bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fruit and vegetable consumption as a preventative strategy for non-communicable diseases
Authors: Woodside J. V. , Nugent A. P. , Moore R. E. , McKinley M. C.
Published: February 2023

A high intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) has consistently been associated with a reduced risk of a number of non-communicable diseases. This evidence base is largely from prospective cohort studies, with meta-analyses demonstrating an association between increased FV intake and reduced risk of both CHD and stroke, although the evidence is less certain for cancer and diabetes. Controlled intervention trials examining either clinical or intermediate risk factor endpoints are more scarce. Therefore, evidence that FV consumption reduces the risk of disease is so far largely confined to observational epidemiology, which is hampered by some methodological uncertainties. Although increased FV intake is promoted across all dietary guidelines, national surveys confirm that dietary intakes are suboptimal and are not increasing over time. A range of barriers to increasing FV intake exist, including economic, physical and behavioural barriers that must be considered when exploring potential opportunities to change this, considering the feasibility of different approaches to encourage increased FV consumption. Such interventions must include consideration of context, for example, challenges and uncertainties which exist with the whole food system.
Vitamin D intake and status in Ireland: a narrative review
Authors: Scully Helena , McCarroll Kevin , Healy Martin , Walsh James Bernard , Laird Eamon
Published: February 2023

Vitamin D is crucial for musculoskeletal health, with evidence suggesting non-skeletal benefits. Cutaneous vitamin D synthesis is limited in Ireland due to its northern latitude (52–55°N) and the population is dependent on dietary sources, yet intakes are inadequate. No study to-date has comprehensively examined vitamin D intakes and status in Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic). We aimed to review the evidence since 2010 and summarise the results in subgroups of the Irish population. We found that in the largest studies prevalence of deficiency [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 30 nm/l] was 15–17% in pregnancy, 15–23% in children and 13% in adults. Approximately half the population had 25(OH)D < 50 nm/l. There were only four small studies in an ethnic population with the largest in Southeast Asians finding that 67% were deficient. All studies found higher rates of deficiency and levels <50 nm/l in winter v. summer. Vitamin D intake was lowest in children (mean 2⋅3–4⋅2 μg/d) and pregnant women (mean 1⋅9–5⋅1 μg/d) and highest in older adults (6⋅9 μg/d), with over 90% of the population not meeting the recommended daily allowance. This review indicates that low vitamin D status and dietary vitamin D intake are widespread with children, adolescents, younger adults, pregnant women and ethnic minorities most at-risk. However, data are sparse in at-risk groups including the Travelling community, non-Europeans and institutionalised adults. Given the significant prevalence of deficiency, public health policies to promote better awareness of recommended vitamin D intakes and explore the options of food fortification are needed to address this issue.
Friendship and Blackballing for Bad Beliefs
Authors: Brennan Jason
Published: February 2023

Many people believe that we should not be friends with others if they have bad enough moral and political beliefs. For instance, they think that we should not befriend KKK members or Nazis. However, not all errors in moral and political belief disqualify people from friendship. If so, then there is some line to be drawn somewhere which indicates when a person's beliefs are bad enough that we should not befriend them. This paper considers many candidate proposals for how and why to draw the line, including that beliefs might be extreme, be held irrationally, dehumanize others, are unreasonable, and more. However, upon inspection, each candidate proposal fails. They either provide the wrong kind of reason to reject people as friends, or they fail to explain what counts as ‘bad enough’ beliefs. There are various arguments in favour of rejecting people from friendship on the basis of their bad beliefs, but these arguments also fail to explain what counts as ‘bad enough’. Thus, this paper concludes there is a genuine puzzle: we should indeed blackball some people from friendship when their beliefs are bad enough, but we do not have even a rough specification of what counts as bad enough.
Enclosure as Internal Colonisation: The Subaltern Commoner, Terra Nullius and the Settling of England's ‘Wastes’
Authors: Griffin Carl J.
Published: February 2023

In the past decade, scholars of the here-and-now have (re)discovered the concept of enclosure, applying it with considerable zeal and in a bewildering variety of situations: from the securitisation of the Internet, and patenting genes, to attempts to privatise urban ‘public’ spaces, the English ‘enclosure story’ is presented as a given, a narrative that is set in stone. One critical aspect of this account is that enclosure was exported to Britain's overseas colonies in a one-way process. This paper shows, however, that from the early sixteenth century – and insistently so from the late eighteenth century – arguments for the enclosure of English commons and wastes were framed using techniques and discourses deployed overseas: the languages and practices of colonialism. Commons and wastes, so the paper argues, were not just increasingly seen as empty spaces, but the peoples that inhabited them were written as if they were uncivilised and unable to manage the land. Further, arguments for the enclosure of wastes were made as an alternative to Britain's overseas imperialism. The paper traces a variety of debates and proposals that collectively constitute a coherent body of ‘internal colonial’ thought.
Design and experiment of a pneumatic self-repairing soft actuator
Authors: Liu Zhaoyu , Wang Yuxuan , Yuan Shaoke , Fei Yanqiong
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a study on the design and modeling of a novel pneumatic self-repairing soft actuator. The self-repairing soft actuator is composed of driving element, heating element, and repairing element. The driving element completes the deformation of the self-repairing soft actuator. The heating element and the repairing element complete the self-repairing function of the self-repairing soft actuator. A model used to optimize the structure is established, and the structure of the self-repairing soft actuator is determined through finite element analysis and experiment. The self-repairing time model of the soft actuator is established. The influences of different factors on the self-repairing effect and the self-repairing time are analyzed. The self-repairing scheme of the soft actuator is determined. Experiments show that the shortest time for the self-repairing soft actuator to complete the self-repairing process is 83 min. When the self-repairing soft actuator works normally, the bending angle can reach 129.8° and the bending force can reach 24.96 N. After repairing, the bending angle can reach 108.2°, and the bending force can reach 21.85 N. The repaired soft actuator can complete normal locomotion.
A New Language of Rule: Alwar's Administrative Experiment, c. 1838–58
Authors: Thelen Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2023

