bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Equal Area-Equal Width-Equal Bin Numbers Technique Using Salp Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Maximizing the Success Rate of Ball Bearing Assembly
Authors: Nagarajan Lenin , Mahalingam Siva Kumar , Cep Robert , Ramesh Janjhyam Venkata Naga , Elangovan Muniyandy , Mohammad Faruq
Published: July 2024

In this work, an algorithmic technique is used to minimize the excess parts and maximize the success rate of selective assembly. In this study, a unique method known as Equal Area-Equal Width-Equal Bin Numbers is introduced to group the parts of a ball bearing assembly by taking into account their range of tolerance. A full factorial design is used to conduct the experiments, and the salp swarm optimization (SSO) algorithm is employed to evaluate the best bin combinations and identify the possibility of making the maximum number of assemblies. Computational results showed a 13.16 percent increase in success rate when compared to prior research when employing the proposed method. Comparing the computational outcomes versus those obtained by the Antlion optimization and Genetic algorithms validates the adoption of the SSO algorithm. A paired T-test is performed to assess the statistical significance of the findings. The convergence plot further supports the superiority of the SSO algorithm.
Food safety concerns and purchase choices among poor households in the urbanising global south: the case of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Haque Md. Latiful , Oosterveer Peter , Vignola Raffaele
Published: July 2024

This article looks into the daily food shopping practices of poor urban households in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A practice theory-based approach is used to explore their coping strategies in response to food safety concerns. By applying an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach, two groups of shoppers are compared: recently arrived migrants and established residents, as recently arrived migrants are expected to face an unfamiliar food shopping environment and therefore need to reconsider their daily food shopping practices. The results describe the elements of food shopping practices: food items, retail outlets, affordability, social networks, and relations to work. We identified the absence of freshness, undesirable substances, and the need for more information about the production process as the primary food safety concerns. Among both shopper groups, the harmful consequence of applying the chemical 'formalin' to food is considered the most prominent food safety concern. Major coping strategies include identifying (un)safe food, proactive selection, and establishing and maintaining social relationships. The two groups have similarities and differences in using skills and competencies to mitigate their food safety concerns in everyday shopping practices. Recently arrived migrants have to adapt to urban lifestyles and reconfigure their food safety concerns into their daily food shopping practices.
Numerical Simulation of Bioconvection Maxwell Nanofluid Flow due to Stretching/Shrinking Cylinder with Gyrotactic Motile Microorganisms: A Biofuel Applications
Authors: Khan Shan Ali , Ramzan Aleena , Ali Muhammad , Imran Muhammad , Machado José Mendes , Kedzia Krzysztof , Jan Ahmed Zubair
Published: July 2024

The bioconvection effects with nanofluid are major application in biofuels. This analysis aimed to observe the bioconvection effect in unsteady two-dimensional Maxwell nanofluid flow containing gyrotactic motile microorganisms across a stretching/shrinking cylinder evaluating the consequences of thermal radiation and activation energy. The Cattaneo-Christov double diffusion theory is also observed. Nanofluids are quickly perceptive into many solicitations in the latest technology. The current research has noteworthy implementations in the modern nanotechnology, microelectronics, nano-biopolymer field, biomedicine, biotechnology, treatment of cancer therapy, cooling of atomic reactors, fuel cells, and power generation. By using the proper similarity transformation, the partial differential equations that serve as the basis for the current study are gradually reduced to a set of highly nonlinear forms of ordinary differential equations, which are then numerically, approached using a well-known shooting scheme and the bvp4c tool of the MATLAB software. Investigated is the profile behavior of the flow regulating parameters for the velocity field, thermal field, and volumetric concentration of nanoparticles and microorganisms. From the results, it is concluded that velocity is reduced with a larger bioconvection Rayleigh number. The thermal field is increased with a larger amount of thermal Biot number and thermal radiation. The concentration of nanoparticles increases with an increment in the thermophoresis parameter. Furthermore, the microorganism’s field is decreased with a larger Lewis number. The findings demonstrate that by optimizing the concentration of nanoparticles and microorganisms, the thermal efficiency of biofuels can be significantly improved. This leads to more sustainable and efficient energy production. By optimizing the concentration of nanoparticles and microorganisms in biofuels, the thermal properties can be significantly improved, leading to more efficient combustion processes. This can reduce the overall cost and increase the yield of biofuels. Improved cooling systems for medical imaging devices such as MRI machines can be developed using nanofluids, ensuring better performance and patient safety.
Self-Compassion is Associated with Improved Well-Being and Healthier Cortisol Profiles in Undergraduate Students
Authors: Cowand Alexandra , Amarsaikhan Unurzaya , Ricks Rachel F. , Cash Elizabeth D. , Sephton Sandra E.
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Stress is highly prevalent in college students. Self-compassion, the tendency to respond in a caring manner to one’s own suffering or failures, reduces psychological distress and promotes mental health. Self-compassion may also influence physiological manifestations of stress; however, research is limited. Among undergraduate students over the course of an academic semester, we explored the associations of self-compassion with stress-related psychological variables including measures of affect, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. We also examined daily patterns of salivary cortisol over four days: diurnal slope, mean, and day-to-day cortisol rhythm stability.

