bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RONSI: a framework for calculating return on network security investment
Authors: Barik Kousik , Misra Sanjay , Fernandez-Sanz Luis , Koyuncu Murat
Published: October 2023

This competitive environment is rapidly driving technological modernization. Sophisticated cyber security attacks are expanding exponentially, inflicting reputation damage and financial and economic loss. Since security investments may take time to generate revenues, organizations need more time to convince top management to support them. Even though several ROSI techniques have been put out, they still need to address network-related infrastructure. By addressing gaps in existing techniques, this study delivers a comprehensive framework for calculating Return on Network Security Investment (RONSI). The proposed framework uses a statistical prediction model based on Bayes’ theorem to calculate the RONSI. It is validated by Common Vulnerability Security Systems (CVSS) datasets and compared to existing studies. The results demonstrate that the annual loss is reduced to 75% with the proposed RONSI model after implementing a security strategy, and the proposed model is compared with existing studies. An organization can effectively justify investments in network-related infrastructure while enhancing its credibility and dependability in the cutthroat marketplace.
Chromium Disarmament from Veritable Tanneries Sewer Water Utilizing Carbonic Rice Straw as a Sorbent: Optimization and Carbonic Rice Straw Characteristics
Authors: El-Gawad Heba A. , Kadry Ghada , Zahran Hamdy A. , Hussein M. H.
Published: October 2023

This exploration focuses on the removal of chromium from actual tannery wastewater, collected from the HARBY TANNERY factory in Rubiki (Badr City), using an economical sorbent made from activated carbon derived from rice straw (CRS). The CRS sorbent is activated using H3PO4. The experiment aims to assess the impact of various parameters, including chromium initial concentration, sorbent dosage, treatment time, agitation velocity (rpm), sorbent particle size, and solution pH, on chromium removal from tannery wastewater. Structural, morphological, and electronic distinctive of raw and treated CRS, as well as carbonized CRS, were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and TEM techniques. XRF analysis was conducted to investigate the chemical elemental composition of carbonized CRS before and after sorption. Zeta potential measurement was performed to assess the electrical charges of particles present in a suspension. The adsorption data was tested for both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, and most of the factors suggested that it follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with an R2value of 99.67%. Additionally, adsorption kinetics were performed to identify the reaction order, which exhibited that sorption pursued pseudo-second-order kinetics with a rate constant (k) of 0.0658 g/mg g/min, a high correlation factor (R2) of 99.76%, and an estimated equilibrium chromium ion adsorption capacity (qe) of 1.597 mg/g, which closely matched the experimental data (1.4835 mg/g). The improved surface morphology and increased surface area of CRS resulted in approximately 98.9% chromium removal. Mechanism studies confirmed that intraparticle diffusion is not the sole rate-controlling step, and Boyd’s model demonstrated that film diffusion limited the rate of chromium adsorption. The desorption of chromium from the carbonized rice straw surface could be achieved by up to 96.4% of the sorbed amount by raising the solution pH to 10, indicating the potential reusability of carbonized rice straw for additional adsorption cycles. Finally, a statistical regression analysis and least square multivariate analysis were used to establish a correlation for predicting efficiency, yielding anR2value of 97.54%.
Bone health in rural Australia: a mixed methods study of consumer needs
Authors: Jones Alicia R , Garth Belinda , Haigh Catherine , Ebeling Peter R , Teede Helena , Vincent Amanda J
Published: October 2023

Summary

This mixed methods study explores osteoporosis among adults living in a regional area of Victoria, Australia. Three major themes emerged from interviews, which reflected the findings of surveys, concerns regarding the adequacy of care in rural areas, a desire for tailored, local care, and a desire for hybrid telemedicine or in-person services.

Purpose

Osteoporosis or osteopenia affects over half of adults aged over 50 years. People living outside major cities in Australia have higher hip fracture rates than people living in cities, along with reduced access to bone densitometry and osteoporosis specialists. This study explores osteoporosis risk factors, knowledge, experiences of and preferences for care in people living in a regional area, to inform development of osteoporosis care programs.

Methods

Adults living in a large non-metropolitan region of Australia were invited to participate in a mixed methods study: a survey (phase 1) followed by semi-structured interviews (phase 2) with triangulation of results. Data collected included osteoporosis diagnosis, risk factors, management, knowledge, preferences for care and experience using telemedicine. Surveys were analysed quantitatively, with linear and logistic regression used to assess factors related to osteoporosis knowledge or satisfaction with telemedicine. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis by two researchers, with in-depth discussion to identify themes.

Results

Sixty-two participants completed the survey, and 15 completed interviews. The mean (SD) age of survey participants was 62.2 (14.1) years, 57% had a screening test for osteoporosis, and 12 (19%) had a diagnosis of osteoporosis. The mean osteoporosis knowledge score was 8.4 / 19 and did not differ with age, education, or history of osteoporosis. The majority wanted access to more information about osteoporosis but preferred method differed, and the majority preferred in-person medical consultations to telemedicine. Interview participants were aged between 57 and 87 years, and included 8 with osteoporosis or osteopenia. Three major themes emerged: concerns regarding the adequacy of care in rural areas, a desire for tailored local car and a desire for hybrid telemedicine or in-person services.

