bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The moral decision machine: a challenge for artificial moral agency based on moral deference
Authors: Gudmunsen Zacharus
Published: March 2024

Humans are responsible moral agents in part because they can competently respond to moral reasons. Several philosophers have argued that artificial agents cannot do this and therefore cannot be responsible moral agents. I present a counterexample to these arguments: the ‘Moral Decision Machine’. I argue that the ‘Moral Decision Machine’ responds to moral reasons just as competently as humans do. However, I suggest that, while a hopeful development, this does not warrant strong optimism about ‘artificial moral agency’. The ‘Moral Decision Machine’ (and similar agents) can only respond to moral reasons by deferring to others, and there are good reasons to think this is incompatible with responsible moral agency. While the challenge to artificial moral agency based on moral reasons-responsiveness can be satisfactorily addressed; the challenge based on moral deference remains an open question. The right way to understand the challenge, I argue, is as a route to the claim that artificial agents are unlikely to be responsible moral agents because they cannot be authentic.
Evaluation of the executive functions and quality of life in a sample of Egyptian male adolescents with substance use disorder: A case-control study
Authors: Sonbol Hassan Mohammed , Sabri Youmna , Shahda Mohamed , Shouman Eman Abdallah
Published: March 2024

Background

Adolescent substance use is a major problem that has serious medical, psychological, and legal consequences later in life. Substance use disorder is closely linked to deficits in executive functions. Impaired executive functions (EFs) have been linked to all stages of the substance use disorder (SUD) life cycle, increasing the likelihood of commencing use, escalating use more quickly, and increasing the likelihood of relapsing following treatment. The current study aimed at evaluating of the executive functions and quality of life in a sample of adolescent Egyptian males with substance use disorder.

Results

A significantly higher mean Trail Making Test-A, B (TMT-A and TMT-B) scores among studied cases than the control group (equals lower executive functions) with a mean score of TMT-A is 74.38 versus 63.2 among controls and for TMT-B; the mean score for control is 97.22 versus 142.04 among cases. A statistically significant difference between the case and control groups on all quality of life scores measuring the following domains: general health and well-being, physical health, psychological health, social interactions, and the environment, also there has been a negative correlation between TMT-A and the environmental domain (r = − 0.279) and TMT-B with the same variable (r = − 0.414).

Conclusions

Substance use disorders are a major health problem among youth. Deficits in executive functions are strongly associated with adolescent substance use. The more affected executive functions are associated with more affected quality of life of these patients.
Understanding of Causes of Spurious Associations: Problems and Prospects
Authors: Ghouse Ghulam , Rehman Atiq Ur , Bhatti Muhammad Ishaq
Published: March 2024

This paper contributes to the social science literature when analyzing survey or time series data social scientists use spurious regression without due consideration of its assumptions and the data structure. This results in misinterpretation and misleading conclusions about the population. The paper reviews basic statistical and econometrics literature which led to the development of modern time series analysis in the presence of spurious regression. It concludes that the term ‘Spurious’ was well known before the Granger and Yule’s work in time series context rather than cross-sectional data. The same reasons can produce spurious regression today and surely the solution doesn’t exist in the cointegration analysis. Social scientists and applied econometrician investigators need more serious thinking and care to avoid spurious regression, if it is necessary even if data is stationary or cross-sectional. In this study, we extended the Ghouse experiment which is based on simulated data by employing real-world data to assess the effectiveness of the newly proposed Ghouse Equation in comparison to conventional approaches. The findings demonstrate that the Ghouse Equation produces the lowest probability of spurious regression as compared to its counterparts. Moreover, in forecasting performance, Ghouse Equation outperformed its counterparts. These results highlight the Ghouse Equation as a valuable and better tool for econometric analysis for nonstationary time series.
Underwater object detection and datasets: a survey
Authors: Jian Muwei , Yang Nan , Tao Chen , Zhi Huixiang , Luo Hanjiang
Published: March 2024

The rapidly growing exploitation and utilization of marine resources by humans has sparked considerable interest in underwater object detection tasks. Targets captured in underwater environments differ significantly from those captured in general images owing to various factors, such as water turbidity, complex background conditions, and lighting variations. These adverse factors pose a host of challenges, such as high intensity noise, texture distortion, uneven illumination, low contrast, and limited visibility in underwater images. To address the specific difficulties encountered in underwater environments, numerous underwater object detection methods have been developed in recent years in response to these challenges. Furthermore, there has been a significant effort in constructing diverse and comprehensive underwater datasets to facilitate the development and evaluation of these methods. This paper outlines 14 traditional methods used in underwater object detection based on three aspects that rely on handmade features. Thirty-four more advanced technologies based on deep learning were presented from eight aspects. Moreover, this paper conducts a comprehensive study of seven representative datasets used in underwater object detection missions. Subsequently, the challenges encountered in current underwater object detection tasks were analyzed from five directions. Based on the findings, potential research directions are expected to promote further progress in this field and beyond.
Exploring the persistence of adults on secondary education courses: occupational status, satisfaction and self-efficacy as key factors
Authors: Daza-Pérez Lidia , Llanes-Ordóñez Juan , Figuera-Gazo Pilar
Published: March 2024

