bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Clinical Frailty Scale can be used retrospectively to assess the frailty of patients with hip fracture: a validation study
Authors: Kay Robert S. , Hughes Martin , Williamson Thomas R. , Hall Andrew J. , Duckworth Andrew D. , Clement Nick D.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Frailty is a common clinical syndrome affecting hip fracture patients. Recognising and accurately assessing frailty status is important in clinical and research settings. The Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a commonly used instrument and demonstrates a strong correlation with mortality and length of hospital admission following hip fracture. What is not understood, however, is the validity of retrospectively assigned CFS scores in hip fracture patients. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of retrospective non-orthogeriatrician assigned CFS scores in hip fracture patients.

Methods

Hip fracture patients from a single major trauma centre were assessed and CFS scores were assigned prospectively by non-orthogeriatric clinicians (n = 57). A subset of these patients were also assigned a prospective CFS score by a specialist orthogeriatrician (n = 27). Two separate blinded observers (non-orthogeriatric clinicians) assigned CFS scores retrospectively using electronic patient records alone. Agreement and precision was examined using the Bland–Altman plot, accuracy was assessed using R2 statistic and inter-rater reliability was assessed using quadratic weighted Cohen’s kappa.

Results

Seventy percent of the cohort were female with an average age of 83. Agreement was high between prospective non-orthogeriatrician assigned CFS scores and retrospective non-orthogeriatrician assigned CFS scores, with a low bias (0.046) and good accuracy (R2 = 73%). Good agreement was also seen in comparisons between prospective orthogeriatrician assigned CFS scores versus retrospective non-orthogeriatrician assigned scores, with a low bias (0.23) and good accuracy (R2 = 78%). Good inter-rater reliability was seen between blinded observers with a quadratic weighted Cohen’s kappa of 0.76.

Conclusions

Retrospective CFS scores assigned by non-orthogeriatricians are a valid means of assessing frailty status in hip fracture patients. However, our results suggest a tendency for non-orthogeriatricians to marginally overestimate frailty status when assigning CFS scores retrospectively.

Level of evidence

3.
Task Allocation Using a Team of Robots
Authors: Aziz Haris , Pal Arindam , Pourmiri Ali , Ramezani Fahimeh , Sims Brendan
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

Task allocation using a team or coalition of robots is one of the most important problems in robotics, computer science, operational research, and artificial intelligence. We present a survey of multi-robot task allocation covering many problem variants and solution approaches, both centralized and decentralized.

Recent Findings

In recent work, research has focused on handling complex objectives and feasibility constraints amongst other variations of the multi-robot task allocation problem. There are many examples of important research and recent progress in these directions, which are captured in this survey, along with similar examples for the various solutions that have been developed to solve such problems.

We first present a general formulation of the task allocation problem that generalizes several versions that are well-studied. Our formulation includes the states of robots, tasks, and the surrounding environment in which they operate, and we describe how the problem can be varied depending on the feasibility constraints, objective functions, and the level of dynamically changing information. In addition, we discuss existing solution approaches for the problem including optimization-based approaches, and market-based approaches.
Legitimising disciplinary literacy: rewriting the rules of the literacy game and enhancing secondary teachers’ professional habitus
Authors: McLean Davies Larissa , Potter Troy , Herrington Michèle Hinton
Published: August 2022

This paper takes up key questions of this special issue regarding tensions and challenges in the field of literacy education by exploring how literary knowledge and skills intersect with subject area teachers’ disciplinary ontologies and epistemologies. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s thinking tools, we analyse how literacy across the curriculum has been approached in policy and practice terms in recent decades, particularly in the context of neoliberal reforms and increasing accountability cultures. We then discuss the implications and limits of these approaches for teacher identity and professionalism, and using two initiatives in both pre-service and in-service contexts as examples, we consider ways of reconsidering the field of disciplinary literacy and the habitus of subject experts, so that secondary teachers might be best placed to support diverse learners in their classrooms.
Gender Dysphoria and Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Soldati Lorenzo , Hasler Roland , Recordon Nathalie , Clement Marie , Köhl John , Perroud Nader
Published: August 2022

Background

World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines support the importance of a mental health assessment before providing medical treatment for Gender Dysphoria (GD). During this assessment, patients without GD but with mental health disorder and who request treatment for GD should be excluded. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a poorly known mental disorder which can be confused for GD.

Aim

To provide a case report of a patient suffering for DID but asking for treatment for GD and to provide a review of the literature on GD and DID.

Method

A case report assessment and follow-up was described and a systematic review of the literature was performed in Pubmed, PsychInfo, and Embase databases.

Outcome

To provide all cases with assessment and follow-up of DID and GD.

Results

The case report describes a man suffering from DID and asking for hormonal treatment for GD. After assessment the patient was able to let go of his wish for treatment for GD and begin psychotherapy for DID. During the literature review 11 articles were included. 3 articles showed a prevalence of DID of 0%, 0.8% and 1,5% in GD samples. 5 articles were case reports of patients with both diagnoses of GD and DID which showed the complexity of the care of these patients. 2 articles were case reports, where a GD diagnosis was done first, and then counseling for GD was proposed. After a second session, the diagnosis was changed for DID. In 1 other case report and our case report there was a description of 2 persons suffering from DID and asking for treatment for GD.

