bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Missing targets: which entities are affected by UN counter-terrorism sanctions?
Authors: Quirós-Fons Antonio , Kruiper Thomas
Published: June 2023

The United Nations targeted sanctions against terrorist organizations are administrated under the Security Council Consolidated List. Apart from listing terrorist organizations and individuals that are linked to Al-Qaida, ISIL, and the Taliban, the list also includes non-terrorist entities that allegedly support listed organizations. This paper studies 7 businesses and 22 humanitarian organizations that are currently listed, resulting in two insights. First, listing these entities effectively pushes them out of business by rendering them illegal. Even when entities succeed in getting delisted, the damage is already done. Ironically, the impact on non-terrorist entities is bigger than on some terrorist organizations, who carry their listing as a badge of honor to attract recruits. Second, by comparing the UNSC consolidated list to related Interpol’s Special Notices, we find that there are several inconsistencies between the lists, both in terms of the details provided and the updating of unlisted entities.
Light as matter: natural structural colour in art
Authors: Finet Cédric
Published: June 2023

Structural coloration is the production of colour by micro- or nano-structures fine enough to interfere with visible light. Structural colouration is responsible for the blues and greens of many animals, as well as for the gold, silver, and some purple-pink colours. These are often saturated and might be extremely shimmering and/or iridescent. The study of structural coloration is an active and interdisciplinary field of research where biology, physics and engineering meet. However, the fascination of humans for stunning structural colours is broader than the framework of science. Here, I provide a series of examples of the use of natural structurally coloured materials in art across the ages and places. I argue that the view from ethnozoology is necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of structural coloration.
Simulated volcano-induced tsunamis improve natural disaster models
Authors: Shapiro Maura
Published: June 2023

Volcanic tsunami wave generator provides data for the little understood phenomenon of underwater volcanoes triggering tsunamis.
A multiscale approach to coupled nuclear and electronic dynamics. II. Exact and approximated evaluation of nonradiative transition rates
Authors: Cortivo R. , Campeggio J. , Zerbetto M.
Published: June 2023

This work follows a companion article, which will be referred to as Paper I [Campeggio et al., J. Chem. Phys. 158, 244104 (2023)] in which a quantum-stochastic Liouville equation for the description of the quantum–classical dynamics of a molecule in a dissipative bath has been formulated in curvilinear internal coordinates. In such an approach, the coordinates of the system are separated into three subsets: the quantum coordinates, the classical relevant nuclear degrees of freedom, and the classical irrelevant (bath) coordinates. The equation has been derived in natural internal coordinates, which are bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles. The resulting equation needs to be parameterized. In particular, one needs to compute the potential energy surfaces, the friction tensor, and the rate constants for the nonradiative jumps among the quantum states. While standard methods exist for the calculation of energy and dissipative properties, an efficient evaluation of the transition rates needs to be developed. In this paper, an approximated treatment is introduced, which leads to a simple explicit formula with a single adjustable parameter. Such an approximated expression is compared with the exact calculation of transition rates obtained via molecular dynamics simulations. To make such a comparison possible, a simple sandbox system has been used, with two quantum states and a single internal coordinate (together with its conjugate momentum). Results show that the adjustable parameter, which is an effective decoherence time, can be parameterized from the effective relaxation times of the autocorrelation functions of the conjugated momenta of the relevant nuclear coordinates.
Fate of fertiliser nitrogen in a ryegrass–kikuyu dairy pasture system
Authors: Fitzgerald Michael , Harvey Deirdre , Friedl Johannes , Rowlings David , Condon Jason , Dougherty Warwick
Published: June 2023

Context Dairy pasture production is reliant on fertiliser to supply nitrogen (N); however, fertiliser N-use efficiency (FNUE) is low and N can be lost to the environment. Aims The aim of this study was to track the fate of N fertiliser applied in a pasture system of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, temperate grass) oversown into kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum, tropical grass). Methods We used 15N-labelled urea to track the residual plant uptake of a one-off application of 15N over three pasture cuts subsequent to the first cut in the kikuyu growing season from February 2018 to April 2018 (Experiment 1), followed by total soil and plant recoveries of 15N over a 12-month period (Experiment 2). Total N treatment rates were 0, 120, 240 and 480 kg N ha−1 year−1, consisting of application events of 40 kg N ha−1. In Experiment 1, 15N was applied only at the first fertilisation, whereas in Experiment 2, 15N-labelled urea was applied at each fertilisation event. Key results In Experiment 1, uptake of residual 15N fertiliser in the pasture biomass was <6%. In Experiment 2, FNUE was 29–32% and unaccounted 15N fertiliser was 22–142 kg N ha−1, across the 120, 240 and 480 kg N ha−1 year−1 treatments. Conclusions Recovery of 15N residual fertiliser did not increase with N rate and was attributed to the mass increase in soil 15N recovery. FNUE in the pasture did not decrease with N rate. Unaccounted 15N increased with N rate. Implications Existing and alternative N and pasture management strategies such as clover and multi-species pasture need to be implemented and explored to reduce the amount of unaccounted N in dairy pasture production.
Attitudes and behaviours of family physicians towards clinical practice around intimate partner violence: a view from the Çankaya district of Ankara, Turkey
Authors: Sarıca Çevik Hüsna , Tekiner Selda , Ceyhun Peker Ayşe Gülsen , Ungan Mehmet
Published: June 2023