One of the most worrying issues in Spanish education is the high school dropout rate, especially for those students who leave compulsory secondary education with no qualifications. Some of these students re-enter the system via adult education centres (AECs), where they can obtain the minimum qualification required by the labour market (the Secondary Education Graduate Certificate, the equivalent of GCSE in UK education). Entry into and adaptation to the AECs was explored in a non-probabilistic sample of 234 individuals from a total population of 2033 enrolled in 14 Catalan AECs, and the roles of a range of factors in shaping successful trajectories were analysed. The aim was to contribute to the design of strategies boosting students’ well-being and raising the probability of their persisting in their studies. The results showed that when study was full-time or combined with a part-time job of half a day or fewer working hours, when there was high academic satisfaction with the centre, and when there was a feeling of empowerment and efficacy in studying, the bond to the centre and the will to continue studying there were enhanced.
Boolean Networks as Predictive Models of Emergent Biological Behaviors
Authors: Rozum Jordan C. , Campbell Colin , Newby Eli , Nasrollahi Fatemeh Sadat Fatemi , Albert Réka
Published: March 2024

Interacting biological systems at all organizational levels display emergent behavior. Modeling these systems is made challenging by the number and variety of biological components and interactions – from molecules in gene regulatory networks to species in ecological networks – and the often-incomplete state of system knowledge, such as the unknown values of kinetic parameters for biochemical reactions. Boolean networks have emerged as a powerful tool for modeling these systems. This Element provides a methodological overview of Boolean network models of biological systems. After a brief introduction, the authors describe the process of building, analyzing, and validating a Boolean model. They then present the use of the model to make predictions about the system's response to perturbations and about how to control its behavior. The Element emphasizes the interplay between structural and dynamical properties of Boolean networks and illustrates them in three case studies from disparate levels of biological organization.
Wittgenstein on Music
Authors: Guter Eran
Published: March 2024

In this Element, the author set out to answer a twofold question concerning the importance of music to Wittgenstein's philosophical progression and the otherness of this sort of philosophical importance vis-à-vis philosophy of music as practiced today in the analytic tradition. The author starts with the idea of making music together and with Wittgenstein's master simile of language-as-music. The author traces these themes as they play out in Wittgenstein early, middle, and later periods. The author argues that Wittgenstein's overarching reorientation of the concept of depth pertaining to music in the aftermath of his anthropological turn, and against the backdrop of the outlook of German Romanticism, culminates in his unique view of musical profundity as 'knowledge of people.' This sets Wittgenstein's view in sharp contrast with certain convictions and debates that typify current analytically inclined philosophy of music.
Invariant measures of Toeplitz subshifts on non-amenable groups
Authors: CECCHI BERNALES PAULINA , CORTEZ MARÍA ISABEL , GÓMEZ JAIME
Published: March 2024

LetGbe a countable residually finite group (for instance,${\mathbb F}_2$) and let$\overleftarrow {G}$be a totally disconnected metric compactification ofGequipped with the action ofGby left multiplication. For every$r\geq 1$, we construct a ToeplitzG-subshift$(X,\sigma ,G)$, which is an almost one-to-one extension of$\overleftarrow {G}$, havingrergodic measures$\nu _1, \ldots ,\nu _r$such that for every$1\leq i\leq r$, the measure-theoretic dynamical system$(X,\sigma ,G,\nu _i)$is isomorphic to$\overleftarrow {G}$endowed with the Haar measure. The construction we propose is general (for amenable and non-amenable residually finite groups); however, we point out the differences and obstructions that could appear when the acting group is not amenable.
Optimising subgrid-scale closures for spectral energy transfer in turbulent flows
Authors: Nabavi Miralireza , Kim Jeonglae
Published: March 2024

Subgrid-scale (SGS) modelling is formulated using a local transport of spectral kinetic energy estimated by a wavelet multiresolution analysis. Using a spectrally and spatially local decomposition by wavelet, the unresolved inter-scale energy transfer and modelled SGS dissipation are evaluated to enforce explicitly and optimally their balance a priori over a range of large-eddy simulation (LES) filter widths. The formulation determines SGS model constants that optimally describe the spectral energy balance between the resolved and unresolved scales at a given cutoff scale. The formulation is tested for incompressible homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT). One-parameter Smagorinsky- and Vreman-type eddy-viscosity closures are optimised for their model constants. The algorithm discovers the theoretical prediction of Lilly (The representation of small-scale turbulence in numerical simulation experiments. In Proceedings of the IBM Scientific Computing Symposium on Environmental Sciences, pp. 195–210) at a filter cutoff scale in the inertial subrange, whereas the discovered constants deviate from the theoretical value at other cutoff scales so that the spectral optimum is achieved. The dynamic Smagorinsky model used a posteriori shows a suboptimal behaviour at filter scales larger than those in the inertial subrange. A two-parameter Clark-type closure model is optimised. The optimised constants provide evidence that the nonlinear gradient model of Clark et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 91, issue 1, 1979, pp. 1–16) is prone to numerical instability due to its model form, and combining the pure gradient model with a dissipative model such as the classic Smagorinsky model enhances numerical stability but the standard mixed model is not optimal in terms of spectral energy transfer. A posteriori analysis shows that the optimised SGS models produce accurate LES results.
Inertia and slip effects on the instability of a liquid film coated on a fibre
Authors: Zhao Chengxi , Qiao Ran , Mu Kai , Si Ting , Luo Xisheng
Published: March 2024