Method

This sample of undergraduate students from introductory psychology courses in a large United States Midwestern university was predominantly non-Hispanic White (71.2%) and female (86.4%). All data were collected prior to final exams. After providing baseline psychosocial data, participants engaged in a 2-week mindfulness intervention: They were provided an iPod loaded with audio tracks based on the well-known Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention, but received no face-to-face instruction. Fifty-nine participants provided self-report demographic and medical data and completed the saliva sampling regimen over the first 4 days of the intervention. Diurnal salivary cortisol was assessed immediately after waking and again at bedtime over four consecutive days.

Results

Hierarchical multiple regressions replicated previous findings showing that self-compassion is associated with higher positive and lower negative affect, lower perceived stress, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Regression models controlling for oral contraception and tobacco use revealed a positive association of self-compassion with healthy cortisol profiles marked by steeper diurnal cortisol slopes and increased regularity of the inter-daily cortisol slope.

Conclusions

These results confirm that self-compassion may be protective against the psychological and physiological manifestations of stress in college. Kind and compassionate responses to one’s own struggles may shield students from the adverse effects of stress. The potential mechanisms underlying these associations are worthy of future research.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.
A discussion on benchmarking unconventional configurations with conventional aircraft: the box-wing study case
Authors: Abu Salem Karim , Palaia Giuseppe , Carrera Erasmo
Published: July 2024

This article is intended to introduce an alternative approach to comparative analyses between innovative aeronautical technologies and established state-of-the-art references. Commonly, the tendency is to use a ‘like-for-like’ comparative approach with respect to current technologies -defined as reference benchmarks- that is, to evaluate the possible incremental improvements that can be achieved by introducing a specific technological innovation. However, when innovations that potentially introduce step improvements or new functions compared to the state of the art are evaluated, typically referred to as ‘breakthrough’, this approach may not be the most formally sound one, and it may introduce bias and misjudgements. In the field of aircraft design, using the same top-level requirements and figures of merit as those used for conventional aircraft to initialise and steer the design of unconventional configurations, could undermine the exploitation of their operating and functional potential. The soundness of the comparative approach is of paramount importance, especially in the very early stages of the development of disruptive technologies and unconventional aircraft configurations. In this paper, with the supporting example of the application of the box-wing configuration to medium-range transport aircraft, a general discussion is offered on the necessity of leaving aside the ‘like-for-like’ benchmark approach when investigating the potential of disruptive aircraft innovations. This argumentation does not only refer to the case study proposed as an example, but is generally extendable to aeronautical innovations that may introduce operating and functional novelties compared to current technologies.
Non-Perceptual Representational Immersion in Video Games: a Response to David Chalmers’ Reality+
Authors: Cartlidge James
Published: July 2024

This article criticises David Chalmers’ ‘Reality+’ by interrogating its distinction of virtual reality (VR) from 2D, non-VR video games, a distinction made on the grounds that VR is immersive and these types of video games are not because immersion is a distinct characteristic of 3D perceptually represented VR. Building on the Balcerak Jacksons’ account of ‘representational immersion’, which they acknowledge has ‘perceptual’ and ‘non-perceptual’ elements, I develop an account of ‘non-perceptual representational immersion’ and use it to critique Chalmers’ treatment of VR, immersion, and video games, indirectly problematizing his central ontological claim that ‘virtual reality is genuine reality’ and the reflections he makes about future society which rest upon it. I argue that video games are rich in non-perceptual representational immersion, which includes the representation of non-perceptual information about the structure and behaviour of a virtual world and its systems, the non-perceptual cognitive states that are generated in the player by the virtual world, and the immersion which comes from the constitutively cognitive nature of the player’s engagement with the virtual world, a cognitive engagement construed in an enactive sense. These are just as crucial to the phenomenon of digital immersion as perception. Immersion generally is a much more complicated phenomenon than Chalmers allows for, and it is better conceived as taking place on a spectrum which includes both 3D and 2D experiences of virtual worlds, not as hinging on 3D perceptual representation. I use ‘immersive simulation’ games as a case study.
Prestress force and moving force identification in prestressed concrete bridges via Lagrangian polynomial-based load shape function approach
Authors: Jeyamohan Kunaratnam , Chan Tommy H. T. , Nguyen Khac-Duy , Thambiratnam David P.
Published: July 2024

