bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blind key-generation attribute-based encryption for general predicates
Authors: Abe Masayuki , Ambrona Miguel
Published: August 2022

Attribute-based encryption (ABE) is a form of public-key encryption that allows fine-grained access control on encrypted data. Blind key-generation (BKG) attribute-based encryption (Rial,Designs, Codes and Cryptography 2016) is a variant in which the master authority issues secret keys without learning any information about the attributes associated to them. This extra functionality makes it an appealing building block for several applications. In this work, we extend the generic framework of ABE based on pair encodings (Attrapadung,Eurocrypt 2014) to support blind key-generation. In particular, we define two new notions of pair encodings that we coinBKG-compatibleandalgebraicpair encoding. We show that every encoding satisfies the former without loss of generality, whereas the latter is satisfied by all existing pair encodings from the literature. We then show how to enhance any ABE based on a BKG-compatible pair encoding to achieve honest-but-curious blind key-generation. In the case of algebraic encodings, our protocol admits a very efficient version, secure against malicious parties. The main advantage of our work is generality. Our protocol is designed over the recent and most advanced modular frameworks of ABE that can handle a rich variety of predicates.
Multivariate statistics explaining groundwater chemistry, Asyut, Egypt
Authors: Said Ibrahim , Abd-Elgawad Amr N. , Seleem El-Montser M. , Zeid Salah A. M. , Salman Salman A.
Published: August 2022

Groundwater is an important source for domestic and irrigation purposes in Asyut area. Water quality varied widely due to complex geochemical processes and pollution sources. Understanding the processes controlling groundwater chemistry is necessary to overcome related problems. Multivariate statistics revealed that groundwater is affected by anthropogenic recharge (agricultural/organic pollution), mineralization, and redox processes. Contributions from natural vs. anthropogenic sources explain the variance in hydrochemical data. Shallow wells are relatively higher in bicarbonate content due to oxidation of organic pollutants. Shallow wells anomaly high with iron and organically polluted are most probably owing to pipe corrosion in residential areas. N fertilization impact on natural weathering has been demonstrated. Groundwater is getting more mineralized toward desert fringes due to lithological and hydrogeological characteristics under unconfined conditions. Evaporation factor enhances groundwater salinity under aridity. Fe and Mn contents are relatively higher as the redox potential is getting more reducing. The current study will help in building suitable management plan to protect the aquifer.
Surface roughness and its structural orientation caused by internal microstructural changes in mechanically stressed copper conductors
Authors: Baron Philipp , Lenz Philipp , Schomer Maria , Koch Klaus Peter , Wittmann Armin , Fischer Georg
Published: August 2022

In this paper, the mechanical damage behavior is investigated based on the characteristic roughness on the surface and the orientation of superficial structures. The main goal is to explore the surface roughness on mechanically loaded copper conductors as a lifetime indicator. For this purpose, copper conductors are mechanically stressed in accordance with EN 50,396 and then examined metallographically and microscopically. The microstructure examination shows that the roughness is caused by material extrusion and cracks due to work hardening in the surface area. Using confocal microscopy, it is shown for the first time that significant formation of surface roughness takes place over the service life of copper conductors. The roughness increases monotonically, but not linearly with number of cycles, due to internal microstructural processes and can be divided into three sections. First inspections of the conductor surface over lifetime show a correlation between the intensity of structures orientated 45° to the loading direction and the roughness. This phenomenon, already known from microscopic slip lines, is thus also evident in macroscopic roughness formation and is well founded by the research theory on material extrusion along dislocation lines. In summary, a lifetime determination is possible based on its developing roughness which enables the utilization as a sensor element.

Graphical abstract
Effect of Cu Additions on Scale Structure and Descaling Efficiency of Low C Steel Reheated in a Combustion Gas Atmosphere
Authors: Osei Richard , Lekakh Simon , O’Malley Ronald
Published: August 2022

Modern EAF steelmaking employs scrap as its primary source of raw material. Different sources of scrap have varying levels of residuals, which can negatively influence product properties, performance, and surface quality. The presence of some residuals, such as Cu and Ni in controlled quantities, can also positively impact steel performance for some applications. It is also well known that interactions between residuals and alloying elements in steel can modify the structure of scale formed during slab reheating prior to hot rolling. These changes in the scale structure can influence scale removability. In this study, the effect of varying Cu concentrations in a low alloyed Mn and Si containing steel was examined to investigate its impact on scale removability. Laboratory studies were performed with simulated reheating and descaling conditions that mimic the conditions used in industrial practices. The scale structure that formed during reheating in the combustion atmosphere was investigated using SEM/EDX analysis. A special laboratory water jet descaling device was used to evaluate scale removability at three different hydraulic impact factors. The results showed that Cu at different levels significantly modified scale structure that formed, particularly the internal scale layers, which affected scale removability at different applied descaling impact factors. The effects of Cu level and descaling impact factor on scale removability is discussed.
Successful patenting—not only how, but with whom: the importance of patent attorneys
Authors: Klincewicz Krzysztof , Szumiał Szymon
Published: August 2022

