bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Analysis and Experimental Study on Impact Reduction of Flexible Bag Damper for Honeycomb Core Exposed Platform
Authors: Xiao Wangqiang , Huang Zijie , Qin Kai , Ouyang Han
Published: February 2023

The exposure platform is a component used to carry adapter, initiating explosive device and other important instruments in aerospace engineering. When the initiating explosive device on the platform does work, the initiating explosive shock produced by the initiating explosive device on the platform poses a great threat to the precision instruments carried on the platform. This high-frequency transient and high-level initiating explosive shock wave is easy to cause damage and fragmentation of various precision instruments on the platform, Therefore, it is of great significance to reduce the impact of initiating explosive environment on the exposed platform in the aerospace field. In this paper, a flexible bag damper is installed on the honeycomb core exposed platform to study its dynamic characteristics, and to explore the impact reduction effect of the flexible bag damper on the exposed platform; The discrete element method is used to simulate and analyze the flexible bag damper system to obtain the optimal damper parameters, and then the experiment is carried out to verify its effectiveness.
A Pose Resolution Analysis Method for a Stewart Parallel Robot
Authors: Liang Fengchao , Tan Shuang , Zhao Xiaolin , Fan Jiankai , Zhe Lin , Shi Zhicheng , Kang Xiaojun
Published: February 2023

In order to develop a high-resolution 6-DOF parallel robot, a method for analysing parallel robot’s position and orientation resolution is proposed, which is based on the same scale scaling and quantifying of struts increment. Firstly, calculating struts increment of the target position and orientation. Secondly, reducing struts increment in the same proportion. Thirdly, quantifying them with the resolution of the strut, and the minimum struts increment and struts length are obtained. Lastly, six single DOF minimum motion increments, namely pose resolution, are obtained after forward kinematic solution. The analysis software is compiled with VC++, and the 6-DOF Stewart parallel robot for the secondary mirror of a high-resolution space camera is designed. The measured results show that the analysis results of pose resolution are basically consistent with the measured values, and the analysis method has strong engineering guiding value.
Cooperative Control of Tire Longitudinal and Lateral Forces of Distributed Drive Virtual Rail Train
Authors: Zhang Rang , Shen Gang
Published: February 2023

Hub motors are distributed on different wheels of the virtual rail train (VRT), forming a distributed drive mode, which is conducive to simplifying the transmission system and improving the stability and mobility of VRT. How to coordinate the relationship between the longitudinal and lateral forces of tires is a problem that must be solved. This paper proposes a hierarchical cooperative control method of the longitudinal and lateral forces of tires, in which the control decision-making layer ensures the steering stability and path following performance of VRT, and establishes an objective function based on the tire load rate at the distribution layer to distribute the longitudinal and lateral forces of each tire. The co-simulation results based on MATLAB / Simulink and multi-body dynamics software UM show that the cooperative control method not only ensures the specific track requirements of the train, but also reduces the peak load rate of the tire, optimizes the distribution of the load rate, and greatly improves the stability of the train in the steering process.
Harnessing light in biofabrication
Authors: Levato Riccardo , Lim Khoon S
Published: February 2023

The integration of light-driven technologies into biofabrication has revolutionized the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with numerous breakthroughs in the last few years. Light-based bioprinting approaches (lithography, multiphoton and volumetric bioprinting) have shown the potential to fabricate large scale tissue engineering constructs of high resolution, with great flexibility and control over the cellular organization. Given the unprecedented degree of freedom in fabricating convoluted structures, key challenges in regenerative medicine, such as introducing complex channels and pre-vascular networks in 3D constructs have also been addressed. Light has also been proven as a powerful tool, leading to novel photo-chemistry in designing bioinks, but also able to impart spatial-temporal control over cellular functions through photo-responsive chemistry. For instance, smart constructs able to undergo remotely controlled shape changes, stiffening, softening and degradation can be produced. The non-invasive nature of light stimulation also enables to trigger such responses post-fabrication, during the maturation phase of a construct. Such unique ability can be used to mimic the dynamic processes occurring in tissue regeneration, as well as in disease progression and degenerative processes in vivo. Bringing together these novel multidisciplinary expertise, the present Special Issue aims to discuss the most recent trends, strategies and novel light-based technologies in the field of biofabrication. These include: 1) using light-based bioprinting to develop in vitro models for drug screening, developmental biology models, disease models, and also functional tissues for implantation; 2) novel light-based biofabrication technologies; 3) development of new photo-responsive bioinks or biomaterial inks.
Thermodynamically consistent and positivity-preserving discretization of the thin-film equation with thermal noise
Authors: Gess Benjamin , Gvalani Rishabh , Kunick Florian , Otto Felix
Published: February 2023

In micro-fluidics, both capillarity and thermal fluctuations play an important role. On the level of the lubrication approximation, this leads to a quasi-linear fourth-order parabolic equation for the film height

h
h

driven by space-time white noise. The (formal) gradient flow structure of its deterministic counterpart, the so-called thin-film equation, which encodes the balance between driving capillary and limiting viscous forces, provides the guidance for the thermodynamically consistent introduction of fluctuations. We follow this route on the level of a spatial discretization of the gradient flow structure, i.e., on the level of a discretization of energy functional and dissipative metric tensor.

