bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental co-benefits and trade-offs of climate mitigation strategies applied to net-zero-emission neighbourhoods
Authors: Lausselet Carine , Brattebø Helge
Published: September 2021

Main purpose

To limit global warming at a safe level of 1.5 °C, deep emission reductions in all sectors combined with rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society are required. The ongoing climate urgency has led to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be the most often inventoried life-cycle indicators. But, to draw comprehensive climate mitigation strategies (CMS), adverse potential environmental side-effects and trade-offs should be assessed as well.

Methods

LCA is used to assess the potential environmental co-benefits and trade-offs of a net-zero-emission neighbourhood (nZEN) in the early planning stages. CMS are designed to test for the effect of (1) mobility patterns less based on the use of passenger cars, (2) a better material use by decreasing the size of the dwellings and increasing the passenger loads, (3) increased lifetimes of buildings and passenger cars, and (4) their combination.

Results

Across the impact categories, environmental benefits of 5–20% are shown for single CMS and of 22–42% when combined. Interestingly, the highest environmental co-benefits are found for Metal Depletion, highlighting the close interconnection of CMS and decreased pressure on resource use.

The use of several climate metrics has shed light on the use of fossil fuels in the production value chains of the materials used to provide the mobility services and shelters to the inhabitants of the nZEN under study. A combination of climate metrics with short- and long-time horizon should be used to give the importance that short-lived GHG such as methane deserve in the climate debate.

Conclusion

To best mitigate climate change along with environmental co-benefits on a nZEN level, measures should be taken at different points in time. At the early planning stages, incentives should be in place that promote dwellings of reasonable sizes (measured per inhabitant) along with incentives to decarbonize the materials value chains, in- and out-land. Over time, a culture of car- and ride-sharing will have positive environmental benefits. When renovating, incentives that promote the reshaping of dwellings into dwellings of smaller sizes will help to shift the sole focus on nZEB standards to multi-layers strategies.
The Relationship Between Olfactory Function and Emotional Contagion
Authors: Freemantle Alexander W. J. , Stafford Lorenzo D. , Wagstaff Christopher R. D. , Akehurst Lucy
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Research has provided evidence for the transfer of single emotions including anger, anxiety and happiness through olfactory chemosignals, yet no work has examined the role of odour function in the aggregation of more complex emotional states or in the emotional contagion process. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether an individual’s tendency to experience emotional aggregation was affected by objective measures of their olfactory function and subjective self-assessments of the importance of their own olfactory system.

Methods

In this study (N = 70), participant pairs were first assessed individually for olfactory threshold and odour identification, then completed the Importance of Olfaction Questionnaire. Each pair subsequently took part in two collaborative tasks. Individual emotion measures were taken before, during and after the completion of the two tasks.

Results

Multilevel structural equation modelling revealed that individuals’ within-dyad positive emotional agreement scores were associated with both their ‘importance of olfaction’ scores and their olfactory function. A significant association was also found between olfactory performance and the Importance of Olfaction scores.

Conclusions

These results provide evidence that the subjective importance an individual assigns to their sense of smell can predict their susceptibility to experience emotional aggregation during active, collaborative tasks.

Implications

The findings suggest that individuals’ tendency and capability to detect and respond to emotional chemosignals, a process required for olfactory-facilitated emotional contagion, may be affected by individual differences in olfactory function and subjective attitudes toward olfaction.
Equilibrium measures on trees
Authors: Arcozzi Nicola , Levi Matteo
Published: September 2021

We give a characterization of equilibrium measures for p-capacities on the boundary of an infinite tree of arbitrary (finite) local degree. For $$p=2$$

p
=
2

, this provides, in the special case of trees, a converse to a theorem of Benjamini and Schramm, which interpretes the equilibrium measure of a planar graph’s boundary in terms of square tilings of cylinders.
Genetic mapping of adult-plant resistance genes to powdery mildew in triticale
Authors: Dyda Mateusz , Tyrka Mirosław , Gołębiowska Gabriela , Rapacz Marcin , Wędzony Maria
Published: September 2021

Triticale is a cereal of high economic importance; however, along with the increase in the area of this cereal, it is more often infected by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis, which causes powdery mildew. The rapid development of molecular biology techniques, in particular methods based on molecular markers may be an important tool used in modern plant breeding. Development of genetic maps, location of the QTLs defining the region of the genome associated with resistance and selection of markers linked to particular trait can be used to select resistant genotypes as well as to pyramidize several resistance genes in one variety. In this paper, we present a new, high-density genetic map of triticale doubled haploids (DH) population “Grenado” × “Zorro” composed of DArT, silicoDArT, and SNP markers. Composite interval mapping method was used to detect eight QTL regions associated with the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and 15 regions with the average value of powdery mildew infection (avPM) based on observation conducted in 3-year period in three different locations across the Poland. Two regions on rye chromosome 4R, and single loci on 5R and 6R were reported for the first time as regions associated with powdery mildew resistance. Among all QTLs, 14 candidate genes were identified coded cyclin-dependent kinase, serine/threonine-protein kinase-like protein as well as AMEIOTIC 1 homolog DYAD-like protein, DETOXIFICATION 16-like protein, and putative disease resistance protein RGA3. Three of identified candidate genes were found among newly described QTL regions associated with powdery mildew resistance in triticale.
The DSM-5 introduction of the Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder as a new mental disorder: a philosophical review
Authors: Amoretti M. Cristina , Lalumera Elisabetta , Serpico Davide
Published: September 2021

