bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex pheromone biosynthesis in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis: paving the way for biotechnological production
Authors: Dam Marie Inger , Ding Bao‐Jian , Svensson Glenn P , Wang Hong‐Lei , Melo Douglas J , Lassance Jean‐Marc , Zarbin Paulo HG , Löfstedt Christer
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera) is a key pest on sugarcane and other grasses in the Americas. Biological control as well as insecticide treatments are used for pest management, but economic losses are still significant. The use of female sex pheromones for mating disruption or mass trapping in pest management could be established for this species, provided that economical production of pheromone is available.

RESULTS

Combining in vivo labelling studies, differential expression analysis of transcriptome data and functional characterisation of insect genes in a yeast expression system, we reveal the biosynthetic pathway and identify the desaturase and reductase enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the main pheromone component (9Z,11E)‐hexadecadienal, and minor components hexadecanal, (9Z)‐hexadecenal and (11Z)‐hexadecenal. We next demonstrate heterologous production of the corresponding alcohols of the pheromone components, by expressing multiple steps of the biosynthetic pathway in yeast.

CONCLUSION

Elucidation of the genetic basis of sex pheromone biosynthesis in D. saccharalis, and heterologous expression in yeast, paves the way for biotechnological production of the pheromone compounds needed for pheromone‐based pest management of this species. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Long Spin Relaxation Times in CVD‐Grown Nanodiamonds
Authors: Prooth Jeroen , Petrov Michael , Shmakova Alevtina , Gulka Michal , Cigler Petr , D'Haen Jan , Boyen Hans‐Gerd , Nesladek Milos
Published: October 2023

Currently, the primary applications of fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) are in the area of biosensing, by using photoluminescence or spin properties of color centres, mainly represented by the nitrogen vacancy (NV) point defect. The sensitivity of NV‐FNDs to external fields is, however, limited by crystallographic defects, which influence their key quantum state characteristics ‐ the spin longitudinal (T1) and spin transversal (T2) relaxation and coherence times, respectively. This paper reports on utilizing an advanced FND growth technique consisting of heterogeneous nucleation on pre‐engineered sites to create FNDs averaging around 60 nm in size, with mean longitudinal coherence times of 800 s and a maximum over 1.8 ms, close to bulk theoretical values. This is a major, nearly ten‐fold improvement over commercially available nanodiamonds for the same size range of 50 to 150 nm. Heavy‐N doped nanodiamond shells, important for sensing events in nm proximity to the diamond surface, are fabricated and discussed in terms of re‐nucleation and twinning on {111} crystal facets. The scalability issues are discussed in order to enable the production of FND volumes matching the needs of sensing applications.
Sarcoidosis following COVID infection: A case series
Authors: Smith David J. F. , Meghji Jamilah , Moonim Mufaddal , Ross Clare , Viola Patrizia , Wickremasinghe Melissa , Gleeson Laura E.
Published: October 2023

Here we describe three cases of sarcoidosis which were diagnosed following COVID infection. Treating clinicians should consider post‐COVID‐19 sarcoidosis in their differential, as it represents a potentially treatable cause of persistent symptomatology.
Distributed adaptive optimization for microgrids
Authors: Yan Ying , Sun Jiayue
Published: October 2023

In this article, a one‐critic Q‐learning algorithm for the adaptive optimization of the distributed microgrids is proposed to improve the charging and discharging management and optimization of batteries in microgrids. Constrained by the random power generation of sustainable energy and the high uncertainty of power load, this article presents a dynamic balance point of the remaining power of the battery pack, and the dual battery pack constitutes a dynamic power game augmented system in the charge‐discharge process. The structure of the one‐critic neural network can effectively simplify the computational complexity, and the value can converge to the optimal solution in finite iterations. Simulation experiments also prove that the Q‐learning can effectively curb the overcharge and over‐discharge behavior of the battery pack, and realize the tracking of the dynamic SOC balance point.
Lifelong learning‐based multilayer neural network control of nonlinear continuous‐time strict‐feedback systems
Authors: Ganie Irfan Ahmad , Jagannathan S.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we investigate lifelong learning (LL)‐based tracking control for partially uncertain strict feedback nonlinear systems with state constraints, employing a singular value decomposition (SVD) of the multilayer neural networks (MNNs) activation function based weight tuning scheme. The novel SVD‐based approach extends the MNN weight tuning to layers. A unique online LL method, based on tracking error, is integrated into the MNN weight update laws to counteract catastrophic forgetting. To adeptly address constraints for safety assurances, taking into account the effects caused by disturbances, we utilize a time‐varying barrier Lyapunov function (TBLF) that ensures a uniformly ultimately bounded closed‐loop system. The effectiveness of the proposed safe LL MNN approach is demonstrated through a leader‐follower formation scenario involving unknown kinematics and dynamics. Supporting simulation results of mobile robot formation control are provided, confirming the theoretical findings.
Simultaneous measurement of impurities and composition by secondary ion mass spectrometry with optical emission spectrometry
Authors: Miyamoto Takashi , Numao Shigenori , Sameshima Junichiro , Yoshikawa Masanobu
Published: October 2023

