bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impacts of social determinants of health and cardiometabolic factors on cognitive and functional aging in Colombian underserved populations
Authors: Santamaria-Garcia Hernando , Moguilner Sebastian , Rodriguez-Villagra Odir Antonio , Botero-Rodriguez Felipe , Pina-Escudero Stefanie Danielle , O’Donovan Gary , Albala Cecilia , Matallana Diana , Schulte Michael , Slachevsky Andrea , Yokoyama Jennifer S. , Possin Katherine , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C. , Al-Rousan Tala , Corley Michael J. , Kosik Kenneth S. , Muniz-Terrera Graciela , Miranda J. Jaime , Ibanez Agustin
Published: February 2023

Global initiatives call for further understanding of the impact of inequity on aging across underserved populations. Previous research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents limitations in assessing combined sources of inequity and outcomes (i.e., cognition and functionality). In this study, we assessed how social determinants of health (SDH), cardiometabolic factors (CMFs), and other medical/social factors predict cognition and functionality in an aging Colombian population. We ran a cross-sectional study that combined theory- (structural equation models) and data-driven (machine learning) approaches in a population-based study (N = 23,694; M = 69.8 years) to assess the best predictors of cognition and functionality. We found that a combination of SDH and CMF accurately predicted cognition and functionality, although SDH was the stronger predictor. Cognition was predicted with the highest accuracy by SDH, followed by demographics, CMF, and other factors. A combination of SDH, age, CMF, and additional physical/psychological factors were the best predictors of functional status. Results highlight the role of inequity in predicting brain health and advancing solutions to reduce the cognitive and functional decline in LMICs.
Subjektive Gesundheitskompetenz von Langzeitarbeitslosen – eine qualitative Studie
Authors: Stassen Gerrit , Haaß Karsten , Schaller Andrea
Published: February 2023

Hintergrund

Arbeitslosigkeit hat vielfältige negative Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit, weswegen besonders langzeitarbeitslose Menschen als gesundheitlich vulnerable und sozial benachteiligte Gruppe gelten. Allgemein wird als ein zentrales Ziel der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung inzwischen die Förderung der Gesundheitskompetenz benannt. Neben quantitativen Daten sind mit Blick vulnerable, benachteiligte Gruppen und z. B. für die Entwicklung zielgruppenspezifischer Maßnahmen weitergehende qualitative Untersuchungen von Interesse. Die vorliegende qualitative Arbeit erhebt dahingehend Beschreibungen der subjektiven Gesundheitskompetenz von Langzeitarbeitslosen.

Methodik

Angelehnt an das integrierte Modell der Gesundheitskompetenz wurden 9 halbstrukturierte, leitfadengestützte Interviews in einer Einrichtung zur Gesundheits- und Beschäftigungsförderung durchgeführt (4 Frauen, 5 Männer; Alter: 55 ± 9 Jahre). Die Auswertung erfolgte nach der Methode der inhaltlich strukturierten Inhaltsanalyse.

Ergebnisse

Während die Interviewten von vielfältigen Quellen zum „Finden von Gesundheitsinformationen“ berichten (medizinisch-gesundheitsbezogener Bereich, soziales Umfeld, Medien), deuten sich in den Stufen „Verstehen“ und „Beurteilen“ Schwierigkeiten an. Mit Blick auf das „Anwenden von Gesundheitsinformationen“ wurden Umsetzungsprobleme bzw. fehlende Umsetzungsstrategien benannt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Während von der Zielgruppe vielfältige gesundheitsbezogene Quellen genutzt, sollte Schwerpunkte in Maßnahmen zur Gesundheitskompetenzförderung weitergehend bei den Themen Verstehen und Beurteilen von Gesundheitsinformationen liegen. Besonders relevant ist die Vermittlung von Strategien zur Umsetzung gesundheitsförderlicher Verhaltensweisen. Eine Stärkung sozialer Netzwerke sollte zudem zur Verknüpfung von Beschäftigungs- und Gesundheitsförderung fokussiert werden.
Effectiveness of engagement initiatives across engagement platforms: A meta-analysis
Authors: Blut Markus , Kulikovskaja Viktorija , Hubert Marco , Brock Christian , Grewal Dhruv
Published: February 2023

As part of their customer engagement (CE) marketing, firms use different platforms to interact with customers, in ways that go beyond purchases. Task-based CE strategies call for customers’ participation in structured, often incentivized tasks; experiential CE initiatives instead aim to stimulate pleasurable experiences for customers. But the optimal uses of these two strategies, in terms of improving customer engagement to produce more positive marketing outcomes, are unclear. With a meta-analysis and data from 395 samples, pertaining to 434,233 customers, the present study develops and tests a unifying framework of how to optimize investments in both two engagement strategies across different engagement platforms. On average, task-based initiatives are more effective in driving customer engagement, but the effects depend on the platform. If platforms support continuous or lean interactions, task-based initiatives are more effective; on platforms that encourage spot interactions, experiential initiatives are preferable. Three customer engagement dimensions (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral) in turn lead to positive marketing outcomes, though in ways that depend on the platforms’ interaction characteristics (intensity, richness, initiation) and differ across digital versus physical platforms. These results provide clear guidance for managers regarding how to plan their CE marketing activities to benefit both their firms and their customers.
Relevant but neglected habitat types by the Directive 92/43 EEC in southern Italy
Authors: Spampinato Giovanni , Tomaselli Valeria , Forte Luigi , Strumia Sandro , Stinca Adriano , Croce Antonio , Fascetti Simonetta , Rosati Leonardo , Di Pietro Romeo , Mantino Francesca , Laface Valentina Lucia Astrid , Musarella Carmelo Maria
Published: February 2023

