bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marine Biodiversity in New Caledonia and Contemporary Conservation Challenges
Authors: Pelletier Dominique 
Published: April 2024

AbstractNew Caledonia is internationally renowned for its exceptional marine biodiversity, which has resulted in 80% of the lagoons and reef areas being placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This chapter presents the main features of this outstanding marine biodiversity and its ecological significance, highlighting the threats posed by anthropogenic pressures and global drivers, and associated conservation challenges. Oceanic and coastal dynamics determine distinct marine ecosystems. The oceanic ecosystem of the Coral Sea will be described first, and this chapter will focus on the lagoon and reef areas, which are in close relation to human populations.
Waste Level Rise? Scales, Spaces and Policies of Waste in New Caledonia
Authors: Pestaña Gilles , Garcier Romain , Rocher Laurence , Ortar Nathalie 
Published: April 2024

AbstractNew Caledonia is known as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, it began developing its environmental policies and improving operational measures with an eye towards prevention and protection only two decades ago. So far, waste management responsibilities have been shared among the various levels of government (municipalities, provinces and territories) by default, based on other explicitly defined responsibilities, including public hygiene, health, mining, environment and energy. This chapter analyses waste management in New Caledonia in terms of territories and levels of government. Its central hypothesis is that there is tension between increasing waste generation and territorial waste management practices. The first section discusses the qualitative and quantitative evolution of waste during the last two decades. The second section examines the subject of political and territorial responsibility for waste and how the multi-layered web of these responsibilities is constructed. The third and concluding section of this chapter builds on the case of New Caledonia to address future concerns about the Pacific’s cultural politics on waste.
The Decolonisation Process Without Independence in the Light of Changes in the Nickel Sector in New Caledonia
Authors: Demmer Christine 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFrom the Matignon-Oudinot Accords of 1988 onwards, the pro-independence parties agreed to play the economic development game proposed by the State in order to reduce the glaring inequalities between Indigenous Kanaks and non-Kanaks. The FLNKS (Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste) took up the challenge in two of the three provinces, where Kanak people were in the majority, and the pro-independence coalition tried to establish a form of economic sovereignty by claiming partial public control of the “country’s” main resource, nickel. The story of the stages of this mining nationalism, which enabled the pro-independence movement to gain a foothold in a reconfigured nickel sector (despite encountering opposition both in the economic and the local political arena), aims to measure the road still to be travelled by FLNKS to achieve decolonisation. This could be in harmony with the foundation of a new national community of citizens, one that would be more autonomous vis-à-vis metropolitan France and in which the Kanaks would be fully included.
Genetic characterization of a locus responsible for low pungency using EMS-induced mutants in Capsicum annuum L.
Authors: Back Seungki , Kim Jung-Min , Choi Hayoung , Lee Joung-Ho , Han Koeun , Hwang Doyeon , Kwon Jin-Kyung , Kang Byoung-Cheorl 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Key message
The pepper mutants (‘221-2-1a’ and ‘1559-1-2h’) with very low pungency were genetically characterized. The Pun4 locus, responsible for the reduced pungency of the mutant fruits, was localized to a 208 Mb region on chromosome 6. DEMF06G16460, encoding 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase, was proposed as a strong candidate gene based on the genetic analyses of bulked segregants, DEG, and expression analyses.