The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) included the Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SPCD) as a new mental disorder characterized by deficits in pragmatic abilities. Although the introduction of SPCD in the psychiatry nosography depended on a variety of reasons—including bridging a nosological gap in the macro-category of Communication Disorders—in the last few years researchers have identified major issues in such revision. For instance, the symptomatology of SPCD is notably close to that of (some forms of) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This opens up the possibility that individuals with very similar symptoms can be diagnosed differently (with either ASD or SPCD) and receive different clinical treatments and social support. The aim of this paper is to review recent debates on SPCD, particularly as regards its independence from ASD. In the first part, we outline the major aspects of the DSM-5 nosological revision involving ASD and SPCD. In the second part, we focus on the validity and reliability of SPCD. First, we analyze literature on three potential validators of SPCD, i.e., etiology, response to treatment, and measurability. Then, we turn to reliability issues connected with the introduction of thegrandfather clauseand the use of the concepts ofspectrumandthresholdin the definition of ASD. In the conclusion, we evaluate whether SPCD could play any role in contemporary psychiatry other than that of an independent mental disorder and discuss the role that non-epistemic factors could play in the delineation of the future psychiatry nosography.
Flexible Ag Microparticle/MXene-Based Film for Energy Harvesting
Authors: Jia Yunpeng , Pan Yamin , Wang Chunfeng , Liu Chuntai , Shen Changyu , Pan Caofeng , Guo Zhanhu , Liu Xianhu
Published: September 2021

Ultra-thin flexible films have attracted wide attention because of their excellent ductility and potential versatility. In particular, the energy-harvesting films (EHFs) have become a research hotspot because of the indispensability of power source in various devices. However, the design and fabrication of such films that can capture or transform different types of energy from environments for multiple usages remains a challenge. Herein, the multifunctional flexible EHFs with effective electro-/photo-thermal abilities are proposed by successive spraying Ag microparticles and MXene suspension between on waterborne polyurethane films, supplemented by a hot-pressing. The optimal coherent film exhibits a high electrical conductivity (1.17×104 S m−1), excellent Joule heating performance (121.3 °C) at 2 V, and outstanding photo-thermal performance (66.2 °C within 70 s under 100 mW cm−1). In addition, the EHFs-based single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) give short-circuit transferred charge of 38.9 nC, open circuit voltage of 114.7 V, and short circuit current of 0.82 μA. More interestingly, the output voltage of TENG can be further increased via constructing the double triboelectrification layers. The comprehensive ability for harvesting various energies of the EHFs promises their potential to satisfy the corresponding requirements.
Effect of shot peening on the surface properties, corrosion and wear performance of 17-4PH steel produced by DMLS additive manufacturing
Authors: Walczak Mariusz , Szala Mirosław
Published: September 2021

Components produced by additive manufacturing (AM) via direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) have typical as-fabricated surface defects. As a result, surface properties of AM products should be modified to increase their strength, anti-wear behaviour, and at the same time to ensure their high corrosion resistance. Surface modification via shot peening is considered suitable for additive manufacturing of medical devices made of 17-4PH stainless steel. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of shot peening pressures (0.3 MPa and 0.6 MPa) and three types of blasting media (CrNi steel shot, nutshell granules and ceramic beads) on the tribological characteristics and corrosion resistance of specimens of DMLS 17-4PH stainless steel. Results demonstrated that shot peening caused steel microstructure refinement and—except for the nutshell shot-peened specimens—induced both martensite (α) formation and retained austenite (γ) reduction. 17-4PH specimens peened with steel and ceramic shots showed the highest increase in surface hardening by approx. ~ 119% (from 247 to 542 HV), which significantly improved their wear resistance. The highest mechanical properties (hardness and wear resistance) and corrosion resistance were obtained for the surfaces modified using the following media: ceramic beads > CrNi steel shot > nutshell granules. Adhesive and fatigue wear were two predominant mechanisms of tribological deterioration. Results demonstrated that the application of shot peening using ceramic beads led to grain size refinement from 22.0 to 14.6 nm and surface roughness reduction, which in turn resulted in higher corrosion resistance of the material. DMLS 17-4PH specimens modified by shot peening using ceramic beads and a pressure of 0.6 MPa exhibited the optimum surface morphology, hardness and microstructure, and thus improved wear and corrosion performance.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Sexually Dimorphic Transcriptome and Type 2 Diabetes Genes in Mouse Islet β Cells
Authors: Liu Gang , Li Yana , Zhang Tengjiao , Li Mushan , Li Sheng , He Qing , Liu Shuxin , Xu Minglu , Xiao Tinghui , Shao Zhen , Shi Weiyang , Li Weida
Published: September 2021

