bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Noise reduction mechanism of high-speed railway box-girder bridges installed with MTMDs on top plate
Authors: Zhang Xiaoan , Zhang Xiaoyun , Yang Jianjin , Yang Li , Shi Guangtian 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe issue of low-frequency structural noise radiated from high-speed railway (HSR) box-girder bridges (BGBs) is a significant challenge worldwide. Although it is known that vibrations in BGBs caused by moving trains can be reduced by installing multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMDs) on the top plate, there is limited research on the noise reduction achieved by this method. This study aims to investigate the noise reduction mechanism of BGBs installed with MTMDs on the top plate. A sound radiation prediction model for the BGB installed with MTMDs is developed, based on the vehicle–track–bridge coupled dynamics and acoustics boundary element method. After being verified by field tested results, the prediction model is employed to study the reduction of vibration and noise of BGBs caused by the MTMDs. It is found that installing MTMDs on top plate can significantly affect the vibration distribution and sound radiation law of BGBs. However, its impact on the sound radiation caused by vibrations dominated by the global modes of BGBs is minimal. The noise reduction achieved by MTMDs is mainly through changing the acoustic radiation contributions of each plate of the bridge. In the lower frequency range, the noise reduction of BGB caused by MTMDs can be more effective if the installation of MTMDs can modify the vibration frequency and distribution of the BGB to avoid the influence of small vibrations and disperse the sound radiation from each plate.
Measured dynamic load distribution within the in situ axlebox bearing of high-speed trains under polygonal wheel–rail excitation
Authors: Hou Yu , Wang Xi , Wei Jiaqi , Zhao Menghua , Zhao Wei , Shi Huailong , Sha Chengyu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe dynamic load distribution within in-service axlebox bearings of high-speed trains is crucial for the fatigue reliability assessment and forward design of axlebox bearings. This paper presents an in situ measurement of the dynamic load distribution in the four rows of two axlebox bearings on a bogie wheelset of a high-speed train under polygonal wheel–rail excitation. The measurement employed an improved strain-based method to measure the dynamic radial load distribution of roller bearings. The four rows of two axlebox bearings on a wheelset exhibited different ranges of loaded zones and different means of distributed loads. Besides, the mean value and standard deviation of measured roller–raceway contact loads showed non-monotonic variations with the frequency of wheel–rail excitation. The fatigue life of the four bearing rows under polygonal wheel–rail excitation was quantitatively predicted by compiling the measured roller–raceway contact load spectra of the most loaded position and considering the load spectra as input.
COVID-19 ethics: unique aspects and a review as of early 2024
Authors: Shandera Wayne X. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCOVID-19 presents a variety of ethical challenges in a set of arenas, arenas not always considered in past pandemics. These challenges include issues related to autonomy, distributive ethics, and the establishment of policies of equity and justice. Methods are a literature review based on regular editing of an online textbook during the COVID-19 outbreak and a literature review using key ethical terms. Patients are confronted with new issues related to autonomy. Providers need to expand their concepts of ethical issues to include decisions based on proportionality and public health ethics. The public health sector needs to assess the beneficence of alternative modes of disease control. The research community needs to redefine the concept of informed consent in emergent conditions. All elements of the medical spectrum—physicians, scientists, and the community-at-large including the pharmaceutical industry—need to consider the multifaceted methods for preventing future pandemics. This will require giving particular emphasis to public health funding and ending the documented discrimination that exists in the provision of proven therapies. The developing world is especially at risk for most of the ethical issues, especially those related to equity and justice. The ethical issues associated with the COVID-19 outbreak are not unique but provide a diverse set of issues that apply to patients, providers, social groups, and investigators. The further study of such issues can help with preventing future outbreaks.
