bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Noah Myth in Twenty-First-Century Cli-Fi Novels
Authors: Mundler Helen E.
Published: December 2022

Breaks new ground by both analyzing the literary qualities of four recent rewritings of the Noah myth and contextualizing their concern with climate change within the wider crises of the Anthropocene.
Legal Pluralism and Efficiency in Marriage Law
Authors: Tovar Galván Rorick
Published: December 2022

Based on economic theory, this book offers a novel approach to understanding the marital dynamic, explaining the substantive regulation of marriage and modeling legal outcomes at the conflict of laws level. On this ground the author proposes specific rules to regulate the party autonomy for the law governing the relationship, and to determine the applicable law in absence of a choice of law agreement for key aspects of the relationship: maintenance obligations, divorce, and property regime.

The book is organized in two parts, preceded by an introductory section, where the results achieved by the harmonization of conflict rules promoted by the EU are examined critically. The first part puts forward economics as the approach to better comprehend the couple's expectations of marriage. It focuses on explaining the economic rationale behind marriage, underlining its contractual nature, and demonstrating that common legal remedies as well as several mandatory and default rules in modern marriage law indeed have an economic foundation. The second part is devoted entirely to the conflict of laws dimension of marriage. The book will therefore be of interest to scholars and lawmakers attempting to launch reforms anywhere or looking for a practical and novel application of economics in the analysis of the law.
The American Convention on Human Rights
Authors: Medina Quiroga Cecilia , David Contreras Valeska
Published: December 2022

The first edition of The American Convention on Human Rights showed the hesitant steps of a court trying to find its way in a region plagued by egregious human rights violations, the absence of democracy and a significant disregard of international human rights norms. The second edition followed this up by introducing an analysis of the advancement in the reasoning of the Court regarding the violations that it had been dealing with since its inception.

This third edition contains an updated and in-depth analysis of the norms applied by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to deal with the most frequent human rights violations that still occur in Latin America regarding life, humane treatment, personal liberty, due process, access to justice, the principle of legality and judicial protection. The second edition contained a chapter on disappearances, as the Court at the time had significantly developed its reasoning on the matter; this third edition shows the latest evolution on the subject, which still plagues the region. In addition, a new chapter examines discrimination, an issue that has emerged as a frequent and important concern in the Court's work.

This edition also reflects the dynamic development of the Court's work in recent years, which has evolved to a more refined jurisprudence covering more specific aspects of the rights examined and topics not previously addressed.
A climatic random forest model of agricultural insurance loss for the Northwest United States
Authors: Seamon Erich , Gessler Paul E. , Abatzoglou John T. , Mote Philip W. , Lee Stephen S.
Published: December 2022

We compared climatic relationships to insurance loss across the inland Pacific Northwest region of the United States, using a design matrix methodology, to identify optimum temporal windows for climate variables by county in relationship to wheat insurance loss due to drought. The results of our temporal window construction for water availability variables (precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, and the Palmer drought severity index [PDSI]) identified spatial patterns across the study area that aligned with regional climate patterns, particularly with regards to drought-prone counties of eastern Washington. Using these optimum time-lagged correlational relationships between insurance loss and individual climate variables, along with commodity pricing, we constructed a regression-based random forest model for insurance loss prediction and evaluation of climatic feature importance. Our cross-validated model results indicated that PDSI was the most important factor in predicting total seasonal wheat/drought insurance loss, with wheat pricing and potential evapotranspiration having noted contributions. Our overall regional model had a

$ {R}^2 $

of 0.49, and a RMSE of $30.8 million. Model performance typically underestimated annual losses, with moderate spatial variability in terms of performance between counties.
Sea surface height super-resolution using high-resolution sea surface temperature with a subpixel convolutional residual network
Authors: Archambault Théo , Charantonis Anastase , Béréziat Dominique , Mejia Carlos , Thiria Sylvie
Published: December 2022

The oceans have a very important role in climate regulation due to their massive heat storage capacity. Thus, for the past decades, oceans have been observed by satellites to better understand their dynamics. Satellites retrieve several data with various spatial resolutions. For instance, sea surface height (SSH) is a low-resolution data field where sea surface temperature (SST) can be retrieved in a much higher one. These two physical parameters are linked by a physical link that can be learned by a super-resolution machine-learning algorithm. In this work, we present a subpixel convolutional deep learning model that takes advantage of the higher resolution SST field to guide the downscaling of the SSH one. The data fields that we use are simulated by a physic-based ocean model at a higher sampling rate than the satellites provide. We compared our approach with a convolutional neural network model. Our architecture generalized well with validation performances of 3.94 cm root mean squared error (RMSE) and training performances of 2.65 cm RMSE.
Changes in food consumption from an agricultural-based economy to industrialisation: Uruguay (1900–70)
Authors: Presa Maximiliano , Román Carolina
Published: December 2022

