bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Serum Cortisol Level Is Predictive of Weight Loss After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Men with Severe Obesity but Not Women
Authors: Bando Hironori , Miura Hiroshi , Kitahama Seiichi , Nakajima Shinsuke , Takahashi Tetsuya , Mihara Toshihiko , Momono Teppei , Kimura-Koyanagi Maki , Sakaguchi Kazuhiko , Mukai Tomoichiro , Ogawa Wataru , Tamori Yoshikazu
Published: January 2023

Background

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity and its associated medical problems. Preoperative factors that predict postoperative weight loss remain to be fully characterized, however.

Methods

Anthropometric and laboratory data were collected retrospectively for severely obese patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between April 2016 and July 2019 at our hospital. Preoperative factors that predicted weight loss at 1 year after LSG were investigated.

Results

A total of 122 subjects (45 men and 77 women) underwent LSG. The mean ± SD age and body mass index at surgery were 44.4 ± 10.4 years and 40.7 ± 6.7 kg/m2. The percent total weight loss (%TWL) was 27.0 ± 8.6 among all subjects, 26.4 ± 8.0 among men, and 27.4 ± 8.9 among women, with no significant difference between the sexes. The %TWL showed a significant inverse correlation with serum cortisol level in men and with age and the visceral/subcutaneous fat area ratio in women. Multivariable regression analysis revealed the presence of type 2 diabetes and the serum cortisol concentration to be negatively associated with %TWL among all subjects and men, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified an optimal cutoff of 10 µg/dL for prediction of a %TWL of ≥ 25 in men by serum cortisol level.

Conclusions

Serum cortisol concentration was identified as a predictor for postoperative weight loss in men. Our results may thus help inform the decision to perform LSG or more effective surgical procedures in men with severe obesity.

Graphical Abstract
Automated process planning in milling of hybrid components
Authors: Denkena Berend , Wichmann Marcel , Heide Klaas Maximilian , Wiesener Frederik , Nguyen Hai Nam
Published: January 2023

Hybrid material composites can meet the increasing demands for high strength and low weight due to their different workpiece properties. Usually, hybrid components require post-machining after their fabrication. Due to the different material properties, new challenges arise in the machining process. It is essential to recognize the course of the material boundary in order to adapt the process planning accordingly and to enable a uniform material transition during machining. This paper presents a method for automated material recognition and automatic adaptation of the process parameters considering a uniform force level during the milling of hybrid materials. This way, the load on the milling tool in the material transition area can be reduced by up to 71%, which prevents premature tool failure. An optical laser line scanner is used to localize of material transitions within hybrid components. This enables a digital mapping of the material distribution in the discretized workpiece model. In combination with an empirical force model, it is possible to predict the cutting forces of the different materials and determine the material transition area for adapting them to specified target values.
Carbon Stocks in Vegetation and Soil and Their Relationship with Plant Community Traits in a Mediterranean Non-tidal Salt Marsh
Authors: Carrasco-Barea Lorena , Verdaguer Dolors , Gispert Maria , Font Joan , Compte Jordi , Llorens Laura
Published: January 2023

Salt marshes are considered among the ecosystems with the highest capacity for carbon sequestration. However, studies have mainly focused on tidal salt marshes, while knowledge about non-tidal salt marshes, which prevail in the Mediterranean Basin, is currently scarce. Consequently, we aimed to (1) estimate the carbon stocks of the vegetation, litter, and soil of three natural Habitats of Community Interest of a Mediterranean non-tidal salt marsh–a halophilous scrub, a salt meadow, and a glasswort sward–and (2) determine how differences in floristic composition and community structure among habitats over 1 year are related to the amount and distribution of carbon stored in plants and soils. Results show that the halophilous scrub and the salt meadow were constituted by mature plant communities with overall stable carbon stocks in the vegetation, litter, and soil (0–20 cm), which were approximately 4 and 2.5 times larger, respectively, than those found in the glasswort sward (1013 ± 40 g C m−2). However, while the salt meadow and the glasswort sward had more carbon stored in the soil than in the vegetation (approximately 3 and 7.5 times more, respectively), the halophilous scrub had similar amounts in both compartments (2248 ± 388 and 1566 ± 179 g C m−2 in the soil and vegetation, respectively). Sarcocornia fruticosa represented 93.5% of the total plant biomass of the halophilous scrub, which highlights the importance of this species in maintaining carbon stocks in this Mediterranean non-tidal salt marsh.
Development and Optimization of a Multilayer Rat Purkinje Neuron Culture
Authors: Uggerud Ida Margrethe , Kråkenes Torbjørn , Hirai Hirokazu , Vedeler Christian Alexander , Schubert Manja
Published: January 2023

