bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-driven regularization lowers the size barrier of cryo-EM structure determination
Authors: Kimanius Dari , Jamali Kiarash , Wilkinson Max E. , Lövestam Sofia , Velazhahan Vaithish , Nakane Takanori , Scheres Sjors H. W.
Published: June 2024

Macromolecular structure determination by electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) is limited by the alignment of noisy images of individual particles. Because smaller particles have weaker signals, alignment errors impose size limitations on its applicability. Here, we explore how image alignment is improved by the application of deep learning to exploit prior knowledge about biological macromolecular structures that would otherwise be difficult to express mathematically. We train a denoising convolutional neural network on pairs of half-set reconstructions from the electron microscopy data bank (EMDB) and use this denoiser as an alternative to a commonly used smoothness prior. We demonstrate that this approach, which we call Blush regularization, yields better reconstructions than do existing algorithms, in particular for data with low signal-to-noise ratios. The reconstruction of a protein–nucleic acid complex with a molecular weight of 40 kDa, which was previously intractable, illustrates that denoising neural networks will expand the applicability of cryo-EM structure determination for a wide range of biological macromolecules.
Investigation of hemispheric asymmetry in Alzheimer’s disease patients during resting state revealed by fNIRS
Authors: Mızrak Hazel Gül , Dikmen Merve , Hanoğlu Lütfü , Şakul Bayram Ufuk
Published: June 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the gradual deterioration of brain structures and changes in hemispheric asymmetry. Meanwhile, healthy aging is associated with a decrease in functional hemispheric asymmetry. In this study, functional connectivity analysis was used to compare the functional hemispheric asymmetry in eyes-open resting-state fNIRS data of 16 healthy elderly controls (mean age: 60.4 years, MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination): 27.3 ± 2.52) and 14 Alzheimer's patients (mean age: 73.8 years, MMSE: 22 ± 4.32). Increased interhemispheric functional connectivity was found in the premotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, primary motor cortex, inferior parietal cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and supramarginal gyrus in the control group compared to the AD group. The study revealed that the control group had stronger interhemispheric connectivity, leading to a more significant decrease in hemispheric asymmetry than the AD group. The results show that there is a difference in interhemispheric functional connections at rest between the Alzheimer's group and the control group, suggesting that functional hemispheric asymmetry continues in Alzheimer's patients.
Deterioration mechanisms of tuff with surface fractures under freeze–thaw cycles
Authors: Lai Runsen , Zhang Zizhao , Zhu Jianhua , Xu Zhiguo , Wei Xiancheng , Liu Xinyu , Xiong Binghui
Published: June 2024

In practical engineering, the development of surface cracks is one of the most important reasons for the destruction of the rock mass, and the development of complex morphology fractures on the rock mass surface significantly influences rock mass mechanics. This paper addresses the freeze–thaw damage issue in rock mass containing surface fractures in cold regions. Tuffs and a control group are selected as research samples, with the control group being prefabricated surface jointed specimens with an inclination angle of 70° and a fracture depth ratio d (crack depth) /t (sample width) of 0.26. The study analyzes the mass, wave velocity loss, macro-microcosmic fracture damage morphology, and mechanical properties of the two specimen groups through laboratory freeze–thaw cycle tests, uniaxial compression tests, and scanning electron microscopy examinations. The results show an overall decrease in mass, wave velocity, and uniaxial compressive strength as the cycle number increases, with the prefabricated jointed group samples showing more significant changes. However, the two specimen groups exhibit different macroscopic failure fracture states. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images illustrate that after freeze–thaw cycles, the large rock mass particles break into smaller fragments, resulting in looser particle arrangements and a transition from initial surface cementation to point contact., which weakens the compressive strength of the rock mass. The paper also explains the mechanism of the diminishing impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the strength of the rock mass after a certain number of cycles. The research outcomes hold significant reference value for engineering construction in cold regions.
Establishment of a novel obesity mouse model: the induction of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis
Authors: Li Qiuju , Gao Xiaolin , Jia Ruizhen , Deng Jianjun , Wan Chaomin
Published: June 2024

To establish and evaluate an intestinal microbiota dysbiosis-induced obesity mouse model. 50 C57BL/6 J male healthy mice were randomly divided into an obesity model group and the control group. The body weight, body length, and Lee’s index of the two groups of mice at week 1 and week 10 were compared. Serum glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by enzyme-labeled colorimetric methods. Illumina HiSeq 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology was used to characterize intestinal microbiota in feces. The success rate of model establishment in obese mice was 52%. The body weight, body length, Lee’s index, and abdominal fat (wet weight) in the obese model group were all higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Serum GLU and TC levels in the obesity model group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and there was no difference in TG levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). The control group contained more abundant intestinal microbiota phyla and genera than did the obesity model group; the differences between the two groups were significant (FDR ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.05). Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis can be used to generate an obesity model in mice.
Impact of nanopore confinement on phase behavior and enriched gas minimum miscibility pressure in asphaltenic tight oil reservoirs
Authors: Keyvani Fatemeh , Safaei Ali , Kazemzadeh Yousef , Riazi Masoud , Qajar Jafar
Published: June 2024