Background Although family physicians (FPs) often encounter patients who have been subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV), the data on FPs’ response to IPV is limited. This study aimed to determine FPs’ attitudes towards IPV survivors in the Çankaya district of Ankara, Turkey. Methods An online questionnaire designed to elicit sociodemographic information and FPs’ attitudes towards IPV was distributed between 20 August 2021 and 20 October 2021. Results Eighty-nine FPs participated in the study. Of the participants, 71.9% had a patient diagnosed with IPV during their practice. Of these physicians, 100% diagnosed physical, 56.3% sexual, 71.9% psychological, 53.1% economic, and 10.9% cyber violence. Among these physicians, sexual, psychological, and economic violence were determined at higher rates by family medicine specialists (FMSs) compared to general practitioners (GPs), by FPs who had received IPV training compared to those who were untrained, and by female physicians compared to males (P < 0.05). Despite diagnosing IPV, some physicians did not intervene/guide their patients, and some only consoled their patients because they thought the situation was inevitable. The reasons for not taking official action included insufficient time, feeling uncomfortable talking about violence, lack of information about the detection and reporting, and the thought that the woman would not leave her abusive partner. Conclusions The results showed that among the physicians who encountered IPV, female sex, family medicine speciality training, and IPV training resulted in acting more consciously in diagnosing violence, implementing referral and notification systems, and approaching IPV survivors. The prevention of IPV could be made possible by supporting FPs with ongoing training, breaking down stereotypes and prejudices about gender roles, and changing the structures that maintain unequal power relationships.
Best-practice recommendations to inform general practice nurses in the provision of dementia care: a Delphi study
Authors: Gibson Caroline , Goeman Dianne , Yates Mark , Pond Dimity
Published: June 2023

Background Worldwide, responsibility for dementia diagnosis and management is shifting to primary care, in particular to the general practitioner (GP). It has been acknowledged that primary care nurses, working collaboratively with GPs, have a role in dementia care by utilising their unique knowledge and skills. However, there are no best-practice guidelines or care pathways to inform nurses in general practice on what best-practice dementia care comprises and how to implement this into their practice. This study identified the recommendations in the Australian guidelines for dementia management most relevant to the role of the nurse working in general practice. Methods Seventeen experts active in clinical practice and/or research in primary care nursing in general practice participated in an online three-round Delphi study. Results All 17 participants were female with a nursing qualification and experienced in general practice clinical nursing and/or general practice nursing research. Five recommendations were identified as the most relevant to the role of the nurse in general practice. These recommendations all contained elements of person-centred care: the delivery of individualised information, ongoing support, including the carer in decision-making, and they also align with the areas where GPs want support in dementia care provision. Conclusion This novel study identified best-practice dementia care recommendations specific to nurses in general practice. These recommendations will inform a model of care for nurses in the provision of dementia care that supports GPs and better meets the needs of people living with dementia and their carer(s).
General practitioner assessment of lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease: a cross-sectional study in urban, rural and remote South Australia
Authors: Liddell Antoinette , Brown Lucy , Williams Susan , Gonzalez-Chica David
Published: June 2023

Background The assessment and management of the SNAP lifestyle risk factors (smoking, nutrition, alcohol intake and physical activity) is fundamental to primary prevention of chronic disease. This study investigates the prevalence of SNAP assessments conducted in South Australian general practice, according to patient risk profiles, and across urban, rural and remote locations. Methods A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in South Australia in 2017. Survey data included information on health characteristics, lifestyle risks and general practitioner (GP) assessments for 2775 participants, aged ≥18 years, who visited a GP in the past 12 months. The main outcome measure was assessment for two or more (≥2) SNAP risks in this time. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the prevalence of ≥2 SNAP assessments by remoteness area, using the Modified Monash Model (MMM) classifications for urban (MMM), rural (MMM3-4) and remote (MMM5-6), and adjusting for sociodemographic, SNAP lifestyle risks and clinical variables. Results Of the 2775 participants (mean age 49.1 ± 18.7 years; 52.7% women), 32% were assessed for ≥2 SNAP in the past 12 months. The adjusted prevalence of assessments was higher in rural (43.8%; 95% CI 36.4–51.2%) than urban (29.7%; 95% CI 27.2–32.2%) or remote (34.7%; 95% CI 28.4–41.0%) areas. Depending on rurality, ≥2 SNAP assessments were 2.5–3.4 times more likely among participants with existing cardiovascular disease, and two to seven times more likely among participants with three or four SNAP risk factors (P < 0.05 in all cases). Conclusion Greater attention to GP SNAP assessments is warranted to match the prevalence of SNAP risks across South Australia.
Geometric approach to measuring intersectional stigma among black sexual minority men: reliability and validity in an HIV prevention context
Authors: Kalichman Seth C. , Shkembi Bruno , El-Krab Renee
Published: June 2023

