bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a new subfamily of Idyanthidae Lang, 1944 with the description of a new species of Pseudometeorina George & Wiest, 2015 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from the Eratosthenes Seamount (eastern Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: George Kai Horst
Published: May 2023

The description ofPseudometeorina eratosthenicasp. nov. from the eastern Mediterranean Eratosthenes Seamount was the release for a detailed phylogenetic comparison of a group of derived representatives of the family Idyanthidae Lang, 1944, namelyAspinothoraxMoura & Martínez Arbizu, 2003,MeteorinaGeorge, 2004, PseudometeorinaGeorge & Wiest, 2015, andStyracothoraxHuys, 1993. The named genera share the derived presence of a 2-segmented P1 exopod as well as the transverse elongation of the bases of the swimming legs P1–P4, being these five deviations unique for Idyanthidae and therefore hypothesized here as synapomorphic for the above-named taxa. Consequently, they are pooled in the newly established Aspinothoracinae Moura & Martínez Arbizu, 2003 subfam. nov. The new species described from Eratosthenes Seamount doubtlessly belongs toPseudometeorina, sharing withP. mysticaGeorge & Wiest, 2015, a set of 24 synapomorphies. Otherwise,P. eratosthenicasp. nov. provides nine autapomorphies that justify its establishment as distinct species. A detailed phylogenetic analysis, based on 131 morphological characters, is presented. Moreover, a key to the species of Aspinothoracinae subfam. nov. is provided.
Growth rate and competitive ability of susceptible and multiple-resistant late watergrass (Echinochloa phyllopogon) biotypes to rice
Authors: Papapanagiotou Aristeidis , Vasilakoglou Ioannis , Dhima Kico , Eleftherohorinos Ilias
Published: May 2023

Late watergrass [Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf) Koss.] has evolved multiple-resistance (MR) to herbicides in many areas worldwide and scientists wonder if this resistance has imposed fitness cost or advantage on the resistant (MR) biotypes. As multiple-resistance of this weed has also been recorded in Greece, one susceptible (S), one with multiple-resistance to ALS (penoxsulam, bispyribac, imazamox and nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron) and ACCase-cyhalofop (MRAC) and two with multiple-resistance to ALS and synthetic auxin-quinclorac (MRAQ1, MRAQ2) late watergrass biotypes collected from rice fields (northern Greece) were studied for their growth rate and competitive ability (regarding stem number and fresh weight) in the absence and presence of rice. Also, the competition indices relative yield (RY), competitive ratio (CR) and aggressiveness (AI) were evaluated. The S and the three MR biotypes grown in absence of competition (one plant/pot) showed different shoot number but similar fresh weight growth rates. In contrast, grown under intra-specific competition (one, two, four and six plants/pot), the S late watergrass biotype produced similar fresh weight with that of MRAQ1 but lower than that of the MRAC and MRAQ2 biotypes. However, grown under inter-specific competition (one, two, four and six plants of late watergrass/pot in competition with six rice plants/pot), the MRAQ2 late watergrass biotype produced more shoot number and fresh weight than the other biotypes at all weed densities, but the rice shoot number and fresh weight reduction were not followed the opposite trend of the late watergrass biotypes. Also, the competition indices of the MR biotypes (based on both intra- and inter-specific completion data) were found similar in most cases to that of the S biotype. These findings strongly suggest that there is no clear association between the growth rate and competitive ability of the late watergrass biotypes and their herbicide resistance.
Biometrics for Industry 4.0: a survey of recent applications
Authors: Lucia Cascone , Zhiwei Gao , Michele Nappi
Published: May 2023

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, represents the rise of digital industrial technology that is propagating at an exponential rate compared to the previous three revolutions. Interoperability is a basis of production, where there is a continuous exchange of information between machines and production units that act autonomously and intelligently. Workers play a central role in making autonomous decisions and using advanced technological tools. It may involve using measures that distinguish individuals, and their behaviours and reactions. Increasing the level of security, allowing only authorized personnel access to designated areas, and promoting worker welfare can have a positive impact on the entire assembly line. Thus, capturing biometric information, with or without individuals’ knowledge, could allow identity verification and monitoring of of their emotional and cognitive states during the daily actions of work life. From the study of the literature, we outline three macro categories in which the principles of Industry 4.0 are merged and the functionalities of biometric systems are exploited: security, health monitoring, and quality work life analysis. In this review, we present an overview of all biometric features used in the context of Industry 4.0 with a focus on their advantages, limitations, and practical use. Attention is also paid to future research directions for which new answers are being explored.
Geomechanical modelling and stability analysis of the shallow underground water reservoir ‘Palombaro Lungo’ (Matera-Italy)
Authors: Bruno Giovanni , Tupputi Daniele , Simeone Vincenzo
Published: May 2023