Miscible gas injection in tight/shale oil reservoirs presents a complex problem due to various factors, including the presence of a large number of nanopores in the rock structure and asphaltene and heavy components in crude oil. This method performs best when the gas injection pressure exceeds the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP). Accordingly, accurate calculation of the MMP is of special importance. A critical issue that needs to be considered is that the phase behavior of the fluid in confined nanopores is substantially different from that of conventional reservoirs. The confinement effect may significantly affect fluid properties, flow, and transport phenomena characteristics in pore space, e.g., considerably changing the critical properties and enhancing fluid adsorption on the pore wall. In this study, we have investigated the MMP between an asphaltenic crude oil and enriched natural gas using Peng-Robinson (PR) and cubic-plus-association (CPA) equations of state (EoSs) by considering the effect of confinement, adsorption, the shift of critical properties, and the presence of asphaltene. According to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a model has been developed considering all these factors for use in porous media. We used the vanishing interfacial tension (VIT) method and slim tube test data to calculate the MMP and examined the effects of pore radius, type/composition of injected gas, and asphaltene type on the computed MMP. The results showed that the MMP increased with an increasing radius of up to 100 nm and then remained almost constant. This is while the gas enrichment reduced the MMP. Asphaltene presence changed the trend of IFT reduction and delayed the miscibility achievement so that it was about 61% different from the model without the asphaltene precipitation effect. However, the type of asphaltene had little impact on the MMP, and the controlling factor was the amount of asphaltene in the oil. Moreover, although cubic EoSs are particularly popular for their simplicity and accuracy in predicting the behavior of hydrocarbon fluids, the CPA EoS is more accurate for asphaltenic oils, especially when the operating pressure is within the asphaltene precipitation range.
Association rule mining of aircraft event causes based on the Apriori algorithm
Authors: Chen Huaqun , Yang Minghui , Tang Xie
Published: June 2024

To reveal complex causes of aircraft events, this paper aims to mine association rules between the trigger probability and relative strength via a modified Apriori algorithm. Clustering is adopted for data preprocessing and TF–IDF value calculation. Causative item sets of aircraft events are obtained based on the accident causation 2–4 model and are coded to establish code indicators. By avoiding the use of statistical methodologies to resolve not-a-number (NaN) values for altering the interrelations among causes, an enhancement in the Apriori algorithm is proposed by considering frequent items. By extracting frequent patterns, in this paper, all the association rules that satisfy three perspectives (support, confidence and lift) are determined by constantly generating and pruning candidate item sets. A network graph is used to visualize the association rules between different unsafe events and all types of causes. Finally, 9835 representative pieces of data, including general unsafe events, general incidents and serious incidents from the Southwest Air Traffic Management Bureau, are selected for analysis. The results show that improper energy allocation, poor conflict resolution ability, inadequate onsite management duties, adoption of a luck mentality, and occurrence of controller oversight are highly correlated with general unsafe events, and failure to rectify incorrect recitation is notably correlated with general incidents, while inadequate manual promotion, lack of conflict judgement and insufficient safety management are strongly correlated with serious incidents. This study quantitatively reveals the potential patterns and characteristics of mutual interactions among various types of historical aircraft events and highlights directions for controllable prevention and prediction of aircraft events.
Soil conditioner improves soil properties, regulates microbial communities, and increases yield and quality of Uncaria rhynchophylla
Authors: Liu Qian , Cui Honghao , Yang Wansheng , Wang Fang , Liao Heng , Zhu Qing , Qin Song , Lu Ping
Published: June 2024

Uncaria rhynchophylla is an important traditional herbal medicine in China, and the yield and quality of Uncaria rhynchophylla can be improved by suitable soil conditioners because of changing the soil properties. In this paper, Uncaria rhynchophylla associated alkaloids and soil microbial  communities were investigated. The field experiment was set up with the following control group: (M1, no soil conditioner) and different soil conditioner treatment groups (M2, biomass ash; M3, water retention agent; M4, biochar; M5, lime powder and M6, malic acid). The results showed that M2 significantly increased the fresh and dry weight and the contents of isorhynchophylline, corynoxeine, isocorynoxeine, and total alkaloids. Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were major bacterial phyla. Correlation analysis showed that fresh and dry weight was significantly positively correlated with Acidobacteria, while alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, phosphatase activity, fresh and dry weight, corynoxeine, and isocorynoxeine were significantly negatively correlated with Chloroflexi. The application of soil conditioner M2 increased the abundance of Acidobacteria and decreased the abundance of Chloroflexi, which contributed to improving the soil nutrient content, yield, and quality of Uncaria rhynchophylla. In summary, biomass ash may be a better choice of soil conditioner in Uncaria rhynchophylla growing areas.
Impact of gallbladder hypoplasia on hilar hepatic ducts in biliary atresia
Authors: Miyazaki Nanae , Takami Shohei , Uemura Mami , Oiki Hironobu , Takahashi Masataka , Kawashima Hiroshi , Kanamori Yutaka , Yoshioka Takako , Kasahara Mureo , Nakazawa Atsuko , Higashi Mayumi , Yanagida Ayaka , Hiramatsu Ryuji , Kanai-Azuma Masami , Fujishiro Jun , Kanai Yoshiakira
Published: June 2024

Background

Biliary atresia (BA) is an intractable disease of unknown cause that develops in the neonatal period. It causes jaundice and liver damage due to the destruction of extrahepatic biliary tracts,. We have found that heterozygous knockout mice of the SRY related HMG-box 17 (Sox17) gene, a master regulator of stem/progenitor cells in the gallbladder wall, exhibit a condition like BA. However, the precise contribution of hypoplastic gallbladder wall to the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary disease in Sox17 heterozygous embryos and human BA remains unclear.