Background Stigma and discrimination experiences attributable to multiple intersecting facets of the self (e.g. intersectional stigma) pose substantial challenges to accessing health services, including HIV prevention. While there have been theoretical advances in understanding multiple co-occurring stigmas, there are few psychometric instruments available to assess intersectional stigma. We have developed an approach to assessing intersectional stigma that conceptualises an intersection in geometric terms, defined as the line that connects points on two (or more) stigma dimensions and calculates scores derived from the geometric definition of intersecting lines. Methods Following pilot studies to derive items and response formats, we administered newly developed enacted stigma (24-items) and anticipated stigma (17-items) scales with attributions to race and sexual minority status for stigma experiences to a sample of 422 Black sexual minority men at risk for HIV recruited through social media platforms. Results The enacted and anticipated intersectional stigma scales, including subscales representing discrimination, interpersonal and felt stigma demonstrated evidence for reliability and construct validity. The enacted stigma scales were associated with medical mistrust, whereas the anticipated stigma scales predicted perceived barriers to using pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. Conclusions The intersectional stigma scales offer greater specificity in measuring stigma experiences attributed to race, sexual minority status and the intersection of racial–sexual minority status.
Person marking in Longxi Qiang
Authors: Zheng Wuxi
Published: June 2023

In Longxi Qiang, a Tibeto-Burman language, the verb agreement system is not marking a syntactic function or semantic role. Previous studies of the Qiang language have argued that person markings reflect the person and number of the agent. My analysis based on a large amount of natural data, however, reveals several different uses of person marking. First, person marking does not always agree with the agent. It can also be used to mark non-agent, such as the possessor, recipient, beneficiary, or patient. Second, the person markings in imperatives differ from those in non-imperatives. Finally, person marking may be omitted in certain contexts.
Numerical and experimental investigation of thermal regimes of thermionic cathodes of arc plasma torches
Authors: Cunha M D , Sargsyan M A , Kh Gadzhiev M , Tereshonok D V , Benilov M S
Published: June 2023

The modelling method based on decoupling the simulation of the cathodic part of the arc (the cathode and the near-cathode non-equilibrium plasma layer) from the simulation of the arc on the whole has been extended to cathodes of arc plasma torches, consisting of an insert with a conical tip, made of pure or doped tungsten, and a surrounding water-cooled copper holder. The method was validated by comparison with the experiment, performed on a 200 A DC arc in atmospheric-pressure argon. Standard work function of polycrystalline tungsten of 4.54 eV was used for modelling of pure-tungsten insert and a good agreement with the experiment was found with respect to both the insert tip shape and the temperature distribution in the tip, recorded in the stable operation mode. There are no unambiguous data on the work function for arc cathodes made of doped tungsten, although in situ measurements of the effective work function of cathodes of high-pressure arc discharges provide useful hints. On the other hand, the experiments reported in this work show that the tip temperatures of inserts made of tungsten doped with

1.5
%

of thorium, or lanthanum, or yttrium, recorded during the stable-mode operation at the arc current of 200 A, vary in a rather narrow range 3100–3200 K. This suggests that the work functions of doped tungsten inserts, operated in the stable mode, are close to each other as well. Indeed, the results of modelling with the same value of the work function of 3 eV give a reasonably good agreement with the experiment in all three cases.
Research on driving force and dynamic characteristics of pantograph–catenary arc
Authors: Qian Pengyu , Gao Guoqiang , Dong Keliang , Wang Qingsong , Peng Wei , Ma Yaguang , Zhou Chufan , Chen Shijie , Yang Zefeng , Xiao Song , Wu Guangning
Published: June 2023

Pantograph–catenary (PC) system is the key current collection equipment for electrified rail vehicles. The PC arc ages the contact line and pantograph abnormally, which is a limiting factor for rail transit to increase the speed of operation. To reduce the harm caused by the PC arc, in this article, a new PC arc chain model was established, which considered the arc current element mass and the acceleration process, updating the control equations. Meanwhile, a PC arc experimental platform was built in order to verify this model. It is demonstrated that the simulation results obtained by this work fit the arc and are suitable to describe the arc in the field. Experiments have found that the evolution of PC arc can be divided into three distinct processes: arc initial process, rapid stretching process and violent oscillation process. Combined with the model, the driving force and dynamic characteristics of the PC arc root and column in each process have been studied. The electromagnetic force dominates the arc evolution in the first two processes, and then the wind load dominates the last process. Besides, thermal buoyancy dominates the arc root jumping behavior. The driving mechanism for the movement of arc has been revealed. The arc root first suppresses the arc column, and then the arc column pulls the arc root. It is helpful for controlling PC arcs in the field.
A dielectric metasurface for controllable generation of tightly focused vector beams
Authors: Wang Jun , Jiang Qiao , Han Dezhuan
Published: June 2023