The role of patent attorneys is usually overlooked in empirical analyses of patents. Using a large dataset of Polish patent applications, 2006–2015, and the econometric model of logistic regression with interactions, the article identifies factors contributing to the successful patenting outcomes. Patents are more likely to be granted for applications filed by multiple applicants, particularly if a scientific organization is involved. Industry, region and decisions to apply for international protection were found as relevant variables affecting the patent grants. The involvement of attorneys was found to be a strong predictor of the outcome, and the study considered multiple variables characterizing the prior experience of attorneys, including their performance, effectiveness, work with scientific or business clients and support for patent applications that were also filed for international protection. The findings offer novel insights into sources of patenting success, indicating that it’s not only important how the patent applications are drafted and what their detailed contents are, but also who exactly prepares them.
Debating as a Deliberative Instrument in Educational Practice
Authors: Graff Joris
Published: August 2022

In recent decades, deliberation about public issues has become a central theme in citizenship education. In line with an increasing philosophical and political appreciation of the importance of deliberation within democracy, schools, as training grounds for democratic citizenship, should foster high-level deliberative skills. However, when this insight is translated into practical formats, these formats suffer from a number of shortcomings. Specifically, they can be criticised on philosophical grounds for advantaging select societal groups, and on empirical grounds for facilitating groupthink mechanisms. This paper aims to address these shortcomings by suggesting a role for debating techniques within deliberative education. Because debating stimulates the contestation of diverse opinions, it may counteract the silencing of minority viewpoints and the proliferation of groupthink. At the same time, debating-based formats must be closely regulated in order to not imperil compromise formation. A concrete format is presented that balances these considerations and may therefore contribute to more effective deliberation in the classroom.
Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Neurocognitive Disorders and Caregiver Health
Authors: Nguyen Sarah A. , Oughli Hanadi Ajam , Lavretsky Helen
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

Integrative medicine is the practice of combining conventional medical treatments with “alternative” or “complementary” therapies. Integrative psychiatry is a holistic, person-centered approach to neuropsychiatric disorders that emphasizes a person’s physical, emotional, interpersonal, behavioral, nutritional, environmental, and spiritual dimensions to achieve well-being. Older adults are more prone to physical injury, interpersonal loss, chronic illnesses, and physical and cognitive decline that can manifest as anxiety, depression, with functional decline and inability to care for self. Additionally, stress of caring for older adults with dementia can adversely affect caregivers’ health. Although integrative approaches are perceived as safer and less stigmatizing, it is important to understand the risks and benefits of such therapies for older adults with neurocognitive disorders and their caregivers.

Recent Findings

Here, we summarize the results of the recent clinical trials and meta-analyses that provide evidence for integrative approaches to treating older adults with cognitive disorders and their caregivers which include the use of diet and supplements, and mind–body therapies.

Summary

Dietary and mind-body therapies have become increasingly popular and show the strongest evidence of effectiveness for cognitive disorders and caregiver stress. Vitamins and supplements are the most popular integrative intervention, but there is mixed evidence supporting their use and the concern for herb (supplement)-drug interactions. While there is increasing popularity of integrative treatments, information to guide clinicians providing care for older adults remains limited, with variable scientific rigor of the available RCTs for a large number of commonly used integrative interventions particularly for cognitive disorders and caregiver stress and well-being.
Associations between pre-COVID-19 physical activity profiles and mental wellbeing and quality of life during COVID-19 lockdown among adults
Authors: Dadswell Kara , Bourke Matthew , Maple Jaimie-Lee , Craike Melinda
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has been detrimental to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people across the globe. Regular physical activity has consistently demonstrated an array of health benefits, but the impact of regular physical activity habits pre-pandemic on health and wellbeing during the pandemic is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify distinct pre-COVID-19 lockdown physical activity profiles [i.e., walking, leisure-time moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), domestic MVPA and muscle strengthening exercise] and assess whether these profiles were associated with mental wellbeing and quality of life during COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 442 adults (Mage = 43.97 ± 13.85; 75.6% female) from Melbourne, Australia completed an online questionnaire measuring pre-COVID-19 physical activity, including walking habits, leisure-time MVPA, domestic MVPA, and muscle strengthening exercise – and completed measures of mental wellbeing and health related quality of life. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles that differed in terms of levels of walking, leisure-time MVPA, domestic MVPA and muscle strengthening exercise. Based on the observed pre-COVID-19 lockdown profiles, it appears that high levels of MVPA and muscle strengthening exercise may serve as a protective factor against the potential negative impact of a global pandemic lockdown on mental wellbeing and quality of life.
Personalised federated learning framework for damage detection in structural health monitoring
Authors: Anaissi Ali , Suleiman Basem , Alyassine Widad
Published: August 2022