Assessing Stray DC and AC Current-Induced Corrosion in Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) in Railway Tunnelling Construction
Authors: Tang Kangkang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper discusses the uncertainties surrounding corrosion prompted by stray direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) interferences. The influence of railway stray DC interference was simulated through cyclic potentiodynamic (CP) polarization in a simulated concrete pore solution. Steel fibres exhibit excellent resistance to stray DC perturbations up to 1.0 V (vs. OCP or Open Circuit Potential) in the absence of chloride. However, when the electrolyte contains 0.6 mol/L chloride, a reduced DC perturbation of 0.4 V (vs. OCP) was sufficient to initiate pitting corrosion, indicating decreased corrosion resistance. The stray AC interference was simulated by applying an AC perturbation test to the embedded steel fibres which were polarized in simulated concrete pore solution as well. This approach allows for the effect of steel fibre orientations under stray AC interferences to be assessed. Following the AC interference test, the Tafel polarisation test shows a stochastic corrosion pattern in the embedded steel fibres. Notably, there is a significant reduction in the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and a corresponding increase in the corrosion current density (icorr) observed in one of the fibres. Ongoing research is being conducted to explore the stochastic corrosion phenomena identified in this research. Boundary element modelling (BEM) results show that the maximum voltage drops between steel fibres arranged in various configurations closely correspond to experimental measurements. The computer simulation approach applied in this study has the potential to further advance the development of more valuable predictive tools in forecasting the corrosion behaviours of reinforced concrete exposed to stray currents under complex built environments.
The acyl-CoA-binding protein VdAcb1 is essential for carbon starvation response and contributes to virulence in Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Zhuang Jing , Zhang Ya-Duo , Sun Wei-Xia , Zong Juan , Li Jun-Jiao , Dai Xiao-Feng , Klosterman Steven J. , Chen Jie-Yin , Tian Li , Subbarao Krishna V. , Zhang Dan-Dan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn the face of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus starvation, microorganisms have evolved adaptive mechanisms to maintain growth. In a previous study, we identified a protein predicted to contain acyl-CoA-binding domains in the plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. The predicted protein, designated VdAcb1, possesses an atypical signal peptide. However, the functions of this acyl-CoA-binding protein in V. dahliae are not clear. In this research, in vivo or in vitro assays confirmed that VdAcb1 is secreted extracellularly from V. dahliae, although it does not have the typical signal peptide. Furthermore, the unconventional secretion of VdAcb1 was dependent on VdGRASP, a member of the compartment for unconventional protein secretion (CUPS). The deletion mutant strain of VdAcb1 (ΔVdAcb1) exhibited significant sensitivity to carbon starvation. RNA-seq revealed that the expression of genes related to filamentous growth (MSB2 pathway) and sugar transport were regulated by VdAcb1 under conditions of carbon starvation. Yeast one-hybrid experiments further showed that the expression of VdAcb1 was positively regulated by the transcription factor VdMsn4. The ΔVdAcb1 strain showed significantly reduced virulence on Gossypium hirsutum and Nicotiana benthamiana. We hypothesize that under conditions of carbon starvation, the expression of VdAcb1 is activated by VdMsn4 and VdAcb1 is secreted into the extracellular space. In turn, this activates the downstream MAPK pathway to enhance filamentous growth and virulence of V. dahliae.
Light reception of Phycomyces revisited: several white collar proteins confer blue- and red-light sensitivity and control dynamic range and adaptation
Authors: Galland Paul , Corrochano Luis M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe giant-fruiting body, sporangiophore, of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus grows toward near-UV/blue-light (phototropism). The blue-light photoreceptor, MadA, should contain FAD bound to the LOV domain, and forms a complex with MadB. Both proteins are homologs of white collar proteins WC-1 and WC-2 from the fungus Neurospora crassa and should be localized in nuclei, where they function as a light-sensitive transcription factor complex. The photoreceptor properties of two further Wc proteins, WcoA and WcoB, remain unclear because of lack of mutants. We propose that WcoA and/or WcoB play essential roles in photoreception by enlarging the dynamic range that help explain complex stimulus–response relationships. Even though red light does not elicit photo-movement or -differentiation in Phycomyces, it affects the effectiveness of blue light which indicates an underlying photochromic receptor. Protein sequence searches show that other fungal red-light receptors are absent in Phycomyces. The solution to the red-light riddle is thus sought in the ability of Wc complexes to generate after blue-light irradiation a neutral flavosemiquinone radical that absorbs red light and functions as primary photochemical signal. Phototropism requires Ras-GAP (MadC) as part of the signal transduction cascade and, we propose, to allocate photoreceptors in the plasmalemma of the growing zone, which allows for receptor dichroism, range adjustment and contrast recognition for spatial orientation. Phototropic signal chains must entail transduction networks between Wc receptors and small G-proteins and their associated Ras-GAP and Ras-GEF proteins. The interactions among these proteins should occur in trans-Golgi vesicles and the plasmalemma of the growing zone.