Various secondary particles are emitted when the surface of solid matter is irradiated with ions. This phenomenon has been utilized in several methods to analyze target materials. In analytical techniques, the method used to detect secondary ions is called “secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).” In contrast, “secondary ion mass spectrometry with optical emission spectrometry (SIMS‐OES)” detects photons emitted from sputtered, excited atoms. Both SIMS and OES can characterize a sample surface and perform local elemental analysis of the surface, depth profiling of elements, and detection of any atom. SIMS with high sensitivity has mainly been developed for the impurity analyses of semiconductors. However, no research has been reported on applications using SIMS‐OES or a combination of SIMS and SIMS‐OES. In this study, we prove that atomic emission can be observed via ion irradiation. In addition, we show that the composition analysis is possible using the SIMS‐OES method. Herein, impurity and composition analyses were enabled by utilizing atomic emission. Moreover, we proved that an assessment with high‐depth direction resolution is feasible by etching the circumference of a crater in advance.
Norwegian offshore wind power—Spatial planning using multi‐criteria decision analysis
Authors: Solbrekke Ida Marie , Sorteberg Asgeir
Published: October 2023

The Norwegian government recently agreed on the goal 30by40, which involves opening Norwegian offshore areas to host 30 GW of installed wind power by 2040. We address this goal by presenting a first mapping of wind power suitability scores (WPSS) for the entire Norwegian economic zone (NEZ) using a multi‐criteria decision analysis framework (MCDA), namely, the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) approach. We obtain WPSS considering relevant criteria like wind resources, techno‐economic aspects, social acceptance, environmental considerations, and met‐ocean constraints such as wind and wave conditions. The results starts with a baseline scenario, where the criterion importance is pairwise compared in the context of balancing economic incentives and conflicting interests. Additionally, to reveal regions that are robust to changes in criterion importance, we carry out a sensitivity analysis by introducing three additional scenarios. These scenarios represent stereotypical actors with distinct preferences for siting of wind farms: the investor, the environmentalist, and the fisherman. The results show that the southern part of the NEZ is the most suitable and robust region for offshore wind power deployment. This region receives the highest suitability category (“very high” suitability for wind power application) throughout all the scenarios. Areas in the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea and the near‐coastal areas outside mid‐Norway are also well suited regions, but these are more sensitive to the choice of criterion importance. The use of AHP within the framework of MCDA is shown to be a promising tool for pinpointing the best Norwegian offshore areas for wind power application.
Rising above the ashes: Sustainable development goals and the intersections of peace education amid a violent past
Authors: Amaladas Stan , Schellhammer Erich , Parker Lorelei Higgins
Published: October 2023

For the sake of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and building accountable and inclusive institutions, what can peace leadership educators do in the Here and Now to implement equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities? This question is raised within the context of the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children on the grounds of several former Indian Residential Schools across Canada. Emerging from the responses to the question raised, the authors offer a peace education model that includes four distinct yet interconnected aspects for college student leadership educators (i) be principle‐centered; (ii) be courageous in challenging questions asked, (iii) be purposeful by enabling safe spaces where learners’ stories can be told and heard, and (iv) be imaginative by choosing hope rather than despair.
Meditation and Other New Spiritual Practices in the Church of Sweden
Authors: Plank Katarina , Lundgren Linnea , Egnell Helene
Published: October 2023

This chapter deals with practices that traditionally have not been found within the Lutheran Church and how these are integrated in its activities. Here Katarina Plank, Linnea Lundgren, and Helene Egnell draw on data from an ongoing research project that explore how, since the 1970s, spiritual practices labeled as “New Age” have become more widespread, and lately practices with a focus on “body-mind techniques” have especially been given more space within the Church of Sweden. Their netnographic survey of the homepages of the parishes in the diocese of Stockholm shows that there is plethora of new activities going on which have emerged during the last 50 years. Many of these activities were geared toward community building, and 15% of them fall into the category of holistic practices. Such practices, comprising, for example, meditation groups, yoga classes, and dance, can be found in eight out of ten parishes. These new spiritual practices were first offered in exclusive settings like retreat centers, but have now moved into ordinary parish life, accessible to all parishioners. Some of the practices, like Zen meditation and yoga, have been contested but are now broadly accepted.
The Central Asian Research Setting: An Introduction
Authors: Dall’Agnola Jasmin , Sharshenova Aijan
Published: October 2023

