bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central Bank Transparency and Interest Rate Volatility
Authors: Weber Christoph S.
Published: December 2024

Most central banks around the world have increased their transparency in recent decades. These developments have had an impact on financial markets. Several studies have analysed the impact of central bank transparency (CBT) on variables such as inflation volatility, exchange rate volatility, or stock market volatility. One variable that has not received enough attention is interest rate volatility, despite its importance for decision‐makers in both financial markets and the real economy. The study uses a panel data set of a maximum of 93 countries over the years 1998–2017. We use panel data estimators (panel fixed effects and fixed effects filter). Our main findings are that CBT helps to reduce the volatility of several interest rates (money market rates, deposit rates, savings rates, Treasury bill yields and government bond yields), while it increases the volatility of monetary policy rates. The results are also significant from an economic point of view, as a small increase in CBT can reduce the variability of treasury bill rates by up to −8.2%, deposit rates by up to −9.1%, money market rates by up to −15.8% and savings rates by up to −20.4%.
How do different categories of nature‐related landscape images shape emotional experience?
Authors: Gao Cheng , Liu Chang , Jiang Luyao , Ding Jun
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to explore whether and how diverse categories of nature‐related landscape images would influence the emotional dimensions of pleasure, arousal and dominance in the process of aesthetic appreciation, as well as to develop a new nature‐related image system (NIS). A total of 575 high‐quality images across six categories were selected and assessed by 197 students from the dimensions of aesthetic feeling (AF), pleasure, arousal and dominance. The results showed that different categories evoked varying levels of each dimension, and the impact of landscape categories on emotional experiences cannot be overlooked. Specially, flower landscape showed a clear experimental dissociation in terms of AF and pleasure compared to other categories, suggesting that flower images tend to evoke a positive emotional experience overall, regardless of AF level. Moreover, it also suggested that the effects of flowers on emotions could be considered independently from other categories in future research.
Ethical bioprospecting and microbial assessments for sustainable solutions to the AMR crisis
Authors: Cartledge Kayla , Short Francesca L. , Hall Alex , Lambert Karen , McDonald Michael J. , Lithgow Trevor
Published: December 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been declared one of the top 10 global public health challenges of our age by the World Health Organization, and the World Bank describes AMR as a crisis affecting the finance, health, and agriculture sectors and a major threat to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. But what is AMR? It is a phenotype that evolves in microbes exposed to antimicrobial molecules and causes dangerous infections. This suggests that scientists and healthcare workers should be on the frontline in the search for sustainable solutions to AMR. Yet AMR is also a societal problem to be understood by everyone. This review aims to explore the need to address the problem of AMR through a coherent, international strategy with buy‐in from all sectors of society. As reviewed here, the sustainable solutions to AMR will be driven by better understanding of AMR biology but will require more than this alone to succeed. Some advances on the horizon, such as the use of bacteriophage (phage) to treat AMR infections. However, many of the new technologies and new therapeutics to address AMR require access to biodiversity, where the custodians of that biodiversity—and the traditional knowledge required to access it—are needed as key partners in the scientific, clinical, biotechnological, and international ventures that would treat the problem of AMR and ultimately prevent its further evolution. Many of these advances will be built on microbial assessments to understand the extent of AMR in our environments and bioprospecting to identify microbes that may have beneficial uses. Genuine partnerships for access to this biodiversity and sharing of benefits accrued require a consideration of ethical practice and behavior. Behavior change is needed across all sectors of culturally diverse societies so that rapid deployment of solutions can be implemented for maximum effect against the impacts of AMR.
Sliding Hydrogels Reveal the Modulation of Mechanosensing Attenuates the Inflammatory Phenotype of Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes in 3D
Authors: Ayushman Manish , Lee Hung‐Pang , Agarwal Pranay , Mikos Georgios , Tong Xinming , Jones Sarah , Sinha Sauradeep , Goodman Stuart , Bhutani Nidhi , Yang Fan
Published: December 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalen degenerative joint disease with no FDA‐approved therapies that can halt or reverse its progression. Current treatments address symptoms like pain and inflammation, but not underlying disease mechanisms. OA progression is marked by increased inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of the joint cartilage. While the role of biochemical cues has been widely studied for OA, how matrix mechanical cues influence OA phenotype remains poorly understood. Using sliding hydrogels (SGs) as a tool, we examine how local matrix compliance in 3D modulates OA chondrocyte phenotype and associated mechanosensing. We demonstrate that local matrix compliance reduces the inflammatory phenotype of OA chondrocytes, as indicated by decreased gene expression of catabolic markers and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. This is achieved via significantly reduced nuclear NF‐κB expression and signaling in OA chondrocytes. Live cell imaging shows enhanced cellular and nuclear dynamics with increased matrix deformation in the compliant SG. Blocking cellular dynamics negates SG compliance‐induced benefits in reducing OA inflammatory phenotype. Further, SG alters nuclear mechanosensing in OA as indicated by increased nuclear lamin reinforcement and chromatin condensation. Finally, we demonstrate that a drug inhibiting histone lysine demethylase to modulate chromatin accessibility reduces OA inflammation in 3D hydrogels. These findings advance our understanding of how ECM mechanics regulate OA mechanobiology and progression and highlight potential disease‐modifying treatments via epigenetic and mechanosensing‐based therapies.
LncRNA PVT1 Promotes Intracranial Aneurysm Development via USP10/KLF4/NLRP3 Axis‐Mediated Pyroptosis in Human Cerebral Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Chen Min , Li Zhihong , Da Longbiao , Liu Jie , Huang Chun , Zha Zhengjiang
Published: December 2024

