bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of worldwide causal and correlational evidence on digital media and democracy
Authors: Lorenz-Spreen Philipp , Oswald Lisa , Lewandowsky Stephan , Hertwig Ralph
Published: November 2022

One of today’s most controversial and consequential issues is whether the global uptake of digital media is causally related to a decline in democracy. We conducted a systematic review of causal and correlational evidence (N = 496 articles) on the link between digital media use and different political variables. Some associations, such as increasing political participation and information consumption, are likely to be beneficial for democracy and were often observed in autocracies and emerging democracies. Other associations, such as declining political trust, increasing populism and growing polarization, are likely to be detrimental to democracy and were more pronounced in established democracies. While the impact of digital media on political systems depends on the specific variable and system in question, several variables show clear directions of associations. The evidence calls for research efforts and vigilance by governments and civil societies to better understand, design and regulate the interplay of digital media and democracy.
Bassoon contributes to tau-seed propagation and neurotoxicity
Authors: Martinez Pablo , Patel Henika , You Yanwen , Jury Nur , Perkins Abigail , Lee-Gosselin Audrey , Taylor Xavier , You Yingjian , Viana Di Prisco Gonzalo , Huang Xiaoqing , Dutta Sayan , Wijeratne Aruna B. , Redding-Ochoa Javier , Shahid Syed Salman , Codocedo Juan F. , Min Sehong , Landreth Gary E. , Mosley Amber L. , Wu Yu-Chien , McKinzie David L. , Rochet Jean-Christophe , Zhang Jie , Atwood Brady K. , Troncoso Juan , Lasagna-Reeves Cristian A.
Published: November 2022

Tau aggregation is a defining histopathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. However, the cellular mechanisms involved in tau propagation remain unclear. Here, we performed an unbiased quantitative proteomic study to identify proteins that specifically interact with this tau seed. We identified Bassoon (BSN), a presynaptic scaffolding protein, as an interactor of the tau seed isolated from a mouse model of tauopathy, and from Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy postmortem samples. We show that BSN exacerbates tau seeding and toxicity in both mouse and Drosophila models for tauopathy, and that BSN downregulation decreases tau spreading and overall disease pathology, rescuing synaptic and behavioral impairments and reducing brain atrophy. Our findings improve the understanding of how tau seeds can be stabilized by interactors such as BSN. Inhibiting tau-seed interactions is a potential new therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative tauopathies.
Forecasting individual progression trajectories in Huntington disease enables more powered clinical trials
Authors: Koval Igor , Dighiero-Brecht Thomas , Tobin Allan J. , Tabrizi Sarah J. , Scahill Rachael I. , Tezenas du Montcel Sophie , Durrleman Stanley , Durr Alexandra
Published: November 2022

Variability in neurodegenerative disease progression poses great challenges for the evaluation of potential treatments. Identifying the persons who will experience significant progression in the short term is key for the implementation of trials with smaller sample sizes. We apply here disease course mapping to forecast biomarker progression for individual carriers of the pathological CAG repeat expansions responsible for Huntington disease. We used data from two longitudinal studies (TRACK-HD and TRACK-ON) to synchronize temporal progression of 15 clinical and imaging biomarkers from 290 participants with Huntington disease. We used then the resulting HD COURSE MAP to forecast clinical endpoints from the baseline data of 11,510 participants from ENROLL-HD, an external validation cohort. We used such forecasts to select participants at risk for progression and compute the power of trials for such an enriched population. HD COURSE MAP forecasts biomarkers 5 years after the baseline measures with a maximum mean absolute error of 10 points for the total motor score and 2.15 for the total functional capacity. This allowed reducing sample sizes in trial up to 50% including participants with a higher risk for progression ensuring a more homogeneous group of participants.
Development of sand-plastic composites as floor tiles using silica sand and recycled thermoplastics: a sustainable approach for cleaner production
Authors: Soni Ashish , Das Pankaj Kumar , Yusuf Mohammad , Kamyab Hesam , Chelliapan Shreeshivadasan
Published: November 2022

Strict environmental concerns, depleting natural recourses, and rising demand for building construction materials have promoted scientific research toward alternative building materials. This research supports the idea of sustainability and a circular economy via the utilization of waste to produce value-added products. The research explored the potential of waste plastics and silica sand for developing thermoplastic composite as floor tiles. The samples were characterized by water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and sliding wear. The morphological analysis of the sand-plastic interfaces was covered under the umbrella of this study. The maximum compressive and flexural strength were found to be 46.20 N/mm2 and 6.24 N/mm2, respectively, with the minimum water absorption and sliding wear rate of 0.039% and 0.143 × 10–8 kg/m, respectively. The study suggests the workability of the developed floor tiles in non-traffic areas of public places. Thus, the study provides a green building material through recycling waste plastics for sustainable development.
The role of task demands in racial face encoding
Authors: Yang Bo , Ma Jialin , Ding Ran , Xia Xinyi , Ding Xiaobing
Published: November 2022

