bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a constraint stabilization method of multibody systems based on fuzzy logic control
Authors: Nada Ayman , Bayoumi Mona
Published: June 2023

The numerical solution of multibody systems is not a straightforward problem. The formulation of the equations of motion is augmented with the constraint equations that lead to a set of differential algebraic equations (DAEs). These constraints govern the relative motion between the system’s components at the position level (geometric constraints) and may restrict the velocity of particular components (rolling constraints). There are several factors that determine the effectiveness of numerical integration methods and the extent of their applicability owing to the various motion circumstances. These factors include numerical stability throughout the integration and computation time, as well as allowable error percentage and the length of simulation time. In this regard, this research examines existing approaches for constraint stabilization during numerical integration and introduces a new methodology based on fuzzy control algorithm, whose coefficients are independent of the dynamic characteristics of different systems. Schematics of the new methodology are presented; two examples of spatial multibody systems with holonomic and nonholonomic constraints are solved to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It can be concluded that fuzzy control contributes an excellent solution for generic system configuration and is suitable for lengthy simulations with minimal computation time.
Emotional abilities and art experience in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Coelho Sara , Vendrell Ferran Íngrid , Stephan Achim
Published: June 2023

In contrast to mainstream accounts which explain the aesthetic experience of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of cognitive abilities, this paper suggests as an alternative explanation the “emotional abilities approach”. We present an example of a person with ASD who is able to exercise a variety of emotional abilities in aesthetic contexts but who has difficulties exhibiting their equivalents in interpersonal relations. Using an autobiographical account, we demonstrate first that there is at least one precedent where a person with ASD can exercise a series of emotional abilities when engaging with art works. Second, we offer also an explanation about why aesthetic contexts might enable this person to exercise emotional abilities which in interpersonal contexts seem to be blocked.
Identification of CBL and CIPK Gene Families and Functional Characterization of PvCIPK7 as an Essential Regulator of Root Nodule Development and Nitrogen Fixation in Phaseolus vulgaris
Authors: Arthikala Manoj-Kumar , Blanco Lourdes , Alvarado-Affantranger Xóchitl , Márquez-Guzmán Judith , Lara Miguel , Nanjareddy Kalpana
Published: June 2023

Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) act as Ca2+ sensors and activate CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) to form CBL-CIPK complexes, crucial for plant signal transduction and stress perception. Nevertheless, their functions in root nodule symbiosis (RNS) are largely unexplored. Herein, we classified previously identified SnRK3s as CIPKs and identified 10 CBLs in Phaseolus vulgaris. Additionally, we conducted a functional characterization of PvCIPK7 to acquire a comprehensive understanding of its involvement in RNS in P. vulgaris. Transcript downregulation of PvCIPK7 by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly affected primary and lateral root growth and density. During symbiosis, PvCIPK7-RNAi roots showed a reduction in infection events, nodule numbers, and, nodule size was significantly reduced. The cross section of PvCIPK7-RNAi nodule revealed a loss of nodule organization, a reduction in the number of symbiosomes in infected cells, and a failure of Rhizobium bacteria to differentiate into bacteroids. This severely affected the nitrogen-fixing ability of PvCIPK7-RNAi nodules, as evidenced by downregulated symbiosis-specific genes and genes related to nitrogen fixation. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of the CIPK7 promoter revealed symbiosis-associated expression in the early stages. In conclusion, PvCIPK7 is indispensable for root nodule development, bacterial differentiation, and, consequently, nitrogen fixation during the symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and P. vulgaris.
Spectral properties of generalized Cesàro operators in sequence spaces
Authors: Albanese Angela A. , Bonet José , Ricker Werner J.
Published: June 2023

The generalized Cesàro operators$$C_t$$Ct, for$$t\in [0,1]$$t∈[0,1], were first investigated in the 1980s. They act continuously in many classical Banach sequence spaces contained in$${{\mathbb {C}}}^{{{\mathbb {N}}}_0}$$CN0, such as$$\ell ^p$$ℓp,$$c_0$$c0,c,$$bv_0$$bv0,bvand, as recently shown in Curbera et al. (J Math Anal Appl 507:31, 2022) [26], also in the discrete Cesàro spacesces(p) and their (isomorphic) dual spaces$$d_p$$dp. In most cases$$C_t$$Ct($$t\not =1$$t≠1) is compact and its spectra and point spectrum, together with the corresponding eigenspaces, are known. We study these properties of$$C_t$$Ct, as well as their linear dynamics and mean ergodicity, when they act in certain non-normable sequence spaces contained in$${{\mathbb {C}}}^{{{\mathbb {N}}}_0}$$CN0. Besides$${{\mathbb {C}}}^{{{\mathbb {N}}}_0}$$CN0itself, the Fréchet spaces considered are$$\ell (p+)$$ℓ(p+),$$ces(p+)$$ces(p+)and$$d(p+)$$d(p+), for$$1\le p<\infty $$1≤p<∞, as well as the (LB)-spaces$$\ell (p-)$$ℓ(p-),$$ces(p-)$$ces(p-)and$$d(p-)$$d(p-), for$$1<p\le \infty $$1<p≤∞.
Dynamics in the Vicinity of the Stable Halo Orbits
Authors: Lujan David , Scheeres Daniel J.
Published: June 2023

