bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Q-Switched Erbium-Doped Fibre Laser Performance using Graphene Oxide-Calcium Oxide Thin Film Saturable Absorbers
Authors: Ahmad Zaini Muhammad Ilham , Johari Abdul Rahman , Krishnan Ganesan , Ahmad Noorden Ahmad Fakhrurrazi , Daud Suzairi
Published: August 2024

This paper presents an experiment utilizing calcium oxide (CaO) from the cuttlefish bone combined with graphene oxide (GO) to create a graphene oxide-calcium oxide (GO-CaO) based saturable absorber (SA) for Q-switched erbium-doped fibre lasers. The experiment aims to investigate the impact of calcium oxide when added to graphene oxide to form the SA thin film. The laser performance of both types of SA was compared, considering their input pump power, repetition rate, pulse width, and output power. The results indicated that the graphene oxide – calcium oxide SA thin film provided the best output power and the lowest threshold input pump power at 10.76 µW and 53.12 mW, respectively. In the characterization, UV-Vis spectroscopy was utilized to determine the number of discrete wavelengths in UV or visible light that the materials absorbed or transmitted. The UV-Vis results indicated that the graphene oxide thin film exhibited an absorbance value of 0.049 AU and a transmittance value of 89.25 % at a wavelength of 1565 nm. In comparison, the GO-CaO SA thin film displayed an absorbance value of 0.037 AU and a transmittance value of 91.89 % at the same wavelength. Raman spectroscopy was also conducted to provide details about the chemical structure and crystallinity of the thin film samples. The results showed high-intensity peaks for the GO thin film at wavenumbers of 1353.74 cm-1 and 1609.85 cm-1, and for GO – CaO thin film at wavenumbers of 1358.56 cm-1 and 1612.18 cm-1. Additionally, SEM was utilized to study the morphology of the thin film samples. Based on the characterization and laser performance results, it was concluded that the addition of calcium oxide to graphene oxide enhances the properties of the SA thin film, leading to improved laser performance due to its higher thermal conductivity.
Ketone monoester attenuates declines in cognitive performance and oxygen saturation during acute severe hypoxic exposure under resting conditions
Authors: McClure Tyler S. , Phillips Jeffrey , Koutnik Andrew P. , Coleman Kody , Chappe Ed , Cutter Gary R. , Egan Brendan , Norell Todd , Stubbs Brianna J. , Bamman Marcas M. , Kernagis Dawn
Published: August 2024

Exogenous ketone supplements are a potential augmentation strategy for cognitive resilience during acute hypoxic exposure due to their capacity to attenuate the decline in oxygen (O2) availability, and by providing an alternative substrate for cerebral metabolism. Utilizing a single‐blind randomized crossover design, 16 male military personnel (age, 25.3 ± 2.4 year, body mass, 86.2 ± 9.3 kg) performed tests of cognitive performance at rest in three environments: room air (baseline), normoxia (20 min; 0 m; 20.9% O2) and hypoxia (20 min; 6096 m, 9.7% O2) using a reduced O2 breathing device (ROBD). (R)‐3‐Hydroxybutyl (R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (R‐BD R‐βHB) ketone monoester (KME; 650 mg/kg, split dose given at 30 min prior to each exposure) or taste‐matched placebo (PLA) was ingested prior to normoxia and hypoxic exposure. Blood R‐βHB and glucose concentrations, cognitive performance and O2 saturation () were collected throughout. KME ingestion increased blood R‐βHB concentration, which was rapid and sustained (>4 mM 30 min post; P < 0.001) and accompanied by lower blood glucose concentration (∼20 mg/dL; P < 0.01) compared to PLA. Declines in cognitive performance during hypoxic exposure, assessed as cognitive efficiency during a Defense Automated Neurobehavioral Assessment (DANA) code substitution task, were attenuated with KME leading to 6.8 (95% CL: 1.0, 12.6) more correct responses per minute compared to PLA (P = 0.018). The decline in during hypoxic exposure was attenuated (6.40% ; 95% CL: 0.04, 12.75; P = 0.049) in KME compared to PLA (KME, 76.8 ± 6.4% ; PLA, 70.4 ± 7.4% ). Acute ingestion of KME attenuated the decline in cognitive performance during acute severe hypoxic exposure, which coincided with attenuation of declines in O2 saturation.
Optical analysis of ferrite films using spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Kotru Sushma , Kothapally Sneha , Hilfiker James N.
Published: August 2024