The literature about the nutrition transition has been discussing the existence of different paths. The case of Uruguay is introduced as a different case of transition. We focus on the period 1900–70 when the country shifted from an agricultural-based economy to industrialisation through import substitution. We estimate the annual historical time series of per capita consumption of the main food items in the Uruguayan diet using the commodity flow approach complemented by the FAO’s Food Balance Sheets methodology. We identify the major trends in food consumption and discuss the main explanatory factors. We find that Uruguay showed a transition from a very high animal food-based diet towards a more diversified pattern with more milk, cereals, and vegetables. On top of that, we sustain that not only income is important to explain the major shifts in food diet, but also preferences, changes in relative prices, and productivity.
Recent Intensification (2004–2020) of Permafrost Mass‐Wasting in the Central Mackenzie Valley Foothills Is a Legacy of Past Forest Fire Disturbances
Authors: Young Joseph M. , Alvarez Alejandro , van der Sluijs Jurjen , Kokelj Steven V. , Rudy Ashley , McPhee Alex , Stoker Benjamin J. , Margold Martin , Froese Duane
Published: December 2022

The effects of recent climate change are accelerating permafrost thaw, including ice‐rich landscapes of the western Canadian Arctic. However, regional drivers of permafrost slope failure in hillslopes with warm, thin permafrost remain poorly understood. Repeat satellite imagery (1984–2020) indicates rapid increases in retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) and deep‐seated permafrost landslides (DSPLs) since 2004, indicating a change in slope stability thresholds in an area that otherwise appeared thaw stable. The widespread occurrence of DSPL represents a contrasting geomorphic response to the RTS‐dominated ice‐rich permafrost landscapes. In this study area, RTS and DSPL occur predominantly in areas that were burned by forest fires in the 1990s, indicating a legacy thermal disturbance that preconditioned permafrost hillslopes for failure. The relations between historic fires and the later development of widespread permafrost slope failures represent an outstanding example of the complex interactions between inherited landscape sensitivity in ice‐rich terrain and ongoing climate change.
Interannual Changes in Tidal Conversion Modulate M2 Amplitudes in the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Schindelegger Michael , Kotzian Daniel P. , Ray Richard D. , Green J. A. Mattias , Stolzenberger Sophie
Published: December 2022

The Gulf of Maine's lunar semidiurnal (M2) ocean tide exhibits spatially coherent amplitude changes of ∼1–3 cm on interannual time scales, though no causative mechanism has been identified. Here we show, using a specially designed numerical modeling framework, that stratification changes account for 32%–48% (Pearson coefficient 0.58–0.69) of the observed M2 variability at tide gauges from 1994 to 2019. Masking experiments and energy diagnoses reveal that the modeled variability is primarily driven by fluctuations in barotropic‐to‐baroclinic energy conversion on the continental slope south of the gulf's mouth, with a 1‐cm amplitude increase at Boston corresponding to a ∼7% (0.30 GW) drop in the area‐integrated conversion rate. Evidence is given for the same process to have caused the decade‐long M2 amplitude decrease in the Gulf of Maine beginning in 1980/81. The study has implications for nuisance flooding predictions and space geodetic analyses seeking highest accuracies.
Using Machine Learning to Predict Urban Canopy Flows for Land Surface Modeling
Authors: Lu Yanle , Zhou Xu‐Hui , Xiao Heng , Li Qi
Published: December 2022

Developing urban land surface models for modeling cities at high resolutions needs to better account for the city‐specific multi‐scale land surface heterogeneities at a reasonable computational cost. We propose using an encoder‐decoder convolutional neural network to develop a computationally efficient model for predicting the mean velocity field directly from urban geometries. The network is trained using the geometry‐resolving large eddy simulation results. Systematic testing on urban structures with increasing deviations from the training geometries shows the prediction error plateaus at 15%, compared to errors sharply increasing up to 35% in the null models. This is explained by the trained model successfully capturing the effects of pressure drag, especially for tall buildings. The prediction error of the aerodynamic drag coefficient is reduced by 32% compared with the default parameterization implemented in mesoscale modeling. This study highlights the potential of combining computational fluid dynamics modeling and machine learning to develop city‐specific parameterizations.
Detection and Three‐Dimensional Reconstruction of Concentric Traveling Ionosphere Disturbances Induced by Hurricane Matthew on 7 October 2016
Authors: Chen Yutian , Yue Dongjie , Zhai Changzhi , Zhang Shun‐Rong
Published: December 2022

This paper reports the first high‐resolution 4‐dimensional ionospheric disturbance caused by hurricane Matthew on 7 October 2016. The temporal as well as vertical and horizontal variations of the concentric traveling ionospheric disturbances (CTIDs) were reconstructed using 3‐dimensional computerized ionospheric tomography (3DCIT) technology, based upon the Global Navigation Satellite System data from the dense receiver network over North America. The frequency range of disturbances was determined by spectrum analysis, and a Butterworth band‐pass filter was used to de‐trend the total electron content (TEC) sequences to determine TIDs. A remarkable CTID segment was detected at a distance of 1,000–1,500 km from the hurricane eye at ∼5:40–6:10 UT on 7 October 2016, moving westward with the horizontal phase velocity of ∼153.4 m/s, the period of ∼30 min and the horizontal wavelength of ∼276.1 km. The positive and negative wavefronts dominated the CITD at different times during the event. From 4:00 to 8:00 UT, the altitudinal variation of the CTIDs in electron density exhibited clear downward phase progression predominately in the range of 150–400 km altitudes; however, the percentage of electron density disturbances was larger below 250 km. The inverted cone‐like geometry of CTID wavefronts was presented. The vertical phase velocities of the CTIDs ∼1,100 km away from the hurricane eye in the northwest direction near 88°W, 34°N were ∼203.7–277.8 m/s, and at the same location, the horizontal phase velocities at 300 km altitude were ∼149.1–181.5 m/s, slightly larger than those at 200 km altitude (∼145.1–178.5 m/s).
Blanketing Sporadic‐E Layer Occurrences Over Santa Maria, a Transition Station From Low to Middle Latitude in the South American Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA)
Authors: Moro J. , Xu J. , Denardini C. M. , Stefani G. , Resende L. C. A. , Santos A. M. , Silva R. P. , Da Silva L. A. , Carmo C. S. , Carrasco A. J. , Li H. , Liu Z. , Wang C. , Schuch N. J.
Published: December 2022