Elucidation of the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases of the cerebellum has been hampered by the lack of robust single cell models to study Purkinje neurons and replicate at the same time in vivo features. Cerebellar Purkinje neurons are difficult to grow in dispersed cell culture, and only limited work has been done using rat cells. We developed a refined protocol for growing rat Purkinje neurons from embryonic and postnatal tissue ex vivo that results in well-developed, mature, functional, and synaptically active neurons. The rat Purkinje neurons generated are responsive to paracrine factors and genetic manipulation, allowing great experimental flexibility at the single-cell level. This ex vivo model can be used to investigate disease mechanisms that disturb Purkinje neuron morphology, function, and communication in high- and low-throughput screening formats.
An estate at Zincirli? Land use and resource exploitation at the Middle Bronze Age monumental building Complex DD in Zincirli, Gaziantep Province of Turkey
Authors: Deckers Katleen , Karakaya Doga , Poolman Laurel , Öğüt Birgül , Herrmann Jason , Morgan Kathryn R. , Herrmann Virginia
Published: January 2023

Near Eastern monumental buildings once hosted institutions with a variety of economic and environmental footprints. In this article examining a Middle Bronze Age II (seventeenth century BC) building complex at Zincirli, Turkey, we integrate bioarchaeological remains with ceramic and artifactual evidence to evaluate whether this building was a specialized node in a broader network and centralized economy. Combining seed/fruit/chaff analysis with charcoal, phytolith, diatom, and spherulite investigations and zooarchaeology allows for a more holistic identification of the building’s environmental and economic catchments. The pronounced presence of conifer, probably related to the building’s architecture, suggests an elite function of the complex. A broad range of activities took place within the complex, such as the preparation, storage, and consumption of different food and drink products, alongside craft activities. There is evidence for centralized storage of diverse crops and production of wine and textiles. The building seems to have functioned as a kind of estate, possessing access to large areas of land. The bioarchaeological remains evidence the exploitation of the varied environments surrounding the site, where economically valuable resources were locally available and exploited, such as cedar, pine, grapes, and large hunting game. Complex DD provides evidence of wetland exploitation, agropastoral production, wood procurement, and hunting in the semi-steppe batha environments of the Islahiye plain and the woodland forests of the Amanus.
Introduced species in a tidal ecosystem of mud and sand: curse or blessing?
Authors: Reise Karsten , Buschbaum Christian , Lackschewitz Dagmar , Thieltges David W. , Waser Andreas M. , Wegner K. Mathias
Published: January 2023

For about a century, biodiversity in the tidal Wadden Sea (North Sea, European Atlantic) has increased by more than one hundred introduced species from overseas. Most originate from warmer waters and could facilitate the transformation of this coastal ecosystem to comply with climate warming. Some introduced species promote sediment stabilization and mud accretion. This could help tidal flats to keep up with sea level rise. Although some introduced species also entail negative effects, introductions have diversified lower food web levels, and may benefit foraging birds. So far, no resident populations have gone extinct because an introduced species had established. Rather than degrading the ecosystem, the establishment of introduced species seems to have raised the capacity to follow environmental change. We support increasing efforts against introductions to avoid risk. However, once species are integrated, the common condemnation attitude against “non-natives” or “aliens” ought to be reconsidered for tidal ecosystems of low biodiversity.
Sepedonium sp. and Phellinus sp. Novel Isolates: Growth Pattern and Production of Polysaccharide-Protein Complexes on Conventional and Grape Pomace Substrates
Authors: Kachrimanidou Vasiliki , Papadaki Aikaterini , Alexandri Maria , Poulios Vaggelis , Gonou-Zagou Zacharoula , Kopsahelis Nikolaos
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The growth behavior of novel fungal isolates along with the production of bioactive compounds from mycelia mass during submerged fermentations were investigated using conventional synthetic media and agro-industrial residues as fermentation substrates.

Methods

Four novel isolated fungi, belonging to edible or medicinal species, were evaluated for their ex-situ growth on potato dextrose agar. Specific attention was designated to Sepedonium sp. and Phellinus sp. considering their high growth rate in solid state fermentations. Submerged fermentations were subsequently employed using synthetic carbon sources (glucose, fructose and lactose) to assess the fermentation behavior. Following the better growth pattern on glucose and fructose, compared to lactose, grape pomace extract (GPE) was applied as nutrient feedstock to assess the production of biomass and bioactive compounds. Aqueous extraction was performed to obtain crude intracellular polysaccharides (IPS), that were subsequently characterized in terms of antioxidant activity, protein and polysaccharide content.

Results

Sepedonium sp. demonstrated the highest biomass production; 11.4 and 10.5 g/L, using glucose and fructose, respectively, whereas Phellinus yielded up to 3.8 g/L. Lactose was also assimilated by both fungal strains, however biomass production was lower. Utilization of GPE affected biomass production; Sepedonium sp. biomass decreased, whereas biomass obtained from Phellinus sp. was enhanced, compared to synthetic sugars. Crude IPS extracts elicit high antioxidant activity (> 75% inhibition of DPPH• free radical).

Conclusion

The successful application of conventional and renewable substrates for Sepedonium and Phellinus fermentation was demonstrated, while the mycelia mass derived polysaccharide-protein complexes exhibited bioactive properties, and thus might be utilized as functional food components.