Methods

We employed cholangiography and histological analyses in the mouse BA model. Furthermore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of human BA.

Results

We show that gallbladder wall hypoplasia causes abnormal multiple connections between the hilar hepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder-cystic duct in Sox17 heterozygous embryos. These multiple hilar extrahepatic ducts fuse with the developing intrahepatic duct walls and pull them out of the liver parenchyma, resulting in abnormal intrahepatic duct network and severe cholestasis. In human BA with gallbladder wall hypoplasia (i.e., abnormally reduced expression of SOX17), we also identify a strong association between reduced gallbladder width (a morphometric parameter indicating gallbladder wall hypoplasia) and severe liver injury at the time of the Kasai surgery, like the Sox17-mutant mouse model.

Conclusions

Together with the close correlation between gallbladder wall hypoplasia and liver damage in both mouse and human cases, these findings provide an insight into the critical role of SOX17-positive gallbladder walls in establishing functional bile duct networks in the hepatic hilus of neonates.
Harnessing cholesterol uptake of malaria parasites for therapeutic applications
Authors: Fraser Merryn , Curtis Blake , Phillips Patrick , Yates Patrick A , Lam Kwong Sum , Netzel Otto , van Dooren Giel G , Ingmundson Alyssa , Matuschewski Kai , McLeod Malcolm D , Maier Alexander G
Published: June 2024

Parasites, such as the malaria parasite P. falciparum, are critically dependent on host nutrients. Interference with nutrient uptake can lead to parasite death and, therefore, serve as a successful treatment strategy. P. falciparum parasites cannot synthesise cholesterol, and instead source this lipid from the host. Here, we tested whether cholesterol uptake pathways could be ‘hijacked’ for optimal drug delivery to the intracellular parasite. We found that fluorescent cholesterol analogues were delivered from the extracellular environment to the intracellular parasite. We investigated the uptake and inhibitory effects of conjugate compounds, where proven antimalarial drugs (primaquine and artesunate) were attached to steroids that mimic the structure of cholesterol. These conjugated antimalarial drugs improved the inhibitory effects against multiple parasite lifecycle stages, multiple parasite species, and drug-resistant parasites, whilst also lowering the toxicity to human host cells. Steroids with introduced peroxides also displayed antimalarial activity. These results provide a proof-of-concept that cholesterol mimics can be developed as a drug delivery system against apicomplexan parasites with the potential to improve drug efficacy, increase therapeutic index, and defeat drug resistance.
Enhancing carrier transfer properties of Na-rich anti-perovskites, Na4OM2 with tetrahedral anion groups: an evaluation through first-principles computational analysis
Authors: Xu Shenglin , Zhao Qinfu , Zhang Ronglan , Suo Bingbing , Song Qi
Published: June 2024

Sodium ions migrate through migration gates (MGs) in Na4O(BH4)2 and cause rotation of the [BH4]− clusters that make up MGs.
Development of a flow system for decentralized electrochemical analysis of heavy metals using screen-printed electrodes: the importance of sensor stability
Authors: Laschi Serena , Sfragano Patrick Severin , Tadini-Buoninsegni Francesco , Guigues Nathalie , Palchetti Ilaria
Published: June 2024

Aim: obtain a field-deployable portable box for the online detection of heavy metals in water through an automatable software-assisted procedure and square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry.
Tridentate κ3-P,P,C iridium complexes: influence of ligand saturation on intramolecular C–H bond activation
Authors: Demchuk Mitchell J. , Zurakowski Joseph A. , Drover Marcus W.
Published: June 2024

Whereas κ3-P,C,P-based donor ligands are ubiquitous across synthetic chemistry, related unsymmetric systems having κ3-P,P,C-coordination are comparatively rare.
Improving the direct air capture capacity of grafted amines via thermal treatment
Authors: Jue Melinda L. , Ellebracht Nathan C. , Rasmussen Mathew J. , Hunter-Sellars Elwin , Marple Maxwell A. T. , Yung Matthew M. , Pang Simon H.
Published: June 2024

Elevated thermal treatments increase the CO2 capacity of aminosilane-grafted SBA-15 sorbents through freeing up additional surface hydroxyls and favoring CO2 binding as carbamic acid.
A processable ionogel with thermo-switchable conductivity
Authors: Shen Shoujie , Li Jia , Wu Qiyu , Chen Xingchao , Ma Chuao , Liu Chan , Liu Hongliang
Published: June 2024

Smart ionogels with thermo-switchable conductivity and high processability have been synthesized by combining self-assembly and in situ chemical crosslinking.
Unravelling the effects of functional groups on the adsorption of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole on a copper surface: a DFT study
Authors: Pham Thanh Hai , Chihaia Viorel , Son Do Ngoc
Published: June 2024