People more accurately remember faces of their own racial group compared to faces of other racial groups; this phenomenon is called the other-race effect. To date, numerous researchers have devoted themselves to exploring the reasons for this other-race effect, and they have posited several theoretical explanations. One integrated explanation is the categorization-individuation model, which addresses two primary ways (categorization and individuation) of racial face processing and emphasizes the emergence of these two ways during the encoding stage. Learning-recognition and racial categorization tasks are two classical tasks used to explore racial face processing. Event-related potentials can facilitate investigation of the encoding differences of own- and other-race faces under these two typical task demands. Unfortunately, to date, results have been mixed. In the current study, we investigated whether categorization and individuation differ for own- and other-race faces during the encoding stage by using racial categorization and learning-recognition tasks. We found that task demands not only influence the encoding of racial faces, but also have a more profound effect in the encoding stage of recognition tasks for other-race faces. More specifically, own-race faces demonstrate deeper structural encoding than other-race faces, with less attentional involvement. Moreover, recognitions tasks might ask for more individual-level encoding, requiring more attentional resources in the early stage that may be maintained until relatively late stages. Our results provide some evidence concerning task selection for future racial face studies and establish a groundwork for a unified interpretation of racial face encoding.
Extract nonlinear operating rules of multi-reservoir systems using an efficient optimization method
Authors: Ahmadianfar Iman , Samadi-Koucheksaraee Arvin , Asadzadeh Masoud
Published: November 2022

Hydropower plants are known as major renewable energy sources, usually used to meet energy demand during peak periods. The performance of hydropower reservoir systems is mainly affected by their operating rules, thus, optimizing these rules results in higher and/or more reliable energy production. Due to the complex nonlinear, nonconvex, and multivariable characteristics of the hydropower system equations, deriving the operating rules of these systems remains a challenging issue in multi-reservoir systems optimization. This study develops a self-adaptive teaching learning-based algorithm with differential evolution (SATLDE) to derive reliable and precise operating rules for multi-reservoir hydropower systems. The main novelty of SATLDE is its enhanced teaching and learning mechanism with three significant improvements: (i) a ranking probability mechanism is introduced to select the learner or teacher stage adaptively; (ii) at the teacher stage, the teaching mechanism is redefined based on learners’ performance/level; and (iii) at the learner stage, an effective mutation operator with adaptive control parameters is proposed to boost exploration ability. The proposed SATLDE algorithm is applied to the ten-reservoir benchmark systems and a real-world hydropower system in Iran. The results illustrate that the SATLDE achieves superior precision and reliability to other methods. Moreover, results show that SATLDE can increase the total power generation by up to 23.70% compared to other advanced optimization methods. Therefore, this study develops an efficient tool to extract optimal operating rules for the mentioned systems.
A hierarchical reinforcement learning method for missile evasion and guidance
Authors: Yan Mengda , Yang Rennong , Zhang Ying , Yue Longfei , Hu Dongyuan
Published: November 2022

This paper proposes an algorithm for missile manoeuvring based on a hierarchical proximal policy optimization (PPO) reinforcement learning algorithm, which enables a missile to guide to a target and evade an interceptor at the same time. Based on the idea of task hierarchy, the agent has a two-layer structure, in which low-level agents control basic actions and are controlled by a high-level agent. The low level has two agents called a guidance agent and an evasion agent, which are trained in simple scenarios and embedded in the high-level agent. The high level has a policy selector agent, which chooses one of the low-level agents to activate at each decision moment. The reward functions for each agent are different, considering the guidance accuracy, flight time, and energy consumption metrics, as well as a field-of-view constraint. Simulation shows that the PPO algorithm without a hierarchical structure cannot complete the task, while the hierarchical PPO algorithm has a 100% success rate on a test dataset. The agent shows good adaptability and strong robustness to the second-order lag of autopilot and measurement noises. Compared with a traditional guidance law, the reinforcement learning guidance law has satisfactory guidance accuracy and significant advantages in average time and average energy consumption.
Humoral immunity after second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine in Japanese communities: an observational cross-sectional study, Fukushima Vaccination Community Survey
Authors: Kobashi Yurie , Kawamura Takeshi , Shimazu Yuzo , Zhao Tianchen , Sugiyama Akira , Nakayama Aya , Kaneko Yudai , Nishikawa Yoshitaka , Omata Fumiya , Takita Morihito , Yamamoto Chika , Yoshida Makoto , Kosaka Makoto , Murayama Anju , Sugiura Sota , Tanaka Manato , Kawashima Moe , Uchi Yuna , Shindo Joji , Oikawa Tomoyoshi , Shibuya Kenji , Kodama Tatsuhiko , Tsubokura Masaharu
Published: November 2022

To reveal waning humoral immunity after second dose BNT162b2 vaccinations in a rural Japanese community and determine factors affecting antibody titers. We aimed to report Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1) protein levels and neutralizing activity in a large scale community based cohort. Methods: Participants in the observational cross-sectional study received a second dose of vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) and were not previously infected with COVID-19. Questionnaire-collected data on sex, age, adverse vaccine reactions, and medical history was obtained. Results: Data from 2496 participants revealed that older age groups reached a low antibody titer 90–120 days after the second vaccination. Neutralizing activity decreased with age; 35 (13.3%) of those aged ≥ 80 years had neutralizing activity under the cut-off value. Neutralizing activity > 179 days from the second vaccination was 11.6% compared to that at < 60 days from the second vaccination. Significantly lower IgG antibody titers and neutralizing activity were associated with age, male sex, increased time from second vaccination, smoking, steroids, immunosuppression, and comorbidities. Conclusions: Antibody titer decreased substantially over time. Susceptible populations, older people, men, smokers, steroid users, immunosuppression users, and people with three or more comorbidities may require a special protection strategy.
Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion
Authors: Butler-Valverde Miranda J. , DeVault Travis L. , Rhodes Olin E. , Beasley James C.
Published: November 2022