Data-driven machine learning models, compared to numerical models, demonstrated promising improvements in detecting damage in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. In such approaches, sensors’ data are used to train a model either in a centralized model (server) or locally inside each sensor unit node (client). The centralized learning model often leads to computing and privacy issues such as wireless transmission costs and data-sensitive vulnerability, especially in real-time settings. The decentralized model also poses different challenges such as feature correlations and relationships loss in decentralized learning settings. To handle the shortcomings of both models, we propose a new Personalized federated learning (FL) model augmented with tensor data fusion to learn and detect damage in SHM. Our approach employs FL which enables the central machine learning model to gain experience from diverse datasets located at different sensor locations. Furthermore, our proposed model addresses the problems associated non-i.i.d. data by employing the Moreau envelopes as a regularized loss function in the learning process of client’s models. Our methods help in decoupling the client models from the central one which improves personalized in FL. Our experimental evaluation on real structural datasets demonstrates promising damage detection accuracy without the need to transmit the actual data to the centralized learning model. The results also show that the data correlations and relationships from all participating sensors are preserved.
Vibration-based and computer vision-aided nondestructive health condition evaluation of rail track structures
Authors: Wang Shaohua , Zheng Hao , Tang Lihua , Li Zhaoyu , Zhao Renda , Lu Yuqian , Aw Kean C.
Published: August 2022

In railway engineering, monitoring the health condition of rail track structures is crucial to prevent abnormal vibration issues of the wheel–rail system. To address the problem of low efficiency of traditional nondestructive testing methods, this work investigates the feasibility of the computer vision-aided health condition monitoring approach for track structures based on vibration signals. The proposed method eliminates the tedious and complicated data pre-processing including signal mapping and noise reduction, which can achieve robust signal description using numerous redundant features. First, the method converts the raw wheel–rail vibration signals directly into two-dimensional grayscale images, followed by image feature extraction using the FAST-Unoriented-SIFT algorithm. Subsequently, Visual Bag-of-Words (VBoW) model is established based on the image features, where the optimal parameter selection analysis is implemented based on fourfold cross-validation by considering both recognition accuracy and stability. Finally, the Euclidean distance between word frequency vectors of testing set and the codebook vectors of training set is compared to recognize the health condition of track structures. For the three health conditions of track structures analyzed in this paper, the overall recognition rate could reach 96.7%. The results demonstrate that the proposed method performs higher recognition accuracy and lower bias with strong time-varying and random vibration signals, which has promising application prospect in early-stage structural defect detection.
Proliferative effects of nanobubbles on fibroblasts
Authors: Heo Hansol , Park Junseon , Lee Jeong II , Kim Jungho , Park Joong Yull , Kim Jong-Min
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the potential of nanobubbles (NBs) for biological activation has been actively investigated. In this study, we investigated the proliferative effects of nitrogen NBs (N-NBs) on fibroblast cells using cell assays with image analysis and flow cytometry. A high concentration of N-NBs (more than 4 × 108 NBs/mL) was generated in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) using a gas–liquid mixing method. In image analysis, the cells were counted and compared, which showed an 11% increase in cell number in the culture medium with N-NBs. However, in two further cell cytometry analyses, the effect of nanobubbles on cell division was found to be insignificant (approximately 2%); as there is insufficient evidence that N-NB is involved in cell division mechanism, further studies are needed to determine whether NB affects other cellular mechanisms such as apoptosis. This study presents the first successful attempt of directly generating and quantifying N-NBs in a culture medium for cell culture. The findings suggest that the N-NBs in the culture medium can potentially facilitate cell proliferation.
Optimizing Fe0/Ni0/alginate beads as a stable and recoverable catalyst for removing highly toxic water contaminants: full-factorial design
Authors: Radwan E. K. , El-Wakeel S. T. , Abdel-Wahed M. S. , Gad-Allah T. A.
Published: August 2022

Pollution by highly toxic contaminants poses a great threat to the aquatic environment and human life. Bimetallic materials have been proven to be efficient for the removal of such contaminants. In this study, the bimetallic Fe0/Ni0/alginate beads have been prepared using solvothermal technique followed by polymerization of alginate. Full-factorial design has been utilized to optimize the preparation conditions including the weight ratios of Fe and Ni, and time of the solvothermal process. The bimetal made from equal weights of Ni and Fe metals along with alginate has shown the best efficiency for the removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP, ~ 70%) as a model organic pollutant under acidic conditions (pH = 2) with minor contribution of alginate component in the removal process. Adsorption followed by reduction has been defined as the removal mechanism using GC/MS/MS chromatography in the case of 2,4,6-TCP. A mathematical model was established to describe the 2,4,6-TCP removal by the optimally prepared material. Differently, Pb2+ ions were removed predominantly by the alginate with minor effect of the bimetal (max. removal = 96.91% at pH 5 and after 2 h contact time). Accordingly, it was difficult to describe this process by a mathematical model. However, in both cases, the optimally prepared material has exhibited superior stability and reusability rather than the neat Fe0/Ni0 bimetal under the same experimental conditions. To sum up, the designed bimetallic Fe0/Ni0/alginate beads can be considered as an efficient catalyst for the removal of highly toxic pollutants from aqueous media.
Interpolation-based, minimum-time piecewise constant control of linear continuous-time SISO systems
Authors: D’Alfonso Luigi , Fedele Giuseppe , Pugliese Paolo , Vecchio Antonia
Published: August 2022