This work presents the optical properties of nickel zinc ferrite, nickel copper zinc ferrite, and nickel cobalt zinc ferrite films prepared on Si/SiO2 substrates using the sol-gel and spin-coating technique. A J.A. Woollam Company RC2 model D variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer was used to measure the amplitude ratio (Ψ) and phase difference (Δ) of the films annealed at two distinct temperatures (500 and 800 °C). Measurements were taken at three incident angles (55°, 65°, and 75°) across the spectral range of 190–1000 nm, with a step size of 1 nm. The acquired data were subjected to modeling using a summation of Kramers–Kronig consistent oscillators to determine the film thickness and complex optical functions (refractive index and extinction coefficient) with a minimized mean-squared error. Additionally, incorporating a surface roughness layer notably enhanced the accuracy, with the roughness described using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation reflecting a 50%–50% mixture between the film's optical constants and those of air (void). The experimental and simulated (Ψ, Δ) spectra as a function of wavelength at angles 55°, 65°, and 75° for the NZF, NCuZF, and NCoZF films annealed at 500 and 800 °C are provided. The refractive index and extinction coefficient values as a function of wavelength for NZF, NCuZF, and NCoZF films annealed at 500 and 800 °C are also included. The elucidated optical properties of these films hold potential for application in various optoelectronic devices, including solar cells.
Delivery of US28 by incoming HCMV particles rapidly attenuates Akt activity to suppress HCMV lytic replication in monocytes
Authors: Mahmud Jamil , Geiler Brittany W. , Biswas Juthi , Miller Michael J. , Myers Julia E. , Matthews Stephen M. , Wass Amanda B. , O’Connor Christine M. , Chan Gary C.
Published: August 2024

Establishing a nonproductive, quiescent infection within monocytes is essential for the spread of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). We investigated the mechanisms through which HCMV establishes a quiescent infection in monocytes. US28 is a virally encoded G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) that is essential for silent infections within cells of the myeloid lineage. We found that preformed US28 was rapidly delivered to monocytes by HCMV viral particles, whereas the de novo synthesis of US28 was delayed for several days. A recombinant mutant virus lacking US28 (US28Δ) was unable to establish a quiescent infection, resulting in a fully productive lytic infection able to produce progeny virus. Infection with US28Δ HCMV resulted in the phosphorylation of the serine and threonine kinase Akt at Ser
473
and Thr
308
, in contrast with the phosphorylation of Akt only at Ser
473
after WT viral infection. Inhibiting the dual phosphorylation of Akt prevented the lytic replication of US28Δ, and ectopic expression of a constitutively phosphorylated Akt variant triggered lytic replication of wild-type HCMV. Mechanistically, we found that US28 was necessary and sufficient to attenuate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling induced during the entry of WT virus, which led to the site-specific phosphorylation of Akt at Ser
473
. Thus, particle-delivered US28 fine-tunes Akt activity by limiting HCMV-induced EGFR activation during viral entry, enabling quiescent infection in monocytes.
Perturbations to common gardens of anaerobic co-digesters reveal relationships between functional resilience and microbial community composition
Authors: Wang Ling , Ducoste Joel J. , de los Reyes Francis L.
Published: August 2024

We report the relationship between enrichment of adapted populations and enhancement of community functional resilience in methanogenic bioreactors. Although previous studies have shown the positive effects of acclimation, this work directly investigated the relationships between microbiome dynamics and performance of anaerobic co-digesting reactors in response to different levels of an environmental perturbation (loading of grease interceptor waste [GIW]). Using the methanogenic microbiome from a full-scale digester, we developed eight sets of microbial communities in triplicate using different feed sources. These substrate-specific microbiomes were then exposed to three independent disturbance events of low-, mid- and high-GIW loading rates. This approach allowed us to directly attribute differences in community responses to differences in community composition. Despite identical inocula, environment (digester operation, substrate loading rate, and feeding patterns) and general whole-community function (methane production and effluent quality) during the cultivation period, different substrates led to different microbial community assemblies. Lipid pre-acclimation led to enrichment of a pool of specialized populations, along with thriving of sub-dominant communities. The enrichment of these populations improved functional resilience and process performance when exposed to a low level of lipid-rich perturbation compared with less-acclimated communities. At higher levels of perturbation, the communities were not able to recover methanogenesis, indicating a loading limit to the resilience response. This study extends our current understanding of environmental perturbations, feed-specific adaptation, and functional resilience in methanogenic bioreactors.

IMPORTANCE

This study demonstrates, for the first time for GIW co-digestion, how applying similar perturbations to different microbial communities was used to directly identify the causal relationships between microbial community, function, and environment in triplicate anaerobic microbiomes. We evaluated the impact of feed-specific adaptation on methanogenic microbiomes and demonstrated how microbiomes can be influenced to improve their functional (methanogenic) resilience to GIW inhibition. These findings demonstrate how an ecological framework can help improve a biological engineering application, and more specifically, increase the potential of anaerobic co-digestion for converting wastes to energy.
A pangenomic atlas reveals eco-evolutionary dynamics that shape type VI secretion systems in plant-pathogenic
Ralstonia
Authors: Aoun Nathalie , Georgoulis Stratton J. , Avalos Jason K. , Grulla Kimberly J. , Miqueo Kasey , Tom Cloe , Lowe-Power Tiffany M.
Published: August 2024

