bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Bioactive Hydrogels: A Tunable Approach via Nucleic Acid-Collagen Complexation
Authors: Pipis Nikolaos , Duraivel Senthilkumar , Subramaniam Vignesh , Stewart Kevin A. , Angelini Thomas E. , Allen Josephine B.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Nucleic acid-collagen complexes (NACCs) are unique biomaterials formed by binding short, monodisperse single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with type I collagen. These complexes spontaneously generate microfibers and nanoparticles of varying sizes, offering a versatile platform with potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the detailed mechanisms behind the nucleic acid-driven assembly of collagen fibers still need to be established. We aim to understand the relationship between microscopic structure and bulk material properties and demonstrate that NACCs can be engineered as mechanically tunable systems.

Methods

We present a study to test NACCs with varying molar ratios of collagen to random ssDNA oligonucleotides. Our methods encompass the assessment of molecular interactions through infrared spectroscopy and the characterization of gelation and rheological behavior. We also include phase contrast, confocal reflectance, and transmission electron microscopy to provide complementary information on the 3D structural organization of the hydrogels.

Results

We report that adding DNA oligonucleotides within collagen robustly reinforces and rearranges the hydrogel network and accelerates gelation by triggering rapid fiber formation and spontaneous self-assembly. The elasticity of NACC hydrogels can be tailored according to the collagen-to-DNA molar ratio, ssDNA length, and collagen species.

Conclusion

Our findings hold significant implications for the design of mechanically tunable DNA-based hydrogel systems. The ability to manipulate hydrogel stiffness by tailoring DNA content and collagen concentration offers new avenues for fine tuning material properties, enhancing the versatility of bioactive hydrogels in diverse biomedical applications.

Lay Summary

This work is an example of forming fibers and gels with tunable elasticity that stems from the complexation of short-length nucleic acids (on the order of size of aptamers) and collagen, which can be potentially extended to a variety of functionalized hydrogel designs and tailored biomedical applications. Incorporating DNA induces mechanical changes in NACCs.

Graphical Abstract
Research on the theory and method of reduced-hole blasting for large cross-section tunnel based on explosive energy dissipation
Authors: Tian Xingchao , Tao Tiejun , Xie Caijin
Published: May 2024

The traditional tunnel drilling and blasting method places cut holes at the lower center of the excavation face, resulting in an excessive number of blasting holes. With the continuous increase in cross-section area, this design concept can no longer meet the requirements of safe and efficient tunnel boring for large cross-section tunnels. This paper puts forward the theory and method of reduced-hole blasting for large cross-section tunnels, as an alternative to the traditional drilling and blasting method of the “more holes, less charge” design concept. Based on the explosion energy dissipation law and rock’s critical crushing energy dissipation characteristics, the calculation method of the extrapolation distance of the wedge-cut holes is given. The optimum extrapolation distance of the wedge-cut holes was verified using numerical simulation and field tests. The results show that the number of drilling holes can be reduced by about 15.8% using the theory and method proposed in this paper, and at the same time, the damage of retained rock can be effectively controlled. The results of this study can provide a reference for the design of blast network parameters for similar large cross-section tunnels.
Study on the mechanical and damage properties of laminated limestone under acid mine drainage dissolution
Authors: Ding Chengyuan , Zuo Shuangying , Mo Yunchuan
Published: May 2024

To explore the chemical and mechanical effects of acid mine drainage on water and rock, acid mine drainage (AMD) dissolution tests, triaxial compression tests, and acoustic emission tests were performed on limestone rock samples with different bedding dip angles. Combined with scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, the changes in the internal pores and surface morphologies of the rock samples before and after dissolution were analyzed. The results were as follows. (1) AMD dissolution mainly occurred in the shallow surfaces and bedding planes of the limestone samples. During dissolution, the shape of the matrix crystal disappeared to form small pores, and residual substances appeared during the dissolution of the bedding plane. These small pores were prone to the creation of large honeycomb-like dissolved pores. (2) With increasing bedding plane angle, the compressive strengths and elastic moduli of the limestone samples exhibited V-shaped distributions. Additional branch cracks were derived from the limestone samples after dissolution, and dissolution reduced the mechanical strength of the limestone by decreasing the crack initiation stress and damage stress. (3) With increasing bedding dip angle, the uniaxial failure modes of the rock samples changed from matrix tensile failure and shear failure along the bedding plane to plane tensile failure. After dissolution, the limestone matrix was prone to cracking and spalling along the surface of the sample. (4) There were differences in the triaxial compression failure modes between the dissolved limestone and the undissolved limestone. When α = 0° or 90°, the limestone samples formed additional branch fissures after dissolution. When α = 45°, the formation of penetrating cracks along the bedding plane was obviously controlled by the bedding plane. (5) A chemical–mechanical damage model was established and modified by the compression coefficient K, which could effectively reflect the deformation of the dissolved rock sample during loading.
A Numerical Time Integration Procedure for Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing in Hyper-Peritectic Steel Alloys
Authors: Mahomed Nawaz , Nanor Ebenezer T. , Ait El Haj Badiâ , Hickson Dylan , Bouayad Aboubakr
Published: May 2024