We present a novel approach to the system inversion problem for linear, scalar (i.e. single-input, single-output, or SISO) plants. The problem is formulated as a constrained optimization program, whose objective function is the transition time between the initial and the final values of the system’s output, and the constraints are (i) a threshold on the input intensity and (ii) the requirement that the system’s output interpolates a given set of points. The system’s input is assumed to be a piecewise constant signal. It is formally proved that, in this frame, the input intensity is a decreasing function of the transition time. This result lets us to propose an algorithm that, by a bisection search, finds the optimal transition time for the given constraints. The algorithm is purely algebraic, and it does not require the system to be minimum phase or nonhyperbolic. It can deal with time-varying systems too, although in this case it has to be viewed as a heuristic technique, and it can be used as well in a model-free approach. Numerical simulations are reported that illustrate its performance. Finally, an application to a mobile robotics problem is presented, where, using a linearizing pre-controller, we show that the proposed approach can be applied also to nonlinear problems.
Comparison of C3 Photosynthetic Responses to Light and CO2 Predicted by the Leaf Photosynthesis Models of Farquhar et al. (1980) and Goudriaan et al. (1985)
Authors: van Diepen K. H. H. , Goudriaan J. , Vilà‐Guerau de Arellano J. , de Boer H. J.
Published: August 2022

The leaf photosynthesis models developed by Farquhar et al. (1980, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386231) (FvCB) and Goudriaan et al. (1985, https://doi.org/10.1007/978‐1‐4899‐3665‐3_10) (G85) are both used in Earth system and weather models to quantify ecosystem carbon assimilation. Despite their common role, a systematic comparison between these two photosynthesis models is currently lacking in scientific literature. In this technical report we compared the two models in a systematic way. Hereto we performed a comparative analysis of the model structures as well as the modeled responses of photosynthesis to light and CO2 at leaf level. To facilitate future model comparison, we also constructed a lookup table that presents FvCB model parameters fitted to CO2‐response curves from G85 in a wide natural range in photosynthetic capacity at standardized temperature. The structure of the FvCB model differs fundamentally from the G85 model as the FvCB model considers rate‐limiting processes due to Rubisco capacity, electron transport and triose phosphate utilization in parallel, whereas the G85 model considers Rubisco activity and triose phosphate utilization limitation to act in series scaled with quantum use efficiency. The models also differ fundamentally in terms of the parametrization of dark respiration. Still, both models calculate near‐similar responses of photosynthesis to changes in light and CO2 across a wide range in photosynthetic capacity with only two free parameters each. Our work thereby highlights functional similarities between these model approaches despite fundamental differences in model structure. Hence, standardized parameter sets that yield similar photosynthesis responses to light and CO2 may facilitate intercomparison of Earth system and weather models.
Assessment of Satellite Precipitation Data Sets for High Variability and Rapid Evolution of Typhoon Precipitation Events in the Philippines
Authors: Aryastana Putu , Liu Chian‐Yi , Jong‐Dao Jou Ben , Cayanan Esperanza , Punay Jason Pajimola , Chen Ying‐Nong
Published: August 2022

Extreme weather events, such as typhoons, have occurred more frequently in the last few decades in the Philippines. The heavy precipitation caused by typhoons is difficult to measure with traditional instruments, such as rain gauges and ground‐based radar because these instruments have an uneven distribution in remote areas. Satellite precipitation data sets (SPDs) provide integrated spatial coverage of rainfall measurements, even for remote areas. However, the speed and direction of the wind has the interaction with terrain, which leads the uncertainty of the SPDs. This study performed sub‐daily assessments of near‐real‐time and high resolution SPDs (i.e., IMERG, GSMaP, and PERSIANN data sets) during five typhoon‐related heavy precipitation events in the Philippines, with the analysis under the impact due to wind and terrain effect. The aforementioned assessments were performed through a point‐to‐grid comparison by using continuous and volumetric statistical validation indices for the 34‐knot wind radii of the typhoons, rainfall intensity, terrain, and wind velocity effects. The results revealed that the IMERG exhibited good agreement with rain gauge measurements and exhibited high performance in detecting rainfall. The GSMaP data set overestimated the gauge observations during peak rainfall, while the IMERG and PERSIANN data sets considerably underestimated rainfall. The GSMaP exhibited the best performance for detecting heavy rainfall at high elevations, whereas IMERG exhibited the best performance for rainfall detection at low elevations. The IMERG exhibited a strong ability to detect heavy rainfall under various wind speeds.
Continuous Enhancements of Electron Temperature in the Subauroral Ionosphere Over Eight Days During the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day Storm
Authors: Huang Chao‐Song , Zhang Yongliang , Wang Wenbin , Wu Qian , Lin Dong
Published: August 2022