Soilborne
Ralstonia solanacearum
species complex (RSSC) pathogens disrupt microbial communities as they invade roots and fatally wilt plants. RSSC pathogens secrete antimicrobial toxins using a type VI secretion system (T6SS). To investigate how evolution and ecology have shaped the T6SS of these bacterial pathogens, we analyzed the T6SS gene content and architecture across the RSSC and their evolutionary relatives. Our analysis reveals that two ecologically similar Burkholderiaceae taxa, xylem-pathogenic RSSC and
Paracidovorax
, have convergently evolved to wield large arsenals of T6SS toxins. To understand the mechanisms underlying genomic enrichment of T6SS toxins, we compiled an atlas of 1,066 auxiliary T6SS toxin clusters (“
aux
” clusters) across 99 high-quality RSSC genomes. We classified 25 types of
aux
clusters with toxins that predominantly target lipids, nucleic acids, or unknown cellular substrates. The
aux
clusters were located in diverse genetic neighborhoods and had complex phylogenetic distributions, suggesting frequent horizontal gene flow. Phages and other mobile genetic elements account for most of the
aux
cluster acquisition on the chromosome but very little on the megaplasmid. Nevertheless, RSSC genomes were more enriched in
aux
clusters on the megaplasmid. Although the single, ancestral T6SS was broadly conserved in the RSSC, the T6SS has been convergently lost in atypical, non-soilborne lineages. Overall, our data suggest dynamic interplay between the lifestyle of RSSC lineages and the evolution of T6SSes with robust arsenals of toxins. This pangenomic atlas poises the RSSC as an emerging, tractable model to understand the role of the T6SS in shaping pathogen populations.

IMPORTANCE

We explored the eco-evolutionary dynamics that shape the inter-microbial warfare mechanisms of a globally significant plant pathogen, the
Ralstonia solanacearum
species complex. We discovered that most
Ralstonia
wilt pathogens have evolved extensive and diverse repertoires of type VI secretion system-associated antimicrobial toxins. These expansive toxin arsenals potentially enhance the ability of
Ralstonia
pathogens to invade plant microbiomes, enabling them to rapidly colonize and kill their host plants. We devised a classification system to categorize the
Ralstonia
toxins. Interestingly, many of the toxin gene clusters are encoded on mobile genetic elements, including prophages, which may be mutualistic symbionts that enhance the inter-microbial competitiveness of
Ralstonia
wilt pathogens. Moreover, our findings suggest that the convergent loss of this multi-gene trait contributes to genome reduction in two vector-transmitted lineages of
Ralstonia
pathogens. Our findings demonstrate that the interplay between microbial ecology and pathogen lifestyle shapes the evolution of a genetically complex antimicrobial weapon.
Regulation of bacterial stringent response by an evolutionarily conserved ribosomal protein L11 methylation
Authors: Walukiewicz Hanna E. , Farris Yuliya , Burnet Meagan C. , Feid Sarah C. , You Youngki , Kim Hyeyoon , Bank Thomas , Christensen David , Payne Samuel H. , Wolfe Alan J. , Rao Christopher V. , Nakayasu Ernesto S.
Published: August 2024

Lysine and arginine methylation is an important regulator of enzyme activity and transcription in eukaryotes. However, little is known about this covalent modification in bacteria. In this work, we investigated the role of methylation in bacteria. By reanalyzing a large phyloproteomics data set from 48 bacterial strains representing six phyla, we found that almost a quarter of the bacterial proteome is methylated. Many of these methylated proteins are conserved across diverse bacterial lineages, including those involved in central carbon metabolism and translation. Among the proteins with the most conserved methylation sites is ribosomal protein L11 (bL11). bL11 methylation has been a mystery for five decades, as the deletion of its methyltransferase PrmA causes no cell growth defects. Comparative proteomics analysis combined with inorganic polyphosphate and guanosine tetra/pentaphosphate assays of the
ΔprmA
mutant in
Escherichia coli
revealed that bL11 methylation is important for stringent response signaling. In the stationary phase, we found that the
ΔprmA
mutant has impaired guanosine tetra/pentaphosphate production. This leads to a reduction in inorganic polyphosphate levels, accumulation of RNA and ribosomal proteins, and an abnormal polysome profile. Overall, our investigation demonstrates that the evolutionarily conserved bL11 methylation is important for stringent response signaling and ribosomal activity regulation and turnover.

IMPORTANCE

Protein methylation in bacteria was first identified over 60 years ago. Since then, its functional role has been identified for only a few proteins. To better understand the functional role of methylation in bacteria, we analyzed a large phyloproteomics data set encompassing 48 diverse bacteria. Our analysis revealed that ribosomal proteins are often methylated at conserved residues, suggesting that methylation of these sites may have a functional role in translation. Further analysis revealed that methylation of ribosomal protein L11 is important for stringent response signaling and ribosomal homeostasis.
Malassezia responds to environmental pH signals through the conserved Rim/Pal pathway
Authors: Pianalto Kaila M. , Telzrow Calla L. , Brown Harding Hannah , Brooks Jacob T. , Granek Joshua A. , Gushiken-Ibañez Eduardo , LeibundGut-Landmann Salomé , Heitman Joseph , Ianiri Giuseppe , Alspaugh J. Andrew
Published: August 2024

During mammalian colonization and infection, microorganisms must be able to rapidly sense and adapt to changing environmental conditions including alterations in extracellular pH. The fungus-specific Rim/Pal signaling pathway is one process that supports microbial adaptation to alkaline pH. This cascading series of interacting proteins terminates in the proteolytic activation of the highly conserved Rim101/PacC protein, a transcription factor that mediates microbial responses that favor survival in neutral/alkaline pH growth conditions, including many mammalian tissues. We identified the putative Rim pathway proteins Rim101 and Rra1 in the human skin colonizing fungus
Malassezia sympodialis
. Gene deletion by transconjugation and homologous recombination revealed that Rim101 and Rra1 are required for
M. sympodialis
growth at higher pH. In addition, comparative transcriptional analysis of the mutant strains compared to wild-type suggested mechanisms for fungal adaptation to alkaline conditions. These pH-sensing signaling proteins are required for optimal growth in a murine model of atopic dermatitis, a pathological condition associated with increased skin pH. Together, these data elucidate both conserved and phylum-specific features of microbial adaptation to extracellular stresses.