Starting from an energetically conformal finite-element (FE) discretization, we point out that the numerical mobility function introduced by Grün and Rumpf can be interpreted as a discretization of the metric tensor in the sense of a mixed FE method with lumping. While this discretization was devised in order to preserve the so-called entropy estimate, we use this to show that the resulting high-dimensional stochastic differential equation (SDE) preserves pathwise and pointwise strict positivity, at least in case of the physically relevant mobility function arising from the no-slip boundary condition.

As a consequence, and as opposed to previous discretizations of the thin-film equation with thermal noise, the above discretization is not in need of an artificial condition at the boundary of the configuration space orthant

{
h
>
0
}

\{h>0\}

(which, admittedly, could also be avoided by modelling a disjoining pressure). Thus, this discretization gives rise to a consistent invariant measure, namely a discretization of the Brownian excursion (up to the volume constraint), and thus features an entropic repulsion. The price to pay over more direct discretizations is that when writing the SDE in Itô’s form, which is the basis for the Euler-Mayurama time discretization, a correction term appears.

We perform various numerical experiments to compare the behavior and performance of our discretization to that of a particular finite difference discretization of the equation. Among other things, we study numerically the invariance and entropic repulsion of the invariant measure and provide evidence for the fact that the finite difference discretization touches down almost surely while our discretization stays away from the

∂
{
h
>
0
}

\partial \{h > 0\}

.
Virtually free groups are 𝑝-Schatten stable
Authors: Gerasimova Maria , Shchepin Konstantin
Published: February 2023

It was proven that finitely generated virtually free groups are stable in permutations. In this note we show that a similar strategy can be used to prove that finitely generated virtually free groups are stable with respect to a normalized

p
p

-Schatten norm for

1
≤
p
>
∞

1\leq p > \infty

. In particular, this implies that virtually free groups are Hilbert-Schmidt stable.
Introduction.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Just what this country has in store to benefit or to startle the world in the future, no tongue can tell. We know full well the wonderful things which have occurred or have been accomplished here in the past, but the still more...
Religious Nature Awakened.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Abolitionists spoken of — Eagerness to know the meaning of word —Consults the dictionary — Incendiary information — The enigma solved — ‘Nat Turner’ insurrection — Cholera — Religion — Methodist minister — Religious impressions — Father Lawson — His character and occupation — His influence over me — Our mutual attachment — New hopes and aspirations — Heavenly light — Two Irishmen on wharf — Conversation with them — Learning to write — My aims.
New Relations and Duties.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Change of masters — Benefits derived by change — Fame of the fight with Covey — Reckless unconcern — Author’s abhorrence of slavery — Ability to read a cause of prejudice — The holidays — How spent — Sharp hit at slavery — Effects of holidays — Difference between Covey and Freeland — An irreligious master preferred to a religious one — Hard life at Covey’s useful to the...
Apprenticeship Life.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Nothing lost in my attempt to run away — Comrades at home — Reasons for sending me away — Return to Baltimore — Tommy changed — Caulking in Gardiner’s ship-yard — Desperate fight — Its causes — Conflict between white and black labor — Outrage — Testimony — Master Hugh — Slavery in Baltimore — My condition improves — New associations — Slaveholder’s right to the slave’s wages — How to make a discontented slave.
Escape From Slavery.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Closing incidents in my ‘Life as a Slave’ — Discontent — Suspicions — Master’s generosity — Difficulties in the way of escape — Plan to obtain money — Allowed to hire my time — A gleam of hope — Attend camp-meeting — Anger of Master Hugh — The result — Plans of Escape — Day for departure fixed — Harassing doubts and fears — Painful thoughts of separation from friends.
Introduced to The Abolitionists.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

Anti-Slavery Convention at Nantucket — First Speech — Much Sensation — Extraordinary Speech of Mr. Garrison — Anti-Slavery Agency — Youthful Enthusiasm — Fugitive Slaveship doubted — Experience in Slavery written — Danger of Recapture.
Triumphs and Trials.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

New Experiences — Painful Disagreement of Opinion with old Friends — Final Decision to publish my Paper in Rochester — Its Fortunes and its Friends — Change in my own Views Regarding the Constitution of the United States — Fidelity to Conviction — Loss of Old Friends — Support of New Ones — Loss of House, etc., by Fire — Triumphs and Trials — Underground...
The Beginning of The End.
Authors: Douglass Frederick
Published: February 2023