Graphical Abstract
Improvement of Korea Meteorological Administration Solar Energy Resources Map Using Fine-Scale Terrain Data
Authors: Yun Jinah , Kim Jinwon , Choi Minwoo , Choi Hee-Wook , Kim Yeon-Hee , Lee Sang-Sam
Published: January 2023

Real-time solar energy resources mapping is crucial for the development and management of solar power facilities. This study analyzes the effects of the digital elevation model (DEM) resolution on the accuracy of the surface insolation (insolation hereafter) calculated by the Korea Meteorological Administration solar energy mapping system, KMAP-Solar, using two DEMs of different resolutions, 1.5 km and 100 m. It is found that KMAP-Solar yields smaller land-mean insolation with the fine-scale DEM than the coarse-scale DEM. The fine-scale DEM reduces biases by as much as 32 Wm− 2 for all observation sites, especially those in complex terrain and that the insolation error reduction is correlated with the difference in sky view factor (SVF) between the coarse- and fine-scale DEM. Both the coarse- and fine-scale DEMs generate the insolation-elevation and insolation-SVF relationship which is characterized by positive (negative) correlation between the insolation and the terrain altitude (SVF). However, the coarse-scale DEM substantially underestimates these relationships compared to the fine-scale DEM, mainly because the coarse-scale DEM underrepresents large terrain slopes and/or small SVFs, most seriously in high-altitude regions. The fine-scale DEM generates a more realistic insolation distribution than the coarse-scale DEM by incorporating a wider range of key terrain parameters involved in determining insolation. Improvements of insolation calculations in KMAP-Solar using a fine-scale DEM, especially in the areas of complex terrain, is of a practical value for Korea because the operational solar resources map from KMAP-Solar supports solar energy research, solar power plant installations, and real-time prediction and management of solar power within the power grid.
Study Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Eco-friendly Lightweight Geopolymers Incorporating Silica Sand Flour
Authors: Abbas Ahmed M. , Sultan Mohamed E. , Khater Hisham M. , Abd El-razik Mahmoud M. , El-Nawawy Mohamed A. , Sayed Ahmed Z.
Published: January 2023

Low-cost lightweight geopolymer mortars based on water-cooled slag, fly ash, and silica sand flour were prepared as a structural and thermally insulating material. The effect of chemical foaming agents such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium perborate tetrahydrate (NaBO3·4H2O) on thermal conductivity, bulk density, water absorption, porosity, and compressive strength was studied. FTIR, XRD, XRF, and SEM were used to investigate the raw materials and selected samples of prepared lightweight geopolymers. The prepared lightweight geopolymers were given a compressive strength of 1.05 to 17 MPa. The compressive strength, bulk density, and thermal conductivity values decrease with increasing foaming agent content due to the decomposition of its chemical structure and releasing of oxygen bubbles. The results show that hydrogen peroxide mixes have better performance in the physio-chemical and thermal properties than sodium perborate mixes to achieve low thermal conductivity (0.21–0.24 W/mK) with compressive strength values (1.18–3.45 MPa) for MS-H1 and MS-H2 mixes, respectively. According to the results of bulk density (454–800 kg/m3), MS-H1, MS-H2, MS-B3, and MS-B4 mixes can be considered ultra-lightweight. Using silica sand flour in powder form improves the physicochemical and thermal properties of the lightweight geopolymer and decreases the production cost of the lightweight geopolymers.
Making primary healthcare delivery robust for low resource settings: Learning from Mohalla Clinics
Authors: Akhtar Md Haseen , Ramkumar Janakarajan
Published: January 2023

The present healthcare scenario is still in its compromised state, whether it is the lack of infrastructure, medicines and human resources, especially in rural India. Moreover, the condition worsens in rural areas due to several reasons like lack of awareness, proper roads to access, and lack of proper delivery of healthcare model. The state government of Delhi, India, set up the “Mohalla” Clinics to provide essential healthcare to residents of Delhi and the surrounding areas, focusing on the urban poor. Essential health services, such as vaccinations, family planning, and counselling, are available at the Mohalla Clinics, where a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, and a lab technician are staffed. Despite a strong start and low operating costs, the Mohalla Clinic initiative still struggles to cover all Delhi state as envisioned. This study analyses the operational challenges of Delhi’s “Mohalla” Clinics and proposes lessons to be implemented for other primary healthcare infrastructure services for remote areas. The analysis is based on the systems (infrastructure, facilities, and services) strengths and limitations from a literature review and qualitative interview conducted among 55 respondents, including doctors, nurses, and patients among 11 Mohalla Clinics using the SUTD-MIT (Singapore University of Technology and Design—Massachusetts Institute of Technology Industrial Design Centre) interview template for Product Service System (PSS). The results show that there are lessons to learn from the model of Delhi Mohalla Clinics for other states to implement in their primary healthcare sectors. To achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Delhi Mohalla Clinic falls short due to several limitations. Thus, to achieve UHC, the Indian healthcare system needs a new healthcare delivery model. Hence, we ought to propose a new healthcare delivery model based on the gained insights from the study. One such delivery model proposed is a mobile Primary Health Center (mPHC). This collapsible system can be taken to far-flung regions, deployed for some hours, run the Out-Patient Department (OPD), collapsed, and returned to base.
Outcome of Transplant Recipients Infected with Omicron BA.1 and BA.2: A Single-Center Retrospective Study in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshukairi Abeer N. , Aldabbagh Yasser , Adroub Sabir A. , Mourier Tobias , Abumelha Khalid Y. , Albishi Ghadeer E. , Alraddadi Basem M. , Al Hroub Mohammad K. , El-Saed Aiman , Ibrahim Suzan M. Nagash , Al Musawa Mohammed , Almasari Ahlam , Habahab Wael T. , Alhamlan Fatimah S. , Al-Omari Awad , Pain Arnab , Dada Ashraf
Published: January 2023