IMPORTANCE

The ability to adapt to host pH has been previously associated with microbial virulence in several pathogenic fungal species. Here we demonstrate that a fungal-specific alkaline response pathway is conserved in the human skin commensal fungus
Malassezia sympodialis
(
Ms
). This pathway is characterized by the pH-dependent activation of the Rim101/PacC transcription factor that controls cell surface adaptations to changing environmental conditions. By disrupting genes encoding two predicted components of this pathway, we demonstrated that the Rim/Pal pathway is conserved in this fungal species as a facilitator of alkaline pH growth. Moreover, targeted gene mutation and comparative transcriptional analysis support the role of the
Ms
Rra1 protein as a cell surface pH sensor conserved within the basidiomycete fungi, a group including plant and human pathogens. Using an animal model of atopic dermatitis, we demonstrate the importance of
Ms
Rim/Pal signaling in this common inflammatory condition characterized by increased skin pH.
Draft genome sequence of the fungal biocontrol agent,
Bacillus velezensis
Kos
Authors: Clarke Joy , Kosanovic Dejana , Kavanagh Kevin , Grogan Helen , Fitzpatrick David A.
Published: August 2024

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Bacillus velezensis
strain Kos, isolated from casing soil used during
Agaricus bisporus
cultivation in Dublin, Ireland.
B. velezensis
Kos exhibits a suppressive ability toward
Cladobotryum mycophilum
,
Trichoderma aggressivum
, and
Lecanicillium fungicola
, which are common threats to
A. bisporus
production, cultivation, and quality.
Gut microbiota metabolically mediate intestinal helminth infection in zebrafish
Authors: Hammer Austin J. , Gaulke Christopher A. , Garcia-Jaramillo Manuel , Leong Connor , Morre Jeffrey , Sieler Jr. Michael J. , Stevens Jan F. , Jiang Yuan , Maier Claudia S. , Kent Michael L. , Sharpton Thomas J.
Published: August 2024

Intestinal helminth parasite (IHP) infection induces alterations in the composition of microbial communities across vertebrates, although how gut microbiota may facilitate or hinder parasite infection remains poorly defined. In this work, we utilized a zebrafish model to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota, gut metabolites, and IHP infection. We found that extreme disparity in zebrafish parasite infection burden is linked to the composition of the gut microbiome and that changes in the gut microbiome are associated with variation in a class of endogenously produced signaling compounds, N-acylethanolamines, that are known to be involved in parasite infection. Using a statistical mediation analysis, we uncovered a set of gut microbes whose relative abundance explains the association between gut metabolites and infection outcomes. Experimental investigation of one of the compounds in this analysis reveals salicylaldehyde, which is putatively produced by the gut microbe
Pelomonas
, as a potent anthelmintic with activity against
Pseudocapillaria tomentosa
egg hatching, both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of the gut microbiome as a mediating agent in parasitic infection and highlight specific gut metabolites as tools for the advancement of novel therapeutic interventions against IHP infection.

IMPORTANCE

Intestinal helminth parasites (IHPs) impact human health globally and interfere with animal health and agricultural productivity. While anthelmintics are critical to controlling parasite infections, their efficacy is increasingly compromised by drug resistance. Recent investigations suggest the gut microbiome might mediate helminth infection dynamics. So, identifying how gut microbes interact with parasites could yield new therapeutic targets for infection prevention and management. We conducted a study using a zebrafish model of parasitic infection to identify routes by which gut microbes might impact helminth infection outcomes. Our research linked the gut microbiome to both parasite infection and to metabolites in the gut to understand how microbes could alter parasite infection. We identified a metabolite in the gut, salicylaldehyde, that is putatively produced by a gut microbe and that inhibits parasitic egg growth. Our results also point to a class of compounds, N-acyl-ethanolamines, which are affected by changes in the gut microbiome and are linked to parasite infection. Collectively, our results indicate the gut microbiome may be a source of novel anthelmintics that can be harnessed to control IHPs.
Supplemental Material: Ultraslow cooling of an ultrahot orogen
Authors: Clark Chris , al. et
Published: August 2024

 Analytical methods, images, data tables, and supporting plots.  
Supplemental Material: Mantle melting in regions of thick continental lithosphere: Examples from Late Cretaceous and younger volcanic rocks, Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Authors: Farmer G. Lang , al. et
Published: August 2024

Supplemental Material includes raw 40Ar/39Ar data and plots, electron microprobe mineral composition data, micro-Raman images and spectra, rock thin section images, and compilation of parameters used in petrogenetic models.
Supplemental Material: The South Purulia Shear Zone, eastern India: Its anatomy and implication for timing the Rodinia-age collision in the eastern part of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone
Authors: Banerjee Anwesa , Sequeira Nicole , al. et
Published: August 2024