Our previous research identified that lncRNA PVT1 is upregulated in patients with IA. However, the precise functions of PVT1 in IA remain unclear. We compared the levels of PVT1, caspase‐3, caspase‐1, and NLRP3 in normal and IA patients. The GEO database was utilized to evaluate the expression of KLF4 and NLRP3 in IA. In vitro, we constructed transfected plasmids for silencing (si) and overexpression (oe) of PVT1 and USP10. We assessed cell apoptosis and measured the levels of IL‐18, IL‐1β, NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD‐N, cleaved‐caspase‐3, and cleaved‐caspase‐1. CHX chase, immunoprecipitation assays, and bioinformatics tools were employed to evaluate the interactions among PVT1, USP10, and KLF4. Significant differences were observed in the levels of PVT1, KLF4, NLRP3, caspase‐3, caspase‐1, and histological examinations between normal and IA patients. Compared to the oe‐NC group, the levels of IL‐18, IL‐1β, NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD‐N, cleaved‐caspase‐3, and cleaved‐caspase‐1 were significantly increased in the oe‐PVT1 and oe‐USP10 groups. The effect of oe‐USP10 was completely inhibited in the oe‐USP10+si‐PVT1 group. The RIPseq database demonstrated that PVT1 interacts with both USP10 and KLF4. The CHX chase assay showed that KLF4 interacts with both USP10 and PVT1. The RIP assay confirmed the interaction between PVT1 and USP10. The Co‐IP assay and UbiBrowser indicated that KLF4 interacts with USP10. The ChIP assay demonstrated that KLF4 interacts with NLRP3. PVT1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of IA by regulating the USP10/KLF4/NLRP3 axis‐mediated pyroptosis of HCSMCs.
A Polarizable CASSCF/MM Approach Using the Interface Between OpenMMPol Library and Cfour
Authors: Nottoli Tommaso , Bondanza Mattia , Lipparini Filippo , Mennucci Benedetta
Published: December 2024

We present a polarizable embedding quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) framework for ground‐ and excited‐state Complete Active Space Self‐Consistent Field (CASSCF) calculations on molecules within complex environments, such as biological systems. These environments are modeled using the AMOEBA polarizable force field. This approach is implemented by integrating the OpenMMPol library with the CFour quantum chemistry software suite. The implementation supports both single‐point energy evaluations and geometry optimizations, facilitated by the availability of analytical gradients. We demonstrate the methodology by applying it to two distinct photoreceptors, exploring the impact of the protein environment on the structural and photophysical properties of their embedded chromophores.
PFAS in agroecosystems: Sources, impacts, and opportunities for mitigating risks to human and ecosystem health
Authors: Preisendanz Heather E. , Li Hui , Mashtare Michael , Mina Odette
Published: December 2024

Concerns regarding per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their precursors have driven increased research into their sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies, aiming to reduce their prevalence in the environment. While much of this research has centered on known large sources of PFAS (e.g., military bases, airports, fire training sites, and some manufacturing facilities), there has been increased interest in evaluating the inadvertent introduction of PFAS into agroecosystems from beneficial reuse of treated domestic wastewater for irrigation and land application of biosolids and composts derived from food waste. Additional sources to agricultural fields include the use of PFAS‐containing pesticides. These activities raise questions regarding the potential impacts of PFAS introduced to agricultural systems on rural water supplies, soil health, and food safety. This special section contains papers that fall into three categories: (i) source assessment of PFAS in water and wastewater residuals destined for beneficial reuse in agroecosystems, (ii) improved understanding of PFAS fate and transport in agroecosystems following land application of PFAS‐containing materials, and (iii) small‐scale assessment of techniques that demonstrate promise for mitigating PFAS mobilization in agroecosystems. The work contained in this special section can be used to help guide future decisions related to PFAS guidelines, policies, and regulations in agroecosystems intended to protect human and ecological health.
Regulation of Branchial Anoctamin 1 Expression in Freshwater‐ and Seawater‐Acclimated Japanese Medaka, Oryzias latipes
Authors: Konno Norifumi , Togashi Ayane , Miyanishi Hiroshi , Azuma Morio , Nakamachi Tomoya , Matsuda Kouhei
Published: December 2024