Many rulers of newly formed Indian Princely States enacted substantial administrative reforms in the first half of the nineteenth century as they sought to reinforce their power and secure revenue in the wake of British colonial conquest. In one such case, the ruler of Alwar, Banni Singh, recruited Aminullah Khan, a former record-keeper in Delhi's colonial courts, to serve asdiwan(chief minister) and undertake administrative reforms starting in 1838. These reforms focused on agrarian taxation, the civil courts, and the military, and included changes to the roles of local officials, methods of record-keeping, and the language of governance. The reforms were encoded in seven slim volumes of regulations and model forms, handwritten in Persian. Through a study of these regulations, I situate the reforms of Alwar's administration within Banni Singh's broader self-fashioning as a modern ruler in a Mughal mode and show how the reforms drew from both Mughal and colonial ideas of statecraft. The regulations represented a shift toward a legalistic conception of that state as seen in the ideals of good governance that they espoused, and they constructed contractual relationships among villagers, low-level officials in the districts, and the central state through the extensive bureaucratic procedures that they encoded.
Money demand by firms, labor market frictions, and optimal long-run inflation
Authors: Kiarsi Mehrab
Published: February 2023

Optimal monetary policy, under flexible and sticky prices, and sticky nominal wages are studied in the canonical matching model of the labor market with a working capital channel. A money demand by firms is motivated by the fact that a significant amount of M1 is held by firms. As a result of the working capital, the Ramsey-optimal monetary policy calls for inflation when employment is above the socially efficient level and for deflation when it is below that level. This result holds under flexible wages as well as nominal wage rigidities. In other words, to improve labor market efficiency, deflation is necessary to “grease the wheels of the labor market.” Although there is no relationship between optimal monetary policy and the market tightness under flexible prices, a long-run and mainly negative relationship between the optimal inflation rate and the equilibrium tightness emerges under sticky prices.
Birthing Waters: An Anglican View of Baptismal Regeneration
Authors: Crawford Esteban E.
Published: February 2023

In what sense do Anglicans believe in baptismal regeneration? This article contends that according to historic Anglicanism, baptism effectually regenerates those who faithfully receive it. While this is a disputed claim even among Anglicans, it is consistent with the formularies of the Church of England, and it largely represents a predominant position held by Anglicans across the centuries. Article XXVII of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion will serve as the primary point of reference for assessing the above question. The following study is organized in three sections that respectively address: (1) the sacramental efficacy of baptism; (2) the regenerative nature of baptism; and (3) the need for faith to accompany baptism. Each section examines diverse historical expressions relevant to these doctrines in light of their scriptural basis. A brief reflection on infant baptism concludes the paper.
Economic trade-offs: analysis of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop use in organic tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) high tunnel systems across multiple regions
Authors: DiGiacomo Gigi , Gieske Miriam , Grossman Julie , Jacobsen Krista , Peterson Hikaru , Rivard Cary
Published: February 2023

High-tunnel (HT) systems have been shown to effectively improve yields, fruit quality and profitability. In order to maximize returns on investment, HTs are frequently planted successively with both winter and summer cash crops and may include >2 crop cycles per year in some climates. The intense cultivation strategies used in HT systems necessitate increased tillage and nutrient demands posing challenges for soil health, environmental quality and long-term economic sustainability, particularly among organic growers. Seasonal rotations that incorporate fertility-building cover crops, such as legumes and other green manures, have the potential to build soil organic matter, improve crop yield and reduce applications of animal manure and/or compost. The economic impact of cover crop use in HT production systems poses important implications for organic growers. In this study, we present three partial budget analyses to quantify the economic benefits from a leguminous winter cover crop–tomato cash crop rotation in HTs across three regions. Data used in the economic analysis come from multi-year organic HT field trials in Kansas (2016–2019), Kentucky (2016–2019) and Minnesota (2016–2020). Direct financial benefits from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop N credits were observed but not sufficient to offset the direct and indirect costs of the cover crop practice. A winter cover crop used in organic HT vegetable systems results in negative financial benefits to producers even with conservation incentive payments. These results highlight challenges for organic growers who are required under the USDA National Organic Program to incorporate soil building practices as part of their rotation schedule. The findings will also be of interest to policy makers as they refine cost-share offerings and programming to incentivize cover crop adoption as a conservation strategy.
Confirmation and detection of novel acetolactate synthase- and protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicide-resistant redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) populations in North Carolina
Authors: Jones Eric A. L. , Andres Ryan J. , Dunne Jeffrey C. , Leon Ramon G. , Everman Wesley J.
Published: February 2023