To investigate the influence of inertia and slip on the instability of a liquid film on a fibre, a theoretical framework based on the axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations is proposed via linear instability analysis. The model reveals that slip significantly enhances perturbation growth in viscous film flows, whereas it exerts minimal influence on flows dominated by inertia. Moreover, under no-slip boundary conditions, the dominant instability mode of thin films remains unaltered by inertia, closely aligning with predictions from a no-slip lubrication model. Conversely, when slip is introduced, the dominant wavenumber experiences a noticeable reduction as inertia decreases. This trend is captured by an introduced lubrication model with giant slip. Direct numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations are then performed to further confirm the theoretical findings at the linear stage. For the nonlinear dynamics, no-slip simulations show complex vortical structures within films, driven by fluid inertia near surfaces. Additionally, in scenarios with weak inertia, a reduction in the volume of satellite droplets is observed due to slip, following a power-law relationship.
Pharmacy Benefit Management: The Cost of Drug Price Rebates
Authors: Robinson James C.
Published: March 2024

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) induce drug manufacturers to offer rebates to insurers and employers by denying coverage through formulary exclusions, impeding physician prescription through prior authorization, and reducing patient drug use through cost sharing. As they tighten these access obstacles, PBMs reduce the net prices received by the manufacturers.
Sounds too feminine? Blind tastings, phonetic gender scores, and the impact on professional critics
Authors: Kaimann Daniel , Spiess Bru Clarissa Laura Maria
Published: March 2024

We shed light on assessing product quality in blind tastings and their potential (gender) biases. We study how phonetic traits of grape varieties suggest product attributes in the context of professional reviews. This study aims to close this research gap and analyze how product variety and phonetic name traits affect expert ratings. We obtained data on 18,609 wines and their ratings from Wine Enthusiast Magazine between 1997 and 2016, yielding a sample of 31,058 observations. We suppose that the gender of the taster needs to be considered to understand what affects tastings and ratings, as women and men might be attracted differently to masculine or feminine names. This study shows that masculine names receive higher evaluations than feminine ones. This phonetic gender gap is driven by lower ratings for white wines by female reviewers and lower ratings for red wines by male reviewers. In addition, white wines are rated lower overall by both men and women.
Do presidents favor co-partisan mayors in the allocation of federal grants?
Authors: Ha Heonuk , Jenkins Jeffery A.
Published: March 2024

With the increasing nationalization of politics, federal politicians have interacted more and more with subnational actors. In particular, the president and governing party have provided selective policy and spending benefits to same-party jurisdictions in order to increase their influence in subnational politics. As a significant amount of federal grants is allocated directly to city governments, we analyze the effects of the federal-city relationship in the federal grant process. Specifically, we examine the effects of the president–mayor party alignment on the allocation of federal block and project grants to 568 medium and large cities from 2005 to 2020 using a two-way (city and year) fixed-effects model. We find that the president favors co-partisan mayors in the distribution of federal grants, specifically co-partisan mayors from (a) secure party cities, (b) cities in states where the governor is also a co-partisan, and (c) secure party cities in states where the governor is also a co-partisan. Digging deeper, we find this form of presidential particularism is almost exclusively a Democratic pursuit.
Design and motion mechanism analysis of screw-driven in-pipe inspection robot based on novel adapting mechanism
Authors: Yin Jihua , Liu Xuemei , Wang Youqiang , Wang Yucheng
Published: March 2024

In the pipeline industry, it is often necessary to monitor cracks and damage in pipelines, or need to clean the inside of the pipeline regularly, or collect adhesive on the inner wall of the pipe, but the pipe is too narrow and difficult for humans to enter, it is necessary to use a pipe machine to complete the work. In this paper, a newly designed screw-driven in-pipe inspection robot (IPIR) is proposed. Compared with common robots, this robot innovatively designs adapting mechanism. The robot can not only adapt to the change of the inner diameter size of the pipeline by using the bionic principle and the deformation characteristics of flexible components but also can pass smoothly in the horizontal/oblique/vertical pipelines and has a certain ability to cross obstacles. In addition, it can transmit images of the inner wall of the pipeline wirelessly for data analysis. Finally, through theoretical analysis and prototype construction, the performance of the robot is verified. The results show that the prototype robot can not only smoothly pass through the acrylic pipe with inner diameter of 120–138 mm but also pass through boss with a height of 3 mm.
Log Calabi–Yau surfaces and Jeffrey–Kirwan residues
Authors: ONTANI RICCARDO , STOPPA JACOPO
Published: March 2024

We prove an equality, predicted in the physical literature, between the Jeffrey–Kirwan residues of certain explicit meromorphic forms attached to a quiver without loops or oriented cycles and its Donaldson–Thomas type invariants.