In euryhaline teleosts, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in seawater (SW)‐type chloride cells facilitates apical Cl− secretion for SW adaptation, while alternative Cl− excretion pathways remain understudied. This study investigates the role of the calcium‐activated chloride channel, Anoctamin 1 (ANO1), in the gills of the euryhaline Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) under hyperosmolality and cortisol (CORT) influence. Acclimation to artificial SW, NaCl, mannitol, or glucose significantly upregulated ANO1 and CFTR mRNA expression in gills, unlike urea treatment. In situ hybridization revealed ANO1 mRNA in chloride cells co‐expressing CFTR and Na+, K+‐ATPase under hyperosmotic conditions. ANO1 inhibition elevated plasma Cl− concentration, indicating impaired Cl− excretion. CORT or dexamethasone administration in freshwater (FW) fish significantly increased branchial ANO1 and CFTR mRNA expression, an effect attenuated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486. Hyperosmotic treatment of isolated gill tissues rapidly induced ANO1 mRNA expression independent of CFTR mRNA changes, and this induction was unaffected by RU486. These findings highlight the dual regulation of ANO1 expression via hyperosmolality‐induced cellular response and the CORT–GR system. Thus, branchial ANO1 may likely complement CFTR in Cl⁻ excretion, playing a key role in the hyperosmotic adaptation of euryhaline teleosts.
Investigation of Response Aggregation Methods in Divergent Thinking Assessments
Authors: Saretzki Janika , Andrae Rosalie , Forthmann Boris , Benedek Mathias
Published: December 2024

Divergent thinking (DT) ability is widely regarded as a central cognitive capacity underlying creativity, but its assessment is challenged by the fact that DT tasks yield a variable number of responses. Various approaches for the scoring of DT tasks have been proposed, which differ in how responses are evaluated and aggregated within a task. The present study aimed to identify methods that maximize psychometric quality while also reducing the confounding effect of DT fluency. We compared traditional scoring approaches (summative and average scoring) to more recent methods such as snapshot as well as top‐ and max‐scoring. We further explored the moderating role of task complexity as well as metacognitive abilities. A sample of 300 participants was recruited via Prolific. Reliability evidence was assessed in terms of internal consistency, concurrent criterion validity in terms of correlations with real‐life creative behavior, creative self‐beliefs, and openness. Findings confirm that alternative aggregation methods reduce the confounding effect of DT fluency. Reliability tends to increase as a function of the number of included responses with three responses as a minimal requirement for decent reliability evidence. Convergent validity was highest for snapshot as well as max‐scoring when using a medium number of three ideas.
Examining the Idea Density and Semantic Distance of Responses Given by AI to Tests of Divergent Thinking
Authors: Runco Mark A. , Turkman Burak , Acar Selcuk , Abdulla Alabbasi Ahmed M.
Published: December 2024

Research suggests that generative AI (GAI) responds to divergent thinking (DT) prompts with multiple ideas, some of which seem to be original. The present investigation administered 55 DT tasks to three GAI services (Bard, GPT 3.5, and GPT 4.0). Instead of examining individual responses, an Idea Density algorithm was used to assess the output. This algorithm quantifies the ideas within responses, controlling for the number of words. A subset of the DT tests administered to the GAI were also scored for Semantic Distance, which estimates originality. Results indicated that the three GAI models differed in the Idea Density of the output. There were also significant differences between Realistic and Nonrealistic DT tasks. As has been the case in human samples, directions given when the GAI received the prompts also had a significant impact, with more Idea Density following directions that explicitly prompted original responses. Adjusted scores removed all verbiage in the output, which did not actually address the questions conveyed by the prompts. These corrected scores shared approximately 50% of the variance with the uncorrected “raw” responses, implying that the typical output of GAI is not always relevant. This was interpreted in the context of the standard definition of creativity, which emphasizes effectiveness, as well as originality.
Intercepting more radiation or higher use efficiency: pathways to enhancing biomass and yield in two wheat cultivars with distinct spike types under wide‐belt sowing
Authors: Tong Jin , Lu Yu , Xiong Yulei , Li Wen , Lin Wen , Xue Jianfu , Sun Min , Wang Yuechao , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

In north China, wide‐belt sowing (WBS) is widely used in wheat production because it increases the yield by improving the plant distribution and reducing the competition for resources compared with conventional narrow‐drill sowing (NDS). Yield formation is also different for wheat varieties with distinct spike types. Therefore, it is important to explore the effects of WBS on the yields of wheat varieties with different spike types.

RESULTS

We conducted a field experiment using Shannong20 (SN20, a multi‐spike variety) and Shannong30 (SN30, a heavy‐spike variety) for three seasons under WBS and NDS. WBS increased yields of both varieties by 9.3–11.1% than NDS. The yield increase for SN20 came from improvement in pre‐anthesis biomass, whereas the post‐anthesis biomass improved for SN30. Before anthesis, the increased biomass for SN20 by WBS was due to higher radiation interception because of the increased population size and leaf area index. After anthesis, WBS increased the biomass via improving radiation use efficiency (RUE) for SN30. WBS improved the radiation intensity in the sub‐top and middle canopy layers which was beneficial for increasing RUE. In addition, the higher maximum leaf net photosynthesis rate (Amax) also contributed to the increase in RUE for SN30. The increased Amax for SN30 was due to the increased specific leaf nitrogen and leaf antioxidant capacity.