This work presents a study of the dynamics in the vicinity of the stable L2 halo orbits in the Earth-Moon system of the circular restricted three-body problem. These solutions include partially elliptic, partially hyperbolic, and elliptic quasi-halo orbits. The first two types of orbits are 2-dimensional quasi-periodic tori, whereas the elliptic orbits are 3-dimensional quasi-periodic tori. Motivated by the Lunar Gateway, this work computes these orbits to explore the 3-parameter family of solutions lying in the vicinity of the stable halo orbits. An algorithm is presented to quantify the size of the invariant surfaces which gives perspective on the size of the orbits. A stability bifurcation is detected where the partially elliptic tori become partially hyperbolic. A nonlinear behavior of the Jacobi constant is observed which differs from the behavior of the quasi-halo orbits emanating from the unstable halo orbits which makeup the majority of the quasi-halo family. Uses of the orbits in the vicinity of the stable L2 halo orbits are identified, and the results highlight characteristics and structure of the family to broaden the understanding of the dynamical structure of the circular restricted three-body problem.
Rethinking the Alternatives: Food Sovereignty as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Food Security
Authors: Byaruhanga Ronald , Isgren Ellinor
Published: June 2023

The concept of food sovereignty is primarily taken as an alternative to the prevailing neoliberal food security model. However, the approach has hitherto not received adequate attention from policy makers. This could be because the discourse is marked by controversies and contradictions, particularly regarding its ability to address the challenges of feeding a rapidly growing global population. In response to these criticisms, this paper argues that the principles of food sovereignty, such as democratic and transparent food systems, agroecology, and local market prioritization, should be fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable food security. It acknowledges that neither food sovereignty nor food security models alone can guarantee long-term food security, thus advocating for a blended approach that integrates these perspectives into a complex and interconnected system. This paper makes three significant contributions to the existing literature. Firstly, it emphasizes that food sovereignty should be seen as an integral component of transforming food systems towards sustainability, rather than a complete departure from neoliberal food systems. Secondly, it highlights the importance of adopting a multi-scalar approach, where decisions and policies for transforming food systems are context-specific and tailored to local circumstances. Lastly, the paper recognizes the necessity of institutional transformations that involve nation-states, social movements, and civil society organizations as key actors in the process of food system transformation. By reframing the discussion on food sovereignty and its relationship with food security, this paper provides insights into how these concepts can be mutually reinforcing, leading to more sustainable and equitable food systems.
Characterizing a Time–Memory Tradeoff Against PudgyTurtle
Authors: August David A. , Smith Anne C.
Published: June 2023

PudgyTurtle is not a cipher, but rather an alternative way to utilize the keystream in binary-additive stream-cipher cryptosystems. Instead of modulo-2 adding the keystream to the plaintext, PudgyTurtle uses the keystream to encode 4-bit groups of plaintext, and then to encipher each codeword. One goal of PudgyTurtle is to make time–memory tradeoff attacks more difficult. Here, we investigate one such attack (a modification of the well-known Babbage–Golić method), and show that its time-complexity is harder on average than an analogous tradeoff attack against a standard binary-additive stream cipher; may approach that of a ’brute-force’ attack; can be reduced by certain parameter choices; and can be formulated in terms of a probability distribution which is amenable to simulation.
Africa in World History
Authors: Klein Martin
Published: June 2023

My first academic job in 1962 involved teaching a course on History of Civilization. We had a text that essentially involved Western Civilization with chapters on India, China, and Japan interspersed. Two years later, when I returned from my doctoral thesis research in Africa, my thesis supervisor, William Halperin, recommended me for a ten-week adult education group discussing William McNeill’s Rise of the West. I was stunned that in a history of Eurasia, McNeill devoted only five pages to Africa. The incorporation of Africa in world history has been slow. For many of us in that first generation to study African history in Europe and North America, the marginality of Africa in the study of history was sometimes what drew us to study it. (There were a small number of African-American historians who wrote about Africa, but they had little impact on history curricula outside the small world in which they operated.) As a graduate student, I did a field on the Expansion of Europe and was struck by the inferior quality of much that had been written about Africa, largely by missionaries and colonial administrators. Until the Foreign Area Fellowship Program sent me to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to “tool up” with Jan Vansina, I was oblivious to the work that scholars like Vansina, Oliver, and Curtin were doing. Once I began researching Africa, the excitement was that of creating a new field of historical research.
Finite subgroups of automorphisms of K3 surfaces
Authors: Brandhorst Simon , Hofmann Tommy
Published: June 2023

We give a complete classification of finite subgroups of automorphisms of K3 surfaces up to deformation. The classification is in terms of Hodge theoretic data associated to certain conjugacy classes of finite subgroups of the orthogonal group of the K3 lattice. The moduli theory of K3 surfaces, in particular the surjectivity of the period map and the strong Torelli theorem allow us to interpret this datum geometrically. Our approach is computer aided and involves Hermitian lattices over number fields.
Manipulation of a turbulent boundary layer using active surface deformations
Authors: Gibeau Bradley , Ghaemi Sina
Published: June 2023

We experimentally evaluate whether active wall-normal surface deformations are suitable for the targeted control of very-large-scale motions (VLSMs) in a turbulent boundary layer at a friction Reynolds number of