Researching Central Asia can be interesting, entertaining, life-changing, traumatising and, at the very least, thought provoking. The way we, Central Asians and Central Asianists, experience the region differs, but it certainly impacts our lives in a multitude of small and not-so-small ways. In this chapter, the editors reflect on the reasons why the Central Asian research setting has become more popular, and what this means both for individual researchers and the study area in general. The need to systematise and structure the diverse experiences of insiders and outsiders, the attraction of the region against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the ongoing discussions of Russian colonialism and decolonisation in Central Asia have all contributed to the urgency of this book.
Performative Heterosexuality: A Gay Researcher Doing Fieldwork in Central Asia
Authors: Honig Marius
Published: October 2023

This chapter explores the challenges faced by a foreign gay researcher in Central Asia. Drawing on personal experiences, the author reflects on the limited choices available to LGBTQ+ researchers to protect themselves, the practicalities and consequences of hiding one’s sexuality, and the limitations of performing a heterosexual male identity in the field. The author explains the strategies employed to protect their safety and the ethical consequences of silencing their own identity and values. The author also emphasises how choices made by researchers studying Central Asia become permanent features of their professional life due to long-lasting involvement in the region.
Making Sense of Central Asia Sources of Epistemic Uncertainty
Authors: Elmuradov Aziz
Published: October 2023

Central Asia is in flux, and so are the perspectives and angles of intellectual inquiry, as are the modes of and approaches to the scientific investigation of the region. This paper sets out to discuss the role of academic positionality essential to this flux—caught between modernity and tradition—and reflects on one of its striking effects, epistemic ambiguity. In light of knowledge-related turns in the social sciences, notably, the epistemological twists and turns entailed in postmodernist, postcolonial, decolonial, and feminist critique, the study of academic positionality and its implications in the Central Asian context is a worthwhile pursuit.
Being Afghani, French and not Soviet Along the Border Between Tajikistan and Afghanistan
Authors: Sadozaï Mélanie
Published: October 2023

How can being a French woman of Afghan origin be an asset and an obstacle in conducting research along the borderlands of Badakhshan between Tajikistan and Afghanistan? This essay draws on field anecdotes which fostered critical thinking about my positionality as a French-Afghani woman. While my French passport symbolized my foreign identity, having personal ties with Badakhshan made me not “just a foreigner” due to my Afghan heritage. I argue that having a plural identity is just as helpful in conducting ethnographic research as it can be difficult to maintain the necessary distance from the object of study and to keep my collaborators safe.
A Stranger in the Village: Anti-blackness in the Field
Authors: Kurmanov Alexa
Published: October 2023

In 1951, James Baldwin visited the remote town of Leukerbad, Switzerland, which inspired his essay Stranger in the Village. Baldwin’s reflection of himself as a “first” encounter with Black flesh offers a critical reflection on overlooked discussions of the fatigue that accompanies Black researchers conducting fieldwork in (post)socialist spaces. In this chapter, I reflect on the ways my Black non-binary body becomes fatigued at the intersections of blackness and sexuality in the context of contemporary Kyrgyzstan. Furthermore, I address the sedimented representations of blackness that I embody, and the interactions my embodied (mis)representations invite, pushing us to think beyond the physicality of anti-blackness and to consider its psychological effects.
Sicily and the process of Neolithisation: a review of the archaeobotanical data
Authors: Speciale Claudia
Published: October 2023

This review paper analyses the first steps of the spread of domestic plants into Sicily. Despite being the biggest island of the Mediterranean and its central position, the process of arrival and diffusion of crops in Sicily is still poorly understood. Starting from the limited but significant record from Grotta dell’Uzzo, the plant macrofossil data are presented and discussed with some comparison with the pollen, zooarchaeological and obsidian data. The closest regions to Sicily, from where these domesticates may have come, are discussed. The arrival of domesticated plants in Sicily fits perfectly with the model of dispersal by sea. The introduction of crops was a slow process that covered the whole of the Neolithic period. The intention is to raise interest in this field and to inspire researchers to analyse more plant macro- and micro-remains from prehistoric archaeological contexts in Sicily.
Maintenance and enhancement of forest ecosystem services: a non-industrial private forest owner perspective
Authors: Bergkvist John , Nikoleris Alexandra , Fors Hanna , Jönsson Anna Maria
Published: October 2023