The 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive is the main European Union legal tool concerning nature conservation. The habitat types listed in Annex I to the Directive are phytosociology-based. It is widely acknowledged that phytosociological analysis is a crucial approach for habitats characterization and for monitoring their conservation status. Based on bibliographic investigations and new field survey campaigns, a list of habitat types neglected by the Habitats Directive is here presented and described for southern Italy. In this paper, 8 new habitat types and 13 subtypes are proposed. For each of these proposed new habitat types, a wide range of information, including ecology, chorology, species composition, syntaxonomy, threats, and conservation status, is here provided. To supply more detailed phytogeographical and coenological information about the proposed new habitat types, distribution maps based on 10 × 10 km reference grids and phytosociological tables including unpublished relevés were carried out.
Horofunction Compactifications and Duality
Authors: Lemmens Bas , Power Kieran
Published: February 2023

We study the global topology and geometry of the horofunction compactification of classes of symmetric spaces under Finsler distances in three settings: bounded symmetric domains of the form$$B=B_1\times \cdots \times B_r$$B=B1×⋯×Br, where$$B_i$$Biis an open Euclidean ball in$${\mathbb {C}}^{n_i}$$Cni, with the Kobayashi distance, symmetric cones with the Hilbert distance, and Euclidean Jordan algebras with the spectral norm. For these spaces we show, that the horofunction compactification is naturally homeomorphic to the closed unit ball of the dual norm of the Finsler metric in the tangent space at the basepoint. In each case we give an explicit homeomorphism. For finite dimensional normed spaces the link between the geometry of the horofunction compactification and the dual unit ball was suggested by Kapovich and Leeb, which we confirm for Euclidean Jordan algebras with the spectral norm. Our results also show that this duality phenomenon not only occurs in normed spaces, but also in a variety of noncompact type symmetric spaces with invariant Finsler metrics.
The Steklov Problem on Triangle-Tiling Graphs in the Hyperbolic Plane
Authors: Tschanz Léonard
Published: February 2023

We introduce a graph $$\Gamma $$
Γ
which is roughly isometric to the hyperbolic plane, and we study the Steklov eigenvalues of a subgraph with boundary $$\Omega $$
Ω
of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
. For $$(\Omega _l)_{l\ge 1}$$

(

Ω
l

)

l
≥
1

a sequence of subgraphs of $$\Gamma $$
Γ
such that $$|\Omega _l| \longrightarrow \infty $$

|

Ω
l

|
⟶
∞

, we prove that for each $$k \in \mathbb {N}$$

k
∈
N

, the $$k^{\text{ th }}$$

k

th

eigenvalue tends to 0 proportionally to $$1/|B_l|$$

1
/
|

B
l

|

. The idea of the proof consists in finding a bounded domain N of the hyperbolic plane which is roughly isometric to $$\Omega $$
Ω
, giving an upper bound for the Steklov eigenvalues of N and transferring this bound to $$\Omega $$
Ω
via a process called discretization.
Evaluation of paclitaxel-loaded polymeric nanoparticles in 3D tumor model: impact of tumor stroma on penetration and efficacy
Authors: Priwitaningrum Dwi L. , Pednekar Kunal , Gabriël Alexandros V. , Varela-Moreira Aida A. , Le Gac Severine , Vellekoop Ivo , Storm Gert , Hennink Wim E. , Prakash Jai
Published: February 2023

Since tumor stroma poses as a barrier to achieve efficacy of nanomedicines, it is essential to evaluate nano-chemotherapeutics in stroma-mimicking 3D models that reliably predict their behavior regarding these hurdles limiting efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles (PTX-PMCs) and polymeric nanoparticles (PTX-PNPs) in a tumor stroma–mimicking 3D in vitro model. PTX-PMCs (77 nm) based on a amphiphilic block copolymer of mPEG-b-p(HPMAm-Bz) and PTX-PNPs (159 nm) based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) were prepared, which had an encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 81 ± 15% and 45 ± 8%, respectively. 3D homospheroids of mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells and heterospheroids of NIH3T3 fibroblasts and 4T1 (5:1 ratio) were prepared and characterized with high content two-photon microscopy and immunostaining. Data showed an induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (α-SMA) in both homo- and heterospheroids, while ECM (collagen) deposition only in heterospheroids. Two-photon imaging revealed that both fluorescently labeled PMCs and PNPs penetrated into the core of homospheroids and only PMCs penetrated into heterospheroids. Furthermore, PTX-PMCs, PTX-PNPs, and free PTX induced cytotoxicity in tumor cells and fibroblasts grown as monolayer, but these effects were substantially reduced in 3D models, in particular in heterospheroids. Gene expression analysis showed that heterospheroids had a significant increase of drug resistance markers (Bcl2, Abgc2) compared to 2D or 3D monocultures. Altogether, this study shows that the efficacy of nanotherapeutics is challenged by stroma-induced poor penetration and development of resistant phenotype. Therefore, this tumor stroma–mimicking 3D model can provide an excellent platform to study penetration and effects of nanotherapeutics before in vivo studies.

