bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resource Taxes as an Instrument to Foster Circularity? Analysis of the Effects of Resource Taxation on Circular Economy Progress in Europe
Authors: Deserno Linda , Sterk Ellen
Published: November 2024

The concept of Circular Economy (CE) keeps gaining momentum in political and societal debates as it is considered to contribute to a more sustainable use of natural resources. Policymakers seeking to foster CE progress require adequate regulatory instruments. One instrument often recommended is a tax on the use of natural resources. The present paper analyzes the effects of resource taxation on different CE indicators, especially resource productivity, based on panel data for 30 European countries from 1995 to 2021. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator is applied, and the results are checked for robustness using the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator. Despite current low levels of resource taxation, the results indicate that resource taxation positively affects resource productivity at least in the short run. The effect differs substantially in different countries. Hence, resource taxation seems to foster circularity, but the results indicate that other factors are of influence and should be considered when designing policies.
Thermodynamic Descriptors for Rapid Search of Compositional Complex Spinodal Alloys with Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Gong H. , Chen Z. Q. , Shang Y. H. , Wang H. , Hu S. J. , Yang Y.
Published: November 2024

Designing compositional complex alloys with interconnected nanostructures through spinodal decomposition is promising for achieving advanced alloys with exceptional mechanical and functional properties. However, the lack of equilibrium phase diagrams for such compositional complex alloys has posed a significant challenge. In this study, we address this challenge by first introducing data descriptors derived from instability of solid solutions with ideal mixing and later serving as the basis for developing an artificial neural network (ANN) with other commonly used data descriptors. Using this ANN model, we have successfully designed a series of compositional complex spinodal alloys (CCSAs) within the Al–Co–Cr–Fe–Ni and Al–Cu–Fe–Mn–Ni system. Furthermore, we extended the ideal mixing model of solid solution instability by considering chemical short-range ordering and elemental de-mixing, which better explains the elemental separation of CCSAs.
An in-depth review of analytical methods for cadmium detection in seawater through graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: Anoja N. , De Silva R. C. L. , Prabagar J.
Published: November 2024

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal that poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, necessitating accurate trace-level measurement in seawater. Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) is highly sensitive for detecting Cd but faces challenges due to seawater's complex matrix, which can cause spectral interferences and matrix effects. This review covers the development of GFAAS methods for direct Cd determination in seawater from 1977 to the present, focusing on pre-concentration and matrix modification techniques to address these challenges. Pre-concentration methods enhance detection sensitivity by concentrating large seawater volumes into smaller samples, enabling trace metal analysis. This review evaluates various pre-concentration techniques, including solvent extraction, cloud point extraction, solid phase extraction, hollow fiber-supported liquid membrane extraction and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction. Each method's advantages, limitations, and applications are discussed. Advancements in matrix modification and furnace programming have also improved direct Cd determination. Matrix modifiers enhance Cd signal intensity and reduce background noise. Background correction techniques, like Zeeman background correction, are crucial for mitigating spectral interferences. The review highlights the effectiveness of these approaches and the potential of temperature-programmed selective volatilization for improved Cd atomization and interference reduction. Future research should focus on developing novel matrix modifiers with better selectivity and minimal interference, and exploring hyphenated techniques like GFAAS-HPLC or GFAAS-ICP-MS for enhanced detection. The review underscores the need for ongoing innovation and the exploration of eco-friendly pre-concentration methods and advanced analytical techniques for accurate Cd detection in seawater, crucial for marine environmental monitoring and management.
Decoding Terrorism
Authors: Kupper Julia , Bojsen-Møller Marie , Christensen Tanya Karoli , Wing Dakota , Papadopulos Marcus , Smith Sharon
Published: November 2024

This Element is an interdisciplinary analysis of the language evidence produced before, during and following a lone-actor terrorism attack in Halle, Germany, on October 9, 2019, resulting in two casualties. During his final preparations, the perpetrator, twenty-seven-year-old Stephan Balliet, announced his attack online and disseminated a targeted violence manifesto shortly before live-streaming his violent act. This post-hoc investigation introduces a multi-method approach that synchronizes well-established qualitative methodologies for forensic text analysis – genre, text linguistics, appraisal and uptake – to elucidate these data types. Furthermore, a retroactive threat assessment based on language data from the trial transcripts provides a holistic review of the assailant's background, red flags, triggering events and warning behaviors that could have signaled his movements along the pathway to violence. The results are considered in an organizational context to highlight current challenges faced by security agencies when mitigating the risk of lone-actors who radicalize in online environments.
Towards a high-resolution sea-ice model: exploring the potential of modelling ice floe fracture with the peridynamic method
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Lu Wenjun , Lubbad Raed , Løset Sveinung , Tsarau Andrei , Høyland Knut Vilhelm
Published: November 2024