My connection with John Brown — To and from England — Presidential contest — Election of Abraham Lincoln.
THE VIRGIN OF THE SEVEN DAGGERS
Authors: Lee Vernon , Worth Aaron
Published: February 2023

dedicated, in remembrance of the spanish legends he was wont to tell me, to my friend of forty years back, jose fernandez gimenez*
THE DOLL
Authors: Lee Vernon , Worth Aaron
Published: February 2023

I believe that’s the last bit of bric-à-brac I shall ever buy in my life (she said, closing the Renaissance casket) — that and the Chinese dessert set we have just been using. The passion seems to have left me utterly. And I...
Dedication
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

to

his royal highness

THE PRINCE REGENT,

this work is,

by his royal highness’s permission

most respectfully

dedicated,

by his royal highness’s

dutiful

and obedient

humble servant,

THE AUTHOR*
CHAPTER I
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

Emma Woodhouse, handsome,* clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.

She was the youngest...
CHAPTER IV
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

Harriet Smith’s intimacy at Hartfield was soon a settled thing. Quick and decided in her ways, Emma lost no time in inviting, encouraging, and telling her to come very often; and as their acquaintance increased, so did their satisfaction in each other....
CHAPTER XI
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

It may be possible to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively, without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind; — but when a beginning is made — when...
CHAPTER XVII
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

When the ladies returned to the drawing–room after dinner, Emma found it hardly possible to prevent their making two distinct parties; —  with so much perseverance in judging and behaving ill did Mrs. Elton engross Jane Fairfax and slight herself. She and Mrs. Weston were...
CHAPTER III
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

This little explanation with Mr. Knightley gave Emma considerable pleasure. It was one of the agreeable recollections of the ball, which she walked about the lawn the next morning to enjoy. — She was extremely glad that they had come to so good an understanding respecting...
CHAPTER XI
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

‘Harriet, poor Harriet!’ — Those were the words; in them lay the tormenting ideas which Emma could not get rid of, and which constituted the real misery of the business to her. Frank Churchill had behaved very ill by herself — very ill in many ways, — but it was...
CHAPTER XIX
Authors: Austen Jane , Mullan John
Published: February 2023

If Emma had still, at intervals, an anxious feeling for Harriet, a momentary doubt of its being possible for her to be really cured of her attachment to Mr. Knightley, and really able to accept another man from unbiassed inclination, it was not long...
Miscellaneous Observations
Authors: Wordsworth William
Published: February 2023

Mr. West, in his well-known Guide to the Lakes, recommends, as the best season for visiting this country,* the interval from the beginning of June to the end of August; and, the two latter months being a time of vacation...
Excursions to The Top of Scawfell and On The Banks of Ulswater
Authors: Wordsworth William
Published: February 2023

It was my intention, several years ago, to describe a regular tour through this country, taking the different scenes in the most favourable order; but after some progress had been made in the work it was abandoned* from a conviction, that, if...
Loomings
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Call me Ishmael.* Some years ago — never mind how long precisely —  having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world....
Nightgown
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

We had lain thus in bed, chatting and napping at short intervals, and Queequeg now and then affectionately throwing his brown tattooed legs over mine, and then drawing them back; so entirely sociable and free and easy were we; when, at last, by reason...
Going Aboard
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

It was nearly six o’clock, but only grey imperfect misty dawn, when we drew nigh the wharf.

“There are some sailors running ahead there, if I see right,” said I to Queequeg, “it can’t be shadow; she’s off by sunrise, I guess; come on!”

“Avast!”...
Postscript
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

In behalf of the dignity of whaling, I would fain advance naught but substantiated facts. But after embattling his facts, an advocate who should wholly suppress a not unreasonable surmise, which might tell eloquently upon his cause — such an advocate, would he not be blameworthy?...

It...
The Cabin-Table
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

It is noon; and Dough-Boy, the steward, thrusting his pale loaf-of-bread face from the cabin-scuttle, announces dinner to his lord and master, who, sitting in the lee quarter-boat, has just been taking an observation of the sun; and is now mutely reckoning the latitude...
Midnight, Forecastle
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Harpooneers and Sailors

(Foresail rises and discovers the watch standing, lounging, leaning, and lying in various attitudes, all singing in chorus.)

Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish ladies!Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain!Our captain’s commanded. —
Stubb Kills a Whale
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

If to Starbuck the apparition of the Squid was a thing of portents, to Queequeg it was quite a different object.