Graphical Abstract
Population genomics reveals differences in genetic structure between two endemic arboreal rodent species in threatened cloud forest habitat
Authors: Colunga-Salas Pablo , Marines-Macías Tania , Hernández-Canchola Giovani , Barbosa Soraia , Ramírez Cassandra , Searle Jeremy B. , León-Paniagua Livia
Published: February 2023

Genomic tools are now commonly used to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure of species and populations, and they provide the ability to describe and address the negative effects of population declines and fragmentation. However, such studies are lacking for arboreal mammals despite their contribution to various ecosystem services, especially in uncommon and critically endangered ecosystems such as cloud forests. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic arboreal mice from Mexican cloud forests that are associated with areas with different levels of impacts from human activities. We performed genotyping-by-sequencing in 47 Habromys schmidlyi and 17 Reithrodontomys wagneri individuals to evaluate genetic diversity and differentiation. In both species, the genetic diversity was low compared to other cricetid species, and we observed different population structure patterns, potentially linked to the different ecological associations. We detected two genetic groups in H. schmidlyi, that is a territorial species present in areas of low incline, while a single genetic group was found in R. wagneri, which forms family groups in areas with steep slopes. Overall, these results highlight how species’ genetic diversity can be differentially impacted depending on differential ecological associations within the same ecosystem. This information is essential for the development of the adequate conservation and management of these species.
Managerial decisions and new product development in the circular economy model enterprise: absorptive capacity and a mediating role of strategic orientation
Authors: Stelmaszczyk Monika , Pierscieniak Agata , Abrudan Denisa
Published: February 2023

The study explains the flow of knowledge in the circular economy model enterprises. We analyze the impact of managerial decisions on the absorptive capacity, which is new product development, considering the role of critical elements of strategic orientation (innovation and costs) in the textile industry. Based on the verification of hypotheses by employing the SEM method, innovation orientation is a mediator between adaptability-oriented decisions and transformation, and between adaptability-oriented decisions and exploitation. Ambidexterity-oriented decisions affect absorptive capacity. These findings semanticize and extend previous research, indicating that strategic activities focused on eco-innovations are transformed into the process of creating a new product.
Climate policy and the concept of co-benefits in India
Authors: Stahlke Theresa
Published: February 2023

Until the late 1990s, developing countries had perceived the pursuit of development as coming into conflict with the mitigation of climate change. Research showed that mitigation and development can go hand in hand, giving rise to the co-benefits approach. In this paper, the relationship between aiming for development and aiming for climate change mitigation is analyzed from the perspective of the developing country India. While industrialized countries prefer the approach of co-benefits of mitigation, developing countries tend to follow the development-first paradigm with mitigation co-benefits, as a literature and document study show. India had a long way to come from the notion that mitigation was threatening economic growth to adopting the co-benefits approach. The paradigms of “differentiated responsibilities” and of having a right to emit as much as the industrialized countries are deeply rooted. This is also shown by India’s reaction to the current economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design, fabrication and operation of a device for manufacturing metal foams and composites by infiltration
Authors: Carranza J. C. , Casas B. Y. , Figueroa I. A. , Carranza L. E. , Alfonso I.
Published: February 2023

This work presents the design and fabrication of a simple device for manufacturing metal foams and composites using infiltration. The particularities of the operation of this device are also included here, detailing examples of materials manufactured using it. This device was thought to produce composites and foams using matrices from low to medium melting points (e.g., from Mg to Cu alloys), limited to ~1200 °C. It can be used to produce samples large enough for their study and characterization, being cheaper than other devices reported in literature. Foams and composites of different sizes can be manufactured depending on the dimensions of the device, which can be modified according to the necessities. As examples, cylindrical (10 cm height and 5 cm in diameter) samples were manufactured infiltrating Al and Cu alloys on NaCl, NaCl-Al2O3 spheres mixture, and iron hollow spheres, for manufacturing respectively conventional, composite and syntactic foams. These materials were analyzed through Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopies (OM and SEM, respectively), and compression tests. Their densities and porosities were also measured. The analysis of the obtained materials revealed that following the correct experimental conditions, composites and foams without defects can be manufactured using this device. Different porosity and reinforcement percentages were obtained under these conditions, with the expected mechanical behaviors of such materials.
Generalized orthogonality equations in finite-dimensional normed spaces
Authors: Gryszka Karol , Wójcik Paweł
Published: February 2023

Let X, Y be real normed spaces and let $$\rho '_+$$

ρ
+
′

, $$\rho '_-$$

ρ
-
′

be norm derivatives. In this work, we solve a system of functional equations $$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll}\rho '_+(f(x),f(y))=g(x)\rho '_+(x,y),\\ \rho '_-(f(x),f(y))=g(x)\rho '_-(x,y), \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

ρ
+
′

(
f

(
x
)

,
f

(
y
)

)

=
g

(
x
)

ρ
+
′

(
x
,
y
)

,

ρ
-
′

(
f

(
x
)

,
f

(
y
)

)

=
g

(
x
)

ρ
-
′

(
x
,
y
)