A numerical time integration procedure for the calculation of the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) in FeC hyper-peritectic alloys is presented, a preferred group of low-carbon casting steel. The procedure incorporates a three-stage thin arm dissolution model, which is solved at each time step using Newton–Raphson iteration. This is coupled to a coarsening model based on the integral forms of the dissolution model, which are solved using Gaussian quadrature, as well as a growth model for solid fraction evolution. The procedure can easily be embedded into numerical models for solidification, in which the space–time evolution of the SDAS is required for determining the dynamic permeability in the mushy zone. Higher order approximations for both growth and solute concentration evolution can easily be incorporated. Temperature dependence of thermophysical parameters is taken into account using inter-dendritic solidification empirical models, and an alloy-specific peritectic reaction constant is used to determine the isothermal peritectic holding time. The procedure is validated against experimental data presented in literature. Various cases of SDAS as a function of local solidification time, cooling rate and carbon composition are investigated. The method is compared to experimental results of SDAS obtained from test castings of a hyper-peritectic steel alloy and can be used to iteratively determine the alloy-specific peritectic reaction constant by comparing the solid fraction evolution during the peritectic reaction with that found from the experimental cooling curve.
Clustering time series by extremal dependence
Authors: Alonso A. M. , Gabirondo P. , Scotto M. G.
Published: May 2024

The goal of this paper is to characterize the temporal dependence structure on the extremes of time series and use such dependency to group them. In particular, three similarity measures to capture extremal dependence are proposed, being their performance assessed in different scenarios. This will involve the use of classical time series clustering algorithms, as well as rigorous evaluation of their performance in both simulated scenarios and real-world time series data sets. The focus will be on comparing the performance of these similarity measures with different clustering methods, and illustrate the efficacy of extremal dependence-based clustering in meteorological data. To achieve this, we will consider a dataset consisting of daily maximum temperatures recorded at 500 stations across Europe.
Simultaneous Optimization of Launch Vehicle Stage and Trajectory Considering Flight-Requirement Constraints
Authors: Ko Jaeyoul , Kim Jaewoo , Choi Jimin , Ahn Jaemyung
Published: May 2024

A conceptual design of a launch vehicle encompasses various disciplines, such as structural design, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, flight control, and stage sizing. This paper focuses on optimizing trajectory and stage size. Traditional approaches used for the conceptual design of a launch vehicle conduct the stage and trajectory designs sequentially, often leading to high computational complexity and suboptimal results. This paper presents an optimization framework that addresses both trajectory optimization and staging in an integrated way. The proposed framework aims to minimize the lift-off mass while satisfying the constraints on flight requirements (e.g., maximum dynamic pressure and the impact points of separated parts). A case study demonstrates the advantage of the proposed framework compared to the traditional sequential optimization approach.
Detection of Signal Integrity Issues in Vibration Monitoring Using One-Class Support Vector Machine
Authors: Kannan Vigneshwar , Dao Dzung Viet , Li Huaizhong
Published: May 2024

This paper presents an analysis of the common signal integrity issues in vibration monitoring caused by sensor saturation and signal distortion, or sensor loosening and detachment, and the development of a method of detecting the occurrence of vibration signal integrity issues using a one-class support vector machine. For this, vibration signals with distortions due to sensor saturation and/or sensor detachment are analysed to determine parameters sensitive to common integrity issues. These features are then extracted from training data of good quality vibration signals. Principal Component Analysis is used to dimensionally reduce the parameters which are then used in the training of the one-class support vector machine. The proposed method was validated on trained and untrained health conditions. Additionally, model sensitivity was also tested on trained health conditions with varying defect sizes. The method successfully detected all signal integrity issues tested proving to be an effective pre-processing step in condition monitoring systems for increased reliability and accuracy.
Efficient genome editing in rice with miniature Cas12f variants
Authors: Ye Zhengyan , Zhang Yuanyan , He Shiqi , Li Shaokang , Luo Longjiong , Zhou Yanbiao , Tan Junjie , Wan Jianmin
Published: May 2024