The selection or avoidance of certain carrion resources by vertebrate scavengers can alter the flow of nutrients in ecosystems. Evidence suggests higher trophic level carrion is scavenged by fewer vertebrate species and persists longer when compared to lower trophic level carrion, although it is unclear how scavengers distinguish between carcasses of varying species. To investigate carnivore carrion avoidance and explore sensory recognition mechanisms in scavenging species, we investigated scavenger use of intact and altered (i.e., skin, head, and feet removed) coyote—Canis latrans(carnivore) and wild pig—Sus scrofa(omnivore) carcasses experimentally placed at the Savannah River Site, SC, USA. We predicted carnivore carcasses would persist longer due to conspecific and intraguild scavenger avoidance. Further, we hypothesized visually modifying carcasses would not reduce avoidance of carnivore carrion, given scavengers likely depend largely on chemical cues when assessing carrion resources. As expected, mammalian carnivores largely avoided scavenging on coyote carcasses, resulting in carnivore carcasses having longer depletion times than wild pig carcasses at intact and altered trials. Therefore, nutrients derived from carnivore carcasses are not as readily incorporated into higher trophic levels and scavengers largely depend on olfactory cues when assessing benefits and risks associated with varying carrion resources.
Exposure to family planning messages and contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional program impact evaluation study
Authors: Dwomoh Duah , Amuasi Susan Ama , Amoah Emefa Modey , Gborgbortsi Winfred , Tetteh John
Published: November 2022

Many women of reproductive age in sub Saharan Africa are not utilizing any contraceptive method which is contributing to the high burden of maternal mortality. This study determined the prevalence, trends, and the impact of exposure to family planning messages (FPM) on contraceptive use (CU) among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We utilized the most recent data from demographic and health surveys across 26 SSA countries between 2013 and 2019. We assessed the prevalence and trends and quantified the impact of exposure to FPM on contraceptive use using augmented inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment. Sensitivity analysis of the impact estimate was conducted using endogenous treatment effect models, inverse probability weighting, and propensity score with nearest-neighbor matching techniques. The study involved 328,386 women of reproductive age. The overall prevalence of CU and the percentage of women of reproductive age in SSA exposed to FPM were 31.1% (95% CI 30.6–31.5) and 38.9% (95% CI 38.8–39.4) respectively. Exposure to FPM increased CU by 7.1 percentage points (pp) (95% CI 6.7, 7.4; p < 0.001) among women of reproductive age in SSA. The impact of FPM on CU was highest in Central Africa (6.7 pp; 95% CI 5.7–7.7; p < 0.001) and lowest in Southern Africa (2.2 pp; 95% CI [1.3–3.0; p < 0.001). There was a marginal decline in the impact estimate among adolescents (estimate = 6.0 pp; 95% CI 5.0, 8.0; p < 0.001). Exposure to FPM has contributed to an increase in CU among women of reproductive age. Programs that are geared towards intensifying exposure to FPM through traditional media in addition to exploring avenues for promoting the appropriate use of family planning method using electronic media remain critical.
Incidence of antibiotic resistance genotypes of Vibrio species recovered from selected freshwaters in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Adesiyan Ibukun M. , Bisi-Johnson Mary A. , Okoh Anthony I.
Published: November 2022

Vibrio species are classified as potent hazards because of their tendency to effect serious diseases like cholera and other gastrointestinal ailments in humans, as well as vibriosis in fish. A total of 144 freshwater samples were aseptically collected monthly across four rivers (Asejire, Ona, Dandaru and Erinle rivers) over a 12-month period from which Vibrio spp. were isolated using culture procedures, confirmed by means of biochemical test as well as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay and further characterized for their phenotypic antibiotic susceptibilities and relevant antimicrobial resistant determinants by PCR. Three hundred and fifteen (58%) isolates confirmed across the sampled sites (Asejire = 75, Dandaru = 87, Eleyele = 72, Erinle = 81) showed high resistance against erythromycin—95%, Sulphamethoxazole—94%, rifampicin—92%, doxycycline—82%, tetracycline—75%, amoxicillin—45%, cephalothin—43% and varied susceptibilities to other antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistance indices of 97% of the Vibrio isolates were above the 0.2 threshold limit with MAR phenotype pattern E-SUL-RF-TET-DOX (0.38) found to be the most prevalent pattern among the isolates. The distributions of resistance determinant of the tested antibiotics were revealed as follows: sulII 33%, sulI 19% (sulfonamides); blaOXA 27%, ampC 39%, blapse 11% (beta-lactams); tetA 28%, tetE 20%, tet39 8%, (tetracyclines) and strA 39%. aacC2 24%, aphA1 14% (aminoglycosides). Strong positive associations were observed among tetA, sulI, tetE and sulII. This study raises concerns as these selected rivers may contribute to the environmental spread of waterborne diseases and antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, we recommend environmental context-tailored strategies for monitoring and surveillance of resistance genes so as to safeguard the environment from becoming reservoirs of virulent and infectious Vibrio species.
The passivity breakdown of zinc antimony alloy as an anode in the alkaline batteries
Authors: El-Sayed Abd El-Rahman , Shilkamy Hoda A. El-Shafy , Elrouby Mahmoud
Published: November 2022

