not be a significant H2O carrier in subducting slabs, at least at the topmost lower mantle corresponding to our experimental conditions.
Scale‐Dependent Drivers of Marine Heatwaves Globally
Authors: Bian Ce , Jing Zhao , Wang Hong , Wu Lixin
Published: February 2024

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged extreme warm water events, threatening marine ecosystems. Understanding drivers of MHWs over the global ocean is essential for their forecast. Here, we use an eddy‐resolving coupled global climate model with improved realism of MHWs to evaluate the drivers of MHWs at different spatial scales, that is, MHWs defined based on temperature anomalies at different spatial scales. The properties of MHWs are scale‐dependent, being generally weaker, less frequent, and longer with increasing spatial scales. The primary driver of MHWs shifts from local oceanic intrinsic advection to atmospheric forcing as their spatial scale becomes larger. The transition spatial scale between the ocean and atmosphere‐driven regimes varies geographically, being larger in eddy‐rich regions but smaller in gyre interior. This study suggests the complicated dynamics of MHWs at different spatial scales and provides guidance on improving their forecast capacity.
Intensification of the Electron Zebra Stripes in the Earth's Inner Magnetosphere During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Pandya Megha , Ebihara Yusuke , Tanaka Takashi , Manweiler Jerry W. , Vines Sarah K.
Published: February 2024

We examined rapid variations in the electron zebra stripe patterns, specifically at L = 1.5, over a three‐month duration, using twin Van Allen Probes within Earth's inner magnetosphere. During geomagnetically quiet intervals, these stripes exhibit a peak‐to‐valley ratio (Δj) ∼1.25 in detrended electron fluxes. However, during geomagnetic storms, they became highly prominent, with Δj > 2.5. The correlation between Δj and net field‐aligned currents (FACs) is observed to be high (0.70). Global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation results indicate that the westward electric field at midnight at low latitudes in the deep inner magnetosphere correlates well with net FACs. An increase in net FACs could amplify the dawn‐to‐dusk electric field in the deep inner magnetosphere, thereby causing the inward transport of electrons. Given that FACs are linked to the interaction between solar wind and the magnetosphere, our findings emphasize the importance of solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling in the deeper regions of the inner magnetosphere.
Climatic Constraints of Spring Phenology and Its Variability on the Mongolian Plateau From 1982 to 2021
Authors: Yuan Zhihui , Bao Gang , Dorjsuren Altantuya , Oyont Ayisha , Chen Jiquan , Li Fei , Dong Gang , Guo Enliang , Shao Changliang , Du Lingtong
Published: February 2024

The start of vegetation growing season (SOS) plays an important role in the energy cycle between the land and atmosphere. Due to the limited temporal span of a single satellite sensor through time, the continuous variation of the SOS over 40 years has not been adequately quantified. Using the overlapping periods (2001–2015) between the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) (1982–2015) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (2001–2021) data sets, we construct an NDVI data set covering the period 1982–2021 on the Mongolian Plateau and further construct a map of relative climatic constraint on the SOS (divided into “temperature‐constrained,” “precipitation‐constrained,” and “other” regions) for quantifying SOS variability. We show that the constructed NDVI data set has high consistency and continuity with earlier GIMMS NDVI data. Regions with the SOS constrained by temperature account for 55.3% of the plateau and are located in northwestern and northeastern cold areas, while regions with the SOS constrained by precipitation constitute over 34.7% and are located in central and southwestern drier regions. Importantly, the temperature‐constrained SOS has continuously and significantly advanced, with a total advance of 4.8 days over 40 years. In contrast, the precipitation‐constrained SOS reversed from advancing to delaying in 2005. This suggests that differentiating the climatic constraint on the SOS might be a practical treatment for reducing the uncertainties in the SOS trends in previous studies. Interestingly, the precipitation‐constrained SOS does not significantly correlate to both the chilling and forcing temperatures, indicating less dependency of the SOS on chilling, which may not have been well considered previously.
Waterproof and ultraflexible organic photovoltaics with improved interface adhesion
Authors: Xiong Sixing , Fukuda Kenjiro , Nakano Kyohei , Lee Shinyoung , Sumi Yutaro , Takakuwa Masahito , Inoue Daishi , Hashizume Daisuke , Du Baocai , Yokota Tomoyuki , Zhou Yinhua , Tajima Keisuke , Someya Takao
Published: February 2024