Tightly focused vector beams (TFVBs) play an important role in optical microscopy, laser processing and optical micromanipulation due to their unique polarization and intensity distribution. Conventional implementation of TFVBs requires a series of bulky optical elements, increasing the complexity and possibility of optical loss. Here, we present a method for directly generating TFVBs under illumination of linearly polarized lights based on a single dielectric metasurface. The metasurface is designed using geometric phase of anisotropic dielectric meta-atoms with identical shape but varying rotation angles. Under illumination of horizontally and vertically polarized lights, it is demonstrated that TFVBs with pure longitudinal and transverse fields can be generated respectively. In addition, more different TFVBs can be generated by simply altering the polarization of incident light. Furthermore, the metasurface is demonstrated to work well within a broad band ranging from 530 to 730 nm. The proposed strategy provides a minimalist design of a metasurface for controllably generating TFVBs, which offers promising opportunities to generate more complex vector beams for advanced applications in particle trapping and data storage.
ULS4US: universal lesion segmentation framework for 2D ultrasound images
Authors: Wu Xinglong , Jiang Yan , Xing Hanshuo , Song Wenbo , Wu Peiyan , Cui Xin-wu , Xu Guoping
Published: June 2023

Objective. Deep learning (DL) methods have been widely utilized in ultrasound (US) image segmentation tasks. However, current DL segmentation methods for US images are typically developed only for lesion segmentation of specific organs; e.g. breast or thyroid US. So far, there is currently no general-purpose lesion segmentation framework for US images that can be implemented across various organs in computer aided diagnosis scenarios. Considering that most lesion locations in US images have abnormal ultrasonic echo intensities or patterns that may be visually distinct from surrounding normal tissues or organs, it is thus possible to develop a universal lesion segmentation framework for US images (named as ULS4US), focusing on effectively identifying and segmenting lesions of various sizes in different organs. Approach. The proposed ULS4US framework comprises three components: (1) a multiple-in multi-out (MIMO) UNet that incorporates multiscale features extracted from the US image and lesion, (2) a novel two-stage lesion-aware learning algorithm that recursively locates and segments the lesions in a reinforced manner, and (3) a lesion-adaptive loss function for the MIMO-UNet that integrates two weighted components and one self-supervised component designed for intra- and inter-branches of network outputs, respectively. Main Results. Compared to six state-of-the-art segmentation models, ULS4US has achieved superior performance (accuracy of 0.956, DSC of 0.836, HD of 7.849, and mIoU of 0.731) in a unified dataset consisting of two public and three private US image datasets, which include over 2200 images of three specific types of organs. Comparative experiments on both individual and unified datasets suggest that ULS4US is likely scalable with additional data. Significance. The study demonstrates the potential of DL-based universal lesion segmentation approaches in clinical US, which would substantially reduce clinician workload and enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Exploring ab initio machine synthesis of quantum circuits
Authors: Meister Richard , Gustiani Cica , Benjamin Simon C
Published: June 2023

Gate-level quantum circuits are often derived manually from higher level algorithms. While this suffices for small implementations and demonstrations, ultimately automatic circuit design will be required to realise complex algorithms using hardware-specific operations and connectivity. Therefore, ab initio creation of circuits within a machine, either a classical computer or a hybrid quantum–classical device, is of key importance. We explore a range of established and novel techniques for the synthesis of new circuit structures, the optimisation of parameterised circuits, and the efficient removal of low-value gates via the quantum geometric tensor. Using these techniques we tackle the tasks of automatic encoding of unitary processes and translation (recompilation) of a circuit from one form to another. Using emulated quantum computers with various noise-free gate sets we provide simple examples involving up to 10 qubits, corresponding to 20 qubits in the augmented space we use. Further applications of specific relevance to chemistry modelling are considered in a sister paper, ‘Exploiting subspace constraints and ab initio variational methods for quantum chemistry’. The emulation environments used were QuEST, QuESTlink and pyQuEST. All resources will be made openly accessible and are currently available upon request.
Multiwave interaction solutions of the partial reverse Space-time nonlocal Mel’nikov equation
Authors: Yang Yan , Liu Yinping
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we introduce appropriate rational and logarithmic transformations to transfer the partial reverse space-time nonlocal Mel’nikov equation in (2+1)-dimensions into its bilinear form. Then we extend the N-soliton decomposition algorithm and the inheritance solving strategy proposed by us to construct the higher order interaction solutions among solitons, periodic waves and rational waves for such type equation.
Experimental study of gas evolution and dissolution process
Authors: Jiang Dan , Zhao Wenting , Jiang Shangbin , Guo Qing
Published: June 2023