Digisonde data obtained from July 2019 to June 2020 are used to study the overall occurrences of the blanketing types (Esf, Esl, Esh, Esc) of the sporadic layers (Esb) over Santa Maria, a transition station from low to middle latitude in the South American Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA). The results show that the average occurrence of the Esb layers is 54%, being maximum in summer (66%), followed by spring (63%), autumn (55%), and winter (40%). Except during the winter, the Esf is the predominant type, while the Esc generally presents the lower occurrence. In general, the top (ftEs) and the blanketing (fbEs) frequencies range from 3 to 4 MHz between 100 and 110 km, with more pronounced values during daytime compared to nighttime. A comparison between the Esb occurrences between Santa Maria and stations outside the SAMA shows a great reduction in Santa Maria. It is caused by the low intensity of the geomagnetic field, which affects the layer formation process controlled by the ion dynamics. The performance of the E‐Region Ionospheric Model (MIRE), which use the tidal wind components provided by the Global Scale Wave Model as input, is analyzed in simulating the fbEs parameter and compared with measurements. The discrepancies between the modeled and measured fbEs are reduced when the meridional/zonal wind components are adjusted by some factor. This comparison contributes to our understanding of the role of the tidal winds over Santa Maria, a transition station from low to middle latitude in Brazil.
Observations of Mercury's Plasma Sheet Horn: Characterization and Contribution to Proton Precipitation
Authors: Glass A. N. , Raines J. M. , Jia X. , Sun W. , Imber S. , Dewey R. M. , Slavin J. A.
Published: December 2022

The Mercury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft was the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. Previous analysis of MESSENGER data has established that of all the planets in the solar system, Mercury's magnetosphere is the most like Earth's, dominated by the Dungey cycle in its dynamic response of the magnetosphere to solar wind forcing. In this work, we identify and describe for the first time Mercury's northern plasma sheet horn—a Dungey cycle feature key to plasma precipitation. We find three possible geometries for potential horn observation by MESSENGER and describe a case study of each. Two additional case studies are presented with geometries particularly favorable to estimating plasma precipitation within the horns. Estimates of proton precipitation flux are performed, which show precipitation levels on the order of 107 per cm2 per second, on the same order of magnitude as the estimated proton precipitation flux in the dayside cusp despite the higher average energy of the protons in the horn. Potential paths for future study of the horns are discussed.
The Question of Transpolar Arc Conjugacy: New Results From Comparing Solar Wind Data and Dipole Tilt Distribution of Five Different Datasets
Authors: Kullen Anita , Thor S. , Cai L.
Published: December 2022

In this work, we investigate the interhemispheric transpolar arc (TPA) conjugacy using four previously published datasets based on Polar UV images, DMSP particle data, and IMAGE images, and a new TPA list based on DMSP SSUSI images during 1 Sep to 15 Oct 2015. IMF and the Earth's dipole tilt have often been suggested to influence the TPA conjugacy, as both induce a north‐south asymmetry on the magnetosphere. However, by comparing these parameters at TPA formation with the background distribution for each dataset, we find that neither the dipole tilt nor plays a major role for the TPA conjugacy in four of the five datasets. The well‐known correlation between initial TPA location and IMF appears in all datasets with information about the TPA formation. In addition, we find that a minority of dawnside TPAs form during the “wrong” sign. In the northern (southern) hemisphere, dawn TPAs appear also during weakly duskward (dawnward) IMF. Due to the polar orbit of DMSP satellites, TPA conjugacy and location can be examined on a case‐by‐case basis with the new dataset. The results show that at least 73% of TPAs appear in both hemispheres simultaneously. IMF and dipole tilt values for conjugate TPAs do not differ from those for non‐conjugate TPAs. Most conjugate (isolated) TPAs appear on opposite oval sides in each hemisphere (57%). Interestingly, in case northern and southern hemisphere TPAs form on the same oval side, they appear typically at dawn during weak IMF .
Sea‐Ice Forecasts With an Upgraded AWI Coupled Prediction System
Authors: Mu Longjiang , Nerger Lars , Streffing Jan , Tang Qi , Niraula Bimochan , Zampieri Lorenzo , Loza Svetlana N. , Goessling Helge F.
Published: December 2022