Complaints of control failures with acetolactate synthase (ALS)- and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides on redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) were reported in conventional soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields in North Carolina. Greenhouse dose–response assays confirmed that the Camden County and Pasquotank County populations were less sensitive to ALS- and PPO-inhibiting herbicides compared with susceptible A. retroflexus populations, suggesting the evolution of resistance to these herbicides. Sanger sequencing of target genes determined the Camden County population carried a Trp-574-Leu mutation in the ALS gene and an Arg-98-Gly mutation in the PPX2 gene, while the Pasquotank County population carried a His-197-Pro mutation in the ALS gene (first documentation of the mutation in the Amaranthus genus), but no mutation was detected in the PPX2 gene. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays were developed to enable efficient screening of future control failures in order to limit the spread of these herbicide-resistant populations. In addition, preliminary testing of these assays revealed the three mutations were ubiquitous in the respective populations. These two populations represent the first confirmed cases of PPO-inhibiting herbicide-resistant A. retroflexus in the United States, as well as the first confirmed cases of this particular herbicide-resistance profile in A. retroflexus inhabiting North America. While no mutation was found in the PPX2 gene of the Pasquotank County population, we suggest that this population has evolved resistance to PPO-inhibiting herbicides, but the mechanism of resistance is to be determined.
Konstruktion eines Testinstruments zur Erhebung des Professionswissens von Lehramtsstudierenden im Fach Sozialwissenschaften (SoWis-L)
Authors: Gronostay Dorothee , Manzel Sabine , Zischke Frank Eike
Published: February 2023

Zusammenfassung: In diesem Beitrag wird die Konstruktion und Validierung eines Testinstruments zur Erhebung des Professionswissens von angehenden Lehrkräften im Fach Sozialwissenschaften (SoWi) vorgestellt. Der SoWis-L („Sozialwissenschaftliches Wissen – Lehrkräfte“) stellt für das Lehramtsstudienfach SoWi das erste standardisierte Testinstrument zur ökonomischen Erhebung von Professionswissen unter Berücksichtigung des Integrationsfachcharakters dar. Anhand einer Stichprobe von N = 374 Lehramtsstudierenden der Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) wurde das 46-Item-Instrument bezüglich seiner Testgüte untersucht. IRT-Analysen ergaben zufriedenstellende Reliabilitäts- und Itemfitwerte für alle Wissensbereiche mit Ausnahme des soziologischen Fachwissens. Strukturanalysen sprechen für eine dreidimensionale Modellierung mit einer fachdidaktischen Wissensdimension und zwei fachwissenschaftlichen Dimensionen (politisches und wirtschaftliches Wissen). Die Kriteriumsvalidität des Instruments ist mit signifikanten Gruppenunterschieden zwischen Bachelor- und Masterstudierenden, zwischen gymnasialen und nicht-gymnasialen Lehrämtern sowie einer signifikanten Korrelation mit Abiturnoten indiziert.
EF Touch – Testbatterie zur Erfassung der exekutiven Funktionen bei 3- bis 5- Jährigen
Authors: Ulitzka Bianca , Schmidt Henning , Daseking Monika , Karbach Julia , Gawrilow Caterina , Koerner Julia Kerner auch
Published: February 2023

Zusammenfassung: Vorschulkinder mit guten exekutiven Funktionen (EF) haben auch gute individuelle Voraussetzungen für die Schulbereitschaft und den Schulerfolg. Bislang fehlt jedoch im deutschsprachigen Raum eine Testbatterie für Kinder im Vorschulalter. Ziel der Arbeit war es daher, die Testbatterie EF Touch ( Willoughby & Blair, 2015 ) auf ihre Nutzbarkeit für den deutschen Sprachraum zu überprüfen. Die EF Touch wurde in einer Konstruktionsstichprobe von N = 90 Kindern (50 Mädchen; M-Alter = 3.39 Jahre, SD = 0.78) erprobt. Alle Aufgaben wiesen akzeptable bis sehr gute interne Konsistenzen auf (α = .51 – .93), die meisten korrelierten signifikant miteinander ( r = .39 – .51). Die zugrundeliegende Strukur der EF war erwartungsgemäß einfaktoriell. Zusätzlich zeigte sich ein signifikanter Zusammenhang ( r = -.43) mit der Elterneinschätzung der EF im Fragebogen BRIEF-P ( Daseking & Petermann, 2013 ). Es ergaben sich bei allen Aufgaben bessere Ergebnisse bei älteren Kindern. Nachdem die Nutzbarkeit der Testbatterie im deutschen Sprachraum gezeigt werden konnte, wird im nächsten Schritt eine repräsentative Normstichprobe erhoben.
Treatment of Comorbid Disorders, Syndromes, and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Childhood Maltreatment with STAIR-NT
Authors: Sauer Karoline Sophie , Wendler-Bödicker Christine , Boos Anne , Niemeyer Helen , Palmer Sebastian , Rojas Roberto , Hoyer Jürgen , Hitzler Melissa
Published: February 2023