The outcome of transplant recipients is variable depending on the study population, vaccination status and COVID-19 variants. Our aim was to study the impact of Omicron subvariants on the mortality of transplant recipients. We reviewed the results of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequence of random isolates collected from 29 December 2021 until 17 May 2022 in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research center, Jeddah (KFSHRC-J), Saudi Arabia performed as hospital genomic surveillance program for COVID-19 variants. We included 25 transplant patients infected with confirmed Omicron variants.17 (68%) and 8 (32%) patients had Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, respectively. 12 (68%) patients had renal transplants. Only 36% of patients received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 23 (92%) patients required hospitalization. 20 (80%) patients survived and 6 (25%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Among ICU patients, 66.7% were more than 50 years, 50% had two to three comorbidities and 5 out of 6 (83%) died. The mortality of transplant patients infected with Omicron variants in our cohort was higher than other centers as a limited number of patients received booster vaccines. Optimizing booster vaccination is the most efficient method to improve the mortality of COVID-19 in transplant recipients recognizing the inefficacy of monoclonal antibodies in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants. We did not show a difference in mortality in transplant patients infected with Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 knowing the limitation of our sample size.
Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) Method for Midwives Planning and Estimation at Asrade Zewude Memorial Primary Hospital, North west Ethiopia
Authors: Asres Gizew Dessie
Published: January 2023

Background

Workforce is a crucial component of the health service delivery system. Ethiopia faces health workforce challenges when it comes to evidence based health workforce planning.

Workforce planning was initially determined by comparing the health worker ratio to the general population number. Later, it was determined by standard staffing schedules for each health facility level. However, neither of these methods addressed the evidence based workload variation issue among the same level facilities all around the country. A workload indicator of staff needs (WISN) method can address these variations. Therefore this research was carried on to determine workload pressure excess or gap in midwives, thereby to promote the WISN use in health facilities, based on WISN results of midwives at Asrade Zewude memorial Hospital.

Methods

A cross sectional study using WISN model was used to determine the workload excess and gap pressure in midwives at Asrade Zewude Memorial primary hospital, North West Ethiopia. Midwives were selected based on a priority point scale as outlined in the WISN method.

Results

According to the data obtained, midwives worked five days a week and 1030 h per year. This working time was spent on health service activities (58.4%), additional activities (36.6%) and support activities (5%). WISN calculations demonstrated a shortage of five midwives with WISN ratio of 0.8 at Asrade Zewude Memorial primary hospital North West Ethiopia.

Conclusion

Midwives at the study area were carrying on their routine tasks even though there was a staff gap of 5: thus, the midwives had a workload excess of 20%. Under these conditions, it may be hard for the facility to achieve universal health service goals. Therefore the hospital should institutionalize WISN method planning to objectively employ midwifery professionals. This study had limitations too as it used retrospective annual service statistics and small sample size which affects generalization of the results to other health facilities and other health worker cadres within the study hospital.
Democratizing electricity distribution network analysis
Authors: Neaimeh Myriam , Deakin Matthew , Jenkinson Ryan , Giles Oscar
Published: January 2023

The uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy technologies is changing the magnitude, variability, and direction of power flows in electricity networks. To ensure a successful transition to a net zero energy system, it will be necessary for a wide range of stakeholders to understand the impacts of these changing flows on networks. However, there is a gap between those with the data and capabilities to understand electricity networks, such as network operators, and those working on adjacent parts of the energy transition jigsaw, such as electricity suppliers and EV charging infrastructure operators. This paper describes the electric vehicle network analysis tool (EVENT), developed to help make network analysis accessible to a wider range of stakeholders in the energy ecosystem who might not have the bandwidth to curate and integrate disparate datasets and carry out electricity network simulations. EVENT analyses the potential impacts of low-carbon technologies on congestion in electricity networks, helping to inform the design of products and services. To demonstrate EVENT’s potential, we use an extensive smart meter dataset provided by an energy supplier to assess the impacts of electricity smart tariffs on networks. Results suggest both network operators and energy suppliers will have to work much more closely together to ensure that the flexibility of customers to support the energy system can be maximized, while respecting safety and security constraints within networks. EVENT’s modular and open-source approach enables integration of new methods and data, future-proofing the tool for long-term impact.
Deflective Cooperation: Social Pressure and Forum Management in Cold War Conventional Arms Control
Authors: Mantilla Giovanni
Published: January 2023