Clinical implications

Our review shows the complexity of providing care to patients with a comorbidity of GD and DID, as well as the complexity of making the differential diagnosis between GD and DID.

Strengths and Limitations

A systematic review was performed on these rare cases. Our study presents the results for a small group of patients.

Conclusions

This article provides the first systematic review on GD and DID and shows that DID in a GD sample does not seem to be higher than in the general population. In addition, it allow clinicians to gain better knowledge about patients suffering from both DID and GD and patients suffering from DID who ask for GD treatment.
Paced Mating Behaviour Is Influenced by Duration of Female Post-Ejaculatory Interval
Authors: Corlett Allison G. , Frankl Paula R. , Akindona Funto A.B. , VanDerwerker Margriet E. , Meerts Sarah H.
Published: August 2022

Background

Laboratory paradigms that enable the female rat to control the frequency and temporal distribution of sexual stimulation are well-suited to gaining knowledge about female sexual function; however, the variety of procedures used influence the specific behaviors exhibited by female rats and bring uncertainty into the conclusions that can be drawn.

Aim

In this study, we evaluated the effects of test parameters on the display of paced mating behavior in female rats to develop better preclinical models for exploring female sexual health.

Methods

Sexually experienced, estradiol- and progesterone-primed female rats were tested under paced mating conditions to determine whether sexual behavior differed as a function of number of male partners (1 or 3; Experiment 1), the time span between receipt of an ejaculation and the next intromission (ie, the post-ejaculatory interval or PEI; Experiment 2), or the duration of ejaculations (Experiment 3).

Outcomes

Contact-return latency, exit latency, and withdrawal duration after mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations.

Results

The shorter withdrawal latency after intromission and longer return latency after ejaculation observed in 30-minute paced mating tests is best attributed to the female’s PEI. The duration of the PEI is a specific factor that affects the display of paced mating behavior.

Clinical Translation

Understanding of neurobiological mechanisms and sensory factors influencing sexual behavior learned from these models can be applied to studies of human female sexual health.

Strengths & Limitations

Sexual motivation is indicated by analogous behaviors and supported by evolutionarily conserved systems in women and rats, meaning that animal models can be used to identify neurobiological mechanisms subserving these behaviors. Nonetheless, data related specifically to physiological effects of different mating paradigms are needed in future research.

Conclusion

Procedures that mimic naturalistic settings, and thus enable female sexual motivation to drive behavior, are apt for studies aimed at understanding mechanisms supporting female sexual function whereas artificially lengthening the interval between an ejaculation and subsequent intromission may provide a model to study female sexual dysfunction.
Self-Control
Authors: Tiemeijer W. L.
Published: August 2022

Good self-control is a crucial factor in the distribution of life outcomes, ranging from success at school and work, to good mental and physical health, and to satisfying romantic relationships. While in the last decades psychologists have learned much about this all-important trait, both social theory and politics have not caught up. Many academics and policymakers still seem to believe that everybody has unlimited capacity for self-control and that maintaining discipline is purely a matter of volition. This book shows that such beliefs are fundamentally mistaken. It presents the state-of-the-art in research on self-control, explains why this trait has been largely overlooked, and sets out the profound implications of this psychological research for moral responsibility, distributive justice and public policy. It shows that the growing emphasis in politics on 'personal responsibility' is deeply problematic, and outlines alternatives more in accord with human psychology.
An Introduction to Python Programming for Scientists and Engineers
Authors: Lin Johnny Wei-Bing , Aizenman Hannah , Manette Cartas Espinel Erin , Gunnerson Kim , Liu Joanne
Published: August 2022

Python is one of the most popular programming languages, widely used for data analysis and modelling, and is fast becoming the leading choice for scientists and engineers. Unlike other textbooks introducing Python, typically organised by language syntax, this book uses many examples from across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth science, and Engineering to teach and motivate students in science and engineering. The text is organised by the tasks and workflows students undertake day-to-day, helping them see the connections between programming tools and their disciplines. The pace of study is carefully developed for complete beginners, and a spiral pedagogy is used so concepts are introduced across multiple chapters, allowing readers to engage with topics more than once. “Try This!” exercises and online Jupyter notebooks encourage students to test their new knowledge, and further develop their programming skills. Online solutions are available for instructors, alongside discipline-specific homework problems across the sciences and engineering.
Entrainment, diffusion and effective compressibility in a self-similar turbulent jet
Authors: Basset Thomas , Viggiano Bianca , Barois Thomas , Gibert Mathieu , Mordant Nicolas , Cal Raúl Bayoán , Volk Romain , Bourgoin Mickaël
Published: August 2022

An experimental Lagrangian study based on particle tracking velocimetry has been completed in an incompressible turbulent round water jet freely spreading into water. The jet is seeded with tracers only through the nozzle: inhomogeneous seeding called nozzle seeding. The Lagrangian flow tagged by these tracers therefore does not contain any contribution from particles entrained into the jet from the quiescent surrounding fluid. The mean velocity field of the nozzle seeded flow,