Graphical abstract
Exergy analysis of direct method for conversion of natural gas to methanol
Authors: Salahudeen N. , Ahmed O. U. , Rasheed A. A. , Ali A. F. , Abdullahi I. , Mudi S. Y. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe exergy analysis of a direct method for the conversion of natural gas to methanol is reported in this work. The study is part of a process development effort to identify areas of improvement to the technology of direct conversion of natural gas to methanol. Prior to the exergy analysis, different configurations of the direct conversion process were developed and simulated. Two heat-integrated configurations designated as Case I and Case II were considered plausible. The exergy efficiency, excluding exergy of the rejected heat, of Case I and Case II were determined as 33% and 36%, respectively. The 9% increase in efficiency of Case II relative to Case I did not justify the installation of an expander and was therefore screened out. Exergy balance in Case I showed that a total of 56% of the exergy input was lost to internal consumption. The majority of exergy destruction was found to be due to the methanol synthesis reactor (36.0%), heat exchangers (30.1%) and combustion (25.0%). Further analyses of the losses across all heat exchangers indicated a nonlinear relationship between exergy destruction contribution and minimum approach temperature (ΔTmin), with a minimal at ΔTmin of 10 °C. The methanol product was determined to represent 18% of exergy input, excluding the air separation unit. The overall process efficiencies were found to be 18% (LHV) and 24% (LHV) for recycle split fractions of 90% and 98%, respectively. The results of this work would provide further insight into the exergy viability of the technology of direct conversion of natural gas to methanol.
Resolving the Turkana Jet—Impact of Model Resolution in Simulating Channel Flow and Inversions
Authors: Warner James L. , Munday Callum , Engelstaedter Sebastian 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe Turkana Jet plays a pivotal role in the meteorology of East Africa across timescales, and owes its existence to both large‐scale dynamics and the representation of intricate local‐scale processes. However, much of our understanding of the jet relies on reanalysis, and these along with climate models that produce important projections do not represent these local‐scale processes. We systematically investigate the impact of changing model horizontal and vertical resolution in simulating the Turkana Jet, and associated local and large‐scale processes. We perform simulations to coincide with the Radiosonde Investigation For the Turkana Jet (RIFTJet) campaign, enabling direct model‐sonde comparisons in unprecedented detail. We find that increasing horizontal model resolution significantly increases the strength of the jet throughout the channel by up to 30%, while vertical resolution changes have little impact. Horizontal resolutions finer than 2.2 km produce a nocturnal jet ∼2 m/s stronger than observed but perform better during the day. The elevated inversion, which is strongly tied to the strength of the jet, is much better represented in resolutions as high as 1.1 km, whereas the global model at resolution O(∼10 km) is unable to produce any nocturnal elevated inversion. Predictions of jet strength are improved at higher resolution, indicating an important role of local process given that models inherit the same large‐scale state. Despite further improvements at resolutions finer than 4.4 km, we recommend that 4.4 km is the minimum horizontal resolution required to capture realistic interactions between these processes. Underestimation of the Turkana Jet could cause considerable errors in moisture advection into Africa.