Abstract
Capsaicinoids are unique alkaloids present in pepper (Capsicum spp.), synthesized through the condensation of by-products from the phenylpropanoid and branched-chain fatty acid pathways, and accumulating in the placenta. In this study, we characterized two allelic ethyl methanesulfonate-induced mutant lines with extremely low pungency (‘221-2-1a’ and ‘1559-1-2h′). These mutants, derived from the pungent Korean landrace 'Yuwolcho,' exhibited lower capsaicinoid content than Yuwolcho but still contained a small amount of capsaicinoid with functional capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes. Genetic crosses between the mutants and Yuwolcho or pungent lines indicated that a single recessive mutation was responsible for the low-pungency phenotype of mutant 221-2-1a; we named the causal locus Pungency 4 (Pun4). To identify Pun4, we combined genome-wide polymorphism analysis and transcriptome analysis with bulked-segregant analysis. We narrowed down the location of Pun4 to a 208-Mb region on chromosome 6 containing five candidate genes, of which DEMF06G16460, encoding a 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase associated with branched-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, is the most likely candidate for Pun4. The expression of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes in placental tissues in Yuwolcho and the mutant was consistent with the branched-chain fatty acid pathway playing a pivotal role in the lower pungency observed in the mutant. We also obtained a list of differentially expressed genes in placental tissues between the mutant and Yuwolcho, from which we selected candidate genes using gene co-expression analysis. In summary, we characterized the capsaicinoid biosynthesis-related locus Pun4 through integrated of genetic, genomic, and transcriptome analyses. These findings will contribute to our understanding of capsaicinoid biosynthesis in pepper.
Eigenvalue estimates for Fourier concentration operators on two domains
Authors: Marceca Felipe , Romero José Luis , Speckbacher Michael 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe study concentration operators associated with either the discrete or the continuous Fourier transform, that is, operators that incorporate a spatial cut-off and a subsequent frequency cut-off to the Fourier inversion formula. The spectral profiles of these operators describe the number of prominent degrees of freedom in problems where functions are assumed to be supported on a certain domain and their Fourier transforms are known or measured on a second domain. We derive eigenvalue estimates that quantify the extent to which Fourier concentration operators deviate from orthogonal projectors, by bounding the number of eigenvalues that are away from 0 and 1 in terms of the geometry of the spatial and frequency domains, and a factor that grows at most poly-logarithmically on the inverse of the spectral margin. The estimates are non-asymptotic in the sense that they are applicable to concrete domains and spectral thresholds, and almost match asymptotic benchmarks. Our work covers, for the first time, non-convex and non-symmetric spatial and frequency concentration domains, as demanded by numerous applications that exploit the expected approximate low dimensionality of the modeled phenomena. The proofs build on Israel’s work on one dimensional intervals arXiv:1502.04404v1. The new ingredients are the use of redundant wave-packet expansions and a dyadic decomposition argument to obtain Schatten norm estimates for Hankel operators.
On the stability of stationary compressible Navier–Stokes flows in 3D
Authors: Deguchi Naoto 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper studies the stability of the stationary solution of the compressible Navier–Stokes equation in the 3D whole space with an external force which decays at spatial infinity. We obtain the global existence result of the non-stationary problem under the smallness assumptions on the initial perturbation around the small stationary solution. We also derive the time decay rates of the perturbations under the smallness assumption on the initial perturbations, and show the optimality of the time decay rates. The proofs are based on the combination of the spectral analysis and energy method in the framework of Besov spaces. The time-space integral estimate for the linearized semigroup around the constant state in some Besov spaces plays a crucial role in the proofs.
Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation: does size affect outcome?
Authors: Parodi Costanza , Aluffi Valletti Margherita , Tortora Domenico , Buratti Silvia , Mallamaci Marisa , Tuo Giulia , Pistorio Angela , Moscatelli Andrea , Rossi Andrea , Severino Mariasavina ,   on behalf of the I. G. G. VGAM Team
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To validate a semiautomated method for segmenting vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAM) and to assess the relationship between VGAM volume and other angioarchitectural features, cardiological findings, and outcomes.

Methods
In this retrospective study, we selected all subjects with VGAM admitted to the Gaslini Children’s Hospital between 2009 and 2022. Clinical data were retrieved from electronic charts. We compared 3D-Slicer segmented VGAM volumes obtained by two independent observers using phase-contrast MR venography to those obtained with manual measurements performed on T2-weighted images. The relationship between VGAM volumes and clinical and neuroimaging features was then explored.