In the special case of complete bipartite quivers we also show independently, using scattering diagrams and theta functions, that the same Jeffrey–Kirwan residues are determined by the the Gross–Hacking–Keel mirror family to a log Calabi–Yau surface.
Travel insurance: an adult CHD patient’s perspective
Authors: Mekala Sai Aravind , Mubarak Omar , Hudsmith Lucy , Al-Sakini Nada
Published: March 2024

Many adult CHD patients encounter difficulties in obtaining affordable travel insurance. We aimed to assess their travel habits and perspectives through a questionnaire. Our results indicate that many adult CHD patients use travel insurance but incur a premium due to their condition. There is an urgent need to provide better guidance to these patients on travel insurance options available to them.
The role of prosodic sensitivity and executive functions in L2 reading: The moderated mediation effect
Authors: Fang Lan , Liu Weilin , Wu Rangke , Schwieter John W. , Wang Ruiming
Published: March 2024

Prosody refers to stress and intonation patterns in a language. Previous studies have found that prosodic sensitivity (PS) and executive functions can affect reading comprehension in first (L1) and second languages (L2). The current study examined these factors among a group of L1 Mandarin speakers learning L2 English who participated in a series of tasks measuring phonological awareness, Mandarin tone sensitivity, English PS, along with three specific executive functions – namely, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory. The results demonstrated that Mandarin tone sensitivity and cognitive flexibility mediated English PS and reading. A simple slope analysis showed that PS positively predicted word reading for readers with higher but not lower cognitive flexibility. These results imply that PS in L2 reading is affected by both prosodic transfer of L1 tone sensitivity and cognitive flexibility.
A study on creative object biographies. Can creative arts be a medium for understanding object–human interaction?
Authors: Trimmis Konstantinos P. , Marini Christina , Katsilerou Zoe , Marinou Maria , Kapsali Konstantza , Perdikopoulou Melpomeni , Soumintoub Valentina , Brkić Drnić Kristina , Drnić Ivan , Theodoroudi Eleftheria , Tzortzopoulou Gregory Lita , Fernee Christianne L. , Kalogirou Konstantina
Published: March 2024

Object biography, amended and expanded by the newer and ontologically updated concept of object itineraries, is a well-established analytical tool for documenting human–object interactions. The present paper explores its intersection with art, and proposes the concept of Creative Object Biography, as a step forward in the discourse and as a means for articulating and sharing alternative narratives and imageries not only among specialists but also – and especially – with the wider public, aiming to render discussions on materiality relevant to diverse audiences. The paper uses as a case study a group of three every-day objects associated with the Vlach pastoral transhumance of northern Greece, whose entanglements and cultural itineraries functioned as the inspiration for the creation of three original short films.
Strong Lens Detection 2.0: Machine Learning and Transformer Models
Authors: Thuruthipilly Hareesh
Published: March 2024

Upcoming large-scale surveys like LSST are expected to uncover approximately 105 strong gravitational lenses within massive datasets. Traditional manual techniques are too time-consuming and impractical for such volumes of data. Consequently, machine learning methods have emerged as an alternative. In our prior work (Thuruthipilly et al. 2022), we introduced a self-attention-based machine learning model (transformers) for detecting strong gravitational lenses in simulated data from the Bologna Lens Challenge. These models offer advantages over simpler convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art CNN models. We applied this model to the datasets from Bologna Lens Challenge 1 and 2 and simulated data on Euclid.
MAximum-entropy ReconStruction (MARS): A New Strong-lensing Reconstruction Algorithm for the JWST Era
Authors: Cha Sangjun , Jee M. James
Published: March 2024

The MAximum-entropy ReconStruction (MARS) method is a free-form strong-lensing (SL) reconstruction algorithm, which adopts the maximum cross-entropy as a regularization. MARS shows remarkable convergence of multiple images in both source (∼0.”02) and image planes (∼0.”05 – 0.”1) while suppressing spurious fluctuations. Although the reconstruction requires a large number of free parameters exceeding ∼19,000, our implementation through PyTorch can obtain the reconstruction within hours. From our test using the publicly available synthetic clusters, we have verified that the reconstructed radial mass profiles are consistent with the truth within 1 percent. This makes MARS one of the best-performing SL reconstruction methods. We apply MARS to the six Hubble Frontier Fields clusters and present new mass reconstruction results. We also reconstruct a mass model of Abell 2744 using both weak-lensing (WL) and SL data from the JWST observations, with the largest dataset of Abell 2744, including 286 SL multiple images and ∼350 arcmin−2 WL constraints.
Gravitational lenses in hydrodynamical simulations
Authors: Despali Giulia , Heinze Felix M. , Mastromarino Claudio
Published: March 2024