$Re_\tau =2600$

. Circular surface deformations with a diameter

$D$

roughly equal to the boundary layer thickness

$\delta$

are generated periodically at a constant amplitude of

$0.03\delta$

and at actuation frequencies of

$St=0.05$

to 0.20, where

$St$

is the Strouhal number based on

$D$

and the free stream velocity

$U_\infty$

. The resulting impact on the flow was captured using high-speed particle image velocimetry and analysed using a triple decomposition. We find that the active surface deformations produce high- and low-speed streamwise velocity fluctuations that are concentrated along the centreline of the actuator. These motions have a negligible impact on the mean velocity profile downstream, i.e. they are truly high and low speed with respect to the unactuated base flow. The motions produced at

$St\lesssim 0.1$

are comparable to synthetic VLSMs in terms of their lengths and widths but with a reduced wall-normal extent and rapidly decaying strength. These synthetic motions produce a strong modulation of the turbulence similar to that of the naturally occurring VLSMs. Most notably, we observe that synthetic high-speed motions with magnitudes of the order of

$0.05U_\infty$

cause up to a 30 % reduction in turbulence production within the logarithmic layer. The strength and turbulence-modulating characteristics of the synthetic motions appear well suited for targeting the naturally occurring VLSMs locally using a control scheme.
Effect of body composition on the athletic performance of soccer referees
Authors: Ilhan Azad , Muniroglu Surhat , Rakıcıoğlu Neslişah
Published: June 2023

Nutrition plays an important role in improving sports performance. The present study aimed at nutritional assessment and examined the relationship between athletic performance and body composition in soccer referees at different levels. The study participants were 120 male soccer referees. 5, 10 and 30 metres (m) sprint tests to measure speed and cooper test for physical fitness were applied in the referees. Participants were divided into two groups as city and class soccer referee. The anthropometric measurements, excluding fat mass (FM) (%), were higher in class referees. Fat mass (%) differences (14⋅1 ± 4⋅28 v. 12⋅3 ± 4⋅41) were statistically significant (P < 0⋅05). Daily energy and nutrient intakes were similar. The inadequacy percentages of energy, vitamin A and calcium were the highest (29⋅2, 30⋅0 and 34⋅2 %, respectively). It was found that a negative significant correlation between FM% and cooper test score (P < 0⋅01; r = −0⋅35), a positive significant correlation between FM% and 5, 10 and 30 m sprint test scores (P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅38; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅38 and P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅48, respectively). Similarly, there was a negative significant correlation between waist circumference (WC) and cooper test score (P < 0⋅01; r = −0⋅31), a positive significant correlation between WC and 5, 10 and 30 m sprint test scores (P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅33; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅40; P < 0⋅01, r = 0⋅33, respectively). Nutritional recommendations for soccer referees should be made specific to the individual, considering body composition, training intensity and match frequency by a dietician.
Can Racial Diversity among Judges Affect Sentencing Outcomes?
Authors: HARRIS ALLISON P.
Published: June 2023

How does racial diversity impact institutional outcomes and (in)equality? Discussions about diversity usually focus on how individuals’ identities shape their behavior, but diversity is a group-level characteristic. Scholars must, therefore, consider the relationship between group composition and the individual decisions that shape institutional outcomes. Using felony data from a large U.S. court system, I explore the relationship between racial diversity among the judges comprising a court and individual judges’ decisions. I find that as the percent of Black judges in a courthouse increases white judges are less likely to render incarceration sentences in cases with Black defendants. Increases in racial diversity decrease the Black–white gap in the probability of incarceration by up to 7 percentage points. However, I find no relationship between judge’s racial identities and disparities in their decisions. This study highlights the importance of conceptualizing diversity as a group characteristic and the relationship between institutional context and outcomes.
Early stirrings of modern liberty in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas
Authors: Cavedon Matthew P.
Published: June 2023

In a 2021 contribution to Politics and Religion, Jesse Russell wrote that St. Thomas Aquinas “had a decidedly illiberal view of a government.” He says Aquinas “advocates a government in which the people are not given public liberty” and did not “prepare the way for the mixed monarchy of the English constitution.” But Aquinas places the rule of moral law above politics, endorses participatory government, prioritizes reciprocal duties rather than coerced conformity, favors a mixed regime with democratic representation, and sanctions resistance to tyrants. Each idea is an important component of modern understandings of freedom. Liberal democracy as a constitutional arrangement, and its various philosophical defenses, postdate Aquinas by centuries. It would be anachronistic to cast him as their partisan. But neither was he a proto-reactionary: his political philosophy is congenial to free, limited government that belongs to the people.
Teachers’ Emotional Exhaustion and Teaching Enthusiasm Before Versus During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Voss Thamar , Klusmann Uta , Bönke Nikolaus , Richter Dirk , Kunter Mareike
Published: June 2023

Abstract: Because of the sudden removal of teachers’ work routines, we investigated pandemic-related changes in mathematics teachers’ emotional exhaustion and teaching enthusiasm. We drew on data from a 15-year longitudinal study, including four prepandemic (2007–2019) and two pandemic (2021 and 2022) measurement points. During the COVID-19 pandemic, N = 194 teachers participated in 2021 and N = 214 in 2022. The results from latent growth curve models indicated a pronounced increase in emotional exhaustion and a decrease in enthusiasm during the pandemic. We also found that good technical equipment and high openness represent resources associated with a lower increase in emotional exhaustion, whereas difficulties with students during the COVID-19 pandemic and high extraversion were risk factors. Like in other occupations, these results indicate that COVID-19 negatively affected teachers’ experiences and highlight the need to support teachers to avoid further negative consequences for teachers and students.
Infection Rates Matter – Especially for People from Lower Social Class
Authors: Vogel Vera , Entringer Theresa M.
Published: June 2023