Conclusion

Gaps exist in rural osteoporosis care, including knowledge, screening and management. People have differing experiences of care, access to services and preferences for care. High-quality care, tailored to their needs, was preferred. Improving osteoporosis services for regional Australia will require a flexible, multi-faceted approach, addressing needs of the local community and providers.
Reconnecting with the mathematical thought of the Mesoamerican numbers in Ixil: an onto-epistemological dialogue
Authors: LópezLeiva Carlos A. , de la Cruz Gómez Domingo , Gómez Pérez María , Castro Cutz Juan
Published: October 2023

Numbers and languages are present around the world. While mathematics is deemed as universal, communities around the world have developed mathematical practices that align with their specific context and needs. Rooted in an Indigenous epistemological framework, this manuscript presents a dialogue among four co-researchers and teachers retelling their experiences teaching and learning Mesoamerican numbers in both monolingual (Spanish) and bilingual (Ixil and Spanish) contexts. With a strong desire to learn about and reconnect with the forces of Indigenous mathematical thought and language that move within the teaching and learning of these numbers, the authors collectively reflected on their “tellings” of prior work. It is worthy of note that these reflections on teaching and learning processes of naming Mesoamerican numbers, their symbols, and numerical values help realize that these concepts are more fully animated when presented in contexts that are onto-epistemologically relevant.
Synaptic configuration and reconfiguration in the neocortex are spatiotemporally selective
Authors: Sohn Jaerin
Published: October 2023

Brain computation relies on the neural networks. Neurons extend the neurites such as dendrites and axons, and the contacts of these neurites that form chemical synapses are the biological basis of signal transmissions in the central nervous system. Individual neuronal outputs can influence the other neurons within the range of the axonal spread, while the activities of single neurons can be affected by the afferents in their somatodendritic fields. The morphological profile, therefore, binds the functional role each neuron can play. In addition, synaptic connectivity among neurons displays preference based on the characteristics of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. Here, the author reviews the “spatial” and “temporal” connection selectivity in the neocortex. The histological description of the neocortical circuitry depends primarily on the classification of cell types, and the development of gene engineering techniques allows the cell type-specific visualization of dendrites and axons as well as somata. Using genetic labeling of particular cell populations combined with immunohistochemistry and imaging at a subcellular spatial resolution, we revealed the “spatial selectivity” of cortical wirings in which synapses are non-uniformly distributed on the subcellular somatodendritic domains in a presynaptic cell type-specific manner. In addition, cortical synaptic dynamics in learning exhibit presynaptic cell type-dependent “temporal selectivity”: corticocortical synapses appear only transiently during the learning phase, while learning-induced new thalamocortical synapses persist, indicating that distinct circuits may supervise learning-specific ephemeral synapse and memory-specific immortal synapse formation. The selectivity of spatial configuration and temporal reconfiguration in the neural circuitry may govern diverse functions in the neocortex.
Closing special schools: lessons from Canada
Authors: Mann Glenys , Carrington Suzanne , Lassig Carly , Mavropoulou Sofia , Saggers Beth , Poed Shiralee , Killingly Callula
Published: October 2023

Many countries grapple with the tension between commitment to inclusive education reform and the closure of special schools. This tension is particularly problematic for countries, like Australia, that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD is clear that closing special schools is pivotal to protecting the rights of students with disability to an inclusive education. Some provinces in Canada are considered to be leaders in the movement away from segregated education for students with disability. This paper reports on a critical review of the Canadian literature to develop a conceptual framework of drivers for, and barriers to special school closure. Drivers and barriers were identified at four levels: (1) societal level; (2) system level; (3) school level and (4) community level, with implications for each discussed. The findings will inform policy implementation in countries striving to meet their CRPD obligations.
Metal Deportment in Complex Secondary Raw Materials: The Case of Vanadium in Basic Oxygen Furnace Slags
Authors: Renno A. D. , Möckel R. , Frenzel M. , Ebert D. , Bachmann K. , Krause J. , Gutzmer J.
Published: October 2023

With the increasing demand for metalliferous and mineral raw materials and the consequent depletion of the global natural resource base, the possible utilization of secondary raw material sources is receiving more and more attention. In the present study, we present results from a detailed vanadium deportment study of three basic oxygen furnace slag (BOS) samples known to containing elevated bulk concentrations of vanadium. Complementary analytical methods that were used to quantify the abundance and composition of V-containing phases include SEM-based automated mineralogy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction as well as electron probe microanalysis. The vanadium deportment was quantified using Monte-Carlo simulations of the data obtained from automated mineralogy and electron microprobe analysis. The total V concentrations identified by XRF are between 1.7 and 2.2 wt.% V. The most important hosts of vanadium are larnite-, brownmillerite- and portlandite-solid solutions. In two samples Ca carbonates also significantly contribute to the V deportment, while wuestite, lime, and native iron do not contribute significantly to the vanadium deportment. A thorough consistency check identifies considerable uncertainties in the density of the V-bearing phases as the most likely reason to explain remaining discrepancies between measured and calculated V values.
Phase-separation multiphase flow: preliminary application to analytical chemistry
Authors: Tsukagoshi Kazuhiko
Published: October 2023