Ultraflexible organic photovoltaics have emerged as a potential power source for wearable electronics owing to their stretchability and lightweight nature. However, waterproofing ultraflexible organic photovoltaics without compromising mechanical flexibility and conformability remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate waterproof and ultraflexible organic photovoltaics through the in-situ growth of a hole-transporting layer to strengthen interface adhesion between the active layer and anode. Specifically, a silver electrode is deposited directly on top of the active layers, followed by thermal annealing treatment. Compared with conventional sequentially-deposited hole-transporting layers, the in-situ grown hole-transporting layer exhibits higher thermodynamic adhesion between the active layers, resulting in better waterproofness. The fabricated 3 μm-thick organic photovoltaics retain 89% and 96% of their pristine performance after immersion in water for 4 h and 300 stretching/releasing cycles at 30% strain under water, respectively. Moreover, the ultraflexible devices withstand a machine-washing test with such a thin encapsulation layer, which has never been reported. Finally, we demonstrate the universality of the strategy for achieving waterproof solar cells.
Anti-CRISPR Anopheles mosquitoes inhibit gene drive spread under challenging behavioural conditions in large cages
Authors: D’Amato Rocco , Taxiarchi Chrysanthi , Galardini Marco , Trusso Alessandro , Minuz Roxana L. , Grilli Silvia , Somerville Alastair G. T. , Shittu Dammy , Khalil Ahmad S. , Galizi Roberto , Crisanti Andrea , Simoni Alekos , Müller Ruth
Published: February 2024

CRISPR-based gene drives have the potential to spread within populations and are considered as promising vector control tools. A doublesex-targeting gene drive was able to suppress laboratory Anopheles mosquito populations in small and large cages, and it is considered for field application. Challenges related to the field-use of gene drives and the evolving regulatory framework suggest that systems able to modulate or revert the action of gene drives, could be part of post-release risk-mitigation plans. In this study, we challenge an AcrIIA4-based anti-drive to inhibit gene drive spread in age-structured Anopheles gambiae population under complex feeding and behavioural conditions. A stochastic model predicts the experimentally-observed genotype dynamics in age-structured populations in medium-sized cages and highlights the necessity of large-sized cage trials. These experiments and experimental-modelling framework demonstrate the effectiveness of the anti-drive in different scenarios, providing further corroboration for its use in controlling the spread of gene drive in Anopheles.
Longitudinal plasma proteome profiling reveals the diversity of biomarkers for diagnosis and cetuximab therapy response of colorectal cancer
Authors: Li Yan , Wang Bing , Yang Wentao , Ma Fahan , Zou Jianling , Li Kai , Tan Subei , Feng Jinwen , Wang Yunzhi , Qin Zhaoyu , Chen Zhiyu , Ding Chen
Published: February 2024

Cetuximab therapy is the major treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC), but drug resistance limits its effectiveness. Here, we perform longitudinal and deep proteomic profiling of 641 plasma samples originated from 147 CRC patients (CRCs) undergoing cetuximab therapy with multi-course treatment, and 90 healthy controls (HCs). COL12A1, THBS2, S100A8, and S100A9 are screened as potential proteins to distinguish CRCs from HCs both in plasma and tissue validation cohorts. We identify the potential biomarkers (RRAS2, MMP8, FBLN1, RPTOR, and IMPDH2) for the initial response prediction. In a longitudinal setting, we identify two clusters with distinct fluctuations and construct the model with high accuracy to predict the longitudinal response, further validated in the independent cohort. This study reveals the heterogeneity of different biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, the initial and longitudinal response prediction respectively in the first course and multi-course cetuximab treatment, may ultimately be useful in monitoring and intervention strategies for CRC.
Identification of potential aggregation hotspots on Aβ42 fibrils blocked by the anti-amyloid chaperone-like BRICHOS domain
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Le Marchand Tanguy , Adam Laurène , Bobrovs Raitis , Chen Gefei , Fridmanis Jēkabs , Kronqvist Nina , Biverstål Henrik , Jaudzems Kristaps , Johansson Jan , Pintacuda Guido , Abelein Axel
Published: February 2024