Figure S1: Field photo in southern North Singhbhum Mobile Belt showing fabric relations in mica schists interleaved with quartzite and south-down shear sense during D3 deformation. Text S1: Summary of instrumentation and analytical details for whole-rock geochemistry, laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon dating, and electron probe micro-analysis monazite chemical dating. Table S1: Data table for LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon analyses. Text S2: Lithological description and textural characteristics of monazite with dates in Ma. Table S2: Chemical compositions of monazites and spot dates. Figure S2: Probability density plots of monazite dates (<10% error) in individual samples.
Repeated radiological procedures in the last 6 months of life in old age: a retrospective study
Authors: Hawkins Joseph , Beardsmore-Rust Sam , Adra Myra , Halford Zoe
Published: August 2024

Objectives

This novel study looks at the use of radiological procedures in an elderly cohort of patients in their last 6 months of life. Radiological imaging plays a central part of clinical investigations, but too many may override the judgement of benefits, risks and resources. There is little information on the burden of radiological procedures performed towards the end of life in patients of old age.

Methods

Data from every fourth patient aged 80 years and over who died between 4 July 2021 and 30 December 2021 in a National Health Service (NHS) hospital were collected. All radiological procedures performed within the last 6 months of the patients’ life were recorded from clinical documentation and related to their age.

Results

96 patients were studied with a total of 699 radiological procedures performed. When scaled up, costs of CT and MRI scans alone are conservatively estimated as £312 000/annum in patients aged ≥80 years in their last 6 months of life for a single medium-sized NHS hospital.

Conclusions

A very large number of radiological procedures were performed towards the end of life among patients of old age. This is consistent with the national trend of increased medicalisation and poor recognition of dying.
The impact of tobacco tax increases on cost-minimising behaviours and subsequent smoking cessation in Australia: an analysis of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project
Authors: Cho Ara , Scollo Michelle , Chan Gary , Driezen Pete , Hyland Andrew , Shang Ce , Gartner Coral E
Published: August 2024

Objective

We examined the relationship in Australia from 2007 to 2020 between tobacco tax increases and use of cost-minimising behaviours (CMBs) when purchasing tobacco and: (1) tobacco expenditure and (2) smoking cessation attempts and quit success.

Methods

We used data collected from adults who smoked factory-made and/or roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes in nine waves (2007–2020) of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project Australia Survey (Nsample=4975, Nobservations=10 474). CMBs included buying RYO tobacco, cartons, large-sized packs, economy packs, or tax avoidance/evasion, smoking reduction and e-cigarette use. Logistic regression, fit using generalised estimating equations, estimated the CMB-outcome association for quit attempts and quit success at the next wave follow-up (Nsubsample=2984, Nobservations=6843).

Results

Over half of respondents used a CMB for tobacco purchase (P-CMB) at baseline (57.1% in 2007–2008), increasing to 76.8% (2018) post-tax increases. Participating in any P-CMB was associated with having higher weekly tobacco expenditure. Engaging in any P-CMB was negatively associated with attempting to quit (aOR=0.82, 95% CI 0.69–0.98). Purchasing RYO tobacco or cartons was associated with making no quit attempts (aOR=0.66, 95% CI 0.52–0.83; aOR=0.72, 95% CI 0.59–0.89, respectively). Among respondents smoking cigarettes who made quit attempts, there were no significant associations between all P-CMBs and quit success. Neither smoking reduction nor vaping were significantly associated with quit attempts.

Conclusion

P-CMBs are associated with reduced smoking cessation. Reducing opportunities for industry to promote purchasing-related CMB options, such as by standardising pack sizes and reducing the price differential between RYO and manufactured cigarettes could increase the effectiveness of tax increases.
AAC Hassler Canada Western Red Spring wheat
Authors: Kumar S. , Burt A.J. , Green D. , Humphreys G. , McCallum B. , Fetch T. , Menzies J. , Aboukhaddour R. , Henriquez M.A.
Published: August 2024

AAC Hassler (PT496) is an early maturing, high yielding, awned, and hollow stemmed Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar suited to growing conditions in the northern Canadian Prairies. AAC Hassler yielded 8% more than Glenn, 6% more than Parata, and 6% more than Carberry in the Parkland Wheat Registration Trials (2019–2021). AAC Hassler matured 4 days earlier than Carberry and had similar maturity as Parata. AAC Hassler had similar height to Glenn and the lodging score was similar to Parata. The test weight of AAC Hassler was 2% lower than the mean of the checks and the thousand kernel weight was similar to Glenn. AAC Hassler had protein content 0.1% higher than Carberry. AAC Hassler expressed an intermediate resistant reaction to Fusarium head blight (FHB; Fusarium graminearum Schwabe). AAC Hassler was moderately resistant to the prevalent races of stem rust ( Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn) and moderately susceptible to common bunt ( Tilletia caries (DC) Tul. & C. Tul.). It was resistant to prevalent races of leaf rust ( Puccinia triticina Erikss.) and stripe rust ( Puccinia striiformis Westend). AAC Hassler was susceptible to orange wheat blossom midge ( Sitodiplosis mosellana Géhin). AAC Hassler was registered under the CWRS class.
Burrow nests fall below critical temperatures of threatened seabirds but offer thermal refuge during extreme cold events
Authors: Richards Cerren , Collins Sydney M. , Fisher Kayla , Blackmore Robert J. , Fifield David A. , Bates Amanda E.
Published: August 2024