Genome editing, particularly using the CRISPR/Cas system, has revolutionized biological research and crop improvement. Despite the widespread use of CRISPR/Cas9, it faces limitations such as PAM sequence requirements and challenges in delivering its large protein into plant cells. The hypercompact Cas12f, derived from Acidibacillus sulfuroxidans (AsCas12f), stands out due to its small size of only 422 amino acids and its preference for a T-rich motif, presenting advantageous features over SpCas9. However, its editing efficiency is extremely low in plants. Recent studies have generated two AsCas12f variants, AsCas12f-YHAM and AsCas12f-HKRA, demonstrating higher editing efficiencies in mammalian cells, yet their performance in plants remains unexplored. In this study, through a systematic investigation of genome cleavage activity in rice, we unveiled a substantial enhancement in editing efficiency for both AsCas12f variants, particularly for AsCas12f-HKRA, which achieved an editing efficiency of up to 53%. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that AsCas12f predominantly induces deletion in the target DNA, displaying a unique deletion pattern primarily concentrated at positions 12, 13, 23, and 24, resulting in deletion size mainly of 10 and 11 bp, suggesting significant potential for targeted DNA deletion using AsCas12f. These findings expand the toolbox for efficient genome editing in plants, offering promising prospects for precise genetic modifications in agriculture.
Human control of AI systems: from supervision to teaming
Authors: Tsamados Andreas , Floridi Luciano , Taddeo Mariarosaria
Published: May 2024

This article reviews two main approaches to human control of AI systems: supervisory human control and human–machine teaming. It explores how each approach defines and guides the operational interplay between human behaviour and system behaviour to ensure that AI systems are effective throughout their deployment. Specifically, the article looks at how the two approaches differ in their conceptual and practical adequacy regarding the control of AI systems based on foundation models––i.e., models trained on vast datasets, exhibiting general capabilities, and producing non-deterministic behaviour. The article focuses on examples from the defence and security domain to highlight practical challenges in terms of human control of automation in general, and AI in particular, and concludes by arguing that approaches to human control are better served by an understanding of control as the product of collaborative agency in a multi-agent system rather than of exclusive human supervision.
Exploring deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGAN) in biometric systems: a survey study
Authors: Jenkins John , Roy Kaushik
Published: May 2024

Over the past few years, there has been a proliferation of research in the area of generative adversarial networks (GANs). GANs present a novel approach to producing synthetic data in varying fields including medicine, traffic control, text transferring, image generation, and cybersecurity. To improve the quality of synthetic generation, specifically for images, the GAN technique was paired with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to build deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGAN). The DCGAN framework is a simple yet stable framework shown to generate quality photorealistic images. There are a number of studies reviewing GANs, providing a comparative analysis of performance, stabilization, and training methods. With respects to the DCGAN architecture, there are literature reviews reporting its usage in forensic sketch to face transformation and fuzzy face recognition. Here, we provide a review detailing the use of the DCGAN framework with biometrics samples for advancements in biometric authentication systems and cybersecurity. As GANs have shown to be a primary tool in generating deepfakes, we explore the use of DCGANs to generating synthetic biometrics that can deceive security systems and serve as quality training data for other machine learning models. The goal of this review is to contribute a concise consolidated review of techniques involving the DCGAN framework and biometric samples for the improvement of biometric recognition systems and to be used as a reference point for future work in cybersecurity.
Potential role of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of mucosal melanoma
Authors: Shi Chaoji , Ju Houyu , Wu Yunteng , Ma Xuhui , Zhang Zhiyuan , Ren Guoxin
Published: May 2024

Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare and aggressive form of melanoma with a poorer prognosis compared to other subtypes. Recent large-scale next-generation sequencing studies, including our own research, have demonstrated that the molecular characteristics and potential oncogenic drivers of MM differ significantly from those of cutaneous melanoma. The emergence of selective CDK4/6 inhibitors, already approved for use in breast cancer and undergoing phase III clinical trials for other solid tumors, represents a promising development in the treatment of MM. Recent studies have shown that CDK4/6 inhibitors not only induce cell cycle arrest but also play a crucial role in facilitating the interaction between tumor cells and the host immune system. Moreover, our findings indicate that dysregulation of cell cycle progression due to cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) amplification is a significant genetic characteristic in a substantial portion of MM cases. Targeting CDK4 in specific MM patients shows promise for precision cancer therapy, utilizing molecularly characterized MM patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and clinical trials. This paper provides an overview of existing literature on CDK4/6 dysregulation in MM, as well as preclinical and clinical investigations on CDK4/6 inhibitors and potential combination therapies for MM treatment.
Enhancing ergogenic performance and antioxidant benefits of red sugarcane juice through probiotic fermentation
Authors: Wan Mansor Wan Nusrah , Mohd Zaini Nurul Solehah , Gengan Gengghatarani , Abdullah Ariani Hoo , Mohd Sha’ari Ainnur Adnin , Roslan Anis Zulaikha , Abd Rahim Muhamad Hafiz
Published: May 2024

The potential of red sugarcane as a functional probiotic drink was investigated, with a focus on determining its physicochemical, ergogenic, and antioxidant activities. Three different variants of Malaysian red sugarcane, namely Ragnar, Kapur, and Serai, were selected for analysis. The concentrations of electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe) in sugarcane juice were determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS), while the antioxidant activity and Vitamin C were assessed through colorimetric assays. Additionally, the functionality of the optimal variant, Ragnar, was enhanced by inoculating it with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 and Lactobacillus casei Shirota. High antioxidative properties (TPC: 71.63 mg GAE/mL, FRAP: 2.76 mmol TE/mL, DPPH EC50: 55.66 µg/mL, and Vitamin C: 0.72 mg/100 g) were observed in the Ragnar, which tends to exhibit an attractive blue-yellow hue. K exhibited the highest concentration in all samples (126.31 – 229.95 mg/mL), followed by Na, Mg, Fe, and Zn, which exceeded the commercial isotonic drink. The viability of LAB (above 107 CFU/mL) and the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were satisfactory while reducing sugars were generally lower after the fermentation. The findings present red sugarcane as a potential natural source for the development of functional drinks.