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by the malfunction of pancreatic β cells. Susceptibility and pathogenesis of T2D can be affected by multiple factors, including sex differences. However, the mechanisms underlying sex differences in T2D susceptibility and pathogenesis remain unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we demonstrate the presence of sexually dimorphic transcriptomes in mouse β cells. Using a high-fat diet-induced T2D mouse model, we identified sex-dependent T2D altered genes, suggesting sex-based differences in the pathological mechanisms of T2D. Furthermore, based on islet transplantation experiments, we found that compared to mice with sex-matched islet transplants, sex-mismatched islet transplants in healthy mice showed down-regulation of genes involved in the longevity regulating pathway of β cells. Moreover, the diabetic mice with sex-mismatched islet transplants showed impaired glucose tolerance. These data suggest sexual dimorphism in T2D pathogenicity, indicating that sex should be considered when treating T2D. We hope that our findings could provide new insights for the development of precision medicine in T2D.
Maternal fish and shellfish consumption and preterm birth: a retrospective study in urban China
Authors: Wang Li , Fu Zhongxia , Deng Wei , Zhu Shengdong , Zhang Chuan , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2021

Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Some prospective cohort studies suggested that fish and shellfish consumption may affect the incidence of preterm birth. However, conflicting evidence exists on the relationship between fish and shellfish consumption and preterm birth. A total of 10 179 women from Gansu province were interviewed after delivery to collect information on their past intake of fish and shellfish using FFQ. Logistic regression models were used to estimate OR and 95 % CI to examine the association between fish and shellfish consumption and preterm birth and its clinical subtypes. Fish and shellfish consumption was associated with reduced risk of preterm birth (OR = 0·65, 95 % CI 0·56, 0·77). Increasing frequency of fish and shellfish consumption, compared with no fish and shellfish consumption, was associated with decreasing odds of preterm birth. Besides, increasing weekly total amount of fish and shellfish consumption, compared with no fish and shellfish consumption, was also associated with decreasing odds of preterm birth. Significant trend effect was also seen between fish and shellfish consumption and very preterm birth (Pfor trend = 0·001) and spontaneous preterm birth (Pfor trend = 0·003). Interaction was observed between total fish and shellfish consumption with maternal age (Pfor interaction = 0·041) and pre-pregnancy BMI underweight (Pfor interaction = 0·012). Our findings showed that maternal fish and shellfish consumption was associated with lower incidence of preterm birth.We recommend for the national guideline of ≥350 g/week of fish and shellfish consumption among pregnant women.
Optimal allocation of a coherent system with statistical dependent subsystems
Authors: Lu Bin , Zhang Jiandong , Yan Rongfang
Published: September 2021

This paper studies the optimal allocation policy of a coherent system with independent heterogeneous components and dependent subsystems, the systems are assumed to consist of two groups of components whose lifetimes follow proportional hazard (PH) or proportional reversed hazard (PRH) models. We investigate the optimal allocation strategy by finding out the number $k$ of components coming from Group A in the up-series system. First, some sufficient conditions are provided in the sense of the usual stochastic order to compare the lifetimes of two-parallel–series systems with dependent subsystems, and we obtain the hazard rate and reversed hazard rate orders when two subsystems have independent lifetimes. Second, similar results are also obtained for two-series–parallel systems under certain conditions. Finally, we generalize the corresponding results to parallel–series and series–parallel systems with multiple subsystems in the viewpoint of the minimal path and the minimal cut sets, respectively. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical findings.
Developing an intelligent tool for computer-assisted formulaic language learning from YouTube videos
Authors: Lin Phoebe
Published: September 2021

This paper presents IdiomsTube (https://www.idiomstube.com), the first-ever computer-assisted language learning tool for facilitating the learning of English idiomatic expressions from YouTube videos. The web-based tool is designed to automatically (1) assess the speech rate and lexical difficulty level of any learner-chosen English-captioned YouTube video; (2) generate a range of vocabulary-building and revision tasks (e.g. fill-in-the-blanks, the classic spelling game hangman, pronunciation, flashcards); and (3) recommend YouTube videos based on learners’ individual learning progress, class teachers’ instructions, and current trends. This paper describes the app’s current features in conjunction with the challenges endemic in the development of applications that automatically generate English language learning content out of internet video content. At the time of writing, the IdiomsTube app had over 8,000 registered users worldwide.
Trust in Authorities and Demographic Factors Affect Vaccine Acceptance During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cyprus
Authors: Konstantinou Nikos , Nicolaou Stella A. , Petrou Christos , Pieri Myrtani
Published: September 2021

Abstract. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on all aspects of human life. Accurately measuring vaccine acceptance and understanding the factors that influence vaccine attitudes and behaviors is crucial to designing public-health interventions to reduce the impact of COVID-19 through vaccinations. The current study adapted the vaccine acceptance scale ( Sarathchandra et al., 2018 ) to the Greek language and assessed the relationship between key components of vaccine acceptance to COVID-19 vaccine beliefs and attitudes, personal and family vaccination history and attitudes, and demographic variables (age, sex, education, and having children). The adapted vaccine acceptance instrument was found to have high internal consistency reliability. Further analyses indicated that younger and less-educated individuals are more vaccine-hesitant, and that vaccine acceptance is influenced by trust in authorities. These findings may have implications for understanding vaccine hesitancy and for the design and implementation of vaccine-related public health policies.
Predicting the Likely Thermal Impact of Current and Future Dams Around the World
Authors: Ahmad Shahryar K. , Hossain Faisal , Holtgrieve Gordon W. , Pavelsky Tamlin , Galelli Stefano
Published: September 2021