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic was a long-lasting and stressful event that had enormous psychological, economic, and social consequences. This study extends prior research by examining the relationship between infection rates and mental health as well as its dependency on social class. Therefore, we used large-scale data from a nationwide sample ( N = 5,742) across two time periods in the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany (time period 1: April–July 2020; time period 2: January–February 2021). At the beginning of the pandemic, only lower-class individuals experienced mental health detriments with higher infection rates. In the course of the pandemic, however, higher infection rates were accompanied by severe mental health detriments for the general population, but especially for lower-class individuals. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying these effects such as infection rates as indicators of the crisis conditions and social class components as indicators of specific economic, cognitive, and social resources.
The Role of Global Thunderstorm Activity in Modulating Global Cirrus Clouds
Authors: Saha J. , Price C. , Guha A.
Published: June 2023

Cirrus clouds provide a significant radiative forcing on the Earth's climate system. This paper looks at the connection in space and time between monthly mean lightning activity observed from the Lightning Imaging Sensor on board the International Space Station, and the global monthly mean cirrus cloud cover obtained from the MERRA‐2 reanalysis product. The correlation coefficient between the global monthly mean cloud optical thickness of the cirrus clouds (clouds at altitudes above the 400 hPa pressure levels) with the monthly mean lightning flash counts is 0.84, implying that monthly mean lightning can explain 70% of monthly variability of the global high cloud optical thickness. In addition, lightning amount explains nearly 60% of the monthly mean global area coverage of cirrus clouds. Given these statistically significant connections between lightning and cirrus clouds, we propose using global lightning data as an additional tool for monitoring monthly variability of cirrus clouds.
Perovskite beyond solar: toward novel developments of lasers and detectors for photonic circuits
Authors: Karabchevsky Alina
Published: June 2023

Possessing intriguing optoelectronic properties, metal halide perovskites can serve as a large-scale platform for miniaturized photonic circuits with on-chip active devices such as lasers and detectors.
Deep learning enables nanoscale X-ray 3D imaging with limited data
Authors: Zhao Chonghang , Yan Hanfei
Published: June 2023

Deep neural network can greatly improve tomography reconstruction with limited data. A recent effort of combining ptycho-tomography model with the 3D U-net demonstrated a significant reduction in both the number of projections and computation time, and showed its potential for integrated circuit imaging that requires high-resolution and fast measurement speed.
Upf3a but not Upf1 mediates the genetic compensation response induced by leg1 deleterious mutations in an H3K4me3-independent manner
Authors: Xie Aixuan , Ma Zhipeng , Wang Jinyang , Zhang Yuxi , Chen Yayue , Yang Chun , Chen Jun , Peng Jinrong
Published: June 2023

Genetic compensation responses (GCRs) can be induced by deleterious mutations in living organisms in order to maintain genetic robustness. One type of GCRs, homology-dependent GCR (HDGCR), involves transcriptional activation of one or more homologous genes related to the mutated gene. In zebrafish, ~80% of the genetic mutants produced by gene editing technology failed to show obvious phenotypes. The HDGCR has been proposed to be one of the main reasons for this phenomenon. It is triggered by mutant mRNA bearing a premature termination codon and has been suggested to depend on components of both the nonsense mRNA-mediated degradation (NMD) pathway and the complex of proteins associated with Set1 (COMPASS). However, exactly which specific NMD factor is required for HDGCR remains disputed. Here, zebrafish leg1 deleterious mutants are adopted as a model to distinguish the role of the NMD factors Upf1 and Upf3a in HDGCR. Four single mutant lines and three double mutant lines were produced. The RNA-seq data from 71 samples and the ULI-NChIP-seq data from 8 samples were then analyzed to study the HDGCR in leg1 mutants. Our results provide strong evidence that Upf3a, but not Upf1, is essential for the HDGCR induced by nonsense mutations in leg1 genes where H3K4me3 enrichment appears not to be a prerequisite. We also show that Upf3a is responsible for correcting the expression of hundreds of genes that would otherwise be dysregulated in the leg1 deleterious mutant.
Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot (M4) with appendage repurposing for locomotion plasticity enhancement
Authors: Sihite Eric , Kalantari Arash , Nemovi Reza , Ramezani Alireza , Gharib Morteza
Published: June 2023

Robot designs can take many inspirations from nature, where there are many examples of highly resilient and fault-tolerant locomotion strategies to navigate complex terrains by recruiting multi-functional appendages. For example, birds such as Chukars and Hoatzins can repurpose wings for quadrupedal walking and wing-assisted incline running. These animals showcase impressive dexterity in employing the same appendages in different ways and generating multiple modes of locomotion, resulting in highly plastic locomotion traits which enable them to interact and navigate various environments and expand their habitat range. The robotic biomimicry of animals’ appendage repurposing can yield mobile robots with unparalleled capabilities. Taking inspiration from animals, we have designed a robot capable of negotiating unstructured, multi-substrate environments, including land and air, by employing its components in different ways as wheels, thrusters, and legs. This robot is called the Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot, or M4 in short. M4 can employ its multi-functional components composed of several actuator types to (1) fly, (2) roll, (3) crawl, (4) crouch, (5) balance, (6) tumble, (7) scout, and (8) loco-manipulate. M4 can traverse steep slopes of up to 45 deg. and rough terrains with large obstacles when in balancing mode. M4 possesses onboard computers and sensors and can autonomously employ its modes to negotiate an unstructured environment. We present the design of M4 and several experiments showcasing its multi-modal capabilities.
Gender differences in the intention to study math increase with math performance
Authors: Breda Thomas , Jouini Elyès , Napp Clotilde
Published: June 2023