Abstract: Background: Early interpersonal traumatic events, such as childhood maltreatment, increase the risk of developing complex posttraumatic stress symptoms. The biphasic treatment program STAIR-NT (Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation with Narrative Therapy), developed specifically for this patient group, combines interventions to improve emotion regulation and interpersonal skills with narrative therapy. Objective: Many affected patients with PTSD after childhood maltreatment also suffer from various comorbid mental disorders and symptoms that can affect and impede the course and outcome of treatment with STAIR-NT. Method: Based on experience from a current treatment study, we provide recommendations for integrating treatment of comorbid mental symptoms into STAIR-NT. Results / Conclusion: Training affective and interpersonal regulation skills in the first treatment phase offers various interventions to efficiently adapt transdiagnostic mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation. In cases of severe comorbid mental disorders or symptoms, adding disorder-specific interventions to STAIR-NT may be indicated.
Optimizing Soil Moisture Station Networks for Future Climates
Authors: Bessenbacher V. , Gudmundsson L. , Seneviratne S. I.
Published: February 2023

Soil moisture is central to local climate on land. In situ soil moisture observations are vital for observing vegetation‐relevant root‐zone soil moisture. However, stations included in the International Soil Moisture Network are sparse in regions with strong land‐atmosphere coupling. We apply a machine‐learning‐based procedure for informing future station placement using virtual soil moisture stations in future CMIP6 projections. Stations are placed where the climate is currently most under‐represented. This strategy outperforms random station placement and station placement according to geographical distance. Doubling the current number of stations using this method alleviates the uneven global distribution of stations, increases the skill in the estimation of inter‐annual variability and trends in dry‐season soil moisture, and reduces its differences across climates in future projections. Stations are predominantly placed in tropical climates, especially when optimizing for drying trends. The results can inform future station placement to support climate change mitigation efforts.
SAR and Passive Microwave Fusion Scheme: A Test Case on Sentinel‐1/AMSR‐2 for Sea Ice Classification
Authors: Khachatrian Eduard , Dierking Wolfgang , Chlaily Saloua , Eltoft Torbjørn , Dinessen Frode , Hughes Nick , Marinoni Andrea
Published: February 2023

The most common source of information about sea ice conditions is remote sensing data, especially images obtained from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and passive microwave radiometers (PMR). Here we introduce an adaptive fusion scheme based on Graph Laplacians that allows us to retrieve the most relevant information from satellite images. In a first test case, we explore the potential of sea ice classification employing SAR and PMR separately and simultaneously, in order to evaluate the complementarity of both sensors and to assess the result of a combined use. Our test case illustrates the flexibility and efficiency of the proposed scheme and indicates an advantage of combining AMSR‐2 89 GHz and Sentinel‐1 data for sea ice mapping.
Hierarchical Homogenization With Deep‐Learning‐Based Surrogate Model for Rapid Estimation of Effective Permeability From Digital Rocks
Authors: Liu Mingliang , Ahmad Rasool , Cai Wei , Mukerji Tapan
Published: February 2023

Effective permeability is a key physical property of porous media that defines its ability to transport fluid. Digital rock physics (DRP) combines modern tomographic imaging techniques with advanced numerical simulations to estimate effective rock properties. DRP is used to complement or replace expensive and time‐consuming or impractical laboratory measurements. However, with increase in sample size to capture multimodal and multiscale microstructures, conventional approaches based on direct numerical simulation (DNS) are becoming very computationally intensive or even infeasible. To address this computational challenge, we propose a hierarchical homogenization method (HHM) with a data‐driven surrogate model based on 3‐D convolutional neural network (CNN) and transfer learning to estimate effective permeability of digital rocks with large sample sizes up to billions of voxels. This HHM‐CNN workflow divides a large digital rock into small sub‐volumes and predicts their permeabilities through a CNN surrogate model of Stokes flow at the pore scale. The effective permeability of the full digital rock is then predicted by solving the Darcy equations efficiently on the upscaled model in which the permeability of each cell is assigned by the surrogate model. The proposed method has been verified on micro‐CT scans of both sandstones and carbonates, and applied to the Bentheimer sandstone and a reconstructed high‐resolution carbonate rock obtained by multiscale data fusion. The computed permeabilities of the HHM‐CNN are consistent with the results of DNS on the full digital rock. Compared with conventional DNS algorithms, the proposed hierarchical approach can largely reduce the computational time and memory demand.
Coupling nitrate capture with ammonia production through bifunctional redox-electrodes
Authors: Kim Kwiyong , Zagalskaya Alexandra , Ng Jing Lian , Hong Jaeyoung , Alexandrov Vitaly , Pham Tuan Anh , Su Xiao
Published: February 2023