Zn is utilized as an anode in alkaline batteries because of its propensity to produce a passive colloidal layer on its surface. Then the surface should be reactivated in the passive region. Therefore, the passive state on the surface can be significantly hindered by utilizing a tiny percentage of Sb alloyed with Zn. Accordingly, the effect of minor Sb alloying with Zn on the performance of anodic dissolution and passivation in concentrated alkaline media (6 M KOH, which is used in the batteries) was studied using potentiodynamic and potentiostatic techniques. Besides, the passive layers formed at various anodic potentials were characterized utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The data of potentiodynamic measurements exhibited the active–passive transition curve of all studied specimens. All obtained results revealed that passivation is gradually hindered with increasing Sb content in the alloy, and less passivity was obtained at 1% Sb. Along this, a dramatic rise in current density at a particular positive potential (+ 2.0 V vs. SCE) to markedly higher values only of the electrodes containing Sb is observed.
Cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty-induced clinical resolution of disc herniation in patients with single- to three-level myelopathy
Authors: Zhang Chunlin , Fu Su , Yan Xu , Li Dongzhe , Ning Yongming , Dong Chao , Wang Yongkui , Feng Yang
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to explore the effects on resorption of cervical disc herniation (CDH) and clinical outcomes of surgery. Cervical microendoscopic laminoplasty (CMEL), which is commonly preferable to anterior corpectomy and fusion, was applied to patients with 1- to 3-level degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). DCM patients with 1–3 levels DCM underwent either conservation treatment or CMEL. In conservation-treated patients (53 cases), CDH volume remained unchanged with no improvement in JOA and VAS scores. Conversely, 63 patients with 1–3 levels DCM were prospectively enrolled and exhibited a profound decrease in CDH volume: 89.1% of CDHs (123/138) regressed over 10%, 64.5% of CDHs (89/138) regressed over 25%, while 27.5% and 6.5% of CDHs (38/138 and 9/138) largely regressed over 50% and 75%, respectively. Meanwhile, the JOA and VAS scores were improved in different ways. Intriguingly, CDH volume changes correlated significantly with elevations in JOA scores, indicating an association of clinical CDH resolution with neurological recovery. We showed that CMEL induced clinically related diminishment of CDH and alleviation of clinical symptoms in patients with 1- to 3-level myelopathy and that it could help avoid anterior dissection of the disc to some extent.
Excitons and light-emission in semiconducting MoSi2X4 two-dimensional materials
Authors: Sun Minglei , Re Fiorentin Michele , Schwingenschlögl Udo , Palummo Maurizia
Published: November 2022

Semiconducting two-dimensional materials with chemical formula MoSi2X4 (X = N, P, or As) are studied by means of atomistic ground- and excited-state first-principles simulations. Full-fledged quasi-particle bandstructures within the G0W0 approach substantially correct the electronic bandgaps previously obtained with hybrid-functional density functional theory and highlight the absence of lateral valleys close in energy to the conduction band minimum. By solving the Bethe–Salpeter equation, we show that the optical properties are dominated by strongly bound excitons with the absorbance and maximum short-circuit current densities of MoSi2P4 and MoSi2As4 comparable to those of transition metal dichalcogenides. Due to the presence of the outer SiX layers, the exciton binding energies are smaller than those generally found for transition metal dichalcogenides. Long radiative lifetimes of bright excitons, over 10 ns at room temperature for MoSi2As4, and the absence of band-nesting are very promising for application in efficient ultra-thin optoelectronic devices.
An LH1–RC photocomplex from an extremophilic phototroph provides insight into origins of two photosynthesis proteins
Authors: Tani Kazutoshi , Kanno Ryo , Kurosawa Keigo , Takaichi Shinichi , Nagashima Kenji V. P. , Hall Malgorzata , Yu Long-Jiang , Kimura Yukihiro , Madigan Michael T. , Mizoguchi Akira , Humbel Bruno M. , Wang-Otomo Zheng-Yu
Published: November 2022

Rhodopila globiformis is the most acidophilic of anaerobic purple phototrophs, growing optimally in culture at pH 5. Here we present a cryo-EM structure of the light-harvesting 1–reaction center (LH1–RC) complex from Rhodopila globiformis at 2.24 Å resolution. All purple bacterial cytochrome (Cyt, encoded by the gene pufC) subunit-associated RCs with known structures have their N-termini truncated. By contrast, the Rhodopila globiformis RC contains a full-length tetra-heme Cyt with its N-terminus embedded in the membrane forming an α-helix as the membrane anchor. Comparison of the N-terminal regions of the Cyt with PufX polypeptides widely distributed in Rhodobacter species reveals significant structural similarities, supporting a longstanding hypothesis that PufX is phylogenetically related to the N-terminus of the RC-bound Cyt subunit and that a common ancestor of phototrophic Proteobacteria contained a full-length tetra-heme Cyt subunit that evolved independently through partial deletions of its pufC gene. Eleven copies of a novel γ-like polypeptide were also identified in the bacteriochlorophyll a-containing Rhodopila globiformis LH1 complex; γ-polypeptides have previously been found only in the LH1 of bacteriochlorophyll b-containing species. These features are discussed in relation to their predicted functions of stabilizing the LH1 structure and regulating quinone transport under the warm acidic conditions.
Variance of fluctuations from Noether invariance
Authors: Hermann Sophie , Schmidt Matthias
Published: November 2022

