bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Neutron-gamma discrimination in CLYC with Gaussian mixture model
Authors: Chen Jiaolong , Guo Jianhua , Wang Shen , Wan Qiang , Xu Xing , Chen Yiren , Cui Yuxin , Zhang Yan , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: September 2023

Neutron and gamma discrimination is a common issue in neutron detection. Cs
2
LiYCl
6:Ce (CLYC) crystal, with its unique core-to-valence luminescence (CVL) mechanism for gamma rays, has excellent capability for neutron-gamma discrimination. This paper proposes a new preprocessing method called constant fraction alignment (CFA), based on the fast rise and slow decay characteristics of CLYC, to effectively improve discrimination performance. Unsupervised classification methods that do not require training data have a great advantage since pure neutron sources are difficult to obtain. As an unsupervised clustering method, Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is used to achieve neutron-gamma discrimination of data detected by CLYC, and the impact of different parameters on GMM results is studied. When the input dimension is high, GMM not only requires significantly more time but also reduces precision, so dimensionality reduction is necessary. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a commonly used dimensionality reduction method, and through analysis, it is found that using the first three components of PCA as inputs achieves the best performance. In the GMM solving process, selecting different covariance matrices based on data types can reduce running time while maintaining high accuracy. Diagonal mode is the most suitable according to comparison. Based on the same dataset, the accuracy of GMM is higher than that of charge comparison method and k-means++, with an accuracy of 99.96% for 252
Cf source and a false alarm rate as low as 0.01% for 137
Cs source.
Wet-bulb temperatures reveal inequitable heat risk following climate change in Hong Kong
Authors: Boyle Michael J W
Published: September 2023

Rising temperatures will impact urban communities, which are growing as a proportion of the global population. However, the effects of increasing temperature may not be felt equally, with less wealthy neighbourhoods experiencing hotter thermal environments in some urban areas because of geographic location and tree cover. While relationships have been drawn between wealth inequality and temperature in urban areas, these rarely project into the future or combine humidity and air temperatures into ‘wet-bulb temperature’ at fine spatial resolution, which is more directly relevant to the human experienced environment. Here I present an analysis of present and future wet-bulb temperatures in Hong Kong, an economically developed subtropical city in South-East Asia. I couple census data with recently available 30 × 30 m resolution climate models to examine how the income of districts and their physical characteristics are correlated with human-experienced local temperatures. I uncover evidence of thermal inequity, with wealthier districts exhibiting cooler conditions than less wealthy districts. Projecting into the future using three different climate change scenarios I demonstrate that wet-bulb temperatures considered dangerous to human survival may be commonly experienced in Hong Kong by the end of the century. However, the wealthiest districts of Hong Kong are likely to have a thermal safety margin of at least 25–30 years more than the least wealthy districts before these dangerous temperatures are reached. Due to the high population density and economic importance of the region, these findings have significant implications for public health and urban planning as global temperatures continue to rise.
Multimodal fluorescence imaging and spectroscopic techniques for oral cancer screening: a real-time approach
Authors: Thapa Pramila , Singh Veena , Bhatt Sunil , Maurya Kiran , Kumar Virendra , Nayyar Vivek , Jot Kiran , Mishra Deepika , Shrivastava Anurag , Mehta Dalip Singh
Published: September 2023

The survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients is very poor, but it can be improved using highly sensitive, specific, and accurate techniques. Autofluorescence and fluorescence techniques are very sensitive and helpful in cancer screening; being directly linked with the molecular levels of human tissue, they can be used as a quantitative tool for cancer detection. Here, we report the development of multi-modal autofluorescence and fluorescence imaging and spectroscopic (MAF-IS) smartphone-based systems for fast and real-time oral cancer screening. MAF-IS system is indigenously developed and offers the advantages of being a low-cost, handy, non-contact, non-invasive, and easily operable device that can be employed in hospitals, including low-resource settings. In this study, we report the results of 43 individuals with 28 OSCC and 15 oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), i.e., epithelial dysplasia and oral submucous fibrosis, using the developed devices. We observed a red shift in fluorescence emission spectra in vivo. We found red-shift of 7.72 ± 6 nm, 3 ± 4.36 nm, and 1.33 ± 0.47 nm in the case of OSCC, epithelial dysplasia, and oral submucous fibrosis, respectively, compared to normal. The results were compared with histopathology and found to be consistent. Further, the MAF-IS system provides results in real-time with higher accuracy and sensitivity compared to devices using a single modality. Our system can achieve an accuracy of 97% with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 94.7%, respectively, even with a smaller number of patients (28 patients of OSCC). The proposed MAF-IS device has great potential for fast screening and diagnosis of oral cancer in the future.
The effects of varying wall thickness on the surface roughness of Ti-6Al-4V by electron beam powder bed fusion
Authors: Carolo Lucas C B , Cooper O Robert E , de Oliveira Marcelo F , da Silva Jorge V L
Published: September 2023