Climate change is altering the severity and intensity of extreme weather events. Occupying microhabitats that buffer extreme weather may help species avoid harsh environmental conditions. We describe the thermal microclimate of Atlantic Puffin ( Fratercula arctica) and Leach’s Storm-petrel ( Hydrobates leucorhous) burrows and quantify whether burrows are thermal refuges during extreme cold weather events. We further test for the effect of weather conditions and burrow characteristics on nest microclimate and buffering capacity during extreme cold weather. We find that both species actively breed in burrow microclimates that are below their lower critical temperatures, which may impose significant thermoregulatory costs. However, burrows do act as thermal refuges because nests are kept 7.4–8.0 °C warmer than ambient temperatures during extreme cold weather events. Overall, external temperature and wind speed were strong drivers of burrow temperature, but burrow and habitat characteristics did not explain the variability in burrow buffering capacity during extreme cold weather. Our results suggest that burrows may provide a direct line of defence for seabird chicks against cold events. Given the complex responses of burrow microclimates to extreme events, quantifying how changes in environmental conditions will impact burrow-nesting seabirds in the future is key.
The exact relativistic scalar quasibound states of the dyonic Kerr–Sen black hole: quantized energy, and Hawking radiation
Authors: Senjaya David , Burikham Piyabut , Harko Tiberiu
Published: August 2024

We consider Klein–Gordon equation in the Dyonic Kerr–Sen black hole background, which is the charged rotating axially symmetric solution of the Einstein–Maxwell–Dilaton–Axion theory of gravity. The black hole incorporates electric, magnetic, dilatonic and axionic charges and is constructed in 3+1 dimensional spacetime. We begin our investigations with the construction of the scalar field’s governing equation, i.e., the covariant Klein–Gordon equation. With the help of the ansatz of separation of variables, we successfully separate the polar part, and find the exact solution in terms of Spheroidal Harmonics, while the radial exact solution is obtained in terms of the Confluent Heun function. The quantization of the quasibound state is done by applying the polynomial condition of the Confluent Heun function that gives rise to discrete complex-valued energy levels for massive scalar fields. The real part is the scalar field relativistic quantized energy, while the imaginary part represents the quasibound states’s decay. We present all of the sixteen possible exact energy solutions for both massive and massless scalars. We also present the investigation the Hawking radiation of the Dyonic Kerr–Sen black hole’s apparent horizon, via the Sigurd–Sannan method by making use of the obtained exact scalar wave functions. The radiation distribution function, and the Hawking temperature are also obtained.
Gaussian quantum steering for continuous variables sharing in an expanding universe
Authors: Wu Hengyu , Gong Xiaolong , Liu Tonghua , Wu Shu-Min
Published: August 2024

Realistic quantum systems are affected by the expanding universe in their preparation and quantum information processing. In this paper, we study the relationship between the Gaussian quantum steering distribution and the parameters of the expanding universe. The expansion process of the universe can be described as a channel acting on a two-mode squeezed Gaussian state, with the evolution of quantum steering from the asymptotic past to the asymptotic future resulting in new distributions parameterized by cosmic parameters. We find that Gaussian quantum steering is more sensitive to the volume change of the expanding universe than the expansion rate, and the Gaussian quantum steering generated by particles with suitable mass and small momentum is more affected by the expanding universe.
Asymptotic analysis of the 2D and 3D convective Brinkman–Forchheimer equations in unbounded domains
Authors: Kinra Kush , Mohan Manil T.
Published: August 2024

In this work, we carry out the asymptotic analysis of two- and three-dimensional convective Brinkman–Forchheimer (CBF) equations, which characterize the motion of incompressible fluid flows in a saturated porous medium. We establish the existence of a global attractor in both bounded (using compact embedding) and unbounded Poincaré domains (using asymptotic compactness property). In Poincaré domains, the estimates for Hausdorff as well as fractal dimensions of the global attractors are also obtained. We then show an upper semicontinuity of global attractors with respect to domains for CBF equations. We consider an expanding sequence of simply connected, bounded and smooth subdomains [Formula: see text] of the Poincaré domain [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]. If [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the global attractors of CBF equations corresponding to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, then we show that for large enough [Formula: see text], the global attractor [Formula: see text] enters into any neighborhood [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. The presence of the Darcy term in CBF equations helps us to obtain the above mentioned results in general unbounded domains also. Finally, we discuss the quasi-stability property of the semigroup associated with CBF equations in bounded domains and establish the existence of finite fractal dimensional global as well as exponential attractors.
INTEGRATING FRACTAL SNOW ABLATION OPTIMIZER WITH BAYESIAN MACHINE LEARNING FOR ASPECT-LEVEL SENTIMENT ANALYSIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Authors: EBAD SHOUKI A. , SUBAIT WALA BIN , NEMRI NADHEM , ALMUKADI WAFA SULAIMAN , ALJOHANI NASSER , YAFOZ AYMAN , ALSINI RAED , DUHAYYIM MESFER AL
Published: August 2024