Changes in pressure above the saturated liquid in an airtight container can cause gas evolution and dissolution. In this study, a mathematical model was developed based on the relationship between the amount of dissolved gas and saturated solution pressure according to Henry’s law. The model can be utilized to predict changes in the pressure above the liquid, the rate of gas evolution and dissolution, and variations in free gas as the under- (over-)saturated solution reaches the saturated solution. The proposed model was built according to the solubility constant, gas-liquid volume ratio, initial equilibrium pressure of the saturated solution, and the half-life of gas evolution and dissolution. An experiment was also conducted to investigate gas evolution and dissolution; the setup included an electric vibration platform and an airtight container used to generate vibration. When the measured pressure above the liquid showed no change in the airtight container under sustained vibration, an equilibrium state was considered to be achieved. With industrial gear oil, anti-wear hydraulic oil, and water, respectively, as subjects, changes in the pressure and half-life period of gas evolution and dissolution in each liquid were measured under various gas-liquid volume ratios. Comparison against the experimental data and mathematical model pressure curves validated the models feasibility and effectiveness, and revealed that the half-life of gas evolution and dissolution decreases as the gas-liquid volume ratio increases.
Investigation of fractal fractional nonlinear Korteweg-de-Vries-Schrödinger system with power law kernel
Authors: Khan Asif , Khan Abid Ullah , Ahmad Shabir
Published: June 2023

In this research article, we invetsigate the Schrödinger-KdV equation under Caputo fractal fractional (FF) operator. We analyze and prove the existence, uniqueness and convergence of the solution via fixed point theory and nonlinear functional analysis. We apply the Yang transform homotopy perturbation method (YTHPM) to solve the Schrödinger-KdV equation with Caputo FF operator. Using the YTHPM, we derive an approximate solution to the Schrödinger-KdV equation and provide graphical representations of the result to showcase the behaviour of solution for various sets of fractional and fractal orders. Our findings and error analysis demonstrate that the YTHPM and the Caputo fractal-fractional operator are effective in solving the Schrödinger-KdV equation.
Analysis of a fire extinguishing model with a p-Laplacian operator and with non-linear advection and reaction
Authors: Díaz Palencia José Luis , Reyes Enrique G
Published: June 2023

We provide a new model to describe the fire extinguisher dynamics in an aircraft engine nacelle. We connect the mathematical properties introduced by a non-linear operator with the physical mechanisms of a fire extinguishing process. Some discussions about diffusion and non-linear parabolic operators are carried out to justify the governing equation. In addition, the model introduces phenomena like forced convection and fast reaction to account for the discharge of pressurized fire suppressant agent that is released from the fire bottles. The driving equation is firstly discussed analytically to obtain existence and uniqueness results concerning weak solutions. Afterward, we explore profiles of solutions and a characterization of the propagating extinguisher front is introduced. In order to provide a validity note on the analytical conceptions used, a flight test has been executed. Based on this, we obtain particular values for the parameters involved in the model. The proposed assessments permit to obtain different time levels, for which the suppressant agent extinguishes a fire. Such times depend strongly on the involved physical processes connected with diffusion, forced convection and reaction.
The Hurwitz-Hopf map and harmonic wave functions for integer and half-integer angular momentum
Authors: Hojman Sergio A , Nahmad-Achar Eduardo , Sánchez-Valenzuela Adolfo
Published: June 2023

Harmonic wave functions for integer and half-integer angular momentum are given in terms of the Euler angles (θ, ϕ, ψ) that define a rotation in SO(3), and the Euclidean norm r in

R

3

, keeping the usual meaning of the spherical coordinates (r, θ, ϕ). They form a Hilbert (super)-space decomposed in the form


=



0

⊕



1

. Following a classical work by Schwinger, 2-dimensional harmonic oscillators are used to produce raising and lowering operators that change the total angular momentum eigenvalue of the wave functions in half units. The nature of the representation space



is approached from the double covering group homomorphism SU(2) → SO(3) and the topology involved is taken care of by using the Hurwitz-Hopf map

H
:

R

4

→

R

3

. It is shown how to reconsider H as a 2-to-1 group map,

G

0

=

R

+

×
SU
(
2
)
→

R

+

×
SO
(
3
)

, translating it into an assignment (z
1, z
2) ↦ (r, θ, ϕ, ψ) whose domain consists of pairs (z
1, z
2) of complex variables, under the appropriate identification of

R

4

with

C

2

. It is shown how the Lie algebra of G
0 is coupled with two Heisenberg Lie algebras of 2-dimensional (Schwinger’s) harmonic oscillators generated by the operators

{

z

1

,

z

2

,

z

¯

1

,

z

¯

2

}

and their adjoints. The whole set of operators gets algebraically closed either into a 13-dimensional Lie algebra or into a (4∣8)-dimensional Lie superalgebra. The wave functions in



can be written in terms of polynomials in the complex coordinates (z
1, z
2) and their complex conjugates