,

with unknown functions $$f:X\!\rightarrow \!Y$$

f
:
X

→

Y

, $$g:X\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

g
:
X
→
R

. Moreover, we give partial answer to open problem posed in 2010.
Systematic Review of Procedures and Outcomes of Choice-Based Interventions with Children
Authors: Kestner Kathryn M. , Finch Kacey R. , Kolb Rebecca L.
Published: February 2023

In behavior-analytic clinical work and research, opportunities for choice can be arranged as an independent variable, and response allocation among choice options can be measured as a dependent variable (i.e., engaging in one response given two or more concurrently available options). Choice-based interventions provide behavior analysts with tools to promote their clients’ rights to autonomy and self-determination by incorporating client preference. The purpose of the current article is to systematically review the literature published from 2003 to 2020 on choice-based interventions with children. We reviewed 32 articles (38 experiments) identified through ERIC, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE/PubMed, and we summarized the participant and study characteristics arranged into two categories by procedure: (1) differential reinforcement with asymmetrical-choice options; and (2) building choice opportunities into daily contexts. We provide suggestions for clinical applications of choice to intervention procedures and future research. The reviewed literature demonstrates how practitioners working with children can use choice-based interventions to incorporate consumer choice into clinical practice while effectively addressing versatile clinical goals across populations and settings.
An optimal System of Lie Subalgebras and Group-Invariant Solutions with Conserved Currents of a (3+1)-D Fifth-Order Nonlinear Model I with Applications in Electrical Electronics, Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy
Authors: Adeyemo Oke Davies , Khalique Chaudry Masood
Published: February 2023

Higher-dimensional nonlinear integrable partial differential equations are significant as they often describe diverse phenomena in nonlinear systems like laser radiations in a plasma, optical pulses in the glass fibres, fluid mechanics, radio waves in the ion sphere, condensed matter and electromagnetics. This article shows an analytical investigation of a (3+1)-dimensional fifth-order nonlinear model with KdV forming its main part. Lie group analysis of the model is performed through which its infinitesimal generators are obtained. These generators are engaged in the construction of an optimal system of Lie subalgebra in one dimension. Moreover, members of the system secured are utilized in reducing the underlying model to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for possible exact solutions. In consequence, we achieve various functions, ranging from trigonometric, logarithmic, rational, to hyperbolic. In addition, the results found constitute diverse solitonic solutions such as complex, topological kink and anti-kink, trigonometric and bright. We utilize the power series technique to obtain a series solution of the most complicated ordinary differential equation with forty-four terms. In addition, we reveal the dynamics of these solutions via graphical depictions. In the end, we constructed conserved currents of the underlying equation through the use of the multiplier technique. Further, we utilize the optimal system of the underlying model to derive more conserved vectors using Ibragimov’s theorem for conservation laws.
Irony and Sound
Authors: Zank Stephen
Published: February 2023

An insightful and exquisitely written reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture.
El teatro en Murcia en el siglo XVII (1593–1695)
Authors: Sánchez Martínez Rafael
Published: February 2023

El primer estudio serio del teatro del siglo XVII en Murcia.
The Net Benefits and Residual Cost from U.S. Border Management of the Initially Inadmissible
Authors: Farrow Scott
Published: February 2023

Border management is a government activity affecting immigration and the economy. Benefit–cost and equivalent decision analyses are used to evaluate U.S. border management for 2017. Controversial issues arise. Among these are the issue of standing and the values of asylum, a criminal career, child custodial care, foreign deaths, fiscal and labor market effects, and distributional weighting. Sixteen unique shadow prices (imputed marginal value) are computed. Those shadow pries are combined with proportions and levels of border management outcomes. The aggregate result is not only a large expected present value net benefit per year from managed outcomes of $46.6 billion but also a large residual unmanaged annual cost of $23.7 billion. Significant uncertainty exists, but estimated net benefits remain positive.
Institutional Development in Main Colombian Cities: What Is Its Relation to Subjective Poverty?
Authors: Niño-Muñoz Diana
Published: February 2023

Since a peace treaty in 2016, Colombia has faced a significant challenge to reduce poverty and strengthen its institutions. A few studies have analyzed the relationship between institutions and subjective poverty, but none has demonstrated this influence in the Colombian context at a municipal level. This article estimated a logit regression including a cluster effect to evidence the influence of municipal institutions over perceptions of poverty by the inhabitants of twelve main cities in Colombia in 2016. Findings include that having a better rule of law and fiscal performance, reducing political fragmentation to have better governance, guaranteeing property rights, fostering the benefits of metropolitan areas, and improving citizen participation reduce the probability of feeling poor.
How can physical activity facilitate a sustainable future? Reducing obesity and chronic disease
Authors: Stensel David J.
Published: February 2023