$\langle \boldsymbol {U}_{\boldsymbol {\varphi }} \rangle$

, is found to be essentially indistinguishable from the global mean velocity field of the jet,

$\langle \boldsymbol {U} \rangle$

, for the axial velocity while significant deviations are found for the radial velocity. This results in an effective compressibility of the nozzle seeded flow for which

$\boldsymbol {\nabla }\boldsymbol {\cdot } \langle \boldsymbol {U}_{\boldsymbol {\varphi }} \rangle \neq 0$

even though the global background flow is fully incompressible. By using mass conservation and self-similarity, we quantitatively explain the modified radial velocity profile and analytically express the missing contribution associated with entrained fluid particles. By considering a classical advection–diffusion description, we explicitly connect turbulent diffusion of mass (through the turbulent diffusivity

$K_T$

) and momentum (through the turbulent viscosity

$\nu _T$

) to entrainment. This results in new practical relations to experimentally determine the non-uniform spatial profiles of

$K_T$

and

$\nu _T$

(and hence of the turbulent Prandtl number

$\sigma _T = \nu _T/K_T$

) from simple measurements of the mean tracer concentration and axial velocity profiles. Overall, the proposed approach based on nozzle seeded flow gives new experimental and theoretical elements for a better comprehension of turbulent diffusion and entrainment in turbulent jets.
The global prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Yuancai , Qin Huikai , Huang Jianying , Li Junqiang , Zhang Longxian
Published: August 2022

Cryptosporidium spp. are important pathogens with some species causing diarrhoea in humans and animals. Sheep are one of the most common potential hosts for various Cryptosporidium spp. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep globally was evaluated from published information including molecular data via meta-analysis. In total, 126 datasets from 41 countries were included for final quantitative analysis. Sheep aged <3 months had a significantly higher prevalence (27.8%; 3284/11 938) than those at the age of 3–12 and >12 months. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep with diarrhoea of 35.4% (844/1915) was higher than in sheep that did not show diarrhoea (11.3%; 176/1691). Fourteen Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were detected in sheep globally. The proportion of subgenotype family XIIa of Cryptosporidium ubiquitum was 90.0% (216/240); the proportions of subgenotypes IIdA20G1 and IIaA15G2R1 of Cryptosporidium parvum were 15.4% (62/402) and 19.7% (79/402). The results indicate that C. parvum is the dominant species in Europe while Cryptosporidium xiaoi is the dominant species in Oceania, Asia and Africa and C. ubiquitum is the dominant species in North America and South America. Subgenotype family IIa of C. parvum is particularly widespread among sheep worldwide. The results highlight the role of sheep as a reservoir host for zoonotic cryptosporidia and the need for further study of prevalence, transmission and control of this pathogen in sheep.
Do general and specific factors of preschool psychopathology predict preadolescent outcomes? A transdiagnostic hierarchical approach
Authors: Michelini Giorgia , Gair Kelly , Tian Yuan , Miao Jiaju , Dougherty Lea R. , Goldstein Brandon L. , MacNeill Leigha A. , Barch Deanna M. , Luby Joan L. , Wakschlag Lauren S. , Klein Daniel N. , Kotov Roman
Published: August 2022

Background

Preschool psychiatric symptoms significantly increase the risk for long-term negative outcomes. Transdiagnostic hierarchical approaches that capture general (‘p’) and specific psychopathology dimensions are promising for understanding risk and predicting outcomes, but their predictive utility in young children is not well established. We delineated a hierarchical structure of preschool psychopathology dimensions and tested their ability to predict psychiatric disorders and functional impairment in preadolescence.

Methods

Data for 1253 preschool children (mean age = 4.17, s.d. = 0.81) were drawn from three longitudinal studies using a similar methodology (one community sample, two psychopathology-enriched samples) and followed up into preadolescence, yielding a large and diverse sample. Exploratory factor models derived a hierarchical structure of general and specific factors using symptoms from the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment interview. Longitudinal analyses examined the prospective associations of preschool p and specific factors with preadolescent psychiatric disorders and functional impairment.

Results

A hierarchical dimensional structure with a p factor at the top and up to six specific factors (distress, fear, separation anxiety, social anxiety, inattention-hyperactivity, oppositionality) emerged at preschool age. The p factor predicted all preadolescent disorders (ΔR2 = 0.04–0.15) and functional impairment (ΔR2 = 0.01–0.07) to a significantly greater extent than preschool psychiatric diagnoses and functioning. Specific dimensions provided additional predictive power for the majority of preadolescent outcomes (disorders: ΔR2 = 0.06–0.15; functional impairment: ΔR2 = 0.05–0.12).