Nitrate is a ubiquitous aqueous pollutant from agricultural and industrial activities. At the same time, conversion of nitrate to ammonia provides an attractive solution for the coupled environmental and energy challenge underlying the nitrogen cycle, by valorizing a pollutant to a carbon-free energy carrier and essential chemical feedstock. Mass transport limitations are a key obstacle to the efficient conversion of nitrate to ammonia from water streams, due to the dilute concentration of nitrate. Here, we develop bifunctional electrodes that couple a nitrate-selective redox-electrosorbent (polyaniline) with an electrocatalyst (cobalt oxide) for nitrate to ammonium conversion. We demonstrate the synergistic reactive separation of nitrate through solely electrochemical control. Electrochemically-reversible nitrate uptake greater than 70 mg/g can be achieved, with electronic structure calculations and spectroscopic measurements providing insight into the underlying role of hydrogen bonding for nitrate selectivity. Using agricultural tile drainage water containing dilute nitrate (0.27 mM), we demonstrate that the bifunctional electrode can achieve a 8-fold up-concentration of nitrate, a 24-fold enhancement of ammonium production rate (108.1 ug h−1 cm−2), and a >10-fold enhancement in energy efficiency when compared to direct electrocatalysis in the dilute stream. Our study provides a generalized strategy for a fully electrified reaction-separation pathway for modular nitrate remediation and ammonia production.
A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen identifies FSP1 as the warfarin-resistant vitamin K reductase
Authors: Jin Da-Yun , Chen Xuejie , Liu Yizhou , Williams Craig M. , Pedersen Lars C. , Stafford Darrel W. , Tie Jian-Ke
Published: February 2023

Vitamin K is a vital micronutrient implicated in a variety of human diseases. Warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist, is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant. Patients overdosed on warfarin can be rescued by administering high doses of vitamin K because of the existence of a warfarin-resistant vitamin K reductase. Despite the functional discovery of vitamin K reductase over eight decades ago, its identity remained elusive. Here, we report the identification of warfarin-resistant vitamin K reductase using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen with a vitamin K-dependent apoptotic reporter cell line. We find that ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1), a ubiquinone oxidoreductase, is the enzyme responsible for vitamin K reduction in a warfarin-resistant manner, consistent with a recent discovery by Mishima et al. FSP1 inhibitor that inhibited ubiquinone reduction and thus triggered cancer cell ferroptosis, displays strong inhibition of vitamin K-dependent carboxylation. Intriguingly, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, another ubiquinone-associated ferroptosis suppressor protein parallel to the function of FSP1, does not support vitamin K-dependent carboxylation. These findings provide new insights into selectively controlling the physiological and pathological processes involving electron transfers mediated by vitamin K and ubiquinone.
Impact of diet and host genetics on the murine intestinal mycobiome
Authors: Gupta Yask , Ernst Anna Lara , Vorobyev Artem , Beltsiou Foteini , Zillikens Detlef , Bieber Katja , Sanna-Cherchi Simone , Christiano Angela M. , Sadik Christian D. , Ludwig Ralf J. , Sezin Tanya
Published: February 2023

The mammalian gut is home to a diverse microbial ecosystem, whose composition affects various physiological traits of the host. Next-generation sequencing-based metagenomic approaches demonstrated how the interplay of host genetics, bacteria, and environmental factors shape complex traits and clinical outcomes. However, the role of fungi in these complex interactions remains understudied. Here, using 228 males and 363 females from an advanced-intercross mouse line, we provide evidence that fungi are regulated by host genetics. In addition, we map quantitative trait loci associated with various fungal species to single genes in mice using whole genome sequencing and genotyping. Moreover, we show that diet and its’ interaction with host genetics alter the composition of fungi in outbred mice, and identify fungal indicator species associated with different dietary regimes. Collectively, in this work, we uncover an association of the intestinal fungal community with host genetics and a regulatory role of diet in this ecological niche.
A flexible artificial chemosensory neuronal synapse based on chemoreceptive ionogel-gated electrochemical transistor
Authors: Chouhdry Hamna Haq , Lee Dong Hyun , Bag Atanu , Lee Nae-Eung
Published: February 2023

The human olfactory system comprises olfactory receptor neurons, projection neurons, and interneurons that perform remarkably sophisticated functions, including sensing, filtration, memorization, and forgetting of chemical stimuli for perception. Developing an artificial olfactory system that can mimic these functions has proved to be challenging. Herein, inspired by the neuronal network inside the glomerulus of the olfactory bulb, we present an artificial chemosensory neuronal synapse that can sense chemical stimuli and mimic the functions of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter release in the synapses between olfactory receptor neurons, projection neurons, and interneurons. The proposed device is based on a flexible organic electrochemical transistor gated by the potential generated by the interaction of gas molecules with ions in a chemoreceptive ionogel. The combined use of a chemoreceptive ionogel and an organic semiconductor channel allows for a long retentive memory in response to chemical stimuli. Long-term memorization of the excitatory chemical stimulus can be also erased by applying an inhibitory electrical stimulus due to ion dynamics in the chemoresponsive ionogel gate electrolyte. Applying a simple device design, we were able to mimic the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic functions of chemical synapses in the olfactory system, which can further advance the development of artificial neuronal systems for biomimetic chemosensory applications.
Weakening of the South Asian summer monsoon linked to interhemispheric ice-sheet growth since 12 Ma
Authors: Yao Zhengquan , Shi Xuefa , Guo Zhengtang , Li Xinzhou , Nath B. Nagender , Betzler Christian , Zhang Hui , Lindhorst Sebastian , Miriyala Pavan
Published: February 2023