The transition to a fossil-free society in Sweden is expected to cause an increased demand for forest-derived products which may intensify existing conflicts between forest ecosystem services. This study investigated the preferences among non-industrial private forest owners for maintaining multiple forest ecosystem services and their preferences for future forest development. The findings were related to their prioritizations for and knowledge of forest management. The study results were generated through the means of a survey which revealed a consistent high valuation among all respondents of ecosystem services relating to water quality, timber quality, recreation, and biodiversity. A majority of the respondents desired increasing proportions of mixed species and broadleaved stands within the future forest landscape. Certified forest owners who were members of a forest owner association (CMs) prioritized achieving high economic income through roundwood production with strong preferences for the ecosystem services high stand growth and high timber quality. For CMs, carbon substitution was the preferred means of mitigating climate change. Forest owners lacking both certification and membership in a forest owner association ranked the ecosystem services recreation and biodiversity significantly higher, and also preferred retaining more old forest within the landscape. The survey results revealed a higher management activity among CMs, resulting in a more frequent establishment of mixed and broadleaved stands. Forest owners with medium to large scale properties were well-represented within the CM category. The results indicated that while the CMs have stronger preferences for roundwood production compared to owners of small properties, they are also more likely to have taken adaptive measures favoring risk management and biodiversity.
Bringing together urban systems and food systems theory and research is overdue: understanding the relationships between food and nutrition infrastructures along a continuum of contested and hybrid access
Authors:   Living Off-Grid Food and Infrastructure Collaboration (LOGIC), Battersby Jane , Brown-Luthango Mercy , Fuseini Issahaka , Gulabani Herry , Haysom Gareth , Jackson Ben , Khandelwal Vrashali , MacGregor Hayley , Mitra Sudeshna , Nisbett Nicholas , Perera Iromi , te Lintelo Dolf , Thorpe Jodie , Toriro Percy
Published: October 2023

Urban dwellers’ food and nutritional wellbeing are both dependent on infrastructure and can be indicative of wider wellbeing in urban contexts and societal health. This paper focuses on the multiple relationships that exist between food and infrastructure to provide a thorough theoretical and empirical grounding to urgent work on urban food security and nutrition in the context of rapid urban and nutrition transitions in the South. We argue that urban systems and food systems thinking have not been well aligned, but that such alignment is not only timely and overdue but also fruitful for both thematic areas of research and policy. We draw in particular on work within wider urban political economy and political ecology that can be classified as part of the ‘infrastructural turn’ that is influential with urban studies but little acknowledged within food studies. Drawing on these literatures helps us to better understand the interrelationships between people, things and ideas that make up both infrastructure and food systems. Policy, planning and research relating to both food and urban systems cannot afford to ignore such interlinkages, though much policy still operates on the neat assumptions of progressive connectivity to ‘the grid’ and formal food retail. Instead we argue how in many urban governance systems, a variety of hybrid mechanisms—on and off the grid, public and private formal and informal—better represent how urban residents, particularly the most marginalised, meet their everyday food and infrastructural needs along a continuum of gridded and off-grid access.
Examining the Longitudinal Relationship Between Metacognitive Beliefs and Psychological Distress in an Adolescent Population: A Preliminary Analysis
Authors: Schultz Katie , Kannis-Dymand Lee , Jamieson Daniel , McLoughlin Larisa T. , Loughnan Siobhan , Allen Andrew , Hermens Daniel F.
Published: October 2023

Adolescence is a period marked by significant vulnerability to the onset of mental health concerns. Within adults, the metacognitive model of psychological disorders advocates for the involvement of metacognitive beliefs in the onset, and maintenance, of psychopathology. The current study aimed to assess the applicability of the metacognitive model in adolescence by exploring the relationship, as well as the trajectory, between metacognitive beliefs and psychological distress. The longitudinal prospective cohort study investigated data from a community-based sample of participants aged 12 to 13. Self-report assessment measures of metacognitive beliefs, psychological distress, and somatic distress are reported across four time-points. Baseline assessments are reported for 70 participants, which reduced to 53 participants at time-point four. Correlational analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between overall metacognition, as well as negative metacognitive beliefs, and psychological distress at each of the four time-points. Generalised Estimating Equations found a significant association between metacognitive predictors and psychological distress over the four time-points. These results indicate that negative metacognitive beliefs, positive metacognitive beliefs, metacognitive beliefs related to superstition, punishment, and responsibility, low perceived levels of cognitive confidence and cognitive self-consciousness predict psychological distress over 12 months in adolescents aged 12 to 13. The strongest longitudinal correlational structure was found for the model of negative metacognitive beliefs and psychological distress. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the positive linear relationship between metacognitive beliefs and psychological distress in adolescence. The study provides an important contribution to understanding the role of metacognitive beliefs in the aetiology and perpetuation of psychological distress in adolescence.
Circulating hsa-miR-221 as a possible diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Abdel-Tawab Marwa Sayed , Mohamed Mohamed Gamal , Doudar Noha A. , Rateb Enas Ezzat , Reyad Hoda Ramadan , Elazeem Naglaa Adli Abd
Published: October 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is a chronic outcome of diabetes mellitus (DM), usually progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The DN pathophysiology, nevertheless, is not well-defined. Several miRNAs were reported to be either risk or protective factors in DN.