Sea-ice deformation is concentrated at linear kinematic features such as ridges and leads. Ridging and leads opening processes are highly related to sea-ice fracture. Different rheology models have been successfully applied in various scenarios. However, most of the approaches adopted are based on continuum mechanics that do not explicitly model fracture processes. There are emerging needs for a more physically informed modelling methods that explicitly address fracture at the kilometre scale. In pursuing this objective, in this paper we explored the potential of applying a promising mesh free numerical method, peridynamics (PD), in modelling ice floe (~km) fractures. PD offers a physically and mathematically consistent theory through which spontaneous emergence and propagation of cracks can be achieved. The integral nature of the governing equations in PD remains valid even if a crack appears. We numerically investigated in this paper the tensile fracture (e.g. lead opening) of an elastic heterogenous ice floe. The modelling results were compared with published numerical results obtained by another numerical method. The potentials and challenges of PD in this application are discussed and summarized.
Evaluating science: A comparison of human and AI reviewers
Authors: Shcherbiak Anna , Habibnia Hooman , Böhm Robert , Fiedler Susann
Published: November 2024

Scientists have started to explore whether novel artificial intelligence (AI) tools based on large language models, such as GPT-4, could support the scientific peer review process. We sought to understand (i) whether AI versus human reviewers are able to distinguish between made-up AI-generated and human-written conference abstracts reporting on actual research, and (ii) how the quality assessments by AI versus human reviewers of the reported research correspond to each other. We conducted a large-scale field experiment during a medium-sized scientific conference, relying on 305 human-written and 20 AI-written abstracts that were reviewed either by AI or 217 human reviewers. The results show that human reviewers and GPTZero were better in discerning (AI vs. human) authorship than GPT-4. Regarding quality assessments, there was rather low agreement between both human–human and human–AI reviewer pairs, but AI reviewers were more aligned with human reviewers in classifying the very best abstracts. This indicates that AI could become a prescreening tool for scientific abstracts. The results are discussed with regard to the future development and use of AI tools during the scientific peer review process.
Atomisation of an acoustically levitated droplet: experimental observations of myriad complex phenomena
Authors: Saroj S.K. , Thaokar R.M.
Published: November 2024

We report the dynamics of a droplet levitated in a multi-emitter, single-axis acoustic levitator. The deformation and atomisation behaviour of the droplet in the acoustic field displays myriad complex phenomena, in a series of events. These include the primary breakup of the droplet, wherein it exhibits stable levitation, deformation, sheet formation and equatorial atomisation, followed by its secondary breakup, which could be of various types such as umbrella, bag, bubble or multi-stage breakup. A large number of tiny atomised droplets, formed as a result of the primary and secondary breakup, can remain levitated in the acoustic levitator and exhibit aggregation and coalescence. The visualisation of the interfacial instabilities on the surface of the liquid sheet using both side- and top-view imaging is presented. An approximate size distribution of the atomised droplets is also provided. The stable levitation of the droplet is due to a balance of acoustic and gravitational forces while the resulting ellipsoidal shape of the droplet is a consequence of the balance of the deforming acoustic force and the restoring capillary force. Stronger acoustic forces can no longer be balanced by capillary forces, resulting in a highly flattened droplet, with a thin liquid sheet at the edge (equatorial region). The thinning of the sheet is caused by the differential acceleration induced by the increasing pressure difference between the poles and the equator as the sheet deforms. When the sheet thickness reduces to of the order of a few microns, Faraday waves develop at the thinnest region (preceding the rim), which causes the generation of tiny-sized droplets that are ejected perpendicular to the sheet. The corresponding hole formation results in a perforated sheet that causes the detachment of the annular rim, which breaks due to Rayleigh–Plateau (RP) instability. The radial ligaments generated in the sheet, possibly due to Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instability, break into droplets of different sizes. The secondary breakup exhibits Weber number dependency and includes umbrella, bag, bubble or multi-stage types, ultimately resulting in the complete atomisation of the droplets. Both the primary and the secondary breakup of the droplet involve interfacial instabilities such as Faraday, Kelvin–Helmholtz, RT and RP and are well supported by visual evidence.
Flows over a spinning disc at incidence
Authors: Kuraan Abdullah M. , Savaş Ömer
Published: November 2024

Flows over a disc are studied in a wind tunnel over incidence angles between

$0^\circ \text { and }36^\circ$

, a Reynolds number of

$2.7 \times 10^4$

and rotational speed ratios of

$0\unicode{x2013}10$

. Smoke-wire visualization, particle image velocimetry and hot-film anemometry are employed. Two vortex shedding modes originating from the upstream surface of the disc are observed. The first is dominant at incidence angles up to

${\sim }21^\circ$

. Beyond

$21^\circ$

, the second mode dominates. It appears as a soliton on the vortices and has a shedding frequency nearly twice that of the first at the highest incidence angle. The Strouhal number monotonically increases with incidence angle from approximately 0.2 to 0.4. Spectral analysis of the hot-film measurements confirms the findings from flow visualization experiments. Flows over the spinning disc generally mimic the stationary disc flows; however, centrifugal forces lead to cross-stream instability features that may be attributed to spiral wave instabilities intrinsic to the boundary layers in rotating flows. Velocity measurements are used to construct streamline patterns to compare with the smoke streaklines. The unsteadiness of the flows results in large variances. Mean strain rates are extracted from velocity data, where the fixed disc case at normal incidence compares well with theoretical predictions. The unsteady boundary layer thickness over the fixed disc, however, is approximately twice that predicted by theory for steady flow, stemming from the dominance of large unsteady vortices. Limited comparisons are made of the Strouhal numbers from experiments and numerical calculations in the literature.
Do atmospheric rivers trigger tabular iceberg calving?
Authors: Rendfrey Tristan Scott , Bassis Jeremy , Pettersen Claire
Published: November 2024