The evolution and driving mechanism of the South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) are still poorly understood. We here present a 12-Myr long SASM record by analyzing the strontium and neodymium isotopic composition of detrital components at IODP Exp. 359 Site U1467 from the northern Indian Ocean. The provenance investigation demonstrates that more dust enriched in εNd from northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula was transported to the study site by monsoonal and Shamal winds during the summer monsoon season. A two-step weakening of the SASM wind since ~12 Ma is proposed based on the εNd record. This observational phenomenon is supported by climate modeling results, demonstrating that the SASM evolution was mainly controlled by variations in the gradient between the Mascarene High and the Indian Low, associated with meridional shifts of the Hadley Cell and the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which were caused by interhemispheric ice-sheet growth since the Middle Miocene.
Quantifying portable genetic effects and improving cross-ancestry genetic prediction with GWAS summary statistics
Authors: Miao Jiacheng , Guo Hanmin , Song Gefei , Zhao Zijie , Hou Lin , Lu Qiongshi
Published: February 2023

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) calculated from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Europeans are known to have substantially reduced predictive accuracy in non-European populations, limiting their clinical utility and raising concerns about health disparities across ancestral populations. Here, we introduce a statistical framework named X-Wing to improve predictive performance in ancestrally diverse populations. X-Wing quantifies local genetic correlations for complex traits between populations, employs an annotation-dependent estimation procedure to amplify correlated genetic effects between populations, and combines multiple population-specific PRS into a unified score with GWAS summary statistics alone as input. Through extensive benchmarking, we demonstrate that X-Wing pinpoints portable genetic effects and substantially improves PRS performance in non-European populations, showing 14.1%–119.1% relative gain in predictive R2 compared to state-of-the-art methods based on GWAS summary statistics. Overall, X-Wing addresses critical limitations in existing approaches and may have broad applications in cross-population polygenic risk prediction.
Characterization of the influence of the dominant tract on hand closing post stroke based on the Fugl-Meyer score
Authors: Baghi Raziyeh , Kim Dongwon , Koh Kyung , Zhang Li-Qun
Published: February 2023

While stroke survivors with moderate or mild impairment are typically able to open their hand at will, those with severe impairment cannot. Abnormal synergies govern the arm and hand in stoke survivors with severe impairment, so hand opening, which is required to overcome the working synergy, is an extremely difficult task for them to achieve. It is universally accepted that alternative tracts including the cortico-reticulospinal tract (CRST), employed in the case that the corticospinal tract (CST) is damaged by stroke, brings about such abnormal synergies. Here we note that hand closing is enabled by alternative tracts as well as the CST, and a research question arises: Does motor characteristics while closing the hand depend on the integrity of the CST? In this study, we evaluate the abilities of 17 stroke survivors to flex and relax the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and investigate whether motor characteristics can be distinguished based on CST integrity which is estimated using upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer (UEFM) scores. UEFM scores have been perceived as an indirect indicator of CST integrity. We found that participants with the UEFM score above a certain value, who are assumed to use the CST, moves the MCP joints more smoothly (P < 0.05) and activates the flexors to flex the joints faster (P < 0.05), in comparison to participants with low UEFM scores, who are assumed to preferentially use alternative tracts. The results imply that use of alternative tracts (i.e. the CRST) results in a degradation in movement smoothness and slow activation of MCP flexors. We present evidence that responses of flexors of the MCP joints following stroke depend on the degree of impairment which is hypothesized to originate from preferentially use of different neural motor pathways.
Damage-free LED lithography for atomically thin 2D material devices
Authors: Shi Yue , Taniguchi Takaaki , Byun Ki-Nam , Kurimoto Daiki , Yamamoto Eisuke , Kobayashi Makoto , Tsukagoshi Kazuhito , Osada Minoru
Published: February 2023

Desired electrode patterning on two-dimensional (2D) materials is a foremost step for realizing the full potentials of 2D materials in electronic devices. Here, we introduce an approach for damage-free, on-demand manufacturing of 2D material devices using light-emitting diode (LED) lithography. The advantage of this method lies in mild photolithography by simply combining an ordinary optical microscope with a commercially available LED projector; the low-energy red component is utilized for optical characterization and alignment of devices, whereas the high-energy blue component is utilized for photoresist exposure and development of personal computer designed electrode patterns. This method offers maskless, damage-free photolithography, which is particularly suitable for 2D materials that are sensitive to conventional lithography. We applied this LED lithography to device fabrication of selected nanosheets (MoS2, graphene oxides and RuO2), and achieved damage-free lithography of various patterned electrodes with feature sizes as small as 1–2 μm. The LED lithography offers a useful approach for cost-effective mild lithography without any costly instruments, high vacuum, or complex operation.
Peristaltic pumping of Boron Nitride-Ethylene Glycol nanofluid through a complex wavy micro-channel under the effect of induced magnetic field and double diffusive
Authors: Hussein Sameh A. , Eldabe Nabil T.
Published: February 2023