Protein misfolding can generate toxic intermediates, which underlies several devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The surface of AD-associated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) fibrils has been suggested to act as a catalyzer for self-replication and generation of potentially toxic species. Specifically tailored molecular chaperones, such as the BRICHOS protein domain, were shown to bind to amyloid fibrils and break this autocatalytic cycle. Here, we identify a site on the Aβ42 fibril surface, consisting of three C-terminal β-strands and particularly the solvent-exposed β-strand stretching from residues 26–28, which is efficiently sensed by a designed variant of Bri2 BRICHOS. Remarkably, while only a low amount of BRICHOS binds to Aβ42 fibrils, fibril-catalyzed nucleation processes are effectively prevented, suggesting that the identified site acts as a catalytic aggregation hotspot, which can specifically be blocked by BRICHOS. Hence, these findings provide an understanding how toxic nucleation events can be targeted by molecular chaperones.
Coupling of radiation and grain boundary corrosion in SiC
Authors: Xi Jianqi , Zhang Hongliang , Su Ranran , Wei Shuguang , Hu Xuanxin , Queylat Benoit , Kim Taeho , Couet Adrien , Szlufarska Izabela
Published: February 2024

Radiation and corrosion can be coupled to each other in non-trivial ways and such coupling is of critical importance for the performance of materials in extreme environments. However, it has been rarely studied in ceramics and therefore it is not well understood to what extent these two phenomena are coupled and by what mechanisms. Here, we discover that radiation-induced chemical changes at grain boundaries of ceramics can have a significant (and positive) impact on the corrosion resistance of these materials. Specifically, we demonstrate using a combination of experimental and simulation studies that segregation of C to grain boundaries of silicon carbide leads to improved corrosion resistance. Our results imply that tunning of stoichiometry at grain boundaries either through the sample preparation process or via radiation-induced segregation can provide an effective method for suppressing surface corrosion.
Semi-device-independent quantum random number generator with a broadband squeezed state of light
Authors: Cheng Jialin , Liang Shaocong , Qin Jiliang , Li Jiatong , Yan Zhihui , Jia Xiaojun , Xie Changde , Peng Kunchi
Published: February 2024

Random numbers are a basic ingredient of simulation algorithms and cryptography, and play a significant part in computer simulation and information processing. One prominent feature of a squeezed light is its lower fluctuation and more randomness in a pair of orthogonal oriented quadratures, thus it prompts a significant application in not only quantum information and quantum precision measurement but also an excellent entropy source for true random number generation. Here we report a generation of a high-efficiency semi-device-independent quantum random number based on a broadband squeezed light, where a reliable randomness source is unnecessary and a noisy local oscillator is allowed for homodyne detection. The equivalent generation of private random bits is at a rate of 580.7 Mbps. In addition, the use of squeezed light at 1.3 μm enables the transmission of entropy sources and local oscillators at the metropolitan scale, thus expanding the potential applications of quantum random number generators based on non-classical state of light.
Comparative analysis of breast cancer characteristics in young premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Ghana
Authors: Bosompem Kingsley , Yorke Joseph , Buckman Tonnies Abeku , Brenu Samuel Gyasi , Nyantakyi Michael , Aitpillah Francis Somiah-Kwaw , Kyei Ishmael , Adinku Michael Ofoe , Yorke Dennis Afful , Obirikorang Christian , Acheampong Emmanuel
Published: February 2024