The processes governing iceberg calving from ice shelves remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that anomalous atmospheric moisture transport events – atmospheric rivers – can act as triggers for calving. These conclusions, however, were based on studies of case studies of individual icebergs or ice shelves, making it difficult to determine if this relationship remains apparent when considering a wider set of calving events and ice shelves. Here, we assemble an Antarctic-wide catalog of tabular iceberg calving events to evaluate whether a significant correlation exists between calving and enhancement of total and meridional integrated vapor transport (IVT), a measure of atmospheric moisture transport. We find that ~80% of the calving events in our study occur when metrics of IVT are less than the 90th percentile of their monthly climatologies. However, the remaining ~20% of calving events that occur during periods with short-term enhanced IVT exhibit a statistically significant correlation. The results, however, are regionally dependent, with a statistically significant correlation between enhanced IVT and calving in the Antarctic Peninsula and none in the Amundsen Sea Embayment. This suggests that, although enhanced IVT is not a primary control on the iceberg calving process, enhanced IVT may play a role in triggering calving events under certain conditions.
The creation of a wine entrepôt in 18th-century Boulogne-Sur-Mer: Dedicated commodity chain, politics, and enlightenment economists
Authors: Leary Charlie
Published: November 2024

This article documents the sudden creation of a significant entrepôt for French wine, particularly Bordeaux claret, in Boulogne-Sur-Mer starting in 1720. Scottish Jacobites who practiced a rebellious version of “fair trade” dominated this commerce, and their network had direct links to 18th-century economic thinkers such as Richard Cantillon, Charles de Montesquieu, and David Hume. The research uses social network analysis to analyze and visualize the concurrent networks, which by the 1750s included the French physiocrats. The research shows how politically inspired actions and strategies affected not only the wine entrepôt’s formation but also the circulation of ideas regarding “fair,” “free,” and balanced trade among Franco-British economic theorists. It also documents the formation of a dedicated claret commodity chain as well as the advent of wine product, packaging, and marketing specialization in the 18th century. These Jacobites formed wine trading firms that lasted long after the relevance of their political objectives had waned.
Myopic memory: Capitalism's new continuity in the age of AI
Authors: Pilkington Danny
Published: November 2024

This article is a commentary on the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), capitalism, and memory. The political policies of neoliberalism have reduced the capacity of individuals and groups to reflect on and change the social world, meanwhile applications of AI and algorithmic technologies, rooted in the profit-seeking objectives of global capitalism, deepen this deficit. In these conditions, memory in individuals and across society is at risk of becoming myopic. In this article, I develop the concept of myopic memory with two core claims. Firstly, I argue that AI is a technological development that cannot be divorced from the capitalist conditions from which it comes from and is implemented in service of. To this end, I reveal capitalism and colonialism's historical and contemporary use of surveillance as a way to control the populations it oppresses, imagining their pasts to determine their futures, disempowering them in the process. My second core claim emphasises that this process of disempowerment is undergoing an acute realisation four decades into the period of neoliberalism. Neoliberal policies have restructured society on the basis of being an individual consumer, leaving little time, space, and institutional capacity for citizens to reflect on their impact or challenge their dominance. As a result, with the growing role of AI and algorithmic technologies in shaping our engagement with society along similar lines of individualism, it is my conclusion that the scope of memory is being reduced and constrained within the prism of capitalism, reducing its potential, and rendering it myopic.
Women candidates and mayors in Italy (1993–2021)
Authors: Freschi Anna Carola , Mete Vittorio
Published: November 2024

This article uses an original dataset to sketch a portrait of women mayoral candidates and women elected as mayors in Italy in the period 1993–2021. The analysis highlights several significant findings. Women must compensate for their political marginality by deploying other resources, such as higher levels of education. Nevertheless, women are penalised not only by the reluctance of parties to put them forward as candidates, but also by the elections themselves. More specifically, the electoral presence and strength of women decreases when the population size of the municipality grows, except for municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Moreover, women candidates are most disadvantaged in geographical areas where the socioeconomic condition of women is more marginal. However, women mayors running for a second mandate have the same chance of winning as men. Finally, it is the protest parties, rather than the left-wing parties, that are revealed as doing the most to promote women.
Interpersonal Relationships, Bipartisanship, and January 6th
Authors: CURRY JAMES M. , ROBERTS JASON M.
Published: November 2024