“When you see him ’quid,” said the savage, honing his harpoon in the bow of his hoisted boat, “then you quick see him ’parm...
The Shark Massacre
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

When in the Southern Fishery, a captured Sperm Whale, after long and weary toil, is brought alongside late at night, it is not, as a general thing at least, customary to proceed at once to the business of cutting him in. For that business...
The Sphynx
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

It should not have been omitted that previous to completely stripping the body of the leviathan, he was beheaded. Now, the beheading of the Sperm Whale is a scientific anatomical feat, upon which experienced whale surgeons very much pride themselves: and not without reason....
The Battering-Ram
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Ere quitting, for the nonce, the Sperm Whale’s head, I would have you, as a sensible physiologist, simply — particularly remark its front aspect, in all its compacted collectedness. I would have you investigate it now with the sole view of forming to yourself some unexaggerated,...
Ambergris
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Now this ambergris is a very curious substance, and so important as an article of commerce, that in 1791 a certain Nantucket-born Captain Coffin was examined at the bar of the English House of Commons on that subject. For at that time, and indeed...
A Squeeze of the Hand
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

That whale of Stubb’s, so dearly purchased, was duly brought to the Pequod’s side, where all those cutting and hoisting operations previously detailed, were regularly gone through, even to the baling of the Heidelburgh Tun, or Case.

While some were occupied with this latter duty,...
The Cassock
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Had you stepped on board the Pequod at a certain juncture of this post-mortemizing of the whale; and had you strolled forward nigh the windlass, pretty sure am I that you would have scanned with no small curiosity a very strange, enigmatical object,*...
The Lamp
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Had you descended from the Pequod’s try-works to the Pequod’s forecastle, where the off duty watch were sleeping, for one single moment you would have almost thought you were standing in some illuminated shrine of canonized kings and counsellors. There they lay in their...
Measurement of the Whale’s Skeleton
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

In the first place, I wish to lay before you a particular, plain statement, touching the living bulk of this leviathan, whose skeleton we are briefly to exhibit. Such a statement may prove useful here.

According to a careful calculation I have made, and which...
The Blacksmith
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Availing himself of the mild, summer-cool weather that now reigned in these latitudes, and in preparation for the peculiarly active pursuits shortly to be anticipated, Perth, the begrimed, blistered old blacksmith, had not removed his portable forge to the hold again, after concluding his...
The Whale Watch
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

The four whales slain that evening had died wide apart; one, far to windward; one, less distant, to leeward; one ahead; one astern. These last three were brought alongside ere nightfall; but the windward one could not be reached till morning; and the boat...
The Candles
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

Warmest climes but nurse the cruellest fangs: the tiger of Bengal crouches in spiced groves of ceaseless verdure. Skies the most effulgent but basket the deadliest thunders: gorgeous Cuba knows tornadoes that never swept tame northern lands. So, too, it is, that in these...
The Musket
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

During the most violent shocks of the Typhoon, the man at the Pequod’s jaw-bone tiller had several times been reelingly hurled to the deck by its spasmodic motions, even though preventer tackles had been attached to it — for they were slack — because some play to the...
The Hat
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

And now that at the proper time and place, after so long and wide a preliminary cruise, Ahab, — all other whaling waters swept — seemed to have chased his foe into an ocean-fold, to slay him the more securely there; now, that he found himself hard by...
Epilogue
Authors: Melville Herman , Blum Hester
Published: February 2023

“and i only am escaped alone to tell thee
.”
 — Job
Through The Looking-Glass,
Authors: Carroll Lewis , Jaques Zoe
Published: February 2023

White Pawn (Alice) to play, and win in eleven moves .

page

page

 1. Alice meets R. Q. . . .

26

 1. R. Q. to K. R.’s 4th . . .

30

 2. Alice through Q.’s 3d  (by railway) . . . 

31

 2. W. Q. to...
The Garden of Live Flowers
Authors: Carroll Lewis , Jaques Zoe
Published: February 2023

“I should see the garden far better,” said Alice to herself, “if I could get to the top of that hill: and here’s a path that leads straight to it — at least, no, it doesn’t do that —— ” (after going a few yards along the...
Looking-Glass Insects
Authors: Carroll Lewis , Jaques Zoe
Published: February 2023

of course the first thing to do was to make a grand survey of the country she was going to travel through. “It’s something very like learning geography,” thought Alice, as she stood on tiptoe in hopes of being able to see a little...
Queen Alice
Authors: Carroll Lewis , Jaques Zoe
Published: February 2023

“well, this is grand!” said Alice. “I never expected I should be a Queen so soon — and I’ll tell you what it is, your Majesty,” she went on in a severe tone (she was always rather fond of scolding herself ), “it’ll...
which dreamed it ?
Authors: Carroll Lewis , Jaques Zoe
Published: February 2023

“your Red Majesty shouldn’t purr so loud,” Alice said, rubbing her eyes, and addressing the kitten,* respectfully, yet with some severity. “You woke me out of oh! such a nice dream! And you’ve been along with me, Kitty — all through the Looking-Glass...
The effect of thyroid hormone therapy on muscle function, strength and mass in older adults with subclinical hypothyroidism—an ancillary study within two randomized placebo controlled trials
Authors: Netzer Seraina , Chocano-Bedoya Patricia , Feller Martin , Janett-Pellegri Camilla , Wildisen Lea , Büchi Annina E , Moutzouri Elisavet , Rodriguez Elena Gonzalez , Collet Tinh-Hai , Poortvliet Rosalinde K E , Mc Carthy Vera J C , Aeberli Daniel , Aujesky Drahomir , Westendorp Rudi , Quinn Terence J , Gussekloo Jacobijn , Kearney Patricia M , Mooijaart Simon , Bauer Douglas C , Rodondi Nicolas
Published: February 2023

Background

loss of skeletal muscle function, strength and mass is common in older adults, with important socioeconomic impacts. Subclinical hypothyroidism is common with increasing age and has been associated with reduced muscle strength. Yet, no randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) has investigated whether treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism affects muscle function and mass.