The gravitational lensing signal produced by a galaxy or a galaxy cluster is determined by its total matter distribution, providing us with a way to directly constrain their dark matter content. State-of-the-art numerical simulations successfully reproduce many observed properties of galaxies and can be used as a source of mock observations and predictions. Many gravitational lensing studies aim at constraining the nature of dark matter, discriminating between cold dark matter and alternative models. However, many past results are based on the comparison to simulations that did not include baryonic physics. Here we show that the presence of baryons can significantly alter the predictions: we look at the structural properties (profiles and shapes) of elliptical galaxies and at the inner density slope of subhaloes. Our results demonstrate that future simulations must model the interplay between baryons and alternative dark matter, to generate realistic predictions that could significantly modify the current constraints.
Clumpiness of lens galaxies as a window on dark matter
Authors: Bayer Dorota
Published: March 2024

While the direct detection of the dark-matter particle remains very challenging, the physical properties of dark matter could potentially be constrained indirectly – by comparing the population characteristics of substructures in real galaxies with predictions from the phenomenological dark-matter models, such as cold, warm or self-interacting dark matter. Whereas these models are practically indistinguishable with respect to the expected abundance and statistical properties of massive galactic substructures, the critical difference lies in the low-mass regime ≲ 108M⊙. Galaxy-galaxy strong gravitational lensing provides a unique opportunity to search for gravitational signatures of such low-mass substructures in galaxies acting as a strong gravitational lens on a more distant background galaxy, serendipitously located along the same line of sight. In [Bayer et∼al.(2023)Bayer, Chatterjee, Koopmans, Vegetti, McKean, Treu, Fassnacht, and Glazebrook, Bayer et∼al.(2023)Bayer, Koopmans, McKean, Vegetti, Treu, Fassnacht, and Glazebrook, Bayer et∼al.(2023)Bayer, Vernardos, and Koopmans], we have recently introduced a novel approach to investigate the collective perturbative effect of low-mass substructures in the inner regions of massive elliptical lens galaxies and observationally constrain their power spectrum (on 1-10 kpc scales) based on the Fourier analysis of the associated surface-brightness anomalies in the lensed images (i.e., Einstein rings and gravitational arcs) observed with the Hubble Space Telescope. Here, we present a concise summary of the methodology, the encountered modelling challenges and the inferred observational constraints on the sub-galactic matter power spectrum. The future comparison of these results with predictions from hydrodynamical simulations might either verify the cold-dark-matter paradigm or require its substantial revision. Moreover, we demonstrate that the grid-based smooth lens modelling might model away surface-brightness anomalies caused by the presence of substructures in the lens galaxy and incorrectly interpret them as surface-brightness structure in the lensed background galaxy itself. If not properly understood and accounted for, such signal suppression might lead to severely biased constraints on the properties of substructures in galactic haloes.
Impact of Galaxy Dynamics on Modified Gravity Constraints from Strong Lensing Systems
Authors: Romanzini-Bezerra Grasiele , Makler Martin , Furlanetto Cristina
Published: March 2024

Galaxy-galaxy strong lensing systems have been used in literature to test General Relativity by constraining the post-Newtonian parameter (γPPN). Nevertheless, these methods are prone to systematic errors, some of which arise from difficulties in modelling the dynamics of the lens galaxy. In this study, we address the systematic error related to the assumption of a constant anisotropy between the radial and tangential components of the velocity dispersion of stars within the lens galaxy, characterised by the parameter β. We considered two radial models for the anisotropy parameter, the Osipkov-Merritt and Mamon & Lokas, as well three Gaussian priors for constant β. Our analysis showed that the choice of β has a strong impact on the value of γPPN, with radial models leading to lower values of this parameter.
Simultaneous Engagement of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Control in the Stroop Task
Authors: Bozkurt Ozge , Misirlisoy Mine , Atalay Nart Bedin
Published: March 2024

Abstract: In this study, with three Stroop task experiments, we investigated simultaneous engagement of list-wide and item-specific control mechanisms and their potential interaction. By using list-wide proportion congruency (LWPC), item-specific proportion congruency (ISPC)-transfer, and unbiased-transfer sets that were made up of distinct color-word pairings, we were able to observe both LWPC and ISPC effects. By comparing the LWPC effects that were observed with the ISPC-transfer sets and the unbiased-transfer sets, we investigated the relationship between item-specific control and list-wide control. By comparing the findings from Experiments 1 and 2 with the findings of Experiment 3, we observed the possible mediating role of contingency learning in the ISPC-transfer sets on the generalizability of list-wide control. Across all experiments, we consistently observed item-specific control, with the ISPC effect. Although we did not find evidence for list-wide control in the first two experiments, in the third experiment, where color-word contingency learning was minimal for ISPC-transfer items, we observed a significant LWPC effect. Our findings indicate that the introduction of contingency learning in the ISPC-transfer items may reduce top-down control. Importantly, none of the experiments revealed an interaction between item-specific control and list-wide control, suggesting that these two control mechanisms operated independently.
A Consumption‐Based Integrated Framework for Subnational Absolute Environmental Sustainability Management
Authors: Meng Fanxin , Liao Danqi , Wang Dongfang , Liu Gengyuan , Liang Sai , Cristiano Silvio , Li Xiaowen , Yang Zhifeng
Published: March 2024