Precise determination of prestress force in prestressed concrete bridges (PCBs) is essential for estimating the bridge’s load-carrying capacity to ensure the safety of the bridge and its users. Similarly, identifying moving forces is equally important for determining the outcome of overloading traffic and risk assessment of the PCBs. The implementation of prestress force and moving force identification in real-world PCBs using existing methods continues to face challenges. These include errors arising from the incorporation of practical uncertainties, requirement for substantial computational effort, and the need for many sensors. This paper introduces a time-domain inverse force identification method for prestress force and moving force, utilizing limited sensors to address these challenges. It relies exclusively on displacement responses for input, requiring the measurement (translational and rotational displacements) from three locations. A novel approach employing a Lagrangian polynomial-based Hermitian interpolation function is proposed to construct the load shape function from a limited number of responses, reducing computational effort and improving the accuracy. The approach incorporates changes in flexural rigidity resulting from strengthening or deterioration, which eliminates the need to reconstruct the prestressed bridge-vehicle system matrix during every step of force identification. To validate the proposed approach, an experimental study was conducted on a simply supported short-span box-girder bridge model, incorporating vehicle excitation. In addition, a numerical medium-span PCB was employed, featuring moving force, to verify the proposed prestress force and moving force identification method. Experimental and numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for identifying the prestress force and moving force in PCBs with good accuracy using the responses from three locations. In the end, this study will assist bridge managers in evaluating the performance of PCBs to ensure the safety of bridge users, leading to substantial cost savings in bridge maintenance.
Friction between a single platelet and fibrinogen
Authors: Wang Yuhe , Li Yan , Zhang Shuguang , Chen Haosheng , Li Yongjian
Published: July 2024

Friction has been considered to mediate physiological activities of cells, however, the biological friction between a single cell and its ligand-bound surface has not been thoroughly explored. Herein, we established a friction model for single cells based on an atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with an inverted fluorescence microscopy (IFM) to study the friction between a highly sensitive platelet and fibrinogen-coated surface. The study revealed that the friction between the platelet and fibrinogen-coated tip is mainly influenced by specific ligand–receptor interaction. Further, we modeled the biological friction, which consists of specific interaction, non-specific interaction, and mechanical effect. Besides, the results suggested that the velocity can also affect specific ligand–receptor interactions, resulting in the friction change and platelet adhesion to fibrinogen surfaces. The study built a friction model between a single cell and its ligand-bound surface and provided a potential method to study the biological friction by the combination of AFM and IFM.
Effect of particle size distribution on the properties of celsian based glazes
Authors: Yıldız Betül
Published: July 2024

The microstructure and surface properties of ceramic glaze are influenced by chemical composition, particle size distribution, glaze application conditions, and firing parameters. This study specifically focused on the influence of glaze particle size distribution on the thermal behavior, microstructure, and surface appearance of barium frit based ceramic glaze in the floor tile firing process. The investigation involved examining the impact of four distinct particle size dimensions (d50: 5.7 μm, 6.8 μm, 7.5 μm, 10.9 μm) on the glaze properties by using hot stage microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), color and gloss measurements. The studies indicated that celsian is the dominant phase in the glaze structure. The sintering and softening temperatures of glazes decreased with the increase of milling time. A decrease in the particle size of the glaze slurry increased the whiteness index. As the average particle size (d50) of the glaze decreased, the number of crystals was also increased. The investigation results also suggested a relation between specular reflection and milling time. As the milling time extended, there was a corresponding increase in the magnitude of glossiness.
Instruments for measuring the neuromuscular function domain of vitality capacity in older persons: an umbrella review
Authors: Louter Francis , Knoop Veerle , Demarteau Jeroen , Freiberger Ellen , Aubertin-Leheudre Mylene , Maier Andrea B. , Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan Jotheeswaran , Bautmans Ivan
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Recently, handgrip, knee extensor and respiratory muscle strength were proposed as candidate biomarkers to assess the neuromuscular function of vitality capacity in older persons. This umbrella review aims to provide an overview of the available instruments and their measurement properties to assess these biomarkers.

Methods

The databases PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were systematically screened for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting on handgrip, knee extensor or respiratory muscle strength assessments, resulting in 7,555 articles. The COSMIN checklist was used to appraise psychometric properties and the AMSTAR for assessing methodological quality.

Results

Twenty-seven systematic reviews were included in this study. Some of the identified reviews described the psychometric properties of the assessment tools. We found five assessment tools that can be used to measure neuromuscular function in the context of healthy ageing. Those are the handheld dynamometer for handgrip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength and regarding respiratory muscle strength, the sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP).

Conclusion

The handheld dynamometer for hand grip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, MIP and MEP were identified. Therefore, these assessments could be used to identify community-dwelling older adults at risk for a declined neuromuscular function in the context of vitality capacity.
Towards a high-quality fertilizer based on algae residues treated via hydrothermal carbonization. Trends on how process parameters influence inorganics
Authors: Moloeznik Paniagua Daniela , Krenz Lina Maja Marie , Libra Judy A. , Korf Nathalie , Rotter Vera Susanne
Published: July 2024