Methods, and results

The present study sought to inspect the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of hsa-miR-221 in DN. The study included 200 participants divided into four groups: Group 1 (50 patients with DN), Group 2 (50 diabetic patients without nephropathy), Group 3 (50 nondiabetic patients with CKD), and Group 4 (50 healthy subjects as a control group). Patients in groups 1 and 3 were further classified based on the presence of macroalbuminuria and microalbuminuria. Hsa-miR-221 expression was measured by RT- qRT-PCR. DN patients had significantly elevated serum hsa-miR-221 levels than the other groups, while diabetic patients without nephropathy exhibited elevated levels compared to both nondiabetic patients with CKD, and the control group. The DN patients with macroalbuminuria revealed significantly higher mean values of hsa-miR-221 relative to the patients with microalbuminuria. Significant positive associations were observed in the DN group between serum hsa-miR-221 and fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA IR, ACR, and BMI. The ROC curve analysis of serum hsa-miR-221 in the initial diagnosis of DN in DM revealed high specificity and sensitivity.

Conclusions

It is concluded that hsa-miR-221 has the potential to be a useful biomarker for prognostic and diagnostic purposes in DN.
A reduced-rank approach to predicting multiple binary responses through machine learning
Authors: Mai The Tien
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the problem of simultaneously predicting multiple binary responses by utilizing a shared set of covariates. Our approach incorporates machine learning techniques for binary classification, without making assumptions about the underlying observations. Instead, our focus lies on a group of predictors, aiming to identify the one that minimizes prediction error. Unlike previous studies that primarily address estimation error, we directly analyze the prediction error of our method using PAC-Bayesian bounds techniques. In this paper, we introduce a pseudo-Bayesian approach capable of handling incomplete response data. Our strategy is efficiently implemented using the Langevin Monte Carlo method. Through simulation studies and a practical application using real data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, producing comparable or sometimes superior results compared to the current state-of-the-art method.
High-Temperature Phase Behavior of Li2O-MnO with a Focus on the Liquid-to-Solid Transition
Authors: Li Haojie , Ranneberg Marko , Fischlschweiger Michael
Published: October 2023

The Li-Mn-O system is a crucial constituent of cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Numerous research teams have focused on enhancing its electrochemical properties and thermal stability at lower temperatures to develop high-performance cathode materials. However, in the recycling of LIBs in pyrometallurgical processing, the high temperature phase behavior of the Li-Mn-O system is important. Today, there is still a lack of systematic understanding regarding the high-temperature phase behavior of the Li-Mn-O system under well-defined atmospheric conditions, which is highly sought after in the pyrometallurgical process route to increase the recycling efficiency of lithium from spent LIBs. In this study, we investigate the high temperature phase behavior of the pseudo binary system Li2O-MnO under inert atmosphere. Thermal and caloric properties are measured as well as the contact angle at high temperatures to identify the solid-liquid transition. Based on the obtained phase behavior, thermodynamic database of Li2O-MnO within the Calphad framework is developed, where the liquid phase is modelled by the Modified Quasichemical Model (MQM).
Cellular and humoral responses to fourth SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in a real-life cohort of patients with cancer
Authors: Berger Julia M. , Gattinger Pia , Mair Maximilian J. , Berghoff Anna S. , Valenta Rudolf , Preusser Matthias
Published: October 2023

This study assessed cellular and humoral responses to the fourth dose of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines in patients with malignant diseases. Even though, clear indications of humoral, cellular, or combined response was evident in most patients undergoing active treatment, high intra- and interpatient heterogeneity in response patterns was observed.
The Kids aren’t Alright: A Brief Positive Psychological Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Spanish Sample of Adolescents
Authors: Muro Anna , Tejada-Gallardo Clàudia , Illa Júlia , Gomà-i-Freixanet Montserrat , Méndez-Ulrich Jorge L. , Chellew Karin , Sanz Antoni , Cladellas Ramon
Published: October 2023

Previous studies have reported that adolescents were at higher risk for mental health disorders during and after the COVID-19 pandemic due to the characteristics of their developmental period and to the impact of social and mobility restrictions on their daily routines. In response to these reports, we designed, implemented, and evaluated the impact of a brief positive psychological intervention in a high school setting to increase adolescents’ psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-post experimental study was conducted to compare the levels of anxiety, academic motivation, and performance changes in an experimental and control group. A final sample of 148 students from two Spanish high schools of the Catalan region participated in the study (Mage = 12.45; 48% female). Results showed that participants in the experimental group reported a reduction in anxiety and an increase in global motivation levels compared to the control group. Regression analyses also revealed that the intervention was a significant predictor of reduced anxiety, increased motivation, and fewer failed subjects, while high anxiety predicted decreased performance and reduced motivation. These findings suggest that brief positive psychological interventions implemented in high school classrooms could be a cost-effective and systemic preventive measure for increasing adolescents’ psychological well-being and strengthening their general mental health both during and after periods of pandemic restrictions.
Perspectives on the future of nuclear energy in Slovakia
Authors: Vrban Branislav , Nečas Vladimír , Čerba Štefan , Lüley Jakub , Filová Vendula
Published: October 2023