Graphical Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among internally displaced persons: unveiling the impact of the war of Tigray
Authors: Gebreyesus Aregawi , Gebremariam Asqual Gebreslassie , Kidanu Kokob Gebru , Gidey Solomon , Haftu Hansa , Nigusse Afewerki Tesfahunegn , Shishay Fiyori , Mamo Liya
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Due to the war in Tigray, 2.1 million people (31% of the total population) were internally displaced. Epidemiological evidence shows that the burden of mental health is higher in war/conflict and post-conflict areas of the world compared to non-conflict places, especially for those who have experienced targeted ethnic violence as a result of civil and political unrest. Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the common psychiatric disorders experienced during war. Thus, this study aimed to assess the level and aggravating factors of PTSD during the war in Tigray.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2132 IDP family heads in Tigray from August 6–30, 2021. Study participants were recruited using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The PCL-C checklist, derived from DSM-IV criteria, was used to assess the magnitude of post-traumatic stress disorder. The entered data were exported to the SPSS version 26 statistical package for analysis. Summary statistics were computed, and logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with developing PTSD.

Results

A total of 2071 IDPs were surveyed with a response rate of 99.7%. The survey revealed that the level of PTSD among community-hosted IDPs was 57.7%; 95% CI 55.5%-59.8%. Older age (> 50) (AOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.497–6.421), primary and secondary school attendance (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.344–3.279; and 1.697, 95% CI 1.067–2.7) respectively, internally displaced persons with a family size of > 6 members (AOR 1.821, 95% CI 1.124–2.95), disability due to the war (AOR 1.702, 95% CI 1.077–2.69), and loss of contact with family members (AOR 1.472, 95% CI 1.032–2.099) were significantly associated with PTSD.

Conclusion

The overall level of PTSD among cIDPs was found to be high (57.7%). Almost every other IDP developed this serious mental health syndrome. Immediate psycho-social health intervention is needed by local and international organizations in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental institutions based on the study's findings.
Anomaly Detection in Weather Phenomena: News and Numerical Data-Driven Insights into the Climate Change in Romania’s Historical Regions
Authors: Bâra Adela , Văduva Alin Gabriel , Oprea Simona-Vasilica
Published: May 2024

The extreme phenomena have been increased recently in frequency and intensity causing numerous damage that cannot be neglected by residents, local authorities and social media. More European countries are experiencing a growing number of occurrences, such as floods, powerful winds, storms, icing, and unusual temperature fluctuations. Particularly, the year 2023 has recorded the highest temperatures in the history of humanity. In this research, we compile a dataset that combines news reports with numerical data pertaining to weather conditions and air quality at the historical region level in Romania. We examine the news and recorded data spanning the years from 2009 to 2023 using anomaly detection and clustering techniques to compare the results. Specifically, we employ Isolation Forest and Autoencoders to identify anomalies within the data that are further clustered to analyse the detection process. We explore the occurrence frequency and duration of daily simultaneous extreme weather events over the years, conducting statistical tests like the Mann–Kendall test to discern trends in the extreme phenomena. The findings reveal statistically significant increasing trends in the incidence of heatwaves, storms and floods. When we set the Mean Squared Error (MSE) threshold to 95%, both methods detect nearly 16% of the anomalies, and this figure rises to over 25% when the MSE threshold is set to 90%. An analysis of anomalies at the regional level indicates that most anomalies are detected in the Transylvania and Muntenia regions, while the Banat region experiences the lowest level of anomalies.
Enhancing IoT Security: A Blockchain-Based Mitigation Framework for Deauthentication Attacks
Authors: Gopalan S. Harihara , Manikandan A. , Dharani N. P. , Sujatha G.
Published: May 2024

The proposed Blockchain-Based Mitigation of Deauthentication Attacks (BBMDA) Framework aims to enhance the security and trustworthiness of IoT environments by leveraging blockchain technology, the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) for secure authentication, and Multi-Task Transformer (MTT) for efficient traffic classification. This paper presents a novel approach to mitigate de-authentication attacks in IoT ecosystems. The research methodology involves developing and implementing the BBMDA framework, followed by a comprehensive evaluation and comparison with existing techniques. Key findings indicate that the BBMDA framework outperforms traditional methods such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) in terms of accuracy, false positive rate, false negative rate, precision, recall, and F1-score. These results underscore the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed framework in enhancing IoT security.
Integrated structural and energy building retrofit by reinforced concrete wall addition
Authors: Chen Baixi , Dong You
Published: May 2024