(

z

¯

1

,

z

¯

2

)

and the representations are explicitly constructed via the various highest weight (or lowest weight) vector representations of G
0. Finally, a new nonrelativistic quantum (Schrödinger-like) equation for the hydrogen atom that takes into account the electron spin is introduced and expressed in terms of (r, θ, ϕ, ψ) and the time t. The equation is succeptible to be solved exactly in terms of the harmonic wave functions hereby introduced.
Bayesian filtering for model predictive control of stochastic gene expression in single cells
Authors: Fox Zachary R , Batt Gregory , Ruess Jakob
Published: June 2023

This study describes a method for controlling the production of protein in individual cells using stochastic models of gene expression. By combining modern microscopy platforms with optogenetic gene expression, experimentalists are able to accurately apply light to individual cells, which can induce protein production. Here we use a finite state projection based stochastic model of gene expression, along with Bayesian state estimation to control protein copy numbers within individual cells. We compare this method to previous methods that use population based approaches. We also demonstrate the ability of this control strategy to ameliorate discrepancies between the predictions of a deterministic model and stochastic switching system.
A Quasi-periodic Oscillation of ∼4.6 yr in the Radio Light Curves of Blazar PKS 0607-157
Authors: Li Xiao-Pan , Yang Hai-Yan , Cai Yan , Song Xie-Fei , Yang Hai-Tao , Shan Yu-Qiong
Published: June 2023

We present periodicity search analyses on long-term radio light curves at 4.8, 8, and 14.5 GHz of blazar PKS 0607–157 observed by the University of Michigan Radio Astronomical Observatory telescope. The highly variable radio emissions are approximately distributed as a log-normal probability distribution function. The Power Spectral Density for the radio light curves can be well characterized by a power-law model. Using the Weighted Wavelet Z-transform and Lomb-Scargle periodogram methods, significant Quasi-periodic Oscillation (QPO) of ∼4.6 yr in the radio light curve has been observed above the 3σ confidence level, which presents an interesting case among blazar QPO phenomena. We explore three plausible physical models to explain the observed QPOs: a supermassive binary black hole system, Lense-Thirring precession of the disk, and helical motion of plasma blobs within the jet.
LSTM-enhanced multi-view dynamical emotion graph representation for EEG signal recognition
Authors: Xu Guixun , Guo Wenhui , Wang Yanjiang
Published: June 2023

Objective and Significance: This paper proposes an LSTM-enhanced multi-view dynamic emotion graph representation model, which not only integrates the relationship between electrode channels into electroencephalogram (EEG) signal processing to extract multi-dimensional spatial topology information but also retains abundant temporal information of EEG signals. Approach: Specifically, the proposed model mainly includes two branches: a dynamic learning of multiple graph representation information branch and a branch that could learn the time-series information with memory function. First, the preprocessed EEG signals are input into these two branches, and through the former branch, multiple graph representations suitable for EEG signals can be found dynamically, so that the graph feature representations under multiple views are mined. Through the latter branch, it can be determined which information needs to be remembered and which to be forgotten, so as to obtain effective sequence information. Then the features of the two branches are fused via the mean fusion operator to obtain richer and more discriminative EEG spatiotemporal features to improve the performance of signal recognition. Main results: Finally, extensive subject-independent experiments are conducted on SEED, SEED-IV, and Database for Emotion Analysis using Physiological Signals datasets to evaluate model performance. Results reveal the proposed method could better recognize EEG emotional signals compared to other state-of-the-art methods.
Self-assembled peptide nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy: morphological and mechanical effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Guo Xiaobo , Liu Di , Dong Siyuan , Wang Yuyang , Li Meng
Published: June 2023

Self-assembling peptides, offering favorable biocompatibility, high stability, and easy incorporation of various functionalities, have demonstrated enormous potential for the precise design of next-generation nanodrugs for non-invasive tumor therapy. Peptide-based supramolecular photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown great promise as an emerging modality for cancer treatment, achieving substantially-enhanced photosensitizer delivery selectivity and treatment efficacy, based on peptide biological activity and self-assembly potential. Although considerable research has been conducted toward fabricating self-assembling peptide-based smart nanodrugs for PDT, few studies have investigated cellular biophysical responses as indicators of tumor function and metabolic state. Here, via atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based morphological and mechanical measurements, including optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we observed, for the first time, variation in membrane stiffness of human liver (HepG2) cancer cells treated with self-assembling peptides serving as a PDT nanodrug. This biophysical information will help to establish a comprehensive understanding of the anticancer effect of peptide-based smart nanodrugs, and highlight the exceptional ability of AFM in determining cell-surface properties.
Variation in albedo and other vegetation characteristics in non-forested northern ecosystems: the role of lichens and mosses
Authors: Finne Eirik A , Bjerke Jarle W , Erlandsson Rasmus , Tømmervik Hans , Stordal Frode , Tallaksen Lena M
Published: June 2023