The use of beach-cast macroalgae as a fertilizer (F) or soil amendment (SA) is coming back into focus, due to its highly efficient transformation of CO2, nutrients, salts and minerals from its aqueous surroundings into biomass. This research studied the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of Fucus vesiculosus macroalgae to hydrochar and evaluated its feasibility for use in soil applications. F. vesiculosus was submitted to HTC following a full factorial design of experiments with three HTC process parameters varied to assess their impact on the hydrochars: temperature (T: 160, 190, 220 °C), solid content (%So: 20, 35%), and process water recirculation (PWrec: yes and no). In general, F. vesiculosus and its hydrochars were rich in nutrients, but also contained regulated heavy metals. Investigation of the partitioning behavior of inorganic elements between the hydrochars and process water showed that heavy metals like Cr, Pb, Co and Cu tended to accumulate in the hydrochar, unaffected by HTC conditions. Nutrients such as P, N, B, and Mn were primarily found in the hydrochar and could be partially influenced to transfer to process water by changing %So and T. The correlation between the mass fractions of 22 elements in the hydrochar and HTC process parameters was studied. T was the most influential parameter, showing a significant positive correlation for eleven elements. %So and PWrec showed inconsistent effects on different elements. When process water was recirculated, some elements decreased (Ca, Cd, Fe) while others increased (K, Na, B, N) in the hydrochar. Assessment against various regulations and standards for F and SA revealed that F. vesiculosus complied with Cd limit values for most rules including the EURF and B, and was regulated only in the RAL for SA, over the limit value. In contrast, the limit value of Cd for both F and SA applications was surpassed in the 13 hydrochars. The contents of N, P, K, S, and Na in the feedstock and hydrochars complied with European F and SA rules, while they were too high for German rules on SA. The other limits for F rules were achieved (under certain HTC process parameters) except for P (lower than the requirements in F for F. vesiculosus and its hydrochars).

Graphical Abstract
Citizen participation through direct legislation: a road to success? A perspective from Switzerland
Authors: Kübler Daniel
Published: July 2024

Citizen participation is generally considered crucial to ensuring that policies effectively address public needs. But there is a long-running debate over how far such participation should go. This article focuses on one of the most far-reaching forms of citizen participation in public policy making– direct legislation– and asks to what extent it can bring about good governance outcomes in the political, economic and social spheres. Focusing on the case of Switzerland, where direct legislation is established and frequent, the article draws on existing studies to discuss long-term impacts of citizen participation in public policy-making. The evidence shows that, in the Swiss case, direct legislation contributed to consensual politics, a favourable environment for economic development, as well as high citizen satisfaction. The conclusion discusses to what extent these findings generalise beyond the Swiss case.
An uncertainty-aware domain adaptive semantic segmentation framework
Authors: Yin Huilin , Wang Pengyu , Liu Boyu , Yan Jun
Published: July 2024

Semantic segmentation is significant to realize the scene understanding of autonomous driving. Due to the lack of annotated real-world data, the technology of domain adaptation is applied so that the model is trained on the synthetic data and inferred on the real data. However, this domain gap leads to aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty. These uncertainties link to the potential safety issue of autonomous driving in normal weather and adverse weather. In this study, we explore the scientific problem that has received sparse attention previously. We postulate that the Dual Attention module can mitigate the uncertainty in the task of semantic segmentation and provide some empirical study to validate it. Furthermore, the utilization of Kullback-Leibler divergence (KL divergence) helps the estimation of aleatoric uncertainty and boosts the robustness of the segmentation model. Our empirical study on the diverse datasets of semantic segmentation demonstrates the effectiveness of our method in normal and adverse weather. Our code is available at: https://github.com/liubo629/Seg-Uncertainty-dual-attention.
Size‐Fractionated Primary Production Dynamics During the Decline Phase of the North Atlantic Spring Bloom
Authors: Meyer Meredith G. , Brzezinski Mark A. , Cohn Melanie R. , Kramer Sasha J. , Paul Nicola , Sharpe Garrett , Niebergall Alexandria K. , Gifford Scott , Cassar Nicolas , Marchetti Adrian
Published: July 2024

The North Atlantic is a region of enhanced biogeochemical and climatological importance for the global ocean as it is the site of one of the largest seasonal phytoplankton blooms on the planet. However, there is a lack of understanding of how phytoplankton size influences bloom dynamics and associated nutrient utilization rates, particularly during the decline phase when export to the deep ocean is especially pronounced. Here, we evaluate trends in size‐fractionated carbon, nitrogen, and silicic acid uptake rates in conjunction with environmental parameters to assess these dynamics. In our study, the decline phase of the bloom continued to be highly productive with net primary production (NPP) ranging from 36.4 to 146.6 mmol C m−2 d−1 and approximately 54% of primary production being driven by large phytoplankton cells (≥5 μm) that were primarily utilizing nitrate (mean f‐ratio of 0.77). Entrainment of silicic acid related to deepening of the mixed layer caused by storms increased silicic acid uptake rates to 2.0–5.7 mmol Si m−2 d−1 without concomitant increases in NPP by large cells (silicic acid to carbon uptake ratios averaged 0.12). A companion study in the North Pacific allowed for paired evaluation of these regions. Our results suggest that in highly productive regions where phytoplankton biomass and productivity is distributed across a broad range of cell sizes, such as the North Atlantic, size itself has a stronger influence on nutrient cycling and potential carbon export relative to regions with lower production and a predominance of small (<5 μm) cells, such as the North Pacific.
MESSENGER Observations of Mercury's Planetary Ion Escape Rates and Their Dependence on True Anomaly Angle
Authors: Sun Weijie , Dewey Ryan M. , Jia Xianzhe , Raines Jim M. , Slavin James A. , Chen Yuxi , Phan Tai , Poh Gangkai , Xu Shaosui , Milillo Anna , Lillis Robert , Saito Yoshifumi , Livi Stefano , Orsini Stefano
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the escape of Mercury's sodium‐group ions (Na+‐group, including ions with m/q from 21 to 30 amu/e) and their dependence on true anomaly angle (TAA), that is, Mercury's orbital phase around the Sun, using measurements from MESSENGER. The measurements are categorized into solar wind, magnetosheath, and magnetosphere, and further divided into four TAA intervals. Na+‐group ions form escape plumes in the solar wind and magnetosheath, with higher fluxes along the solar wind's motional electric field. The total escape rates vary from 0.2 to 1 × 1025 atoms/s with the magnetosheath being the main escaping region. These rates exhibit a TAA dependence, peaking near the perihelion and similar during Mercury's remaining orbit. Despite Mercury's tenuous exosphere, Na+‐group ions escape rate is comparable to other inner planets. This can be attributed to several processes, including that Na+‐group ions may include several ion species, efficient photoionization frequency for elements within Na‐group, etc.
OI 630.0 nm Post‐Sunset Emission Enhancement as an Effect of Tidal Activity Over Low‐Latitudes
Authors: Saha Sovan , Pallamraju Duggirala , Kumar Sunil , Laskar Fazlul I. , Pedatella Nicholas M.
Published: July 2024