For a member of Congress to be a successful lawmaker, they must work collaboratively with their colleagues. Previous work has found that interpersonal relationships among lawmakers are a key predictor of legislative collaboration—particularly among members from opposing parties. In the wake of the events of January 6, 2021, many Democratic lawmakers claimed that their relationships with some of their Republican colleagues were irretrievably broken and they would be unable to continue collaborating with members who voted against certifying electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election. Using data on original cosponsorship and legislative effectiveness from the 115th to 117th Congresses (2017–22) we find that Republican lawmakers who voted against the certification of electoral votes lost bipartisan collaborators and saw a drastic decrease in their legislative effectiveness in the 117th Congress.
Agroclimatic and spectral regionalization for soybean in different agricultural settings in the state of Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Gasparin P. P. , da Silva E. M. , Becker W. R. , Paludo A. , Guedes L. P. C. , Johann J. A.
Published: November 2024

Information related to the climate, sowing time, harvest, and crop development is essential for defining appropriate strategies for agricultural activities, which helps both producers and responsible bodies. Paraná, the second largest soybean producer in Brazil, has high climatic variability, which greatly influences planting, harvesting, and crop productivity periods. Therefore, the objective of this study was to regionalize the state of Paraná, considering decennial metrics associated with climate variables and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) during the soybean cycle. Individual and global analyses of these metrics were conducted performed using multivariate techniques. These analyses were carried out in agricultural scenarios with low, medium, and high precipitation, corresponding to harvest years 2011/2012, 2013/2014, and 2015/2016, respectively. The results obtained from the scores of the retained factors and the cluster analysis were the profile of the groups, with Group 1 presenting more favourable climatic and agronomic conditions for the development of soybean crops for the three harvest years. The opposite occurred for Groups 2 (2011/2012 and 2013/2014) and Group 3 (2015/2016). During the soybean reproductive phases (R2 – R5), precipitation values were inadequate, especially for Group 2 (2011/2012 and 2013/2014) with high water deficit, resulting in a drop in soybean productivity. The climatic and agronomic regionalization of Paraná made it possible to identify the regions most suitable for growing soybeans, the effect of climatic conditions on phenological stages, and the variability of soybean productivity in the three harvest years.
“Three New Paradigms of Indigenous American (Re-)Discovery”
Authors: Marini Kyle
Published: November 2024

Caroline Dodds Pennock, Ned Blackhawk, and Esteban Mira Caballos published three paradigm-shifting works in 2023 that flip deeply ingrained narratives of Indigenous Americans’ presence at home in the hemispheric Americas and abroad in Europe. Pennock's book introduces scholarly shifts towards a global Indigenous presence and reframes Europe On Savage Shores where Indigenous travellers arrived on their own accord in largely forgotten encounters; Blackhawk reimagines official United States history which often omits Indigenous peoples by making them its moving force in The Rediscovery of America; and Mira Caballos conversely breaks down stereotypical attitudes toward Indigenous travellers in Spain by evincing their transatlantic journeys to Iberia in El Descubrimiento de Europa (The Discovery of Europe). All three works are mutually reinforcing in their mission to dismantle popular beliefs rooted in imaginative, racist, and antiquated narratives rather than historically verified reality. They are critical for both the academic and public transformation of the history of Indigenous peoples in Northern Europe, Iberia, and the United States. They propose a necessary and well-founded revision of their respective historiographic traditions, all originating from models predicated upon the paradigm of European discovery which these authors successfully turn on its head.
Anti-ageing natural supplements: the main players in promoting healthy lifespan
Authors: Izadi Mehran , Sadri Nariman , Abdi Amirhossein , Zadeh Mohammad Mahdi Raeis , Jalaei Dorsa , Ghazimoradi Mohammad Mahdi , Shouri Sara , Tahmasebi Safa
Published: November 2024

Ageing is an inevitable biological process accompanied by various physiological changes, and researchers have long sought interventions to promote healthy ageing. This article explores the effects of four natural compounds – omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, gingerol and curcumin – on the ageing process. We delve into the scientific literature to examine the potential benefits and mechanisms behind these substances in mitigating age-related conditions. Omega-3’s anti-inflammatory properties, coenzyme Q10’s cellular energy support, gingerol’s antioxidant effects and curcumin’s anti-ageing properties are discussed. By shedding light on the impact of these compounds, this review aims to contribute to a better understanding of how natural substances may play a role in promoting longevity and enhancing the quality of life during the ageing journey.
On the smallest gap in a sequence with Poisson pair correlations
Authors: Altman Daniel , Chase Zachary
Published: November 2024

We prove that any increasing sequence of real numbers with average gap
$1$
and Poisson pair correlations has some gap that is at least
$3/2+10^{-9}$
. This improves upon a result of Aistleitner, Blomer, and Radziwiłł.
ActuaryGPT: applications of large language models to insurance and actuarial work
Authors: Balona Caesar
Published: November 2024

Recent advances in large language models (LLMs), such as GPT-4, have spurred interest in their potential applications across various fields, including actuarial work. This paper introduces the use of LLMs in actuarial and insurance-related tasks, both as direct contributors to actuarial modelling and as workflow assistants. It provides an overview of LLM concepts and their potential applications in actuarial science and insurance, examining specific areas where LLMs can be beneficial, including a detailed assessment of the claims process. Additionally, a decision framework for determining the suitability of LLMs for specific tasks is presented. Case studies with accompanying code showcase the potential of LLMs to enhance actuarial work. Overall, the results suggest that LLMs can be valuable tools for actuarial tasks involving natural language processing or structuring unstructured data and as workflow and coding assistants. However, their use in actuarial work also presents challenges, particularly regarding professionalism and ethics, for which high-level guidance is provided.
Term limits in parliament and electoral disconnection: the case of the Five Star Movement
Authors: Bromo Francesco , Gambacciani Paolo , Improta Marco
Published: November 2024