As human consumption expands, four environmental footprints (EFs) exceed the planetary boundaries (PBs) at the global scale. Managing absolute environmental sustainability (AES) based on PBs and EFs at the subnational level is crucial for policy insights. However, a consumption‐based AES management framework still needs to be developed. A framework, including five nexus environmental pressures embodied in the supply chain, was developed and tested in our study across China's 30 provinces to address this knowledge gap. The framework involved three steps: (a) assessing AES for five environmental pressures, (b) measuring environmental surplus and overshoot and composition of EFs, and (c) identifying priority areas for AES management. The results showed that only some provinces are sustainable for three impact‐oriented indicators, especially those with larger populations. Moreover, the embodied environmental pressure mainly flows from the Northwest to Southeast China. For two resource‐oriented indicators, over 74% of provinces are absolutely sustainable. From a nexus perspective, Shandong and Shanghai are identified as priorities for AES management due to their low IESI values of 0.32, 0.33, and 0.40, respectively, which means the worst performance. To improve their IESI, Shanghai needs to control the consumption of blue water‐intensive products, while Shandong and Henan should consume fewer CO2 emissions and N‐ and P‐loss‐intensive products. This framework can clarify subnational responsibilities of environmental overshoots, guide sustainable development, and be widely used at the subnational level in countries worldwide.
Evolving Phase Propagation in an Intermediate‐m ULF Wave Driven by Substorm‐Injected Particles
Authors: Michael C. M. , Yeoman T. K. , Wright D. M. , Chelpanov M. A. , Mager P. N.
Published: March 2024

An ultralow frequency (ULF) wave was simultaneously observed in the ionosphere by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radar at Hankasalmi, Finland and on the ground by the International Monitor for Auroral Geomagnetic Effects (IMAGE) magnetometers with close proximity to the radar. The onset time of the wave event was around 03:00 magnetic local time. Fourier wave analysis of the event suggests a wave period of about 1,340 s with an equatorward latitudinal and eastward longitudinal wave phase propagation, and an effective azimuthal wave number of 17 ± 1, in the intermediate range of those observed in ULF waves. This wave has been interpreted as resulting from drifting electrons of energies of 13 ± 5 keV in a drift resonance condition linked to energetic particle populations during a magnetospheric substorm. The latitudinal phase characteristics of this wave experienced temporal evolution, believed to be caused by additional injected particle populations associated with the same substorm driving the wave, which resulted in an observed loss of HF backscatter. This observation of a unique type of temporal evolution in the phase propagation characteristics of ULF waves enhances current understanding about the structure, dynamics and source of these types of ULF waves.
A Thermodynamically Based Modified Cam‐Clay Model for Post‐Bifurcation Behavior of Deformation Bands
Authors: Sun Qingpei , Chen Xiao , Regenauer‐Lieb Klaus , Hu Manman
Published: March 2024

Compaction bands are a type of localized deformation that can occur as diffuse or discrete bands in porous rocks. While modeling of shear bands can replicate discrete and diffusive bands, numerical models of compaction have so far only been able to describe the formation of discrete compaction bands. In this study, we present a new thermodynamic approach to model compaction bands that is able to capture both discrete and diffuse compaction band growth. The approach is based on a reaction‐diffusion formalism that includes an additional entropy flux. This entropic velocity regularizes the solution, by introducing a characteristic diffusion length scale and controlling the mode change from discrete to diffusive post‐localisation growth. The approach is used to model compaction band growth in highly porous carbonates. The model can replicate the areas of material damage exhibiting reduced porosity which are often observed as nuclei for the growth of compaction bands in experiments. The model also has the versatility to predict the formation of diffuse compaction bands, which is a significant advance in the field of compaction band modeling. The method can potentially be used for investigating the effect of material heterogeneities on compaction band growth and is heuristic for developing new methodologies for forecasting compaction band formation.
Influence of Physical Factors on Restratification of the Upper Water Column in Antarctic Coastal Polynyas
Authors: Xu Yilang , Zhang Weifeng (Gordon) , Maksym Ted , Ji Rubao , Li Yun , Walker Catherine
Published: March 2024

Antarctic coastal polynyas are hotspots of biological production with intensive springtime phytoplankton blooms that strongly depend on meltwater‐induced restratification in the upper part of the water column. However, the fundamental physics that determine spatial inhomogeneity of the spring restratification remain unclear. Here, we investigate how different meltwaters affect springtime restratification and thus phytoplankton bloom in Antarctic coastal polynyas. A high‐resolution coupled ice‐shelf/sea‐ice/ocean model is used to simulate an idealized coastal polynya similar to the Terra Nova Bay Polynya, Ross Sea, Antarctica. To evaluate the contribution of various meltwater sources, we conduct sensitivity simulations altering physical factors such as alongshore winds, ice shelf basal melt, and surface freshwater runoff. Our findings indicate that sea ice meltwater from offshore is the primary buoyancy source of polynya near‐surface restratification, particularly in the outer‐polynya region where chlorophyll concentration tends to be high. Downwelling‐favorable alongshore winds can direct offshore sea ice away and prevent sea ice meltwater from entering the polynya region. Although the ice shelf basal meltwater can ascend to the polynya surface, much of it is mixed vertically over the water column and confined horizontally to a narrow coastal region, and thus does not contribute significantly to the polynya near‐surface restratification. Surface runoff from ice shelf surface melt could contribute greatly to the polynya near‐surface restratification. Nearby ice tongues and headlands strongly influence the restratification through modifying polynya circulation and meltwater transport pathways. Results of this study can help explain observed spatiotemporal variability in restratification and associated biological productivity in Antarctic coastal polynyas.
Advances in cancer DNA methylation analysis with methPLIER: use of non-negative matrix factorization and knowledge-based constraints to enhance biological interpretability
Authors: Takasawa Ken , Asada Ken , Kaneko Syuzo , Shiraishi Kouya , Machino Hidenori , Takahashi Satoshi , Shinkai Norio , Kouno Nobuji , Kobayashi Kazuma , Komatsu Masaaki , Mizuno Takaaki , Okubo Yu , Mukai Masami , Yoshida Tatsuya , Yoshida Yukihiro , Horinouchi Hidehito , Watanabe Shun-Ichi , Ohe Yuichiro , Yatabe Yasushi , Kohno Takashi , Hamamoto Ryuji
Published: March 2024