The OI 630.0 nm airglow emission variability provides salient information on the dynamical changes taking place in the upper atmosphere at around 250 km. The emission rates vary with the changes in the ambient electron densities and the neutral constituents that are associated with these emissions. On several occasions, enhancements in these emissions are observed during post‐sunset hours, around 21 local time (LT), as measured from Mt. Abu (24.6°N, 72.7°E, 19°N Mag), a low‐latitude location at Indian longitudes. These enhancements occur following the typical monotonic decrease in emission intensity after sunset. The presence of poleward meridional wind preceded by cessation and reversal of equatorward wind at the post‐sunset hours was shown to be the cause for such observed emission enhancements in an earlier study. In this study, the cause of such reversal in meridional winds during post‐sunset hours has been investigated using the variation in electron densities and meridional winds simulated by the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere‐ionosphere eXtension (WACCM‐X), which also shows enhancements in electron densities similar to those observed in the post‐sunset OI 630.0 nm nightglow emissions, and simultaneous reversal in meridional winds as well. The amplitudes and phases of different components of tides obtained from WACCM‐X meridional winds reveal a significant contribution of higher‐order tides, especially, quarter‐diurnal tides, to the observed reversal in the meridional winds during post‐sunset hours.
The Role of Tidal Mixing in Shaping Early Eocene Deep Ocean Circulation and Oxygenation
Authors: Ladant Jean‐Baptiste , Millot‐Weil Jeanne , de Lavergne Casimir , Green J. A. Mattias , Nguyen Sébastien , Donnadieu Yannick
Published: July 2024

Diapycnal mixing in the ocean interior is largely fueled by internal tides. Mixing schemes that represent the breaking of internal tides are now routinely included in ocean and earth system models applied to the modern and future. However, this is more rarely the case in climate simulations of deep‐time intervals of the Earth, for which estimates of the energy dissipated by the tides are not always available. Here, we present and analyze two IPSL‐CM5A2 earth system model simulations of the Early Eocene made under the framework of DeepMIP. One simulation includes mixing by locally dissipating internal tides, while the other does not. We show how the inclusion of tidal mixing alters the shape of the deep ocean circulation, and thereby of large‐scale biogeochemical patterns, in particular oxygen distributions. In our simulations, the absence of tidal mixing leads to a relatively stagnant and poorly ventilated deep ocean in the North Atlantic, which promotes the development of a basin‐scale pool of oxygen‐deficient waters, at the limit of complete anoxia. The absence of large‐scale anoxic records in the deep ocean after the Cretaceous anoxic events suggests that such an ocean state most likely did not occur at any time across the Paleogene. This highlights how crucial it is for climate models applied to the deep‐time to integrate the spatial variability of tidally driven mixing as well as the potential of using biogeochemical models to exclude aberrant dynamical model states.
Analysis of Ionospheric Delay Correction Model Performance During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Liu Jialong , Song Shuli , Cheng Na , Zhu Yongxing , Jin Xulei , Huang Chao , Jiang Jun , Zhao Hongzhan
Published: July 2024

Ionospheric delay, as one of the largest error sources in radio propagation, can only be corrected for this error using the ionospheric delay correction model for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) single‐frequency users. In this paper, the 2021 geomagnetic storm event is selected, and based on the measured ionospheric data from the GNSS observatory, the perturbation of the ionosphere by the geomagnetic storm event is analyzed, and it is found that the response of the ionosphere to the geomagnetic storm has obvious differences in the response characteristics and response time in different latitude regions. The performance of the global ionospheric map (GIM), the empirical model, and the broadcast ionospheric model during the geomagnetic storm‐induced ionospheric perturbation is analyzed and the change in the accuracy of each ionospheric model during the geomagnetic storm‐induced ionospheric perturbation is investigated, using the measured electron content of the GNSS as a benchmark. The results show that there is good agreement between the GIM products and the measured electron content during the period of ionospheric calm and the period of ionospheric perturbation. It is worth noting that geomagnetic storms do not necessarily lead to a decrease in the accuracy of ionospheric delay‐correction models, and in some cases, the models that were originally under‐accurate show a tendency to improve their accuracy during the period of perturbation instead. Neither the broadcast ionospheric model nor the electron content of the empirical model output responds to geomagnetic storm‐induced ionospheric perturbations.
Late Miocene Oroclinal Bending of the Mazatagh Thrust Belt in the Central Tarim Basin and Its Tectonic Implications
Authors: Li Bingshuai , Yan Maodu , Peng Heng , Zhang Weilin , Zan Jinbo , Zhang Tao , Fang Xiaomin
Published: July 2024