The city of Matera, as several other ancient historical cities and towns, is recovering a large part of its ancient parts developing a policy of urban regeneration. In the early 90s, during the restoration works of the main square, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, it was re-discovered a huge underground space used as water reservoir named Palombaro Lungo. It was built linking ancient pre-existing smaller caves and completed at the end of the nineteenth century making it impermeable with the cocciopesto (opus signinum) technique. The hypogeum is dug in a Plio-Pleistocene rock called Gravina Calcarenite. It is a calcareous sandstone weak rock with good mechanical properties, low permeability and easy to be dug. The internal geometry of the hypogeum and the rock thicknesses above the caves was reconstructed by the integration of topographic and GPR surveys. The paper presents a geo-mechanical model of Palombaro Lungo underground reservoir and evaluation about the stability of this structure. The stability analysis were developed using the numerical code UDEC for several transect of Palombaro Lungo assuming the calcareous sandstone blocks as deformable, trying to address the evolution of the stress–strain conditions. The case study can be considered as an example of general interest for the study of rupestrian underground reservoir of a longed form, where one planimetric dimension strictly prevails over the other. Numerical simulations showed a stress–strain state compatible with the fractures detected in situ and confirmed the absence of instability problems in the groundwater reservoir.
Grey area in embedded wall-modelled LES on a transonic nacelle-aircraft configuration
Authors: Herr Marius , Probst Axel , Radespiel Rolf
Published: May 2023

A scale-resolving hybrid RANS–LES technique is applied to an aircraft-nacelle configuration under transonic flow conditions using the unstructured, compressible TAU solver. In this regard, a wall-modelled LES methodology is locally applied to the nacelle lower surface to examine shock-induced separation. To circumvent the grey-area issue of delayed turbulence onset, a Synthetic Turbulence Generator (STG) is used at the RANS–LES interface. Prior to the actual examinations, fundamental features of the simulation technique are validated by simulations of decaying isotropic turbulence as well as flat plate flows. For the aircraft-nacelle configuration at a Reynolds number of 3.3 million, a sophisticated mesh with 420 million points was designed which refines 32 % of the outer casing surface of the nacelle. The results show a development of a well-resolved turbulent boundary layer with a broad spectrum of turbulent scales which demonstrates the applicability of the mesh and method for aircraft configurations. Furthermore, the necessity of a low-dissipation low-dispersion scheme is demonstrated. However, a noticeable drop of the surface skin friction downstream of the STG motivates further research on the impact of the interface modelling on the shock–boundary layer interaction.
Formulation of Steinernema yirgalemense in gel for long-term storage at room temperature
Authors: Nxitywa Abongile , Malan Antoinette P.
Published: May 2023

The use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) offers the potential of reducing the use of chemical insecticides in the agricultural industry. Hydrogels for the long-term storage of EPNs may have the potential to improve the storage ability of EPNs. In this study, infective juveniles (IJ) of a South African isolate Steinernema yirgalemense were formulated in different gels, which included a laboratory grade and consumer grade of agar, as well as STOCKOSORB® 660, and compared it with IJ in water. Their survival and pathogenicity of the IJ were investigated at 25 °C. The last instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor were used to test the pathogenicity of the IJs 6 weeks postformulation. IJs stored in 1% and 1.5% agar formulations were found to provide the best survival of 77% and 82% after 6 weeks in formulation. Results indicate consumer grade agar to be comparable with laboratory grade and can be used as a cheaper alternative for the formulation of S. yirgalemense. When comparing the STOCKOSORB® 660 formulations, 80% IJ survival was recorded in a formulation of 1 g in 50 ml of water, with 50% of the IJs surviving in a formulation of 1 g in 100 ml of water. The IJs formulated and stored in STOCKOSORB® 660 gel were found to be more virulent to Tenebrio molitor than were the IJs formulated in agar.
Differential geometry for the optimal design of the contingent valuation method
Authors: Tanaka Hisatoshi
Published: May 2023

The contingent valuation method (CVM) is a widely used experimental method to measure the monetary value of goods. However, CVM estimates are sensitive to experiment design. In this study, we formulated the optimal design problem as a minimization problem of the Fisher information metric of a gradient vector field generated by using the statistical model of the CVM. Furthermore, a necessary and sufficient condition of the optimal design was proven.
The Role of “Hierarchical and Classified Prevention and Control Measures (HCPC)” Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Guangzhou: A Modeling Study
Authors: Ma Yu , Wang Hui , Huang Yong , Chen Chun , Liang Shihao , Ma Mengmeng , He Xinjun , Cai Kangning , Jiao Zengtao , Chen Liyi , Zhu Bowei , Li Ke , Xie Chaojun , Luo Lei , Zhang Zhoubin
Published: May 2023

Background

The Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 has replaced previously circulating strains around the world in 2021. Sporadic outbreaks of the Delta variant in China have posed a concern about how to properly respond to the battle against evolving COVID-19. Here, we analyzed the “hierarchical and classified prevention and control (HCPC)” measures strategy deployed during the recent Guangzhou outbreak.

Methods

A modified susceptible–exposed–pre-symptomatic–infectious–recovered (SEPIR) model was developed and applied to study a range of different scenarios to evaluate the effectiveness of policy deployment. We simulated severe different scenarios to understand policy implementation and timing of implementation. Two outcomes were measured: magnitude of transmission and duration of transmission. The outcomes of scenario evaluations were presented relative to the reality case (i.e., 368 cases in 34 days) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Based on our simulation, the outbreak would become out of control with 7 million estimated infections under the assumption of the absence of any interventions than the 153 reported cases in reality in Guangzhou. The simulation on delayed implementation of interventions showed that the total case numbers would also increase by 166.67%–813.07% if the interventions were delayed by 3 days or 7 days.