This article examines the relationship between term limits in parliament and “electoral disconnection,” the notion that legislators constrained in their ability to run for office face diminished incentives to perform strategic activities to boost their chances of securing candidacy and re-election. We leverage the case of the Italian Five Star Movement’s party-imposed limit of two terms for affiliates seeking to gain or retain a parliamentary seat. We exploit an original dataset of parliamentary activities covering both chambers of the Italian Parliament between 2013 and 2022. We estimate a series of mixed-effect regression models to assess the performance of MPs who were elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2018. In line with our expectations, the evidence suggests that term-limited representatives serving their second mandate tend to become less productive when it comes to “electorally lucrative” activities and more prone to rebelling than their non-term-limited colleagues. These findings contribute to our understanding of the incentives that drive parliamentary behavior.
Wars have limits
Authors: Cassis Ignazio
Published: November 2024

This year marks the 160th anniversary of the original Geneva Convention and the 75th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949. Together, they have come to embody our common humanity. Alas, recent history teaches us that nothing can be taken for granted – whether people's basic rights or peace.
Empirical Models for Postfire Debris‐Flow Volume in the Southwest United States
Authors: Gorr Alexander , McGuire Luke , Youberg Ann
Published: November 2024

Improving our ability to relate postfire debris‐flow volume to rainfall characteristics, terrain attributes, and fire severity is critical for quantifying postfire sediment yields from steep landscapes and predicting changes in debris‐flow hazards following fire. This is especially true in the Southwest United States (US) (Arizona and New Mexico), where fire activity has increased in recent decades. In this study, we present a database of 54 postfire debris‐flow volumes that we collected across the Southwest between 2010 and 2021. We use these data to develop a multiple linear regression model for postfire debris‐flow volume based on peak 30‐min rainfall intensity, watershed area greater than 23°, and a soil burn severity variable. We further propose a model that utilizes only rainfall and terrain variables, as well as a model that requires only terrain attribute and fire‐severity variables. These models are beneficial in scenarios where there are data limitations. We compare these new models with others developed in the western US to explore differences in the factors that control debris‐flow volume across geographic regions. We find that the models introduced here more accurately predict postfire debris‐flow volume in the Southwest relative to existing models. We also find that models that include sub‐hourly rainfall intensity perform better than those that do not, revealing the benefits of high‐resolution rainfall data for constraining postfire debris‐flow volume. Results improve our ability to forecast postfire debris‐flow volume in the Southwest and provide insights into relationships between rainfall intensity, terrain attributes, fire severity, and debris‐flow volume.
Huntingtin CAG repeat size variations below the Huntington’s disease threshold: associations with depression, anxiety and basal ganglia structure
Authors: Vater Magdalena , Rost Nicolas , Eckstein Gertrud , Sauer Susann , Tontsch Alina , Erhardt Angelika , Lucae Susanne , Brückl Tanja , Klopstock Thomas , Sämann Philipp G. , Binder Elisabeth B.
Published: November 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is strongly associated with psychiatric symptoms, yet, associations between huntingtin gene (HTT) CAG repeat size variations and psychiatric phenotypes outside the HD complex are still under-investigated. In this genetic case-control study we compared the distribution of HTT CAG repeat sizes in predefined ranges between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 2136) and anxiety disorders (ANX) (n = 493), and healthy controls (CON) (n = 1566). We used regression models to study interactions between the alleles and associations with fine-granular clinical phenotypes and basal ganglia structure. HD mutations in the range of incomplete penetrance (36–39 repeats) were not overrepresented in patients. In participants older than 48 years, 13–20 repeats on both HTT alleles were associated with a reduced ANX risk whereas a 13–20 | 21–26 combination was associated with an increased ANX risk. Post-hoc analyses confirmed a turning point around 21 repeats and trends in the same direction were detected for MDD. The joint patient | CON analysis of the full spectrum of allele combinations confirmed interaction effects and age-dependent allele | risk profiles. A short-by-long interaction effect and an age-dependent negative correlation of the short allele on the nucleus accumbens volume was detected, independently of the diagnostic group. In conclusion, we revealed that HTT CAG repeat sizes of both alleles in the non-HD range are associated with a risk modulation for common psychiatric disorders as well as basal ganglia structure differences in an age-dependent way, possibly implying that normal variation of the functionally diverse wildtype huntingtin protein may impact brain function.
Genome-wide association study reveals mechanisms underlying dilated cardiomyopathy and myocardial resilience
Authors: Jurgens Sean J. , Rämö Joel T. , Kramarenko Daria R. , Wijdeveld Leonoor F. J. M. , Haas Jan , Chaffin Mark D. , Garnier Sophie , Gaziano Liam , Weng Lu-Chen , Lipov Alex , Zheng Sean L. , Henry Albert , Huffman Jennifer E. , Challa Saketh , Rühle Frank , Verdugo Carmen Diaz , Krijger Juárez Christian , Kany Shinwan , van Orsouw Constance A. , Biddinger Kiran , Poel Edwin , Elliott Amanda L. , Wang Xin , Francis Catherine , Ruan Richard , Koyama Satoshi , Beekman Leander , Zimmerman Dominic S. , Deleuze Jean-François , Villard Eric , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Isnard Richard ,   FinnGen,   VA Million Veteran Program,   HERMES Consortium, Boomsma Dorret I. , de Geus Eco J. C. , Tadros Rafik , Pinto Yigal M. , Wilde Arthur A. M. , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , Sinisalo Juha , Niiranen Teemu , Walsh Roddy , Schmidt Amand F. , Choi Seung Hoan , Chang Kyong-Mi , Tsao Philip S. , Matthews Paul M. , Ware James S. , Lumbers R. Thomas , van der Crabben Saskia , Laukkanen Jari , Palotie Aarno , Amin Ahmad S. , Charron Philippe , Meder Benjamin , Ellinor Patrick T. , Daly Mark , Aragam Krishna G. , Bezzina Connie R.
Published: November 2024