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that results in dynamic changes during ontogenesis and cell differentiation. DNA methylation patterns regulate gene expression and have been widely researched. While tools for DNA methylation analysis have been developed, most of them have focused on intergroup comparative analysis within a dataset; therefore, it is difficult to conduct cross-dataset studies, such as rare disease studies or cross-institutional studies. This study describes a novel method for DNA methylation analysis, namely, methPLIER, which enables interdataset comparative analyses. methPLIER combines Pathway Level Information Extractor (PLIER), which is a non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) method, with regularization by a knowledge matrix and transfer learning. methPLIER can be used to perform intersample and interdataset comparative analysis based on latent feature matrices, which are obtained via matrix factorization of large-scale data, and factor-loading matrices, which are obtained through matrix factorization of the data to be analyzed. We used methPLIER to analyze a lung cancer dataset and confirmed that the data decomposition reflected sample characteristics for recurrence-free survival. Moreover, methPLIER can analyze data obtained via different preprocessing methods, thereby reducing distributional bias among datasets due to preprocessing. Furthermore, methPLIER can be employed for comparative analyses of methylation data obtained from different platforms, thereby reducing bias in data distribution due to platform differences. methPLIER is expected to facilitate cross-sectional DNA methylation data analysis and enhance DNA methylation data resources.
Targeted knockdown of PGAM5 in synovial macrophages efficiently alleviates osteoarthritis
Authors: Liu Yuhang , Hao Ruihan , Lv Jia , Yuan Jie , Wang Xuelei , Xu Churong , Ma Ding , Duan Zhouyi , Zhang Bingjun , Dai Liming , Cheng Yiyun , Lu Wei , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: March 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease worldwide and new therapeutics that target inflammation and the crosstalk between immunocytes and chondrocytes are being developed to prevent and treat OA. These attempts involve repolarizing pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype in synovium. In this study, we found that phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) significantly increased in macrophages in OA synovium compared to controls based on histology of human samples and single-cell RNA sequencing results of mice models. To address the role of PGAM5 in macrophages in OA, we found conditional knockout of PGAM5 in macrophages greatly alleviated OA symptoms and promoted anabolic metabolism of chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that PGAM5 enhanced M1 polarization via AKT-mTOR/p38/ERK pathways, whereas inhibited M2 polarization via STAT6-PPARγ pathway in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. Furthermore, we found that PGAM5 directly dephosphorylated Dishevelled Segment Polarity Protein 2 (DVL2) which resulted in the inhibition of β-catenin and repolarization of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages. Conditional knockout of both PGAM5 and β-catenin in macrophages significantly exacerbated osteoarthritis compared to PGAM5-deficient mice. Motivated by these findings, we successfully designed mannose modified fluoropolymers combined with siPGAM5 to inhibit PGAM5 specifically in synovial macrophages via intra-articular injection, which possessed desired targeting abilities of synovial macrophages and greatly attenuated murine osteoarthritis. Collectively, these findings defined a key role for PGAM5 in orchestrating macrophage polarization and provides insights into novel macrophage-targeted strategy for treating OA.
Association between stopping renin-angiotensin system inhibitors immediately before hemodialysis initiation and subsequent cardiovascular events
Authors: Nakamura Yoshihiro , Inaguma Daijo , Imaizumi Takahiro , Kurasawa Shimon , Hishida Manabu , Okazaki Masaki , Fujishima Yuki , Nishibori Nobuhiro , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Takeda Yuki , Maruyama Shoichi
Published: March 2024