Social media platforms have become vast repositories of user-generated content, offering an abundant data source for sentiment analysis (SA). SA is a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm that defines the sentiment or emotional tone expressed in the given text. It includes utilizing computational techniques to automatically detect and categorize the sentiment as negative, positive, or neutral. Aspect-based SA (ABSA) systems leverage machine learning (ML) approaches to discriminate nuanced opinions within the text, which break down sentiment through particular attributes or aspects of the subject matter. Businesses and researchers can gain deep insights into brand perception, public opinion, and product feedback by integrating social media data with ABSA methodologies. This enables the extraction of sentiment polarity and more actionable and targeted insights. By applying ML approaches trained on the abundance of social media data, organizations can identify areas for improvement, tailor their strategies to meet their audience’s evolving needs and preferences and better understand customer sentiments. In this view, this study develops a new Fractal Snow Ablation Optimizer with Bayesian Machine Learning for Aspect-Level Sentiment Analysis (SAOBML-ALSA) technique on social media. The SAOBML-ALSA approach examines social media content to identify sentiments into distinct classes. In the primary stage, the SAOBML-ALSA technique preprocesses the input social media content to transform it into a meaningful format. This is followed by a LeBERT-based word embedding process. The SAOBML-ALSA technique applies a Naïve Bayes (NB) classifier for ALSA. Eventually, the parameter selection of the NB classifier will be done using the SAO technique. The performance evaluation of the SAOBML-ALSA methodology was examined under the benchmark database. The experimental results stated that the SAOBML-ALSA technique exhibits promising performance compared to other models.
Additive actions on projective hypersurfaces with a finite number of orbits
Authors: Borovik Viktoriia , Chernov Alexander , Shafarevich Anton
Published: August 2024

An induced additive action on a projective variety [Formula: see text] is a regular action of the group [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] with an open orbit, which can be extended to a regular action on the ambient projective space [Formula: see text]. In this work, we classify all projective hypersurfaces admitting an induced additive action with a finite number of orbits.
Spin Texture Engineering by a Temperature Gradient in Ultrathin CoFeB Film
Authors: Zheng Xiangyu , Xu Kangning , Li Wenjia , Xiao Chen , Li Guanqi , Tong Kaiyu , Tan Hao , Wang Junlin , Wu Jing , Xu Yongbing
Published: August 2024

Magnetic texture in a chiral material is touted as one of the next-generation nonvolatile computing elements. Thermal manipulation of magnetic textures attracts considerable attention and has promising applications. Here, the temperature-dependent magnetic properties of Ta/CoFeB/MgO thin film are studied experimentally and theoretically. We report the controllable spin texture distribution with a temperature gradient in the Ta/CoFeB/MgO thin film. The nucleation area could be generated at a certain location through the cooperation of heat and magnetic field. This method offers a way to realize spin texture injection at specific positions in magnetic thin films and devices. This work provides useful guidelines for the thermal control of the spintronic device operation.
Postoperative Radiographic Outcomes Following Abduction–Extension Metacarpal Osteotomy: A Comparison between Early and Advanced Carpometacarpal Arthritis
Authors: SHIRAKAWA Ken
Published: August 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of thumb metacarpal osteotomy on dorsal subluxation of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint and compare the effects of early and advanced osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 42 thumbs of 37 patients who underwent metacarpal osteotomy with a postoperative extension angle of 90° or more between January 2018 and October 2021 and were followed up for more than 2 years. The thumbs were classified into two groups: early OA (Eaton stage I or II) and advanced OA (Eaton stage III). We measured the reduction ratio, which was defined as the ratio of improvement in dorsal subluxation, at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively, and at the latest follow-up. We statistically compared the reduction ratio between the two groups and investigated the factors affecting the reduction ratio using correlation analysis.

Results: The reduction ratio was significantly higher in the early OA group than in the advanced OA group at 3 months after surgery, whereas no significant difference was found between the two groups at 1 year after surgery and at the latest follow-up. A significant positive correlation was detected between the reduction ratio and the postoperative extension angle.

Conclusions: First metacarpal osteotomy reduces dorsal subluxation in both early- and advanced-stage CMC OA. This procedure yields immediate marked reduction in early-stage OA, while improvement of the subluxation progressed gradually in advanced-stage OA.

Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)
Probing the timing of the onset of the modern-style plate tectonic regime in Earth's history
Authors: Dilek Yildirim
Published: August 2024

Following the Earth's formation about 4.6 Ga, its initial basaltic outer layer underwent differentiation, generating the oldest continental crust. However, how and when this differentiation took place and what processes led to the formation of early silicic continental crust are controversial topics, which are rooted in a bigger question of when modern-style plate tectonics started operating in Earth's history. In general, there is a well-accepted consensus that the Earth transitioned from single lid (squishy, stagnant, and/or sluggish lid?) to plate tectonics at some point, largely as a result of the establishment of the first subduction zone(s). Members of the geoscience community are divided in answering the question of the timing of the onset of plate tectonics, as reflected in the four perspective papers by different international research teams here. Using different proxies and datasets, the proposed models range from the Late Archean to Paleoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic for the beginning of a plate tectonic convective regime. Another interpretation states that we do not know when plate tectonics might have started based on the extant observations and data. Although the beginning of plate tectonics is still a subject of debate, most researchers agree on the definition of plate tectonics as a globally networked system of laterally moving rigid plates riding on the aesthenosphere and mantle convection cells, which facilitated recycling of the top boundary layer through time. Testing the proposed models and concepts in these perspective papers with new data, observations and geodynamic modelling efforts will be critical to better understanding the Earth's thermal history and evolution since 4.4 Ga.
ControlMat: A Controlled Generative Approach to Material Capture
Authors: Vecchio Giuseppe , Martin Rosalie , Roullier Arthur , Kaiser Adrien , Rouffet Romain , Deschaintre Valentin , Boubekeur Tamy
Published: August 2024