Even though females currently outnumber males in higher education, they remain largely underrepresented in math-related fields of study, with no sign of improvement during the past decades. To better understand which students drive this underrepresentation, we use PISA 2012 data on 251,120 15-year-old students in 61 countries to analyse boys’ and girls’ educational intentions along the ability distribution on math assessment tests. We analyze the percentages of boys and girls intending to pursue math-related studies or careers as a function of math performance. First, we show that for both boys and girls, there is a positive and linear relation between the probability of intending to pursue math and math performance. Second, the positive relation is stronger among boys than among girls. In particular, the gender gap in student intentions to pursue math-related studies or careers is close to zero among the poorest performers in math and increases steadily with math performance. Third, as a consequence, the gender gap in math performance, to the detriment of girls, is larger among students intending to pursue math than in the general student population.
Oxygen availability and body mass modulate ectotherm responses to ocean warming
Authors: Duncan Murray I. , Micheli Fiorenza , Boag Thomas H. , Marquez J. Andres , Deres Hailey , Deutsch Curtis A. , Sperling Erik A.
Published: June 2023

In an ocean that is rapidly warming and losing oxygen, accurate forecasting of species’ responses must consider how this environmental change affects fundamental aspects of their physiology. Here, we develop an absolute metabolic index (ΦA) that quantifies how ocean temperature, dissolved oxygen and organismal mass interact to constrain the total oxygen budget an organism can use to fuel sustainable levels of aerobic metabolism. We calibrate species-specific parameters of ΦA with physiological measurements for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus). ΦA models highlight that the temperature where oxygen supply is greatest shifts cooler when water loses oxygen or organisms grow larger, providing a mechanistic explanation for observed thermal preference patterns. Viable habitat forecasts are disproportionally deleterious for red abalone, revealing how species-specific physiologies modulate the intensity of a common climate signal, captured in the newly developed ΦA framework.
A cost-effective, ionically conductive and compressible oxychloride solid-state electrolyte for stable all-solid-state lithium-based batteries
Authors: Hu Lv , Wang Jinzhu , Wang Kai , Gu Zhenqi , Xi Zhiwei , Li Hui , Chen Fang , Wang Youxi , Li Zhenyu , Ma Cheng
Published: June 2023

To enable the development of all-solid-state batteries, an inorganic solid-state electrolyte should demonstrate high ionic conductivity (i.e., > 1 mS cm−1 at 25 °C), compressibility (e.g., > 90% density under 250−350 MPa), and cost-effectiveness (e.g., < $50/kg). Here we report the development and preparation of Li1.75ZrCl4.75O0.5 oxychloride solid-state electrolyte that demonstrates an ionic conductivity of 2.42 mS cm−1 at 25 °C, a compressibility enabling 94.2% density under 300 MPa and an estimated raw materials cost of $11.60/kg. As proof of concept, the Li1.75ZrCl4.75O0.5 is tested in combination with a LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2-based positive electrode and a Li6PS5Cl-coated Li-In negative electrode in lab-scale cell configuration. This all-solid-state cell delivers a discharge capacity retention of 70.34% (final discharge capacity of 70.2 mAh g−1) after 2082 cycles at 1 A g−1, 25 °C and 1.5 tons of stacking pressure.
Integrating GWAS and proteome data to identify novel drug targets for MU
Authors: Wu Yadong , Song Jukun , Liu Manyi , Ma Hong , Zhang Junmei
Published: June 2023

Mouth ulcers have been associated with numerous loci in genome wide association studies (GWAS). Nonetheless, it remains unclear what mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of mouth ulcers at these loci, as well as what the most effective ulcer drugs are. Thus, we aimed to screen hub genes responsible for mouth ulcer pathogenesis. We conducted an imputed/in-silico proteome-wide association study to discover candidate genes that impact the development of mouth ulcers and affect the expression and concentration of associated proteins in the bloodstream. The integrative analysis revealed that 35 genes play a significant role in the development of mouth ulcers, both in terms of their protein and transcriptional levels. Following this analysis, the researchers identified 6 key genes, namely BTN3A3, IL12B, BPI, FAM213A, PLXNB2, and IL22RA2, which were related to the onset of mouth ulcers. By combining with multidimensional data, six genes were found to correlate with mouth ulcer pathogenesis, which can be useful for further biological and therapeutic research.
Macrophage induces anti-cancer drug resistance in canine mammary gland tumor spheroid
Authors: Lim Ga-Hyun , An Ju-Hyun , Park Su-Min , Youn Ga-Hee , Oh Ye-In , Seo Kyoung-Won , Youn Hwa-Young
Published: June 2023