A new version of the AWI Coupled Prediction System is developed based on the Alfred Wegener Institute Climate Model v3.0. Both the ocean and the atmosphere models are upgraded or replaced, reducing the computation time by a factor of 5 at a given resolution. This allowed us to increase the ensemble size from 12 to 30, maintaining a similar resolution in both model components. The online coupled data assimilation scheme now additionally utilizes sea‐surface salinity and sea‐level anomaly as well as temperature and salinity profile observations. Results from the data assimilation demonstrate that the sea‐ice and ocean states are reasonably constrained. In particular, the temperature and salinity profile assimilation has mitigated systematic errors in the deeper ocean, although issues remain over polar regions where strong atmosphere‐ocean‐ice interaction occurs. One‐year‐long sea‐ice forecasts initialized on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October from 2003 to 2019 are described. To correct systematic forecast errors, sea‐ice concentration from 2011 to 2019 is calibrated by trend‐adjusted quantile mapping using the preceding forecasts from 2003 to 2010. The sea‐ice edge raw forecast skill is within the range of operational global subseasonal‐to‐seasonal forecast systems, outperforming a climatological benchmark for about 2 weeks in the Arctic and about 3 weeks in the Antarctic. The calibration is much more effective in the Arctic: Calibrated sea‐ice edge forecasts outperform climatology for about 45 days in the Arctic but only 27 days in the Antarctic. Both the raw and the calibrated forecast skill exhibit strong seasonal variations.
Application of Nitrogen Isotopic Systematics in Different N Forms for the Reconstruction of Redox Conditions: An Example From the Songliao Basin
Authors: Cao Hansheng , Wang Zaiyun , Chen Fajin , Chen Chunqing , Hu Liumei
Published: December 2022

The assessment of nitrogen cycle processes in paleomarine and paleolake systems commonly relies solely on total nitrogen isotopes. If organic nitrogen and adsorbed nitrate can be effectively extracted from samples, the application of nitrogen isotopic systematics in different N forms would be beneficial for reconstructing the nitrogen cycle process in pore water and would mutually complement water chemistry information. According to the variations in δ13Corg, δ15NTN, δ15Norg and δ15Nnitrate data of the Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin, NE China, the profile could be divided into three intervals (intervals A–C). We attribute the anomalously high δ15Nnitrate (∼+20‰) from intervals A and C to the effect of sedimentary denitrification that occurred in the benthic sediments during the early diagenetic stage. We also recognize the intimate relationship between δ15Nnitrate and δ15Norg values, which are interpreted to reflect the effect of water column denitrification in the bottom waters and/or surface pore water. Based on the comparison of nitrogen isotope variability and the evolving environmental context, we interpret the water column denitrification as primarily reflecting anoxic bottom water or surface pore waters, while the sedimentary denitrification indicated by abnormally high δ15Nnitrate can effectively represent oxic bottom water. This study not only reveals that the adsorbed nitrate can be well extracted from mudstones with low thermal decomposition degrees but also suggests that the organic nitrogen‐nitrate isotope proxies can be used as a potential parameter to track the redox structure in water masses.
Blockage of Nrf2 and autophagy by L-selenocystine induces selective death in Nrf2-addicted colorectal cancer cells through p62-Keap-1-Nrf2 axis
Authors: Hsu Wei-Lun , Wang Chieh-Min , Yao Chao-Ling , Chen Ssu-Ching , Nien Chung-Yi , Sun Yang-Ho , Tseng Tsung-Yu , Luo Yueh-Hsia
Published: December 2022

Persistent Nrf2 activation is typically noted in many cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), aiding cancer cells in overcoming growth stress and promoting cancer progression. Sustained Nrf2 activation, which is beneficial for cancer cells, is called “Nrf2 addiction”; it is closely associated with malignancy and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, Nrf2 inhibitors may have adverse effects on normal cells. Here, we found that the selenocompoundl-selenocystine (SeC) is selectively cytotoxic in the Nrf2-addicted CRC cell line WiDr cells, but not in non–Nrf2-addicted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and normal human colon cells. Another CRC cell line, C2BBe1, which harbored lower levels of Nrf2 and its downstream proteins were less sensitive to SeC, compared with the WiDr cells. We further demonstrated that SeC inhibited Nrf2 and autophagy activation in the CRC cells. Antioxidant GSH pretreatment partially rescued the CRC cells from SeC-induced cytotoxicity and Nrf2 and autophagy pathway inhibition. By contrast, SeC activated Nrf2 and autophagy pathway in non–Nrf2-addicted MSCs. Transfecting WiDr cells withNrf2-targeting siRNA decreased persistent Nrf2 activation and alleviated SeC cytotoxicity. InKEAP1-knockdown C2BBe1cells, Nrf2 pathway activation increased SeC sensitivity and cytotoxicity. In conclusion, SeC selectively attacks cancer cells with constitutively activated Nrf2 by reducing Nrf2 and autophagy pathway protein expression through the P62–Nrf2–antioxidant response element axis and eventually trigger cell death.
Dynamic partitioning of branched-chain amino acids-derived nitrogen supports renal cancer progression
Authors: Sciacovelli Marco , Dugourd Aurelien , Jimenez Lorea Valcarcel , Yang Ming , Nikitopoulou Efterpi , Costa Ana S. H. , Tronci Laura , Caraffini Veronica , Rodrigues Paulo , Schmidt Christina , Ryan Dylan Gerard , Young Timothy , Zecchini Vincent R. , Rossi Sabrina H. , Massie Charlie , Lohoff Caroline , Masid Maria , Hatzimanikatis Vassily , Kuppe Christoph , Von Kriegsheim Alex , Kramann Rafael , Gnanapragasam Vincent , Warren Anne Y. , Stewart Grant D. , Erez Ayelet , Vanharanta Sakari , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Frezza Christian
Published: December 2022