We have used measurements of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites to study variations of electron temperature in the subauroral ionosphere during the magnetic storm on 17–25 March 2015. This magnetic storm had a long recovery phase of 7 days, and the ionospheric behavior over the entire storm time was seldom investigated. In this study, we find that the electron temperature at subauroral latitudes was continuously enhanced for 8 days, from the storm onset to the end of the recovery phase. The maximum electron temperature during the storm times was 1000–4000 K higher than the maximum electron temperature during quiet times. This long‐lasting enhancement of subauroral electron temperature was attributed to energy transfer among the solar wind, magnetosphere, ring current, plasmasphere, and ionosphere driven by high‐speed solar wind streams and fluctuating interplanetary magnetic field during the entire 8‐day period of the storm. The electron temperature enhancements were quite symmetric in the post‐midnight sector but became strongly asymmetric near dawn between the southern and northern hemispheres. The asymmetric enhancements of electron temperature near dawn may be related to the magnetic declination and the daytime midlatitude trough in the southern hemisphere. Large daily variations of maximum electron temperature in the post‐midnight sector were observed and may be related to the offset between geomagnetic and geographic latitudes. These DMSP observations provide new insight on ionospheric response to intense magnetic storms.
Geoid Reveals the Density Structure of Cratonic Lithosphere
Authors: Wang Yaoyi , Liu Lijun , Zhou Quan
Published: August 2022

Geoid is a key observable for understanding the dynamics of the deep Earth, but has been considered largely transparent to long‐wavelength shallow density structures, especially those of the cratonic lithosphere. Here, we demonstrate that the observed flat craton‐ocean geoid pattern, traditionally interpreted as reflecting neutrally buoyant cratonic keels, provides critical constraints on both the net buoyancy and the depth‐dependent density distribution of cratonic mantle lithosphere. Using both simple theoretical calculations and quantitative numerical models, we show that the recent seismic data on lithospheric structure require the existence of a dense cratonic mantle lithosphere to explain the observed topography and geoid. In practice, topography reveals the net buoyancy of the cratonic lithosphere, while geoid further delineates the depth‐dependence of excess density. We find that the mantle lithosphere below large cratons bears net negative buoyancy close to that of a pure‐thermal lithosphere, with most of the excess density distributed within the lower half of the lithosphere. Density profiles of small cratons, due to strong edge effects from surrounding orogenic belts, are harder to constrain, except that their mantle lithosphere is also negatively buoyant.
Magnetic Properties of Ferrofluid Change Over Time: Implications for Magnetic Pore Fabric Studies
Authors: Biedermann A. R. , Parés J. M.
Published: August 2022

The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of ferrofluid‐impregnated samples is an efficient and powerful proxy for pore space anisotropy and preferred flow directions. One of the main assumptions in pore fabric studies is that all pores >10–20 nm are homogeneously filled with ferrofluid, and that the ferrofluid has constant properties throughout the pore space and over time. If only part of the pore space is filled, this can lead to artifacts. Additionally, because magnetic anisotropy of a given pore space depends on fluid susceptibility, quantitative interpretations may be affected by the interval between impregnation and measurement time, or by the age of the ferrofluid during impregnation, unless fluid properties remain constant. A careful investigation of the time variation of ferrofluid properties and magnetic pore fabrics in synthetic and natural samples shows time‐dependence of susceptibility and hysteresis properties, related to dissolution of particle surfactants, and deterioration of colloidal stability. The latter leads to particle aggregation and sedimentation, which changes the anisotropy properties, and also affects impregnation behavior. Natural samples impregnated by oil‐based ferrofluid also experience a 2.5–3‐fold increase in mean susceptibility, with important consequences for the susceptibility‐based determination of impregnation efficiency. Based on our results, we recommend that ferrofluid properties are determined at the time of impregnation, and that samples are measured shortly after impregnation.
The 2021 Mw7.0 and Mw6.7 Miyagi‐Oki Earthquakes Nucleated in a Deep Seismic/Aseismic Transition Zone: Possible Effects of Transient Instability Due To the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
Authors: Yoshida Keisuke , Matsuzawa Toru , Uchida Naoki
Published: August 2022

In March and May 2021, Mw7.0 and Mw6.7, respectively, deep interplate earthquakes occurred off Miyagi, Japan, near the downdip edge of the rupture area of the 2011 M9 Tohoku earthquake. We study the two Mw ∼ 7 earthquakes to investigate how a great (Mw ∼ 9) earthquake cycle impacts the generation of smaller (Mw7‐8) earthquakes in the deep seismic/aseismic transition zone. Our hypocenter relocation results show that many repeating earthquakes have emerged in the downdip area after the Tohoku earthquake. The March Mw7.0 event was initiated in the slip area of an emerging interplate repeating earthquake sequence, suggesting that the nucleation of the Mw7.0 event occurred in a conditionally stable area where only aseismic slip occurred before the Tohoku earthquake. Downdip high‐rate creep in the postseismic period is a probable reason for the temporal aseismic‐to‐seismic transition that allowed the occurrence of repeating earthquakes and the rupture initiation of the Mw7.0 earthquake. The May Mw6.7 earthquake originated in an area where earthquake activity was high locally, both before and after the Tohoku earthquake, and shear stress increased after the March event. This suggests that both frictional properties and shear stress change contributed to the rupture initiation. The slip inversion results indicate that these two Mw ∼ 7 earthquakes ruptured the western part of the 1978 Mw7.6 Miyagi‐Oki earthquake source area and loaded the eastern part. Continued monitoring of seismicity patterns, including possible updip expansion of the interplate seismicity, is essential to examine how strain energy, plate‐locking state, and creep evolve during the Mw9.0 earthquake cycle.
Peak Rain Rate Sensitivity to Observed Cloud Condensation Nuclei and Turbulence in Continental Warm Shallow Clouds During CACTI
Authors: Borque Paloma , Varble Adam , Hardin Joseph
Published: August 2022