Why do states create weak international institutions? Frustrated with proliferating but disappointing international environmental institutions, scholars increasingly bemoan agreements which, rather than solving problems, appear to exist “for show.” This article offers an explanation of this phenomenon. I theorize a dynamic of deflective cooperation to explain the creation of compromise face-saving institutions. I argue that when international social pressure to create an institution clashes with enduring disagreements among states about the merits of creating it, states may adopt cooperative arrangements that are ill-designed to produce their purported practical effects. Rather than negotiation failures or empty gestures, I contend that face-saving institutions represent interstate efforts to manage intractable disagreement through suboptimal institutionalized cooperation. I formulate this argument inductively through a new multi-archival study of conventional weapons regulation during the Cold War, which resulted in the oft-maligned 1980 UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. A careful reconsideration of the negotiation process extends and nuances existing IR theorizing and retrieves its historical significance as a critical juncture and complex product of contesting diplomatic practices.
Reading Rahab: How criticism serves itself or eats itself
Authors: Goldingay John
Published: January 2023

Studies of the Rahab story in Joshua illustrate how, as interpreters, we can read our interests and convictions into a text, allow it no room to protest that it did not have these interests or convictions, and give it no opportunity conversely to question the interests and convictions that we bring to it as interpreters. This raises the question whether we actually want to discover things from texts or whether we simply want to provide illustrations of and support for what we think already.
Publishing in predatory language and linguistics journals: Authors’ experiences and motivations
Authors: Nejadghanbar Hassan , Hu Guangwei , Jahangiri Babadi Maryam
Published: January 2023

This study examines the experiences and motivations of language and linguistics academics who have published in potential predatory journals (PPJs). A questionnaire was administered to 2,793 academics with publications in 63 language and linguistics PPJs, and 213 of them returned their responses. A subsample of the respondents (n = 21) also contributed qualitative data through semi-structured interviews or email responses to open-ended questions. Analyses of the survey data found that the authors were mainly from Asia, mostly had a doctorate, chose the PPJs chiefly for fast publication and/or meeting degree or job requirements, were predominantly of the opinion that the PPJs were reputable, and commonly reported positive impacts of publishing in the PPJs on their studies or academic careers. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed five main themes: unawareness, unrelenting publication pressures, low information literacy, social identity threat, and failure to publish in top-tier journals.
Adapting cognitive behaviour therapy for people with intellectual disabilities: an overview for therapist working in mainstream or specialist services
Authors: Dagnan Dave , Taylor Lara , Burke Christine-Koulla
Published: January 2023

This paper is an introduction to adaptations to make cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) more accessible to people with intellectual disabilities. It is intended to inform therapists who may work with people with intellectual disabilities in mainstream services.

The paper describes adaptations that consider neuropsychological processes, such as memory, and executive functions, such as planning, problem solving and self-regulation, and identifies that these factors are not unique to people with intellectual disabilities. We describe adaptations based on a review of literature describing CBT for people with intellectual disabilities (Surley and Dagnan, 2019) and draw on clinical experience to give examples of adaptations where possible. The paper particularly emphasises the generalisability of adaptations used with people with intellectual disabilities to therapy with wider populations and suggests that CBT therapists working in mainstream services will have the skills to be able to adapt therapy for people with intellectual disabilities.

Key learning aims

(1)

To overview the evidence base supporting the use of CBT with people with intellectual disabilities.

(2)

To describe the epidemiology of intellectual disability and discuss its implications for the generalisability of adaptations discussed in this paper.

(3)

To describe a range of adaptations to make CBT more accessible people with intellectual disabilities.

(4)

To consider whether such adaptations are part of the skill set of CBT therapists mainly working with people without intellectual disabilities.
Pre‐Eruptive Evolution and Timescales of Silicic Volcanism in the Tarim Large Igneous Province
Authors: Bo Hongze , Zhang Zhaochong , Cheng Zhiguo , Ren Kangxu , Santosh M.
Published: January 2023

The widespread (∼48,000 km2) coexisting crystal‐rich monotonous intermediates (trachydacites) and crystal‐poor high‐silica rocks (rhyolites, ignimbrites) in the Tarim Large Igneous Province (T‐LIP) offer a rare opportunity to explore pre‐eruptive timescales and evolutionary patterns of different silicic magmas in LIPs. We combined information from petrography, geochemistry, crystal kinetics, and diffusion chronometry of felsic rocks from nine boreholes to investigate their pre‐eruptive history. The complex reverse Ti zoning patterns in quartz corresponding to temperature variations over 100°C, lognormal crystal size distributions, high‐Ti rims with faster growth rates, variable pressures, and Nd isotopic modeling, indicate silicic magmas in T‐LIP might have witnessed a universal evolutionary pattern of periodic recharge and rejuvenation, coarsening, and cooling and crystallization in magma chambers at different crustal levels, which we term here as RRCCC model. The uniform composition and crystallinity of trachydacites might result from latent heat buffering, and their eruption was triggered by melt‐induced fracturing. The chemical and thermal gradients preserved in rhyolites were generated by thermally variable magma inputs and extensive fractionation at different pressures. Co‐existence of these two types of rocks was controlled by interaction between mantle plume impingement and re‐melting of hydrous crust built up by early subduction. The best‐fitting Ti‐in‐quartz diffusion curves obtained by Neural Networks indicate that magma residence time lasted for ∼106 years, and eruption was triggered within ∼105 years after the last recharge event.
Transport and Confinement of Plumes From Tropopause‐Overshooting Convection Over the Contiguous United States During the Warm Season
Authors: Chang Kai‐Wei , Bowman Kenneth P. , Rapp Anita D.
Published: January 2023