While the electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) process is recognized for generating parts with high surface roughness, the impact of wall thickness remains relatively understudied and shows inconsistent literature results. This study addresses this gap by performing a full factorial Design of Experiments (DoE) to examine Ti-6Al-4V specimen surfaces built in three distinct orientations (vertical, upskin, and downskin) and six wall thickness levels (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0 mm). Findings reveal orientation-dependent effects of wall thickness on surface roughness, particularly for thicknesses below 1.0 mm. Vertical surfaces show increased roughness with decreasing wall thickness, in which 0.5 mm-thick specimens exhibited the highest Ra roughness values. In contrast, no particular trend was observed for upskin surfaces, with 0.5 mm specimens displaying roughness values comparable to the 2.0 to 4.0 mm range of specimens. Yet, downskin surfaces of 0.5 mm specimens showed significantly lower Ra roughness compared to their thicker counterparts, a trend opposite of that of vertical surfaces. These behaviors may relate to scanning strategies and electron beam parameters, particularly when building smaller cross-sectional areas.
Study on strength, durable and flexural behaviour of partial replacement of sugarcane bagasse ash over cement
Authors: Lourdu Arun Raja , Ali Shahul Hameed Masthan
Published: September 2023

Tonnes of cement are produced and used due to boom in infrastructure sector. During the process of production of cement, lot of CO2 has been emitted. It is estimated around 4%–8% of CO2 has been emitted from cement production. There is high need for address this issue. Because of its renewable nature and high silica content, Agriculture waste ash is gaining popularity as a viable alternative to traditional cementitious materials. It has been found by (Hernandez et al
1998) that Sugarcane bagasse ash shows good pozzolanic activity. Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is a waste-free renewable energy source made from sugarcane fibres. Many attempts have been made to study the SCBA as partial replacement for cement. The same has been checked in this study with extension for structural members have been done. The results of tests on concrete and concrete containing a partial replacement of cement made from sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) are the most important details in this text. The substitution of 10% SCBA resulted in the greatest increase in compressive strength, followed by a modest increase in split tensile strength maximum strength. The study findings allow for the conclusion that the Concrete that was built has high durability qualities. The flexural behaviour also showed very good performance. The use of Bagasse Ash shows improved performance due to is micro grain size and crystallographic nature. The replacement of 10% SCBA results in overall better performance.
Evaluation of corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel by laser ultrasonic nondestructive testing technology
Authors: Lu Yujie , Zhu Zhenge , Yin Anmin , Xu Xiaodong , Zhang Zewen , Shu Xuedao
Published: September 2023

At present, the corrosion resistance of materials such as 316L stainless steel is mainly tested by electrochemical testing, which is time-consuming, laborious and environmentally unfriendly. In this paper, the laser ultrasonic detection technology, which is a rapid, non-destructive, pollution-free microstructure and corrosion resistance evaluation method is used for the detection of 316L stainless steel, and the ultrasonic signals are filtered by the wavelet threshold denoising method. The results show that the laser ultrasonic attenuation coefficient obtained by the wavelet threshold denoising signal processing method has a good correlation with the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel. A laser ultrasonic potential evaluation model was established based on the passivation film rupture potential and ultrasonic attenuation coefficient. The average relative error of the evaluation model for corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel is less than 5.00%. The relative error of corrosion resistance evaluated by the laser-receiving method is lower than that by the probe-receiving method. It is feasible to nondestructive evaluation of the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel by laser ultrasonic technology.
Impact of copper on corrosion behavior, biocompatibility and antibaterial activity of biodegradable Zn-3Mg-xCu alloys for orthopedic applications
Authors: Wei Zhangli , Zhang Xingyan , Li Jingyi , Shi Wenling , Xie Fengbao , Wang Gang , Li Hongxia , Chao Pan
Published: September 2023