Warm clouds strongly affect Earth's energy budget but remain imperfectly represented in climate models, partly due to the complexity and covariability of relevant processes influencing warm rain. This work presents a detailed analysis of different factors affecting rain rate peak intensity (RR) in continental warm clouds. Clouds were identified with vertically pointing radar and lidar observations and categorized via a temperature‐based cloud type classification algorithm from which warm clouds were isolated. Observations and retrievals of liquid water path (LWP), cloud condensation nuclei concentration (NCCN), cloud depth, and cloud duration of more than 3,000 separate warm clouds sampled during the Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign are analyzed in this work. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF) models are applied to assess the relative impact of these variables on RR. Overall, RR tends to increase as cloud depth, LWP, and cloud duration increase, or NCCN decreases. Cloud depth affects RR the most while NCCN impacts it the least. When considering over 170 warm clouds observed at least 1 hr in which in‐cloud turbulence is retrieved, the effect of NCCN on RR remains most likely suppressive, but it is not significant at a 75% level for MLR and is highly uncertain for RF. The impact of in‐cloud turbulence depends on the moment and location it is sampled. Cloud base turbulence around the time of RR suppresses RR, while cloud top turbulence effects are inconclusive. Possible difficulties in isolating robust CCN and turbulence effects on RR are discussed.
Paleozoic Geodynamics and Architecture of the Southern Part of the Mongolian Altai Zone
Authors: Sukhbaatar T. , Lexa O. , Schulmann K. , Aguilar C. , Štípská P. , Wong J. , Jiang Y. , Míková J. , Zhao D.
Published: August 2022

The Mongolian Altai Zone of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt has been traditionally interpreted as a mosaic of Paleozoic magmatic arcs, back‐arcs, and Precambrian continental terranes. In order to define its architecture and its tectonic evolution, three domains previously interpreted as terranes were investigated. The findings show that the Northern and Central domains are formed by a metamorphic sequence characterized by Barrovian S1 fabric transposed by recumbent folds and dominant sub‐horizontal amphibolite facies S2 schistosity. The latter is associated with the intrusions of late Devonian syntectonic granite sheets and anatexis in the south. The Southern domain is formed by early Permian migmatites and anatectic granites separated from the metamorphic envelope by amphibolite to green‐schist facies D3 shear zone cross‐cutting S2 fabrics. All domains have been reworked by E‐W upright folds associated with axial‐planar greenschist facies cleavage, reflecting the final mid‐Permian to Triassic D4 shortening. Lithological, geochemical, and U‐Pb zircon analyses of metasediments of all domains indicate that they are formed by Ordovician mature quartzite derived from Precambrian basement intruded by Cambrian‐Ordovician continental arc and Silurian immature graywacke which originated through erosion of an oceanic arc. Altogether, the whole sequence represents a fore‐arc basin in front of a migrating arc affected by thickening and late Devonian extension. The Southern domain is interpreted as an early Permian core complex amplified by mid‐Permian to Triassic compression. The apparent “terrane” architecture of the Mongol Altai Zone originated due to Devonian and Permian heterogeneous reworking of a giant Ordovician to Silurian fore‐arc basin.
Loss of FGFR4 promotes the malignant phenotype of PDAC
Authors: D’Agosto Sabrina , Pezzini Francesco , Veghini Lisa , Delfino Pietro , Fiorini Claudia , Temgue Tane Gael D. , Del Curatolo Anais , Vicentini Caterina , Ferrari Giorgia , Pasini Davide , Andreani Silvia , Lupo Francesca , Fiorini Elena , Lorenzon Giulia , Lawlor Rita T. , Rusev Borislav , Malinova Antonia , Luchini Claudio , Milella Michele , Sereni Elisabetta , Pea Antonio , Bassi Claudio , Bailey Peter , Scarpa Aldo , Bria Emilio , Corbo Vincenzo
Published: August 2022

Transcriptomic analyses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have identified two major epithelial subtypes with distinct biology and clinical behaviours. Here, we aimed to clarify the role of FGFR1 and FGFR4 in the definition of aggressive PDAC phenotypes. We found that the expression of FGFR4 is exclusively detected in epithelial cells, significantly elevated in the classical PDAC subtype, and associates with better outcomes. In highly aggressive basal-like/squamous PDAC, reduced FGFR4 expression aligns with hypermethylation of the gene and lower levels of histone marks associated with active transcription in its regulatory regions. Conversely, FGFR1 has more promiscuous expression in both normal and malignant pancreatic tissues and is strongly associated with the EMT phenotype but not with the basal-like cell lineage. Regardless of the genetic background, the increased proliferation of FGFR4-depleted PDAC cells correlates with hyperactivation of the mTORC1 pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Downregulation of FGFR4 in classical cell lines invariably leads to the enrichment of basal-like/squamous gene programs and is associated with either partial or full switch of phenotype. In sum, we show that endogenous levels of FGFR4 limit the malignant phenotype of PDAC cells. Finally, we propose FGFR4 as a valuable marker for the stratification of PDAC patients.
Extraction of accurate cytoskeletal actin velocity distributions from noisy measurements
Authors: Miller Cayla M. , Korkmazhan Elgin , Dunn Alexander R.
Published: August 2022

Dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for many cellular processes. Tracking the movement of individual actin filaments can in principle shed light on how this complex behavior arises at the molecular level. However, the information that can be extracted from these measurements is often limited by low signal-to-noise ratios. We developed a Bayesian statistical approach to estimate true, underlying velocity distributions from the tracks of individual actin-associated fluorophores with quantified localization uncertainties. We found that the motion of filamentous (F)-actin in fibroblasts and endothelial cells was better described by a statistical jump process than by models in which filaments undergo continuous, diffusive movement. In particular, a model with exponentially distributed jump length- and time-scales recapitulated actin filament velocity distributions measured for the cell cortex, integrin-based adhesions, and stress fibers, suggesting that a common physical model can potentially describe actin filament dynamics in a variety of cellular contexts.
Visual evoked feedforward–feedback traveling waves organize neural activity across the cortical hierarchy in mice
Authors: Aggarwal Adeeti , Brennan Connor , Luo Jennifer , Chung Helen , Contreras Diego , Kelz Max B. , Proekt Alex
Published: August 2022

Sensory processing is distributed among many brain regions that interact via feedforward and feedback signaling. Neuronal oscillations have been shown to mediate intercortical feedforward and feedback interactions. Yet, the macroscopic structure of the multitude of such oscillations remains unclear. Here, we show that simple visual stimuli reliably evoke two traveling waves with spatial wavelengths that cover much of the cerebral hemisphere in awake mice. 30-50 Hz feedforward waves arise in primary visual cortex (V1) and propagate rostrally, while 3-6 Hz feedback waves originate in the association cortex and flow caudally. The phase of the feedback wave modulates the amplitude of the feedforward wave and synchronizes firing between V1 and parietal cortex. Altogether, these results provide direct experimental evidence that visual evoked traveling waves percolate through the cerebral cortex and coordinate neuronal activity across broadly distributed networks mediating visual processing.
A method for Boolean analysis of protein interactions at a molecular level
Authors: Raykova Doroteya , Kermpatsou Despoina , Malmqvist Tony , Harrison Philip J. , Sander Marie Rubin , Stiller Christiane , Heldin Johan , Leino Mattias , Ricardo Sara , Klemm Anna , David Leonor , Spjuth Ola , Vemuri Kalyani , Dimberg Anna , Sundqvist Anders , Norlin Maria , Klaesson Axel , Kampf Caroline , Söderberg Ola
Published: August 2022

Determining the levels of protein–protein interactions is essential for the analysis of signaling within the cell, characterization of mutation effects, protein function and activation in health and disease, among others. Herein, we describe MolBoolean – a method to detect interactions between endogenous proteins in various subcellular compartments, utilizing antibody-DNA conjugates for identification and signal amplification. In contrast to proximity ligation assays, MolBoolean simultaneously indicates the relative abundances of protein A and B not interacting with each other, as well as the pool of A and B proteins that are proximal enough to be considered an AB complex. MolBoolean is applicable both in fixed cells and tissue sections. The specific and quantifiable data that the method generates provide opportunities for both diagnostic use and medical research.
Prohormone convertase 1/3 deficiency causes obesity due to impaired proinsulin processing
Authors: Meier Daniel T. , Rachid Leila , Wiedemann Sophia J. , Traub Shuyang , Trimigliozzi Kelly , Stawiski Marc , Sauteur Loïc , Winter Denise V. , Le Foll Christelle , Brégère Catherine , Guzman Raphael , Odermatt Alex , Böni-Schnetzler Marianne , Donath Marc Y.
Published: August 2022

Defective insulin processing is associated with obesity and diabetes. Prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) is an endopeptidase required for the processing of neurotransmitters and hormones. PC1/3 deficiency and genome-wide association studies relate PC1/3 with early onset obesity. Here, we find that deletion of PC1/3 in obesity-related neuronal cells expressing proopiomelanocortin mildly and transiently change body weight and fail to produce a phenotype when targeted to Agouti-related peptide- or nestin-expressing tissues. In contrast, pancreatic β cell-specific PC1/3 ablation induces hyperphagia with consecutive obesity despite uncontrolled diabetes with glucosuria. Obesity develops not due to impaired pro-islet amyloid polypeptide processing but due to impaired insulin maturation. Proinsulin crosses the blood-brain-barrier but does not induce central satiety. Accordingly, insulin therapy prevents hyperphagia. Further, islet PC1/3 expression levels negatively correlate with body mass index in humans. In this work, we show that impaired PC1/3-mediated proinsulin processing, as observed in human prediabetes, promotes hyperphagic obesity.
Reformation of the chondroitin sulfate glycocalyx enables progression of AR-independent prostate cancer
Authors: Al-Nakouzi Nader , Wang Chris Kedong , Oo Htoo Zarni , Nelepcu Irina , Lallous Nada , Spliid Charlotte B. , Khazamipour Nastaran , Lo Joey , Truong Sarah , Collins Colin , Hui Desmond , Esfandnia Shaghayegh , Adomat Hans , Clausen Thomas Mandel , Gustavsson Tobias , Choudhary Swati , Dagil Robert , Corey Eva , Wang Yuzhuo , Chauchereau Anne , Fazli Ladan , Esko Jeffrey D. , Salanti Ali , Nelson Peter S. , Gleave Martin E. , Daugaard Mads
Published: August 2022