Tropopause‐penetrating overshooting convection (OC) can transport tropospheric air into and affect the composition of the lower stratosphere. During the warm season, OC occurs frequently over the contiguous United States, and the transport of plumes from these events is modulated by the flow over North America, which throughout June to August is characterized by a large‐scale anticyclone in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. This study uses data from the Next Generation Weather Radar and the ERA5 reanalysis to locate OC during May–August of 2008–2020. Evidence of convective transport is found well above the 380 K isentrope, which is the top of the “lowermost stratosphere” and also the top of the stratospheric middleworld. By initializing massless particles within the volume of OC above the tropopause, we perform trajectory calculations to simulate the transport of OC plumes. With three‐dimensional diabatic trajectory modeling in isentropic coordinates using winds from ERA5, we quantify the confinement within the anticyclone and the number of trajectories transported into the tropical and extratropical stratosphere. By evaluating the trajectory residence time in the North American region, we find that July exhibits the strongest confinement, with about a quarter of trajectories staying in the region for more than 11 days. It is shown that, together with sufficient injection height, convective injection that occurs south of the jet and/or into anticyclonic regimes increases the chances of air remaining in the stratosphere. After 30 days, 45% of all air masses injected above the tropopause remain in the global stratosphere.
A Low‐Latitude Three‐Dimensional Ionospheric Electron Density Model Based on Radio Occultation Data Using Artificial Neural Networks With Prior Knowledge
Authors: Yang Ding , Fang Hanxian
Published: January 2023

The accurate estimation of electron density in the ionosphere is crucial for various applications including remote sensing systems, communication, satellite positioning, and navigation. Previous ionospheric models using artificial neural networks (ANN) are only data‐driven, whose effects are entirely affected by observational data. In this paper, we utilize the results of International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)‐2016 as prior knowledge to develop a low‐latitude (30°N–30°S) three‐dimensional ionospheric electron density model using ANN, namely ANN‐IRI, based on COSMIC radio occultation ionospheric profiles during 2006–2020. The prior knowledge helps ANN‐IRI get a better prediction effect and obtain convergence more quickly. The COSMIC data sets above the altitude 150 km are divided into three sets, a training set (2006–2014 and 2018–2020), a validation set (2016), and a test set (2015 and 2017). For the test set, ANN‐IRI shows a good performance for predicting the electron density, better than ANN (without prior knowledge) and IRI‐2016. And ANN‐IRI behaves better during quiet than disturbed times as well as during low solar activity than high solar activity years. In addition, we corrected effectively the error of ANN‐IRI in the lower ionosphere source from COSMIC data based on IRI‐2016 and spline interpolation. Compared with completely independent data sets from incoherent scatter radars (ISRs) and ROCSAT‐1 in situ observations, the electron density predicted by corrected ANN‐IRI exhibits good similarity. Generally, ANN‐IRI behaves better than ANN and IRI‐2016 for predicting electron density. Our work demonstrates a new possibility of applying deep learning methods with prior knowledge to a broader field of geosciences, particularly for problems of prediction.
Decoding of the ubiquitin code for clearance of colliding ribosomes by the RQT complex
Authors: Matsuo Yoshitaka , Uchihashi Takayuki , Inada Toshifumi
Published: January 2023

The collision sensor Hel2 specifically recognizes colliding ribosomes and ubiquitinates the ribosomal protein uS10, leading to noncanonical subunit dissociation by the ribosome-associated quality control trigger (RQT) complex. Although uS10 ubiquitination is essential for rescuing stalled ribosomes, its function and recognition steps are not fully understood. Here, we show that the RQT complex components Cue3 and Rqt4 interact with the K63-linked ubiquitin chain and accelerate the recruitment of the RQT complex to the ubiquitinated colliding ribosome. The CUE domain of Cue3 and the N-terminal domain of Rqt4 bind independently to the K63-linked ubiquitin chain. Their deletion abolishes ribosomal dissociation mediated by the RQT complex. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) reveals that the intrinsically disordered regions of Rqt4 enable the expansion of the searchable area for interaction with the ubiquitin chain. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the decoding of the ubiquitin code for clearance of colliding ribosomes by the RQT complex.
A gradient oxy-thiophosphate-coated Ni-rich layered oxide cathode for stable all-solid-state Li-ion batteries
Authors: Liang Jianwen , Zhu Yuanmin , Li Xiaona , Luo Jing , Deng Sixu , Zhao Yang , Sun Yipeng , Wu Duojie , Hu Yongfeng , Li Weihan , Sham Tsun-Kong , Li Ruying , Gu Meng , Sun Xueliang
Published: January 2023