In light of the paramount considerations of environmental sustainability and the protection of both life and property, a significant number of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings fall short of meeting contemporary standards in terms of their structural and energy performances. In response to these pressing concerns, there is an imperative need for comprehensive building retrofitting processes that integrate both structural and energy considerations. One such approach, the addition of RC walls, is commonly employed as a structural retrofitting technique. However, its potential to enhance overall building efficiency has been relatively underexplored in previous research. In this study, we focus on a representative RC building and utilize two key performance indices: structural residual life and energy consumption, to comprehensively evaluate the impact of RC wall retrofitting on both structural and energy performance. Our investigation considers retrofitting on both the exterior and interior sides of the building. It is observed that the structural performance exhibits notable improvement with the addition of RC walls on either side, and this improvement becomes even more pronounced when complemented by local retrofits to adjacent beams. While the RC walls added on the interior side have negligible impact on the building energy efficiency, those installed on the exterior side could obviously reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC system by 7.9%. Hence, the outcomes of this study indicate that employing the RC wall retrofitting on the exterior side of the existing building is an efficient way to reach structural and energy performance targets simultaneously.
Assessing the ecological impact of industrial noise pollution on wildlife behavior in Okomu Forest Reserve, Nigeria
Authors: Ajibola-James Olufunmilayo Omolara , Awotoye Olusegun O. , Sonibare Jacob A. , Oroboade Jeremiah G.
Published: May 2024

The study identified sources and established the levels of industrial noise in Okomu National Park with the aim of determining the impact of industrial noise pollution on wildlife in Okomu National Park. It also modelled propagation of ambient noise levels associated with the established levels as well as determined impacts of ambient noise obtained from industrial activities on wildlife of the National Park. Locations of identified sources of noise including industrial activities sources relative to the National Park were established and digital maps of the identified locations was generated. Ambient noise levels were obtained for wildlife populations around selected locations. Noise assignment was done at each of the hotspots for industrial activity that had been detected using EXTEC sensors. The average noise levels from the industrial sources were then processed into a model using NoiseMap. The calculated noise levels from identified sources were represented with contour map. The results identified sources of noise pollution in Okomu Forest Reserve as: Okomu Palm Oil processing mill and Michelin rubber Processing factory. The result showed that activities within these industries produced at least 40 dB during the period of study. The effects of noise from the industrial activities forced the migration of the animals out of the National Park to favourable habitats with less noise sources. The retreat of the animals caused energy depletion and reduced the chances of their survival. The study concluded that industrial activities such as Palm oil processing, rubber processing, logging and vehicles are a major source of noise pollution that threatens the sustainability of wildlife in the Okomu National Park.
Heterogeneous and hybrid integration system in display technology
Authors: Huang Sixin , Long Haohui , Li Jianhui , Zhou Ziqing
Published: May 2024

The development tendency of “More than Display” is proposed for the display and semiconductor technologies, and the new-brand architecture of heterogeneous integration system in display (HiSID) is established in accordance with the demands of third generation Micro/Mini-LED devices. Many functional units (e.g., display units, storage units, sensing units, communication units and computing units) are integrated into one display main-board based on the semiconductor technology and electronic packaging. The advantages and details of miniaturization, intelligent, advanced integration, signal integrity with low latency performance, process compatibility and reliability are introduced. The interconnection requirements and design of the HiSID model with artificial intelligence are also summarized in this paper. It will provide technical guidance and references for the commercial application, core technology, and breakthrough direction of the HiSID module in display technology.
Use of biochar as a sustainable agronomic tool, its limitations and impact on environment: a review
Authors: Upadhyay Vineet , Choudhary Krishna Kumar , Agrawal Shashi Bhushan
Published: May 2024

Ensuring global food security under present and futuristic scenario of climate change accompanied by expanding population is of major concern worldwide. Researchers across the world are focusing on sustainable agronomic practices to combat climate change induced issues like desertification, reduction in crop yield, pest outbreaks, and reduction in soil health. Biochar has demonstrated positive effects on plant growth, development, fruit quality, carbon capture and sequestration. Studies indicate that biochar amendments to soil can enhance soil health, plant growth and development as well as help in combating abiotic stressors. Biochar has several properties that make it an attractive soil amendment, including high porosity, surface area, water-holding capacity, and the ability to increase soil microbiota, which in turn can promote nutrient uptake and reduce soil erosion. Environmentally, biochar’s ability to degrade organic pollutant as well as sequester carbon makes it a very attractive addition to sustainable agriculture. Nonetheless, biochar has also been reported to have potential hazardous impacts on human health associated with possible leakage of toxic elements and particulate matter pollution. However, lack of exhaustive studies that detail all the major aspects of biochar application in agroecosystem impedes decision making on its overall usability in agriculture. There exists a need for comprehensive review that cover all the important aspects of biochar supplementation. This review provides a thorough overview of the multifaceted impacts of biochar, encompassing its positive effects on soil, plant growth, development and environment, while also exploring the limitations along with potential toxic effects associated with its application.
Corn Acreage Intensification Levels in U.S. Corn Belt States
Authors: Annan Kenneth , Fausti Scott W. , Van der Sluis Evert , Kolady Deepthi E.
Published: May 2024