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in the tumor microenvironment by producing cytokines and growth factors. Furthermore, TAMs play multifunctional roles in tumor progression, immune regulation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. Hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment induces tumor-supporting transformation of TAMs, which enhances tumor malignancy through developing anti-cancer resistance, for example. In this study, a hybrid spheroid model of canine mammary gland tumor (MGT) cell lines (CIPp and CIPm) and canine macrophages (DH82) was established. The effects of hypoxia induced by the spheroid culture system on the anti-cancer drug resistance of canine MGT cells were investigated. A hybrid spheroid was created using an ultralow-adhesion plate. The interactions between canine MGT cells and DH82 were investigated using a co-culture method. When co-cultured with DH82, cell viability and expression levels of tumor growth factors and multi-drug resistance genes were increased in canine MGT cells under doxorubicin. Additionally, doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest were attenuated in canine MGT cells co-cultured with DH82. In conclusion, the hybrid spheroid model established in this study reflects the hypoxic TME, allowing DH82 to induce anti-cancer drug resistance in canine MGT cells.
SSN2V: unsupervised OCT denoising using speckle split
Authors: Schottenhamml Julia , Würfl Tobias , Ploner Stefan B. , Husvogt Lennart , Hohberger Bettina , Fujimoto James G. , Maier Andreas
Published: June 2023

Denoising in optical coherence tomography (OCT) is important to compensate the low signal-to-noise ratio originating from laser speckle. In recent years learning algorithms have been established as the most powerful denoising approach. Especially unsupervised denoising is an interesting topic since it is not possible to acquire noise free scans with OCT. However, speckle in in-vivo OCT images contains not only noise but also information about blood flow. Existing OCT denoising algorithms treat all speckle equally and do not distinguish between the noise component and the flow information component of speckle. Consequently they either tend to either remove all speckle or denoise insufficiently. Unsupervised denoising methods tend to remove all speckle but create results that have a blurry impression which is not desired in a clinical application. To this end we propose the concept, that an OCT denoising method should, besides reducing uninformative noise, additionally preserve the flow-related speckle information. In this work, we present a fully unsupervised algorithm for single-frame OCT denoising (SSN2V) that fulfills these goals by incorporating known operators into our network. This additional constraint greatly improves the denoising capability compared to a network without. Quantitative and qualitative results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the speckle noise in OCT B-scans of the human retina while maintaining a sharp impression outperforming the compared methods.
Deep learning enables fast, gentle STED microscopy
Authors: Ebrahimi Vahid , Stephan Till , Kim Jiah , Carravilla Pablo , Eggeling Christian , Jakobs Stefan , Han Kyu Young
Published: June 2023

STED microscopy is widely used to image subcellular structures with super-resolution. Here, we report that restoring STED images with deep learning can mitigate photobleaching and photodamage by reducing the pixel dwell time by one or two orders of magnitude. Our method allows for efficient and robust restoration of noisy 2D and 3D STED images with multiple targets and facilitates long-term imaging of mitochondrial dynamics.
The microphysics of the warm-rain and ice crystal processes of precipitation in simulated continental convective storms
Authors: Gupta Ashok Kumar , Deshmukh Akash , Waman Deepak , Patade Sachin , Jadav Arti , Phillips Vaughan T. J. , Bansemer Aaron , Martins Jorge A. , Gonçalves Fabio L. T.
Published: June 2023

Precipitation in clouds can form by either warm-rain or ice crystal processes, referred to as warm and cold formation pathways, respectively. Here, we investigate the warm and cold pathway contributions to surface precipitation in simulated continental convective storms. We analyze three contrasting convective storms that are cold-based, slightly warm-based and very warm-based. We apply tracer-tagging techniques in our aerosol-cloud model to determine simulated microphysical pathways that lead to precipitation. We find cold components of graupel and rain mass were higher than warm components in cold- and slightly warm-based clouds. By contrast, in very warm-based clouds nearly 80% of surface precipitation was formed via warm-rain processes. Lowering of cloud base altitude to levels about 10–20 K warmer switched surface precipitation to being mostly warm, due to enhanced moisture content in the planetary boundary layer and larger cloud droplets aloft intensifying raindrop freezing. Our simulations indicate that warm and cold processes co-exist in any storm and the balance between them is determined by cloud base temperature and solute aerosol conditions.
A comparative study of the ameliorative effects of hyaluronic acid oligosaccharides and hyaluronic acid on DSS-induced colitis in mice and research on relevant mechanisms
Authors: Liu Wei , Liu Yuan-Yuan , Zhang Meng-Qiu , Qin Miao-Zhen , Yang Yuan-Yuan , Liu Bi-Wen , Zhang Dong-Jian , Jiang Cui-Hua , Yin Zhi-Qi , Lu Min , Shen Jian-ping , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2023

HA and o-HA manifested the regulatory impact on DSS-induced mice and LPS-evoked caco-2 cells, and o-HA had improved outcomes.
Differentiation state and culture conditions impact neural stem/progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicle bioactivity
Authors: Dutta Dipankar , Pirolli Nicholas H. , Levy Daniel , Tsao Jeffrey , Seecharan Nicholas , Wang Zihui , Xu Xiang , Jia Xiaofeng , Jay Steven M.
Published: June 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) purified from neural progenitor/stem cells (NPSCs) cultured with a rationally-selected ECM type (fibronectin) and growth factor (nerve growth factor (NGF)) enhanced nerve regeneration and muscle recovery in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model.
Transition metal ions and neurotransmitters: coordination chemistry and implications for neurodegeneration
Authors: Yoo Jeasang , Han Jiyeon , Lim Mi Hee
Published: June 2023