CONCLUSION

In short, the radiation interception before anthesis was mainly responsible for the yield increase for the multi‐spike variety, whereas for the heavy‐spike variety, the yield improvement only came from the increased RUE after anthesis under WBS. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Simultaneous Determination of 12 Disinfection By‐Products in Fish Muscles by Solvent Extraction Coupled With Gas Chromatography Equipped With an Electron Capture Detector
Authors: Ding Miao‐miao , Zhamaerding Ai‐ke‐yi‐dan‐mu , Hu Xia‐lin , Liu Mei‐chuan , Yin Da‐qiang
Published: December 2024

Disinfection by‐products (DBPs) have received considerable focus due to potential teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects; however, there is an evident gap in the availability of analytical methodologies for the simultaneous determination of DBPs in fish, especially iodinated DBPs. This paper developed an innovative analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 12 DBPs, including four trihalomethanes (THMs), three haloacetonitriles, and five iodinated THMs (I‐THMs), in fish muscle, utilizing solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The method incorporates tert‐butyl methyl ether as an extraction solvent, performing efficient vortex mixing, extraction, and centrifugation under reduced temperature conditions to facilitate the processing of physically disrupted fish tissues. It demonstrates sensitivity with detection limits from 0.21 to 4.02 ng/g, with recoveries from 58.7% to 129.7%. Applied to real fish samples, including bass (n = 7) and carp (n = 7), all contained detectable DBPs, with concentrations between 8.2 and 275.25 ng/g. Significantly, bass from aquaculture facility exhibited the highest contamination, particularly with chlorodiiodomethane at 194.57 ng/g. I‐THMs present in all fish samples. Notably, this is the first paper about the analytical protocol of I‐THMs in biological matrices. This developed method will facilitate further research on human exposure assessment of DBPs through consumption of fish.
Effects of (Assisted) Natural Regeneration on Infiltrability and Preferential Flow Pathways in the Khasi Hills (Meghalaya, NE India)
Authors: Zwartendijk Bob W. , Bruijnzeel L. Adrian , Ghimire Chandra P. , Pde Felix , Mulligan Mark , Zhang Jun
Published: December 2024

Intensified slash‐and‐burn cultivation and forest clearing have caused severe land degradation in the Khasi Hills (Meghalaya plateau, NE India). Despite very high annual rainfall, the region faces severe water scarcity during the dry season. Local initiatives aim to restore forests through assisted natural regeneration (ANR) in this hydrologically poorly known area. As a first step towards assessing the potential hydrological impact of forest regrowth and ANR, we measured infiltrability at sites representing Imperata‐dominated grassland (n = 2, degraded baseline); < 20‐year‐old fallows with ANR (n = 3); semi‐mature to old‐growth forests (n = 4, near‐natural baseline); and a bench‐terraced Cryptomeria plantation. Group‐median infiltrability was highest in forests (425 mm h−1), followed by young fallows with ANR, and grasslands (145 and 68 mm h−1, respectively), and the terraced plantation (50 mm h−1). Infiltrability increased with regrowth age at an average rate of 3.0 mm h−1 y−1. Dye infiltration experiments were used to identify dominant percolation pathways per main land‐cover type. Infiltration in the least‐disturbed forest was dominated by flow along roots, stones and other preferential pathways, while matrix flow dominated in the grassland; the ANR site showed intermediate behaviour (macropore flow with high matrix interaction). Comparing median infiltrabilities with (maximum) hourly rainfall intensities suggested infiltration‐excess overland flow may occur occasionally in the grasslands. Despite improved infiltrability during regrowth (with or without ANR), the extreme monsoon rainfall and often shallow and stony soils pose serious limitations to rebuilding soil water storage capacity and favour frequent saturation‐excess overland flow.
The recent development, application, and future prospects of muscle atrophy animal models
Authors: Zhang Gongchang , Hu Fengjuan , Huang Tingting , Ma Xiaoqing , Cheng Ying , Liu Xiaolei , Jiang Wenzhou , Dong Birong , Fu Chenying
Published: December 2024

Muscle atrophy, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a hallmark of sarcopenia and cachexia, frequently associated with aging, malignant tumors, chronic heart failure, and malnutrition. Moreover, it poses significant challenges to human health, leading to increased frailty, reduced quality of life, and heightened mortality risks. Despite extensive research on sarcopenia and cachexia, consensus in their assessment remains elusive, with inconsistent conclusions regarding their molecular mechanisms. Muscle atrophy models are crucial tools for advancing research in this field. Currently, animal models of muscle atrophy used for clinical and basic scientific studies are induced through various methods, including aging, genetic editing, nutritional modification, exercise, chronic wasting diseases, and drug administration. Muscle atrophy models also include in vitro and small organism models. Despite their value, each of these models has certain limitations. This review focuses on the limitations and diverse applications of muscle atrophy models to understand sarcopenia and cachexia, and encourage their rational use in future research, therefore deepening the understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and ultimately advancing the exploration of therapeutic strategies for sarcopenia and cachexia.
Bacterial abundance and diversity in 64–74 Ma subseafloor igneous basement from the Louisville Seamount Chain
Authors: Sylvan Jason B. , Tully Benjamin J. , Morono Yuki , Alt Jeffrey C. , Grim Sharon L. , Inagaki Fumio , Koppers Anthony A. P. , Edwards Katrina J.
Published: December 2024