The functional groups exhibit a dual influence on the covalent and non-covalent interactions between MBT and the Cu(111) surface via robust correlation with the Hammett substituent constant and substitution interaction energy, respectively.
Nanoparticle manipulation based on chiral plasmon effects
Authors: Li Huaxin , Ren Yatao , He Mingjian , Qi Hong
Published: June 2024

Nanoparticle manipulation based on chiral plasmon effects. Particle trajectory can be controlled by altering the chirality of the incident circularly polarized light.
Theoretical study of direct internal protonation of a [1.1.1]cryptand by proton carriers
Authors: Ishikawa Shigeru
Published: June 2024

The use of a strongly basic proton carrier (e.g. ammonia) inhibits the external protonation of [1.1.1]cryptand amines and allows rapid internal protonation without the use of strong acids.
α-Glucosidase immobilization on the metal–organic framework composite membrane for enzyme inhibitor screening
Authors: Wen Ning , Wan Guang-Zhen , Sun Ke , Hu Fang-Di , Chen Juan
Published: June 2024

In this study, a novel screening approach is presented, merging capillary electrophoresis analysis with an enzymatic assay employing immobilized α-glucosidase.
Efficient reduction of CO2 and inhibition of hydrogen precipitation by polyoxometalate photocatalyst modified with the metal Mn
Authors: Li Guifen , Gu Yulan , Ren Rui , Li Sitan , Zhu Houen , Xue Dongdong , Kong Xiangyi , Zheng Ziyi , Liu Nuo , Li Bei , Zhang Jiangwei
Published: June 2024

A vanadium borate cluster was designed by embedding the V12 cluster in the B18 ring and the transition metal Mn on the periphery of the B18 ring for photocatalytic CO2RR.
Synthesis of deoxybenzoins from β-alkoxy styrenes and arylboronic acids via palladium-catalyzed regioselective Heck-arylation reactions
Authors: Venkatesh Rapelly , Narayan Aswathi C. , Kandasamy Jeyakumar
Published: June 2024

Synthesis of α-aryl acetophenones from styryl ethers and arylboronic acid is achieved in good yields via Palladium-catalyzed Heck-type cross-coupling reactions.
A pharmaco–technical investigation of oxaprozin and gaultheria oil nanoemulgel: a combination therapy
Authors: Talha  , Ali Ahsan , Mohapatra Sradhanjali , Siddiqui Ayesha , Farooq Uzma , Shamim Athar , Jain Pooja , Aslam Mohammed , Ansari Ramsha , Mirza Mohd. Aamir , Iqbal Zeenat
Published: June 2024

Worldwide, osteoarthritis is a significant cause of pain, disability, and socioeconomic losses.
Microrheology of active suspensions
Authors: Kanazawa Takahiro , Furukawa Akira
Published: June 2024

We investigate the microrheology of active suspensions through direct hydrodynamic simulations using model pusher-like microswimmers. Our results demonstrate that hydrodynamic forces exerted by the microswimmers can significantly reduce the friction coefficient of a probe particle.
The beneficiation of asphalt waste through conversion into an efficient activated carbon adsorbent for diazinon pesticide, optimized through response surface methodology
Authors: Gembo Robert O. , Odisitse Sebusi , Msagati Titus A. M. , King'ondu Cecil K.
Published: June 2024

This study reports on converting waste into an activated carbon material for the efficient removal of diazinon pesticide (DP).
DY131 activates ERRγ/TFAM axis to protect against metabolic disorders and acute kidney injury
Authors: Gong Wei , Lu Lingling , Ma Haoyang , Shan Mingfeng , Fan Xinwen , Bai Mi , Zhang Yue , Huang Songming , Jia Zhanjun , Zhang Aihua
Published: June 2024

Renal tubular injury is considered as the main pathological feature of acute kidney injury (AKI), and mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular cells is implicated in the pathogenesis of AKI. The estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) is a member of orphan nuclear receptors which plays a regulatory role in mitochondrial biosynthesis, energy metabolism and many metabolic pathways. Online datasets showed a dominant expression of ERRγ in renal tubules, but the role of ERRγ in AKI is still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of ERRγ in the pathogenesis of AKI and the therapeutic efficacy of ERRγ agonist DY131 in several murine models of AKI. ERRγ expression was reduced in kidneys of AKI patients and AKI murine models along with a negative correlation to the severity of AKI. Consistently, silencing ERRγ in vitro enhanced cisplatin-induced tubular cells apoptosis, while ERRγ overexpression in vivo utilizing hydrodynamic-based tail vein plasmid delivery approach alleviated cisplatin-induced AKI. ERRγ agonist DY131 could enhance the transcriptional activity of ERRγ and ameliorate AKI in various murine models. Moreover, DY131 attenuated the mitochondrial dysfunction of renal tubular cells and metabolic disorders of kidneys in AKI, and promoted the expression of the mitochondrial transcriptional factor A (TFAM). Further investigation showed that TFAM could be a target gene of ERRγ and DY131 might ameliorate AKI by enhancing ERRγ-mediated TFAM expression protecting mitochondria. These findings highlighted the protective effect of DY131 on AKI, thus providing a promising therapeutic strategy for AKI.
Consistency of the Signature of Phonotraumatic Vocal Hyperfunction Across Different Ambulatory Voice Measures
Authors: Ghasemzadeh Hamzeh , Hillman Robert E. , Mehta Daryush D.
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

Although different factors and voice measures have been associated with phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction (PVH), it is unclear what percentage of individuals with PVH exhibit such differences during their daily lives. This study used a machine learning approach to quantify the consistency with which PVH manifests according to ambulatory voice measures. Analyses included acoustic parameters of phonation as well as temporal aspects of phonation and rest, with the goal of determining optimally consistent signatures of PVH.