Conclusions

It may be concluded that timely and more precise interventions including mass testing and graded community management are effective measures for Delta variant containment in China.
The Limits of the History of Western Sport in Colonial India
Authors: Dutta Subhadipa
Published: May 2023

This historiographical review considers a corpus of literature which examines the spread of modern Western sport within and beyond the locus of public schools, princely playgrounds and club greens in colonial India. While locating the old historiographical problems and new social historical interpretations, a great deal of attention has been paid to foregrounding significant research areas that are less catered to in existing scholarships. As well, this review contends that the eagerness to examine colonial interventions in the sports field without tracing the conflict and negotiation between two different – pre-colonial and colonial – ideas of leisure and body cultural movements expounds an incomplete history of Western sport in modern India. While doing so, it urges a rectification of the methodology of current academic studies in which vernacular literary sources are treated as a ‘passive mediator’ merely reflecting the popular enthusiasm for sport. It concludes that this ‘reflectionist’ approach is a hindrance to research work on the diffusion of Western sports in colonial India, which recognises the emergence and development of a new sporting culture as the discursive formation that surrounded the ideological meanings and images of the literary construction of sport.
Trivial aortic valve regurgitation in children and adolescents with structurally normal hearts: physiologic or pathologic?
Authors: Joyce James J. , Joyce Thomas R. , Ferns Sunita J.
Published: May 2023

Background:

Trivial regurgitation from a normal aortic valve is rarely seen in healthy children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate timing of presentation, associated conditions, and medium-term prognosis of this incidental finding.

Methods:

Paediatric patients observed to have trivial aortic valve regurgitation with otherwise normal echocardiograms were retrospectively analysed. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were measured and categorised on presentation and follow-up.

Results:

Sixty patients (39 males) were identified over a 13-year period. Age at presentation was 14.8 years (IQR 12.9–16.0), height z-score was + 0.71 (95% CI + 0.48– + 0.94), and body mass index z-score was + 0.66 (95% CI + 0.40– + 0.92). Median aortic regurgitation vena contracta diameter was 1.0 mm (IQR 0.8–1.3). Aortic valve strands were visualised in 28% and physiologic mitral regurgitation in 32%. Aortic annulus, sinotubular junction, and mid-ascending aorta diameters were normal, and mean aortic sinus diameter was only slightly increased (z-score + 0.23, 95% CI + 0.02– + 0.44). Follow-up data were obtained in 36 patients from 1 to 6.7 years later (median 2.1). Aortic regurgitation was no longer detectable in 28%, and none exhibited worsening. Mitral regurgitation prevalence was lower in those with aortic regurgitation resolution versus persistence (10% versus 50%, p = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Trivial aortic regurgitation in paediatric patients with normal hearts is more common in adolescents and is associated with an increased prevalence of aortic valve strands and physiologic mitral regurgitation. These findings do not worsen during growth and may resolve consistent with being physiologic rather than pathologic.
A rare complication after radiofrequency catheter ablation in an adolescent case: skin burn
Authors: Torun Emine Gulsah , Özdemiroğlu Nevin , Koca Serhat
Published: May 2023

Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a preferred treatment method for cardiac arrhythmias in children due to its high success rate and low complication risk. We present an adolescent patient who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation for Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and developed a skin burn at the site of the electrode patch. Skin burns can catastrophic consequences, especially in patients with life-threatening arrhythmias; therefore, clinicians should be aware of this complication.
The Oxidation State of Sulfur in Apatite of Martian Meteorite—Shergotty
Authors: Chowdhury Proteek , Brounce Maryjo , Boyce Jeremy W. , McCubbin Francis M.
Published: May 2023

Apatite can incorporate sulfur in its reduced form (S2−) when apatite equilibrates with a silicate melt under reducing conditions. Incorporation of sulfate (S6+) has been observed in terrestrial apatite under oxidizing conditions. Thus, it has been suggested that the proportions of S6+/S2− in apatite may record the oxygen fugacity (fO2) during the formation and/or equilibration of apatite grains with a silicate melt in a wide variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks, including from Earth, Mars, the Moon, and in materials from the asteroid belt. Martian rocks, which record fO2 values intermediate between those recorded by rocks from the Moon and Earth, may have apatite that contains only S2− or mixtures of S6+ and S2−. Here, we present new measurements of the oxidation state of sulfur in apatite grains in the basaltic shergottite, Shergotty, which exhibits spectral features consistent with the presence of sulfide (S2−) structurally bound in apatite, and no evidence for the presence of sulfite (S4+) or sulfate (S6+). The presence of sulfide‐only apatite in Shergotty is consistent with other mineralogical records of fO2 in this meteorite, which are calculated from other late‐stage crystallizing phases like Fe‐Ti oxides as well as from early crystallizing phases like clinopyroxene (DEuCpx/melt) of ΔIW + 1.9 to ΔIW + 3.5. At these fO2 values, S is present in silicate melts as only S2−, and this suggests that the oxidation state of sulfur records and preserves the fO2 during the igneous crystallization of apatite reinforcing the idea that sulfur in apatite can be used as an igneous oxybarometer.
Balancing the Effects of Forest Conservation and Restoration on South China Karst Greening
Authors: Peng Jian , Hu Tao , Qiu Sijing , Hu Yi'na , Dong Jianquan , Lin Yifan
Published: May 2023