Selective water release from the deeper pools of reservoirs alters the temperature of downstream rivers. Thermal destabilization of downstream rivers can be detrimental to the riverine ecosystem by disturbing the growth stages of various aquatic species. To predict this impact of planned hydropower dams worldwide, we present a framework called “FUture Temperatures Using River hISTory (FUTURIST).” The framework used historical records of in‐situ river temperatures for existing dams in the U.S. and remote sensing observations for those in other regions to train an artificial neural network (ANN) model that predicts temperature change between upstream and downstream rivers. Validation of FUTURIST‐modeled impacts for dams worldwide showed promising results with a root mean squared error of 2.5°C (0.9°C) and categorical accuracy of 63% (88%) during the summer (winter) season. The trained ANN model afforded prediction of the likely thermal impacts of 216 planned dams. Results suggest that during the summer season, 73% of future dams will potentially cool downstream rivers by up to 6.6°C. Winter season operations were predicted to consistently warm downstream rivers by temperatures of up to 2°C. Reservoirs that experience strong stratification have the most potential to impact downstream pre‐dam thermal regimes. For copious existing or planned dams worldwide that are yet to be mapped of their thermal impacts, FUTURIST provides an efficient path forward to carry out a global thermal assessment and design sustainable hydropower expansion plans so that the upcoming dams can be operated in a more eco‐sensitive manner than the existing ones.
Comparison of Stacked Sentinel‐3 A&B and AltiKa Repeat Cycle Data
Authors: Marks K. M. , Smith W. H. F.
Published: September 2021

Sentinel‐3 A&B radar altimeters yield sea surface height measurements in both a high‐precision Synthetic Aperture Radar Mode (SARM), and a Pseudo‐Low Resolution Mode (PLRM). We stacked repeat cycles from both missions and in both modes to compare their resolution of small seamounts. Stacking entailed removing non‐geoidal heights and height errors, testing for consecutive measurements over ocean, aligning to common locations at 1 km intervals along a synthetic track, and forming a median height profile. These profiles are available from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) data repository. Global maps show that, over the oceans, the median height is usually derived from more than 49 cycles, and the typical error in an individual PLRM measurement is approximately 1.9 times greater than an individual SARM measurement. We applied a seamount detection bandpass filter to the median profiles and compared their spectral resolution to that of the Satellite for ARgos and AltiKa (SARAL) AltiKa mission. Small seamounts are similarly resolved by Sentinel‐3 A&B SARM data and by the SARAL/AltiKa data.
Decadal to Centennial Timescale Mantle Viscosity Inferred From Modern Crustal Uplift Rates in Greenland
Authors: Adhikari S. , Milne G. A. , Caron L. , Khan S. A. , Kjeldsen K. K. , Nilsson J. , Larour E. , Ivins E. R.
Published: September 2021

The observed crustal uplift rates in Greenland are caused by the combined response of the solid Earth to both ongoing and past surface mass changes. Existing elastic Earth models and Maxwell linear viscoelastic GIA (glacial isostatic adjustment) models together underpredict the observed uplift rates. These models do not capture the ongoing mantle deformation induced by significant ice melting since the Little Ice Age. Using a simple Earth model within a Bayesian framework, we show that this recent mass loss can explain the data‐model misfits but only when a reduced mantle strength is considered. The inferred viscosity for sub‐centennial timescale mantle deformation is roughly one order of magnitude smaller than the upper mantle viscosity inferred from GIA analysis of geological data. Reconciliation of geological sea‐level and modern crustal motion data may require that the model effective viscosity be treated with greater sophistication than in the simple Maxwell rheological paradigm.
Spatio‐Temporal Domains of Wildfire‐Prone Teleconnection Patterns in the Western Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Rodrigues Marcos , Mariani Michela , Russo Ana , Salis Michele , Galizia Luiz Felipe , Cardil Adrian
Published: September 2021

This work explores the main climate teleconnections influencing the Western Mediterranean Basin to outline homogeneous fire‐prone weather domains combining cross‐correlation time series and cluster analysis. We found a zonal effect of the Scandinavian pattern over the entire region with an interesting alternation of phases from positive during winter‐spring (increased rainfall leading to fuel accumulation) to negative (dry conditions) modes during summer controlling burned area and fire size. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) dominates the number of fires over the Iberian Peninsula (IP) while the Western Mediterranean Oscillation pattern modulates fire activity over the Mediterranean coast in the IP (linked to westerly winds), Southern France, Corsica and Sardinia (rainfall regulation). These distinctive influence traits resulted in three different domains splitting the IP into a Mediterranean rim along the coast (from southern Spain to southwestern France) and an inland and western region (Portugal plus western Spain); and a third in southeastern France, Corsica and Sardinia.
Nutrient Supply to Planetary Biospheres From Anoxic Weathering of Mafic Oceanic Crust
Authors: Syverson D. D. , Reinhard C. T. , Isson T. T. , Holstege C. J. , Katchinoff J. A. R. , Tutolo B. M. , Etschmann B. , Brugger J. , Planavsky N. J.
Published: September 2021