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease that represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality, yet causal mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we perform a large-scale genome-wide association study and multitrait analysis for DCM using 9,365 cases and 946,368 controls. We identify 70 genome-wide significant loci, which show broad replication in independent samples and map to 63 prioritized genes. Tissue, cell type and pathway enrichment analyses highlight the central role of the cardiomyocyte and contractile apparatus in DCM pathogenesis. Polygenic risk scores constructed from our genome-wide association study predict DCM across different ancestry groups, show differing contributions to DCM depending on rare pathogenic variant status and associate with systolic heart failure across various clinical settings. Mendelian randomization analyses reveal actionable potential causes of DCM, including higher bodyweight and higher systolic blood pressure. Our findings provide insights into the genetic architecture and mechanisms underlying DCM and myocardial function more broadly.
Physiological and biochemical response of strawberry cv. diamond to nano zeolite soil application and cinnamic acid foliar application
Authors: Zeinalipour Najmeh , Saadati Safoora
Published: November 2024

The increasing global population and climate change are pressing challenges that necessitate innovative agricultural solutions to ensure food security. One promising approach is the use of nano fertilizers and foliar spraying techniques, which enhance nutrient delivery to plants. The purpose of this research was to examine how three different concentrations of nano zeolite (0, 30, and 60 mg L− 1) applied to the soil through irrigation and three different concentrations of cinnamic acid (0, 100, and 200 µM) applied topically affected the physiological and biochemical characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. diamond, as well as the crop’s yield and quality of its fruits. A factorial system with three replications was used in the experiment, which was designed in a completely randomized design. According to the data, all features except stomatal conductivity were considerably impacted by soil application of nano zeolite and foliar spraying of cinnamic acid. Moreover, cinnamic acid (200 µM) spray combined with soil application nano zeolite (60 mg L− 1) decreased electrolyte leakage, transpiration rate, and malondialdehyde, while enhanced chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, leaf dry matter, relative water content, fruit length and diameter, yield, and fruit quality parameters.
Modality-specific and modality-general representations of subjective value in frontal cortex
Authors: Dang Shilpa , Antono Jessica Emily , Kagan Igor , Pooresmaeili Arezoo
Published: November 2024

Neuroeconomics theories propose that the value associated with diverse rewards or reward-predicting stimuli is encoded along a common reference scale, irrespective of their sensory properties. However, in a dynamic environment with changing stimulus-reward pairings, the brain must also represent the sensory features of rewarding stimuli. The mechanism by which the brain balances these needs—deriving a common reference scale for valuation while maintaining sensitivity to sensory contexts—remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted an fMRI study with human participants engaged in a dynamic foraging task, which required integrating the reward history of auditory or visual choice options and updating the subjective value for each sensory modality. Univariate fMRI analysis revealed modality-specific value representations in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and modality-general value representations in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), confirmed by an exploratory multivariate pattern classification approach. Crucially, modality-specific value representations were absent when the task involved instruction-based rather than value-based choices. Effective connectivity analysis showed that modality-specific value representations emerged from selective bidirectional interactions across the auditory and visual sensory cortices, the corresponding OFC clusters, and the vmPFC. These results illustrate how the brain enables a valuation process that is sensitive to the sensory context of rewarding stimuli.
YeeE-like bacterial SoxT proteins mediate sulfur import for oxidation and signal transduction
Authors: Li Jingjing , Göbel Fabienne , Hsu Hsun Yun , Koch Julian Nikolaus , Hager Natalie , Flegler Wanda Antonia , Tanabe Tomohisa Sebastian , Dahl Christiane
Published: November 2024