Forest conservation and restoration are key components of ecological engineering. Previous studies often focused on the forest restoration impact on vegetation greening, ignoring the importance of forest conservation, and the link between forest conservation and restoration remains unclear. Based on land use data, forest cover loss data, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Leaf Area Index, in this study, we explored the spatial pattern of forest conservation and restoration from 2000 to 2020, and quantitatively calculated the contribution of forest conservation and restoration to vegetation greening. The results showed that the forest conservation area was 821,888 km2, and the forest restoration area was 100,266 km2 in South China karst. The forest conservation and restoration area with vegetation greenness increasing were 358,236 and 54,397 km2, respectively, which contributed 39.85% and 6.05% to vegetation greening. Moreover, there was a nonlinear relationship between forest conservation and restoration, and the results showed an inverted U‐shape in most provinces. This study evaluated ecological engineering from the perspective of forest conservation and restoration, which could provide the scientific basis for differentiated ecological engineering planning.
What Is the Altitude of Thermal Equilibrium?
Authors: Peterson W. K. , Maruyama Naomi , Richards Phil , Erickson Philip J. , Christensen Andrew B. , Yau Andrew W.
Published: May 2023

Thermal equilibrium in planetary atmospheres occurs at altitudes where the ion, electron, and neutral temperatures are equal. Thermal equilibrium is postulated to occur in the collision‐dominated ionosphere. This postulated altitude is above the lower boundary of all empirical models of planetary ionospheres. Physics‐based model predictions of the altitude cannot be validated due to a lack of adequate simultaneous observations of temperature profiles. This study presents temperature profiles from simultaneous observations on Atmosphere Explorer–C below 140 km and quiet‐time neutral observations from Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energy and Dynamics/Global UltraViolet Imager over Millstone Hill. These are compared with profiles from physics‐based models with a discussion of their respective limitations. We conclude that there does not yet exist a quantitative understanding of the ion, electron, and neutral thermalization processes in low‐altitude planetary ionospheres. Progress on this topic requires an adequate database of simultaneous ion, electron, and neutral temperature profiles in the 110–140 km altitude range.
Anomalous Net Biome Exchange Over Amazonian Rainforests Induced by the 2015/16 El Niño: Soil Dryness‐Shaped Spatial Pattern but Temperature‐dominated Total Flux
Authors: Wang Jun , Zeng Ning , Wang Meirong , Jiang Fei , Chevallier Frédéric , Crowell Sean , He Wei , Johnson Matthew S. , Liu Junjie , Liu Zhiqiang , Miller Scot M. , Philip Sajeev , Wang Hengmao , Wu Mousong , Ju Weimin , Feng Shuzhuang , Jia Mengwei
Published: May 2023

The magnitude and spatial pattern of anomalous net biome exchange (NBE) induced by the 2015/16 El Niño over Amazonian rainforests remain uncertain. We here investigated them using multi‐model posterior NBE products in the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 (OCO‐2) version 10 modeling intercomparison project. Results suggest that relative to the annual NBE average in 2017/18, larger anomalous carbon release occurred over the eastern and northern Amazonian rainforests in 2015/16, with a total flux of approximately 0.4 PgC yr−1 after assimilating satellite‐observed column CO2 concentrations (XCO2) over land. We further find that this anomalous spatial pattern was predominantly determined by soil dryness, while the total positive NBE anomaly was dominated by higher temperature with its contribution of approximately 68～70%. We believe that atmospheric inversions assimilating more satellite‐observed XCO2 in future can provide us more comprehensive understanding how Amazonian rainforests cope with the abiotic stresses induced by El Niño events.
Interhemispheric Asymmetry Due To IMF By Within the Cusp Spherical Elementary Currents
Authors: Weygand J. M. , Hartinger M. D. , Strangeway R. J. , Welling D. T. , Kim Hyomin , Matzka Jürgen , Clauer C. Robert
Published: May 2023

Observations of interhemispheric asymmetry in the cusp region due to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component have been performed for years, but those observations typically are not simultaneous in both hemispheres and represent an average picture. Simultaneous instantaneous observations in both hemispheres are rare. We have combined four sets of magnetometers in Antarctica to produce equivalent ionospheric currents and current amplitudes at 10 s resolution using the spherical elementary current systems technique. These Antarctica spherical elementary currents are roughly conjugate to the northern hemisphere spherical elementary currents derived over Greenland and North America. We examined five intervals with large interplanetary magnetic field By positive and negative and demonstrate that the equivalent current pattern in opposite hemispheres are asymmetric with respect to one another during IMF By positive with the cusp throat opening towards the dusk in the northern hemisphere and towards the dawn in the southern hemisphere. This configuration reverses for interplanetary magnetic field By negative. In one of these events we examine the rotation of the equivalent currents in real time in the northern hemisphere. We also compare these results with virtual magnetometer predictions from the Space Weather Modeling Framework. Simultaneous spherical elementary currents observations in both hemispheres are important because they allow us to observe the evolution of the cusp throat during changing solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions.
Mid‐Latitude Double H‐Spikes: Their Properties and Signatures in Different Geomagnetic Indices
Authors: Saiz E. , Guerrero A. , Cid C.
Published: May 2023