The arcuate Mazatagh thrust belt (MTB) in the central Tarim Basin is one of the key regions for understanding the Cenozoic intracontinental deformation in response to the India–Eurasia collision. However, whether it was formed due to oroclinal bending and its kinematic processes remain unclear. Here, we present a detailed paleomagnetic rotation study at Hongbaishan in the middle MTB to shed new light on the deformation in this region. Positive fold and reversal tests of 50 site means suggest primary magnetizations. The paleomagnetic declinations indicate ∼14.6 ± 8.5° absolute clockwise rotation at Hongbaishan since the late Miocene (∼7.6 Ma). Together with the rotation results calculated from Hongbaishan‐1 and Mazatagh magnetostratigraphic data sets in the southeastern MTB, these results reveal an increasing magnitude of clockwise rotation along the belt toward its southeastern tip. Positive oroclinal tests along the MTB suggest the occurrence of oroclinal bending that curved the originally straight MTB before and during the deposition of its lower part, and nearly half of the bending had occurred during the deposition of its upper part. This oroclinal bending is mostly attributed to the northward indentation of the West Kunlun Mountains along the décollement salt‒gypsum layers and further implies ∼7.9° absolute clockwise rotation of the Tarim Basin since the late Miocene. Integrating these findings with other lines of geological evidence around the Tarim Basin, we propose that episodic widespread tectonic deformation with basinward propagation occurred since the late Miocene due to the far‐field effect of the continuous northward indentation of the Indian Plate into Eurasia.
Ultra‐Low Velocity Zone Beneath the Atlantic Near St. Helena
Authors: Davison Felix , Martin Carl , Parai Rita , Cottaar Sanne
Published: July 2024

There are various hotspots in the Atlantic Ocean, which are underlain by mantle plumes that likely cross the mantle and originate at the core‐mantle boundary. We use teleseismic core‐diffracted shear waves to look for an Ultra‐Low Velocity Zone (ULVZ) at the potential base of central Atlantic mantle plumes. Our data set shows delayed postcursory phases after the core‐diffracted shear waves. The observed patterns are consistent in frequency dependence, delay time, and scatter pattern with those caused by mega‐ULVZs previously modeled elsewhere. Synthetic modeling of a cylindrical structure on the core‐mantle boundary below St. Helena provides a good fit to the data. The preferred model is 600 km across and 20 km high, centered at approximately 15° South, 15° West, and with a 30% S‐wave velocity reduction. Significant uncertainties and trade‐offs do remain to these parameters, but a large ULVZ is needed to explain the data. The location is west of St. Helena and south of Ascension. Helium and neon isotopic systematics observed in samples from this region could point to a less‐outgassed mantle component mixed in with the dominant signature of recycled material. These observations could be explained by a contribution from the Large Low Shear Velocity Province (LLSVP). Tungsten isotopic measurements would be needed to understand whether a contribution from the mega‐ULVZ is also required at St. Helena or Ascension.
Characterizing South Pole Firn Structure With Fiber Optic Sensing
Authors: Yang Yan , Zhan Zhongwen , Karrenbach Martin , Reid‐McLaughlin Auden , Biondi Ettore , Wiens Douglas A. , Aster Richard C.
Published: July 2024

The firn layer covers 98% of Antarctica's ice sheets, protecting underlying glacial ice from the external environment. Accurate measurement of firn properties is essential for assessing cryosphere mass balance and climate change impacts. Characterizing firn structure through core sampling is expensive and logistically challenging. Seismic surveys, which translate seismic velocities into firn densities, offer an efficient alternative. This study employs Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology to transform an existing fiber‐optic cable near the South Pole into a multichannel, low‐maintenance, continuously interrogated seismic array. The data resolve 16 seismic wave propagation modes at frequencies up to 100 Hz that constrain P and S wave velocities as functions of depth. Using co‐located geophones for ambient noise interferometry, we resolve very weak radial anisotropy. Leveraging nearby SPICEcore firn density data, we find prior empirical density‐velocity relationships underestimate firn air content by over 15%. We present a new empirical relationship for the South Pole region.
Ozone Pollution in China Affected by Climate Change in a Carbon Neutral Future as Predicted by a Process‐Based Interpretable Machine Learning Method
Authors: Li Huimin , Yang Yang , Su Hang , Wang Hailong , Wang Pinya , Liao Hong
Published: July 2024