Impact statement

The aquifer in the subseafloor igneous basement is a massive, continuous microbial substrate, yet sparingly little is known about life in this habitat. The work to date has focused largely on describing microbial diversity in the young basement (<10 Ma), where the basaltic crust is still porous and fluid flow through it is active. Here, we test the hypothesis that microbial life exists in subseafloor basement >65 Ma using samples collected from the Louisville Seamount Chain via seafloor drilling. Cell biomass was heterogeneous in nature, ranging from below detection to ~104 cells cm−3. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes from core samples and enrichment incubations are dominated by lineages putatively carrying out nitrogen, sulfur, and metal redox processes and hydrocarbon oxidation. Taken together, the data indicate that microbial life is indeed present in subseafloor igneous basement >65 Ma, which significantly expands the range of the subseafloor biosphere where microbial life is known to exist.
Genotype–microbiome–metabolome associations in early childhood and their link to BMI
Authors: Aparicio Andrea , Sun Zheng , Gold Diane R. , Lasky‐Su Jessica A. , Litonjua Augusto A. , Weiss Scott T. , Lee‐Sarwar Kathleen , Liu Yang‐Yu
Published: December 2024

Impact statement

Through the analysis of data from children aged 6 months to 8 years enrolled in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART), significant simultaneous associations were identified between variants in the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, children's body mass index, microbiome features related to obesity, and key lipids and amino acids. These patterns represent evidence of the genotype influence in shaping the host microbiome in developing stages and new potential biomarkers for childhood obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
Longitudinal Efficacy of Nusinersen Treatment on Health‐Related Quality of Life and Independence in Children With Later‐Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Authors: Huang Siyi , Jiang Liya , Zhou Dongming , Yan Yue , Feng Yijie , Yu Yicheng , Yao Mei , Gao Feng , Mao Shanshan
Published: December 2024

Introduction/Aims

The rising use of disease‐modifying therapy is progressively impacting the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in their daily lives. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in HRQoL and independence in children with later‐onset SMA receiving longitudinal treatment with nusinersen.

Methods

Forty‐nine pediatric patients with later‐onset SMA (symptom onset after 6 months of age) and their caregivers were enrolled. The HRQoL of patients evaluated by the proxy‐reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 Neuromuscular Module (PedsQL NMM) and the independence level determined by the SMA Independence Scale–Upper Limb Module (SMAIS–ULM) were assessed. Caregiver HRQoL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM). Motor function was recorded using the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) and the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM), with subsequent analysis of the correlation between motor function, HRQoL, and independence scores.

Results

A significant difference was observed across all domains of the proxy‐reported PedsQL NMM and in the independence assessment over the 18‐month follow‐up period (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was identified between RULM and total PedsQL NMM scores (Pearson‐r = 0.539, p < 0.001), as well as SMAIS‐ULM scores (Spearman‐rho = 0.507, p < 0.001). Scores in all modules of the PedsQL FIM improved over time (p < 0.001).

Discussion

This study demonstrates the longitudinal effects of nusinersen treatment on multifaceted aspects of SMA patients, as captured by patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs). The inclusion of PROMs should be considered as part of the SMA multidisciplinary assessment.
Automated White Matter Fiber Tract Segmentation for the Brainstem
Authors: Li Mingchu , Zeng Qingrun , Zhang Jiawei , Huang Ying , Wang Xu , Ribas Eduardo Carvalhal , Wu Xiaolong , Liu Xiaohai , Liang Jiantao , Chen Ge , Feng Yuanjing , Li Mengjun
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to develop an automatic segmentation method for brainstem fiber bundles. We utilized the brainstem as a seed region for probabilistic tractography based on multishell, multitissue constrained spherical deconvolution in 40 subjects from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). All tractography data were registered into a common space to construct a brainstem fiber cluster atlas. A total of 100 fiber clusters were identified and annotated. Cortical parcellation–based fiber selection was then performed to extract fibers within the annotated clusters that projected to their corresponding cortical regions. This atlas was applied for automatic brainstem fiber bundle segmentation in 10 HCP subjects and 8 patients with brainstem cavernous malformations. The spatial overlap between automatic and manual reconstruction was assessed. Ultimately, eight fiber bundles were identified in the brainstem atlas on the basis of their trajectories: the corticospinal tract (CST), corticobulbar tract, frontopontine tract, parieto‐occipital‐pontine tract, medial lemniscus, and superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles. The mean and standard deviation of the weighted dice (wDice) scores between the automatic and manual reconstructions were 0.9076 ± 0.0950 for the affected CST, 0.9388 ± 0.0439 for the contralateral CST, 0.9130 ± 0.0588 for the affected medial lemniscus, and 0.9600 ± 0.0243 for the contralateral medial lemniscus. This proposed method effectively distinguishes major brainstem fiber bundles across subjects while reducing labor costs and interoperator variability inherent to manual reconstruction. Additionally, this method is robust in that it allows for the visualization and identification of fiber tracts surrounding brainstem cavernous malformations.
Time‐Domain Spectral BFS Plate Element With Lobatto Basis for Wave Propagation Analysis
Authors: Ambati Hela , Eisenträger Sascha , Kapuria Santosh
Published: December 2024