High-energy Ni-rich layered oxide cathode materials such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) suffer from detrimental side reactions and interfacial structural instability when coupled with sulfide solid-state electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium-based batteries. To circumvent this issue, here we propose a gradient coating of the NMC811 particles with lithium oxy-thiophosphate (Li3P1+xO4S4x). Via atomic layer deposition of Li3PO4 and subsequent in situ formation of a gradient Li3P1+xO4S4x coating, a precise and conformal covering for NMC811 particles is obtained. The tailored surface structure and chemistry of NMC811 hinder the structural degradation associated with the layered-to-spinel transformation in the grain boundaries and effectively stabilize the cathode|solid electrolyte interface during cycling. Indeed, when tested in combination with an indium metal negative electrode and a Li10GeP2S12 solid electrolyte, the gradient oxy-thiophosphate-coated NCM811-based positive electrode enables the delivery of a specific discharge capacity of 128 mAh/g after almost 250 cycles at 0.178 mA/cm2 and 25 °C.
Doubled strength and ductility via maraging effect and dynamic precipitate transformation in ultrastrong medium-entropy alloy
Authors: Chung Hyun , Choi Won Seok , Jun Hosun , Do Hyeon-Seok , Lee Byeong-Joo , Choi Pyuck-Pa , Han Heung Nam , Ko Won-Seok , Sohn Seok Su
Published: January 2023

Demands for ultrahigh strength in structural materials have been steadily increasing in response to environmental issues. Maraging alloys offer a high tensile strength and fracture toughness through a reduction of lattice defects and formation of intermetallic precipitates. The semi-coherent precipitates are crucial for exhibiting ultrahigh strength; however, they still result in limited work hardening and uniform ductility. Here, we demonstrate a strategy involving deformable semi-coherent precipitates and their dynamic phase transformation based on a narrow stability gap between two kinds of ordered phases. In a model medium-entropy alloy, the matrix precipitate acts as a dislocation barrier and also dislocation glide media; the grain-boundary precipitate further contributes to a significant work-hardening via dynamic precipitate transformation into the type of matrix precipitate. This combination results in a twofold enhancement of strength and uniform ductility, thus suggesting a promising alloy design concept for enhanced mechanical properties in developing various ultrastrong metallic materials.
Selective photoelectrochemical oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid by single atom Pt decorated defective TiO2
Authors: Tian Zhangliu , Da Yumin , Wang Meng , Dou Xinyu , Cui Xinhang , Chen Jie , Jiang Rui , Xi Shibo , Cui Baihua , Luo Yani , Yang Haotian , Long Yu , Xiao Yukun , Chen Wei
Published: January 2023

Photoelectrochemical reaction is emerging as a powerful approach for biomass conversion. However, it has been rarely explored for glucose conversion into value-added chemicals. Here we develop a photoelectrochemical approach for selective oxidation of glucose to high value-added glucaric acid by using single-atom Pt anchored on defective TiO2 nanorod arrays as photoanode. The defective structure induced by the oxygen vacancies can modulate the charge carrier dynamics and band structure, simultaneously. With optimized oxygen vacancies, the defective TiO2 photoanode shows greatly improved charge separation and significantly enhanced selectivity and yield of C6 products. By decorating single-atom Pt on the defective TiO2 photoanode, selective oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid can be achieved. In this work, defective TiO2 with single-atom Pt achieves a photocurrent density of 1.91 mA cm−2 for glucose oxidation at 0.6 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, leading to an 84.3 % yield of glucaric acid under simulated sunlight irradiation.
High-accuracy thermodynamic properties to the melting point from ab initio calculations aided by machine-learning potentials
Authors: Jung Jong Hyun , Srinivasan Prashanth , Forslund Axel , Grabowski Blazej
Published: January 2023

Accurate prediction of thermodynamic properties requires an extremely accurate representation of the free-energy surface. Requirements are twofold—first, the inclusion of the relevant finite-temperature mechanisms, and second, a dense volume–temperature grid on which the calculations are performed. A systematic workflow for such calculations requires computational efficiency and reliability, and has not been available within an ab initio framework so far. Here, we elucidate such a framework involving direct upsampling, thermodynamic integration and machine-learning potentials, allowing us to incorporate, in particular, the full effect of anharmonic vibrations. The improved methodology has a five-times speed-up compared to state-of-the-art methods. We calculate equilibrium thermodynamic properties up to the melting point for bcc Nb, magnetic fcc Ni, fcc Al, and hcp Mg, and find remarkable agreement with experimental data. A strong impact of anharmonicity is observed specifically for Nb. The introduced procedure paves the way for the development of ab initio thermodynamic databases.
Unconventional resistivity scaling in topological semimetal CoSi
Authors: Lien Shang-Wei , Garate Ion , Bajpai Utkarsh , Huang Cheng-Yi , Hsu Chuang-Han , Tu Yi-Hsin , Lanzillo Nicholas A. , Bansil Arun , Chang Tay-Rong , Liang Gengchiau , Lin Hsin , Chen Ching-Tzu
Published: January 2023