Proper assessment of geomagnetic disturbances is a key aspect of space weather as technology is often impacted by space weather activity without previous warnings or proper forecasts. Double H‐spikes are a form of longitudinal asymmetry observed at midlatitudes. They are geomagnetic disturbances occurring simultaneously on the dayside and nightside as a negative/positive H‐spike, which go unnoticed through common geomagnetic indices. This work presents the results of a systematic search for double H‐spikes occurred over a 23‐year period and analyzes characteristics of the double H‐spikes such as the occurrence dependence on the solar cycle, season, intensity and phase of the geomagnetic storm. Our outcomes indicate that double H‐spikes are a global phenomenon closely related with the substorm phenomenon and the ground magnetic disturbances observed at mid‐latitude are remote effects of field‐aligned currents (FACs). FACs would be the part of the substorm current wedge developed from the expansion onset of intense substorms whose effects have wide longitudinal extend as they are observed on the dayside and the nightside. Also mid‐latitude global SYM and ASY indices are affected by FACs during those periods. Time derivatives of the SuperMAG SMR12 and SMR00 sector indices allow us to conclude that double H‐spikes, as short‐time high‐intensity magnetic disturbances, pose a potential risk to damage ground‐technological systems at midlatitudes.
Human‐Induced Changes in South American River Sediment Fluxes From 1984 to 2019
Authors: Fagundes H. O. , Fleischmann A. S. , Fan F. M. , Paiva R. C. D. , Buarque D. C. , Siqueira V. A. , Collischonn W. , Borrelli P.
Published: May 2023

River sediment fluxes have been impacted in South America (SA), one of the continents with the highest erosion and sediment transport rates globally. However, the magnitude and spatio‐temporal distribution of the main drivers of changes have been poorly identified and explored. Here, we performed simulations using a hydrological‐hydrodynamic‐sediment model to comprehensively estimate the spatial and temporal sediment changes and trends in SA from 1984 to 2019. We found that 51% of the main SA rivers experienced significant changes in simulated sediment transport (QST) over this period, with 36% due to Amazon deforestation and river damming and 15% due to precipitation changes. We also estimated a 10% reduction in the average sediment delivery to the oceans. Deforestation was responsible for QST changes higher than 80% in some Amazon sites, and hydropower expansion led to a greater reduction of sediment flows (80%–100%) in the Tocantins, Uruguay, Upper Paraná, lower São Francisco, Desaguadero, and Negro rivers. In addition, our results suggest that reservoirs built in the Amazon region in the 2011–2019 period are also affecting sediment transport. Our modeling outputs provide unprecedented information about the status of river sediment dynamics in SA, and a template to develop evidence‐based strategies and transboundary policies related to continental‐wide sediment dynamics and the conservation and restoration of ecosystems.
Hidden delays of climate mitigation benefits in the race for electric vehicle deployment
Authors: Ren Yue , Sun Xin , Wolfram Paul , Zhao Shaoqiong , Tang Xu , Kang Yifei , Zhao Dongchang , Zheng Xinzhu
Published: May 2023

Although battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are climate-friendly alternatives to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), an important but often ignored fact is that the climate mitigation benefits of BEVs are usually delayed. The manufacture of BEVs is more carbon-intensive than that of ICEVs, leaving a greenhouse gas (GHG) debt to be paid back in the future use phase. Here we analyze millions of vehicle data from the Chinese market and show that the GHG break-even time (GBET) of China’s BEVs ranges from zero (i.e., the production year) to over 11 years, with an average of 4.5 years. 8% of China’s BEVs produced and sold between 2016 and 2018 cannot pay back their GHG debt within the eight-year battery warranty. We suggest enhancing the share of BEVs reaching the GBET by promoting the effective substitution of BEVs for ICEVs instead of the single-minded pursuit of speeding up the BEV deployment race.
Task state representations in vmPFC mediate relevant and irrelevant value signals and their behavioral influence
Authors: Moneta Nir , Garvert Mona M. , Heekeren Hauke R. , Schuck Nicolas W.
Published: May 2023

The ventromedial prefrontal-cortex (vmPFC) is known to contain expected value signals that inform our choices. But expected values even for the same stimulus can differ by task. In this study, we asked how the brain flexibly switches between such value representations in a task-dependent manner. Thirty-five participants alternated between tasks in which either stimulus color or motion predicted rewards. We show that multivariate vmPFC signals contain a rich representation that includes the current task state or context (motion/color), the associated expected value, and crucially, the irrelevant value of the alternative context. We also find that irrelevant value representations in vmPFC compete with relevant value signals, interact with task-state representations and relate to behavioral signs of value competition. Our results shed light on vmPFC’s role in decision making, bridging between its role in mapping observations onto the task states of a mental map, and computing expected values for multiple states.
Host-diet-gut microbiome interactions influence human energy balance: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Corbin Karen D. , Carnero Elvis A. , Dirks Blake , Igudesman Daria , Yi Fanchao , Marcus Andrew , Davis Taylor L. , Pratley Richard E. , Rittmann Bruce E. , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa , Smith Steven R.
Published: May 2023