This review describes how transition metal ions induce the conformational and functional changes of neurotransmitters.
Synthesis and characterization of sulfide/sulfone-containing 18-8-18-membered-ring ladder-type siloxanes
Authors: Zheng Zhanjiang , Liu Yujia , Takeda Nobuhiro , Unno Masafumi
Published: June 2023

Innovative macrocyclic 14-membered molecule (5) and tricyclic 18-8-18-membered-ring ladder-type siloxane-based compound (7), with sulfide units inserted in the backbone were prepared through B(C6F5)3-catalyzed Piers–Rubinsztajn reaction.
Modulating surface electron density of Ni(OH)2nanosheets with longitudinal Ti3C2TxMXenenanosheets by Schottky effect toward enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Wang Lan , Ji Shan , Linkov Vladimir , Fu Qianqian , Li Zhichao , Wang Hui
Published: June 2023

The MXene/Ni(OH)2/NF structure facilitates spontaneous electron transfer from Ti3C2Tx-MXene to Ni(OH)2/NFviathe Mott–Schottky heterostructure effect establishing a continuous electron transport path which increases the concentration of active sites, enhancing H2evolution.
Bionic ordered structured hydrogels: structure types, design strategies, optimization mechanism of mechanical properties and applications
Authors: Wang Yanyan , Jiang Xinyu , Li Xusheng , Ding Kexin , Liu Xianrui , Huang Bin , Ding Junjie , Qu Keyu , Sun Wenzhi , Xue Zhongxin , Xu Wenlong
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the structure types, optimization mechanism of mechanical properties and common application scenarios of bionic ordered structure hydrogels are reviewed.
Linear conductance update improvement of CMOS-compatible second-order memristors for fast and energy-efficient training of a neural network using a memristor crossbar array
Authors: Park See-On , Park Taehoon , Jeong Hakcheon , Hong Seokman , Seo Seokho , Kwon Yunah , Lee Jongwon , Choi Shinhyun
Published: June 2023

The linear conductance update of a CMOS-compatible HfO2 memristor is improved by introducing a second-order memristor effect and connecting a voltage divider to the device, which makes the memristor crossbar array more energy- and time-efficient.
Pd/Cu-catalyzed cascade Heck-type reactions of alkenyl halides with terminal alkynes toward substituted pyrrolidine analogues
Authors: Xu Shiji , Wang Qiang , Sun Jing , Han Ying , Hu Weiming , Wang Lei , Yan Chao-Guo
Published: June 2023

Pd/Cu-catalyzed cascade Heck-type reactions of alkenyl halides with terminal alkynes have been developed. This research provides an efficient atom-economical approach to access a variety of highly substituted pyrrolidines in moderate to good yields.
Photoredox-catalyzed, oxygen-directed unactivated δ-C(sp3)–H functionalization toward oxepanes
Authors: Wu Hao , He Shi-Hui , Qin Hai-Tao , Liu Feng
Published: June 2023

A concise photoredox-catalyzed [5 + 2] annulation reaction is developed for the synthesis of alkene/alkyne-containing oxepanes.
G4-DNA formation and chromatin remodelling are interdependent in human cells
Authors: Lawler Nicholas B. , Ou Arnold , King Jessica J. , Evans Cameron W. , Iyer K. Swaminathan , Smith Nicole M.
Published: June 2023

DNA G-quadruplex-stabilising ligands can induce global or specific changes in chromatin accessibility and the transcriptome depending on the targeting specificity of the molecule.
An intercommunicated nanosystem for dual delivery
Authors: Mayol Beatriz , Rodríguez Ana , Villalonga Anabel , Anillo Carlos , Vilela Diana , Sánchez Alfredo , Martínez-Ruiz Paloma , Villalonga Reynaldo
Published: June 2023

Here, we describe the design of a novel particle-to-particle intercommunicated nanosystem for dual delivery, triggered by physical and chemical inputs.
X-ray properties and obscured fraction of AGN in the J1030 Chandra field
Authors: Signorini Matilde , Marchesi Stefano , Gilli Roberto , Brusa Marcella , Comastri Andrea , D’Amato Quirino , Iwasawa Kazushi , Lanzuisi Giorgio , Mazzolari Giovanni , Mignoli Marco , Peca Alessandro , Prandoni Isabella , Tozzi Paolo , Vignali Cristian , Vito Fabio , Norman Colin
Published: June 2023