Method:

Ambulatory neck-surface acceleration signals were recorded over 1 week from 116 female participants diagnosed with PVH and age-, sex-, and occupation-matched vocally healthy controls. The consistency of the manifestation of PVH was defined as the percentage of participants in each group that exhibited an atypical signature based on a target voice measure. Evaluation of each machine learning model used nested 10-fold cross-validation to improve the generalizability of findings. In Experiment 1, we trained separate logistic regression models based on the distributional characteristics of 14 voice measures and durations of voicing and resting segments. In Experiments 2 and 3, features of voicing and resting duration augmented the existing distributional characteristics to examine whether more consistent signatures would result.

Results:

Experiment 1 showed that the difference in the magnitude of the first two harmonics (H1–H2) exhibited the most consistent signature (69.4% of participants with PVH and 20.4% of controls had an atypical H1–H2 signature), followed by spectral tilt over eight harmonics (73.6% participants with PVH and 32.1% of controls had an atypical spectral tilt signature) and estimated sound pressure level (SPL; 66.9% participants with PVH and 27.6% of controls had an atypical SPL signature). Additionally, 77.6% of participants with PVH had atypical resting duration, with 68.9% exhibiting atypical voicing duration. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that augmenting the best-performing voice measures with univariate features of voicing or resting durations yielded only incremental improvement in the classifier's performance.

Conclusions:

Females with PVH were more likely to use more abrupt vocal fold closure (lower H1–H2), phonate louder (higher SPL), and take shorter vocal rests. They were also less likely to use higher fundamental frequency during their daily activities. The difference in the voicing duration signature between participants with PVH and controls had a large effect size, providing strong empirical evidence regarding the role of voice use in the development of PVH.
Auditory Challenges and Listening Effort in School-Age Children With Autism: Insights From Pupillary Dynamics During Speech-in-Noise Perception
Authors: Xu Suyun , Zhang Hua , Fan Juan , Jiang Xiaoming , Zhang Minyue , Guan Jingjing , Ding Hongwei , Zhang Yang
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate challenges in speech-in-noise (SiN) processing faced by school-age children with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) and their impact on listening effort.

Method:

Participants, including 23 Mandarin-speaking children with ASCs and 19 age-matched neurotypical (NT) peers, underwent sentence recognition tests in both quiet and noisy conditions, with a speech-shaped steady-state noise masker presented at 0-dB signal-to-noise ratio in the noisy condition. Recognition accuracy rates and task-evoked pupil responses were compared to assess behavioral performance and listening effort during auditory tasks.

Results:

No main effect of group was found on accuracy rates. Instead, significant effects emerged for autistic trait scores, listening conditions, and their interaction, indicating that higher trait scores were associated with poorer performance in noise. Pupillometric data revealed significantly larger and earlier peak dilations, along with more varied pupillary dynamics in the ASC group relative to the NT group, especially under noisy conditions. Importantly, the ASC group's peak dilation in quiet mirrored that of the NT group in noise. However, the ASC group consistently exhibited reduced mean dilations than the NT group.

Conclusions:

Pupillary responses suggest a different resource allocation pattern in ASCs: An initial sharper and larger dilation may signal an intense, narrowed resource allocation, likely linked to heightened arousal, engagement, and cognitive load, whereas a subsequent faster tail-off may indicate a greater decrease in resource availability and engagement, or a quicker release of arousal and cognitive load. The presence of noise further accentuates this pattern. This highlights the unique SiN processing challenges children with ASCs may face, underscoring the importance of a nuanced, individual-centric approach for interventions and support.
Distributional Learning and Overnight Consolidation of Nonnative Tonal Contrasts by Tonal Language Speakers
Authors: Chui Yin-To , Qin Zhen
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

Previous studies have reported the success of distributional learning for adult speakers across segmental and suprasegmental categories immediately after training. On the other hand, second language (L2) perception models posit that the ease with which learners perceive a nonnative speech contrast depends on the perceptual mapping between the contrast and learners' first language (L1) categories. This study examined whether a difference in perceptual mapping patterns for different L2–Mandarin tonal contrasts might result in a difference in distributional learning effectiveness for tonal speakers and whether an interval of sleep enhanced the knowledge through consolidation.

Method:

Following a pretest–training–posttest design, 66 L1–Cantonese participants with fewer than 9 years of Mandarin training were assigned to either the bimodal or unimodal distribution conditions. The participants of each group were asked to discriminate Mandarin level-falling (T1–T4) and level-rising (T1–T2) tone pairs on novel syllables in a within-subject design. All participants were trained in the evening, tested after training, and returned after 12 hr for overnight consolidation assessment.