Biodegradable zinc (Zn) based materials have been regarded as promising candidates for orthopedic applications owing to their suitable biodegradability. However, pure Zn exhibited poor mechanical performance and inadequate biofunctionality, which restricted its biomedical applications. Herein, biodegradable Zn-Mg-Cu alloys were developed to enhance the mechanical strength of the Zn matrix and endow the alloys with antibacterial activity. The effect of Cu addition on corrosion behavior, biocompatibility and antibacterial activity of biodegradable Zn-3Mg-xCu alloys was systematically investigated. In vitro immersion test revealed that Zn-3Mg-1Cu exhibited an increasing corrosion rate of 0.0504 mm y−1. The relative cell availability of MC3T3-E1 cells was over 70% after co-culture with 2-fold diluted extracts of the Zn-3Mg-xCu alloy for 3 d, indicating acceptable cytotoxicity. The Cu addition could enhance the antibacterial activity of the Zn-3Mg matrix, and Zn-3Mg-1Cu alloy exhibited the highest inhibition zone diameter (IZD) values of 10.4 mm and 6.0 mm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Overall, the Zn-3Mg-1Cu could be recognized as a promising biodegradable orthopedic material owing to favorable degradation behavior, satisfying biocompatibility, and substantial antibacterial ability.
The dynamic Universe
Authors: Cottrell Geoff
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores transient astronomical objects, astronomical bodies that suddenly change in brightness or position. These are the objects of time-domain astronomy which include supernovae (the powerful detonations of exploding stars), as well as observations of near-earth objects, and active galactic nuclei (AGN) which vary on short timescales. Examples of transients also include tidal disruption events, involving the shredding and consumption of whole stars by black holes, and magnetars, which are the most highly magnetized objects known and can generate immensely powerful outbursts of X- and gamma rays, and mysterious fast radio bursts. Special arrays of telescopes, such as NASA’s Catalina Real Time Transient Survey, are dedicated to observing transients and if one is seen, send alerts via global networks so that other types of telescopes can observe them before the transient fades from view.
What is globalization?
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces the notion of globalization. In line with the new Global Studies academic framework, the definition of globalization revolves around planetary interconnectivities, mobilities, and imaginations. The four major forms of globalization are embodied globalization, disembodied globalization, objectified globalization, and institutional globalization. They contain four distinct qualities or characteristics that involve the creation of new social networks, expansion of social relations, intensification of worldwide social interactions, and the subjective plane of human consciousness and imagination. The chapter then considers the correlation between globality, global imaginary, globalism, and globalization. It notes how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the alleged indestructible global networks.
Globalization in history
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses how globalization evolved historically across multiple dimensions and all geographical scales. Historical debates on globalization range from whether globalization started in the post-1989 era or whether globalization represented the emergence of modernity and the capitalist world system in the 1500s. The chapter elaborates on evolving globalization dynamics in the prehistoric period, premodern period, early modern period, modern period, and contemporary period. All of these epochs experienced significant shifts in the pace of social exchanges and geographical scope. The chapter clarifies that the presented chronology rejects a Eurocentric perspective of world history.
The cultural dimension of globalization
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter tackles the cultural dimension of globalization. Cultural globalization typically refers to the intensification and expansion of cultural flows across the world. However, culture is a very broad concept that addresses the patterns of meaning and ways of life. The chapter explores various forms of cultural globalization, including homogenization, diversification, and hybridization. In this context, special consideration is paid to so-called ‘McDonaldization’—the wide-ranging sociocultural processes by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society and the rest of the world. The chapter highlights the role of media in influencing global cultural flows as well as the spread of American popular culture. Additionally, studying the shifting global patterns of language use is a direct method of assessing cultural changes brought by globalization.
Ideological confrontations over globalization
Authors: Steger Manfred B.
Published: September 2023

This chapter covers the ideological confrontations revolving around globalization. Ideologies are powerful systems of widely shared ideas, patterned beliefs, and strong emotions that are also accepted as truth by significant groups in society. The ideological confrontations between various globalisms in the early 21st century primarily revolve around market globalism, justice globalism, and religious globalism. The chapter discusses the global phenomenon of national populism which essentializes identities linked to ethnicity, race, and culture. It also shows how Trumpism employs national populist language in an attempt to separate the ‘national’ from the ‘global’ in all aspects of social life.
Expert poets
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

‘Expert Poets’ discusses the poets Homer and Hesiod. These epic poets helped shape intellectual agendas and were revered for their ideas on many topics, including astronomy and meteorology. The chapter describes the poems ascribed to Homer and Hesiod, which were the focus of commentaries by various later ancient authors. The Homeric Iliad is concerned with the Trojan War, while the Odyssey recounts the travels of Odysseus, one of the heroes of the Iliad. Even though the natural world was not the focus, the poet does provide a sense of how some phenomena, as well as health and disease, were understood. Hesiod’s Theogony describes the world and its coming-to-be. The large number of references to these poems by later ancient Greek and Roman authors—even in prose works on specialized, technical subjects—indicates that the epic poets had great intellectual impact, even on topics for which we would not normally expect poets to be experts.
Those clever Greeks
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

‘Those Clever Greeks’ discusses various 5th-century bce Greek authors whose own works were not primarily focused on explaining nature but who nevertheless referred to ideas about nature first expressed by early Greek philosophers. These writers, including Aristophanes and Herodotus, comment upon philosophers and their attempts at explanation of natural phenomena. This chapter highlights how various Greek authors’ works give a sense of the wider circulation of ideas about nature and provides evidence of how attempts at explaining nature were regarded within wider society. The chapter also considers how various people were acquainted with the ideas of those who were known for philosophizing about nature. The audiences for Aristophanes’ plays included citizens of Athens, for whom theatre was central to civic and cultural life; for this reason, Aristophanes’ views would have been encountered by many.
A theory of everything
Authors: Taub Liba
Published: September 2023