Many sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes oxidize sulfur compounds through a combination of initial extracytoplasmic and downstream cytoplasmic reactions. Facultative sulfur oxidizers adjust transcription to sulfur availability. While sulfur-oxidizing enzymes and transcriptional repressors have been extensively studied, sulfur import into the cytoplasm and how regulators sense external sulfur are poorly understood. Addressing this gap, we show that SoxT1A and SoxT1B, which resemble YeeE/YedE-family thiosulfate transporters and are encoded alongside sulfur oxidation and transcriptional regulation genes, fulfill these roles in the Alphaproteobacterium Hyphomicrobium denitrificans. SoxT1A mutants are sulfur oxidation-negative despite high transcription levels of sulfur oxidation genes, showing that SoxT1A delivers sulfur to the cytoplasm for its further oxidation. SoxT1B serves as a signal transduction unit for the transcriptional repressor SoxR, as SoxT1B mutants are sulfur oxidation-negative due to low transcription unless SoxR is also absent. Thus, SoxT1A and SoxT1B play essential but distinct roles in oxidative sulfur metabolism and its regulation.
Preferential graphitic-nitrogen formation in pyridine-extended graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Bassi Nicolò , Xu Xiushang , Xiang Feifei , Krane Nils , Pignedoli Carlo A. , Narita Akimitsu , Fasel Roman , Ruffieux Pascal
Published: November 2024

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), nanometer-wide strips of graphene, have garnered significant attention due to their tunable electronic and magnetic properties arising from quantum confinement. A promising approach to manipulate their electronic characteristics involves substituting carbon with heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, with different effects predicted depending on their position. In this study, we present the extension of the edges of 7-atom-wide armchair graphene nanoribbons (7-AGNRs) with pyridine rings, achieved on a Au(111) surface via on-surface synthesis. High-resolution structural characterization confirms the targeted structure, showcasing the predominant formation of carbon-nitrogen (C-N) bonds (over 90% of the units) during growth. This favored bond formation pathway is elucidated and confirmed through density functional theory (DFT) simulations. Furthermore, an analysis of the electronic properties reveals metallic behavior due to charge transfer to the Au(111) substrate accompanied by the presence of nitrogen-localized states. Our results underscore the successful formation of C-N bonds on the metal surface, providing insights for designing new GNRs that incorporate substitutional nitrogen atoms to precisely control their electronic properties.
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation slowdown modulates wind-driven circulations in a warmer climate
Authors: Mimi Mohima Sultana , Liu Wei
Published: November 2024

Wind-driven and thermohaline circulations, two major components of global large-scale ocean circulations, are intrinsically related. As part of the thermohaline circulation, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has been observed and is expected to decline over the twenty-first century, potentially modulating global wind-driven circulation. Here we perform coupled climate model experiments with either a slow or steady Atlantic overturning under anthropogenic warming to segregate its effect on wind-driven circulation. We find that the weakened Atlantic overturning generates anticyclonic surface wind anomalies over the subpolar North Atlantic to decelerate the gyre circulation there. Fingerprints of overturning slowdown are evident on Atlantic western boundary currents, encompassing a weaker northward Gulf Stream and Guiana Current and a stronger southward Brazil Current. Beyond the Atlantic, the weakened Atlantic overturning causes a poleward displacement of Southern Hemisphere surface westerly winds by changing meridional gradients of atmospheric temperature, leading to poleward shifts of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and Southern Ocean meridional overturning circulations.
A retrospective two-center cohort study of the bidirectional relationship between depression and tinnitus-related distress
Authors: Lukas Cosima F. , Mazurek Birgit , Brueggemann Petra , Junghöfer Markus , Guntinas–Lichius Orlando , Dobel Christian
Published: November 2024

Background

Tinnitus can cause considerable psychological distress among patients, particularly if comorbidities occur. Despite a strong relationship between tinnitus-related distress and depression, the underlying mechanisms represent a long-standing question. By investigating the co-development of tinnitus-related distress and depressiveness throughout therapy, we capture the dynamic interplay of both conditions and uncover underlying common features mediating their link.

Methods

Large datasets from two different day clinics in Germany have been analyzed using a regularization method for predictor selection (analysis 1) and latent growth curve modeling (LCM; analysis 2). Tinnitus-related distress was assessed using the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ). All patients have been experiencing chronic subjective tinnitus with a minimum mean severity level of TQ grade 2. Treatment at both day clinics involved tinnitus management according to clinical guidelines with minor idiosyncratic differences. Analysis 1 was performed on a dataset of 500 patients who received the Jena Interdisciplinary Treatment for Tinnitus (JITT) for 5 consecutive days between 2013 and 2017. Analysis 2 was performed on a second dataset, which included 1016 patients treated at the Tinnitus Center of the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin for 7 days between 2011 and 2015.

Results

Here, we show a substantial bidirectional relationship between tinnitus-related distress and depression severity while emphasizing the role of somatic symptoms and perceived stress in the experience and maintenance of tinnitus awareness. The LCM provides adequate model fit (CFI = 0.993, SRMR = 0.016).