Material reconstruction from a photograph is a key component of 3D content creation democratization. We propose to formulate this ill-posed problem as a controlled synthesis one, leveraging the recent progress in generative deep networks. We present ControlMat, a method which, given a single photograph with uncontrolled illumination as input, conditions a diffusion model to generate plausible, tileable, high-resolution physically-based digital materials. We carefully analyze the behavior of diffusion models for multi-channel outputs, adapt the sampling process to fuse multi-scale information and introduce rolled diffusion to enable both tileability and patched diffusion for high-resolution outputs. Our generative approach further permits exploration of a variety of materials that could correspond to the input image, mitigating the unknown lighting conditions. We show that our approach outperforms recent inference and latent-space optimization methods, and we carefully validate our diffusion process design choices.

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XDTEncoder: A Deep Explainable Arrhythmia Classification Framework for Smart Healthcare
Authors: Wang Jilong , Lv Jianhui , Li Rui , Gong Yinyin , Chen Yijie , B.D Parameshachari , Slowik Adam , Wei Wei
Published: August 2024

In the context of smart healthcare, the integration of multimedia and digital twin technologies has driven significant advances in telemedicine. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, as a part of multimedia healthcare data, provide crucial digital information about the electrical activity of the heart, which is essential for diagnosing arrhythmias and ensuring a healthy life. Arrhythmia classification is a fundamental step in analyzing ECG signals and a critical problem for diagnosing heart diseases. One key challenge in arrhythmia classification is the lack of high accuracy for classifying arrhythmia heartbeats, and another key challenge is the lack of interpretability of decision-making models. This study aims to develop a novel approach to improve the performance of arrhythmia classification while providing explainable diagnostic decision paths. We propose XDTEncoder, an explainable arrhythmia classification framework that leverages multi-level features to classify arrhythmia heartbeats while offering an explainable diagnostic decision path. XDTEncoder is novel in three aspects. (1) It constructs a human-machine collaborative knowledge representation based on the Encoder-Decoder paradigm, which allows our model to classify arrhythmias while producing decision paths for cardiologists. (2) XDTEncoder compares two encoding methods (the binary tree encoding method and the Huffman encoding method) to embed the diagnostic decision tree into the arrhythmia classification framework. (3) XDTEncoder fuses multi-level features to improve the performance of arrhythmias classification. Evaluation on 5 types of arrhythmias in the MIT-BIH database demonstrates that our new approach outperforms state-of-the-art classifiers while providing interpretability.
Local Load Migration in High-Capacity Fog Computing
Authors: Jasim Mohammed , Siasi Nazli
Published: August 2024

Fog computing brings storage and computational capabilities closer to the data source, which reduces latency and enhances efficiency in processing data. However, these capabilities are resource-constrained at the fog nodes as compared to the cloud core. This limitation can result in high computational loads that yield in saturation and congestion at the fog nodes when processing large traffic volumes. Hence, this article introduces a novel load migration scheme for delay-sensitive and computation-intensive requests in fog computing without relaying to the cloud core, thus avoiding prolonged link delays. First, a grouped
service function chain
(SFC) provisioning framework is embedded on a heterogeneous architecture composed of
super fog
(SF) and
ordinary fog
(OF) nodes, where all the
virtual network functions
(VNFs) in the SFC are mapped on a single SF node to reduce resource use. Here, the SF nodes are always in active mode to receive incoming traffic, whereas the OF nodes are maintained in idle mode to save power and computing resources. When the SF node approaches a saturation threshold alarm, it diffuses its load (hosted VNFs) gradually to neighboring OF nodes in the vicinity, thus avoiding saturation at the SF node and providing service continuity. The framework is implemented on a resource-constrained network to achieve realistic operating conditions. Overall, the proposed work achieves high admission and resource utilization rates, reduced delays, and power consumption, as compared to key network architectures and provisioning schemes that separately map delay-sensitive and computation-intensive on hierarchical fog layers, which incur increased delays, network traffic, and power usage.
The Serendipity of Discovery: Life of a Geochemist
Authors: Moore Willard S.
Published: August 2024

My strategy for writing this autobiography is to use examples of how working on seemingly different projects can often lead to outcomes more important than originally envisioned. Serendipity is a happy accident—specifically, the accident of discovering something useful without directly looking for it. This often occurs when two research projects converge unexpectedly. The main text contains examples of how serendipity has led me to important discoveries, including (a) finding surprisingly high 228Ra activities in the ocean; (b) developing a means of rapidly and quantitatively extracting radium from seawater; (c) devising a rapid, sensitive method of measuring 224Ra and 223Ra; (d) realizing the scale and biogeochemical importance of submarine groundwater discharge; and (e) conceiving a method to estimate the total flux of submarine groundwater discharge to the Atlantic Ocean. The
Supplemental Material
fleshes out details of these discoveries and places them in the context of my other investigations.