‘A Theory of Everything’ describes Aristotle and his followers’ first-hand observations of a range of natural objects, including his work on animals and Theophrastus’ work on plants. It reviews different ways in which the term physis (usually translated as ‘nature’) may be understood according to Aristotle, who recounts the ideas of his predecessors. The Aristotelian Corpus, the collection of writings associated with Aristotle, was preserved through transmission and translation during the ancient and medieval periods. This chapter also considers the data-collecting activities undertaken by Aristotle and members of his school, the Lyceum; this included the collection and preservation of the ideas and opinions of others on a range of scientific and medical topics.
Nature abhors a definition
Authors: Lockwood Julie L. , Welbourne Dustin J.
Published: September 2023

This chapter covers how defining invasive species is problematic, but a definition provides practical utility for steering research, evaluating new findings, and developing management responses. The definition of what is invasive centres on species being non-native and either causing an impact or spreading through a region. The chapter also explains what is and is not a native species, again demonstrating the difficulty of categorizing such entities, and how values underpin whether impacts are considered undesirable.
The History of Emotions: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Dixon Thomas
Published: September 2023

The History of Emotions: A Very Short Introduction outlines the historical ancestries of our emotions. Emotions are visceral reactions and beliefs regarding the world that could be intimate and private. The history of emotions is plural rather than singular since emotions are complex mental states that resist reduction. Emotions can be felt as spontaneous outbursts and are also culturally learned performances. This VSI explores how emotions gain substance and significance from interpersonal and social frameworks as well as from biology and culture. It explains how emotions are the products of long and varied historical changes in language, culture, beliefs, and ways of life.
From passions to emojis
Authors: Dixon Thomas
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the history of verbal and visual languages of emotion. It highlights how words are powerful witnesses and tools for social and emotional change. The concepts such as ‘emotives’ and ‘emotional communities’ help historians identify the social work that emotion language is doing. Additionally, emotional states can be conveyed through non-verbal language, including both facial expression and bodily gestures. Emoticons and emojis are the most recent additions to the array of emotional languages. Evolving originally from playful uses of typographical features to represent facial expressions of feeling, these symbols are now ubiquitous on smartphones and social media.
All the rages
Authors: Dixon Thomas
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the many historical varieties of ire, rage, and anger. It traces the ancestry of modern anger to half-remembered sentiments about sin, violent crime, and the passions of the soul, relating them to more recent phenomena such as psychoanalysis and political protest in the 20th century. Ancient Greek narratives’ descriptions of rage often suggest passions and feelings that are simultaneously more painful, more pleasurable, more violent, and more revenge-obsessed than modern psychological anger. The chapter also explores the notion that violent rage can be natural when triggered by certain events such as the infidelity of a partner. In contemporary culture, philosophers have debated the nature and value of anger as a political response to injustice.
Looking for love
Authors: Dixon Thomas
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the history of love. Historians of emotions looking for love have found it in ethical, spiritual, romantic, and sexual forms. Historically, different cultures and religions have taken a variety of attitudes to emotions of sexual desire and erotic pleasure, as well as those of friendship and charity. During the 19th century, romantic love became a more widely practised form of courtship as a result of demographic and cultural shifts, such as urbanization, state education, the waning influence of family on romantic partner choices, and the expansion of the middle classes. Historians of love also discussed the notion of modern love as a consumerist marketplace. Finally, the philosophical debate about whether love is an emotion or not is used to introduce some concluding thoughts on the complex, social nature of those messy mental states we call ‘emotions’.
What is condensed matter physics?
Authors: McKenzie Ross H.
Published: September 2023

What is condensed matter physics? It is the science concerned with characterizing and understanding all the possible states of matter that can exist. Solid, liquid, and gas are not the only states of matter. There is also liquid crystal, superconductor, superfluid, crystal, glass, ferromagnet, and antiferromagnet. The central question of condensed matter physics is ‘how do the physical properties of a state of matter emerge from the interactions between the atoms of which the material is composed?’ This is illustrated with the distinct properties of graphite and diamond, two distinct solid states of carbon. Superconductivity, discovered by Kamerlingh Onnes, reflects the richness and excitement of condensed matter physics. The discovery of graphene, a material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms, and its unique electrical properties is an example of how the field continues to produce exciting surprises. Condensed matter physics is one of the largest and most vibrant subfields of physics, being recognized by many Nobel Prizes, in Physics and in Chemistry. As it is concerned with materials and with emergent phenomena there is significant cross-fertilization of concepts and techniques with other sub-fields of physics, science, and engineering.
Emergence: more is different
Authors: McKenzie Ross H.
Published: September 2023