A computationally efficient spectral Kirchhoff plate element is presented for time‐domain analysis of wave propagation at high frequencies in thin isotropic plates. It employs a ‐continuous spectral interpolation based on the modified bi‐Hermite polynomials using the Gauss–Lobatto–Legendre (GLL) points as a basis with selective collocation of rotational and twisting degrees of freedom (DOFs) at element edge and corner nodes. The lowest order version of the proposed element reduces to the classical Bogner–Fox–Schmit (BFS) element for Kirchhoff plates. The GLL basis allows diagonalisation of the mass matrix using the nodal quadrature technique, which enhances the computational efficiency. The numerical properties of the proposed element are comprehensively evaluated, including the conditioning of the system matrices. Moreover, the effect of employing different numerical integration schemes and nodal sets is examined in both static and free vibration analyses. The effectiveness of the proposed element in wave propagation problems is evaluated by comparing its performance to the converged solutions achieved using the BFS element with a very fine mesh. Results demonstrate that the current element, without and even with mass matrix diagonalisation delivers exceptional accuracy while also exhibiting faster convergence and enhanced computational efficiency than the existing Kirchhoff plate elements.
Gamma‐ray and neutron attenuation of carbon fiber/epoxy composites with carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanoparticles for passive shielding applications in space
Authors: Peker Muhammed Yasin , Erbay Onur , Çetin Mehmet Emin , Reyhancan İskender Atilla , Avci Ahmet
Published: December 2024

Composite materials have made far‐reaching changes in the space industry since they have been adopted into the structural and thermal control subsystems of space vehicles because of their several multi‐functions, including being lightweight as well as having advanced mechanical and thermal properties. The use of composites as space radiation shielding materials is also one of the most crucial applications because space radiation is a major impediment for current and future deep‐space missions. Investigation of carbon fiber composites with a diverse array of element and nanoparticle reinforcements has revealed their potential as an alternative to conventional radiation shielding materials in space. This study focused on the alleviation of gamma‐ray and neutron radiation by carbon fiber/epoxy composites incorporated with various weight ratios of carbon nanotube (CNT) and boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles. A narrow beam geometry setup was used for gamma radiation tests with a Cs‐137 gamma‐ray source, while neutron radiation experiments were conducted in a neutron howitzer with a 239Pu‐Be neutron source. Six groups of specimens, namely, pure carbon fiber/epoxy, 0.5 wt% CNT, 0.5 wt% BN, 0.5 wt% CNT + 0.5 wt% BN, 1 wt% CNT + 1 wt% BN, and 2 wt% BN, were examined against these two types of radiation. Results have indicated that the 2 wt% BN specimen showed the best attenuation properties against both gamma‐ray and neutron radiation among all tested specimens; furthermore, it was almost three times more effective against neutron radiation than against gamma‐ray radiation.

Highlights

Varying weight ratios of CNT and BN nanoparticles used for radiation shielding.

A Cs‐137 gamma‐ray source used in narrow beam geometry.

Neutron radiation studies were conducted in a 239Pu‐Be neutron howitzer.

The 2 wt% BN sample showed the best attenuation against gamma‐ray and neutron radiation.

It resulted in an HVL of 6.86 cm for gamma‐ray radiation and 2.13 cm for neutron radiation.
DLP Printing Eutectic Gels Crosslinked by Dopamine‐Grafted Nano‐Cellulose for Flexible Wearable Devices
Authors: Du Xia , Zhang Xiaomin , Zhao Zhuang , Rong Youjie , Cui Pengdi , Huang Xiaobo
Published: December 2024

Eutectic gels have great advantages in the application of flexible wearable electronic devices due to their good stability and flexibility. However, the adhesion properties of current eutectic gels are poor and the processing process is complicated. Based on this, this study proposed a eutectic gel with excellent adhesion properties that can be photocurable for 3D printing. We designed a polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) using acrylic acid as the main monomer, acrylic acid/choline chloride (AA/ChCl) as the eutectic solvent, and dopamine‐grafted cellulose nanocrystals (DC) as the nanoscale crosslinking agent. The introduction of DC endows the gel with a denser hydrogen bond network, which can effectively provide energy dissipation and improve the mechanical properties of the gel. The introduction of mussel‐inspired dopamine into the gel network gives the gel good adhesion. The low freezing point and low volatility of PDES give the gel excellent freezing resistance and long‐term storage stability. Furthermore, the gel has a sensitivity factor of up to 9.5 (at 0%–900% strain), showing excellent strain sensing performance. In addition, the gel can not only realize the customization of various complex structures through digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology, but also the manufactured wearable devices can complete the accurate sensing of various strain signals of the human body. Therefore, the combination of multi‐performance compatible eutectic gel materials and photocurable 3D printing technology will provide a new idea for the design and manufacture of flexible wearable devices.
A case of polyploid utility in biocontrol: reproductively‐impaired triploid Nasonia vitripennis have high host‐killing ability
Authors: Li Xuan , Leung Kelley
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Intentionally impairing the fecundity of mass‐reared insects has important utility in controlling pest species. Typically, sterilized individuals are competed against wild counterparts, reducing pest population size. A novel consideration is creating biocontrol agents with lower reproductive capacity that are less likely to establish permanently or admix with wild populations, which are both emerging as legal barriers. Hymenopterans have diploid females, but archetypically infertile polyploid triploid females occur for various parasitoid species. As a first test of polyploid utility for these biocontrol concerns, we assessed the species with the best characterized polyploid biology, the gregarious idiobiont Nasonia vitripennis, for triploid female host‐killing ability on pupal blowfly hosts (Calliphora vomitoria).