Improving CMIP6 Atmospheric River Precipitation Estimation by Cycle‐Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Tian Yuan , Zhao Yang , Li Jianping , Xu Hongxiong , Zhang Chi , Deng Lin , Wang Yinjun , Peng Min 
Published: July 2024

AbstractGiven the important role of Atmospheric River precipitation (ARP) in the global hydrological cycle, accurate representation of ARP is significant. However, general circulation models (GCMs) demonstrate bias in simulating ARP. The target of this study is to quantify the performance of ARP intensity/frequency for CMIP6 simulations, and further to improve ARP estimation of CMIP6 using Cycle‐Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks (CycleGAN) with highlighting the more accurate ARP features under the global warming background. The findings of this study are as follows: (a) although ARP intensity/frequency in reserved‐optimal CMIP6 overall reproduces the observation, it is still underestimated at the stronger Atmospheric river (AR) scales, particularly for the AR highly active mid‐latitude regions. (b) The CycleGAN‐based bias correction approach markedly diminishes the bias of the CMIP6 simulations within most of the AR scales among both global and the four AR highly active regions. Moreover, the performance of the ARP in AR highly active regions is significant improvement, which is mainly due to the reduction of the bias at the strongest scale. (c) Relative to reference period (1986–2005), ARP intensity/frequency at the strongest scale increase notably under 3°C warming level, with an average value of 373.3% in intensity and 415.9% in frequency for global and the four key regions before correction, and the value is 451.9% and 492.5% after bias correction. The results illustrate that CycleGAN can effectively improve the ARP simulations of GCMs, and an early warning implies that future strong extreme ARP should potentially surpass the current expected.
Drinking water source and exposure to regulated water contaminants in the California Teachers Study cohort
Authors: Spaur Maya , Medgyesi Danielle N. , Bangia Komal , Madrigal Jessica M. , Hurwitz Lauren M. , Beane Freeman Laura E. , Fisher Jared A. , Spielfogel Emma S. , Lacey James V. , Sanchez Tiffany , Jones Rena R. , Ward Mary H. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Background
Pollutants including metals/metalloids, nitrate, disinfection byproducts, and volatile organic compounds contaminate federally regulated community water systems (CWS) and unregulated domestic wells across the United States. Exposures and associated health effects, particularly at levels below regulatory limits, are understudied.

Objective
We described drinking water sources and exposures for the California Teachers Study (CTS), a prospective cohort of female California teachers and administrators.

Methods
Participants’ geocoded addresses at enrollment (1995–1996) were linked to CWS service area boundaries and monitoring data (N = 115,206, 92%); we computed average (1990–2015) concentrations of arsenic, uranium, nitrate, gross alpha (GA), five haloacetic acids (HAA5), total trihalomethanes (TTHM), trichloroethylene (TCE), and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). We used generalized linear regression to estimate geometric mean ratios of CWS exposures across demographic subgroups and neighborhood characteristics. Self-reported drinking water source and consumption at follow-up (2017–2019) were also described.

Results
Medians (interquartile ranges) of average concentrations of all contaminants were below regulatory limits: arsenic: 1.03 (0.54,1.71) µg/L, uranium: 3.48 (1.01,6.18) µg/L, GA: 2.21 (1.32,3.67) pCi/L, nitrate: 0.54 (0.20,1.97) mg/L, HAA5: 8.67 (2.98,14.70) µg/L, and TTHM: 12.86 (4.58,21.95) µg/L. Among those who lived within a CWS boundary and self-reported drinking water information (2017–2019), approximately 74% self-reported their water source as municipal, 15% bottled, 2% private well, 4% other, and 5% did not know/missing. Spatially linked water source was largely consistent with self-reported source at follow-up (2017–2019). Relative to non-Hispanic white participants, average arsenic, uranium, GA, and nitrate concentrations were higher for Black, Hispanic and Native American participants. Relative to participants living in census block groups in the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) quartile, participants in higher SES quartiles had lower arsenic/uranium/GA/nitrate, and higher HAA5/TTHM. Non-metropolitan participants had higher arsenic/uranium/nitrate, and metropolitan participants had higher HAA5/TTHM.

Impact
Though average water contaminant levels were mostly below regulatory limits in this large cohort of California women, we observed heterogeneity in exposures across sociodemographic subgroups and neighborhood characteristics. These data will be used to support future assessments of drinking water exposures and disease risk.
Buprenorphine vs. morphine: impact on neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) outcomes in a single center retrospective study
Authors: Anbalagan Saminathan , Anderson Victoria , Favara Michael T. , Stark Daniela , Carola David , Solarin Kolawole , Adeniyi-Jones Susan , Kraft Walter K. , Aghai Zubair H. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Objectives
To compare clinical outcomes for infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) treated with buprenorphine or morphine.