Methods

this is an ancillary study within two RCTs conducted among adults aged ≥65 years with persistent subclinical hypothyroidism (thyrotropin (TSH) 4.60–19.99 mIU/l, normal free thyroxine). Participants received daily levothyroxine with TSH-guided dose adjustment or placebo and mock titration. Primary outcome was gait speed at final visit (median 18 months). Secondary outcomes were handgrip strength at 1-year follow-up and yearly change in muscle mass.

Results

we included 267 participants from Switzerland and the Netherlands. Mean age was 77.5 years (range 65.1–97.1), 129 (48.3%) were women, and their mean baseline TSH was 6.36 mIU/l (standard deviation [SD] 1.9). At final visit, mean TSH was 3.8 mIU/l (SD 2.3) in the levothyroxine group and 5.1 mIU/l (SD 1.8, P < 0.05) in the placebo group. Compared to placebo, participants in the levothyroxine group had similar gait speed at final visit (adjusted between-group mean difference [MD] 0.01 m/s, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.06 to 0.09), similar handgrip strength at one year (MD −1.22 kg, 95% CI −2.60 to 0.15) and similar yearly change in muscle mass (MD −0.15 m2, 95% CI −0.49 to 0.18).

Conclusions

in this ancillary analysis of two RCTs, treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism did not affect muscle function, strength and mass in individuals 65 years and older.
Phylogeny and biogeography of Tiliacoreae (Menispermaceae), a tribe restricted to tropical rainforests
Authors: Lian Lian , Peng Huan-Wen , Ortiz Rosa Del C , Jabbour Florian , Gao Tian-Gang , Erst Andrey S , Chen Zhi-Duan , Wang Wei
Published: February 2023

Background and Aims

Modern tropical rainforests house the highest biodiversity of Earth’s terrestrial biomes and are distributed in three low-latitude areas. However, the biogeographical patterns and processes underlying the distribution of biodiversity among these three areas are still poorly known. Here, we used Tiliacoreae, a tribe of pantropical lianas with a high level of regional endemism, to provide new insights into the biogeographical relationships of tropical rainforests among different continents.

Methods

Based on seven plastid and two nuclear DNA regions, we reconstructed a phylogeny for Tiliacoreae with the most comprehensive sampling ever. Within the phylogenetic framework, we then estimated divergence times and investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of the tribe.

Key Results

The monophyletic Tiliacoreae contain three major clades, which correspond to Neotropical, Afrotropical and Indo-Malesian/Australasian areas, respectively. Both Albertisia and Anisocycla are not monophyletic. The most recent common ancestor of Tiliacoreae occurred in Indo-Malesia, the Afrotropics and Neotropics in the early Eocene, then rapidly diverged into three major clades between 48 and 46 Ma. Three dispersals from Indo-Malesia to Australasia were inferred, one in the middle Eocene and two in the late Oligocene–late Miocene, and two dispersals from the Afrotropics to Indo-Malesia occurred in the late Eocene–Oligocene.

Conclusions

The three main clades of Anisocycla correspond to three distinct genera [i.e. Anisocycla sensu stricto and two new genera (Georgesia and Macrophragma)]. Epinetrum is a member of Albertisia. Our findings highlight that sea-level fluctuations and climate changes in the Cenozoic have played important roles in shaping the current distribution and endemism of Tiliacoreae, hence contributing to the knowledge on the historical biogeography of tropical rainforests on a global scale.
Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review of the Oncologic Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Aesthetic Skin Rejuvenation
Authors: Glass Graeme Ewan
Published: February 2023

Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is an increasingly popular modality for aesthetic skin rejuvenation. PBM induces genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic processes within target cells, but such manipulation of cell behavior has led to concerns about oncologic safety. This article presents a summary of the clinical and preclinical evidence for the oncologic safety of PBM for aesthetic skin rejuvenation. A focused systematic review was performed, in which safety data from clinical trials of PBM for skin rejuvenation was supplemented by analyses of in vitro data obtained from cells derived from human skin and human neoplastic cells and in vivo data of tumors of the skin, oral cavity, and breast. Within established parameters, red and near infrared light mainly enhances proliferation of healthy cells without a clear pattern of influence on cell viability. The same light parameters mainly reduce neoplastic cell proliferation and viability or else make no difference. Invasiveness potential (appraised by cell migration assays and/or differential gene expression) is equivocal. PBM does not induce dysplastic change in healthy cells. In vivo tumor models yield varied results with no clear pattern emerging. There are no relevant clinical trial data linking PBM with any significant adverse events, including the finding of a new or recurrent malignancy.