Ozone (O3) pollution is a severe air quality issue in China, posing a threat to human health and ecosystems. The climate change will affect O3 levels by directly changing physical and chemical processes of O3 and indirectly changing natural emissions of O3 precursors. In this study, near‐surface O3 concentrations in China in 2030 and 2060 are predicted using the process‐based interpretable Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model integrated with multi‐source data. The results show that the climate‐driven O3 levels over eastern China are projected to decrease by more than 0.4 ppb in 2060 under the carbon neutral scenario (SSP1‐1.9) compared with the high emission scenario (SSP5‐8.5). Among this reduction, 80% is attributed to the changes in physical and chemical processes of O3 related to a cooler climate, while the remaining 20% is attributed to the reduced biogenic isoprene emissions.
Electroluminescence from pure resonant states in hBN-based vertical tunneling junctions
Authors: Grzeszczyk Magdalena , Vaklinova Kristina , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Novoselov Konstantin S. , Koperski Maciej
Published: July 2024

Defect centers in wide-band-gap crystals have garnered interest for their potential in applications among optoelectronic and sensor technologies. However, defects embedded in highly insulating crystals, like diamond, silicon carbide, or aluminum oxide, have been notoriously difficult to excite electrically due to their large internal resistance. To address this challenge, we realized a new paradigm of exciting defects in vertical tunneling junctions based on carbon centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The rational design of the devices via van der Waals technology enabled us to raise and control optical processes related to defect-to-band and intradefect electroluminescence. The fundamental understanding of the tunneling events was based on the transfer of the electronic wave function amplitude between resonant defect states in hBN to the metallic state in graphene, which leads to dramatic changes in the characteristics of electrons due to different band structures of constituent materials. In our devices, the decay of electrons via tunneling pathways competed with radiative recombination, resulting in an unprecedented degree of tuneability of carrier dynamics due to the significant sensitivity of the characteristic tunneling times on the thickness and structure of the barrier. This enabled us to achieve a high-efficiency electrical excitation of intradefect transitions, exceeding by several orders of magnitude the efficiency of optical excitation in the sub-band-gap regime. This work represents a significant advancement towards a universal and scalable platform for electrically driven devices utilizing defect centers in wide-band-gap crystals with properties modulated via activation of different tunneling mechanisms at a level of device engineering.
A deep learning-driven discovery of berberine derivatives as novel antibacterial against multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Guo Xixi , Zhao Xiaosa , Lu Xi , Zhao Liping , Zeng Qingxuan , Chen Fenbei , Zhang Zhimeng , Xu Mengyi , Feng Shijiao , Fan Tianyun , Wei Wei , Zhang Xin , Pang Jing , You Xuefu , Song Danqing , Wang Yanxiang , Jiang Jiandong
Published: July 2024

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is currently recognized as the primary carcinogenic pathogen associated with gastric tumorigenesis, and its high prevalence and resistance make it difficult to tackle. A graph neural network-based deep learning model, employing different training sets of 13,638 molecules for pre-training and fine-tuning, was aided in predicting and exploring novel molecules against H. pylori. A positively predicted novel berberine derivative 8 with 3,13-disubstituted alkene exhibited a potency against all tested drug-susceptible and resistant H. pylori strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.25–0.5 μg/mL. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated an ideal gastric retention of 8, with the stomach concentration significantly higher than its MIC at 24 h post dose. Oral administration of 8 and omeprazole (OPZ) showed a comparable gastric bacterial reduction (2.2-log reduction) to the triple-therapy, namely OPZ + amoxicillin (AMX) + clarithromycin (CLA) without obvious disturbance on the intestinal flora. A combination of OPZ, AMX, CLA, and 8 could further decrease the bacteria load (2.8-log reduction). More importantly, the mono-therapy of 8 exhibited comparable eradication to both triple-therapy (OPZ + AMX + CLA) and quadruple-therapy (OPZ + AMX + CLA + bismuth citrate) groups. SecA and BamD, playing a major role in outer membrane protein (OMP) transport and assembling, were identified and verified as the direct targets of 8 by employing the chemoproteomics technique. In summary, by targeting the relatively conserved OMPs transport and assembling system, 8 has the potential to be developed as a novel anti-H. pylori candidate, especially for the eradication of drug-resistant strains.
Autologous transplant vs. CAR-T therapy in patients with DLBCL treated while in complete remission
Authors: Shadman Mazyar , Ahn Kwang W. , Kaur Manmeet , Lekakis Lazaros , Beitinjaneh Amer , Iqbal Madiha , Ahmed Nausheen , Hill Brian , Hossain Nasheed M. , Riedell Peter , Gopal Ajay K. , Grover Natalie , Frigault Matthew , Brammer Jonathan , Ghosh Nilanjan , Merryman Reid , Lazaryan Aleksandr , Ram Ron , Hertzberg Mark , Savani Bipin , Awan Farrukh , Khimani Farhad , Ahmed Sairah , Kenkre Vaishalee P. , Ulrickson Matthew , Shah Nirav , Kharfan-Dabaja Mohamed A. , Herrera Alex , Sauter Craig , Hamadani Mehdi
Published: July 2024