It is controversial whether renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) should be stopped in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, it was reported that stopping RASIs in advanced CKD was associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events; however, it remains unclear whether stopping RASIs before dialysis initiation affects clinical outcomes after dialysis, which this study aimed to evaluate. In this multicenter prospective cohort study in Japan, we included 717 patients (mean age, 67 years; 68% male) who had a nephrology care duration ≥90 days, initiated hemodialysis, and used RASIs 3 months before hemodialysis initiation. The multivariable adjusted Cox models were used to compare mortality and CV event risk between 650 (91%) patients who continued RASIs until hemodialysis initiation and 67 (9.3%) patients who stopped RASIs. During a median follow-up period of 3.5 years, 170 (24%) patients died and 228 (32%) experienced CV events. Compared with continuing RASIs, stopping RASIs was unassociated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50–1.34) but was associated with higher CV events (aHR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.06–2.38). Subgroup analyses showed that the risk of stopping RASIs for CV events was particularly high in patients aged <75 years, with a significant interaction between stopping RASIs and age. This study revealed that patients who stopped RASIs immediately before dialysis initiation were associated with subsequent higher CV events. Active screening for CV disease may be especially beneficial for these patients.
A spatially-resolved transcriptional atlas of the murine dorsal pons at single-cell resolution
Authors: Nardone Stefano , De Luca Roberto , Zito Antonino , Klymko Nataliya , Nicoloutsopoulos Dimitris , Amsalem Oren , Brannigan Cory , Resch Jon M. , Jacobs Christopher L. , Pant Deepti , Veregge Molly , Srinivasan Harini , Grippo Ryan M. , Yang Zongfang , Zeidel Mark L. , Andermann Mark L. , Harris Kenneth D. , Tsai Linus T. , Arrigoni Elda , Verstegen Anne M. J. , Saper Clifford B. , Lowell Bradford B.
Published: March 2024

The “dorsal pons”, or “dorsal pontine tegmentum” (dPnTg), is part of the brainstem. It is a complex, densely packed region whose nuclei are involved in regulating many vital functions. Notable among them are the parabrachial nucleus, the Kölliker Fuse, the Barrington nucleus, the locus coeruleus, and the dorsal, laterodorsal, and ventral tegmental nuclei. In this study, we applied single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to resolve neuronal subtypes based on their unique transcriptional profiles and then used multiplexed error robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) to map them spatially. We sampled ~1 million cells across the dPnTg and defined the spatial distribution of over 120 neuronal subtypes. Our analysis identified an unpredicted high transcriptional diversity in this region and pinpointed the unique marker genes of many neuronal subtypes. We also demonstrated that many neuronal subtypes are transcriptionally similar between humans and mice, enhancing this study’s translational value. Finally, we developed a freely accessible, GPU and CPU-powered dashboard (http://harvard.heavy.ai:6273/) that combines interactive visual analytics and hardware-accelerated SQL into a data science framework to allow the scientific community to query and gain insights into the data.
Full-waveform tomography reveals iron spin crossover in Earth’s lower mantle
Authors: Cobden Laura , Zhuang Jingyi , Lei Wenjie , Wentzcovitch Renata , Trampert Jeannot , Tromp Jeroen
Published: March 2024

Three-dimensional models of Earth’s seismic structure can be used to identify temperature-dependent phenomena, including mineralogical phase and spin transformations, that are obscured in 1-D spherical averages. Full-waveform tomography maps seismic wave-speeds inside the Earth in three dimensions, at a higher resolution than classical methods. By providing absolute wave speeds (rather than perturbations) and simultaneously constraining bulk and shear wave speeds over the same frequency range, it becomes feasible to distinguish variations in temperature from changes in composition or spin state. We present a quantitative joint interpretation of bulk and shear wave speeds in the lower mantle, using a recently published full-waveform tomography model. At all depths the diversity of wave speeds cannot be explained by an isochemical mantle. Between 1000 and 2500 km depth, hypothetical mantle models containing an electronic spin crossover in ferropericlase provide a significantly better fit to the wave-speed distributions, as well as more realistic temperatures and silica contents, than models without a spin crossover. Below 2500 km, wave speed distributions are explained by an enrichment in silica towards the core-mantle boundary. This silica enrichment may represent the fractionated remains of an ancient basal magma ocean.
Extensive DNA methylome rearrangement during early lamprey embryogenesis
Authors: Angeloni Allegra , Fissette Skye , Kaya Deniz , Hammond Jillian M. , Gamaarachchi Hasindu , Deveson Ira W. , Klose Robert J. , Li Weiming , Zhang Xiaotian , Bogdanovic Ozren
Published: March 2024

DNA methylation (5mC) is a repressive gene regulatory mark widespread in vertebrate genomes, yet the developmental dynamics in which 5mC patterns are established vary across species. While mammals undergo two rounds of global 5mC erasure, teleosts, for example, exhibit localized maternal-to-paternal 5mC remodeling. Here, we studied 5mC dynamics during the embryonic development of sea lamprey, a jawless vertebrate which occupies a critical phylogenetic position as the sister group of the jawed vertebrates. We employed 5mC quantification in lamprey embryos and tissues, and discovered large-scale maternal-to-paternal epigenome remodeling that affects ~30% of the embryonic genome and is predominantly associated with partially methylated domains. We further demonstrate that sequences eliminated during programmed genome rearrangement (PGR), are hypermethylated in sperm prior to the onset of PGR. Our study thus unveils important insights into the evolutionary origins of vertebrate 5mC reprogramming, and how this process might participate in diverse developmental strategies.