The gut microbiome is emerging as a key modulator of human energy balance. Prior studies in humans lacked the environmental and dietary controls and precision required to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of the gut microbiome. Using a Microbiome Enhancer Diet (MBD) designed to deliver more dietary substrates to the colon and therefore modulate the gut microbiome, we quantified microbial and host contributions to human energy balance in a controlled feeding study with a randomized crossover design in young, healthy, weight stable males and females (NCT02939703). In a metabolic ward where the environment was strictly controlled, we measured energy intake, energy expenditure, and energy output (fecal and urinary). The primary endpoint was the within-participant difference in host metabolizable energy between experimental conditions [Control, Western Diet (WD) vs. MBD]. The secondary endpoints were enteroendocrine hormones, hunger/satiety, and food intake. Here we show that, compared to the WD, the MBD leads to an additional 116 ± 56 kcals (P < 0.0001) lost in feces daily and thus, lower metabolizable energy for the host (89.5 ± 0.73%; range 84.2-96.1% on the MBD vs. 95.4 ± 0.21%; range 94.1-97.0% on the WD; P < 0.0001) without changes in energy expenditure, hunger/satiety or food intake (P > 0.05). Microbial 16S rRNA gene copy number (a surrogate of biomass) increases (P < 0.0001), beta-diversity changes (whole genome shotgun sequencing; P = 0.02), and fermentation products increase (P < 0.01) on an MBD as compared to a WD along with significant changes in the host enteroendocrine system (P < 0.0001). The substantial interindividual variability in metabolizable energy on the MBD is explained in part by fecal SCFAs and biomass. Our results reveal the complex host-diet-microbiome interplay that modulates energy balance.
Stress-induced metabolic exchanges between complementary bacterial types underly a dynamic mechanism of inter-species stress resistance
Authors: Amarnath Kapil , Narla Avaneesh V. , Pontrelli Sammy , Dong Jiajia , Reddan Jack , Taylor Brian R. , Caglar Tolga , Schwartzman Julia , Sauer Uwe , Cordero Otto X. , Hwa Terence
Published: May 2023

Metabolic cross-feeding plays vital roles in promoting ecological diversity. While some microbes depend on exchanges of essential nutrients for growth, the forces driving the extensive cross-feeding needed to support the coexistence of free-living microbes are poorly understood. Here we characterize bacterial physiology under self-acidification and establish that extensive excretion of key metabolites following growth arrest provides a collaborative, inter-species mechanism of stress resistance. This collaboration occurs not only between species isolated from the same community, but also between unrelated species with complementary (glycolytic vs. gluconeogenic) modes of metabolism. Cultures of such communities progress through distinct phases of growth-dilution cycles, comprising of exponential growth, acidification-triggered growth arrest, collaborative deacidification, and growth recovery, with each phase involving different combinations of physiological states of individual species. Our findings challenge the steady-state view of ecosystems commonly portrayed in ecological models, offering an alternative dynamical view based on growth advantages of complementary species in different phases.
A versatile bioelectronic interface programmed for hormone sensing
Authors: Guha Ray Preetam , Maity Debasis , Huang Jinbo , Zulewski Henryk , Fussenegger Martin
Published: May 2023

Precision medicine requires smart, ultrasensitive, real-time profiling of bio-analytes using interconnected miniaturized devices to achieve individually optimized healthcare. Here, we report a versatile bioelectronic interface (VIBE) that senses signaling-cascade-guided receptor-ligand interactions via an electronic interface. We show that VIBE offers a low detection limit down to sub-nanomolar range characterised by an output current that decreases significantly, leading to precise profiling of these peptide hormones throughout the physiologically relevant concentration ranges. In a proof-of-concept application, we demonstrate that the VIBE platform differentiates insulin and GLP-1 levels in serum samples of wild-type mice from type-1 and type-2 diabetic mice. Evaluation of human serum samples shows that the bioelectronic device can differentiate between samples from different individuals and report differences in their metabolic states. As the target analyte can be changed simply by introducing engineered cells overexpressing the appropriate receptor, the VIBE interface has many potential applications for point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine via the internet of things.
Safe and just Earth system boundaries
Authors: Rockström Johan , Gupta Joyeeta , Qin Dahe , Lade Steven J. , Abrams Jesse F. , Andersen Lauren S. , Armstrong McKay David I. , Bai Xuemei , Bala Govindasamy , Bunn Stuart E. , Ciobanu Daniel , DeClerck Fabrice , Ebi Kristie , Gifford Lauren , Gordon Christopher , Hasan Syezlin , Kanie Norichika , Lenton Timothy M. , Loriani Sina , Liverman Diana M. , Mohamed Awaz , Nakicenovic Nebojsa , Obura David , Ospina Daniel , Prodani Klaudia , Rammelt Crelis , Sakschewski Boris , Scholtens Joeri , Stewart-Koster Ben , Tharammal Thejna , van Vuuren Detlef , Verburg Peter H. , Winkelmann Ricarda , Zimm Caroline , Bennett Elena M. , Bringezu Stefan , Broadgate Wendy , Green Pamela A. , Huang Lei , Jacobson Lisa , Ndehedehe Christopher , Pedde Simona , Rocha Juan , Scheffer Marten , Schulte-Uebbing Lena , de Vries Wim , Xiao Cunde , Xu Chi , Xu Xinwu , Zafra-Calvo Noelia , Zhang Xin
Published: May 2023