Current clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that PBM is oncologically safe for skin rejuvenation, and there is no evidence to support the proposition that it should be avoided by patients who have previously undergone treatment for cancer.

Level of Evidence: 4
Significance of understanding the genomics of host–pathogen interaction in limiting antibiotic resistance development: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Yadav Vikas , Ravichandran Srividhya
Published: February 2023

The entire world is facing the stiff challenge of COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome the spread of this highly infectious disease, several short-sighted strategies were adopted such as the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals. However, the misuse and/or overuse of antibiotics have accentuated the emergence of the next pandemic: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is believed that pathogens while transferring between humans and the environment carry virulence and antibiotic-resistant factors from varied species. It is presumed that all such genetic factors are quantifiable and predictable, a better understanding of which could be a limiting step for the progression of AMR. Herein, we have reviewed how genomics-based understanding of host–pathogen interactions during COVID-19 could reduce the non-judicial use of antibiotics and prevent the eruption of an AMR-based pandemic in future.
Ethnic differences in complement system biomarkers and their association with metabolic health in men of Black African and White European ethnicity
Authors: Goff L M , Davies K , Zelek W M , Kodosaki E , Hakim O , Lockhart S , O’Rahilly S , Morgan B P
Published: February 2023

Inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development of several metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D); the complement system has been implicated in their development. People of Black African (BA) ethnicity are disproportionately affected by T2D and other metabolic diseases but the impact of ethnicity on the complement system has not been explored. We investigated ethnic differences in complement biomarkers and activation status between men of BA and White European (WE) ethnicity and explored their association with parameters of metabolic health. We measured a panel of 15 complement components, regulators, and activation products in fasting plasma from 89 BA and 96 WE men. Ethnic differences were statistically validated. Association of complement biomarkers with metabolic health indices (BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance, and HbA1c) were assessed in the groups. Plasma levels of the key complement components C3 and C4, the regulators clusterin and properdin and the activation marker iC3b were significantly higher in BA compared to WE men after age adjustment, while FD levels were significantly lower. C3 and C4 levels positively correlated with some or all markers of metabolic dysfunction in both ethnic groups while FD was inversely associated with HbA1c in both groups, and clusterin and properdin were inversely associated with some markers of metabolic dysfunction only in the WE group. Our findings of increased levels of complement components and activation products in BA compared to WE men suggest differences in complement regulation that may impact susceptibility to poor metabolic health.
Role of light chain clearance in the recovery of renal function in multiple myeloma: another point of view
Authors: Terrades Natàlia Ramos , Senin Alicia , Azancot Maria A , Gironella Mercedes , Toapanta Nestor , Bermejo Sheila , Martin Lucia , Caravaca-Fontán Fernando , Cuellar Clara , Martínez-Lopez Joaquin , Rodríguez Eva , Bestard Oriol , Soler Maria Jose
Published: February 2023

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) requiring renal replacement treatment (RRT) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early reduction of serum free light chains (FLC) using both targeted therapy against MM and intensive hemodialysis (IHD) may improve renal outcomes. We evaluated the effectiveness of two different RRT techniques on renal recovery in an MM patient population: standard dialysis procedure vs IHD with either polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR).

Methods

This was a multicentric retrospective study with severe AKI related to MM, between 2011 and 2018. Twenty-five consecutive patients with AKI secondary to MM requiring RRT were included. Patients that underwent IHD received six dialysis sessions per week during the first 14 days (PMMA vs HFR). All patients were diagnosed with de novo MM or first relapsed MM. Primary outcome was renal recovery defined as dialysis-free at 6 months follow-up.

Results

A total of 25 patients were included. Seventeen patients received IHD and eight standard dialysis. All patients were treated with targeted therapy, 84% bortezomib-based. Of the 25 patients included, 14 (56%) became dialysis independent. We observed a higher proportion of patients who received IHD in the group who recovered kidney function compared with those who remained in HD (92.9% vs 36.4%, P = .007). In our study, the use of IHD to remove FLC had a statistically significant association with renal recovery compared with the standard dialysis group (P = .024).