Vegetation has a profound impact on climate through complex interactions and feedback loops, where especially regulation of albedo, the ratio of reflected to incoming solar radiation, is important at high latitudes. How vegetation albedo varies along environmental gradients in tundra ecosystems is still not well understood, particularly for ecosystems dominated by nonvascular vegetation. We studied broadband shortwave albedo of open boreal, arctic, and alpine ecosystems over a 2000 km long latitudinal gradient (60° N–79° N) and contrasted this against species composition, vegetation greenness (normalised difference vegetation index—NDVI), momentary ecosystem CO2 fluxes and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) grazing pressure. High cover of pale terricolous fruticose lichens was the single most important predictor for vegetation albedo, which had a maximum value of 0.389 under clear sky conditions and solar zenith angle 60°. To our knowledge, this is the highest broadband albedo recorded for a vegetated surface. NDVI was negatively correlated to lichen biomass (rs
= −0.56), and albedo (rs
= −0.19). Gross primary production and ecosystem respiration varied considerably less between plots and vegetation types than albedo. While it is well-known that Rangifer affects climate-relevant aboveground biomass, we here show that its regulation of surface albedo in northern ecosystems may also be of high importance for land-atmosphere interactions. The data presented here thus advocate for an increased understanding of the important and complex role of herbivores and lichen cover in climate-vegetation interactions.
The tropical Indian Ocean matters for U. S. winter precipitation variability and predictability
Authors: Hu Zeng-Zhen , Kumar Arun , Jha Bhaskar , Chen Mingyue , Wang Wanqiu
Published: June 2023

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the key predictor for operational seasonal climate prediction in the United States (U. S.). Compared with the impact of the tropical Pacific associated with ENSO, the role of the Indian Ocean on U. S. climate variability and predictability is less documented. In this work, we noted that the impact of the tropical Indian Ocean is stronger than the tropical Pacific on winter precipitation variability in a part of the southeastern contiguous U. S. (CONUS), mainly including Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Different from the north-south contrastive impact of ENSO, the influence of the Indian Ocean is confined to the southeastern CONUS. Basin-wide warming (cooling) in the tropical Indian Ocean is tied to above (below) normal winter precipitation in the southeastern CONUS. The observed relationship is reproduced in model forecasts and simulations. Physically, Indian Ocean heating anomaly communicates its influence by inducing a teleconnection from the Indian Ocean to the North Atlantic Ocean via the North Pacific. The connection provides an additional source of predictability of the winter precipitation in CONUS, and monitoring the heat condition in the Indian Ocean may benefit winter precipitation prediction in the southeastern CONUS.
Wind mediates the responses of net ecosystem carbon balance to climatic change in a temperate semiarid steppe of Northern China
Authors: Zhang Tong , Xu Xia , Jiang Honglei , Xia Haoyu , Huang Yiqin , Guo Shitong , Xu Xiaoqing , Xu Jiayu
Published: June 2023

As an important carbon sink to mitigate global climate change, the role of arid and semiarid grassland ecosystem has been widely reported. Precipitation and temperature changes have a dramatic impact on the carbon balance. However, the study of wind speed has long been neglected. Intuitively, wind speed regulates the carbon balance of grassland ecosystems by affecting the opening of vegetation stomata as well as near-surface moisture and temperature. It is sufficient that there is a need to conduct field observations to explore the effect of wind speed on the carbon balance in arid and semiarid grassland. Therefore, we conducted observations of carbon fluxes and corresponding climate factors using an eddy covariance system in a typical steppe in Inner Mongolia from 2017 to 2021. The research contents include that, (i) we depicted the changing patterns of carbon fluxes and climate factors at multiple time scales; (ii) we simulated the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) based rectangular hyperbolic model and compared it with the observed net ecosystem exchange values; (iii) we quantified the mediated effect of wind speed on NECB by adopting structural equation modeling; (iv) we used the constrained line method to explore what wind speed intervals might have the greatest carbon sequestration capacity of vegetation. The results were as follows, (i) the values of NECB for the five years of the study period were 101.95, −48.21, −52.57, −67.78, and −30.00 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively; (ii) if we exclude the inorganic carbon component of the ecosystem, we would underestimate the annual carbon balance by 41.25, 2.36, 20.59, 22.06 and 43.94 g C m−2 yr−1; (iii) the daytime wind speed during the growing season mainly influenced the NECB of the ecosystem by regulating soil temperature and vapor pressure deficit, with a contribution rate as high as 0.41; (iv) the grassland ecosystem had the most robust carbon sequestration capacity of 4.75 μmol m−2 s−1 when the wind speed was 2–3 m s−1. This study demonstrated the significant implications of wind speed variations on grassland ecosystems.
Ultrafast dynamics of bright and dark excitons in monolayer WSe2 and heterobilayer WSe2/MoS2
Authors: Bange Jan Philipp , Werner Paul , Schmitt David , Bennecke Wiebke , Meneghini Giuseppe , AlMutairi AbdulAziz , Merboldt Marco , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Steil Sabine , Steil Daniel , Weitz R Thomas , Hofmann Stephan , Jansen G S Matthijs , Brem Samuel , Malic Ermin , Reutzel Marcel , Mathias Stefan
Published: June 2023