Metabolic reprogramming is critical for tumor initiation and progression. However, the exact impact of specific metabolic changes on cancer progression is poorly understood. Here, we integrate multimodal analyses of primary and metastatic clonally-related clear cell renal cancer cells (ccRCC) grown in physiological media to identify key stage-specific metabolic vulnerabilities. We show that aVHLloss-dependent reprogramming of branched-chain amino acid catabolism sustains the de novo biosynthesis of aspartate and arginine enabling tumor cells with the flexibility of partitioning the nitrogen of the amino acids depending on their needs. Importantly, we identify the epigenetic reactivation of argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1), a urea cycle enzyme suppressed in primary ccRCC, as a crucial event for metastatic renal cancer cells to acquire the capability to generate arginine, invade in vitro and metastasize in vivo. Overall, our study uncovers a mechanism of metabolic flexibility occurring during ccRCC progression, paving the way for the development of novel stage-specific therapies.
STREAMING-tag system reveals spatiotemporal relationships between transcriptional regulatory factors and transcriptional activity
Authors: Ohishi Hiroaki , Shimada Seiru , Uchino Satoshi , Li Jieru , Sato Yuko , Shintani Manabu , Owada Hitoshi , Ohkawa Yasuyuki , Pertsinidis Alexandros , Yamamoto Takashi , Kimura Hiroshi , Ochiai Hiroshi
Published: December 2022

Transcription is a dynamic process. To detect the dynamic relationship among protein clusters of RNA polymerase II and coactivators, gene loci, and transcriptional activity, we insert an MS2 repeat, a TetO repeat, and inteins with a selection marker just downstream of the transcription start site. By optimizing the individual elements, we develop the Spliced TetO REpeAt, MS2 repeat, and INtein sandwiched reporter Gene tag (STREAMING-tag) system. Clusters of RNA polymerase II and BRD4 are observed proximal to the transcription start site of Nanog when the gene is transcribed in mouse embryonic stem cells. In contrast, clusters of MED19 and MED22 tend to be located near the transcription start site, even without transcription activity. Thus, the STREAMING-tag system reveals the spatiotemporal relationships between transcriptional activity and protein clusters near the gene. This powerful tool is useful for quantitatively understanding transcriptional regulation in living cells.
Chronic exposure to synthetic food colorant Allura Red AC promotes susceptibility to experimental colitis via intestinal serotonin in mice
Authors: Kwon Yun Han , Banskota Suhrid , Wang Huaqing , Rossi Laura , Grondin Jensine A. , Syed Saad A. , Yousefi Yeganeh , Schertzer Jonathan D. , Morrison Katherine M. , Wade Michael G. , Holloway Alison C. , Surette Michael G. , Steinberg Gregory R. , Khan Waliul I.
Published: December 2022

Chemicals in food are widely used leading to significant human exposure. Allura Red AC (AR) is a highly common synthetic colorant; however, little is known about its impact on colitis. Here, we show chronic exposure of AR at a dose found in commonly consumed dietary products exacerbates experimental models of colitis in mice. While intermittent exposure is more akin to a typical human exposure, intermittent exposure to AR in mice for 12 weeks, does not influence susceptibility to colitis. However, exposure to AR during early life primes mice to heightened susceptibility to colitis. In addition, chronic exposure to AR induces mild colitis, which is associated with elevated colonic serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) levels and impairment of the epithelial barrier function via myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). Importantly, chronic exposure to AR does not influence colitis susceptibility in mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), the rate limiting enzyme for 5-HT biosynthesis. Cecal transfer of the perturbed gut microbiota by AR exposure worsens colitis severity in the recipient germ-free (GF) mice. Furthermore, chronic AR exposure elevates colonic 5-HT levels in naïve GF mice. Though it remains unknown whether AR has similar effects in humans, our study reveals that chronic long-term exposure to a common synthetic colorant promotes experimental colitis via colonic 5-HT in gut microbiota-dependent and -independent pathway in mice.
Adipose-targeted triiodothyronine therapy counteracts obesity-related metabolic complications and atherosclerosis with negligible side effects
Authors: Chen Kang , Cheong Lai Yee , Gao Yuan , Zhang Yaming , Feng Tianshi , Wang Qin , Jin Leigang , Honoré Eric , Lam Karen S. L. , Wang Weiping , Hui Xiaoyan , Xu Aimin
Published: December 2022

Thyroid hormone (TH) is a thermogenic activator with anti-obesity potential. However, systemic TH administration has no obvious clinical benefits on weight reduction. Herein we selectively delivered triiodothyronine (T3) to adipose tissues by encapsulating T3 in liposomes modified with an adipose homing peptide (PLT3). Systemic T3 administration failed to promote thermogenesis in brown and white adipose tissues (WAT) due to a feedback suppression of sympathetic innervation. PLT3 therapy effectively obviated this feedback suppression on adrenergic inputs, and potently induced browning and thermogenesis of WAT, leading to alleviation of obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and fatty liver in obese mice. Furthermore, PLT3 was much more effective than systemic T3 therapy in reducing hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice. These findings uncover WAT as a viable target mediating the therapeutic benefits of TH and provide a safe and efficient therapeutic strategy for obesity and its complications by delivering TH to adipose tissue.
Quantum criticality of excitonic Mott metal-insulator transitions in black phosphorus
Authors: Zheng Binjie , Wang Junzhuan , Wang Qianghua , Su Xin , Huang Tianye , Li Songlin , Wang Fengqiu , Shi Yi , Wang Xiaomu
Published: December 2022