The stability and resilience of the Earth system and human well-being are inseparably linked1–3, yet their interdependencies are generally under-recognized; consequently, they are often treated independently4,5. Here, we use modelling and literature assessment to quantify safe and just Earth system boundaries (ESBs) for climate, the biosphere, water and nutrient cycles, and aerosols at global and subglobal scales. We propose ESBs for maintaining the resilience and stability of the Earth system (safe ESBs) and minimizing exposure to significant harm to humans from Earth system change (a necessary but not sufficient condition for justice)4. The stricter of the safe or just boundaries sets the integrated safe and just ESB. Our findings show that justice considerations constrain the integrated ESBs more than safety considerations for climate and atmospheric aerosol loading. Seven of eight globally quantified safe and just ESBs and at least two regional safe and just ESBs in over half of global land area are already exceeded. We propose that our assessment provides a quantitative foundation for safeguarding the global commons for all people now and into the future.
3D mapping of intra-articular calcaneal fractures
Authors: Shi Guang , Lin Zhao , Liu Wei , Liao Xun , Xu Xingming , Luo Xue , Zhan Hongrui , Cai Xiyu
Published: May 2023

To determine the pattern of intra-articular calcaneal fractures (ICFs) by a three-dimensional (3D) mapping and determine whether there were consistent fracture patterns and comminution zones. In this study, 67 patients with ICFS by CT scan were included. The calcaneal fractures fragments in CT were multiplanar reconstructed and virtual reduced. 3D heat mapping was subsequently created by graphically superimposing all fracture lines onto a standard calcaneal template. The cohort included 26 (38.8%) left calcaneal fractures, 27 (40.30%) right calcaneal fractures, and 14 (20.9%) cases with bilateral fractures. Comminuted fractures accounted for 92.5%. Sagittal 3D mapping shows that the fracture line is mainly concentrated at the critical angle of Gissane and extending rear to the posterior of the tuberosity of the lateral wall and the anterior of the medial process of the calcaneus tuberosity but with more significant variation in the medial wall. The average angle of fracture lines concerning the long calcaneal axis (LCA) was 29.1° and 19.2° in the lateral and medial walls. Axial 3D mapping shows that fracture lines were primarily concentrated in the anterior area to the posterior joint facet and extending along the rear joint facet and calcaneus sulcus to the posteriorly of the tuberosity. The mean angle of fracture lines concerning the LAC was 11° in the axial wall. Our data provided elucidated that ICFs have consistent characteristic fracture patterns and comminution zones. This study provides visual guidelines for understanding fracture morphology, which may assist with fracture classification, preoperative planning, development of fixation concepts.
Molecular structure of soluble vimentin tetramers
Authors: Vermeire Pieter-Jan , Lilina Anastasia V. , Hashim Hani M. , Dlabolová Lada , Fiala Jan , Beelen Steven , Kukačka Zdeněk , Harvey Jeremy N. , Novák Petr , Strelkov Sergei V.
Published: May 2023

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are essential constituents of the metazoan cytoskeleton. A vast family of cytoplasmic IF proteins are capable of self-assembly from soluble tetrameric species into typical 10–12 nm wide filaments. The primary structure of these proteins includes the signature central ‘rod’ domain of ~ 300 residues which forms a dimeric α-helical coiled coil composed of three segments (coil1A, coil1B and coil2) interconnected by non-helical, flexible linkers (L1 and L12). The rod is flanked by flexible terminal head and tail domains. At present, the molecular architecture of mature IFs is only poorly known, limiting our capacity to rationalize the effect of numerous disease-related mutations found in IF proteins. Here we addressed the molecular structure of soluble vimentin tetramers which are formed by two antiparallel, staggered dimers with coil1B domains aligned (A11 tetramers). By examining a series of progressive truncations, we show that the presence of the coil1A domain is essential for the tetramer formation. In addition, we employed a novel chemical cross-linking pipeline including isotope labelling to identify intra- and interdimeric cross-links within the tetramer. We conclude that the tetramer is synergistically stabilized by the interactions of the aligned coil1B domains, the interactions between coil1A and the N-terminal portion of coil2, and the electrostatic attraction between the oppositely charged head and rod domains. Our cross-linking data indicate that, starting with a straight A11 tetramer, flexibility of linkers L1 and L12 enables ‘backfolding’ of both the coil1A and coil2 domains onto the tetrameric core formed by the coil1B domains. Through additional small-angle X-ray scattering experiments we show that the elongated A11 tetramers dominate in low ionic strength solutions, while there is also a significant structural flexibility especially in the terminal domains.
Fiber counts and architecture of the human dorsal penile nerve
Authors: Tunçkol Elçin , Purkart Leopold , Eigen Lennart , Vida Imre , Brecht Michael
Published: May 2023