Phosphorus is an essential element for life, and the phosphorous cycle is widely believed to be a key factor limiting the extent of Earth's biosphere and its impact on remotely detectable features of Earth's atmospheric chemistry. Continental weathering is conventionally considered to be the only source of bioavailable phosphorus to the marine biosphere, with submarine hydrothermal processes acting as a phosphorus sink. Here, we use a novel 29Si tracer technique to demonstrate that alteration of submarine basalt under anoxic conditions leads to significant soluble phosphorus release, with an estimated ratio between phosphorus release and CO2 consumption (∑PO43−/∑CO2) of 3.99 ± 1.03 µmol mmol−1. This ratio is comparable to that of modern rivers, suggesting that submarine weathering under anoxic conditions is potentially a significant source of bioavailable phosphorus to planetary oceans and that volatile‐rich Earth‐like planets lacking exposed continents could develop robust biospheres capable of sustaining remotely detectable atmospheric biosignatures.
Simulated Impacts of Tropopause‐Overshooting Convection on the Chemical Composition of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere
Authors: Phoenix Daniel B. , Homeyer Cameron R.
Published: September 2021

Tropopause‐overshooting convection transports air from the lower troposphere to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) where the resulting chemistry and mixing of trace gases can modify the radiation budget. While recent work has examined output from model simulations as well as aircraft and satellite observations of the impacts of tropopause‐overshooting convection on UTLS composition, the range of potential impacts and their dependence on characteristics of storms and their environments is not known. Here, two 10‐day periods, one representative of springtime convection and one representative of summertime convection, were simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with Chemistry to examine the range of UTLS composition impacts from tropopause‐overshooting convection. Overall, springtime convection has a larger impact on UTLS composition than summertime convection, with a net effect of increasing water vapor (H2O) in the lower stratosphere and increasing ozone (O3) in the upper troposphere. Springtime convection frequently increases the domain average H2O mixing ratio in the lowermost stratosphere by over 20% while changes in stratospheric H2O from summertime convection are much lower (∼7%–11% increase), reflecting a dependence of the maximum possible H2O increase on UTLS temperature. Increases in upper troposphere O3 mixing ratios span the range 8%–19% from springtime convection and are minimal from summertime convection. Changes in the composition of the UTLS from tropopause‐overshooting convection are largely dependent on the height and temperature of the tropopause, with the largest changes being in environments with relatively low tropopause heights between 11 and 13 km (typical of springtime environments in the United States).
Inside Katabatic Winds Over the Terra Nova Bay Polynya: 1. Atmospheric Jet and Surface Conditions
Authors: Guest P. S.
Published: September 2021

The atmospheric and surface conditions during a late autumnal strong katabatic wind event were quantified using ship and rawinsonde measurements over the Terra Nova Bay coastal polynya. Wind speeds decreased from 35 to 18 ms−1, while the wind direction decreased 18° over the distance from the Nansen Ice Shelf edge out 99 km eastward toward the Ross Sea. Maximum velocity winds (jet cores) at 173, 238, 179 and 144 m elevation were associated with atmospheric boundary layers capped by temperature inversions with bases at 294, 325, 226 and 196 m elevation. The tops of the inversion layers (near 700 m at all locations) also marked the top of the katabatic wind layer. Boundary layer air temperature and specific humidity increased from −31 to −21°C and 0.1 to 0.6 gkg−1, respectively, in response to the warm polynya surface. The air at 15 ± 8 m elevation was saturated with respect to ice, causing supersaturation and snow growth where the air parcels become cooler in the upper atmospheric boundary layer. The surface was characterized by three zones, a fluid zone (open ocean, frazil, shuga and pancake floes), an accumulation zone (fused, rafted and compressed pancake floes) and a young floe zone (large floes). The surface temperature varied from freezing (−1.7°C) in the fluid zone to near air temperature (−20°C) in the floe zone with the largest horizontal surface temperature gradient occurring in the transition between the fluid zone and the accumulation zone, and at the edges of leads in the floe zone.
Interannual Dynamics of Ice Cliff Populations on Debris‐Covered Glaciers From Remote Sensing Observations and Stochastic Modeling
Authors: Kneib M. , Miles E. S. , Buri P. , Molnar P. , McCarthy M. , Fugger S. , Pellicciotti F.
Published: September 2021