Lineage plasticity of prostate cancer is associated with resistance to androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibition (ARPI) and supported by a reactive tumor microenvironment. Here we show that changes in chondroitin sulfate (CS), a major glycosaminoglycan component of the tumor cell glycocalyx and extracellular matrix, is AR-regulated and promotes the adaptive progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after ARPI. AR directly represses transcription of the 4-O-sulfotransferase gene CHST11 under basal androgen conditions, maintaining steady-state CS in prostate adenocarcinomas. When AR signaling is inhibited by ARPI or lost during progression to non-AR-driven CRPC as a consequence of lineage plasticity, CHST11 expression is unleashed, leading to elevated 4-O-sulfated chondroitin levels. Inhibition of the tumor cell CS glycocalyx delays CRPC progression, and impairs growth and motility of prostate cancer after ARPI. Thus, a reactive CS glycocalyx supports adaptive survival and treatment resistance after ARPI, representing a therapeutic opportunity in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Baseline proteomics characterisation of the emerging host biomanufacturing organism Halomonas bluephagenesis
Authors: Russell Matthew , Currin Andrew , Rowe William , Chen Guo-Qiang , Barran Perdita , Scrutton Nigel S.
Published: August 2022

Despite its greener credentials, biomanufacturing remains financially uncompetitive compared with the higher carbon emitting, hydrocarbon-based chemical industry. Replacing traditional chassis such as E. coli with novel robust organisms, are a route to cost reduction for biomanufacturing. Extremophile bacteria such as the halophilic Halomonas bluephagenesis TD01 exemplify this potential by thriving in environments inherently inimical to other organisms, so reducing sterilisation costs. Novel chassis are inevitably less well annotated than established organisms. Rapid characterisation along with community data sharing will facilitate adoption of such organisms for biomanufacturing. The data record comprises a newly sequenced genome for the organism and evidence via LC-MS based proteomics for expression of 1160 proteins (30% of the proteome) including baseline quantification of 1063 proteins (27% of the proteome), and a spectral library enabling re-use for targeted LC-MS proteomics assays. Protein data are annotated with KEGG Orthology, enabling rapid matching of quantitative data to pathways of interest to biomanufacturing.
Identification of small molecules targeting homoserine acetyl transferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Chaudhary Deepika , Singh Avantika , Marzuki Mardiana , Ghosh Abhirupa , Kidwai Saqib , Gosain Tannu Priya , Chawla Kiran , Gupta Sonu Kumar , Agarwal Nisheeth , Saha Sudipto , Kumar Yashwant , Thakur Krishan Gopal , Singhal Amit , Singh Ramandeep
Published: August 2022

There is an urgent need to validate new drug targets and identify small molecules that possess activity against both drug-resistant and drug-sensitive bacteria. The enzymes belonging to amino acid biosynthesis have been shown to be essential for growth in vitro, in vivo and have not been exploited much for the development of anti-tubercular agents. Here, we have identified small molecule inhibitors targeting homoserine acetyl transferase (HSAT, MetX, Rv3341) from M. tuberculosis. MetX catalyses the first committed step in L-methionine and S-adenosyl methionine biosynthesis resulting in the formation of O-acetyl-homoserine. Using CRISPRi approach, we demonstrate that conditional repression of metX resulted in inhibition of M. tuberculosis growth in vitro. We have determined steady state kinetic parameters for the acetylation of L-homoserine by Rv3341. We show that the recombinant enzyme followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and utilizes both acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA as acyl-donors. High-throughput screening of a 2443 compound library resulted in identification of small molecule inhibitors against MetX enzyme from M. tuberculosis. The identified lead compounds inhibited Rv3341 enzymatic activity in a dose dependent manner and were also active against HSAT homolog from S. aureus. Molecular docking of the identified primary hits predicted residues that are essential for their binding in HSAT homologs from M. tuberculosis and S. aureus. ThermoFluor assay demonstrated direct binding of the identified primary hits with HSAT proteins. Few of the identified small molecules were able to inhibit growth of M. tuberculosis and S. aureus in liquid cultures. Taken together, our findings validated HSAT as an attractive target for development of new broad-spectrum anti-bacterial agents that should be effective against drug-resistant bacteria.