Conclusion

Early reduction of FLC with IHD as an adjuvant treatment along with MM-targeted therapy may exert a positive impact on renal recovery.
How do my earnings compare? Pay referents and just earnings
Authors: Eisnecker Philipp Simon , Adriaans Jule
Published: February 2023

Comparisons are crucial in shaping evaluations of one’s own position. Following this notion, we investigated the role of historical, financial, partner, occupational, and regional pay referents in predicting the just gross hourly earnings in a representative sample of German workers. Looking at this broad range of pay referents, we find that higher reference earnings were generally associated with higher just earnings. In particular, controlling for actual gross hourly earnings, higher occupational, regional, and partners’ hourly earnings were associated with higher just gross hourly earnings. One’s own pay history, in form of average hourly earnings over the past 10 years, did not shape just earnings. Financial needs on the household level, however, mapped on to higher just earnings and this association was particularly pronounced among men. Overall, occupational and financial referents showed the strongest association with just earnings followed by partner earnings. These findings underscore that, while referents closely related to one’s job (e.g., occupational referents) are important, referents that extend beyond the sphere of work (e.g., regional, financial, and partner referents) are also relevant in shaping ideas of the just reward.
Slower-X: reduced efficiency of selection in the early stages of X chromosome evolution
Authors: Mrnjavac Andrea , Khudiakova Ksenia A , Barton Nicholas H , Vicoso Beatriz
Published: February 2023

Differentiated X chromosomes are expected to have higher rates of adaptive divergence than autosomes, if new beneficial mutations are recessive (the “faster-X effect”), largely because these mutations are immediately exposed to selection in males. The evolution of X chromosomes after they stop recombining in males, but before they become hemizygous, has not been well explored theoretically. We use the diffusion approximation to infer substitution rates of beneficial and deleterious mutations under such a scenario. Our results show that selection is less efficient on diploid X loci than on autosomal and hemizygous X loci under a wide range of parameters. This “slower-X” effect is stronger for genes affecting primarily (or only) male fitness, and for sexually antagonistic genes. These unusual dynamics suggest that some of the peculiar features of X chromosomes, such as the differential accumulation of genes with sex-specific functions, may start arising earlier than previously appreciated.
Microbial iron cycling is prevalent in water-logged Alaskan Arctic tundra habitats, but sensitive to disturbance
Authors: Michaud Alexander B , Massé Rémi O , Emerson David
Published: February 2023

Water logged habitats in continuous permafrost regions provide extensive oxic-anoxic interface habitats for iron cycling. The iron cycle interacts with the methane and phosphorus cycles, and is an important part of tundra biogeochemistry. Our objective was to characterize microbial communities associated with the iron cycle within natural and disturbed habitats of the Alaskan Arctic tundra. We sampled aquatic habitats within natural, undisturbed and anthropogenically disturbed areas and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene to describe the microbial communities, then supported these results with process rate and geochemical measurements. Undisturbed habitats have microbial communities that are significantly different than disturbed habitats. Microbial taxa known to participate in the iron and methane cycles are significantly associated with natural habitats, whereas they are not significantly associated with disturbed sites. Undisturbed habitats have significantly higher extractable iron and are more acidic than disturbed habitats sampled. Iron reduction is not measurable in disturbed aquatic habitats and is not stimulated by the addition of biogenic iron mats. Our study highlights the prevalence of Fe-cycling in undisturbed water-logged habitats, and demonstrates that anthropogenic disturbance of the tundra, due to legacy gravel mining, alters the microbiology of aquatic habitats and disrupts important biogeochemical cycles in the Arctic tundra.
Synthesis and degradation of polyphosphate inMyxococcus xanthus
Authors: Harita Daiki , Nishida Kazuha , Kimura Yoshio
Published: February 2023

Polyphosphate kinase 1 (Ppk1) generates polyphosphates (polyPs) by catalyzing phosphate transfer from ATP. In the presence of ATP, Myxococcus xanthus Ppk1 showed the highest activity with polyP60–70 but also showed high activity with orthophosphate and pyrophosphate. Ppk1 synthesizes long-chain polyPs with >1 000 phosphate residues from orthophosphate or pyrophosphate present in high concentrations, suggesting that in M. xanthus, Ppk1 uses intracellular ortho/pyrophosphate as an initial primer for polyP production. During M. xanthus starvation-induced development, the specific activity of Ppk1 peaked at 12 h (300–800 nmol/min/mg) and then gradually decreased. The polyP concentration was highest during mound formation (45 nmol phosphate/mg protein); then, the level of long-chain polyPs decreased and that of short-chain polyPs increased during fruiting body and spore formation. Myxococcus xanthus expresses two exopolyphosphatases, Ppx1 and Ppx2, which mainly degrade short- and long-chain polyPs, respectively, both of which were highest in vegetative cells and were detected during starvation, which may account for the degradation of polyPs. Thus, polyPs synthesized by Ppk1 early in starvation-induced development could be degraded by exopolyphosphatases and may also be used as substrates by polyP:AMP phosphotransferases and polyphosphate/ATP-NAD kinases to generate ADP and NADP+, respectively.
Elucidating the functional roles of prokaryotic proteins using big data and artificial intelligence
Authors: Ardern Zachary , Chakraborty Sagarika , Lenk Florian , Kaster Anne-Kristin
Published: February 2023