RESULTS

We examined four polyploid lines: the old Whiting polyploid line (WPL) derived from a spontaneous mutation, and new polyploid lines made through RNAi knockdown of sex determination genes transformer, transformer‐2 and wasp‐overruler‐of‐masculinization. For diploid and triploid females of each polyploid line, and control diploids of the STDR and oyster lines used to maintain them, we measured lifetime number of hosts killed; lifetime number of hosts that produced at least one offspring; the percentage of the hosts killed and the percentage of hosts that produced offspring out of those offered; and lifespan. For all lines, triploids produced viable offspring in far fewer hosts than their diploid counterparts (≤70% less). Surprisingly though, they killed as many or more hosts than diploids over similar lifespans. The offspring production ability of the WPL triploid was half that of the other lines, but lines varied only slightly in the number of hosts killed (±10) among the polyploids.

CONCLUSION

The ability of reproductively impaired triploids to kill as many hosts as fertile diploids demonstrate high biocontrol utility for polyploidized females, and downstream potential for reducing ecological risk. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
The Beneficial Effects of Combined Exercise and Polyphenols in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Tan Qinghua
Published: December 2024

Regular exercise enhances life quality, lowers the risk of cognitive damage, and slows the advancement of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Natural compounds rich in polyphenols have garnered attention as a non‐pharmacological means of treating and preventing AD. The primary component of wine, grape seeds, and nuts is polyphenols. Research suggests that polyphenols slow down the rate of neurodegeneration in AD and lessen learning impairment. Furthermore, polyphenols lessen brain impairments related to cognition. Additionally, polyphenols can specifically restructure amyloid‐β (Aβ) structures and soluble oligomers into non‐toxic alternative species. They have also been revealed to increase brain‐derived neurotrophic factors expression, suggesting that they have a positive impact on the creation of neurotrophins. The benefits of polyphenol supplementation and exercise, which can both provide neuroprotection, have not been well studied in AD patients. This review aimed to investigate the effects of combined exercise polyphenols on inflammation, neuroprotection, several conformational toxic species of Aβ, and Aβ‐induced apoptosis in AD.
Bioinspired Carbon‐Silver Sulfide Scaffold with Synergistic Enhanced Light Capture and Anti‐Biofouling Property for Stable Solar Steam Generation
Authors: You Yang , Xing Hanye , Li Kangkang , Xie Yuqing , Ye Meiqi , Lu Yang , Xue Jingzhe
Published: December 2024

Carbon material is a hot topic in solar evaporation. Due to the widely distributed microorganisms in natural water, biofouling has limited the actual application of solar evaporation material. Although carbon material lacks of nutrition for microbe, it is still vulnerable to biofouling because of the efficient pollutant adsorption property. However, current anti‐biofouling design focuses on microbial control, neglects its influence on evaporators light absorption, that is usually a trade‐off with evaporation efficiency. Herein, a bioinspired aligned carbon‐Ag2S scaffold is introduced with synergistical enhanced light absorption (increased to 98.0% from 97.4%) and anti‐biofouling property. The bioinspired aligned carbon‐Ag2S scaffold exhibits a 1.87 kg m−2 h−1 evaporation rate under one sun, superior to pure carbon scaffold (1.78 kg m−2 h−1). It also maintains efficient light capture (‐97.2%) and evaporation rate (1.73 kg m−2 h−1) after bacterial interference, avoiding sharp decline in light absorption (reduced to 83.3–87.6%) and evaporation performance (reduced to 1.24–1.28 kg m−2 h−1) which occurs in carbon scaffold due to biofouling. The carbon‐Ag2S scaffold shows solid advantage in balancing light captures and biofouling control, compared to carbon‐ZnO scaffold with conventional anti‐biofouling design, which inhibits biofouling sacrificing light absorption (reduced to 89.8%) and evaporation performance (reduced to 1.41 kg m−2 h−1).
Crosslinking‐Driven Chemical Homogeneity Enhances Performance of Pre‐Seeded Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Wang Linqing , Shafian Shafidah , Wang Peng , Zhao Yuping , Wang Pengcheng , Wu Bin , Zhai Jiaxue , Chen Jiayan , Sun Licheng , Hua Yong , Xie Lin
Published: December 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved impressive efficiency, but their commercialization is limited by issues like chemical homogeneity within the perovskite films, leading to defects and phase segregation, which severely compromise the stability and performance of PSCs. This study presents a novel approach to overcoming these barriers by employing N,N‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a multifunctional crosslinking agent within the perovskite structure. MBA enhances chemical uniformity both laterally and vertically, improves crystallinity, and boosts overall film stability by forming a robust crosslinked network that regulates nucleation and growth dynamics during the pre‐seeding process. This modification ensures a uniform distribution within the perovskite matrix and significantly reduces defect densities. As a result, MBA‐treated PSCs achieved a notable improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE), reaching up to 24.26%, compared to 22.64% in control devices. Additionally, the MBA‐modified devices demonstrated remarkable stability, maintaining 90% of their initial efficiency after 1200 h of continuous illumination, in contrast to the 50% efficiency loss observed in control devices after just 500 h. These findings underscore the transformative potential of MBA as an additive in PSCs, offering a viable pathway to not only enhance efficiency but also significantly improve the long‐term stability of these devices, thus bringing PSCs closer to commercial viability.
Automated Actuation of Biodegradable and Self‐Fluorescent Chlorella Swarms Using Magnetic Tweezers
Authors: Su Guangfei , Zheng Liushuai , Wang Cheng , Wang Shuaida , Wen Qi , Chen Jiazheng , Jia Lanlan , Guo Yaoxian , Li Feng , Huang Hanjin , Li Junyang
Published: December 2024