The strength of fluctuations, as measured by their variance, is paramount in the quantitative description of a large class of physical systems, ranging from simple and complex liquids to active fluids and solids. Fluctuations originate from the irregular motion of thermal degrees of freedom and statistical mechanics facilitates their description. Here we demonstrate that fluctuations are constrained by the inherent symmetries of the given system. For particle-based classical many-body systems, Noether invariance at second order in the symmetry parameter leads to exact sum rules. These identities interrelate the global force variance with the mean potential energy curvature. Noether invariance is restored by an exact balance between these distinct mechanisms. The sum rules provide a practical guide for assessing and constructing theories, for ensuring self-consistency in simulation work, and for providing a systematic pathway to the theoretical quantification of fluctuations.
ADRA1A–Gαq signalling potentiates adipocyte thermogenesis through CKB and TNAP
Authors: Rahbani Janane F. , Scholtes Charlotte , Lagarde Damien M. , Hussain Mohammed F. , Roesler Anna , Dykstra Christien B. , Bunk Jakub , Samborska Bozena , O’Brien Shannon L. , Tripp Emma , Pacis Alain , Angueira Anthony R. , Johansen Olivia S. , Cinkornpumin Jessica , Hossain Ishtiaque , Lynes Matthew D. , Zhang Yang , White Andrew P. , Pastor William A. , Chondronikola Maria , Sidossis Labros , Klein Samuel , Kralli Anastasia , Cypess Aaron M. , Pedersen Steen B. , Jessen Niels , Tseng Yu-Hua , Gerhart-Hines Zachary , Seale Patrick , Calebiro Davide , Giguère Vincent , Kazak Lawrence
Published: November 2022

Noradrenaline (NA) regulates cold-stimulated adipocyte thermogenesis1. Aside from cAMP signalling downstream of β-adrenergic receptor activation, how NA promotes thermogenic output is still not fully understood. Here, we show that coordinated α1-adrenergic receptor (AR) and β3-AR signalling induces the expression of thermogenic genes of the futile creatine cycle2,3, and that early B cell factors, oestrogen-related receptors and PGC1α are required for this response in vivo. NA triggers physical and functional coupling between the α1-AR subtype (ADRA1A) and Gαq to promote adipocyte thermogenesis in a manner that is dependent on the effector proteins of the futile creatine cycle, creatine kinase B and tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase. Combined Gαq and Gαs signalling selectively in adipocytes promotes a continual rise in whole-body energy expenditure, and creatine kinase B is required for this effect. Thus, the ADRA1A–Gαq–futile creatine cycle axis is a key regulator of facultative and adaptive thermogenesis.
International demand for food and services drives environmental footprints of pesticide use
Authors: Tang Fiona H. M. , Malik Arunima , Li Mengyu , Lenzen Manfred , Maggi Federico
Published: November 2022

Pesticides are well-recognised pollutants that threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here we quantify the environmental footprints of pesticide use for 82 countries and territories and eight broad regions using top-down multi-region input-output analysis. Pesticide footprints are expressed as hazard loads that quantify the body weight (bw) of non-target organisms required to absorb pesticide residues without experiencing adverse effects. We show that the world’s consumption in 2015 resulted in 2 Gt-bw of pesticide footprints. Of these, 32% are traded internationally. The global average per-capita pesticide footprint is 0.27 t-bw capita−1y−1, with high-income countries having the largest per-capita footprint. China, Germany, and United Kingdom are the top three net importers of pesticide hazard loads embodied in commodities, while the USA, Brazil, and Spain are the three largest net exporters. Our study highlights the need for policies to target pesticide use reduction while ensuring adverse impacts are not transferred to other nations.
High rates of daytime river metabolism are an underestimated component of carbon cycling
Authors: Tromboni Flavia , Hotchkiss Erin R. , Schechner Anne E. , Dodds Walter K. , Poulson Simon R. , Chandra Sudeep
Published: November 2022

River metabolism and, thus, carbon cycling are governed by gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. Traditionally river metabolism is derived from diel dissolved oxygen concentrations, which cannot resolve diel changes in ecosystem respiration. Here, we compare river metabolism derived from oxygen concentrations with estimates from stable oxygen isotope signatures (δ18O2) from 14 sites in rivers across three biomes using Bayesian inverse modeling. We find isotopically derived ecosystem respiration was greater in the day than night for all rivers (maximum change of 113 g O2 m−2 d−1, minimum of 1 g O2 m−2 d−1). Temperature (20 °C) normalized rates of ecosystem respiration and gross primary production were 1.1 to 87 and 1.5 to 22-fold higher when derived from oxygen isotope data compared to concentration data. Through accounting for diel variation in ecosystem respiration, our isotopically-derived rates suggest that ecosystem respiration and microbial carbon cycling in rivers is more rapid than predicted by traditional methods.
Photostability of luminescent tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl radical enhanced by terminal modification of carbazole donor
Authors: Matsuda Kenshiro , Xiaotian Rui , Nakamura Kazuhiro , Furukori Minori , Hosokai Takuya , Anraku Kosuke , Nakao Kohei , Albrecht Ken
Published: November 2022

Phenyl-ring substitution to the 3,6-position of carbazole donor can enhance the photostability of organic luminescenet radical (TTM) 1 orders of magnitude.
Construction of diverse polycyclic N-heterocycles via cascade allylic amination/Diels–Alder reaction
Authors: Yang Zhenkun , Xie Hongling , Tang Luning , Sun Jianwei , Han Zhengyu , Huang Hai
Published: November 2022

An efficient cascade approach for the construction of nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds from amines tethered with an alkenyl (or alkynyl) group and divinyl carbonates is described.
Construction of naphthalene diimide-based cadmium complexes and their application in iodine adsorption, photochromism, and photocatalysis
Authors: Sun Ming Yang , Bai Feng Ying , Guan Qing Lin , Xing Yong Heng , Xu Fen
Published: November 2022