‘Emergence: more is different’ discusses how the concept of emergence is central to condensed matter physics. An emergent property of a system composed of many interacting parts is a property that the individual parts do not have. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Other characteristics of emergent properties such as irreducibility, universality, and unpredictability are discussed. Emergent properties are illustrated with an example involving language, grammar, and literature. States of matter are emergent, as are the quasiparticles present in many systems. Phil Anderson argued that a hierarchy of scales illuminates the relationship between different scientific disciplines and shows the limitations of reductionism. Emergence explains why condensed matter physics works as a unified discipline. Due to universality, there are concepts and theories that describe phenomena in a wide range of materials. An emergence perspective highlights how discerning the relevant scale is central to effective scientific strategies to understand complex systems, whether in physics, biology, or sociology.
Taming infinity
Authors: Earl Richard
Published: September 2023

For millennia, the topics of infinity—the infinitely large—and infinitesimals—the infinitely small—have generated paradoxes. ‘Taming infinity’ introduces some of the main questions of analysis and the need for infinite processes or ‘potential infinities’ within mathematics. Having a historical flavour, it highlights some of these paradoxes which led to a need for increased rigour. It concludes with a brief discussion of the work of Bolzano, Cauchy, and Weierstrass, who first provided a clear definition of a limit in the 19th century, and stresses the role of clarity as a basis for proving mathematical results.
Putting the i in analysis
Authors: Earl Richard
Published: September 2023

Analysis with complex numbers has a wonderfully different, and quite topological, flavour compared with real analysis. In ‘Putting the i in analysis’, we see complex analysis—almost single-handedly developed by Cauchy in the 19th century—is substantially richer than real analysis with complex differentiable functions having much nicer properties. Despite the focus on complex functions, the theory can be variously applied to real problems, from calculating real infinite sums and integrals, to applications solving differential equations and modelling fluid flow.
Invasive species
Authors: Macdonald David W.
Published: September 2023

This chapter investigates the issue of invasive species in biodiversity conservation. Non-native species are those moved around the globe beyond their native range, either intentionally or as an unintended consequence of movement of people or products. This is further encouraged by man-made climate change. The chapter then studies the role of ‘ecological citizenship’ in assessing when non-natives can be considered part of the natural community. It identifies five broad mechanisms of ecological impact of invasive species: predation, competition, disease, hybridization, and ecosystem. The chapter also looks at the ecological phenomenon of meso-predator release, competitive release, and hyper-predation. Finally, the chapter considers the prevention and prediction of biological invasions.
Japanese Literature: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Tansman Alan
Published: September 2023

With a history stretching back nearly 1,500 years, Japan literature encompasses a vast range of forms and genres. Since the eighth century, poetry and the non-philosophical lyric voice have occupied a central position in Japanese literary expression. The art of narrative blossomed in the eleventh century with one of the world’s great literary masterpieces, Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji and later in the work of the great modern novelists Natsume Sôseki, Tanizaki Jun’ichirô, Kawabata Yasunari, Kôbo Abe, and Ôe Kenzaburô. Beginning with Murasaki and through the present day, Japanese women have occupied a central place in the tradition: Higuchi Ichiyô, Kôda Aya, Takahashi Takako, among others. Japanese literature birthed other genres no less important than poetry and narrative, among them the literary diary, the free-flowing essay, drama, the picture book, and the literary treatise. As steeped as it is in the beautiful literary rendering of the world, Japanese literature has also been deeply responsive to history and violence, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While intensely attentive to its own tradition, Japanese literature has also imbibed influences from around the globe—early on from China, later from Europe, the United States, and Latin America. It has been embraced by the outside world in turn, exporting literary genres such as the haiku and manga (whose pre-history the book explores), and bestselling authors such as Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami. A succinct introduction to one of the most dynamic and diverse world literatures, this Very Short Introduction traces the rich history of Japanese literature from its beginnings over a millennium ago to the present day.
A world of words
Authors: Tansman Alan
Published: September 2023

The momentous historical contingency of having been born from within the ancient and immense body of Chinese literary creation made the business of literature seem to its practitioners to be less about the world than about another literature, or even literature itself. Over the sixth and seventh centuries, Japanese officialdom absorbed a rich corpus of Chinese literature; by the ninth century, Japanese anthologies of Chinese poetry would be produced and widely circulated. Although the centuries to come would see a shift in emphasis toward the development of native forms, and a sharpened consciousness of a specific Japanese literary history, Chinese literature would remain Japanese literature’s inspiration until the late nineteenth century. Born self-consciously in relationship to another literature, Japanese literary writing manifested in its very bones the sense that any experienced, inspiring world out there was itself created out of words.
A new mechanism of flowering regulation by the competition of isoforms in Osmanthus fragrans
Authors: Li Yong , Xia He-Xiao , Cushman Samuel A , Zhao Heng , Guo Peng , Liu Yan-Pei , Lin Nan , Shang Fu-De
Published: September 2023