A two-phase separation mixed solution can undergo phase separation from one phase to two phases (i.e., upper and lower phases) in a batch vessel in response to changes in temperature and/or pressure. This phase separation is reversible. When the mixed solution undergoes a phase change while being fed into a microspace region, a dynamic liquid–liquid interface is formed, leading to a multiphase structure. This flow is called a phase-separation multiphase flow. Annular flow in a microspace, which is one such phase-separation multiphase flow, is interesting and has been applied to chromatography, extraction, reaction fields, and mixing. Here, research papers related to phase-separation multiphase flows—ranging from the discovery of the phenomenon to basic and technical research from the viewpoint of analytical science—are reviewed. In addition, the development of a new separation mode in a high-performance liquid chromatography system based on phase-separation multiphase flow is introduced.

Graphical abstract
CSI-Based Location Independent Human Activity Recognition Using Deep Learning
Authors: Abuhoureyah Fahd , Wong Yan Chiew , Isira Ahmad Sadhiqin Bin Mohd , Al-Andoli Mohammed Nasser
Published: October 2023

Human Activity Recognition (HAR) is widely used in various applications, from smart homes and healthcare to the Internet of Things (IoT) and virtual reality gaming. However, existing HAR technologies suffer from limitations such as location dependency, sensitivity to noise and interference, and lack of flexibility in recognizing diverse activities and environments. In this paper, we present a novel approach to HAR that addresses these challenges and enables real-time classification and absolute location-independent sensing. The approach is based on an adaptive algorithm that leverages sequential learning activity features to simplify the recognition process and accommodate variations in human activities across different people and environments by extracting the features that match the signal with the surroundings. We employ the Raspberry Pi 4 and Channel State Information (CSI) data to extract activity recognition data, which provides reliable and high-quality signal information. We propose a signal segmentation method using the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm to accurately determine the start and endpoint of human activities. Our experiments show that our approach achieves a high accuracy of up to 97% in recognizing eight activities and mapping activities associated with environments that were not used in training. The approach represents a significant advancement in HAR technology and has the potential to revolutionize many domains, including healthcare, smart homes, and IoT.
The Origins of the Exhibition Space (1450-1750)
Authors: Bianchi Pamela
Published: October 2023

Before the first purpose-designed exhibition spaces and painting exhibitions emerged, showing art was mainly related to the habit of dressing up spaces for political commemorations, religious festivals, and marketing strategies. Palaces, cloisters, façades, squares, and shops became temporary and privileged venues for art display, where sociability was performed, and the idea of exhibition developed. What were those places and events? What aesthetic, cultural, social and political discourses intersected with the early idea of exhibition space? How did displaying art shape a new vocabulary within these events, and conversely, how have these occasions conditioned exhibiting practices? This book traces the origins of the exhibition space by studying its visual and written imagery in the early modern period. It reconsiders events and habits that contributed to shaping the imagery of the exhibition space, and to defining exhibition-making practices, exploring micro-histories and long-term changes.
Positive Low Cloud Feedback Primarily Caused by Increasing Longwave Radiation From the Sea Surface in Two Versions of a Climate Model
Authors: Ogura Tomoo , Webb Mark J. , Lock Adrian P.
Published: October 2023

Low cloud feedback in global warming projections by climate models is characterized by its positive sign, the mechanism of which is not well understood. Here we propose that the positive sign is primarily caused by the increase in upward longwave radiation from the sea surface. We devise numerical experiments that enable separation of the feedback into components coming from physically distinct causes. Results of these experiments with a climate model indicate that increases in upward longwave radiation from the sea surface cause warming and absolute drying in the boundary layer, leading to the positive low cloud feedback. The absolute drying results from decrease in surface evaporation, and also from decrease in inversion strength which enhances vertical mixing of drier free tropospheric air into the boundary layer. This mechanism is different from previously proposed understanding that positive low cloud feedback is caused by increases in surface evaporation or vertical moisture contrast.
Local Electron Density Depletions in the Martian Upper Ionosphere Obtained From MARSIS: Comparison With ASPERA‐3, and MAVEN, and the Connection With Crustal Magnetic Fields
Authors: Duru F. , Frahm R. A. , Hughes D. , Caplice T. , Pierce J. , Madanian H.
Published: October 2023