This review examines the ways in which physical activity can contribute to a sustainable future by addressing significant public health issues. The review begins by identifying obesity and ageing as two major challenges facing societies around the world due to the association of both with the risk of chronic disease. Recent developments in the understanding and treatment of obesity are examined followed by an appraisal of the role of exercise alone and in combination with other therapies in preventing and managing obesity. The review then addresses the interaction between exercise and appetite due to the central role appetite plays in the development of overweight and obesity. The final section of the review examines the potential of physical activity to combat age-related chronic disease risk including CVD, cancer and dementia. It is concluded that while bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy are the most effective treatments for severe obesity, physical activity has a role to play facilitating and enhancing weight loss in combination with other methods. Where weight/fat reduction via exercise is less than expected this is likely due to metabolic adaptation induced by physiological changes facilitating increased energy intake and decreased energy expenditure. Physical activity has many health benefits independent of weight control including reducing the risk of developing CVD, cancer and dementia and enhancing cognitive function in older adults. Physical activity may also provide resilience for future generations by protecting against the more severe effects of global pandemics and reducing greenhouse gas emissions via active commuting.
R&D finance and economic growth: a Schumpeterian model with endogenous financial structures
Authors: Shaw Ming-fu , Chang Juin-jen , Lai Ching-chong
Published: February 2023

We endogenize the R&D financial structure and investigate the effects of tax policy (dividend, corporate, and bond income taxes). Agency costs exist between the supply of and demand for funding, which enable the financial market to reshuffle loanable funds out of less productive firms toward others with greater productivity. We show that the financial structure-growth relationship is not monotonic, depending on the relative productivity between the existing and new firms and the allocation of loanable funds between them. The allocation of loanable funds, rather than their market amount, plays a key role in determining the effects of policy.
Molecular characterization of Brassica genebank germplasm confirms taxonomic identity and reveals low levels and source of taxonomic errors
Authors: Steadman Erica M. , Whitehouse Katherine J. , Norton Sally L.
Published: February 2023

Crop germplasm conserved in genebanks, are a fundamental resource of genetic diversity for crop improvement activities, underpinning future food security and sustainable agricultural practices. However, taxonomic errors in genebank germplasm (due to misclassification, contamination and poor data collation) restrict the effective use of this material for correct purpose. Earlier studies investigating species genetic diversity using genebank germplasm, have shown varying levels of taxonomic error within the Brassica species. In response to this reported taxonomic error of global collections, together with the availability of a multiplex PCR (MPCR) marker, targeting the specific chromosomes (A, B and C) of the six Brassica species in U's triangle, this study was undertaken to confirm the taxonomic identity of accessions within the Australian Grains Genebank's (AGG) long-term Brassica collection. A total of 5161 accessions were analysed with MPCR for taxonomic identification, of which, 4842 (93.8%) were confirmed to be consistent (correct) with their labelled taxonomy, while the remaining 319 (6.2%) were identified as taxonomically inconsistent (in-error). Through the evaluation of earlier regeneration and original seed of the error accessions with MPCR, we determined that 80.9% of the taxonomic errors were traced back to the original seed, while 19.1% of errors were the result of genebank seed regeneration handling practices. Results from this study directly enhance information of the AGG Brassica collection and shape directions for distribution, acquisition and regeneration practices within the AGG and potentially other global genebanks, which will facilitate in a more effective use of these valuable genetic resources by researchers and breeders.
Droplet superpropulsion in an energetically constrained insect
Authors: Challita Elio J. , Sehgal Prateek , Krugner Rodrigo , Bhamla M. Saad
Published: February 2023

Food consumption and waste elimination are vital functions for living systems. Although how feeding impacts animal form and function has been studied for more than a century since Darwin, how its obligate partner, excretion, controls and constrains animal behavior, size, and energetics remains largely unexplored. Here we study millimeter-scale sharpshooter insects (Cicadellidae) that feed exclusively on a plant’s xylem sap, a nutrient-deficit source (95% water). To eliminate their high-volume excreta, these insects exploit droplet superpropulsion, a phenomenon in which an elastic projectile can achieve higher velocity than the underlying actuator through temporal tuning. We combine coupled-oscillator models, computational fluid dynamics, and biophysical experiments to show that these insects temporally tune the frequency of their anal stylus to the Rayleigh frequency of their surface tension-dominated elastic drops as a single-shot resonance mechanism. Our model predicts that for these tiny insects, the superpropulsion of droplets is energetically cheaper than forming jets, enabling them to survive on an extreme energy-constrained xylem-sap diet. The principles and limits of superpropulsion outlined here can inform designs of energy-efficient self-cleaning structures and soft engines to generate ballistic motions.
Spectral sensitivity near exceptional points as a resource for hardware encryption
Authors: Yang Minye , Zhu Liang , Zhong Qi , El-Ganainy Ramy , Chen Pai-Yen
Published: February 2023

The spectral sensitivity near exceptional points (EPs) has been recently explored as an avenue for building sensors with enhanced sensitivity. However, to date, it is not clear whether this class of sensors does indeed outperform traditional sensors in terms of signal-to-noise ratio. In this work, we investigate the spectral sensitivity associated with EPs under a different lens and propose to utilize it as a resource for hardware security. In particular, we introduce a physically unclonable function (PUF) based on analogue electronic circuits that benefit from the drastic eigenvalues bifurcation near a divergent exceptional point to enhance the stochastic entropy caused by inherent parameter fluctuations in electronic components. This in turn results in a perfect entropy source for the generation of encryption keys encoded in analog electrical signals. This lightweight and robust analog-PUF structure may lead to a variety of unforeseen securities and anti-counterfeiting applications in radio-frequency fingerprinting and wireless communications.
Engineering potent live attenuated coronavirus vaccines by targeted inactivation of the immune evasive viral deubiquitinase
Authors: Myeni Sebenzile K. , Bredenbeek Peter J. , Knaap Robert C. M. , Dalebout Tim J. , Morales Shessy Torres , Sidorov Igor A. , Linger Marissa E. , Oreshkova Nadia , van Zanen-Gerhardt Sophie , Zander Serge A. L. , Enjuanes Luis , Sola Isabel , Snijder Eric J. , Kikkert Marjolein
Published: February 2023