The regulation of flowering time is typically governed by transcription factors or epigenetic modifications. Transcript isoforms can play important roles in flowering regulation. Recently, transcript isoforms were discovered in the key genes, OfAP1 and OfTFL1, of the flowering regulatory network in Osmanthus fragrans. OfAP1-b generates a full-length isoform of OfAP1-b1 as well as an isoform of OfAP1-b2 that lacks the C-terminal domain. Although OfAP1-b2 does not possess an activation domain, it has a complete K domain that allows it to form heterodimers. OfAP1-b2 competes with OfAP1-b1 by binding with OfAGL24 to create non-functional and functional heterodimers. As a result, OfAP1-b1 promotes flowering while OfAP1-b2 delays flowering. OfTFL1 produces two isoforms located in different areas: OfTFL1-1 in the cytoplasm and OfTFL1-2 in the nucleus. When combined with OfFD, OfTFL1-1 does not enter the nucleus to repress AP1 expression, leading to early flowering. Conversely, when combined with OfFD, OfTFL1-2 enters the nucleus to repress AP1 expression, resulting in later flowering. Tissue-specific expression and functional conservation testing of OfAP1 and OfTFL1 support the new model’s effectiveness in regulating flowering. Overall, this study provides new insights into regulating flowering time by the competition of isoforms.
Maternal cafeteria diet influences kisspeptin (Kiss1), kisspeptin receptor(Gpr54), and sirtuin (Sirt1) genes, hormonal and metabolic profiles, and reproductive functions in rat offspring in a sex-specific manner
Authors: Matuszewska Julia , Nowacka-Woszuk Joanna , Radziejewska Anna , Grzęda Emilia , Pruszyńska-Oszmałek Ewa , Dylewski Łukasz , Chmurzyńska Agata , Sliwowska Joanna H
Published: September 2023

Kisspeptin (KP, encoded by Kiss1, binding to the Gpr54 receptor) is a neuropeptide conveying information on the metabolic status to the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. KP acts together with dynorphin A (encoded by Pdyn) and neurokinin B (encoded by Tac2) to regulate reproduction. KP is crucial for the onset of puberty and is under the control of sirtuin (encoded by Sirt1). We hypothesize that the maternal cafeteria (CAF) diet has adverse effects on the offspring’s hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive functions due to sex-specific alterations in the expression of Kiss1, Gpr54, Pdyn, Tac2, and Sirt1 in the hypothalamus, and Kiss1, Gpr54, and Sirt1 in the liver. Rats were fed a CAF diet before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and during lactation. The vaginal opening was monitored. Offspring were sacrificed in three age points: PND 30, PND 35, and PND 60 (females) and PND 40, PND 45, and PND 60 (males). Their metabolic and hormonal status was assessed. mRNA for Kiss1, Gpr54, Pdyn, Tac2, and Sirt1 were measured by real-time PCR in the hypothalamus and/or livers. We found that CAF offspring had lower weight and altered body composition; increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, sex-specific changes in glucose and insulin levels; sex-dependent changes in Sirt1/Kiss1 mRNA ratio in the hypothalamus; sex-specific alterations in Kiss1 and Sirt1 mRNA in the liver with more diversity in males; and a delayed puberty onset in females. We concluded that the mother’s CAF diet leads to sex-specific alterations in metabolic and reproductive outcomes via Kiss1/Gpr54 and Sirt1 systems in offspring.
Endothelial cells differentiated from patient dermal fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells resemble vascular malformations of port-wine birthmark
Authors: Nguyen Vi , Gao Chao , Hochman Marcelo L , Kravitz Jacob , Chen Elliott H , Friedman Harold I , Wenceslau Camilla F , Chen Dongbao , Wang Yunguan , Nelson J Stuart , Jegga Anil G , Tan Wenbin
Published: September 2023

Lesional induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells can resemble pathological vascular phenotypes of port-wine birthmark (PWB). Our data demonstrate that multiple pathways, including Hippo and Wnt, NFκB, TNF, MAPK and cholesterol metabolism, are dysregulated. These data suggest new therapeutics can be developed to target such dysregulated pathways in the treatment of PWB.
Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for cutaneous oncology
Authors: Raahimi Mina , Hunter Alys , Cooper Hywel , Toberer Ferdinand
Published: September 2023

This is a case of Kaposi sarcoma, and the Athena question focuses on its management.
Germination physiology of Cochlospermum fraseri (Bixaceae), a deciduous tree from Northern Australia with physical seed dormancy
Authors: Just Michael , Turner Shane , Cross Adam , Lewandrowski Wolfgang , Pedrini Simone , Dixon Kingsley
Published: September 2023