The Slovak electric power generation market is small compared to that of other European countries. Anyhow, quite a unique mix of energy sources, a small number of inhabitants, and a well-developed nuclear industry make the story of Slovakia interesting and worth knowing. The status of new builds and decommissioning activities is given with the following brief presentation of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava with a focus on the Institute of Nuclear and Physical Engineering. The last part of the contribution is devoted to the new platform for education in nuclear being established in Central Europe. European Nuclear Experimental Educational platform aiming to simplify access to research reactors and specialized laboratories for students and researchers is introduced and discussed.
Identification of rare variants in candidate genes associated with monogenic diabetes in polish mody-x patients
Authors: Jakiel Paulina , Gadzalska K. , Juścińska E. , Gorządek M. , Płoszaj T. , Skoczylas S. , Borowiec M. , Zmysłowska A.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Monogenic diabetes (MD) is caused by a mutation in a single gene and accounts for approximately 2.5–6% of all diabetes cases. Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is the most common form of MD. To date, 14 different genes have been identified and associated with the presence of MODY phenotype. However, the number of potential candidate genes with relevance to beta cell function and glucose metabolism is increasing as more research is published. The aim of the study was to identify potentially causative variants in selected candidate genes in patients with a clinical diagnosis of MD.

Methods

Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (tNGS) on Illumina NextSeq 550 platform involving Agilent SureSelectQXT Target Enrichment protocol for 994 patients with suspected MD was performed. In the next step, the sequencing data of 617 patients with no pathogenic variants in main MD-related genes were reanalysed for the presence of causative variants in six candidate genes (MTOR, TBC1D4, CACNA1E, MNX1, SLC19A2, KCNH6). The presence of the selected variants was confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Results

Seven heterozygous possibly damaging variants were identified in four candidate genes (MTOR, TBC1D4, CACNA1E, MNX1). Five changes were assessed as novel variants, not previously described in available databases. None of the described variants were present among patients previously diagnosed with MODY diabetes due to causative, pathogenic variants in known MODY-related genes.

Conclusions

The results obtained seem to confirm the effectiveness of the NGS method in identifying potentially causative variants in novel candidate genes associated with MODY diabetes.
Temporal and spatial responses of ecological resilience to climate change and human activities in the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, China
Authors: Zhang Shubao , Lei Jun , Tong Yanjun , Zhang Xiaolei , Lu Danni , Fan Liqin , Duan Zuliang
Published: October 2023

In the Anthropocene era, human activities have become increasingly complex and diversified. The natural ecosystems need higher ecological resilience to ensure regional sustainable development due to rapid urbanization and industrialization as well as other intensified human activities, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. In the study, we chose the economic belt on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (EBNSTM) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China as a case study. By collecting geographic data and statistical data from 2010 and 2020, we constructed an ecological resilience assessment model based on the ecosystem habitat quality (EHQ), ecosystem landscape stability (ELS), and ecosystem service value (ESV). Further, we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of ecological resilience in the EBNSTM from 2010 to 2020 by spatial autocorrelation analysis, and explored its responses to climate change and human activities using the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. The results showed that the ecological resilience of the EBNSTM was at a low level and increased from 0.2732 to 0.2773 during 2010–2020. The spatial autocorrelation analysis of ecological resilience exhibited a spatial heterogeneity characteristic of “high in the western region and low in the eastern region”, and the spatial clustering trend was enhanced during the study period. Desert, Gobi and rapidly urbanized areas showed low level of ecological resilience, and oasis and mountain areas exhibited high level of ecological resilience. Climate factors had an important impact on ecological resilience. Specifically, average annual temperature and annual precipitation were the key climate factors that improved ecological resilience, while average annual evapotranspiration was the main factor that blocked ecological resilience. Among the human activity factors, the distance from the main road showed a negative correlation with ecological resilience. Both night light index and PM2.5 concentration were negatively correlated with ecological resilience in the areas with better ecological conditions, whereas in the areas with poorer ecological conditions, the correlations were positive. The research findings could provide a scientific reference for protecting the ecological environment and promoting the harmony and stability of the human-land relationship in arid and semi-arid areas.
Machine Learning-Assisted Low-Dimensional Electrocatalysts Design for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Li Jin , Wu Naiteng , Zhang Jian , Wu Hong-Hui , Pan Kunming , Wang Yingxue , Liu Guilong , Liu Xianming , Yao Zhenpeng , Zhang Qiaobao
Published: October 2023