Ice cliffs are common on debris‐covered glaciers and have relatively high melt rates due to their direct exposure to incoming radiation. Previous studies have shown that their number and relative area can change considerably from year to year, but this variability has not been explored, in part because available cliff observations are irregular. Here, we systematically mapped and tracked ice cliffs across four debris‐covered glaciers in High Mountain Asia for every late ablation season from 2009 to 2019 using high‐resolution multi‐spectral satellite imagery. We then quantified the processes occurring at the feature scale to train a stochastic birth‐death model to represent the cliff population dynamics. Our results show that while the cliff relative area can change by up to 20% from year to year, the natural long‐term variability is constrained, thus defining a glacier‐specific cliff carrying capacity. In a subsequent step, the inclusion of external drivers related to climate, glacier dynamics, and hydrology highlights the influence of these variables on the cliff population dynamics, which is usually not a direct one due to the complexity and interdependence of the processes taking place at the glacier surface. In some extreme cases (here, a glacier surge), these external drivers may lead to a reorganization of the cliffs at the glacier surface and a change in the natural variability. These results have implications for the melt of debris‐covered glaciers, in addition to showing the high rate of changes at their surface and highlighting some of the links between cliff population and glacier state.
Natural and Anthropogenic Forcing of Multi‐Decadal to Centennial Scale Variability of Sea Surface Temperature in the South China Sea
Authors: Goodkin Nathalie F. , Samanta Dhrubajyoti , Bolton Annette , Ong Maria Rosabelle , Hoang Phan Kim , Vo Si Tuan , Karnauskas Kristopher B. , Hughen Konrad A.
Published: September 2021

Four hundred years of reconstructed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from a coral located off the coast of Vietnam show significant multi‐decadal to centennial‐scale variability in wet and dry seasons. Wet and dry season SST co‐vary significantly at multi‐decadal timescales, and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) explains the majority of variability in both seasons. A newly reconstructed wet season IPO index was compared to other IPO reconstructions, showing significant long‐term agreement with varying amplitude of negative IPO signals based on geographic location. Dry season SST also correlates to sea level pressure anomalies and the East Asian Winter Monsoon, although with an inverse relationship from established interannual behavior, as previously seen with an ocean circulation proxy from the same coral. Centennial‐scale variability in wet and dry season SST shows 300 years of near simultaneous changes, with an abrupt decoupling of the records around 1900, after which the dry season continues a long‐term cooling trend while the wet season remains almost constant. Climate model simulations indicate greenhouse gases as the largest contributor to the decoupling of the wet and dry season SSTs and demonstrate increased heat advection to the western South China Sea in the wet season, potentially disrupting the covariance in seasonal SST.
All-optical synthesis of an arbitrary linear transformation using diffractive surfaces
Authors: Kulce Onur , Mengu Deniz , Rivenson Yair , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: September 2021

Spatially-engineered diffractive surfaces have emerged as a powerful framework to control light-matter interactions for statistical inference and the design of task-specific optical components. Here, we report the design of diffractive surfaces to all-optically perform arbitrary complex-valued linear transformations between an input (Ni) and output (No), where Ni and No represent the number of pixels at the input and output fields-of-view (FOVs), respectively. First, we consider a single diffractive surface and use a matrix pseudoinverse-based method to determine the complex-valued transmission coefficients of the diffractive features/neurons to all-optically perform a desired/target linear transformation. In addition to this data-free design approach, we also consider a deep learning-based design method to optimize the transmission coefficients of diffractive surfaces by using examples of input/output fields corresponding to the target transformation. We compared the all-optical transformation errors and diffraction efficiencies achieved using data-free designs as well as data-driven (deep learning-based) diffractive designs to all-optically perform (i) arbitrarily-chosen complex-valued transformations including unitary, nonunitary, and noninvertible transforms, (ii) 2D discrete Fourier transformation, (iii) arbitrary 2D permutation operations, and (iv) high-pass filtered coherent imaging. Our analyses reveal that if the total number (N) of spatially-engineered diffractive features/neurons is ≥Ni × No, both design methods succeed in all-optical implementation of the target transformation, achieving negligible error. However, compared to data-free designs, deep learning-based diffractive designs are found to achieve significantly larger diffraction efficiencies for a given N and their all-optical transformations are more accurate for N < Ni × No. These conclusions are generally applicable to various optical processors that employ spatially-engineered diffractive surfaces.
Synergistic apoptotic effect of miR-183-5p and Polo-Like kinase 1 inhibitor NMS-P937 in breast cancer cells
Authors: Kudo Masahisa , Zalles Nicole , Distefano Rosario , Nigita Giovanni , Veneziano Dario , Gasparini Pierluigi , Croce Carlo M.
Published: September 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that act as endogenous regulatory molecules targeting specific mRNAs for translational repression. Studies of breast cancer genomics indicate that breast cancer subtypes are distinguished and regulated by specific sets of miRNAs which affect activities such as tumor initiation, progression, and even drug response. Polo-like Kinase 1 (PLK1) is widely considered to be a proto-oncogene due to its increased expression in multiple tumor types, as well as its crucial role in regulating mitosis. Pharmacological inhibition of PLK1 can reduce tumor volume and induce tumor cell death in solid and hematologic malignancies. This prompted us to investigate how PLK1 inhibition with the target-specific inhibitor NMS-P937 would impact breast cancer cells, and how miRNAs may influence the overall response of these cells to this inhibition. We found that miR-183-5p targets PLK1 gene, effectively reducing its protein expression. Such miRNA-driven regulation of PLK1 expression sensitizes breast cancer cells to NMS-P937, resulting in synergistically increased apoptosis. We also show that the miRNA-regulated reduction of PLK1 influences the expression of apoptosis-related key proteins and possibly inducing further indirect PLK1 downmodulation through a DNMT1-p53 axis. These results suggest a potential biologically significant link between the expression of miR-183-5p and the efficacy of PLK1-specific inhibitors in breast cancer cells. Our work further elucidates how miR-183-5p regulates PLK1 gene while also enhancing NMS-P937 effect in breast cancer. Future studies assessing the role of miR-183-5p as a novel biomarker for anti-PLK1 chemotherapy agents are warranted.
Anoikis resistance in mammary epithelial cells is mediated by semaphorin 7a
Authors: Rutherford Taylor R. , Elder Alan M. , Lyons Traci R.
Published: September 2021