Cochlospermum fraseri (‘Kapok’, Bixaceae) is a deciduous tree widely distributed throughout semi-arid and monsoon tropical northern Australia, and an important species for ecological restoration in the region. We aimed to better understand the seed biology and ecology of C. fraseri to determine the mechanisms by which seed dormancy might be alleviated, and the conditions that support germination to inform the use of this species in restoration. Dormancy breaking treatments (wet heat, dry heat, scarification) commonly applied to species with physical seed dormancy (PY) were tested along with stratification at 5–35°C (nine treatments). Following dormancy alleviation, seeds were germinated at nine temperatures (5 to 40°C) and five water potentials (0 to −0.8 MPa) to understand environmental thresholds that regulate germination physiology in non-dormant seeds. A proportion of seeds (<0.3) lose dormancy naturally in response to warm (25 to 35°C) moist conditions, which dislodges the hypostase plug that prevents water uptake, whilst neither dry (≥100°C) nor wet (~100°C) heat were effective. Dormancy loss was also achieved by exposing seeds to concentrated (95–98% v/v) sulphuric acid for 3–7 hours, after which high proportions (>0.75) of germination were observed. Cochlospermum fraseri seeds possess PY, which is alleviated by seasonal temperatures that occur when soil moisture is high, allowing seeds to employ a risk-adverse strategy and maximize establishment success in episodic environments with stochastic rainfall events. The understanding of dormancy alleviation requirements gained here adds to our knowledge of PY worldwide and recruitment dynamics in the Australian monsoonal tropics and will aid land managers and restoration practitioners by informing both seeding sites and optimal time for in situ sowing as well as the potential capacity of this species to form a persistent soil seed bank.
Estimating fat content in barred owls (Strix varia) with predictive models developed from direct measures of proximate body composition
Authors: Baumbusch Ryan C , Dugger Katie M , Wiens J David
Published: September 2023

Body condition indices and related metrics can help assess habitat quality and other ecological processes, and ideally, these metrics are based on measures of lipids directly extracted from the species of interest. In recent decades, barred owls (Strix varia) have become a species of conservation concern as they invaded older forests of the US Pacific Northwest, and caused population declines of the closely related and federally threatened northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). A simple and effective measure of barred owl body condition could help to understand how habitat quality varies within their new range, which in turn can inform their management and other aspects of their ecology. Using 77 barred owl carcasses collected during experimental removals in Washington and Oregon, USA, we measured the amount of lipid in each specimen with proximate body composition analysis. We then fit and compared (with adjusted R2 values) alternative linear regression models to estimate the percent lipids in dry mass of the owls based on morphometric body condition indices, a qualitative fat score of subcutaneous breast fat, sex and the time of year females were collected (relative to egg production). Adjusted R2 values for all models ranged from 0.49 to 0.87, with the best model including mass divided by foot-pad length, fat score, sex and the time of year a female was collected. Most models generated comparable estimates of percent lipids at a population level and we provided correction factors to apply these models when used with live barred owls, allowing for site-specific comparisons of body condition among individuals inhabiting a diversity of environmental conditions.
Anorexia nervosa and adrenal hormones: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Thavaraputta Subhanudh , Ungprasert Patompong , Witchel Selma F , Fazeli Pouneh K
Published: September 2023

Objective

Anorexia nervosa is a primary psychiatric disorder characterized by self-induced negative energy balance. A number of hormonal responses and adaptations occur in response to starvation and low body weight including changes in adrenocortical hormones. Our objective was to systematically review adrenocortical hormone levels in anorexia nervosa.

Design/Methods

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies that reported at least one adrenocortical hormone, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA-sulphate (DHEA-S), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, pregnenolone, cortisol (serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and hair sample), aldosterone, androstenedione, and testosterone in patients with anorexia nervosa and normal-weight healthy controls from inception until October 2021. Means and standard deviations for each hormone were extracted from the studies to calculate a mean difference (MD). A pooled MD was then calculated by combining MDs of each study using the random-effects model.

Results

We included a total of 101 studies with over 2500 females with anorexia nervosa. Mean cortisol levels were significantly higher in anorexia nervosa as compared to normal-weight controls for multiple forms of measurement, including morning cortisol, 12-hour and 24-hour pooled serum cortisol, 24-hour urine cortisol, and after an overnight dexamethasone suppression test. In contrast, mean serum total testosterone and DHEA-S levels were significantly lower among patients with anorexia nervosa.