Conclusions

Our results indicate enhanced therapy success in depression when tinnitus-related distress is addressed and vice versa. The combined treatment of tinnitus and depression is proposed for future treatment strategies.
Effects of stock rebuilding – A computable general equilibrium analysis for a mackerel fishery in Korea
Authors: Seung Chang K. , Kim Do-Hoon , Choi Ji-Hoon
Published: November 2024

We evaluate the effects of rebuilding a mackerel fishery in Korea using a bioeconomic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. The effects include three different measures of the benefits of the stock rebuilding—the fishing sector’s rent, its value-added, and the aggregate regional welfare. In the baseline simulation, we run 20 scenarios over 30 years, depending on the magnitude of the annual percentage reduction in the harvest required to recover the stock to the target level (Bmsy). We find that the percentage reductions that yield the largest increase in the three measures of the benefits are 70% (yielding the largest rent increase), 35% (yielding the largest value-added increase), and 20% (yielding the largest aggregate welfare gain), respectively, to rebuild the stock to the target level. Results shed some light on which measure the policymakers should use when implementing a stock rebuilding policy.
Catalytic strategies for detoxifying phosphorus(v) biocides
Authors: de Carvalho Larissa Maria S. , de Souza Nathália R. D. , Wanderlind Eduardo H.
Published: November 2024

Utilization of catalysis in the decomposition of organophosphorus substances can lead to less harmful compounds through fast and safe procedures.
Electroreforming of plastic wastes for value-added products
Authors: Li Ying , Liu Lang , Lee Li Quan , Li Hong
Published: November 2024

The electrochemical reaction mechanism of various plastic wastes and the recent developments of four types of plastic waste-assisted electrolysis systems are discussed, and the challenges that hinder scalable implementation are pointed out.
Directing SEI formation on Si-based electrodes using atomic layer deposition
Authors: Das Supti , Brennhagen Anders , Cavallo Carmen , Killi Veronica Anne-Line Kathrine , Jensen Ingvild Julie Thue , Thøgersen Annett , Mæhlen Jan Petter , Lai Samson Yuxiu , Nilsen Ola , Koposov Alexey Y.
Published: November 2024

Herein, TiO2 created through atomic layer deposition was used as an artificial SEI on Si nanoparticles. Such coating led to substantial improvement of cycling stability when evaluated with FEC-free electrolyte.
Construction of uniform MgO nanoshells for improved high-voltage performance of Li-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Qi-Wen , Guo Si-Jie , Qi Mu-Yao , Cao An-Min
Published: November 2024

A conformal Mg(OH)2 nanoshell was constructed through a wet-chemical process, where a gradual release of OH− as the precipitating agent was designed to ensure the heterogeneous growth of the coating species.
Dynamic manipulation of upconversion luminescence by constructing metal–organic framework and lanthanide-doped nanoparticle composites
Authors: Yan Huiwen , Cao Wenqian , Wang Zhiyu , Cui Yuanjing , Qian Guodong
Published: November 2024

A strategy was proposed to regulate the upconversion luminescence of upconversion nanoparticles by utilizing the high-energy vibrations of chemical bonds in the structure of MOFs to promote the multi-phonon relaxation processes of Er3+.
Theoretical study of covalent organic frameworks and heterojunctions for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Guo Xiao-Xiao , Guo Jing-Hua , Hou Dong , Chen Gang
Published: November 2024

The construction of heterojunctions using covalent organic frameworks and C3N4 (or graphene) can improve the catalytic activity of the Fe(Co)-active sites.
Inhibiting cathode dissolution and shuttling of V–O species using a polybenzimidazole hydrogel electrolyte for durable high-areal-capacity Zn–V2O5 batteries
Authors: Lv Zeheng , Tang Rong , Sun Chenxi , Meng Weiwei , Yang Jin , Li Siyang , Wu Qilong , Zhang Minghao , Zhao Jinbao , Yang Yang
Published: November 2024

The PBI hydrogel electrolyte can reduce the amount of free water, minimize proton co-intercalation into the V2O5 host, and prevent the crosstalk of V10O26(OH)24− between the anode and cathode to enable durable high-areal-capacity Zn–V2O5 batteries.
Multifunctional acoustic and mechanical metamaterials prepared from continuous CFRP composites
Authors: Li Zhen-Yu , Li Hong-Ze , Yang Jin-Shui , Ma Li , Wang Xin-Tao , Gao Yuan-Yuan , Xu Bin-Gang , Xiong Jian , Hu Hong
Published: November 2024

The imperative advance towards achieving “carbon neutrality” necessitates the development of porous structures possessing dual acoustic and mechanical properties in order to mitigate energy consumption.
Construction of morphology-controllable NiS/Ni3S4 hybrid nanosheets for all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Li Mengbin , Guo Zengpeng , He Lizhong
Published: November 2024

A novel 3D NiS/Ni3S4 electrode material was synthesized, which exhibited excellent energy storage performance.
Synergistic enhancement of the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons at a large-sized Cu@Ag electrode
Authors: Chang Ke-Ke , Xiong Wan-Feng , Wen Yu-Ting , Feng Bin-Bin , Li Hong-Fang , Zhang Teng , Huang Yuan-Biao , Si Duan-Hui , Cao Rong
Published: November 2024

A large-sized Ag@Cu catalyst was fabricated with the objective of significantly enhancing the CO2RR while concurrently suppressing the HER through the synergistic mechanism.