Semaphorin-7a (SEMA7A), best known as a neuroimmune molecule, plays a diverse role in many cellular processes and pathologies. Here, we show that SEMA7A promotes anoikis resistance in cultured mammary epithelial cells through integrins and activation of pro-survival kinase AKT, which led us to investigate a role for SEMA7A during postpartum mammary gland involution—a normal developmental process where cells die by anoikis. Our results reveal that SEMA7A is expressed on live mammary epithelial cells during involution, that SEMA7A expression is primarily observed in α6-integrin expressing cells, and that luminal progenitor cells, specifically, are decreased in mammary glands of SEMA7A−/− mice during involution. We further identify a SEMA7A-α6/β1-integrin dependent mechanism of mammosphere formation and chemoresistance in mammary epithelial cells and suggest that this mechanism is relevant for recurrence in breast cancer patients.
Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation
Authors: Nouri Alireza , Chua Siew Fen , Mahmoudi Ebrahim , Wibawa Sakti Satya Candra , Ang Wei Lun
Published: September 2021

Environmental pollution has threatened the life of all living organisms on earth. The removal of pollutants from wastewater and contaminated water is desired to prevent the pollution issues from becoming worse. In this context, polymer-based nanocomposites have been developed and emerged as one of the advanced materials that can be used to solve the environmental pollution challenges. This composite material is produced by combining nanomaterials with polymers and usually appears in the form of membranes, adsorbents, hydrogels, and aerogels. These polymer-based nanocomposites possess improved characteristics and properties compared to the original individual material. Subsequently, the pollutants removal capability of the polymer-based nanocomposites has been enhanced significantly, with some even attaining new functionalities such as antibacterial and photocatalytic. This chapter features the development and application of four major classes of polymer-based nanocomposites (membrane, adsorbent, hydrogel, and aerogel) for environmental remediation. Various examples and latest findings are discussed, which provides up-to-date information for readers interested in this topic.
Photocatalytic Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation
Authors: Ismail N. J. , Zakria H. S. , Noor S. H. Mohamed , Othman M. H. D. , Rahman M. A. , Jaafar J. , Ismail A. F.
Published: September 2021

The wastewater problem is a worldwide problem that is experienced by every single country. In total, 80% of wastewater enters our environment without being treated, filtered or reused. Wastewater, which contains organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, textile dyes, pharmaceuticals, faeces, heavy metals and microorganisms, spoils our drinking water and affects our health. Efficient wastewater treatment is a critical requirement for the removal of contaminants in order to maintain a better and safe environment. In this chapter, the use of photocatalysis in previous studies, using various photocatalyst nanocomposites and UV-light and visible light for the removal of numerous pollutants, is reviewed. It is hoped that the use of photocatalytic nanocomposites for environmental remediation will provide the potential to minimize these environmental issue in the future.
Functional Nanocomposites for Heavy Metal Removal
Authors: Hashemifard S. A. , Babaei E. , Khosravi A. , Ghasemi S. , Alihemati Z.
Published: September 2021

Heavy metals are widely found in effluents of various industrial wastewaters as well as in surface and groundwater. Heavy metals are located between groups 3 and 16 of the Periodic Table. Heavy metals are usually divided into three general groups, which are toxic to human and living organisms. A wide range of physical, chemical, and biological methods such as electrochemical processes, membrane technology, chemical deposition, coagulation, ion exchange, biodegradation, and adsorption techniques are available to remove heavy metals from contaminated water. To remove heavy metals from contaminated water, adsorption is one of the techniques that, due to its significant efficiency, low cost, simplicity, variety, selectivity for specific metals, less need to use chemical additives also A wide range of physical, chemical, and biological methods such as electrochemical processes, membrane technology, chemical deposition, coagulation, ion exchange, biodegradation, and adsorption techniques are available to remove heavy metals from contaminated water. To remove heavy metals from contaminated water, adsorption is one of the techniques that, due to its significant efficiency, low cost, simplicity, variety, selectivity for specific metals, less need to use chemical additives, and the possibility of regenerating and reusing the adsorbent, has been widely used. Although nano-adsorbents have considerable adsorption capacity, due to the nano scale of the particles their direct use in a discontinuous bed requires the integration of the adsorption process with an additional post-treatment process to completely remove the nanoparticles from the water before use. One of the suitable substrates to trap the nano-adsorbents are membrane structures called adsorbent membranes. This chapter deals with the synthesis, characterization, performance evaluation and challenges of adsorptive mixed matrix membranes for heavy metal removal.
Functional Nanocomposites for Removal of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Authors: Samsami Shakiba , Sarrafzadeh Mohammad-Hossein , Ahmadi Abbas
Published: September 2021