Coronaviruses express a papain-like protease (PLpro) that is required for replicase polyprotein maturation and also serves as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB). In this study, using a Middle East respiratory syndrome virus (MERS-CoV) PLpro modified virus in which the DUB is selectively inactivated, we show that the PLpro DUB is an important MERS-CoV interferon antagonist and virulence factor. Although the DUB-negative rMERS-CoVMA replicates robustly in the lungs of human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 knock-in (hDPP4 KI) mice, it does not cause clinical symptoms. Interestingly, a single intranasal vaccination with DUB-negative rMERS-CoVMA induces strong and sustained neutralizing antibody responses and sterilizing immunity after a lethal wt virus challenge. The survival of naïve animals also significantly increases when sera from animals vaccinated with the DUB-negative rMERS-CoVMA are passively transferred, prior to receiving a lethal virus dose. These data demonstrate that DUB-negative coronaviruses could be the basis of effective modified live attenuated vaccines.
Hollow-core fibers with reduced surface roughness and ultralow loss in the short-wavelength range
Authors: Osório Jonas H. , Amrani Foued , Delahaye Frédéric , Dhaybi Ali , Vasko Kostiantyn , Melli Federico , Giovanardi Fabio , Vandembroucq Damien , Tessier Gilles , Vincetti Luca , Debord Benoît , Gérôme Frédéric , Benabid Fetah
Published: February 2023

While optical fibers display excellent performances in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet ranges remain poorly addressed by them. Obtaining better fibers for the short-wavelength range has been restricted, in all fiber optics, by scattering processes. In hollow-core fibers, the scattering loss arises from the core roughness and represents the limiting factor for loss reduction regardless of the cladding confinement power. Here, we report on the reduction of the core surface roughness of hollow-core fibers by modifying their fabrication technique. The effect of the modified process has been quantified and the results showed a root-mean-square surface roughness reduction from 0.40 to 0.15 nm. The improvement in the core surface entailed fibers with ultralow loss at short wavelengths. The results reveal this approach as a promising path for the development of hollow-core fibers with loss that can potentially be orders of magnitude lower than the ones achievable with silica-core counterparts.
Matrix is everywhere: extracellular DNA is a link between biofilm and mineralization in Bacillus cereus planktonic lifestyle
Authors: Ivanova Lyubov A. , Egorov Vladimir V. , Zabrodskaya Yana A. , Shaldzhyan Aram A. , Baranchikov Alexander Ye. , Tsvigun Natalia V. , Lykholay Anna N. , Yapryntsev Alexey D. , Lebedev Dmitry V. , Kulminskaya Anna A.
Published: February 2023

To date, the mechanisms of biomineralization induced by bacterial cells in the context of biofilm formation remain the subject of intensive studies. In this study, we analyzed the influence of the medium components on the induction of CaCO3 precipitation by the Bacillus cereus cells and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) formed in the submerged culture. While the accumulation of extracellular polysaccharides and amyloids appeared to be independent of the presence of calcium and urea during the growth, the accumulation of extracellular DNA (eDNA), as well as precipitation of calcium carbonate, required the presence of both ingredients in the medium. Removal of eDNA, which was sensitive to treatment by DNase, did not affect other matrix components but resulted in disruption of cell network formation and a sixfold decrease in the precipitate yield. An experiment with a cell-free system confirmed the acceleration of mineral formation after the addition of exogenous salmon sperm DNA. The observed pathway for the formation of CaCO3 minerals in B. cereus planktonic culture included a production of exopolysaccharides and negatively charged eDNA lattice promoting local Ca2+ supersaturation, which, together with an increase in the concentration of carbonate ions due to pH rise, resulted in the formation of an insoluble precipitate of calcium carbonate. Precipitation of amorphous CaCO3 on eDNA matrix was followed by crystal formation via the ACC-vaterite-calcite/aragonite pathway and further formation of larger mineral aggregates in complex with extracellular polymeric substances. Taken together, our data showed that DNA in extracellular matrix is an essential factor for triggering the biomineralization in B. cereus planktonic culture.
An application of advanced oxidation process on industrial crude oily wastewater treatment
Authors: El-Gawad Heba A. , Ebrahiem Ebrahiem Esmail , Ghaly Montaser Y. , Afify Ahmed A. , Mohamed R. M.
Published: February 2023