The energy landscape of optical excitations in mono- and few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is dominated by optically bright and dark excitons. These excitons can be fully localized within a single TMD layer, or the electron- and the hole-component of the exciton can be charge-separated over multiple TMD layers. Such intra- or interlayer excitons have been characterized in detail using all-optical spectroscopies, and, more recently, photoemission spectroscopy. In addition, there are so-called hybrid excitons whose electron- and/or hole-component are delocalized over two or more TMD layers, and therefore provide a promising pathway to mediate charge-transfer processes across the TMD interface. Hence, an in-situ characterization of their energy landscape and dynamics is of vital interest. In this work, using femtosecond momentum microscopy combined with many-particle modeling, we quantitatively compare the dynamics of momentum-indirect intralayer excitons in monolayer WSe2 with the dynamics of momentum-indirect hybrid excitons in heterobilayer WSe2/MoS2, and draw three key conclusions: First, we find that the energy of hybrid excitons is reduced when compared to excitons with pure intralayer character. Second, we show that the momentum-indirect intralayer and hybrid excitons are formed via exciton-phonon scattering from optically excited bright excitons. And third, we demonstrate that the efficiency for phonon absorption and emission processes in the mono- and the heterobilayer is strongly dependent on the energy alignment of the intralayer and hybrid excitons with respect to the optically excited bright exciton. Overall, our work provides microscopic insights into exciton dynamics in TMD mono- and bilayers.
On validity and limits of deducing the degree of charge transfer from shifts of cyano vibrations
Authors: Berteau-Rainville Melissa , Orgiu Emanuele , Salzmann Ingo
Published: June 2023

Understanding the p-doping of organic semiconductors often relies on spectroscopic fingerprints of cyano vibrations, which strongly depend on the charge state of the dopant molecule following intermolecular charge transfer. Interpreting these vibrations can be difficult as a number of other factors can impact them. Here, we formalize the assumptions behind the determination of molecular charge from cyano vibrations and we use computational modeling to demonstrate key obfuscating factors in this process. We notably demonstrate that cyano vibrations do not necessarily shift linearly with the molecular charge and investigate which molecular parameters can explain that. Finally, we provide guidelines for the study of charge transfers involving new molecular dopants based on their cyano vibrations.
4D printing: interdisciplinary integration of smart materials, structural design, and new functionality
Authors: Lyu Zhiyang , Wang Jinlan , Chen Yunfei
Published: June 2023

Highlights

The key technological roadmap for implementation of 4D printing is comprehensively summarized.

Material-structure-functionality integrated aspects in 4D printing are emphasized.

The links between smart materials, 3D printing techniques, structures, stimulus, and new functionalities for multidisciplinary applications are established.

General approaches to designing programmable structures for 4D printing are introduced.
Animal Warfare Law and the Need for an Animal Law of Peace: A Comparative Reconstruction
Authors: Stucki Saskia
Published: June 2023

This Article puts forward a novel analogy between animal welfare law and international humanitarian law—two seemingly unrelated bodies of law that are both marked by the aporia of humanizing the inhumane. Through the comparative lens of the international laws of war and peace, this Article argues that existing animal welfare law is best understood as a kind of warfare law that regulates violent activities within an ongoing “war on animals.” It further submits that this animal warfare law needs to be complemented and counterbalanced by an animal law of peace, consisting of a jus animalis contra bellum and peacetime animal rights.
Selection on the Fly: Short-Term Adaptation to an Altered Sexual Selection Regime inDrosophila pseudoobscura
Authors: Barata Carolina , Snook Rhonda R , Ritchie Michael G , Kosiol Carolin
Published: June 2023

Experimental evolution studies are powerful approaches to examine the evolutionary history of lab populations. Such studies have shed light on how selection changes phenotypes and genotypes. Most of these studies have not examined the time course of adaptation under sexual selection manipulation, by resequencing the populations’ genomes at multiple time points. Here, we analyze allele frequency trajectories in Drosophila pseudoobscura where we altered their sexual selection regime for 200 generations and sequenced pooled populations at 5 time points. The intensity of sexual selection was either relaxed in monogamous populations (M) or elevated in polyandrous lines (E). We present a comprehensive study of how selection alters population genetics parameters at the chromosome and gene level. We investigate differences in the effective population size—Ne—between the treatments, and perform a genome-wide scan to identify signatures of selection from the time-series data. We found genomic signatures of adaptation to both regimes in D. pseudoobscura. There are more significant variants in E lines as expected from stronger sexual selection. However, we found that the response on the X chromosome was substantial in both treatments, more pronounced in E and restricted to the more recently sex-linked chromosome arm XR in M. In the first generations of experimental evolution, we estimate Ne to be lower on the X in E lines, which might indicate a swift adaptive response at the onset of selection. Additionally, the third chromosome was affected by elevated polyandry whereby its distal end harbors a region showing a strong signal of adaptive evolution especially in E lines.