Results:

A significant distributional learning effect was observed for Mandarin T1–T4, but only after sleep. No significant distributional learning effect was observed for Mandarin T1–T2, either after training or after sleep.

Conclusions:

The findings may imply that distributional learning is contingent on perceptual mapping patterns of the target contrasts and that sleep may play a role in the consolidation of knowledge in an implicit statistical learning paradigm.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25970008
ℓ1${\ell }_1$ norm‐based recursive estimation for non‐linear systems with non‐Gaussian noises
Authors: Qin Yuemei , Li Jun , Li Shuying
Published: June 2024

This study addresses the state estimation problem of discrete‐time non‐linear stochastic systems with non‐Gaussian noises, particularly impulsive noises. Instead of minimizing the mean square error of the state estimate, which tends to excessively focus on outliers caused by non‐Gaussian noises, the norm‐based non‐linear recursive filter (L1KF) is put forward in this paper. Here, minimizing the norm of model errors is actually to pursue the minimum sum of absolute values of all errors, which is equitable to all model errors rather than paying much attention on outliers. To further improve estimation accuracy, a recursive nonlinear smoother (L1KS) is proposed, based on minimizing the norm of model errors. The proposed norm‐based filter and smoother are implemented using unscented transformation for statistical linear regression applied to nonlinear models. Additionally, the computational complexity of the proposed method is analysed. Simulation results of tracking a radar target with impulsive noises demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed estimator.
Spread of parking difficulty in urban environments: A parking network perspective
Authors: Zhang Kangshuai , Cui Yunduan , Liu Qi , Shu Hongfeng , Peng Lei
Published: June 2024

Spread of parking difficulty can be regarded as a special cascading failure process of urban parking systems. A comprehensive understanding of this process can be greatly helpful to build a more robust parking system. Parking network, a specified complex network, is proposed to model, simulate, and analyse the failure process of urban parking systems in this paper. This model is applied to the analysis of parking systems in an abstract city grid and the downtown area of Luohu, Shenzhen. The results demonstrate that the parking network can capture subtle variations among various parking cruising behaviours or strategies from a network perspective. To enhance the utility of the parking network, an auxiliary indicator named “Parking Difficulty Index” is introduced to help assess the failure degree of urban parking system, estimate the optimal timing for parking guidance intervention, and evaluate the effectiveness of various guidance strategies in mitigating parking difficulties.
Compact fully metallic multi‐mode waveguide antenna for cellular communications
Authors: Mokhtarani Ali , Ghattan Kashani Zahra , Navarro‐Cía Miguel
Published: June 2024

The needed isolation between elements for high‐performance beam steering array antennas is a challenging task especially when the distance between the antenna elements is reduced. To tackle this problem, the authors report a multi‐port multi‐mode single‐antenna with beam steering capability (±7 deg) suitable for cellular communications. The multi‐port multi‐mode characteristic of the proposed antenna enables size reduction and better taper efficiency than antenna arrays operating in the 3.3–3.7 GHz cellular band. The reported antenna exploits four Transverse Electric modes to modify the half‐power beamwidth of the radiation from 20° to 41° as required in cellular communication.
Magnetic braking below the cataclysmic variable period gap and the observed dearth of period bouncers
Authors: Sarkar Arnab , Rodriguez Antonio C. , Ginzburg Sivan , Yungelson Lev , Tout Christopher A.
Published: June 2024

Context. Period bouncers are cataclysmic variables (CVs) that have evolved past their orbital period minimum. The strong disagreement between theory and observations of the relative fraction of period bouncers is a severe shortcoming in the understanding of CV evolution.

Aims. We test the implications of the hypothesis that magnetic braking (MB), which is suggested to be an additional angular momentum loss (AML) mechanism for CVs below the period gap (Porb ≲ 120 min), weakens around their period minimum.

Methods. We computed the evolution of CV donors below the period gap using the MESA code, assuming that the evolution of the system is driven by AML due to gravitational wave radiation (GWR) and MB. We parametrised the MB strength as AMLMB = κAMLGWR. We computed two qualitatively different sets of models, one in which κ is a constant and another in which κ depends on stellar parameters in such a way that the value of κ decreases as the CV approaches the period minimum (Porb ≈ 80 min), beyond which κ ≈ 0.

Results. We find that two crucial effects drive the latter set of models. (1) A decrease in κ as CVs approach the period minimum stalls their evolution so that they spend a long time in the observed period minimum spike (80 ≲ Porb/min ≲ 86). Here, they become difficult to distinguish from pre-bounce systems in the spike. (2) A strong decrease in the mass-transfer rate makes them virtually undetectable as they evolve further. So, the CV stalls around the period minimum and then “disappears”. This reduces the number of detectable bouncers. Physical processes, such as dynamo action, white dwarf magnetism, and dead zones, may cause such a weakening of MB at short orbital periods.