Study design
Retrospective study of infants born ≥35 weeks’ gestation and admitted to the NICU for NOWS treatment between 2011 and 2022. Length of treatment, length of stay in the hospital, and the need for secondary medications were compared between buprenorphine and morphine treated neonates. Multiple regression analysis was performed, adjusting for baseline differences and confounders.

Results
417 neonates were treated with morphine and 232 with buprenorphine. The buprenorphine group had shorter treatment days [−10.8 days; 95% CI: −8.08 to −13.53] and shorter hospital stay [−11.8 days; 95% CI: −8.83 to −14.78]. The buprenorphine group was no more likely to receive phenobarbital or clonidine (26% vs. 29%).

Conclusion
In this large single-center study, buprenorphine was associated with shorter lengths of treatment and hospital stay in the treatment of NOWS compared to morphine.
Astrocytic Neuroligin-3 influences gene expression and social behavior, but is dispensable for synapse number
Authors: Qin Liming , Liu Zhili , Guo Sile , Han Ying , Wang Xiankun , Ren Wen , Chen Jiewen , Zhen Hefu , Nie Chao , Xing Ke-Ke , Chen Tao , Südhof Thomas C. , Sun Yuzhe , Zhang Bo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractNeuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) is an autism-associated cell-adhesion molecule that interacts with neurexins and is robustly expressed in both neurons and astrocytes. Neuronal Nlgn3 is an essential regulator of synaptic transmission but the function of astrocytic Nlgn3 is largely unknown. Given the high penetrance of Nlgn3 mutations in autism and the emerging role of astrocytes in neuropsychiatric disorders, we here asked whether astrocytic Nlgn3 might shape neural circuit properties in the cerebellum similar to neuronal Nlgn3. Imaging of tagged Nlgn3 protein produced by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing showed that Nlgn3 is enriched in the cell body but not the fine processes of cerebellar astrocytes (Bergmann glia). Astrocyte-specific knockout of Nlgn3 did not detectably alter the number of synapses, synaptic transmission, or astrocyte morphology in mouse cerebellum. However, spatial transcriptomic analyses revealed a significant shift in gene expression among multiple cerebellar cell types after the deletion of astrocytic Nlgn3. Hence, in contrast to neuronal Nlgn3, astrocytic Nlgn3 in the cerebellum is not involved in shaping synapses but may modulate gene expression in specific brain areas.
A bipolar disorder-associated missense variant alters adenylyl cyclase 2 activity and promotes mania-like behavior
Authors: Sen Paromita , Ortiz Oskar , Brivio Elena , Menegaz Danusa , Sotillos Elliott Laura , Du Ying , Ries Clemens , Chen Alon , Wurst Wolfgang , Lopez Juan Pablo , Eder Matthias , Deussing Jan M. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The single nucleotide polymorphism rs13166360, causing a substitution of valine (Val) 147 to leucine (Leu) in the adenylyl cyclase 2 (ADCY2), has previously been associated with bipolar disorder (BD). Here we show that the disease-associated ADCY2 missense mutation diminishes the enzyme´s capacity to generate the second messenger 3’,5’-cylic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) by altering its subcellular localization. We established mice specifically carrying the Val to Leu substitution using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing. Mice homozygous for the Leu variant display symptoms of a mania-like state accompanied by cognitive impairments. Mutant animals show additional characteristic signs of rodent mania models, i.e., they are hypersensitive to amphetamine, the observed mania-like behaviors are responsive to lithium treatment and the Val to Leu substitution results in a shifted excitatory/inhibitory synaptic balance towards more excitation. Exposure to chronic social defeat stress switches homozygous Leu variant carriers from a mania- to a depressive-like state, a transition which is reminiscent of the alternations characterizing the symptomatology in BD patients. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) revealed widespread Adcy2 mRNA expression in numerous hippocampal cell types. Differentially expressed genes particularly identified from glutamatergic CA1 neurons point towards ADCY2 variant-dependent alterations in multiple biological processes including cAMP-related signaling pathways. These results validate ADCY2 as a BD risk gene, provide insights into underlying disease mechanisms, and potentially open novel avenues for therapeutic intervention strategies.