Crop rotations in the United States increasingly involve few crops dominated by corn frequently combined with soybeans. We assess factors tied to corn acreage intensification over the past two decades. Using state-level data of 11 U.S. Corn Belt states from 2000 to 2021, we applied a panel fixed effects instrumental variable modeling approach to investigate these linkages. Findings suggest Conservation Reserve Program acreage releases, crop prices, ethanol demand, farm size, productivity, and genetically modified varieties positively impact corn acreage intensity. These results imply crop planting decisions are complex and are not uniquely attributed to biofuel considerations.
Partially hyperbolic endomorphisms with expanding linear part
Authors: ANDERSSON MARTIN , RANTER WAGNER
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we study transitivity of partially hyperbolic endomorphisms of the two torus whose action in the first homology group has two integer eigenvalues of moduli greater than one. We prove that if the Jacobian is everywhere greater than the modulus of the largest eigenvalue, then the map is robustly transitive. For this, we introduce Blichfedt’s theorem as a tool for extracting dynamical information from the action of a map in homology. We also treat the case of specially partially hyperbolic endomorphisms, for which we obtain a complete dichotomy: either the map is transitive and conjugated to its linear part, or its unstable foliation must contain an annulus which may either be wandering or periodic.
Relationship between chlorhexidine gluconate concentration and microbial colonization of patients’ skin
Authors: Rhee Yoona , Simms Andrew T. , Schoeny Michael , Baker Arthur W. , Baker Meghan A. , Gohil Shruti , Rhee Chanu , Talati Naasha J. , Warren David K. , Welbel Sharon , Lolans Karen , Bell Pamela B. , Fukuda Christine , Hayden Mary K. , Lin Michael Y. ,   for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: May 2024

Objective:

To characterize the relationship between chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) skin concentration and skin microbial colonization.

Design:

Serial cross-sectional study.

Setting/participants:

Adult patients in medical intensive care units (ICUs) from 7 hospitals; from 1 hospital, additional patients colonized with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) from both ICU and non-ICU settings. All hospitals performed routine CHG bathing in the ICU.

Methods:

Skin swab samples were collected from adjacent areas of the neck, axilla, and inguinal region for microbial culture and CHG skin concentration measurement using a semiquantitative colorimetric assay. We used linear mixed effects multilevel models to analyze the relationship between CHG concentration and microbial detection. We explored threshold effects using additional models.

Results:

We collected samples from 736 of 759 (97%) eligible ICU patients and 68 patients colonized with CPE. On skin, gram-positive bacteria were cultured most frequently (93% of patients), followed by Candida species (26%) and gram-negative bacteria (20%). The adjusted odds of microbial recovery for every twofold increase in CHG skin concentration were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.80–0.87; P < .001) for gram-positive bacteria, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89–0.98; P = .008) for Candida species, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.91–1.02; P = .17) for gram-negative bacteria, and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.84–1.06; P = .33) for CPE. A threshold CHG skin concentration for reduced microbial detection was not observed.

Conclusions:

On a cross-sectional basis, higher CHG skin concentrations were associated with less detection of gram-positive bacteria and Candida species on the skin, but not gram-negative bacteria, including CPE. For infection prevention, targeting higher CHG skin concentrations may improve control of certain pathogens.
Monolingualism in Iran: The Politics of Writing in Azeri Turkish
Authors: Rahimi Bahmany Leila
Published: May 2024

Throughout the twentieth century, Azeri Turkish was intermittently banned, occasionally tolerated, but always marginalized in relation to Persian, which was perceived as the unifying, defining, essential language of the nation. Despite the substantial population of Azeri Turkish speakers in Iran—the largest linguistic minority—any attempt to teach the language publicly or to publish in Azeri Turkish has often been regarded, even to this day, as a highly political act of dissidence. Historical analysis of Azeri Turkish texts and a review of policies in language teaching, publication, and censorship within Iranian Azerbaijan reveal a symbiotic but simultaneously paradoxical interaction between this mother tongue and the official master language.
The Middle Mongol zodiac in Georgian transcription
Authors: Shimunek Andrew , Shurgaia Gaga
Published: May 2024

This paper presents linguistic and philological analyses of glossed medieval Georgian transcriptions of the Middle Mongol zodiac terms in the fourteenth-century anonymous ასწლოვანი მატიანე Asc'lovani Mat'iane (Chronicle of One Hundred Years), revealing unique details on Middle Mongol as attested in medieval Georgia. This is the first instalment of the authors’ joint research on this vastly important, largely untapped contemporaneous Georgian source on medieval Mongol language, culture and history.
Triple burden of malnutrition among Vietnamese 0·5–11-year-old children in 2020–2021: results of SEANUTS II Vietnam
Authors: Tran Nga Thuy , Tran Van Khanh , Tran Duong Thanh , Nguyen Tu Tran Ngoc , Nguyen Son Duy , Nguyen Ha Thu , Nguyen Tu Song , Thanh Le Tung Van , Nguyen Phuong Thi Lan , Dang Hanh Thi , Le Hoa Anh , Wong Gerard , Khouw Ilse
Published: May 2024

Objective:

SEANUTS II Vietnam aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the nutritional status and nutrient intake of children between 0·5 and 11·9 years old.