Quantum phase transition refers to the abrupt change of ground states of many-body systems driven by quantum fluctuations. It hosts various intriguing exotic states around its quantum critical points approaching zero temperature. Here we report the spectroscopic and transport evidences of quantum critical phenomena of an exciton Mott metal-insulator-transition in black phosphorus. Continuously tuning the interplay of electron-hole pairs by photo-excitation and using Fourier-transform photo-current spectroscopy as a probe, we measure a comprehensive phase diagram of electron-hole states in temperature and electron-hole pair density parameter space. We characterize an evolution from optical insulator with sharp excitonic transition to metallic electron-hole plasma phases featured by broad absorption and population inversion. We also observe strange metal behavior that resistivity is linear in temperature near the Mott transition boundaries. Our results exemplify an ideal platform to investigating strongly-correlated physics in semiconductors, such as crossover between superconductivity and superfluity of exciton condensation.
Draft genome sequencing and secretome profiling of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum revealed effector repertoire diversity and allied broad-host range necrotrophy
Authors: Gupta Navin C. , Yadav Sunita , Arora Shaweta , Mishra Dwijesh C. , Budhlakoti Neeraj , Gaikwad Kishore , Rao Mahesh , Prasad Lakshman , Rai Pramod K. , Sharma Pankaj
Published: December 2022

White mold commonly known as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes stem rot disease and has emerged as one of the major fungal pathogens of oilseed Brassica across the world. In the present study, consistently virulent S. sclerotiorum isolate “ESR-01” was sequenced and an assembly size of ~ 41 Mb with 328 scaffolds having N50 of 447,128 was obtained. Additionally, 27,450 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from 155 scaffolds against S. sclerotiorum 1980 isolate, with an average SNP density of ~ 1.5 per kb genome. 667 repetitive elements were identified and approximately comprised 7% of the total annotated genes. The DDE_1 with 454 in numbers was found to be the most abundant and accounts for 68% of the total predicted repetitive elements. In total, 3844 simple sequence repeats are identified in the 328 scaffolds. A total of 9469 protein-coding genes were predicted from the whole genome assembly with an average gene length of 1587 bp and their distribution as 230.95 genes per Mb in the genome. Out of 9469 predicted protein-coding genes, 529 genes were observed encoding the CAZymes (Carbohydrate-Active enzymes) capable of degradation of the complex polysaccharides. Glycosyltransferase (GT) families were most abundant (49.71%) among the predicted CAZymes and GT2 (23%), GT4 (20%), and glycoside hydrolase (GH) 23% with GH18 (11%) were the prominent cell wall degrading enzyme families in the ESR-01 secretome. Besides this, 156 genes essential for the pathogen-host interactions were also identified. The effector analysis in the whole genome proteomics dataset revealed a total of 57 effector candidates (ECs) and 27 of them were having their analogs whereas the remaining 30 were novel ones. Eleven selected ECs were validated experimentally by analyzing the expression profile of the ESR-01 isolate of S. sclerotiorum. Together, the present investigation offers a better understanding of the S. sclerotiorum genome, secretome, and its effector repertoire which will help in refining the present knowledge on S. sclerotiorum-Brassica interactions and necrotrophic lifestyle of the phytopathogen in general.
Significance of Hall current and viscous dissipation in the bioconvection flow of couple-stress nanofluid with generalized Fourier and Fick laws
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Javed Muhammad , Rehman Sadique , Saeed Anwar , Gul Taza , Kumam Poom , Suttiarporn Panawan
Published: December 2022

In the pump of different machines, the vacuum pump oil (VPO) is used as a lubricant. The heat rate transport mechanism is a significant requirement for all industries and engineering. The applications of VPO in discrete fields of industries and engineering fields are uranium enrichment, electron microscopy, radio pharmacy, ophthalmic coating, radiosurgery, production of most types of electric lamps, mass spectrometers, freeze-drying, and, etc. Therefore, in the present study, the nanoparticles are mixed up into the VPO base liquid for the augmentation of energy transportation. Further, the MHD flow of a couple stress nanoliquid with the applications of Hall current toward the rotating disk is discussed. The Darcy-Forchheimer along with porous medium is examined. The prevalence of viscous dissipation, thermal radiation, and Joule heating impacts are also considered. With the aid of Cattaneo-Christov heat-mass flux theory, the mechanism for energy and mass transport is deliberated. The idea of the motile gyrotactic microorganisms is incorporated. The existing problem is expressed as higher-order PDEs, which are then transformed into higher-order ODEs by employing the appropriate similarity transformations. For the analytical simulation of the modeled system of equations, the HAM scheme is utilized. The behavior of the flow profiles of the nanoliquid against various flow parameters has discoursed through the graphs. The outcomes from this analysis determined that the increment in a couple-stress liquid parameter reduced the fluid velocity. It is obtained that, the expansion in thermal and solutal relaxation time parameters decayed the nanofluid temperature and concentration. Further, it is examined that a higher magnetic field amplified the skin friction coefficients of the nanoliquid. Heat transport is increased through the rising of the radiation parameter.
Quantification of biological nitrogen fixation by Mo-independent complementary nitrogenases in environmental samples with low nitrogen fixation activity
Authors: Haynes Shannon J. , Darnajoux Romain , Han Eunah , Oleynik Sergey , Zimble Ezra , Zhang Xinning
Published: December 2022