Conclusions. The weakening MB formalism provides a possible solution to the problem of the dearth of detectable period bouncers in CV observational surveys.
Improved model of the Supernova Refsdal cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 thanks to VLT/MUSE
Authors: Schuldt S. , Grillo C. , Caminha G. B. , Mercurio A. , Rosati P. , Morishita T. , Stiavelli M. , Suyu S. H. , Bergamini P. , Brescia M. , Calura F. , Meneghetti M.
Published: June 2024

We present new VLT/MUSE observations of the Hubble Frontier Field (HFF) galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223, lensing the well-known supernova “Refsdal” into multiple images, which has enabled the first cosmological applications with a strongly lensed supernova. Thanks to these data, targeting a northern region of the cluster and thus complementing our previous MUSE program on the cluster core, we have released a new catalog containing 162 secure spectroscopic redshifts. We confirmed 22 cluster members, which had previously been only photometrically selected, and detected ten additional ones, resulting in a total of 308 secure members, of which 63% are spectroscopically confirmed. We further identified 17 new spectroscopic multiple images belonging to six different background sources. By exploiting these new and our previously published MUSE data, in combination with the deep HFF images, we developed an improved total mass model of MACS J1149.5+2223. This model includes 308 total mass components for the member galaxies and requires four additional mass profiles, one of which is associated with a cluster galaxy overdensity identified in the north, representing the dark matter mass distribution on larger scales. The values of the resulting 34 free parameters are optimized based on the observed positions of 106 multiple images from 34 different families, that cover an extended redshift range between 1.240 and 5.983. Our final model has a multiple image position root mean square value of 0.39″, which is in good agreement with other cluster lens models based on a similar number of multiple images. With this refined mass model, we have paved the way toward an improved strong-lensing analyses that will exploit the deep and high resolution observations with HST and JWST on a pixel level in the region of the supernova Refsdal host. This will increase the number of observables by around two orders of magnitude, thus offering the opportunity to carry out more precise and accurate cosmographic measurements in the future.
The backreaction of stellar wobbling on accretion discs of massive protostars
Authors: Meyer D. M.-A. , Vorobyov E.
Published: June 2024

Context. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that massive stars see their infant circumstellar medium shaped into a large irradiated, gravitationally unstable accretion disc during their early formation phase. Such discs constitute the gas reservoir from which nascent high-mass stars gain a substantial fraction of their mass by episodic accretion of dense gaseous circumstellar clumps, simultaneously undergoing accretion-driven bursts and producing close-orbit spectroscopic companions of the young high-mass stellar object.

Aims. We aim to evaluate the effects of stellar motion caused by the disc non-axisymmetric gravitational field on the disc evolution and its spatial morphology. In particular, we analyse the disc’s propensity to gravitational instability and fragmentation and the disc’s appearance in synthetic millimetre band images pertinent to the ALMA facility.

Methods. We employed three-dimensional radiationhydrodynamical simulations of the surroundings of a young massive star in the non-inertial spherical coordinate system, adopting the highest spatial resolution to date and including the indirect star-disc gravitational potential caused by the asymmetries in the circumstellar disc. The resulting disc configurations were post-processed with the radiation transfer tool RADMC-3D and CASA software to obtain synthetic images of the disc.

Results. We confirm that the early evolution of the accretion disc is notably different when stellar wobbling is taken into account. The redistribution of angular momentum in the system makes the disc smaller and rounder, reduces the number of circumstellar gaseous clumps formed via disc gravitational fragmentation, and prevents the ejection of gaseous clumps from the disc. The synthetic predictive images at millimetre wavelengths of the accretion disc that includes stellar wobbling are in better agreement with the observations of the surroundings of massive young stellar objects, namely AFGL 4176 mml, G17.64+0.16, and G353.273, than our simulations of numerical hydrodynamics that omit this physical mechanism.

Conclusions. Our work confirms that stellar wobbling is an essential ingredient to account for in numerical simulations of accretion discs of massive protostars.
Past activity of Sgr A⋆ is unlikely to affect the local cosmic-ray spectrum up to the TeV regime
Authors: Fournier M. , Fensch J. , Commerçon B.
Published: June 2024

Context The presence of kiloparsec-sized bubble structures on both sides of the Galactic plane suggests active phases of Sgr A⋆, the central supermassive black hole of the Milky Way in the last 1–6 Myr. We investigated the contribution of such events to the cosmic-ray (CR) flux measured in the solar neighborhood with numerical simulations.

Aims. We evaluate whether the population of high-energy charged particles emitted by the Galactic center could be sufficient to significantly impact the CR flux measured in the solar neighborhood.

Methods. We present a set of 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations following the anisotropic propagation of CRs in a Milky Way-like Galaxy. We followed independent populations of CRs through time. We followed CRs originating from two different source types, namely supernovae and the Galactic center. To assess the evolution of the CR flux spectrum properties, we split these populations into two independent energy groups of 100 GeV and 10 TeV.

Results. We find that the anisotropic nature of CR diffusion dramatically affects the amount of CR energy received in the solar neighborhood. The typical timescale required to observe measurable changes in the CR spectrum slope is of the order 10 Myr, largely surpassing estimated ages of the Fermi bubbles in the active galactic nuclei (AGN) jet-driven scenario.