Two naphthalenediimide-based cadmium complexes with photochromic properties, which have the ability of iodine adsorption and good potential photocatalytic degradation activity for various dyes, were successfully prepared.
Self-assembled systems for artificial photosynthesis
Authors: Campagna Sebastiano , Nastasi Francesco , La Ganga Giuseppina , Serroni Scolastica , Santoro Antonio , Arrigo Antonino , Puntoriero Fausto
Published: November 2022

Some key articles that have recently shown the potential of self-assembly for artificial photosynthesis are discussed; it is shown that emerging properties derived from self-assembly can be useful for designing efficient photocatalytic systems.
Bulky ligands protect molecular ruby from oxygen quenching
Authors: Stein Laura , Wang Cui , Förster Christoph , Resch-Genger Ute , Heinze Katja
Published: November 2022

Steric protection strongly reduces phosphorescence quenching of excited molecular rubies by oxygen. The most bulky ligand enables photoluminescence quantum yields up to 5.1% and lifetimes up to 518 µs in air-saturated acetonitrile.
A reinforced PDMS mold for hot embossing of cyclic olefin polymer in the fabrication of microfluidic chips
Authors: Qin Yuling , Kreutz Jason E. , Schneider Thomas , Yen Gloria S. , Shah Eleanor S. , Wu Li , Chiu Daniel T.
Published: November 2022

A reinforced PDMS mold for hot embossing of cyclic olefin polymer in the fabrication of microfluidic chips was developed, which facilitates the rapid validation of microfluidic designs.
The growth mechanism and intriguing optical and electronic properties of few-layered HfS2
Authors: Singh Jitendra , Shao Jia-Hui , Chen Guan-Ting , Wu Han-Song , Tsai Meng-Lin
Published: November 2022

Due to electronic properties superior to group VIB (Mo and W) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), group IVB (Hf and Zr) TMDs have become intriguing materials in next-generation nanoelectronics.
Evaluation and degradation mechanism of phthalimide derivatives as anolytes for non-aqueous organic static batteries
Authors: Chola Noufal Merukan , Nagarale Rajaram K.
Published: November 2022

Degrading mechanism demonstrates radical's dimerization, leading to an increase in number of OH groups and material's molecular weight. It inhibits undesirable cross-over of electrolytes and stabilises redox molecules through substantial H-bonding.
A nitrogen-based chiral catenane for enantioenriching photocatalytic aerobic oxidation
Authors: Kazem-Rostami Masoud
Published: November 2022

Tröger's base's chirality merges catenanes’ photosensitizing characteristics to introduce the first nitrogen-based chiral hetero[2]catenane that proceeds enantioenriching photocatalytic aerobic oxidations.
Anticancer activity of Pt-selenolate metallacycles
Authors: Pal M. K. , Majumdar A. G. , Vivekananda K. V. , Wadawale A. P. , Subramanian M. , Bhuvanesh N. , Dey S.
Published: November 2022

Cationic Pt metallacycles of 4-pyridylselenolate were developed, and showed improved anti-proliferative activity, induction of apoptosis and DNA damage compared to cisplatin and neutral complexes.
Highly selective production of the biofuel 2,5-dimethylfuran from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over Co/N–C catalysts
Authors: Zeng Zhijuan , Yang Liu , Zhu Xiaoting , Zhao Wenguang , Liu Xianxiang , Huang Zexing , Xu Qiong , Zhong Wenzhou
Published: November 2022

Co/N–C catalysts exhibited superior catalytic performance for the efficient and selective hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into the biofuel 2,5-dimethylfuran.
Review of analytical techniques for arsenic detection and determination in drinking water
Authors: Bhat Abhijnan , Hara Tony O , Tian Furong , Singh Baljit
Published: November 2022

This review presents an overview of various analytical techniques for arsenic determination in drinking water, and will enhance awareness and appreciation of their role in informing and protecting our environment and water resources, globally.
IL-33 induces granzyme C expression in murine mast cells via an MSK1/2-CREB-dependent pathway
Authors: Phair Iain R. , Sumoreeah Megan C. , Scott Niamh , Spinelli Laura , Arthur J. Simon C.
Published: November 2022