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by canonical molybdenum and complementary vanadium and iron-only nitrogenase isoforms is the primary natural source of newly fixed nitrogen. Understanding controls on global nitrogen cycling requires knowledge of the isoform responsible for environmental BNF. The isotopic acetylene reduction assay (ISARA), which measures carbon stable isotope (13C/12C) fractionation between ethylene and acetylene in acetylene reduction assays, is one of the few methods that can quantify isoform-specific BNF fluxes. Application of classical ISARA has been challenging because environmental BNF activity is often too low to generate sufficient ethylene for isotopic analyses. Here we describe a high sensitivity method to measure ethylene δ13C by in-line coupling of ethylene preconcentration to gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EPCon-GC-C-IRMS). Ethylene requirements in samples with 10% v/v acetylene are reduced from > 500 to ~ 20 ppmv (~ 2 ppmv with prior offline acetylene removal). To increase robustness by reducing calibration error, single nitrogenase-isoform Azotobacter vinelandii mutants and environmental sample assays rely on a common acetylene source for ethylene production. Application of the Low BNF activity ISARA (LISARA) method to low nitrogen-fixing activity soils, leaf litter, decayed wood, cryptogams, and termites indicates complementary BNF in most sample types, calling for additional studies of isoform-specific BNF.
Assessing the influence of microwave-assisted synthesis parameters and stabilizing ligands on the optical properties of AIS/ZnS quantum dots
Authors: Dhamo Lorena , Wegner K. David , Würth Christian , Häusler Ines , Hodoroaba Vasile-Dan , Resch-Genger Ute
Published: December 2022

Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are frequently used in the life and material sciences as reporter for bioimaging studies and as active components in devices such as displays, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and sensors. Increasing concerns regarding the use of toxic elements like cadmium and lead, and hazardous organic solvents during QD synthesis have meanwhile triggered the search for heavy-metal free QDs using green chemistry syntheses methods. Interesting candidates are ternary AgInS2 (AIS) QDs that exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) bands, large effective Stokes shifts, high PL quantum yields (PL QYs), and long PL lifetimes, which are particularly beneficial for applications such as bioimaging, white light-emitting diodes, and solar concentrators. In addition, these nanomaterials can be prepared in high quality with a microwave-assisted (MW) synthesis in aqueous solution. The homogeneous heat diffusion and instant temperature rise of the MW synthesis enables a better control of QD nucleation and growth and thus increases the batch-to-batch reproducibility. In this study, we systematically explored the MW synthesis of AIS/ZnS QDs by varying parameters such as the order of reagent addition, precursor concentration, and type of stabilizing thiol ligand, and assessed their influence on the optical properties of the resulting AIS/ZnS QDs. Under optimized synthesis conditions, water-soluble AIS/ZnS QDs with a PL QY of 65% and excellent colloidal and long-term stability could be reproducible prepared.
Martian buildings: structural forms using in-place sources
Authors: Soureshjani Omid Karimzade , Massumi Ali
Published: December 2022

On Mars, structural loads and the low tensile strength of in-place Martian binders make existing solutions for Martian structures uneconomical because they are based on the terrestrial sources like inflatable units. Here we address this issue by introducing and analyzing three innovative structural forms in accordance with the structural engineering point of view using symmetric optimum parabolic rotated arch shapes and in-place waterless sulfur-based concrete. These forms minimize the tensile stresses under Martian structural loads. Probable Martian structural loads, including gravity, wind, marsquakes, asteroid and meteoroid impact loads and their effects have been investigated and calculated. The proposed models were analyzed under Martian structural loads using the implicit finite element method and the results were compared to two concrete structural forms from previous studies. The proposed models could tolerate Martian structural loads with complete elastic behavior and would significantly decrease the Martian colonization cost due to using Martian resources and reduce element importing from Earth.
Multistressor global change drivers reduce hatch and viability of Lingcod embryos, a benthic egg layer in the California Current System
Authors: Willis-Norton Ellen , Carr Mark H. , Hazen Elliott L. , Kroeker Kristy J.
Published: December 2022