Conclusions

Both general and specific dimensions of preschool psychopathology are useful for predicting clinical and functional outcomes almost a decade later. These findings highlight the value of transdiagnostic dimensions for predicting prognosis and as potential targets for early intervention and prevention.
Integrating Long and Short‐Term Time Dependencies in Simulation‐Based Seismic Hazard Assessments
Authors: Iacoletti Salvatore , Cremen Gemma , Galasso Carmine
Published: August 2022

Conventional probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) only considers mainshock events and uses a time‐independent earthquake rupture forecast to describe the occurrence of mainshocks. This approach neglects the long‐term time‐dependency of mainshocks on specific fault segments, the interaction of adjacent faults, and the spatial and temporal clustering of aftershocks. This study integrates a recently proposed advanced fault‐based PSHA framework with an aftershock simulator based on the Epidemic‐Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model, to overcome the aforementioned limitations. Central Italy is used as a case study to illustrate the proposed framework. The case‐study hazard curves show that including state‐of‐the‐art advances in fault‐based PSHA may increase the ground‐motion amplitudes for low return periods, and decrease the ground‐motion amplitudes for high return periods, relative to a conventional PSHA approach. The magnitude of ground‐motion estimate increases due to aftershock inclusion is dependent on the selected site and return period. Sensitivity analyses of the results demonstrate that: (a) close to modeled faults, high‐return‐period hazard estimates are more affected by fault‐related inputs than the aftershock inclusion; (b) close to modeled faults, the influence of aftershock inclusion is higher for low return periods than high ones; (c) away from modeled faults, aftershocks inclusion greatly affects the variance of the hazard results; and (d) fault interaction has a limited effect on the variance of the hazard estimates compared to other analysis inputs. This study could help with the future implementation of complex fault modeling approaches and aftershock hazard in seismic risk models.
A Framework for Fracture Extraction Under Glaciological Property‐Based Constraints: Scientific Application on the Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf of Antarctica
Authors: lv D. , Cheng Y. , Xiao H. , Hai G.
Published: August 2022

Fractures are an important indicator of ice shelf instability and predecessors of calving events. It is of great importance to identify fractures and understand the formation and propagation processes of fractures. However, automated methods of fracture identification also erroneously extract non‐fracture features, which are mixed with the automatically extracted fractures, negatively impacting the accuracy of the results. In this study, a framework for fracture extraction with glaciological property‐based constraints was proposed to extract fractures and filter out non‐fracture features. The extraction module consists of image preprocessing and linear feature extraction. The constraints were based on glaciological property analysis, including constraints based on physical properties of fractures and structural properties of ice shelves. The framework was applied to Mosaic of Antarctica and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager images to extract fractures on the Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf. The results suggest that most of the non‐fracture features were successfully filtered out, accounting for about half of all linear features. Upon comparison, it was found that the proposed method detected ∼97% of the rifts and ∼42% of the crevasses detected by manual extraction. The spatial pattern and formation mechanisms of the fractures were analyzed based on strain maps. The formation of crevasses is closely related to shear margin and longitudinal tension, while the large rifts near the ice shelf front are likely to be related to the strikes of lateral ice flow tributaries. The constraint strategy can be further improved by utilizing more glaciological properties to obtain more‐accurate fracture extraction.
Unified Theory of the Arc Auroras: Formation Mechanism of the Arc Auroras Conforming General Principles of Convection and FAC Generation
Authors: Tanaka T. , Watanabe M. , Ebihara Y. , Fujita S. , Nishitani N. , Kataoka R.
Published: August 2022

The arc aurora can be considered as the visualization of the field‐aligned current (FAC). In various cases, the numerically reproduced FAC morphologically matches well with that of the observed arc aurora. Such example can be seen in the sun‐aligned arc, the fan arc, and the theta aurora under the northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and the substorm, the quiet arc, and the initial brightening under the southward IMF. The FAC reproduced by the global simulation is based on the general principle of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD). In such general principle, the FAC is transmission of net charge, net charge is divE, and E is equivalent to motion. After all, the FAC is transmission of convection motion. In order to transmit the FAC to the dissipative ionosphere based on the MHD, formations of the dynamo and shear that leads from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere are essential. The dynamo and shear are reproduced so as to properly match with each convection structure. The comparison under various magnetospheric topologies between the global simulation and the arc aurora observation indicates that the arc aurora and the FAC occurs inevitably controlled by convection structure. Such a principle of the FAC and convection holds even for the onset FAC.
Accounting for Topographic Effects on Snow Cover Fraction and Surface Albedo Simulations Over the Tibetan Plateau in Winter
Authors: Miao Xin , Guo Weidong , Qiu Bo , Lu Sha , Zhang Yu , Xue Yongkang , Sun Shufen
Published: August 2022

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is the highest land in the world and has a very complex topography. However, the influence of topography on TP snow cover simulations has not been adequately addressed in most land surface models. The analysis of satellite observations indicates that snow cover fraction (SCF) simulation biases increase with the topography complexity, and this increasing trend slows down when the standard deviation of topography is greater than 200 m. The result also shows that using the SCF schemes without consideration of topography leads to a consistent overestimation in winter. To account for the topographic effects, we introduce a modified topographic factor to the SCF schemes. Then we conduct regional simulations using the Simplified Simple Biosphere Model version 3 (SSiB3) and evaluate the results at the location of observation sites to reduce the uncertainty induced by forcing data. Compared with the default SCF scheme, the mean winter SCF bias is reduced from 3.83% to −0.10%. The optimization of SCF simulations further improves the winter surface albedo and land surface temperature (LST) simulations. The winter surface albedo bias over the TP is reduced from 0.020 to 0.007, with a maximum reduction by −0.133. The winter LST bias is reduced from −3.33 to −3.04 K, with a maximum reduction by 3.60 K. This study highlights the importance of topographic effects in simulating snow cover distribution and land surface energy budget for reducing the “cold bias” in winter climate simulations over the TP.
Biotic and Paleoceanographic Changes Across the Late Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 in the Southern High Latitudes (IODP Sites U1513 and U1516, SE Indian Ocean)
Authors: Petrizzo Maria Rose , Amaglio Giulia , Watkins David K. , MacLeod Kenneth G. , Huber Brian T. , Hasegawa Takashi , Wolfgring Erik
Published: August 2022