The main objective of this work is to present a comprehensive study that scrutinize the influence of DD convection and induced magnetic field on peristaltic pumping of Boron Nitride—Ethylene Glycol nanofluid flow through a vertical complex irregular microchannel. Experimental study showed that the nanofluid created by suspending Boron Nitride particles in a combination of Ethylene Glycol exhibited non-Newtonian characteristics. Further, the Carreau's fluid model provides accurate predictions about the rheological properties of BN-EG nanofluid. In order to imitate complicated peristaltic wave propagation conditions, sophisticated waveforms are forced at the walls. The essential properties of Brownian motion and thermophoresis phenomena are also included in simulating of heat equation as well as viscous dissipation. Mathematical simulation is performed by utilizing the lubrication approach. The resulting nonlinear coupled differential equation system is solved numerically using the built-in command (ND Solve function) in the Mathematica program. Numerical and pictorial evidence is used to illustrate the importance of various physiological features of flow quantities. The major findings demonstrated that the thermal resistance is observed to rise as the Soret and Dufour numbers increase, while the dissolvent concentration and nanoparticles volume fraction have the opposite effect.
Investigation of the inverse problem for the Arrhenius equation using the example of thermal degradation of spongin-based scaffolds
Authors: Żółtowska Sonia , Ciałkowski Michał , Alejski Krzysztof , Jesionowski Teofil
Published: February 2023

A mathematical description of the thermal degradation of spongin-based scaffolds is given. The Arrhenius integral was evaluated using the inverse problem approach, in which the unknown values were the activation energy EA, the pre-exponential factor A, and the model function f(α) characterizing the physical process. The form of f(α) was determined and the values of the parameters EA, A and TS were evaluated in detail. Moreover, the function f(α) assessed in this study was compared with classical solid-state model functions. Finally, the mean square minimization approach was used to solve the inverse problem with unknown function f(α) and pre-exponential constant A. Likewise, the approximation of f(α) with 6th- and 7th-degree polynomials was used to obtain numerical values of EA and A. This study evaluated the inverse problem approach for the Arrhenius equation. These investigations provide new insight into the description of the thermal degradation of spongin-based scaffolds.
Life cycle of the cold-water coral Caryophyllia huinayensis
Authors: Heran Thomas , Laudien Jürgen , Waller Rhian G. , Häussermann Verena , Försterra Günter , González Humberto E. , Richter Claudio
Published: February 2023

Little is known about the biology of cold-water corals (CWCs), let alone the reproduction and early life stages of these important deep-sea foundation species. Through a three-year aquarium experiment, we described the reproductive mode, larval release periodicity, planktonic stage, larval histology, metamorphosis and post-larval development of the solitary scleractinian CWC Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis collected in Comau Fjord, Chilean Patagonia. We found that C. huinayensis is a brooder releasing 78.4 ± 65.9 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) planula larvae throughout the year, a possible adaptation to low seasonality. Planulae had a length of 905 ± 114 µm and showed a well-developed gastrovascular system. After 8 ± 9.3 days (d), the larvae settled, underwent metamorphosis and developed the first set of tentacles after 2 ± 1.5 d. Skeletogenesis, zooplankton feeding and initiation of the fourth set of tentacles started 5 ± 2.1 d later, 21 ± 12.9 d, and 895 ± 45.9 d after settlement, respectively. Our study shows that the ontogenetic timing of C. huinayensis is comparable to that of some tropical corals, despite lacking zooxanthellae.
Potential of low-enthalpy geothermal energy to degrade organic contaminants of emerging concern in urban groundwater
Authors: Pujades Estanislao , Jurado Anna , Scheiber Laura , Teixidó Marc , Criollo Manjarrez Rotman A. , Vázquez-Suñé Enric , Vilarrasa Victor
Published: February 2023

Low-enthalpy geothermal energy (LEGE) is a carbon-free and renewable source to provide cooling and heating to infrastructures (e.g. buildings) by exchanging their temperature with that of the ground. The exchange of temperature modifies the groundwater temperature around LEGE installations, which may contribute to enhancing the capacity of aquifers to degrade organic contaminants of emerging concern (OCECs), whose presence is significantly increasing in urban aquifers. Here, we investigate the impact of LEGE on OCECs and their bioremediation potential through numerical modelling of synthetic and real-based cases. Simulation results demonstrate that: (i) LEGE facilities have the potential to noticeably modify the concentrations of OCECs; and (ii) the final impact depends on the design of the facility. This study suggests that optimized LEGE facility designs could contribute to the degradation of OCECs present in urban aquifers, thus improving groundwater quality and increasing its availability in urban areas.
Evaluation of synthesized biosurfactants as promising corrosion inhibitors and alternative antibacterial and antidermatophytes agents
Authors: Fawzy Ahmed , Al Bahir Areej , Alqarni Nada , Toghan Arafat , Khider Manal , Ibrahim Ibrahim M. , Abulreesh Hussein Hasan , Elbanna Khaled
Published: February 2023