Early life history stages of marine fishes are often more susceptible to environmental stressors than adult stages. This vulnerability is likely exacerbated for species that lay benthic egg masses bound to substrate because the embryos cannot evade locally unfavorable environmental conditions. Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), a benthic egg layer, is an ecologically and economically significant predator in the highly-productive California Current System (CCS). We ran a flow-through mesocosm experiment that exposed Lingcod eggs collected from Monterey Bay, CA to conditions we expect to see in the central CCS by the year 2050 and 2100. Exposure to temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen concentrations projected by the year 2050 halved the successful hatch of Lingcod embryos and significantly reduced the size of day-1 larvae. In the year 2100 treatment, viable hatch plummeted (3% of normal), larvae were undersized (83% of normal), yolk reserves were exhausted (38% of normal), and deformities were widespread (94% of individuals). This experiment is the first to expose marine benthic eggs to future temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions in concert. Lingcod are a potential indicator species for other benthic egg layers for which global change conditions may significantly diminish recruitment rates.
Innovative biosynthesis, artificial intelligence-based optimization, and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles by Streptomyces microflavus and their inhibitory potential against Pectobacterium carotovorum
Authors: El-Naggar Noura El-Ahmady , Bashir Shimaa I. , Rabei Nashwa H. , Saber WesamEldin I. A.
Published: December 2022

Microbial-based strategy in nanotechnology offers economic, eco-friendly, and biosafety advantages over traditional chemical and physical protocols. The current study describes a novel biosynthesis protocol for chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), employing a pioneer Streptomyces sp. strain NEAE-83, which exhibited a significant potential for CNPs biosynthesis. It was identified as Streptomyces microflavus strain NEAE-83 based on morphological, and physiological properties as well as the 16S rRNA sequence (GenBank accession number: MG384964). CNPs were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDXS, zeta potential, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and DSC. CNPs biosynthesis was maximized using a mathematical model, face-centered central composite design (CCFCD). The highest yield of CNPs (9.41 mg/mL) was obtained in run no. 27, using an initial pH of 5.5, 1% chitosan, 40 °C, and a 12 h incubation period. Innovatively, the artificial neural network (ANN), was used for validating and predicting CNPs biosynthesis based on the trials data of CCFCD. Despite the high precision degree of both models, ANN was supreme in the prediction of CNPs biosynthesis compared to CCFCD. ANN had a higher prediction efficacy and, lower error values (RMSE, MDA, and SSE). CNPs biosynthesized by Streptomyces microflavus strain NEAE-83 showed in-vitro antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium carotovorum, which causes the potato soft rot. These results suggested its potential application for controlling the destructive potato soft rot diseases. This is the first report on the biosynthesis of CNPs using a newly isolated; Streptomyces microflavus strain NEAE-83 as an eco-friendly approach and optimization of the biosynthesis process by artificial intelligence.
Machine learning approaches demonstrate that protein structures carry information about their genetic coding
Authors: Ackerman-Schraier Linor , Rosenberg Aviv A. , Marx Ailie , Bronstein Alex M.
Published: December 2022

Synonymous codons translate into the same amino acid. Although the identity of synonymous codons is often considered inconsequential to the final protein structure, there is mounting evidence for an association between the two. Our study examined this association using regression and classification models, finding that codon sequences predict protein backbone dihedral angles with a lower error than amino acid sequences, and that models trained with true dihedral angles have better classification of synonymous codons given structural information than models trained with random dihedral angles. Using this classification approach, we investigated local codon–codon dependencies and tested whether synonymous codon identity can be predicted more accurately from codon context than amino acid context alone, and most specifically which codon context position carries the most predictive power.
Study on hydraulic spray atomizing system as a new resource-efficient dyeing-finishing method for wool fabric
Authors: Mulder Roos , Morshed Mohammad Neaz , Seipel Sina , Norén Ulrika , Niit Ellinor , Nierstrasz Vincent
Published: December 2022

This study introduces hydraulic spray (HS) atomizing system as new resource-efficient continuous dyeing-finishing method for wool fabric. Here, wool fabric was dyed and finished by using commercial dyes and finishes through either one-step or two-steps HS method. Results obtained from color strength (K/S), color difference (ΔECMC) and color fastness analysis presented the apprehension of HS method in dyeing of wool fabric with different GSM and dyes. Finishing performance of wool fabric was measured through water contact angle analysis. Analysis shows that, the finishing performance of HS method were substantial to reach water contact angle as high as 145° while maintaining high fastness to wash and abrasion. Between one-step and two-steps HS method, one-step method showed better performance with high resource efficiency compared to two-steps method. Results from statistical analysis shows no statistical significance of fabric weight, type of dyes, and finishes to the performance of new HS method which is crucial for true-scale industrial implementation and scaling up of this process. The findings of this report are of great importance as it presents a greener alternative to the conventional resource-intensive dyeing-finishing methods of wool fabric.
Effects of coiling embolism on blood hemodynamic of the MCA aneurysm: a numerical study
Authors: Valipour Peiman
Published: December 2022

One of common endovascular technique for treatment of MCA aneurysm is using coiling gel for limiting of blood stream. In this work, computational fluid dynamic is used for the simulation of the blood hemodynamic inside MCA in existence of coiling gel. This work has tried to visualize the impacts of blood characteristics i.e. hematocrit as a protein related factor on efficiency of coiling fiber inside the aneurysm. Tufts of polyester fibers may be attached to the coil to support thrombosis and platelet aggregation. Blood rheology analysis is done by solving RANS equations and it is assumed that blood stream is non-Newtonian with fluid–solid interaction. OSI and WSS are compared on sac surface area for different stages of blood cycle. Achieved results confirm that the coiling gel substantially decreases the blood circulation inside the aneurysm sac. It is also found that the influence of blood hematocrit decreases when the MCA aneurysm is filled by the coiling gel.