Oceanic Anoxic Event 2, spanning the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (93.9 Ma), was an episode of major perturbations in the global carbon cycle. To investigate the response of biota and the paleoceanographic conditions across this event, we present data from International Ocean Discovery Program sites U1513 and U1516 in the Mentelle Basin (offshore SW Australia; paleolatitude 59°–60°S in the mid‐Cretaceous) that register the first complete records of OAE 2 at southern high latitudes. Calcareous nannofossils provide a reliable bio‐chronostratigraphic framework. The distribution and abundance patterns of planktonic and benthic foraminifera, radiolaria, and calcispheres permit interpretation of the dynamics of the water mass stratification and provide support for the paleobathymetric reconstruction of the two sites, with Site U1513 located northwest of the Mentelle Basin depocenter and at a deeper depth than Site U1516. The lower OAE 2 interval is characterized by reduced water mass stratification with alternating episodes of enhanced surface water productivity and variations of the thickness of the mixed layer as indicated by the fluctuations in abundance of the intermediate dwelling planktonic foraminifera. The middle OAE 2 interval contains lithologies composed almost entirely of radiolaria reflecting extremely high marine productivity; the low CaCO3 content is consistent with marked shoaling of the Carbonate Compensation Depth and ocean acidification because of CaCO3 undersaturation. Conditions moderated after deposition of the silica‐rich, CaCO3‐poor rocks as reflected by the microfossil changes indicating a relatively stable water column although episodes of enhanced eutrophy did continue into the lower Turonian at Site U1516.
Intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ T cells associate poor clinical outcomes and adjuvant chemotherapeutic benefit in gastric cancer
Authors: Yu Kuan , Gu Yun , Zhang Puran , Fang Hanji , Cao Yifan , Wang Jieti , Lin Chao , Liu Hao , Zhang Heng , He Hongyong , Li Ruochen , Qin Jing , Li He , Xu Jiejie
Published: August 2022

Background

Although PD-1 has been reported to be a marker of T-cell exhaustion in several malignancies, the biological role of PD-1+CD8+ T cells in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of PD-1+CD8+ T cells in the tumour microenvironment and its clinical significance in GC.

Designs

This study included 441 tumour microarray specimens and 60 Flow cytometry specimens of GC patients from Zhongshan Hospital, and 250 GC patients from the Asian Cancer Research Group.

Results

Here, we demonstrated that PD-1+CD8+ T cells functioned as an independent adverse prognosticator in GC. In addition, an abundance of intratumoral PD-1+CD8+ T cells indicated worse chemotherapeutic responsiveness to fluorouracil in Stage III GC patients. Mechanistically, PD-1+CD8+ T cell high infiltration indicated an exhausted phenotype of global CD8+ T cells in GC tissues, which was characterised by elevated immune checkpoint expression including CTLA-4 and TIM-3, whereas decreased expression of perforin. Furthermore, PD-1+CD8+ T cell high-infiltration patients with Stage III GC held elevated activity of several therapeutic signal pathways.

Conclusions

Our study highlighted that PD-1+CD8+ T cell abundance predicts inferior prognosis in GC, and may serve as a novel predictive biomarker to guide therapeutic option.
Inelastic phonon transport across atomically sharp metal/semiconductor interfaces
Authors: Li Qinshu , Liu Fang , Hu Song , Song Houfu , Yang Susu , Jiang Hailing , Wang Tao , Koh Yee Kan , Zhao Changying , Kang Feiyu , Wu Junqiao , Gu Xiaokun , Sun Bo , Wang Xinqiang
Published: August 2022

Understanding thermal transport across metal/semiconductor interfaces is crucial for the heat dissipation of electronics. The dominant heat carriers in non-metals, phonons, are thought to transport elastically across most interfaces, except for a few extreme cases where the two materials that formed the interface are highly dissimilar with a large difference in Debye temperature. In this work, we show that even for two materials with similar Debye temperatures (Al/Si, Al/GaN), a substantial portion of phonons will transport inelastically across their interfaces at high temperatures, significantly enhancing interface thermal conductance. Moreover, we find that interface sharpness strongly affects phonon transport process. For atomically sharp interfaces, phonons are allowed to transport inelastically and interface thermal conductance linearly increases at high temperatures. With a diffuse interface, inelastic phonon transport diminishes. Our results provide new insights on phonon transport across interfaces and open up opportunities for engineering interface thermal conductance specifically for materials of relevance to microelectronics.
Flavin-enabled reductive and oxidative epoxide ring opening reactions
Authors: De Bidhan Chandra , Zhang Wenjun , Yang Chunfang , Mándi Attila , Huang Chunshuai , Zhang Liping , Liu Wei , Ruszczycky Mark W. , Zhu Yiguang , Ma Ming , Bashiri Ghader , Kurtán Tibor , Liu Hung-wen , Zhang Changsheng
Published: August 2022