Advanced oxidation process, via photo-catalytic oxidation process was demonstrated in this study as one of the promising techniques of simulated oily wastewater treatment. Several effective factors such as initial oil concentration, catalyst dose, stirring speed (rpm), pH value and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) dose influencing on the photo-catalytic degradation rate of oily wastewater were investigated. The catalyst used in this work was titanium dioxide (TiO2). The solubility of oil in water was increased using emulsifier. Results indicated that the photo-catalytic oxidation process has a good removal percentage of oil from oily wastewater reached to 98.43% at optimum operating parameters of 1 g/L initial oil concentration, 850 rpm, 8 pH, 3 mL H2O2and 1.5 g/L of TiO2after 40 min of irradiation time. The degradation reaction follows a first order kinetics with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 93.7%. Ultimately, the application of photo-catalytic oxidation processes at these optimum operating parameters on an industrial oily wastewater collected from an effluent stream of Ras Shukair at Red See supplied by Asuit Petrochemical Company was done in Egypt. The results showed that the best oil removal (99%) was achieved after adding 3 mL of H2O2in a reaction time of 40 min compared to without adding H2O2.
Dynamic effects of bilingualism on brain structure map onto general principles of experience-based neuroplasticity
Authors: Korenar M. , Treffers-Daller J. , Pliatsikas C.
Published: February 2023

Bilingualism has been linked to structural adaptations of subcortical brain regions that are important for controlling multiple languages. However, research on the location and extent of these adaptations has yielded variable patterns, especially as far as the subcortical regions are concerned. Existing literature on bilingualism-induced brain restructuring has so far largely overseen evidence from other domains showing that experience-based structural neuroplasticity often triggers non-linear adaptations which follow expansion-renormalisation trajectories. Here we use generalised additive mixed models to investigate the non-linear effects of quantified bilingual experiences on the basal ganglia and the thalamus in a sample of bilinguals with a wide range of bilingual experiences. Our results revealed that volumes of the bilateral caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens were significantly related to bilingual experiences. Importantly, these followed a non-linear pattern, with increases followed by plateauing in the most experienced bilinguals, suggesting that experience-based volumetric increases are only necessary up to a certain level of bilingual experience. Moreover, the volumes of putamen and thalamus were positively predicted by bilingual experiences. The results offer the first direct evidence that bilingualism, similarly to other cognitively demanding skills, leads to dynamic subcortical structural adaptations which can be nonlinear, in line with expansion-renormalisation models of experience-dependent neuroplasticity.
Comparison of carbon sources in a partial denitrification/anammox MBBR using glycerol, acetate, and methanol
Authors: Klaus Stephanie , Campolong Cody , Rosenthal Alex , Sabba Fabrizio , Baideme Matthew , Wells George , De Clippeleir Haydee , Chandran Kartik , Bott Charles
Published: February 2023

Mainstream partial denitrification/anammox MBBR with nitrate-based carbon dosing control.
Evaluation of heat-inactivatedLimosilactobacillus fermentumCCFM1139 and its supernatant for the relief of experimental periodontitis in rats
Authors: Ye Yuhan , Xu Xianyin , Mao Bingyong , Tang Xin , Cui Shumao , Zhao Jianxin , Zhang Qiuxiang
Published: February 2023

Heat-inactivatedLactobacillus fermentumCCFM1139 and its supernatant have the potential to alleviate periodontitis, which may be focused on immunomodulation.
Designing rare earth-free high entropy oxides with a tungsten bronze structure for thermoelectric applications
Authors: Jana Subhra Sourav , Maiti Tanmoy
Published: February 2023

We designed a novel tungsten bronze structure-type high entropy oxide for thermoelectric applications. We obtained an ultralow thermal conductivity, which is the lowest ever reported value in rare-earth-free high entropy oxide thermoelectrics.
Wetting hysteresis induces effective unidirectional water transport through a fluctuating nanochannel
Authors: Arai Noriyoshi , Yamamoto Eiji , Koishi Takahiro , Hirano Yoshinori , Yasuoka Kenji , Ebisuzaki Toshikazu
Published: February 2023

We propose a water pump that actively transports water molecules through nanochannels. The pump is a nanoscale energy conversion system, equivalent to a reversed Carnot cycle, that uses hysteresis in the expansion and contraction processes.
Recent advances in inkjet-printing technologies for flexible/wearable electronics
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhu Hongze , Xing Lei , Bu Qingkai , Ren Dayong , Sun Bin
Published: February 2023

Inkjet-printing technology, as well as its recent advances for flexible/wearable electronic devices, has been summarized.
Process intensified synthesis of luminescent poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) and polyvinyl alcohol based shape memory polymeric nanocomposite sensors toward cold chain logistics information monitoring
Authors: Zou Yuanzuo , Guo Jingzhou , Liu Yinglu , Du Yudi , Pu Yuan , Wang Dan
Published: February 2023

Luminescent shape memory polymeric nanocomposite sensors prepared using poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) and polyvinyl alcohol for cold chain logistics information monitoring.
Donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct functionalised polymer microspheres
Authors: Wesseler Justus P. , Cameron Grant M. , Cormack Peter A. G. , Bruns Nico
Published: February 2023

DASA functionalised polymer microspheres as light-responsive species modulate polymer–solvent interactions.
Methane dry reforming via a ceria-based redox cycle in a concentrating solar tower
Authors: Zuber Mario , Patriarca Moritz , Ackermann Simon , Furler Philipp , Conceição Ricardo , Gonzalez-Aguilar José , Romero Manuel , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: February 2023