Nontrivial band topologies in semimetals lead to robust surface states that can contribute dominantly to the total conduction. This may result in reduced resistivity with decreasing feature size contrary to conventional metals, which may highly impact the semiconductor industry. Here we study the resistivity scaling of a representative topological semimetal CoSi using realistic band structures and Green’s function methods. We show that there exists a critical thicknessdcdividing different scaling trends. Abovedc, when the defect density is low such that surface conduction dominates, resistivity reduces with decreasing thickness; when the defect density is high such that bulk conduction dominates, resistivity increases as in conventional metals. Belowdcwhere bulk states are depopulated, the persistent Fermi-arc remnant states give rise to decreasing resistivity down to the ultrathin limit, unlike topological insulators. The observed CoSi scaling can apply to broad classes of topological semimetals, providing guidelines for materials screening in back-end-of-line interconnect applications.
Cancer incidence amongst UK firefighters
Authors: Wolffe Taylor A. M. , Robinson Andrew , Dickens Kathryn , Turrell Louis , Clinton Anna , Maritan-Thomson Daniella , Joshi Miland , Stec Anna A.
Published: January 2023

Firefighters suffer an increased risk of cancer from exposures to chemicals released from fires. Our earlier research has found that fire toxicants not only remain on firefighters’ PPE, but are also tracked back to fire stations. The UK Firefighter Contamination Survey assesses firefighters’ risk of developing cancer due to occupational exposure to fire toxins. Over 4% of surveyed firefighters were found to have a cancer diagnosis, with the age-specific cancer rate up to 323% higher (35–39 year olds) than that of the general population. Firefighters who had served ≥ 15 years were 1.7 times more likely to develop cancer than those who had served less time. Firefighters were at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer if they noticed soot in their nose/throat (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 1.1–3.5), or remained in their PPE for more than four hours after attending a fire incident (OR = 2.3, 1.1–5.2). Also associated with an increased likelihood of cancer was: eating while wearing PPE (OR = 1.8, 1.2–2.7); failing to store clean/dirty PPE separately (OR = 1.3, 1.0–1.7); working in a station that smells of fire (OR = 1.3, 1.0–1.8) or not having designated (separated) clean and dirty areas (OR = 1.4, 1.1–1.7); using an on-site washing machine to launder fire hoods (OR = 1.3, 1.0–1.7); feeling that cleaning is not taken seriously at work (OR = 1.5, 1.2–2.0).
High probability of successive occurrence of Nankai megathrust earthquakes
Authors: Fukushima Yo , Nishikawa Tomoaki , Kano Yasuyuki
Published: January 2023

Great earthquakes along the Nankai megathrust in south-western Japan feature in the top priority list of Japan’s disaster management agenda. In May 2019, an alert system was incepted to issue public warnings when the probability of an earthquake occurrence along the Nankai megathrust became higher than usual. One of the cases that trigger the issuance of public warnings is when a great earthquake occurred and another one of the same scale is anticipated within a short period of time. Although such “twin ruptures” have occurred multiple times along the Nankai megathrust, the quantification of the probability of such twin ruptures has never been attempted. Based on global statistics and local earthquake occurrence history, we estimated the probability of a successive occurrence of two M8 or larger earthquakes within 3 years globally and along the Nankai megathrust to be 5.3–18% and 4.3–96%, respectively. The timing of the second earthquake followed the Omori–Utsu law in global statistics, which allowed the estimation of the probability for the successive occurrence of Nankai megathrust earthquakes in arbitrary time frames. The predicted probability for the one-week timeframe was 100–3600-fold higher than that of the norm, endorsing the necessity for the warning scheme.
Error-based and reinforcement learning in basketball free throw shooting
Authors: Truong Charlène , Ruffino Célia , Crognier Alexandre , Paizis Christos , Crognier Lionel , Papaxanthis Charalambos
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the effects of error-based and reinforcement training on the acquisition and long-term retention of free throw accuracy in basketball. Sixty participants were divided into four groups (n = 15 per group): (i) the error-based group (sensory feedback), (ii) the reinforcement group (binary feedback including success or failure), (iii) the mixed group (sensory feedback followed by binary feedback), and (iv) the control group (without training). Free throws success was recorded before training (PreT), immediately after (Postd0), one day later (Postd1), and seven days later (Postd7). The error-based group, but not the reinforcement group, showed a significant immediate improvement in free throw accuracy (PreT vs Postd0). Interestingly, over time (Postd0 vs Postd1 vs Postd7), the reinforcement group significantly improved its accuracy, while the error-based group decreased it, returning to the PreT level (PreT vs Post7). The mixed group showed the advantage of both training methods, i.e., fast acquisition and retention on a long-term scale. Error-based learning leads to better acquisition, while reinforcement learning leads to better retention. Therefore, the combination of both types of learning is more efficient for both acquisition and retention processes. These findings provide new insight into the acquisition and retention of a fundamental basketball skill in free throw shooting.