Breast cancer is increasingly common among young women in Ghana. BCa is heterogeneous with unique traits that impact causes, prognostic, and predictive outcomes of patients before and after menopause. However, limited evidence exists on differences between young premenopausal (YPM) and postmenopausal cases in Ghana. This study compared breast tumour characteristics between YPM women (under 35 years) and postmenopausal women. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study involving 140 BCa-diagnosed women at the Breast Care Clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi from November 2019 to June 2021. Thirty-one (22.1%) of participants were YPM and 109 (77.9%) were postmenopausal. The median ages for YPM and postmenopausal were 32.0 (range: 25.0–35.0) and 57.0 (48.0–86.0) respectively. Invasive carcinoma was the most common histological type (97.1%). Left tumour location was the most frequent in both groups (51.6% for YPM and 51.8% for postmenopausal). Lumps detected were frequently in the outer upper quadrant in both groups (61.3% and 56.0%). The majority of the YPM women (80.7%) and postmenopausal women (87.0%) had stage III and IV diseases. Most YPM (64.5%) and postmenopausal women (64.4%) exhibited triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Both YPM 13 (56.6%) and postmenopausal participants 40 (56.3%) exhibited a predominantly partial response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy but YPM women (21.7%) experienced disease progression than the postmenopausal women (12.7%). The study highlights consistent tumour characteristics and advanced clinical stages at diagnosis in both groups with a higher prevalence of TNBC. TNBC and HER2+ subtypes respond better to Anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Establishing Breast Care Clinics in district and regional hospitals for early detection is crucial and further studies are warranted to understand the higher TNBC prevalence in black Africans and re-evaluate breast education programs to address the persistently late presentations.
Security issues of the gold industry chain based on smart blockchain in the context of the Internet of Things
Authors: Zheng Jifei , Wang Guisen , Zhang Yuhan , Chen Lei , Li Xiao , Zhang Shouting
Published: February 2024

The purpose is to solve the safety production and management problems of the gold Industrial Chain and give early warning of the safety situation of the gold Industrial Chain. According to the theory of industrial chain security governance and the basic situation of the gold Industrial Chain, this work establishes a gold Industrial Chain model based on smart blockchain and system dynamics (SD), and discusses the application of the gold Industrial Chain in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment. The overall goal of the application of IoT technology to the safety management of intelligent gold mines is to take the gold mine production demand as the driving force. The digitalization of production, electromechanical, safety, dispatching, and other information realizes intelligent digital perception, assists decision-making, guides the safety management of gold mining operations, continuously improves the operation efficiency of the gold mining industry, and drives the development of the industry. Finally, it takes the resource reserve of China’s gold industry from 2011 to 2021 as the research data introduces the weighting method to assess the security situation of China’s gold Industrial Chain from 2011 to 2021. The safety performance of China's environmental industry chain is evaluated through the detailed introduction of the basic information of the gold Industrial Chain. The result shows that the security situation of China’s gold Industrial Chain from 2011 to 2021 shows an overall growth trend, 88.42% higher than in 2014. The security situation of China’s gold Industrial Chain from 2011 to 2021 positively impacted the opening of the domestic gold market and entering the international gold market, improving the security level of China’s gold Industrial Chain. In this work, a gold Industrial Chain security model based on smart blockchain and SD is established to solve the safety problem of the gold Industrial Chain, which can improve the safety level of the gold industry and promote its sustainable development.
Spatial factors influencing the pain-ameliorating effect of CT-optimal touch: a comparative study for modulating temporal summation of second pain
Authors: Meijer Larissa L. , Baars Wouter , Chris Dijkerman H. , Ruis Carla , van der Smagt Maarten J.
Published: February 2024