Solar-driven methane dry reforming via a ceria-based thermochemical redox cycle in a concentrating solar tower to produce solar syngas with a solar-to-fuel energy efficiency of 27%.
Recent progress on the use of graphene-based nanomaterials in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Niazi Zohreh , Hagfeldt Anders , Goharshadi Elaheh K.
Published: February 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) suffer from challenges beyond stability, scalability, and flexibility hindering their industrial applications. Graphene-based nanomaterials are ideal candidates for improving the stability and performance of PSCs.
Dual photoisomerization mechanism of azobenzene embedded in a lipid membrane
Authors: Osella Silvio , Granucci Giovanni , Persico Maurizio , Knippenberg Stefan
Published: February 2023

The photoisomerization of chromophores in biological environments is highly important for biomedical applications. While the trans-to-cis isomerization is slow and governed by a torsional mechanism, cis-to-trans is pedal-like on a sub-ps time scale.
A review on the synthesis and development of alginate hydrogels for wound therapy
Authors: Cao Yang , Cong Hailin , Yu Bing , Shen Youqing
Published: February 2023

Convenient and low-cost dressings can reduce the difficulty of wound treatment.
Protonic conductivity in metalloprotein nanowires
Authors: Lee Woo-Kyung , Bazargan Gloria , Gunlycke Daniel , Lam Nga T. , Travaglini Lorenzo , Glover Dominic J. , Mulvaney Shawn P.
Published: February 2023

Protonic devices with a bundle of metalloprotein nanowires (MPNs) and palladium hydride (PdHx) protodes were fabricated.I–Vmeasurements with and without H2show that the MPN bundles lower the device resistance by a factor of 4–5 under H2.
Applications of red light photoredox catalysis in organic synthesis
Authors: Schade Alexander H. , Mei Liangyong
Published: February 2023

This review summarizes the current progress in red light-mediated and near-infrared-induced reactions in organic synthesis.
Regioselective photocycloaddition for light-stabilised dynamic materials design
Authors: Ghielmetti Alyssa J. , Barner-Kowollik Christopher , Du Prez Filip E. , Houck Hannes A.
Published: February 2023

In this contribution, the influence of regioisomerism in covalent dynamic polymer materials is discussed and highlighted for light-stabilised dynamic materials, which motivated the development of a completely regioselective bonding/debonding system.
Lamellar assembly and nanostructures of amphiphilic boron(iii) diketonates through suitable non-covalent interactions
Authors: Cao Jingjie , Poon Chun-Ting , Chan Michael Ho-Yeung , Hong Eugene Yau-Hin , Cheng Yat-Hin , Hau Franky Ka-Wah , Wu Lixin , Yam Vivian Wing-Wah
Published: February 2023

Cooperative assemblies of amphiphilic boron(iii) diketonate compounds, which are found to be driven by the formation of non-covalent π–π and hydrophobic interactions in THF–water solution, result in the construction of nanosheet of lamellar packing.
Synthesis of biologically active [1,5]diazocino[2,1-b]quinazolinones through [4 + 4] cycloaddition of 2-alkynyl quinazolinones with aza-ortho-quinone methides
Authors: Pang Li , Fang Shu-Jun , Zou Pei-Sen , Wang Wang , Su Jun-Cheng , Liu Xiao-Qing , Pan Cheng-Xue , Mo Dong-Liang , Su Gui-Fa
Published: February 2023

Biologically active [1,5]diazocino[2,1-b]quinazolinones were synthesized via base-promoted [4 + 4] cycloaddition of 2-alkynyl quinazolinones with aza-ortho-quinone methides.
An alternative approach to triazatruxene synthesis and derivatization to a boron difluoride complex
Authors: Wang Yuheng , Chen Si , Zhang Gang
Published: February 2023

An alternative method to access 5,10,15-triazatruxene has been developed. The 1,6,11-positions of triazatruxene can further be functionalized to construct a boron difluoride complex with a large Stokes shift.
Heparan sulfate glycomimeticsviaiterative assembly of “clickable” disaccharides
Authors: Yang Cangjie , Deng Yu , Wang Yang , Xia Chaoshuang , Mehta Akul Y. , Baker Kelly J. , Samal Anuj , Booneimsri Putthipong , Lertmaneedang Chanthakarn , Hwang Seung , Flynn James P. , Cao Muqing , Liu Chao , Zhu Alec C. , Cummings Richard D. , Lin Cheng , Mohanty Udayan , Niu Jia
Published: February 2023

Iterative assembly of variably sulfated clickable disaccharides facilely produced mass spec-sequencible heparan sulfate mimetics. These glycomimetic oligomers bind protein in a sulfation-dependent manner consistent with that of the native glycans.
An efficient mixed attention module
Authors: Sheng Kuang , Chen Pinghua
Published: February 2023

Recently, the application of attention mechanisms in convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has become a hot area in computer vision. Most existing methods focus on channel attention or spatial attention. Some mixed attention usually achieves better performance than channel attention or spatial attention with the help of a complex model structure, which increases the complexity of the model. This article proposes an efficient mixed attention that combines channel information with spatial information using learnable broadcast addition to reduce this complexity. In particular, this module can simplify learning and improve performance with fewer parameters. Furthermore, our method uses an excitation method based on the Tanh function to reduce computational resources while maintaining model performance, and it is a lightweight attention module that can be used in arbitrary CNNs to improve performance. Experiments on ImageNet and Cifar confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. Besides, our method remains highly competitive for object detection tasks and image segmentation tasks.