This study investigated different amino acid-based surfactants (AASs), also known as biosurfactants, including sodium N-dodecyl asparagine (AS), sodium N-dodecyl tryptophan (TS), and sodium N-dodecyl histidine (HS) for their potential anticorrosion, antibacterial, and antidermatophyte properties. The chemical and electrochemical techniques were employed to examine the copper corrosion inhibition efficacy in H2SO4(1.0 M) solution at 298 K. The results indicated their promising corrosion inhibition efficiencies (% IEs), which varied with the biosurfactant structures and concentrations, and the concentrations of corrosive medium. Higher % IEs values were attributed to the surfactant adsorption on the copper surface and the production of a protective film. The adsorption was in agreement with Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The kinetics and mechanisms of copper corrosion and its inhibition by the examinedAASswere illuminated. The surfactants behaved as mixed-kind inhibitors with minor anodic priority. The values of % IEs gained from weight loss technique at a 500 ppm of the tested surfactants were set to be 81, 83 and 88 forAS, HSandTS, respectively. The values of % IEs acquired from all the applied techniques were almost consistent which were increased in the order:TS > HS ≥ AS, establishing the validity of this study. These surfactants also exhibited strong broad-spectrum activities against pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and dermatophytes.HSexhibited the highest antimicrobial activity followed byTS, andAS. The sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria varied against testedAASs.Shigella dysenteriaeandTrichophyton mantigrophyteswere found to be the most sensitive pathogens.HSexhibited the highest antibacterial activity againstShigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, E. coli,K. pneumoniae,andS. aureusthrough the formation of clear zones of 70, 50, 40, 39, and 35 mm diameters, respectively.AASsalso exhibited strong antifungal activity against all the tested dermatophyte molds and fungi.HScaused the inhibition zones of 62, 57, 56, 48, and 36 mm diameters againstTrichophyton mantigrophytes,Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, Trichosporon cataneum,andCryptococcus neoformans, respectively.AASsminimal lethal concentrations ranged between 16 to 128 µg/ml.HSpresented the lowest value (16 µg/ml) against tested pathogens followed byTS(64 µg/ml), andAS(128 µg/ml). Therefore,AASs, especiallyHS,could serve as an effective alternative antimicrobial agent against food-borne pathogenic bacteria and skin infections-associated dermatophyte fungi.
Exploring the influence of personal factors on physiological responses to mental imagery in sport
Authors: Budnik-Przybylska Dagmara , Syty Paweł , Kaźmierczak Maria , Łabuda Marta , Doliński Łukasz , Kastrau Adrian , Jasik Patryk , Przybylski Jacek , di Fronso Selenia , Bertollo Maurizio
Published: February 2023

Imagery is a well-known technique in mental training which improves performance efficiency and influences physiological arousal. One of the biomarkers indicating the amount of physiological arousal is skin conductance level (SCL). The aim of our study is to understand how individual differences in personality (e.g. neuroticism), general imagery and situational sport anxiety are linked to arousal measuring with SCL in situational imagery. Thirty participants aged between 14 and 42 years (M = 22.93; SD = 5.24), with sport experience ranging between 2 and 20 years (M = 10.15; SD = 4.75), took part in our study. Participants listened to each previously recorded script and then were asked to imagine the scene for a minute. During the task SCL was monitored using the Biofeedback Expert 2000. Machine learning predictive models based on artificial neural networks have been trained for prediction of physiological response, as a function of selected psychological tests. We found an association among neuroticism, prestart anxiety, and general tendency to use imagery with SCL. From a practical point of view our results may help athletes, coaches, and psychologists to be more aware of the role of individual differences in sport.
Revealing Corynebacterium glutamicum proteoforms through top-down proteomics
Authors: Melo Reynaldo Magalhães , de Souza Jaques Miranda Ferreira , Williams Thomas Christopher Rhys , Fontes Wagner , de Sousa Marcelo Valle , Ricart Carlos André Ornelas , do Vale Luis Henrique Ferreira
Published: February 2023

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a bacterium widely employed in the industrial production of amino acids as well as a broad range of other biotechnological products. The present study describes the characterization of C. glutamicum proteoforms, and their post-translational modifications (PTMs) employing top-down proteomics. Despite previous evidence of PTMs having roles in the regulation of C. glutamicum metabolism, this is the first top-down proteome analysis of this organism. We identified 1125 proteoforms from 273 proteins, with 60% of proteins presenting at least one mass shift, suggesting the presence of PTMs, including several acetylated, oxidized and formylated proteoforms. Furthermore, proteins relevant to amino acid production, protein secretion, and oxidative stress were identified with mass shifts suggesting the presence of uncharacterized PTMs and proteoforms that may affect biotechnologically relevant processes in this industrial workhorse. For instance, the membrane proteins mepB and SecG were identified as a cleaved and a formylated proteoform, respectively. While in the central metabolism, OdhI was identified as two proteoforms with potential biological relevance: a cleaved proteoform and a proteoform with PTMs corresponding to a 70 Da mass shift.