Magnetic microrobot swarms have broad application prospects in human‐targeted therapy. However, the automated assembly and actuation of functional large‐volume swarms is a challenging topic. Chlorella with self‐fluorescence and biodegradability is used in this paper as a template to prepare magnetic Chlorella‐based microrobots through magnetron sputtering. The assembly and actuation of large‐volume Chlorella swarms are realized using a magnetic tweezer system with a robust magnetic field. Experimental results indicate that the magnetic Chlorella swarms (MCS) possess excellent degradation capability and mobility, enabling automatic navigation in various scenarios. Notably, the MCS successfully moved on the spiral channel containing bovine serum and effectively crossed the simulated channel. Furthermore, in vitro studies of real articular cartilage fragments have revealed the motion capacity of the MCS. This research provides a functional microrobot swarm platform for targeted delivery and precision therapy.
P‐Doped NiFe Alloy‐Based Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst for Efficient and Stable Seawater Splitting and Organic Electrosynthesis at Neutral pH
Authors: Huang Shih‐Ching , Yu Hsiang‐Chun , Peng Chun‐Kuo , Lin Yan‐Gu , Lin Chia‐Yu
Published: December 2024

Development of high‐performance and inexpensive electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at neutral pH is important for direct seawater splitting and organic electrosynthesis but remains challenging due to the sluggish OER kinetics and diverse side reactions inherent to the constituents of working electrolytes. Herein, we report on a P:NiFe electrode, containing P‐doped NiFe alloy, as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and OER pre‐catalyst for efficient OER in both seawater and organic electrolyte for adiponitrile (ADN) electrosynthesis at neutral pH. Fe and P species modulate the coordination environment of nickel sites, which enables the simultaneous formation of OER‐active nickel species and FePOx passivation layer, thus transforming HER‐active P:NiFe to OER‐active a‐P:NiFe. Besides, the redox‐dependent interconversion between HER‐active P:NiFe and OER‐active a‐P:NiFe is fast and reversible. Finally, efficient and stable overall seawater‐splitting and ADN electrosynthesis at an industrially relevant current density (100 mA cm−2) in pH‐neutral media are also demonstrated.
Attenuation of Pathway Complexity in Arginine‐Rich Peptide with Polydopamine
Authors: Mavlankar Nimisha A. , Awasthi Anand K. , Pradhan Manas K. , Chandran Yadu , Balakrishnan Viswanath , Srivastava Aasheesh , Pal Asish
Published: December 2024

Dynamic peptide networks represent an attractive structural space of supramolecular polymers in the realm of emergent complexity. Point mutations in the peptide sequence exert profound effects over the landscapes of self‐assembly with an intricate interplay among the structure‐function relationships. Herein, the pathway complexity of an arginine‐rich peptide is studied, FmocVFFARR derived by the mutation of minimalist amyloid‐inspired peptide amphiphile FmocVFFAKK, thereby focusing on its pathway‐dependent self‐assembly behavior. Interestingly, an interplay of competing primary and secondary nucleation in this minimalist model presumably due to the sticky interactions of the di‐arginine motifs is encountered. This furnishes transient nanosheets from on‐pathway metastable nanoparticles upon pH trigger, eventually leading to nanofibers. Moreover, external cues, e.g., pH, and temperature convert the nanofibers in off‐pathway nanoparticles. For the first time, polydopamine‐based surface engineering strategy to mask the arginines is demonstrated to render permanent arrest of the dynamic, transient peptide nanostructures. Finally, such polydopamine layer over the peptide nanostructures furnishes resilience against environmental stress, while also imparting mechanical robustness to the composites. The dynamic peptide nanostructures exhibited adaptive systems capable of processing chemical information while the surface coated nanostructures open wide avenues for designing stress‐resilient biomaterials.
Durable Hydrophobic Iridescent Films with Tunable Colors from Self‐Assembled Cellulose Nanocrystals
Authors: Li Zongzhe , Wang Phoebe , Zhang Yinghao , Michal Carl A. , MacLachlan Mark J.
Published: December 2024

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are known to self‐assemble into a left‐handed chiral nematic lyotropic liquid crystalline phase in water. When captured in the solid state, this structure can impart films with photonic properties that make them promising candidates in photonics, sensing, security, and other areas. Unfortunately, the intrinsic hydrophilicity of CNCs renders these iridescent films susceptible to moisture, thereby limiting their practicality. To address this issue, a novel strategy to prepare hydrophobic iridescent films from pre‐assembled CNC films is reported here. These films underwent a swelling process, followed by esterification using acid anhydrides to render them hydrophobic. By increasing the alkyl chain length of the anhydride reagent, the hydrophobicity of the resulting iridescent films can be enhanced. They showed water contact angles ranging from 34° to 115° and demonstrated tunable structural color spanning from blue to red. Moreover, they also exhibited good durability when exposed to water for 24 h. This innovative method for producing durable hydrophobic iridescent thin films is expected to facilitate their use in water‐proof photonic coatings, optical sensors, and other applications.