Design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting:

A multistage cluster systematic random sampling method was implemented in different regions in Vietnam: North Mountainous, Central Highlands, Red River Delta, North Central and Coastal Area, Southeast and Mekong River Delta.

Participants:

4001 children between 6 months and 11·9 years of age.

Results:

The prevalence of stunting and underweight was higher in rural than in urban children, whereas overweight and obese rates were higher in urban areas. 12·0 % of the children had anaemia and especially children 0·5–1 year old were affected (38·6 %). Low serum retinol was found in 6·2 % of children ≥ 4 years old. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 31·1 % while 60·8 % had low serum Zn. For nutrient intake, overall, 80·1 % of the children did not meet the estimated energy requirements. For Ca intake, ∼60 % of the younger children did not meet the RNI while it was 92·6 % in children >7 years old. For vitamin D intake, 95·0 % of the children did not meet recommended nutrient intakes.

Conclusions:

SEANUTS II Vietnam indicated that overnutrition was more prevalent than undernutrition in urban areas, while undernutrition was found more in rural areas. The high prevalence of low serum Zn, vitamin D insufficiency and the inadequate intakes of Ca and vitamin D are of concern. Nutrition strategies for Vietnamese children should consider three sides of malnutrition and focus on approaches for the prevention of malnutrition.
Deforestation‐Driven Increases in Shallow Clouds Are Greatest in Drier, Low‐Aerosol Regions of Southeast Asia
Authors: Leung Gabrielle R. , Grant Leah D. , van den Heever Susan C.
Published: May 2024

Anthropogenic activity drives extensive tropical deforestation, particularly in Southeast Asia where 16% of total forest cover was lost between 2000 and 2020. While land surface changes significantly affect the atmosphere, their net impact on convective clouds is not well‐constrained. Here, we use satellite data to demonstrate long‐term deforestation in Southeast Asia robustly alters cloud properties and provide the first observational evidence that the magnitude of this response depends on the atmospheric environment. Deforestation drives a shift toward more widespread, shallower clouds during the daytime, with amplified effects in dry inland areas compared with moist coastal regions. Aerosols only weakly modulate the cloud fraction response, but offset the cloud top height response to deforestation, suggesting the influence of aerosol indirect effects. We conclude that the local signature of forest loss is not uniform, and regional differences in climatology must be considered when assessing deforestation impacts on clouds and the climate system.
Numerical Reconstruction of Landslide Paleotsunami Using Geological Records in Alpine Lake Aiguebelette
Authors: Zafar Muhammad Naveed , Dutykh Denys , Sabatier Pierre , Banjan Mathilde , Kim Jihwan
Published: May 2024

Mass movements and delta collapses are significant sources of tsunamis in lacustrine environments, impacting human societies enormously. Paleotsunamis studies play an essential role in understanding historical events and their consequences, along with their return periods. This study investigates a paleotsunami induced by a subaqueous mass movement during the Younger Dryas to Early Holocene transition, ca. 11,700 years ago in Lake Aiguebelette (NW Alps, France). Utilizing high‐resolution seismic and bathymetric surveys associated with sedimentological, geochemical, and magnetic analyses, we uncovered a paleotsunami triggered by a seismically induced mass transport deposit. Numerical simulations of mass movement have been conducted using a visco‐plastic Herschel‐Bulkley rheological model and corresponding tsunami wave modeled with dispersive and nondispersive models. Our findings reveal for the first time that dispersive effects may be negligible for subaqueous landslides in a relatively small lake. This research reconstructs a previously unreported paleotsunami event and enhances our understanding of tsunami dynamics in lacustrine environments.
Reduction in the Tropical High Cloud Fraction in Response to an Indirect Weakening of the Hadley Cell
Authors: Natchiar S. R. Monisha , Webb Mark J. , Lambert F. Hugo , Vallis Geoffrey K. , Morcrette Cyril J. , Holloway Christopher E. , Sergeev Denis E. , Boutle Ian
Published: May 2024