Conclusions

Women with anorexia nervosa have higher cortisol levels and lower DHEA-S and testosterone levels compared to women without anorexia nervosa. This finding is important to consider when evaluating low-weight women for disorders involving the adrenal axis, especially Cushing's syndrome.
Essays in monetary history
Authors: Avaro Maylis
Published: September 2023

The paper summarizes my dissertation, submitted to the Geneva Graduate Institute. I constructed a novel database of the currency composition of European foreign exchange reserves during the Bretton Woods period, from central banks’ archives. The first paper studies the determinants of the composition of the foreign exchange portfolios. The second paper compares the British pound’s international role in Europe and the sterling area. I argue that its persistence as a reserve currency was due to threats and economic sanctions. The final paper focuses on 19th Bank of France, and shows that data was used as collateral at the discount window.
Coordinating monetary and fiscal policies in Britain during the French Wars (1793–1821)
Authors: Antipa Pamfili , Chamley Christophe
Published: September 2023

Relying on new quantitative and qualitative data, we analyze how the United Kingdom financed the French Wars (1793–1821). We show that policy makers adjusted monetary and fiscal policies in four regimes. 1) tax-smoothing; 2) suspending the gold standard, real bills, war taxation; 3) the Bank of England's price support of government securities; 4) return to the old order. Under the price support regime, the Bank of England maintained the market value of public short-term debt by purchasing large amounts of it. Our findings suggest that in this context fiscal news shocks rather than fluctuations in the money supply caused inflation.
Unlocking secrets of microbial ecotoxicology: recent achievements and future challenges
Authors: Hellal Jennifer , Barthelmebs Lise , Bérard Annette , Cébron Aurélie , Cheloni Giulia , Colas Simon , Cravo-Laureau Cristiana , De Clerck Caroline , Gallois Nicolas , Hery Marina , Martin-Laurent Fabrice , Martins Jean , Morin Soizic , Palacios Carmen , Pesce Stéphane , Richaume Agnès , Vuilleumier Stéphane
Published: September 2023

Environmental pollution is one of the main challenges faced by humanity. By their ubiquity and vast range of metabolic capabilities, microorganisms are affected by pollution with consequences on their host organisms and on the functioning of their environment. They also play key roles in the fate of pollutants through the degradation, transformation, and transfer of organic or inorganic compounds. Thus, they are crucial for the development of nature-based solutions to reduce pollution and of bio-based solutions for environmental risk assessment of chemicals. At the intersection between microbial ecology, toxicology, and biogeochemistry, microbial ecotoxicology is a fast-expanding research area aiming to decipher the interactions between pollutants and microorganisms. This perspective paper gives an overview of the main research challenges identified by the Ecotoxicomic network within the emerging One Health framework and in the light of ongoing interest in biological approaches to environmental remediation and of the current state of the art in microbial ecology. We highlight prevailing knowledge gaps and pitfalls in exploring complex interactions among microorganisms and their environment in the context of chemical pollution and pinpoint areas of research where future efforts are needed.
Understanding the role of the state in dietary public health policymaking: a critical scoping review
Authors: Karreman Nancy , Huang Yuru , Egan Natalie , Carters-White Lauren , Hawkins Benjamin , Adams Jean , White Martin
Published: September 2023

Despite evidence that dietary population health interventions are effective and widely accepted, they remain the topic of intense debate centring on the appropriate role of the state. This review sought to identify how the role of the state in intervening in individuals’ food practices is conceptualized across a wide range of literatures. We searched 10 databases and 4 journals for texts that debated dietary population health interventions designed to affect individuals’ health-affecting food practices. Two co-authors independently screened these texts for eligibility relative to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-five texts formed our final corpus. Through critical reflexive thematic analysis (TA), we generated 6 themes and 2 subthemes concerning choice, responsibility for health, balancing benefits and burdens of intervention, the use of evidence, fairness, and the legitimacy of the state’s actions. Our analysis found that narratives that aim to prevent effective regulation are entrenched in academic literatures. Discourses that emphasized liberty and personal responsibility framed poor health as the result of ‘lifestyle choices’. Utilitarian, cost-benefit rationales pervaded arguments about how to best balance the benefits and burdens of state intervention. Claims about fairness and freedom were used to evoke powerful common meanings, and evidence was used politically to bolster interests, particularly those of the food industry. This review identifies and critically analyses key arguments for and against population dietary public health policies. Our findings should motivate public health researchers and practitioners to avoid unreflexively embracing framings that draw on the languages and logics of free market economics.
The Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence: Next Steps for Empirical and Normative Research
Authors: Tallberg Jonas , Erman Eva , Furendal Markus , Geith Johannes , Klamberg Mark , Lundgren Magnus
Published: September 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a technological upheaval with the potential to change human society. Because of its transformative potential, AI is increasingly becoming subject to regulatory initiatives at the global level. Yet, so far, scholarship in political science and international relations has focused more on AI applications than on the emerging architecture of global AI regulation. The purpose of this article is to outline an agenda for research into the global governance of AI. The article distinguishes between two broad perspectives: an empirical approach, aimed at mapping and explaining global AI governance; and a normative approach, aimed at developing and applying standards for appropriate global AI governance. The two approaches offer questions, concepts, and theories that are helpful in gaining an understanding of the emerging global governance of AI. Conversely, exploring AI as a regulatory issue offers a critical opportunity to refine existing general approaches to the study of global governance.