Recent studies show that CT-optimal touch, gentle slow stroking of the skin, can reduce pain. However, much is unknown regarding the factors influencing its pain-ameliorating effect, such as tactile attention and touch application site. The current study investigates in 36 healthy individuals, whether CT-optimal touch can reduce temporal summation of second pain (TSSP) compared to CT non-optimal touch and tapping the skin. TSSP refers to activation of the C-nociceptors; by stimulating these fibers a burning and/or tingling sensation can be elicited. All participants underwent three conditions on both the contralateral and ipsilateral side of pain induction. The results show that tapping the skin did not reduce TSSP, meaning that pain reduction through touch cannot be explained by tactile attention effects. CT non-optimal touch only reduced TSSP when applied on the ipsilateral side. Importantly, CT-optimal touch effectively reduced TSSP when applied on the contralateral or ipsilateral side. Furthermore, CT-optimal touch was more effective in reducing TSSP compared to CT non-optimal touch and Tapping. This study shows that that CT-optimal touch can reduce TSSP and this effect appears to be independent of touch application site, which is highly relevant for implementing CT-optimal touch as a treatment.
Application solutions of highway freight information systems based on quantum communication
Authors: Tang Wenliang , Gao Yifan
Published: February 2024

To improve the security of data transmission in the highway freight information system, this study is an application plan for the highway freight information system based on quantum communication. This solution is based on quantum communication technology to encrypt and transmit key sensitive data[1]; it realizes unified management of quantum keys through the quantum key cloud terminal and provides key services for the highway freight information system; it realizes access to the system through the quantum key cloud service platform. The secure use of mobile terminal quantum keys improves the overall security of the road freight information system. This scheme uses the quantum encryption key generated only once, effectively protecting the entire system's security. The quantum key management server and quantum key cloud platform defined in this plan manage terminals and quantum keys respectively, and jointly produce and distribute quantum keys with the help of other hardware facilities and software to provide secure transmission of key information.
Impact of sensitization and ABO blood types on the opportunity of deceased-donor kidney transplantation with prolonged waiting time
Authors: Lee Jin Hyeog , Koo Tai Yeon , Lee Jung Eun , Oh Kook Hwan , Kim Beom Seok , Yang Jaeseok
Published: February 2024

The waiting time to deceased-donor kidney transplantation (DDKT) is long in Asian countries. We investigated the impact of sensitization and ABO blood type (ABO) on DDKT opportunity using two Korean cohorts: a hospital cohort from two centers and a national database. The impact of panel reactive antibody (PRA) based on the maximal PRA% and ABO on DDKT accessibility was analyzed using a competing risks regression model. In the hospital cohort (n = 4722), 88.2%, 8.7%, and 3.1% of patients belonged to < 80%, 80–99%, and ≥ 99% PRA groups, respectively, and 61.1%, 11.6%, and 27.3% belonged to A or B, AB, and O blood types, respectively. When PRA and ABO were combined, PRA < 80%/A or B and 80 ≤ PRA < 99%/AB had fewer DDKT opportunities (median, 12 years; subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR], 0.71) compared with PRA < 80%/AB (median, 11 years). Also, PRA < 80%/O, 80 ≤ PRA < 99%/A or B, and PRA ≥ 99%/AB had a much lower DDKT opportunity (median, 13 years; sHR, 0.49). Furthermore, 80 ≤ PRA < 99%/O and PRA ≥ 99%/non-AB had the lowest DDKT opportunity (sHR, 0.28). We found similar results in the national cohort (n = 18,974). In conclusion, an integrated priority system for PRA and ABO is needed to reduce the inequity in DDKT opportunities, particularly in areas with prolonged waiting times.
The jump in global temperatures in September 2023 is extremely unlikely due to internal climate variability alone
Authors: Rantanen Mika , Laaksonen Ari
Published: February 2024

September 2023 was the warmest September on record globally by a record margin of 0.5 °C. Here we show that such a record-breaking margin is an extremely rare event in the latest generation of climate models, making it highly unlikely (p ~ 1%) that internal climate variability combined with the steady increase in greenhouse gas forcing could explain it. Our results call for further analysis of the impact of other external forcings on the global climate in 2023.
The emergence of urban heat traps and human mobility in 20 US cities
Authors: Huang Xinke , Jiang Yuqin , Mostafavi Ali
Published: February 2024