Granzymes comprise a group of proteases involved in the killing of infected or cancerous cells by the immune system. Although best studied in T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, they are also expressed in some innate immune cells. Granzymes B and C are encoded in the mouse chymase locus that also encodes a number of mast cell-specific proteases. In line with this, mast cells can express granzyme B, although how this is regulated and their ability to express other granzymes is less well studied. We therefore examined how IL-33, a cytokine able to activate mast cells but not induce degranulation, regulated granzyme B and C levels in mast cells. Granzyme C, but not B, mRNA was strongly up-regulated in bone marrow-derived mast cells following IL-33 stimulation and there was a corresponding increase in granzyme C protein. These increases in both granzyme C mRNA and protein were blocked by a combination of the p38α/β MAPK inhibitor VX745 and the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352, which blocks the activation of ERK1/2. ERK1/2 and p38α activate the downstream kinases, mitogen and stress-activated kinases (MSK) 1 and 2, and IL-33 stimulated the phosphorylation of MSK1 and its substrate CREB in an ERK1/2 and p38-dependent manner. The promoter for granzyme C contains a potential CREB-binding site. Bone marrow-derived mast cells from either MSK1/2 double knockout or CREB Ser133Ala knockin mice were unable to up-regulate granzyme C. Together these results indicate that IL-33-induced granzyme C expression in mast cells is regulated by an MSK1/2-CREB-dependent pathway.
Nano‐gold micelles loaded Dox and Elacridar for reversing drug resistance of breast cancer
Authors: Wen Liu‐Jing , Wang Yue‐Sheng , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to provide a new effective carrier for rescuing the sensitivity of drug‐resistant in breast cancer cells. Nano‐gold micelles loaded with Dox and Elacridar (FP‐ssD@A‐E) were chemically synthesised. With the increase in the amount of Dox and Elacridar, the encapsulation rate of FP‐ssD@A‐E gradually increased, and the drug loading rate gradually decreased. FP‐ss@A‐E had a sustained‐release effect. Dox, Elacridar, FP‐ss@AuNPs, and FP‐ssD@A‐E significantly improved cell apoptosis, in which, FP‐ssD@A‐E was the most significant. FP‐ssD@A‐E significantly decreased the cell viability and improved the Dox uptake. The levels of VEGFR‐1, P‐gp, IL‐6, and i‐NOS were significantly decreased after Dox, Dox + Elacridar, FP‐ss@AuNPs, and FP‐ssD@A‐E treatment. It was worth noting that FP‐ssD@A‐E had the most significant effects. The prepared FP‐ssD@A‐E micelles, which were spherical in shape, uniform in particle size distribution, and had good drug loading performance and encapsulation efficiency.
Time-dependent Monte Carlo continuum radiative transfer
Authors: Bensberg A. , Wolf S.
Published: November 2022

Context. Variability is a characteristic feature of young stellar objects that is caused by various underlying physical processes. Multi-epoch observations in the optical and infrared combined with radiative transfer simulations are key to study these processes in detail.

Aims. We present an implementation of an algorithm for 3D time-dependent Monte Carlo radiative transfer. It allows one to simulate temperature distributions as well as images and spectral energy distributions of the scattered light and thermal reemission radiation for variable illuminating and heating sources embedded in dust distributions, such as circumstellar disks and dust shells on time scales up to weeks.

Methods. We extended the publicly available 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code POLARIS with efficient methods for the simulation of temperature distributions, scattering, and thermal reemission of dust distributions illuminated by temporally variable radiation sources. The influence of the chosen temporal step width and the number of photon packages per time step as key parameters for a given configuration is shown by simulating the temperature distribution in a spherical envelope around an embedded central star. The effect of the optical depth on the temperature simulation is discussed for the spherical envelope as well as for a model of a circumstellar disk with an embedded star. Finally, we present simulations of an outburst of a star surrounded by a circumstellar disk.

Results. The presented algorithm for time-dependent 3D continuum Monte Carlo radiative transfer is a valuable basis for preparatory studies as well as for the analysis of continuum observations of the dusty environment around variable sources, such as accreting young stellar objects. In particular, the combined study of light echos in the optical and near-infrared wavelength range and the corresponding time-dependent thermal reemission observables of variable, for example outbursting sources, becomes possible on all involved spatial scales.
Star formation in IC1396: Kinematics and subcluster structure revealed by Gaia
Authors: Pelayo-Baldárrago Mara E. , Sicilia-Aguilar Aurora , Fang Min , Roccatagliata Veronica , Kim Jinyoung Serena , García-Álvarez David
Published: November 2022

Aims. We investigate the star formation history of the IC1396 region by studying its kinematics and completing the population census.

Methods. We used multiwavelength data, combining optical spectroscopy to identify and classify new members and near-infrared photometry to trace shocks, jets, and outflows as well as the interactions between the cluster members and the cloud. We also used Gaia EDR3 data to identify new potential members in the multidimensional proper motion and parallax space.

Results. The revised Gaia EDR3 distance is 925±73 pc, slightly closer than previously obtained with DR2. The Gaia data reveal four distinct subclusters in the region. These subclusters are consistent in distance but display differences in proper motion. This result, with their age differences, hints toward a complex and varied star formation history. The Gaia data also unveil intermediate-mass objects that tend to evade spectroscopic and disk surveys. Our analysis has allowed us to identify 334 new members. We estimate an average age of ∼4 Myr, confirming previous age estimates. With the new members added to our study, we estimate a disk fraction of 28%, lower than previous values, due to our method detecting mainly new, diskless, intermediate-mass stars. We find age differences between the subclusters, which offers evidence of a complex star formation history with different episodes of star formation.
Evolution of oxide and sulfide inclusions during the production of an Al-killed free-cutting steel
Authors: Wei Hong , Gao Xiaoyong , Ren Qiang , Zhang Lifeng
Published: November 2022

The evolution of oxide and sulfide inclusions during the refining, continuous casting, and rolling of an aluminum-killed free-cutting steel was investigated. The composition, morphology, size, number density, and area fraction of inclusions in the steel were detected, and showed a remarkable variation during each production step of the steel. After the addition of ferroalloys into the molten steel during LF process, the content of CaO in oxide inclusions increased from 1.32 wt.% to 4.35 wt.% and that of CaS increased from 3.12 wt.% to 13.86 wt.%. During vacuum degassing process, the removal fraction of inclusions from the steel was approximately 40.9% and 52.9% for the number density and area fraction, respectively. With a proper amount of calcium addition, the elongation of MnS inclusions in the steel after rolling was efficiently decreased, which was predicted using thermodynamics calculation in the current paper.
Probleme der Digitalisierung sowie Protest gegen das Finanzstabilisierungsgesetz
Authors: Sucker Christoph , Koscielny Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Wiederholt hatte der Vorstand des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Hämostaseologen (BDDH) in Übereinstimmung mit anderen Berufs- und Ärzteverbänden auf die massiven Probleme der Digitalisierung im Gesundheitswesen hingewiesen. Ärzte waren sich weitgehend einig, dass die Digitalisierung in der aktuellen Form aufgrund fehlender Akzeptanz und massiven technischen Problemen nicht umsetzbar sein wird und zum Scheitern verurteilt ist.
Wenn Fremdbestimmung im Gesetz großgeschrieben wird
Authors: Hüsken Johann-Moritz , Isfort Michael , Sachs Susanne
Published: November 2022