Steep electron density depletions in the Martian ionosphere are important, especially because they could be regions of significant plasma escape. Local electron density profiles of the Martian ionosphere obtained from the radar sounder onboard the Mars Express spacecraft often show large fluctuations. In some cases, these fluctuations are observed as deep depletions in the electron density. Investigation over the past 12 years of Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding data have revealed over 200 cases of density depletions where the lowest density is less than one fifth of the density in the surrounding regions. These density dips occur both on the dayside and the nightside, with an abundance between solar zenith angles of 50–70° and 100–120°. They occur at all altitudes in the ionosphere. Many of the depletions occur in the southern hemisphere where the crustal magnetic field is stronger and there are more regions where the crustal magnetic field is mostly vertical. In more than half of the cases, the depletion in the local electron density corresponds to a decrease in the electron flux measured with the Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms electron spectrometer. Several different mechanisms could be responsible for the formation of the depletions, including regions of localized electric fields or magnetic fields creating areas of increased field pressure, escape of the plasma along magnetic field lines depleting density locally, and the density decrease around the photoelectron boundary followed by an increase in the plasma density due to plasma clouds.
Validation of E‐Region Model Electron Density Profiles With AURIC Utilizing High‐Resolution Cross Sections
Authors: Sakib MD. Nazmus , Soto Emmaris , Yiğit Erdal , Evans J. Scott , Meier R. R.
Published: October 2023

E‐region models have traditionally underestimated the ionospheric electron density. We believe that this deficiency can be remedied by using high‐resolution photoabsorption and photoionization cross sections in the models. Deep dips in the cross sections allow solar radiation to penetrate deeper into the E‐region producing additional ionization. To validate our concept, we perform a study of model electron density profiles (EDPs) calculated using the Atmospheric Ultraviolet Radiance Integrated Code (AURIC; D. Strickland et al., 1999, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-4073(98)00098-3) in the E‐region of the terrestrial ionosphere. We compare AURIC model outputs using new high‐resolution photoionization and photoabsorption cross sections, and solar spectral irradiances during low solar activity with incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements from the Arecibo and Millstone Hills observatories, Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC‐1) observations, and outputs from empirical models (IRI‐2016 and FIRI‐2018). AURIC results utilizing the new high‐resolution cross sections reveal a significant difference to model outputs calculated with the low‐resolution cross sections currently used. Analysis of AURIC EDPs using the new high‐resolution data indicate fair agreement with ISR measurements obtained at various times at Arecibo but very good agreement with Millstone Hills ISR observations from ∼96–140 km. However, discrepancies in the altitude of the E‐region peak persist. High‐resolution AURIC calculations are in agreement with COSMIC‐1 observations and IRI‐2016 model outputs between ∼105 and 140 km while FIRI‐2018 outputs underestimate the EDP in this region. Overall, AURIC modeling shows increased E‐region electron densities when utilizing high‐resolution cross sections and high‐resolution solar irradiances, and are likely to be the key to resolving the long standing data‐model discrepancies.
Conjugate Observation of Whistler Mode Chorus, ECH Waves and Dayside Diffuse Aurora by MMS and Ground‐Based Yellow River Station
Authors: Teng S. , Han De‐Sheng , Liang J. , Zhang Q. , Sun J. , Wang S. , Zhou S. , Wang Z. , Huang Y.
Published: October 2023

Dayside diffuse auroras (DDAs) originate from the precipitation of energetic electrons in the central plasma sheet, induced by wave‐particle interactions. This study examines a specific case characterized by the detection of whistler mode chorus and electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves using the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellites, along with the conjugate observation of DDA at the Yellow River (YR) station. ECH waves are observed shortly after the satellite enters the magnetosphere from the magnetosheath and persist throughout the magnetosphere region. Chorus waves are also observed within the magnetosphere, and probably generated near the B minima, followed by the propagation along magnetic field lines. Analysis of MMS particle data reveals an increase in low‐energy electrons and scattering of high‐energy electrons during periods of enhanced whistler mode chorus waves. These precipitated electrons manifest as DDA phenomena. The observed evidence demonstrates the simultaneous occurrence of ECH, chorus waves, electron pitch angle scattering, and DDA. Moreover, the concurrent presence of these waves in the outer magnetosphere during the dayside raises important considerations regarding the relative roles of different plasma waves, particle energization, precipitation dynamics, and the overall development of DDA phenomena.
Impact of Sub‐Grid Turbulent Orographic Form Drag on the Summer Monsoon Precipitation Simulation Over China
Authors: Gu Chunlei , Huang Anning , Li Xin , Yang Ben , Zhou Xu , Wu Yang
Published: October 2023