Efficient electrocatalysts are crucial for hydrogen generation from electrolyzing water. Nevertheless, the conventional "trial and error" method for producing advanced electrocatalysts is not only cost-ineffective but also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Fortunately, the advancement of machine learning brings new opportunities for electrocatalysts discovery and design. By analyzing experimental and theoretical data, machine learning can effectively predict their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. This review summarizes recent developments in machine learning for low-dimensional electrocatalysts, including zero-dimension nanoparticles and nanoclusters, one-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, two-dimensional nanosheets, as well as other electrocatalysts. In particular, the effects of descriptors and algorithms on screening low-dimensional electrocatalysts and investigating their HER performance are highlighted. Finally, the future directions and perspectives for machine learning in electrocatalysis are discussed, emphasizing the potential for machine learning to accelerate electrocatalyst discovery, optimize their performance, and provide new insights into electrocatalytic mechanisms. Overall, this work offers an in-depth understanding of the current state of machine learning in electrocatalysis and its potential for future research.
Towards disentangling the classification of freshwater fish trypanosomes
Authors: Zhang Peng , Liu Jie , Yin Xiao-Ming , Zhou Jun-Yu , Lukeš Julius , Lun Zhao-Rong , Lai De-Hua
Published: October 2023

Currently, new species of freshwater fish trypanosomes, which are economically important parasites, are being described based on subjectively selected features, i.e., their cell morphology and the host species. We have performed detailed phylogenetic and haplotype diversity analyses of all 18S rRNA genes available for freshwater fish trypanosomes, including the newly obtained sequences of Trypanosoma carassii and Trypanosoma danilewskyi. Based on a sequence similarity of 99.5%, we divide these trypanosomes into 15 operational taxonomic units, and propose three nominal scenarios for distinguishing T. carassii and other aquatic trypanosomes. We find evidences for the existence of a low number of freshwater fish trypanosomes, with T. carassii having the widest geographic and host ranges. Our analyses support the existence of an umbrella complex composed of T. carassii and two sister species.
Preparation of gold nanoparticles using low-temperature heating of the dry residue of a droplet of an HAuCl4 solution in air
Authors: Ii Kazuki , Kurita Yoshiki , Kida Naoya , Kunimura Shinsuke
Published: October 2023

In the present study, by heating a quartz glass substrate having the dry residue of a 10 μL droplet of a solution of HAuCl4 and a counter substrate facing to the dry residue from room temperature to one hundred and several tens of degrees Celsius in 20 min in air, highly dense gold nanoparticles were produced on the counter substrate. A gold nanoparticle substrate produced by this simple method was utilized as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering analysis.

Graphical abstract
Changing Regional Price Relationships in Retail Fresh Broiler/Fryer Whole Chicken Prices
Authors: Duangnate Kannika , Mjelde James W.
Published: October 2023

Causal flow analyses combined with time series analyses are used to examine price relationships among fresh broiler retail markets (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West). Results indicate structural changes have occurred in this industry. Reasons for changes in price relationships include the perishable nature of fresh broilers, along with vertical integration and increases in production and concentration in the industry. The four markets are integrated, but the level of integration has decreased over time. With the markets becoming more exogenous, there may be a decrease in society’s welfare. The South market is the most important market for price discovery.
Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Asthma, Hypertension, and Depression in a Sample of the Puerto Rico Population
Authors: Martínez-Lozano Marijulie , Fraticelli Frank , Irizarry Jessica , Almodóvar-Rivera Israel , Nunn Martha , Joshipura Kaumudi J.
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 3 major chronic diseases in Puerto Rico.

Methods:

San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal study participants were re-evaluated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (May 2019–July 2020) for the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and Augment Resilience study. This study compared the prevalence and incidence of asthma, depression, and hypertension within the same 364 individuals over time.

Results:

Asthma and depression prevalence and incidence did not change significantly after the hurricanes. The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly after the hurricanes (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.9). The incidence of hypertension after the hurricanes (IR = 9.0, 95% CI: 6.5, 12.4) increased significantly compared to before the hurricanes (IR = 6.1, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) (age-adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.4, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) for similar time periods.

Conclusion:

Hurricanes Irma and Maria were associated with a significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in this study population. Contrary to expectations, no significant increases were observed in depression and asthma prevalence after the hurricanes. Results from this study can inform better strategies to prevent and manage hypertension in the population affected by a hurricane.
Improving the sea state forecasts by using local wave observations and the ensembleBMA software
Authors: Kokina Tatjana , Peláez-Zapata Daniel Santiago , Murphy Thomas Brendan , Dias Frédéric
Published: October 2023

The main goal of this study is to investigate if the publicly available sea state forecasts for the Aran Islands region in the Republic of Ireland can be improved. This improvement is achieved by using the combination of local scale sea state forecasts and Bayesian Model Averaging techniques. The question of a good forecast has been around since the start of forecasting. With current state-of-the-art numerical models, computational power, and vast data availability, we consider whether it is possible to improve model forecasts only by using the combination of publicly available forecasts, free open-source software, and very moderate computational power. It is shown that it is possible to improve the sea state forecast by at least$ 1\% $, and in some cases up to$ 8\% $. The reduction of error is between$ 6\% $and$ 48\% $. With a more careful and specific selection of training parameters, it is possible to improve the forecast accuracy even more. The possibility of extending this local improvement to the whole coastal area around the island of Ireland is explored. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible, due to a lack of live data buoys in the coastal waters. Nonetheless, it is shown that the proposed process is simple and can be implemented by anyone whose livelihood depends on an accurate sea state forecast. It does not require large computational power, model forecasts are publicly available, and there is minimal to no training in forecasting and statistics required to enable one to perform such improvements for one’s area of interest, provided one has access to live wave data.
Dependency Care in a Politically Liberal Society
Authors: Edenberg Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