The human penis transmits behaviorally important sensory information via the dorsal penile nerve, which is required for initiation and maintenance of erection. The human penis differs from the penes of other hominids. The lack of a baculum makes the human penis dependent on erectile tissue, which is under control of neural signals activated by tactile stimulation. Accordingly, the penile sensory innervation is crucial for human sexual behavior. To clarify penile innervation, we analyzed the architecture of the dorsal penile nerve of five male subjects who donated their body. We stained the sensory fibers in the penile dorsal nerve with anti-neurofilament H antibody, and identified myelinated axons with Luxol fast blue staining. Furthermore, we visualized nerve bundles as they travel along the shaft of the penis by performing microfocus computed tomography scans after counterstaining penes with iodine. Our results show that the dorsal penile nerve is organized in 25–45 loosely packed nerve bundles, running mediodorsally in the shaft of the penis. This organization corresponds to that in penes of other mammalian species, but differs from the organization of the other peripheral sensory nerves. Around half of the dorsal penile nerve fibers were myelinated and a human hemipenis contained a total of 8290 ± 2553 (mean ± SD) axons. Thus, the number of sensory axons in the human dorsal penile nerve is higher than in other species described so far. The large fraction of unmyelinated nerve fibers suggests that the conduction speed is not a crucial aspect of penile sensory transmission.
Efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants over TiO2 nanoparticles modified with nitrogen and MoS2 under visible light irradiation
Authors: El Sharkawy Heba M. , Shawky Amira M. , Elshypany Rania , Selim Hanaa
Published: May 2023

Investigate the use of visible light to improve photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Nitrogen-doped titania and molybdenum sulfide nanocomposites (NTM NCs) with different weight ratios of MoS2 (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) synthesized by a solid state method applied to the photodegradation of methylene blue(MB) under visible light irradiation. The synthesized NTM composites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, UV–Vis, DRS and PL spectroscopy. The results showed enhanced activity of NTM hybrid nanocrystals in oxidizing MB in water under visible light irradiation compared to pure TiO2. The photocatalytic performance of NTM samples increased with MoS2 content. The results show that the photodegradation efficiency of the TiO2 compound improved from 13 to 82% in the presence of N-TiO2 and to 99% in the presence of MoS2 containing N-TiO2, which is 7.61 times higher than that of TiO2. Optical characterization results show enhanced nanocomposite absorption in the visible region with long lifetimes between e/h+ at optimal N-TiO2/MoS2 (NTM2) ratio. Reusable experiments indicated that the prepared NTM NCs photocatalysts were stable during MB photodegradation and had practical applications for environmental remediation.
A fast methodology for generating skeletal FEM with detailed human geometric features based on CPD and RBF algorithms
Authors: Yuan Qiuqi , Jiang Binhui , Zhu Xiaoming , Hu Jingzhou , Wang Yulong , Chou Clifford C. , Xu Shiwei
Published: May 2023

Due to the significant effects of the human anatomical characteristics on the injury mechanism of passenger in traffic accidents, it is necessary to develop human body FEM (Finite Element Model) with detailed anatomical characteristics. However, traditional development of a human body FEM is an extremely complicated process. In particular, the meshing of human body is a huge and time-consuming project. In this paper, a new fast methodology based on CPD (Coherent Point Drift) and RBF (Radial Basis Function) was proposed to achieve the rapid developing the FEM of human bone with detailed anatomical characteristics. In this methodology, the mesh morphing technology based the RBF was used to generate FEM mesh in the geometry extracted from the target CT (Computed Tomography) data. In order to further improve the accuracy and speed of mesh morphing, the target geometric feature points required in the mesh morphing process were realized via the rapid and automatic generation based on the point-cloud registration technology of the CPD algorithm. Finally, this new methodology was used to generate a 3-year-old ribcage FEM consisting of a total of 27,728 elements with mesh size 3–5 mm based on the THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) adult model. In the entire process of generating this new ribcage model, it only took about 2.7 s. The average error between the new FEM and target geometries was only about 2.7 mm. This indicated that the new FEM well described the detailed anatomical characteristics of target geometry, thus importantly revealing that the mesh quality of the new FEM was basically similar to that of source FEM.
A beamline to control longitudinal phase space whilst transporting laser wakefield accelerated electrons to an undulator
Authors: Dewhurst Kay A. , Muratori Bruno D. , Brunetti Enrico , van der Geer Bas , de Loos Marieke , Owen Hywel L. , Wiggins S. Mark , Jaroszynski Dino A.
Published: May 2023

Laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) can produce high-energy electron bunches in short distances. Successfully coupling these sources with undulators has the potential to form an LWFA-driven free-electron laser (FEL), providing high-intensity short-wavelength radiation. Electron bunches produced from LWFAs have a correlated distribution in longitudinal phase space: a chirp. However, both LWFAs and FELs have strict parameter requirements. The bunch chirp created using ideal LWFA parameters may not suit the FEL; for example, a chirp can reduce the high peak current required for free-electron lasing. We, therefore, design a flexible beamline that can accept either positively or negatively chirped LWFA bunches and adjust the chirp during transport to an undulator. We have used the accelerator design program MAD8 to design a beamline in stages, and to track particle bunches. The final beamline design can produce ambidirectional values of longitudinal dispersion ($$R_{56}$$

R
56

): we demonstrate values of + 0.20 mm, 0.00  mm and − 0.22 mm. Positive or negative values of $$R_{56}$$

R
56

apply a shear forward or backward in the longitudinal phase space of the electron bunch, which provides control of the bunch chirp. This chirp control during the bunch transport gives an additional free parameter and marks a new approach to matching future LWFA-driven FELs.