Epoxide ring opening reactions are common and important in both biological processes and synthetic applications and can be catalyzed in a non-redox manner by epoxide hydrolases or reductively by oxidoreductases. Here we report that fluostatins (FSTs), a family of atypical angucyclines with a benzofluorene core, can undergo nonenzyme-catalyzed epoxide ring opening reactions in the presence of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The 2,3-epoxide ring in FST C is shown to open reductively via a putative enol intermediate, or oxidatively via a peroxylated intermediate with molecular oxygen as the oxidant. These reactions lead to multiple products with different redox states that possess a single hydroxyl group at C-2, a 2,3-vicinal diol, a contracted five-membered A-ring, or an expanded seven-membered A-ring. Similar reactions also take place in both natural products and other organic compounds harboring an epoxide adjacent to a carbonyl group that is conjugated to an aromatic moiety. Our findings extend the repertoire of known flavin chemistry that may provide new and useful tools for organic synthesis.
Codoped porous carbon nanofibres as a potassium metal host for nonaqueous K-ion batteries
Authors: Li Siwu , Zhu Haolin , Liu Yuan , Han Zhilong , Peng Linfeng , Li Shuping , Yu Chuang , Cheng Shijie , Xie Jia
Published: August 2022

Potassium metal is an appealing alternative to lithium as an alkali metal anode for future electrochemical energy storage systems. However, the use of potassium metal is hindered by the growth of unfavourable deposition (e.g., dendrites) and volume changes upon cycling. To circumvent these issues, we propose the synthesis and application of nitrogen and zinc codoped porous carbon nanofibres that act as potassium metal hosts. This carbonaceous porous material enables rapid potassium infusion (e.g., < 1 s cm−2) with a high potassium content (e.g., 97 wt. %) and low potassium nucleation overpotential (e.g., 15 mV at 0.5 mA cm−2). Experimental and theoretical measurements and analyses demonstrate that the carbon nanofibres induce uniform potassium deposition within its porous network and facilitate a dendrite-free morphology during asymmetric and symmetric cell cycling. Interestingly, when the potassium-infused carbon material is tested as an active negative electrode material in combination with a sulfur-based positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution in the coin cell configuration, an average discharge voltage of approximately 1.6 V and a discharge capacity of approximately 470 mA h g−1 after 600 cycles at 500 mA g−1 and 25 °C are achieved.
Triple negative breast cancer: Pitfalls and progress
Authors: Zagami Paola , Carey Lisa Anne
Published: August 2022

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression and lacks HER2 overexpression or gene amplification. It accounts for 10–15% of incident breast cancers and carries the worst prognosis. TNBC is overrepresented among Black and pre-menopausal women and is associated with significant psychological and treatment-related burdens, including financial toxicity. Like other breast cancers, TNBC is biologically heterogeneous, leading to diverse clinical and epidemiological behaviors, however, unlike the other clinical subtypes, in TNBC we still lack tumor-specific targeted therapy. Early TNBC outcomes have improved due to the intensification of therapies, including improvements in polychemotherapy and the addition of immunotherapy. Future efforts are needed to identify targetable aberrations for specific drug therapy, prevent immune evasion, and increase social-economic support. Given that the name TNBC illustrates its lack of specifically targeted and effective therapy, we look forward to being able to retire the name in favor of a group of targetable entities within what is now called “TNBC”.
Revealing the topological phase diagram of ZrTe5 using the complex strain fields of microbubbles
Authors: Tajkov Zoltán , Nagy Dániel , Kandrai Konrád , Koltai János , Oroszlány László , Süle Péter , Horváth Zsolt E. , Vancsó Péter , Tapasztó Levente , Nemes-Incze Péter
Published: August 2022

Topological materials host robust properties, unaffected by microscopic perturbations, owing to the global topological properties of the bulk electron system. Materials in which the topological invariant can be changed by easily tuning external parameters are especially sought after. Zirconium pentatelluride (ZrTe5) is one of a few experimentally available materials that reside close to the boundary of a topological phase transition, allowing the switching of its invariant by mechanical strain. Here, we unambiguously identify a topological insulator–metal transition as a function of strain, by a combination of ab initio calculations and direct measurements of the local charge density. Our model quantitatively describes the response to complex strain patterns found in bubbles of few layer ZrTe5without fitting parameters, reproducing the mechanical deformation-dependent closing of the band gap observed using scanning tunneling microscopy. We calculate the topological phase diagram of ZrTe5and identify the phase at equilibrium, enabling the design of device architectures, which exploit the topological switching characteristics of the system.
Pettifor maps of complex ternary two-dimensional transition metal sulfides
Authors: Silva Andrea , Cao Jiangming , Polcar Tomas , Kramer Denis
Published: August 2022