Terrain has multi‐scale dynamic impacts on the climate. The Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) has simulation uncertainty partly due to insufficient description of sub‐grid orographic drag (SOD). In this study, the sub‐grid turbulent orographic form drag (TOFD) scheme has been adopted into the RegCM4 to better describe SOD. Results show that the overestimated near surface wind over rugged areas leads to non‐negligible biases of the summer monsoon precipitation simulation over China in the original RegCM4, whose skill in simulating the summer precipitation over the monsoonal regions of China can be remarkably improved by adopting the sub‐grid TOFD scheme. Compared to the original RegCM4, the Taylor scores (root mean square error) of the precipitation simulated by the RegCM4 with the sub‐grid TOFD scheme are increased (decreased) by 4%, 13%, 11%, and 7% (8%, 5%, 30%, and 16%) over the southeastern China, the mid‐lower Yangtze River Basin, the Huang‐Huai Basin, and the northeastern China, respectively. The improved precipitation simulation mainly comes from the atmospheric circulation simulation improved by adopting the sub‐grid TOFD scheme, which leads to cyclonic (anti‐cyclonic) wind differences over the southeastern (northeastern) China from the boundary layer to the mid‐troposphere and thereafter vertical motion differences in the middle troposphere, further resulting in the variation of the simulated precipitation intensity (heavy to torrential) and the convective precipitation and consequential improvement of summer monsoon precipitation simulation. This study indicates that the dynamic impact of micro‐scale terrain plays an important role in the summer monsoon precipitation simulation.
Sulfuric Acid Nucleation Potential Model Applied to Complex Reacting Systems in the Atmosphere
Authors: Johnson J. S. , Jen C. N.
Published: October 2023

Atmospheric aerosol particles impact Earth's radiation balance by acting as seeds for cloud droplet formation. Over half of global cloud seed particles are formed by nucleation, a process where gas‐phase compounds react to form stable particles. Reactions of sulfuric acid (SA) with a wide variety of atmospheric compounds have been previously shown to drive nucleation in the lower troposphere. However, global climate models poorly predict particle nucleation rates since current nucleation models do not describe nucleation for systems containing tens to hundreds of precursor compounds. The nucleation potential model (NPM) was recently developed to model SA nucleation of complex mixtures by measuring an effective base concentration using a 1‐nm condensation particle counter. This technique for estimating particle nucleation rates can be deployed at a much higher spatial and temporal resolution than current methods which require detailed knowledge of all nucleation reactions and measurements, typically using a mass spectrometer, of all nucleation precursor gases. This work expands NPM by showing that this model can capture enhancement and suppression of SA nucleation rates within a complex mixture of organic and inorganic acids, ambient air, and across a range of atmospherically relevant relative humidities. In addition, an expression for calculating atmospheric nucleation rates was also derived from the NPM. Ultimately, NPM provides a simple way to measure and model the extent compounds in a complex mixture enhance SA nucleation rates using a condensation particle counter.
Idasanutlin and navitoclax induce synergistic apoptotic cell death in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Johansson Kimberly B. , Zimmerman Megan S. , Dmytrenko Iryna V. , Gao Feng , Link Daniel C.
Published: October 2023

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy in which activating mutations in the Notch pathway are thought to contribute to transformation, in part, by activating c-Myc. Increased c-Myc expression induces oncogenic stress that can trigger apoptosis through the MDM2-p53 tumor suppressor pathway. Since the great majority of T-ALL cases carry inactivating mutations upstream in this pathway but maintain wildtype MDM2 and TP53, we hypothesized that T-ALL would be selectively sensitive to MDM2 inhibition. Treatment with idasanutlin, an MDM2 inhibitor, induced only modest apoptosis in T-ALL cells but upregulated the pro-apoptotic BH3 domain genes BAX and BBC3, prompting us to evaluate the combination of idasanutlin with BH3 mimetics. Combination treatment with idasanutlin and navitoclax, a potent Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitor, induces more consistent and potent synergistic killing of T-ALL PDX lines in vitro than venetoclax, a Bcl-2 specific inhibitor. Moreover, a marked synergic response to combination treatment with idasanutlin and navitoclax was seen in vivo in all four T-ALL xenografts tested, with a significant increase in overall survival in the combination treatment group. Collectively, these preclinical data show that the combination of idasanutlin and navitoclax is highly active in T-ALL and may merit consideration in the clinical setting.
Single-cell RNA sequencing of a new transgenic t(8;21) preleukemia mouse model reveals regulatory networks promoting leukemic transformation
Authors: Yan Ming , Liu Mengdan , Davis Amanda G. , Stoner Samuel A. , Zhang Dong-Er
Published: October 2023

T(8;21)(q22;q22), which generates the AML1-ETO fusion oncoprotein, is a common chromosomal abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Despite having favorable prognosis, 40% of patients will relapse, highlighting the need for innovative models and application of the newest technologies to study t(8;21) leukemogenesis. Currently, available AML1-ETO mouse models have limited utility for studying the pre-leukemic stage because AML1-ETO produces mild hematopoietic phenotypes and no leukemic transformation. Conversely, overexpression of a truncated variant, AML1-ETO9a (AE9a), promotes fully penetrant leukemia and is too potent for studying pre-leukemic changes. To overcome these limitations, we devised a germline-transmitted Rosa26 locus AE9a knock-in mouse model that moderately overexpressed AE9a and developed leukemia with long latency and low penetrance. We observed pre-leukemic alterations in AE9a mice, including skewing of progenitors towards granulocyte/monocyte lineages and replating of stem and progenitor cells. Next, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing to identify specific cell populations that contribute to these pre-leukemic phenotypes. We discovered a subset of common myeloid progenitors that have heightened granulocyte/monocyte bias in AE9a mice. We also observed dysregulation of key hematopoietic transcription factor target gene networks, blocking cellular differentiation. Finally, we identified Sox4 activation as a potential contributor to stem cell self-renewal during the pre-leukemic stage.
Soil bacterium manipulates antifungal weapons by sensing intracellular type IVA secretion system effectors of a competitor
Authors: Wang Bingxin , Zhang Zeyu , Xu Fugui , Yang Zixiang , Li Zihan , Shen Danyu , Wang Limin , Wu Huijun , Li Tao , Yan Qing , Wei Qi , Shao Xiaolong , Qian Guoliang
Published: October 2023