Contaminants of emerging concern are micropollutants, which require legislation to set their threshold concentration levels in treated water or revise their current maximum allowable levels. Since conventional techniques have been known as unsatisfactory methods to remove these contaminants, recent studies have centered on nanotechnology. Functional nanocomposites with encouraging outcomes are considered as one of the most promising applications of nanotechnology. Ever-increasing attention to applying a wide range of nanomaterials in functionalizing nanocomposites has led to incessant attempts to develop different functional nanocomposites with favorable properties. The present chapter addresses the prominent role of functional nanocomposites and their recent development for the remove of these pollutants. Emphasis has been placed on metal–organic frameworks, which have gained great attention as burgeoning materials in this field. Herein, the most recent findings of using metal–organic frameworks for preparing functional nanocomposites for removing emerging pollutants by adsorption and photocatalysis, their removal capacity, mechanism, and influencing factors are overviewed in detail.
Ophthalmic sensing technologies for ocular disease diagnostics
Authors: Shi Yuqi , Jiang Nan , Bikkannavar Priyanka , Cordeiro M. Francesca , Yetisen Ali K.
Published: September 2021

This review focuses on the ophthalmic sensing technologies for ocular disease diagnosis. Both conventional methods and biosensing technologies are discussed accompany with smart readout devices. Future perspectives for tear diagnosis are claimed.
Boosting ionizable lipid nanoparticle-mediated in vivo mRNA delivery through optimization of lipid amine-head groups
Authors: Ding Feng , Zhang Hongqian , Cui Jiwei , Li Qiang , Yang Chuanxu
Published: September 2021

A potent ionizable lipid for in vitro and in vivo mRNA delivery was identified through the optimization of lipid amine-head groups.
Investigation of alkali and alkaline earth solvation structures in tetraglyme solvent
Authors: Nguyen L. H. B. , Picard T. , Sergent N. , Raynaud C. , Filhol J.-S. , Doublet M.-L.
Published: September 2021

Solvation structures of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions in tetraglyme solvent were investigated by DFT calculations and IR spectroscopy.
Stabilization of DPPC lipid bilayers in the presence of co-solutes: molecular mechanisms and interaction patterns
Authors: Keller Fabian , Heuer Andreas , Galla Hans-Joachim , Smiatek Jens
Published: September 2021

The interactions between DPPC lipid bilayers in different phases with ectoine, amino ectoine and water molecules are studied by means of atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and conceptual density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
An asymmetric cryptand for the site-specific coordination of 3d metals in multiple oxidation states
Authors: Jökel Julia , Nyßen Frauke , Siegmund Daniel , Apfel Ulf-Peter
Published: September 2021

Inspired by natural enzymes with their sophisticated active sites acting as metal based frustrated Lewis pairs, we herein report on an asymmetric cryptand that enables the site-specific coordination of metals in multiple oxidation states.
A novel o-vanillin Fe(iii) complex catalytically active in C–H oxidation: exploring the magnetic exchange interactions and spectroscopic properties with different DFT functionals
Authors: Nesterova Oksana V. , Vassilyeva Olga Yu. , Skelton Brian W. , Bieńko Alina , Pombeiro Armando J. L. , Nesterov Dmytro S.
Published: September 2021

A new Fe(iii) coordination compound of o-vanillin acts as an efficient catalyst for alkane oxidation and features long-range exchange coupling between metal centres.
Well-defined hollow tube@sheets NiCo2S4 core–shell nanoarrays for ultrahigh capacitance supercapacitor
Authors: Zhou Jiachao , Wang Yingchao , Zhou Jiaojiao , Chen Kang , Han Lei
Published: September 2021

The well-defined hollow tube@sheet NiCo2S4 core–shell nanoarrays are rationally constructed to the free-standing electrode and exhibit excellent areal capacitance of 11.3 F cm−2 at a current density of 2 mA cm−2.
Effect of carbon chain length on the hydrolysis and transport characteristics of alkyl gallates in rat intestine
Authors: Wang Xinmiao , Chen Kefan , Zhang Xiumin , Hu Yuanyuan , Wang Zixu , Yin Fawen , Liu Xiaoyang , Zhang Jianghua , Qin Lei , Zhou Dayong
Published: September 2021

Phenolipids such as alkyl gallates (A-GAs) have been approved by food industry as non-toxic antioxidant additives.
Lactoferrin–thymol complex for the disinfection of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli
Authors: Yan Mi , Dong Shuyue , Shen Xue , Lu Chengwen , Ye Haiqing , Zhang Tiehua
Published: September 2021

Lactoferrin-thymol complex is developed as an efficient antibacterial agent for the disinfection of S. aureus and E. coli.
Human neuromuscular junction on micro-structured microfluidic devices implemented with a custom micro electrode array (MEA)
Authors: Duc Pauline , Vignes Michel , Hugon Gérald , Sebban Audrey , Carnac Gilles , Malyshev Eugene , Charlot Benoît , Rage Florence
Published: September 2021

Microfluidic devices were coupled with custom MEA and used for co-culture of human motor neurons and muscles. This allowed to assess human NMJ activity by electrical stimulation of axons and recording of subsequent muscle action potentials.