Annotating protein sequences according to their biological functions is one of the key steps in understanding microbial diversity, metabolic potentials, and evolutionary histories. However, even in the best-studied prokaryotic genomes, not all proteins can be characterized by classical in vivo, in vitro, and/or in silico methods—a challenge rapidly growing alongside the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies and their enormous extension of ‘omics’ data in public databases. These so-called hypothetical proteins (HPs) represent a huge knowledge gap and hidden potential for biotechnological applications. Opportunities for leveraging the available ‘Big Data’ have recently proliferated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Here, we review the aims and methods of protein annotation and explain the different principles behind machine and deep learning algorithms including recent research examples, in order to assist both biologists wishing to apply AI tools in developing comprehensive genome annotations and computer scientists who want to contribute to this leading edge of biological research.
Response to extreme events: do morphological differences affect the ability of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to resist drought stress?
Authors: Mathes Thomas , Seidel Dominik , Annighöfer Peter
Published: February 2023

Adaptive silvicultural approaches intend to develop forests that can cope with changing climatic conditions. Just recently, many parts of Germany experienced 3 years of summer drought in a row (2018–2020). This study analysed the effects of this event on beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in two regions in northern Bavaria, Germany. For this purpose, 990 beech trees were studied on 240 plots in drought-stressed forests. We examined trees of different social position and different size. Their morphology (e.g. tree height, crown volume) was recorded by laser scanning, and drought stress was quantified by tree core sample analyses. In addition to increment analyses, the δ13C signal was determined by year.

Results show that the dominant tree collective was particularly affected by the drought. They still managed to perform well in 2018, but the radial growth decreased significantly in 2019 and 2020, partly resembling the performance values of subordinate trees. Subordinate trees, on the other hand, provide some consistency in growth during drought years. The drought was so severe that the effects of competition on tree growth began to disappear. The difference in growth of two geographically distinct study areas equalized due to drought. With continuing drought, increasing levels of the δ13C signal were detected. Similar patterns at different δ13C levels were found across the social positions of the trees. The influence of tree morphological variables on tree resistance to drought showed no clear pattern. Some trends could be found only by focusing on a data subset.

We conclude that the intensity of the 2018–2020 drought event was so severe that many rules and drivers of forest ecology and forest dynamics (social position, morphology and competition) were overruled. The influence of morphological differences was shown to be very limited. The weakening of dominant trees could potentially be no longer linear and drought events like the one experienced in 2018–2020 have the potential of acting as tipping points for beech forests.
The Legacy of Infectious Disease Exposure on the Genomic Diversity of Indigenous Southern Mexicans
Authors: Garcia Obed A , Arslanian Kendall , Whorf Daniel , Thariath Serena , Shriver Mark , Li Jun Z , Bigham Abigail W
Published: February 2023

To characterize host risk factors for infectious disease in Mesoamerican populations, we interrogated 857,481 SNPs assayed using the Affymetrix 6.0 genotyping array for signatures of natural selection in immune response genes. We applied three statistical tests to identify signatures of natural selection: locus-specific branch length (LSBL), the cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), and the integrated haplotype score (iHS). Each of the haplotype tests (XP-EHH and iHS) were paired with LSBL and significance was determined at the 1% level. For the paired analyses, we identified 95 statistically significant windows for XP-EHH/LSBL and 63 statistically significant windows for iHS/LSBL. Among our top immune response loci, we found evidence of recent directional selection associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) signaling pathway. These findings illustrate that Mesoamerican populations' immunity has been shaped by exposure to infectious disease. As targets of selection, these variants are likely to encode phenotypes that manifest themselves physiologically and therefore may contribute to population-level variation in immune response. Our results shed light on past selective events influencing the host response to modern diseases, both pathogenic infection as well as autoimmune disorders.
Odor Threshold Differs for Some But Not All Odorants Between Older and Younger Adults
Authors: Sabiniewicz Agnieszka , Brandenburg Marnie , Hummel Thomas
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Olfactory function deteriorates with age, and definitive mechanisms by which this decline occurs are likely multifactorial. The present study, conducted on a large cohort of healthy participants, aimed to investigate whether odor thresholds would differ for variable odors with different physicochemical (e.g., heavy- vs lightweight molecules) and perceptual characteristics.

Methods

In 81 participants (51%, ≥50 years old), we assessed odor threshold in 2 sessions.

Results

Linear mixed-model analyses revealed that odor thresholds in younger and older adults changed with different odor conditions, presumably due to the common exposition to some of the odors, their trigeminality, and lipophilicity. This effect was observed for piperine, eucalyptol, 2-nonanone, gamma-valerolactone, and pinene-alpha, but not for the other 15 odorants studied. Furthermore, suprathreshold perception, that is, intensity and, to some extent, irritation, contributed independently to sensorial odor threshold, the latter ones particularly in older adults. We also found that the molecular weight of the odorants did not add to their threshold by, respectively, younger and older adults.

Discussion

To conclude, the present findings are in line with previous studies showing that the age-related change of chemosensory abilities is a multifaceted phenomenon, which does not affect all odorants.