Caregiving is crucial for any society; however, it often goes unnoticed and unanalyzed within theories of justice. Asha Bhandary's theory of liberal dependency care seeks to both rectify the invisibility of care and defend principles of justice for caregiving arrangements by arguing for several important modifications to John Rawls's theory of justice. In this article, I analyze Bhandary's modifications to Rawls's theory to consider how well liberal dependency care fits into a broader political liberal framework, while still securing protection against oppression. I also evaluate the permissibility and limits of teaching children autonomy and caregiving skills in a politically liberal society.
Learning Spelling From Meaning
Authors: Smejkalova Anezka , Chetail Fabienne
Published: October 2023

Abstract. According to the instance-based approach, each novel word encounter is encoded as an episodic trace, including different aspects of word knowledge (orthography, semantics, phonology) and context. Experiencing the novel word again leads to reactivating the previous instances to support word identification. Accordingly, once a link between orthography and meaning is established through several instances of co-occurrence, presenting the novel word form enhances semantic learning even if the contexts are uninformative about the meaning ( Eskenazi et al., 2018 ). Here, we investigated whether informative contexts enhance orthographic learning in the absence of the novel word form. Participants read pseudowords in three definition-like sentences, followed by three unrelated filler sentences (baseline condition), three uninformative sentences (orthographic condition), or three informative sentences with synonyms replacing the pseudoword (semantic condition). After reading, participants were better at spelling pseudowords exposed in the semantic than in the baseline condition and recalled more definitions of the pseudowords exposed in the orthographic than in the baseline condition. Such results indicate that both semantic and orthographic learning benefit from the contexts where the target information is absent. Overall, this supports the instance-based approach and contributes to the understanding of the interplay between orthography and semantics in contextual word learning.
The Role of Clay in Limiting Frictional Healing in Fault Gouges
Authors: Seyler C. E. , Shreedharan S. , Saffer D. M. , Marone C.
Published: October 2023

Frictional healing is fundamental to the seismic cycle and plays a role in the energy balance, dynamics, and recurrence interval of earthquakes and slow slip events. Although the healing behavior of quartz has been studied extensively, the role of clay content is less understood. We tested synthetic mixtures of quartz and smectite (10%–100% smectite) in a double‐direct shear configuration to measure frictional healing. We show that the magnitude and rate of healing decreases systematically with higher clay content (from 0.008/decade at 10% smectite to 0.002/decade at 100% smectite). Healing scales with both the magnitude of stress relaxation during holds and layer‐normal compaction of the gouge. We suggest this reflects the alignment of clay minerals, leading to saturation of the real area of contact that limits restrengthening during holds. The low healing rates of clay‐rich faults—together with rate‐neutral to rate‐strengthening friction—should promote frequent, small failures or stable sliding.
Mode I Microscopic Cracking Process of Granite Considering the Criticality of Failure
Authors: Mo Chengkang , Zhao Junliang , Zhang Dongxiao
Published: October 2023

Rock failure under tensile loading conditions is significant for rock engineering stability and underground energy development. However, a comprehensive understanding of the rock cracking process and the corresponding failure pattern at microscale remains unclear. Therefore, the cracking process and the damage evolution of rock and their underlying mechanisms were systematically investigated. In this study, the fracture behavior of granite was examined by performing mode I fracture tests. For extensive analysis of the cracking process, the cracks were captured in real‐time by scanning electron microscope, and the two fracture toughnesses of the double‐K model were evaluated. Subsequently, fracture morphologies of the post‐failure specimens were analyzed to further investigate the cracking mechanisms. The experimental results indicated the following: (a) the propagated direction of cracks was controlled by the fracture toughness of mineral grains and grain boundaries; and (b) the ratio of the two fracture toughnesses was correlated with fracture tortuosity. Furthermore, two damage modes of granite were found: catastrophic failure and non‐catastrophic failure modes. The former showed precursory behavior prior to catastrophic failure, while the latter did not. The underlying mechanisms of damage modes were revealed as follows: (a) the increased degree of heterogeneity caused by mineral composition complexity led to the early arrival of precursors; and (b) the occurrence of catastrophic or non‐catastrophic failure mode was determined by the difference in grain‐scale heterogeneity. Our results found at microscale also have implications for understanding the macroscopic failure process of rocks.