Conclusions. We conclude that a CR outburst from the Galactic center in the last few million years is unlikely have produced any observable feature in the local CR spectrum in the TeV regime within times consistent with current estimates of the age of the Fermi bubbles.
Mind the gap: Distinguishing disc substructures and their impact on the inner disc composition
Authors: Mah Jingyi , Savvidou Sofia , Bitsch Bertram
Published: June 2024

Improved observational technologies have enabled the resolution of substructures and the measurement of chemical abundances in protoplanetary discs. Understanding the chemical composition of the inner disc allows us to infer the building blocks available for planet formation. Recently, the depletion of water in the inner disc has been suggested to be linked to the presence of substructures, such as gaps and rings, further out in the disc. We investigate this hypothesis further by running 1D semi-analytical models of a protoplanetary disc with a gap to understand the combined effects of disc viscosity, gap depth, gap location, and gap formation timescales on the composition of the inner disc (water abundance, C/O, O/H, and C/H ratios). Our results show that for a specific value of disc viscosity, the simulation outcome can be classified into three regimes: shallow gap, “traffic jam”, and deep gap. While deep gaps may already be distinguishable with moderate-resolution (FWHM ∼ 10 AU) techniques, it is still challenging to resolve shallow gaps with the current capabilities. On the other hand, discs with traffic jams have a higher chance of being resolved when observed with a high resolution (FWHM ≲ 5 AU), but they may appear as an intensity enhancement or even featureless when observed with moderate to low angular resolution (FWHM ≳ 10 AU). In this regard, information on the inner disc composition is useful because it can help to infer the existence of traffic jams or distinguish them from deep gaps: discs with deep gaps are expected to have a low water content – and thus high C/O ratio in the inner disc due to the effective blocking of pebbles – while discs with shallow gaps would demonstrate the opposite trend (water-rich and low C/O ratio). Furthermore, discs with a traffic jam would have a constant (albeit low) inward flux of water-rich pebbles resulting in a moderate water content and sub-stellar C/O ratios. Finally, we find that the effectiveness of gaps as pebble barriers diminishes quickly when they form late (tgap ≳ 0.1 Myr), as most of the pebbles have already drifted inwards.
The New Stage of State Real Estate Cadastre Valuation (in the Russian Federation)
Authors: Nedelkov Andrey Viktorovich
Published: June 2024

Accurate real estate market data is crucial for decision-making by governments, businesses, and individuals. Without it, costs rise and development of investment and tax policies suffers. In Russia, the state real estate cadastre valuation is the main data source, but its credibility wanes due to errors and delayed updates. This article reviews the 20-year evolution of this system through four stages. The aim of this study is to analyse the problems and shortcomings in conducting cadastre valuation and property assessment in the Russian Federation, and to propose recommendations for improving this system. In the process of research, normative documents that served as an information base for achieving the set goal were analysed, and a comparative analysis of property tax assessment systems and tax policies of various countries was conducted. Based on the conducted analysis, the author proposes recommendations to enhance tax policy and real estate cadastre valuation in Russia. The recommendations involve adjustments, updated tax value criteria, considering diverse property value factors, separating cadastre valuation from mass appraisal, and accommodating variations in tax base calculation. Implementing these recommendations can contribute to addressing issues in cadastre valuation and create a fairer, more effective taxation system for land and property.
The Role of the Penitentiary System in the Process of Ensuring the Security of Buildings and Structures in the Suppression of Terrorist Acts
Authors: Isamatov Ernis Kazybekovich , Kochkarova Eristina Azret-Alievna , Ismailbekov Muskai Sekenovich , Kazakbaev Medetbek Kubatbekovich , Atakulova Aida Aspekovna , Nurudinova Aidai Nurudinovna
Published: June 2024

The subject of the article is the legal, institutional and practical problems of ensuring the security of construction facilities during the organization and conduct of terrorist acts. Particular attention is paid to the legislative framework that ensures the increase in the efficiency of interaction between relevant state bodies in the prevention, detection and suppression of any illegal activity aimed at the destruction of any construction facilities.
Housing quality and health; an evaluation of influencing variables
Authors: Charles Awe F. , Muyiwa Akinluyi L. , Okeke Francis O. , Deborah Awe F.
Published: June 2024

The quality of housing and the well-being of its occupants are inherently interconnected; with excellent housing conditions contributing to better overall health. This study assessed determinants of housing features and their effects on health of individuals residing in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The research region was divided into three zones: urban centre, transitional, and periphery. 1500 standardized questionnaires were distributed to building owners or tenants based on stratified random sampling technique. Seven factors were discovered, and statistical tables were created applying the mixed approach of data analysis. The study revealed: 16.4% of the households were overcrowded, 14.4% of living rooms were not well ventilated, 11.7% of bedrooms did not have cross-ventilation, 30.6% used toilet systems other than water closets, 14.7% had access to tap water, 29.1% houses had their kitchen outside the house, and 13.7% of the sewer was good. As a result of these circumstances, 74.1% had malaria, 7.7% had dysentery, 4.3% had measles, 2.9% had TB, and 2.6% had cholera. The study produced a model stating that the state of building variables/elements is directly linked to the health of building users. The study advised that homeowners improve their sanitary hygiene and facilities with government enhanced efforts on housing amenities.