In patients with relapsed DLBCL in complete remission (CR), autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) and CAR-T therapy are both effective, but it is unknown which modality provides superior outcomes. We compared the efficacy of auto-HCT vs. CAR-T in patients with DLBCL in a CR. A retrospective observational study comparing auto-HCT (2015–2021) vs. CAR-T (2018–2021) using the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research registry. Median follow-up was 49.7 months for the auto-HCT and 24.7 months for the CAR-T cohort. Patients ages 18 and 75 with a diagnosis of DLBCL were included if they received auto-HCT (n = 281) or commercial CAR-T (n = 79) while in a CR. Patients undergoing auto-HCT with only one prior therapy line and CAR-T patients with a previous history of auto-HCT treatment were excluded. Endpoints included Progression-free survival (PFS), relapse rate, non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS). In univariate analysis, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a higher rate of 2-year PFS (66.2% vs. 47.8%; p < 0.001), a lower 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (27.8% vs. 48% ; p < 0.001), and a superior 2-year OS (78.9% vs. 65.6%; p = 0.037). In patients with early (within 12 months) treatment failure, auto-HCT was associated with a superior 2-year PFS (70.9% vs. 48.3% ; p < 0.001), lower 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (22.8% vs. 45.9% ; p < 0.001) and trend for higher 2-year OS (82.4% vs. 66.1% ; p = 0.076). In the multivariable analysis, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a superior PFS (hazard ratio 1.83; p = 0.0011) and lower incidence of relapse (hazard ratio 2.18; p < 0.0001) compared to CAR-T. In patients with relapsed LBCL who achieve a CR, treatment with auto-HCT is associated with improved clinical outcomes compared to CAR-T. These data support the consideration of auto-HCT in select patients with LBCL achieving a CR in the relapsed setting.
Origin recognition complex 6 overexpression promotes growth of glioma cells
Authors: Yang Wen-lei , Zhang Wei-feng , Wang Yin , Lou Yue , Cai Yu , Zhu Jun
Published: July 2024

The discovery of novel oncotargets for glioma is of immense significance. We here explored the expression patterns, biological functions, and underlying mechanisms associated with ORC6 (origin recognition complex 6) in glioma. Through the bioinformatics analyses, we found a significant increase in ORC6 expression within human glioma tissues, correlating with poorer overall survival, higher tumor grade, and wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase status. Additionally, ORC6 overexpression is detected in glioma tissues obtained from locally-treated patients and across various primary/established glioma cells. Further bioinformatics scrutiny revealed that genes co-expressed with ORC6 are enriched in multiple signaling cascades linked to cancer. In primary and immortalized (A172) glioma cells, depleting ORC6 using specific shRNA or Cas9-sgRNA knockout (KO) significantly decreased cell viability and proliferation, disrupted cell cycle progression and mobility, and triggered apoptosis. Conversely, enhancing ORC6 expression via a lentiviral construct augmented malignant behaviors in human glioma cells. ORC6 emerged as a crucial regulator for the expression of key oncogenic genes, including Cyclin A2, Cyclin B2, and DNA topoisomerase II (TOP2A), within glioma cells. Silencing or KO of ORC6 reduced the mRNA and protein levels of these genes, while overexpression of ORC6 increased their expression in primary glioma cells. Bioinformatics analyses further identified RBPJ as a potential transcription factor of ORC6. RBPJ shRNA decreased ORC6 expression in primary glioma cells, while its overexpression increased it. Additionally, significantly enhanced binding between the RBPJ protein and the proposed ORC6 promoter region was detected in glioma tissues and cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in the growth of patient-derived glioma xenografts in the mouse brain subsequent to ORC6 KO. ORC6 depletion, inhibited proliferation, decreased expression of Cyclin A2/B2/TOP2A, and increased apoptosis were detected within these ORC6 KO intracranial glioma xenografts. Altogether, RBPJ-driven ORC6 overexpression promotes glioma cell growth, underscoring its significance as a promising therapeutic target.
Coherent spin qubit shuttling through germanium quantum dots
Authors: van Riggelen-Doelman Floor , Wang Chien-An , de Snoo Sander L. , Lawrie William I. L. , Hendrickx Nico W. , Rimbach-Russ Maximilian , Sammak Amir , Scappucci Giordano , Déprez Corentin , Veldhorst Menno
Published: July 2024

Quantum links can interconnect qubit registers and are therefore essential in networked quantum computing. Semiconductor quantum dot qubits have seen significant progress in the high-fidelity operation of small qubit registers but establishing a compelling quantum link remains a challenge. Here, we show that a spin qubit can be shuttled through multiple quantum dots while preserving its quantum information. Remarkably, we achieve these results using hole spin qubits in germanium, despite the presence of strong spin-orbit interaction. In a minimal quantum dot chain, we accomplish the shuttling of spin basis states over effective lengths beyond 300 microns and demonstrate the coherent shuttling of superposition states over effective lengths corresponding to 9 microns, which we can extend to 49 microns by incorporating dynamical decoupling. These findings indicate qubit shuttling as an effective approach to route qubits within registers and to establish quantum links between registers.