Tatort außerklinische Intensivpflege: Skandalmeldungen über eine „Pflegemafia“, „schwarze Schafe“, Abrechnungsbetrug und fehlende Qualitätsstandards sind medial immer wieder im Fokus. Ein Aufschrei nach Reformen ist zu hören. Vulnerable Personen sind sich selbst und dem Markt überlassen. Eine Nachschärfung der Sozialgesetzgebung soll Abhilfe leisten. Doch was ist, wenn die Gesetzgebung nicht zur Versorgungsrealität passt?
Modular Synthesis of New Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Derivatives
Authors: Daumann Lena J. , Janßen Rachel , Vetsova Violeta A. , Putz Dominik , Mayer Peter
Published: November 2022

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an important cofactor of methanol dehydrogenases and glycose dehydrogenases. In addition, isolated PQQ is used as a central component in sensors and biomimetic complexes. The synthesis of PQQ derivatives is of interest for developing new alcohol oxidation catalysts and redox sensors. This work describes a modular synthesis for derivatives of PQQ bearing methyl and ketone groups instead of carboxylic acid moieties. These modifications reduce the possible coordination sites of PQQ for metal ions outside the protein environment.
Mortality of Escalation and Modulation Antithrombotic Therapy in Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Shao Qiao-Yu , Wang Zhi-Jian , Ma Xiao-Teng , Wang Yu-Fei , Li Qiu-Xuan , Yang Zhi Qiang , Lin Xu-Ze , Pan Liu , Gao Fei , Yang Li Xia , Liang Jing , Zhou Yu-Jie
Published: November 2022

Background The net clinical benefit of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) reflects the concomitant effects of bleeding and ischemic events.

Objectives We sought to assess the overall effect of the modulation or escalation of ATT on all-cause mortality as well as ischemic and bleeding events.

Methods We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing escalation or modulation of ATT versus standard ATT in patients with coronary artery disease. A total of 32 studies with 160,659 subjects were enrolled in this analysis.

Results Neither escalation nor modulation of ATT has significant effect on all-cause mortality (escalation: relative risk [RR]: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85–1.04; modulation: RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.81–1.01). Compared with standard ATT therapy, escalation of ATT was associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction (MI; RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76–0.94), but had a higher risk of major or minor bleeding (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.15–1.66). Modulation of ATT was associated with a similar risk of MI (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.96–1.19), but a reduced risk for major or minor bleeding (RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.51–0.66). Meta-regression combining both escalation and modulation studies found that the heterogeneity of all-cause mortality was mainly attributed to the heterogeneity of major or minor bleeding (adjusted R-squared = 100.00%, p = 0.004), but not to MI.

Conclusion Either escalation or modulation of ATT has little benefit in all-cause mortality. The variability of the treatment effects on all-cause mortality was mainly attributed to the variability of major or minor bleeding, but not to MI.
Degenerate response tori in Hamiltonian systems with higher zero-average perturbation
Authors: Si Wen , Guan Xinyu
Published: November 2022

Consider a normally degenerate Hamiltonian system with the following Hamiltonian H(θ,I,x,y,ϵ)=ω,I+λxn+1n+1+y22+ϵP(θ,x,y),(θ,I,x,y)∈Td×Rd+2, which is associated with the standard symplectic form dθ ∧ dI ∧ dx ∧ dy, where 0≠λ∈R and n > 1 is an integer. The existence of response tori for the degenerate Hamiltonian system has already been proved by Si and Yi [Nonlinearity 33, 6072–6098 (2020)] if [∂P(θ,0,0)∂x] satisfies some non-zero conditions, see condition (H) in the work of Si and Yi [Nonlinearity 33, 6072–6098 (2020)], where [·] denotes the average value of a continuous function on Td. However, when [∂P(θ,0,0)∂x]=0, no results were given by Si and Yi [Nonlinearity 33, 6072–6098 (2020)] for response tori of the above system. This paper attempts at carrying out this work in this direction. More precisely, with 2p < n, if P satisfies [∂jP(θ,0,0)∂xj]=0 for j = 1, 2, …, p and either λ−1[∂p+1P(θ,0,0)∂xp+1]<0 as n − p is even or λ−1[∂p+1P(θ,0,0)∂xp+1]≠0 as n − p is odd, we obtain the following results: (1) For λ̃<0 [see λ̃ in (2.1)] and ϵ sufficiently small, response tori exist for each ω satisfying a Brjuno-type non-resonant condition. (2) For λ̃>0 and ϵ* sufficiently small, there exists a Cantor set E∈(0,ϵ*) with almost full Lebesgue measure such that response tori exist for each ϵ∈E if ω satisfies a Diophantine condition. In the case where λ−1[∂p+1P(θ,0,0)∂xp+1]>0 and n − p is even, we prove that the system admits no response tori in most regions. The present paper is regarded as a continuation of work by Si and Yi [Nonlinearity 33, 6072–6098 (2020)].