Understanding the relationship between spatial structures of cities and environmental hazard exposures is essential for urban health and sustainability planning. However, a critical knowledge gap exists in terms of the extent to which socio-spatial networks shaped by human mobility exacerbate or alleviate urban heat exposures of populations in cities. In this study, we utilize location-based data to construct human mobility networks in twenty metropolitan areas in the U.S. The human mobility networks are analyzed in conjunction with the urban heat characteristics of spatial areas. We identify areas with high and low urban heat exposure and evaluate visitation patterns of populations residing in high and low urban heat areas to other spatial areas with similar and dissimilar urban heat exposure. The results reveal the presence of urban heat traps in the majority of the studied metropolitan areas, wherein populations residing in high-heat exposure areas primarily visited other high-heat exposure zones. Specifically, cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago were particularly pronounced as urban heat traps. The results also show a small percentage of human mobility to produce urban heat escalation and heat escapes. The findings from this study provide a better understanding of urban heat exposure in cities based on patterns of human mobility. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the intersection of human network dynamics and environmental hazard exposures in cities to inform more integrated urban design and planning to promote health and sustainability.
A climatology of weather-driven anomalies in European photovoltaic and wind power production
Authors: Ho-Tran Linh , Fiedler Stephanie
Published: February 2024

Weather causes extremes in photovoltaic and wind power production. Here we present a comprehensive climatology of anomalies in photovoltaic and wind power production associated with weather patterns in Europe considering the 2019 and potential 2050 installations, and hourly to ten-day events. To that end, we performed kilometer-scale numerical simulations of hourly power production for 23 years and paired the output with a weather classification which allows a detailed assessment of weather-driven spatio-temporal production anomalies. Our results highlight the dependency of low-power production events on the installed capacities and the event duration. South-shifted Westerlies (Anticyclonic South-Easterlies) are associated with the lowest hourly (ten-day) extremes for the 2050 (both) installations. Regional power production anomalies can differ from the ones in the European mean. Our findings suggest that weather patterns can serve as indicators for expected photovoltaic and wind power production anomalies and may be useful for early warnings in the energy sector.
Red fluorescent BODIPY-based nanoparticles for targeted cancer imaging-guided photodynamic therapy
Authors: Kim Chanwoo , Mai Duy Khuong , Kim Won-Jin , Badon Isabel Wen , Jo Jinwoong , Kang Dongho , Kim Seok-Jun , Kim Ho-Joong , Yang Jaesung
Published: February 2024

Imaging-guided diagnosis and treatment of cancer hold potential to significantly improve therapeutic accuracies and efficacies.
Construction of one-dimensional ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Guo Changyan , Zou Yangyang , Ma Yanqiu , Akram Naeem , Ahmad Ali , Wang Jide
Published: February 2024

The development of photocatalysts plays a pivotal role in facilitating the production of green hydrogen energy through water splitting.
A prospective ecological risk assessment of high-efficiency III–V/silicon tandem solar cells
Authors: Blanco C. F. , Quik J. T. K. , Hof M. , Fuortes A. , Behrens P. , Cucurachi S. , Peijnenburg W. J. G. M. , Dimroth F. , Vijver M. G.
Published: February 2024

III–V/silicon tandem solar cells offer a promising avenue for high-efficiency, high-stability photovoltaics with low environmental risk.
Correlating mesoporosity/acidity with catalytic performances for surfactant-templated mesoporous FAU zeolites
Authors: Zhou Yong , Galarneau Anne , Rodriguez Jeremy , Opanasenko Maksym , Shamzhy Mariya
Published: February 2024

A surfactant-templated synthesis results in hierarchical zeolites with controllable micropore-to-mesopore volume ratio. However, the relationships between the synthesis conditions, acidity and catalytic performance of thus prepared zeolites are not fully understood and require further investigation.