Alloying is an established strategy to tune the properties of bulk compounds for desired applications. With the advent of nanotechnology, the same strategy can be applied to 2D materials for technological applications, like single-layer transistors and solid lubricants. Here we present a systematic analysis of the phase behaviour of substitutional 2D alloys in the Transition Metal Disulfides (TMD) family. The phase behaviour is quantified in terms of a metastability metric and benchmarked against many-body expansion of the energy landscape. We show how the metastability metric can be directly used as starting point for setting up rational search strategies in phase space, thus allowing for targeted further computational prediction and analysis of properties. The results presented here also constitute a useful guideline for synthesis of TMDs binary alloys via a range of synthesis techniques.
Efficient methods for one-shot quantum communication
Authors: Anshu Anurag , Jain Rahul
Published: August 2022

We address the question of efficient implementation of quantum protocols, with small communication and entanglement, and short depth circuit for encoding or decoding. We introduce two methods for this; the first constructs a resource-efficient convex-split lemma and the second adapts the technique of classical correlated sampling in computer science literature. These lead to the following consequences in one-shot quantum information theory. First concerns the task of quantum decoupling, achieved in many previous works with the aid of a random or pseudo-random unitary. We show that given any choice of basis such as the computational basis, decoupling can be achieved by a unitary that takes basis vectors to basis vectors. Thus, the circuit acts in a ‘classical’ manner; furthermore our unitary performs addition and multiplication modulo a prime. As the second consequence, we construct near-optimal communication protocol for quantum channel coding that uses exponentially smaller entanglement than the previous near-optimal protocol.
Natural switches in behaviour rapidly modulate hippocampal coding
Authors: Sarel Ayelet , Palgi Shaked , Blum Dan , Aljadeff Johnatan , Las Liora , Ulanovsky Nachum
Published: August 2022

Throughout their daily lives, animals and humans often switch between different behaviours. However, neuroscience research typically studies the brain while the animal is performing one behavioural task at a time, and little is known about how brain circuits represent switches between different behaviours. Here we tested this question using an ethological setting: two bats flew together in a long 135 m tunnel, and switched between navigation when flying alone (solo) and collision avoidance as they flew past each other (cross-over). Bats increased their echolocation click rate before each cross-over, indicating attention to the other bat1–9. Hippocampal CA1 neurons represented the bat’s own position when flying alone (place coding10–14). Notably, during cross-overs, neurons switched rapidly to jointly represent the interbat distance by self-position. This neuronal switch was very fast—as fast as 100 ms—which could be revealed owing to the very rapid natural behavioural switch. The neuronal switch correlated with the attention signal, as indexed by echolocation. Interestingly, the different place fields of the same neuron often exhibited very different tuning to interbat distance, creating a complex non-separable coding of position by distance. Theoretical analysis showed that this complex representation yields more efficient coding. Overall, our results suggest that during dynamic natural behaviour, hippocampal neurons can rapidly switch their core computation to represent the relevant behavioural variables, supporting behavioural flexibility.
R-loop formation and conformational activation mechanisms of Cas9
Authors: Pacesa Martin , Loeff Luuk , Querques Irma , Muckenfuss Lena M. , Sawicka Marta , Jinek Martin
Published: August 2022

Cas9 is a CRISPR-associated endonuclease capable of RNA-guided, site-specific DNA cleavage1–3. The programmable activity of Cas9 has been widely utilized for genome editing applications4–6, yet its precise mechanisms of target DNA binding and off-target discrimination remain incompletely understood. Here we report a series of cryo-electron microscopy structures of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 capturing the directional process of target DNA hybridization. In the early phase of R-loop formation, the Cas9 REC2 and REC3 domains form a positively charged cleft that accommodates the distal end of the target DNA duplex. Guide–target hybridization past the seed region induces rearrangements of the REC2 and REC3 domains and relocation of the HNH nuclease domain to assume a catalytically incompetent checkpoint conformation. Completion of the guide–target heteroduplex triggers conformational activation of the HNH nuclease domain, enabled by distortion of the guide–target heteroduplex, and complementary REC2 and REC3 domain rearrangements. Together, these results establish a structural framework for target DNA-dependent activation of Cas9 that sheds light on its conformational checkpoint mechanism and may facilitate the development of novel Cas9 variants and guide RNA designs with enhanced specificity and activity.
Type I IFNs promote cancer cell stemness by triggering the epigenetic regulator KDM1B
Authors: Musella Martina , Guarracino Andrea , Manduca Nicoletta , Galassi Claudia , Ruggiero Eliana , Potenza Alessia , Maccafeo Ester , Manic Gwenola , Mattiello Luca , Soliman Abdel Rehim Sara , Signore Michele , Pietrosanto Marco , Helmer-Citterich Manuela , Pallocca Matteo , Fanciulli Maurizio , Bruno Tiziana , De Nicola Francesca , Corleone Giacomo , Di Benedetto Anna , Ercolani Cristiana , Pescarmona Edoardo , Pizzuti Laura , Guidi Francesco , Sperati Francesca , Vitale Sara , Macchia Daniele , Spada Massimo , Schiavoni Giovanna , Mattei Fabrizio , De Ninno Adele , Businaro Luca , Lucarini Valeria , Bracci Laura , Aricò Eleonora , Ziccheddu Giovanna , Facchiano Francesco , Rossi Stefania , Sanchez Massimo , Boe Alessandra , Biffoni Mauro , De Maria Ruggero , Vitale Ilio , Sistigu Antonella
Published: August 2022