Tropical high cloud cover decreases with surface warming in most general circulation models. This reduction, according to the “stability‐iris” hypothesis, is thermodynamically controlled and linked to a decrease in the radiatively‐driven clear‐sky convergence, when the peak anvil clouds rise because of the rising isotherms. The influence of the large‐scale dynamical changes on the tropical high cloud fraction remains difficult to disentangle from the local thermodynamic influence, given that the mean meridional circulation remains inextricably tied to the local thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere. However, using idealized general circulation model simulations, we propose a novel method to segregate the dynamical impact from the thermodynamic impact on the tropical high cloud fraction. To this end, our investigation primarily focuses on the mechanisms underpinning changes in the high cloud cover in the deep tropics in response to extratropical surface warming, when the tropical sea surface temperatures remain invariant. Net convective detrainment of ice cloud condensates decreases at the peak detrainment region, without a rise in its altitude. We also find that the importance of depositional growth of ice cloud condensates in controlling the high cloud fraction response in the deep tropics varies with altitude.
Improving Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Forecasting With Deep Learning and Satellite Image Sequencing
Authors: Yang Nan , Wang Chong , Li Xiaofeng
Published: May 2024

Precipitation forecasting in tropical cyclones (TC) is vital for warning systems and disaster management. Artificial intelligence (AI)‐based methods show promise in this domain. Here, we investigate two aspects of AI forecasting for TC precipitation: modeling satellite image sequencing and analyzing predictability. To the former, using the Global Precipitation Measurement, we establish a high‐accuracy regional and intensity forecasting method. Through an analysis of precipitation patterns and intensities, we have demonstrated the effectiveness, reliability, and robustness of forecasting TC precipitation. To the latter, we conduct predictability research, which covers different intensity categories and landfall versus non‐landfall TC precipitation. The conclusions are: (a) TC precipitation varies regionally with predictability differences among intensity categories; (b) Forecasting landfalling TC precipitation is less challenging than non‐landfalling, considering TC intensity and paths. The proposed method also demonstrates strong forecasting capabilities in handling extreme and accumulated precipitation within 0–120 min, achieving an accuracy rate of 87%.
Mid-infrared computational temporal ghost imaging
Authors: Wu Han , Hu Bo , Chen Lu , Peng Fei , Wang Zinan , Genty Goëry , Liang Houkun
Published: May 2024

Ghost imaging in the time domain allows for reconstructing fast temporal objects using a slow photodetector. The technique involves correlating random or pre-programmed probing temporal intensity patterns with the integrated signal measured after modulation by the temporal object. However, the implementation of temporal ghost imaging necessitates ultrafast detectors or modulators for measuring or pre-programming the probing intensity patterns, which are not available in all spectral regions especially in the mid-infrared range. Here, we demonstrate a frequency downconversion temporal ghost imaging scheme that enables to extend the operation regime to arbitrary wavelengths regions where fast modulators and detectors are not available. The approach modulates a signal with temporal intensity patterns in the near-infrared and transfers the patterns to an idler via difference-frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal at a wavelength where the temporal object can be retrieved. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate computational temporal ghost imaging in the mid-infrared with operating wavelength that can be tuned from 3.2 to 4.3 μm. The scheme is flexible and can be extended to other regimes. Our results introduce new possibilities for scan-free pump-probe imaging and the study of ultrafast dynamics in spectral regions where ultrafast modulation or detection is challenging such as the mid-infrared and THz regions.
Microsphere-assisted hyperspectral imaging: super-resolution, non-destructive metrology for semiconductor devices
Authors: Park Jangryul , Choi Youngsun , Kwon Soonyang , Lee Youngjun , Kim Jiwoong , Kim Jae-joon , Lee Jihye , Ahn Jeongho , Kwak Hidong , Yang Yusin , Jo Taeyong , Lee Myungjun , Kim Kwangrak
Published: May 2024

As semiconductor devices shrink and their manufacturing processes advance, accurately measuring in-cell critical dimensions (CD) becomes increasingly crucial. Traditional test element group (TEG) measurements are becoming inadequate for representing the fine, repetitive patterns in cell blocks. Conventional non-destructive metrology technologies like optical critical dimension (OCD) are limited due to their large spot diameter of approximately 25 μm, which impedes their efficacy for detailed in-cell structural analysis. Consequently, there is a pressing need for small-spot and non-destructive metrology methods. To address this limitation, we demonstrate a microsphere-assisted hyperspectral imaging (MAHSI) system, specifically designed for small spot optical metrology with super-resolution. Utilizing microsphere-assisted super-resolution imaging, this system achieves an optical resolution of 66 nm within a field of view of 5.6 μm × 5.6 μm. This approach effectively breaks the diffraction limit, significantly enhancing the magnification of the system. The MAHSI system incorporating hyperspectral imaging with a wavelength range of 400–790 nm, enables the capture of the reflection spectrum at each camera pixel. The achieved pixel resolution, which is equivalent to the measuring spot size, is 14.4 nm/pixel and the magnification is 450X. The MAHSI system enables measurement of local uniformity in critical areas like corners and edges of DRAM cell blocks, areas previously challenging to inspect with conventional OCD methods. To our knowledge, this approach represents the first global implementation of microsphere-assisted hyperspectral imaging to address the metrology challenges in complex 3D structures of semiconductor devices.