Soil beneficial bacteria can effectively inhibit bacterial pathogens by assembling contact-dependent killing weapons, such as the type IVA secretion system (T4ASS). It’s not clear whether these antibacterial weapons are involved in biotrophic microbial interactions in soil. Here we showed that an antifungal antibiotic 2,4-DAPG production of the soil bacterium, Pseudomonas protegens can be triggered by another soil bacterium, Lysobacter enzymogenes, via T4ASS by co-culturing on agar plates to mimic cell-to-cell contact. We demonstrated that the induced 2,4-DAPG production of P. protegens is achieved by intracellular detection of the T4ASS effector protein Le1519 translocated from L. enzymogenes. We defined Le1519 as LtaE (LysobacterT4E triggering antifungal effects), which specifically stimulates the expression of 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis genes in P. protegens, thereby protecting soybean seedlings from infection by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. We further found that LtaE directly bound to PhlF, a pathway-specific transcriptional repressor of the 2,4-DAPG biosynthesis, then activated the 2,4-DAPG production. Our results highlight a novel pattern of microbial interspecies and interkingdom interactions, providing a unique case for expanding the diversity of soil microbial interactions.
Abl depletion via autophagy mediates the beneficial effects of quercetin against Alzheimer pathology across species
Authors: Schiavi Alfonso , Cirotti Claudia , Gerber Lora-Sophie , Di Lauro Giulia , Maglioni Silvia , Shibao Priscila Yumi Tanaka , Montresor Sabrina , Kirstein Janine , Petzsch Patrick , Köhrer Karl , Schins Roel P. F. , Wahle Tina , Barilà Daniela , Ventura Natascia
Published: October 2023

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common age-associated neurodegenerative disorder and the most frequent form of dementia in our society. Aging is a complex biological process concurrently shaped by genetic, dietary and environmental factors and natural compounds are emerging for their beneficial effects against age-related disorders. Besides their antioxidant activity often described in simple model organisms, the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of different dietary compounds remain however largely unknown. In the present study, we exploit the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a widely established model for aging studies, to test the effects of different natural compounds in vivo and focused on mechanistic aspects of one of them, quercetin, using complementary systems and assays. We show that quercetin has evolutionarily conserved beneficial effects against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology: it prevents Amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced detrimental effects in different C. elegans AD models and it reduces Aβ-secretion in mammalian cells. Mechanistically, we found that the beneficial effects of quercetin are mediated by autophagy-dependent reduced expression of Abl tyrosine kinase. In turn, autophagy is required upon Abl suppression to mediate quercetin’s protective effects against Aβ toxicity. Our data support the power of C. elegans as an in vivo model to investigate therapeutic options for AD.
Benchmarking strategies for cross-species integration of single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Song Yuyao , Miao Zhichao , Brazma Alvis , Papatheodorou Irene
Published: October 2023

The growing number of available single-cell gene expression datasets from different species creates opportunities to explore evolutionary relationships between cell types across species. Cross-species integration of single-cell RNA-sequencing data has been particularly informative in this context. However, in order to do so robustly it is essential to have rigorous benchmarking and appropriate guidelines to ensure that integration results truly reflect biology. Here, we benchmark 28 combinations of gene homology mapping methods and data integration algorithms in a variety of biological settings. We examine the capability of each strategy to perform species-mixing of known homologous cell types and to preserve biological heterogeneity using 9 established metrics. We also develop a new biology conservation metric to address the maintenance of cell type distinguishability. Overall, scANVI, scVI and SeuratV4 methods achieve a balance between species-mixing and biology conservation. For evolutionarily distant species, including in-paralogs is beneficial. SAMap outperforms when integrating whole-body atlases between species with challenging gene homology annotation. We provide our freely available cross-species integration and assessment pipeline to help analyse new data and develop new algorithms.
Enhancing operational stability of OLEDs based on subatomic modified thermally activated delayed fluorescence compounds
Authors: Jung Sinyeong , Cheung Wai-Lung , Li Si-jie , Wang Min , Li Wansi , Wang Cangyu , Song Xiaoge , Wei Guodan , Song Qinghua , Chen Season Si , Cai Wanqing , Ng Maggie , Tang Wai Kit , Tang Man-Chung
Published: October 2023