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells endowed with high tumorigenic, chemoresistant and metastatic potential. Nongenetic mechanisms of acquired resistance are increasingly being discovered, but molecular insights into the evolutionary process of CSCs are limited. Here, we show that type I interferons (IFNs-I) function as molecular hubs of resistance during immunogenic chemotherapy, triggering the epigenetic regulator demethylase 1B (KDM1B) to promote an adaptive, yet reversible, transcriptional rewiring of cancer cells towards stemness and immune escape. Accordingly, KDM1B inhibition prevents the appearance of IFN-I-induced CSCs, both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, IFN-I-induced CSCs are heterogeneous in terms of multidrug resistance, plasticity, invasiveness and immunogenicity. Moreover, in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy, KDM1B positively correlated with CSC signatures. Our study identifies an IFN-I → KDM1B axis as a potent engine of cancer cell reprogramming, supporting KDM1B targeting as an attractive adjunctive to immunogenic drugs to prevent CSC expansion and increase the long-term benefit of therapy.
EPIC: Annotated epileptic EEG independent components for artifact reduction
Authors: Lopes Fábio , Leal Adriana , Medeiros Júlio , Pinto Mauro F. , Dourado António , Dümpelmann Matthias , Teixeira César
Published: August 2022

Scalp electroencephalogram is a non-invasive multi-channel biosignal that records the brain’s electrical activity. It is highly susceptible to noise that might overshadow important data. Independent component analysis is one of the most used artifact removal methods. Independent component analysis separates data into different components, although it can not automatically reject the noisy ones. Therefore, experts are needed to decide which components must be removed before reconstructing the data. To automate this method, researchers have developed classifiers to identify noisy components. However, to build these classifiers, they need annotated data. Manually classifying independent components is a time-consuming task. Furthermore, few labelled data are publicly available. This paper presents a source of annotated electroencephalogram independent components acquired from patients with epilepsy (EPIC Dataset). This dataset contains 77,426 independent components obtained from approximately 613 hours of electroencephalogram, visually inspected by two experts, which was already successfully utilised to develop independent component classifiers.
Intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy to investigate hidden kinetics at hybrid perovskite–electrolyte interface
Authors: Srivastava Priya , Kumar Ramesh , Ronchiya Hemant , Bag Monojit
Published: August 2022

The numerous assorted accounts of the fundamental questions of ion migration in hybrid perovskites are making the picture further intricate. The review of photo-induced ion migration using small perturbation frequency domain techniques other than impedance spectroscopy is more crucial now. Herein, we probe into this by investigating perovskite–electrolyte (Pe–E) and polymer-aqueous electrolyte (Po–aqE) interface using intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) in addition to photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS). We reported that the electronic-ionic interaction in hybrid perovskites including the low-frequency ion/charge transfer and recombination kinetics at the interface leads to the spiral feature in IMPS Nyquist plot of perovskite-based devices. This spiral trajectory for the perovskite-electrolyte interface depicts three distinct ion kinetics going on at the different time scales which can be more easily unveiled by IMPS rather than PEIS. Hence, IMPS is a promising alternative to PEIS. We used Peter’s method of interpretation of IMPS plot in photoelectrochemistry to estimate charge transfer efficiency$$({Q}_{ste})$$(Qste)from the Rate Constant Model. The$${Q}_{ste}$$Qsteat low-frequency for Pe–E interface exceeds unity due to ion migration induced modified potential across the perovskite active layer. Hence, ion migration and mixed electronic-ionic conductivity of hybrid perovskites are responsible for the extraordinary properties of this material.
Tris(methylthio)methane produced by Mortierella hyalina affects sulfur homeostasis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Tseng Y.-H. , Bartram S. , Reichelt M. , Scholz S. S. , Meents A. K. , Ludwig A. , Mithöfer A. , Oelmüller R.
Published: August 2022

Microbial volatiles are important factors in symbiotic interactions with plants. Mortierella hyalina is a beneficial root-colonizing fungus with a garlic-like smell, and promotes growth of Arabidopsis seedlings. GC–MS analysis of the M. hyalina headspace and NMR analysis of the extracted essential oil identified the sulfur-containing volatile tris(methylthio)methane (TMTM) as the major compound. Incorporation of the sulfur from the fungal volatile into plant metabolism was shown by 34S labeling experiments. Under sulfur deficiency, TMTM down-regulated sulfur deficiency-responsive genes, prevented glucosinolate (GSL) and glutathione (GSH) diminishment, and sustained plant growth. However, excess TMTM led to accumulation of GSH and GSL and reduced plant growth. Since TMTM is not directly incorporated into cysteine, we propose that the volatile from M. hyalina influences the plant sulfur metabolism by interfering with the GSH metabolism, and alleviates sulfur imbalances under sulfur stress.