The 500ks Chandra ACIS-I observation of the field around the z = 6.31 quasar SDSS J1030+0524 is currently the fifth deepest extragalactic X-ray survey. The rich multi-band coverage of the field allowed an effective identification and redshift determination of the X-ray source counterparts; to date, a catalog of 243 extragalactic X-ray sources with either a spectroscopic or photometric redshift estimate in the range z ≈ 0 − 6 is available over an area of 355 arcmin2. Given its depth and the multi-band information, this catalog is an excellent resource to investigate X-ray spectral properties of distant active galactic nuclei (AGN) and derive the redshift evolution of their obscuration. We performed a thorough X-ray spectral analysis for each object in the sample, and measured its nuclear column density NH and intrinsic (de-absorbed) 2–10 keV rest-frame luminosity, L2 − 10. Whenever possible, we also used the presence of the Fe Kα emission line to improve the photometric redshift estimates. We measured the fractions of AGN hidden by column densities in excess of 1022 and 1023 cm−2 (f22 and f23, respectively) as a function of L2 − 10 and redshift, and corrected for selection effects to recover the intrinsic obscured fractions. At z ∼ 1.2, we found f22 ∼ 0.7 − 0.8 and f23 ∼ 0.5 − 0.6, respectively, in broad agreement with the results from other X-ray surveys. No significant variations in X-ray luminosity were found within the limited luminosity range probed by our sample (log L2 − 10 ∼ 42.8 − 44.3). When focusing on luminous AGN with log L2 − 10 ∼ 44 to maximize the sample completeness up to large cosmological distances, we did not observe any significant change in f22 or f23 over the redshift range z ∼ 0.8 − 3. Nonetheless, the obscured fractions we measure are significantly higher than is seen in the local Universe for objects of comparable intrinsic luminosity, pointing toward an increase in the average AGN obscuration toward early cosmic epochs, as also observed in other X-ray surveys. We finally compared our results with recent analytic models that ascribe the greater obscuration observed in AGN at high redshifts to the dense interstellar medium (ISM) of their hosts. When combined with literature measurements, our results favor a scenario in which the total column density of the ISM and the characteristic surface density of its individual clouds both increase toward early cosmic epochs as NH, ISM∝(1 + z)δ, with δ ∼ 3.3 − 4 and Σc, * ∝ (1 + z)2, respectively.
Low-temperature studies of the absorption spectra of Alq3 thin film
Authors: Turko B. , Rudko M. , Hryzak L. , Vasil’yev V. , Klym H. , Karbovnyk I.
Published: June 2023

For the first time, the temperature evolution of the absorption spectra of Alq3 thin film, prepared by the method of vacuum thermal evaporation, was investigated in the range of 16–320 K. The optical energy gaps were obtained from direct allowed transitions at this temperature range by means of Tauc plots.
Picosecond magneto-optic thermometry measurements of nanoscale thermal transport in AlN thin films
Authors: Angeles Frank , Khan Samreen , Ortiz Victor H. , Xu Mingfei , Luo Shisong , Mudiyanselage Dinusha Herath , Fu Houqiang , Zhao Yuji , Wilson Richard B.
Published: June 2023

The thermal conductivity Λ of wide bandgap semiconductor thin films, such as AlN, affects the performance of high-frequency devices, power devices, and optoelectronics. However, accurate measurements of Λ in thin films with sub-micrometer thicknesses and Λ > 100 W m−1 K−1 is challenging. Widely used pump/probe metrologies, such as time–domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and frequency–domain thermoreflectance, lack the spatiotemporal resolution necessary to accurately quantify thermal properties of sub-micrometer thin films with high Λ. In this work, we use a combination of magneto-optic thermometry and TiN interfacial layers to significantly enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of pump/probe thermal transport measurements. We use our approach to measure Λ of 100, 400, and 1000 nm AlN thin films. We coat AlN thin films with a ferromagnetic thin-film transducer with the geometry of (1 nm-Pt/0.4 nm-Co)x3/(2 nm-TiN). This PtCo/TiN transducer has a fast thermal response time of <50 ps, which allows us to differentiate between the thermal response of the transducer, AlN thin film, and substrate. For the 100, 400, and 1000 nm thick AlN films, we determine Λ to be 200 ± 80, 165 ± 35, and 300 ± 70 W m−1 K−1, respectively. We conclude with an uncertainty analysis that quantifies the errors associated with pump/probe measurements of thermal conductivity, as a function of transducer type, thin-film thermal conductivity, and thin-film thickness. Time resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect experiments can measure films that are three to five times thinner than is possible with standard pump/probe metrologies, such as TDTR. This advance in metrology will enable better characterization of nanoscale heat transfer in high thermal conductivity material systems like wide bandgap semiconductor heterostructures and devices.
Exploring the Case Cats in the Outdoors
Authors: Tully Paul
Published: June 2023

Introduction

This case is about domestic cats who follow natural instincts for outdoor roaming and, thus, wander in human-made places. People construct these places via ideals regarding aspects of health, safety, and acceptable behaviour. As cats roam in outdoor places, they challenge such ideals through the reality of their lives and human choices. This case considers the issues cats’ presence creates for people and questions the solutions humans contemplate in attempts to protect outdoor place ideals. It asks questions regarding if strategies humans think about to tackle their issues of cats in the outdoors are morally right or wrong in order to stimulate debate.
Political values, patriotism, institutional trust and connectedness to nature predict environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behaviour (Los valores políticos, el patriotismo, la confianza en las instituciones y la conexión con la naturaleza predicen las actitudes y la conducta proambientales)
Authors: Agissova Fatikha , Ivanova Alexandra , Sautkina Elena
Published: June 2023

This study is the first in Russia to examine how political values, institutional trust and patriotism, as well as connectedness to nature, environmental concern and environmental knowledge, predict five types of pro-environmental behaviour. The data of 462 Russians (56.7% female, mean age 36.73) was analysed using multiple regression and structural equation modelling. The model explained 30% of variance in social pro-environmental behaviour, 17% in sustainable purchasing, 13% in waste management, 11% in resource conservation and only 3% in climate-relevant action. First, each of the studied behaviour types had their unique predictors. The only common predictor of all five behaviour types was connectedness to nature. Egoistic environmental concern predicted sustainable purchasing and biospheric concern predicted resource conservation. Environmental knowledge predicted recycling behaviour. Institutional trust positively predicted social behaviour. Political value of free enterprise negatively predicted resource conservation. The findings and their practical implications, as well as future research directions, are discussed.