The realization of operationally stable blue organic light-emitting diodes is a challenging issue across the field. While device optimization has been a focus to effectively prolong device lifetime, strategies based on molecular engineering of chemical structures, particularly at the subatomic level, remains little. Herein, we explore the effect of targeted deuteration on donor and/or acceptor units of thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters and investigate the structure-property relationship between intrinsic molecular stability, based on isotopic effect, and device operational stability. We show that the deuteration of the acceptor unit is critical to enhance the photostability of thermally activated delayed fluorescence compounds and hence device lifetime in addition to that of the donor units, which is commonly neglected due to the limited availability and synthetic complexity of deuterated acceptors. Based on these isotopic analogues, we observe a gradual increase in the device operational stability and achieve the long-lifetime time to 90% of the initial luminance of 23.4 h at the luminance of 1000 cd m−2 for thermally activated delayed fluorescence-sensitized organic light-emitting diodes. We anticipate our strategic deuteration approach provides insights and demonstrates the importance on structural modification materials at a subatomic level towards prolonging the device operational stability.
Achieving health-oriented air pollution control requires integrating unequal toxicities of industrial particles
Authors: Wu Di , Zheng Haotian , Li Qing , Wang Shuxiao , Zhao Bin , Jin Ling , Lyu Rui , Li Shengyue , Liu Yuzhe , Chen Xiu , Zhang Fenfen , Wu Qingru , Liu Tonghao , Jiang Jingkun , Wang Lin , Li Xiangdong , Chen Jianmin , Hao Jiming
Published: October 2023

Protecting human health from fine particulate matter (PM) pollution is the ambitious goal of clean air actions, but current control strategies  largely ignore the role of source-specific PM toxicity. Here, we proposed health-oriented control strategies by integrating the unequal toxic potencies of the most polluting industrial PMs. Iron and steel industry (ISI)-emitted PM2.5 exhibit about one order of magnitude higher toxic potency than those of cement and power industries. Compared with the current mass-based control strategy (prioritizing implementation of ultralow emission standards in the power sector), the proposed health-oriented control strategy (priority control of the ISI sector) could generate 5.4 times higher reduction in population-weighted toxic potency-adjusted PM2.5 exposure among polluting industries in China. Furthermore, the marginal abatement cost per unit of toxic potency-adjusted mass of ISI-emitted PM2.5 is only a quarter of that of the other two sectors under ultralow emission scenarios. We highlight that a health-oriented air pollution control strategy is urgently required to achieve cost-effective reductions in particulate exposure risks.
Global diversity and biogeography of potential phytopathogenic fungi in a changing world
Authors: Li Pengfa , Tedersoo Leho , Crowther Thomas W. , Wang Baozhan , Shi Yu , Kuang Lu , Li Ting , Wu Meng , Liu Ming , Luan Lu , Liu Jia , Li Dongzhen , Li Yongxia , Wang Songhan , Saleem Muhammad , Dumbrell Alex J. , Li Zhongpei , Jiang Jiandong
Published: October 2023

Phytopathogenic fungi threaten global food security but the ecological drivers of their global diversity and biogeography remain unknown. Here, we construct and analyse a global atlas of potential phytopathogenic fungi from 20,312 samples across all continents and major oceanic island regions, eleven land cover types, and twelve habitat types. We show a peak in the diversity of phytopathogenic fungi in mid-latitude regions, in contrast to the latitudinal diversity gradients observed in aboveground organisms. Our study identifies climate as an important driver of the global distribution of phytopathogenic fungi, and our models suggest that their diversity and invasion potential will increase globally by 2100. Importantly, phytopathogen diversity will increase largely in forest (37.27-79.12%) and cropland (34.93-82.51%) ecosystems, and this becomes more pronounced under fossil-fuelled industry dependent future scenarios. Thus, we recommend improved biomonitoring in forests and croplands, and optimised sustainable development approaches to reduce potential threats from phytopathogenic fungi.
Fast and versatile electrostatic disc microprinting for piezoelectric elements
Authors: Li Xuemu , Zhang Zhuomin , Peng Zehua , Yan Xiaodong , Hong Ying , Liu Shiyuan , Lin Weikang , Shan Yao , Wang Yuanyi , Yang Zhengbao
Published: October 2023

Nanoparticles, films, and patterns are three critical piezoelectric elements with widespread applications in sensing, actuations, catalysis and energy harvesting. High productivity and large-area fabrication of these functional elements is still a significant challenge, let alone the control of their structures and feature sizes on various substrates. Here, we report a fast and versatile electrostatic disc microprinting, enabled by triggering the instability of liquid-air interface of inks. The printing process allows for fabricating lead zirconate titanate free-standing nanoparticles, films, and micro-patterns. The as-fabricated lead zirconate titanate films exhibit a high piezoelectric strain constant of 560 pm V−1, one to two times higher than the state-of-the-art. The multiplexed tip jetting mode and the large layer-by-layer depositing area can translate into depositing speeds up to 109 μm3 s−1, one order of magnitude faster than current techniques. Printing diversified functional materials, ranging from suspensions of dielectric ceramic and metal nanoparticles, to insulating polymers, to solutions of biological molecules, demonstrates the great potential of the electrostatic disc microprinting in electronics, biotechnology and beyond.
Wireless magneto-ionics: voltage control of magnetism by bipolar electrochemistry
Authors: Ma Zheng , Fuentes-Rodriguez Laura , Tan Zhengwei , Pellicer Eva , Abad Llibertat , Herrero-Martín Javier , Menéndez Enric , Casañ-Pastor Nieves , Sort Jordi
Published: October 2023

Modulation of magnetic properties through voltage-driven ion motion and redox processes, i.e., magneto-ionics, is a unique approach to control magnetism with electric field for low-power memory and spintronic applications. So far, magneto-ionics has been achieved through direct electrical connections to the actuated material. Here we evidence that an alternative way to reach such control exists in a wireless manner. Induced polarization in the conducting material immersed in the electrolyte, without direct wire contact, promotes wireless bipolar electrochemistry, an alternative pathway to achieve voltage-driven control of magnetism based on the same electrochemical processes involved in direct-contact magneto-ionics. A significant tunability of magnetization is accomplished for cobalt nitride thin films, including transitions between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic states. Such effects can be either volatile or non-volatile depending on the electrochemical cell configuration. These results represent a fundamental breakthrough that may inspire future device designs for applications in bioelectronics, catalysis, neuromorphic computing, or wireless communications.
Automated imaging and identification of proteoforms directly from ovarian cancer tissue
Authors: McGee John P. , Su Pei , Durbin Kenneth R. , Hollas Michael A. R. , Bateman Nicholas W. , Maxwell G. Larry , Conrads Thomas P. , Fellers Ryan T. , Melani Rafael D. , Camarillo Jeannie M. , Kafader Jared O. , Kelleher Neil L.
Published: October 2023

The molecular identification of tissue proteoforms by top-down mass spectrometry (TDMS) is significantly limited by throughput and dynamic range. We introduce AutoPiMS, a single-ion MS based multiplexed workflow for top-down tandem MS (MS2) directly from tissue microenvironments in a semi-automated manner. AutoPiMS directly off human ovarian cancer sections allowed for MS2identification of 73 proteoforms up to 54 kDa at a rate of <1 min per proteoform. AutoPiMS is directly interfaced with multifaceted proteoform imaging MS data modalities for the identification of proteoform signatures in tumor and stromal regions in ovarian cancer biopsies. From a total of ~1000 proteoforms detected by region-of-interest label-free quantitation, we discover 303 differential proteoforms in stroma versus tumor from the same patient. 14 of the top proteoform signatures are corroborated by MSI at 20 micron resolution including the differential localization of methylated forms of CRIP1, indicating the importance of proteoform-enabled spatial biology in ovarian cancer.
Grasping extreme aerodynamics on a low-dimensional manifold
Authors: Fukami Kai , Taira Kunihiko
Published: October 2023

Modern air vehicles perform a wide range of operations, including transportation, defense, surveillance, and rescue. These aircraft can fly in calm conditions but avoid operations in gusty environments, encountered in urban canyons, over mountainous terrains, and in ship wakes. With extreme weather becoming ever more frequent due to global warming, it is anticipated that aircraft, especially those that are smaller in size, will encounter sizeable atmospheric disturbances and still be expected to achieve stable flight. However, there exists virtually no theoretical fluid-dynamic foundation to describe the influence of extreme vortical gusts on wings. To compound this difficulty, there is a large parameter space for gust-wing interactions. While such interactions are seemingly complex and different for each combination of gust parameters, we show that the fundamental physics behind extreme aerodynamics is far simpler and lower-rank than traditionally expected. We reveal that the nonlinear vortical flow field over time and parameter space can be compressed to only three variables with a lift-augmented autoencoder while holding the essence of the original high-dimensional physics. Extreme aerodynamic flows can be compressed through machine learning into a low-dimensional manifold, which can enable real-time sparse reconstruction, dynamical modeling, and control of extremely unsteady gusty flows. The present findings offer support for the stable flight of next-generation small air vehicles in atmosphere conditions traditionally considered unflyable.
Vertical structures of marine heatwaves
Authors: Zhang Ying , Du Yan , Feng Ming , Hobday Alistair J.
Published: October 2023

A marine heatwave (MHW) is typically defined as an anomalous warm event in the surface ocean, with wide-ranging impacts on marine and socio-economic systems. The surface warming associated with MHWs can penetrate into the deep ocean; however, the vertical structure of MHWs is poorly known in the global ocean. Here, we identify four main types of MHWs with different vertical structures using Argo profiles: shallow, subsurface-reversed, subsurface-intensified, and deep MHWs. These MHW types are characterized by different spatial distributions with hotspots of subsurface-reversed and subsurface-intensified MHWs at low latitudes and shallow and deep MHWs at middle-high latitudes. These vertical structures are influenced by ocean dynamical processes, including oceanic planetary waves, boundary currents, eddies, and mixing. The area and depth of all types of MHWs exhibit significant increasing trends over the past two decades. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical drivers and ecological impacts of MHWs in a warming climate.