Results
Forty-three subjects with VGAM (22 males, mean age 6.56 days) were included in the study. Manual and semiautomated VGAM volumes were well correlated for both readers (r = 0.86 and 0.82, respectively). Regarding reproducibility, the inter-rater interclass correlation coefficients were 0.885 for the manual method and 0.992 for the semiautomated method (p < 0.001). The standard error for repeated measures was lower for the semiautomated method (0.04 versus 0.40 of manual method). Higher VGAM volume was associated with superior sagittal sinus narrowing, jugular bulb stenosis, and aqueductal stenosis (p < 0.05). A weak correlation was found between VGAM volume and straight sinus dilatation (r = 0.331) and superior sagittal sinus index (r =  − 0.325). No significant associations were found with cardiac findings, post-embolization complications, and outcome (p > 0.05).

Conclusions
Semiautomated VGAM volumetry is feasible and reliable with improved reproducibility compared to the manual method. VGAM volume is not a prognostic factor for clinical outcome, but it is related to other venous findings with potential hemodynamic effects.
Strategies for the synthesis of the osmolyte glucosylglycerate and its precursor glycerate
Authors: Allaert Yentl , Leyder Arthur , Franceus Jorick , Desmet Tom 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Glycosidic osmolytes are widespread natural compounds that protect microorganisms and their macromolecules from the deleterious effects of various environmental stresses. Their protective properties have attracted considerable interest for industrial applications, especially as active ingredients in cosmetics and healthcare products. In that regard, the osmolyte glucosylglycerate is somewhat overlooked. Glucosylglycerate is typically accumulated by certain organisms when they are exposed to high salinity and nitrogen starvation, and its potent stabilizing effects have been demonstrated in vitro. However, the applications of this osmolyte have not been thoroughly explored due to the lack of a cost-efficient production process. Here, we present an overview of the progress that has been made in developing promising strategies for the synthesis of glucosylglycerate and its precursor glycerate, and discuss the remaining challenges.

Key points
• Bacterial milking could be explored for fermentative production of glucosylglycerate
• Glycoside phosphorylases of GH13_18 represent attractive alternatives for biocatalytic production
• Conversion of glycerol with alditol oxidase is a promising strategy for generating the precursor glycerate
Dual-loss of PBRM1 and RAD51 identifies hyper-sensitive subset patients to immunotherapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xu Ziyang , Jiang Wenbin , Liu Li , Qiu Youqi , Wang Jiahao , Dai Siyuan , Guo Jianming , Xu Jiejie 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), though largely uncharacterized in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), was found associated with RAD51 loss of expression. PBRM1 is the second most common mutated genes in ccRCC. Here, we introduce a HRD function-based PBRM1-RAD51 ccRCC classification endowed with diverse immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) responses.

Methods
Totally 1542 patients from four independent cohorts were enrolled, including our localized Zhongshan hospital (ZSHS) cohort and Zhongshan hospital metastatic RCC (ZSHS-mRCC) cohort, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort and CheckMate cohort. The genomic profile and immune microenvironment were depicted by genomic, transcriptome data and immunohistochemistry.

Results
We observed that PBRM1-loss ccRCC harbored enriched HRD-associated mutational signature 3 and loss of RAD51. Dual-loss of PBRM1 and RAD51 identified patients hyper-sensitive to immunotherapy. This dual-loss subtype was featured by M1 macrophage infiltration. Dual-loss was, albeit homologous recombination defective, with high chromosomal stability.

Conclusions
PBRM1 and RAD51 dual-loss ccRCC indicates superior responses to immunotherapy. Dual-loss ccRCC harbors an immune-desert microenvironment but enriched with M1 macrophages. Dual-loss ccRCC is susceptible to defective homologous recombination but possesses high chromosomal stability.
A two-phase thin-film model for cell-induced gel contraction incorporating osmotic effects
Authors: Reoch J. R. , Stokes Y. M. , Green J. E. F. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe present a mathematical model of an experiment in which cells are cultured within a gel, which in turn floats freely within a liquid nutrient medium. Traction forces exerted by the cells on the gel cause it to contract over time, giving a measure of the strength of these forces. Building upon our previous work (Reoch et al. in J Math Biol 84(5):31, 2022), we exploit the fact that the gels used frequently have a thin geometry to obtain a reduced model for the behaviour of a thin, two-dimensional cell-seeded gel. We find that steady-state solutions of the reduced model require the cell density and volume fraction of polymer in the gel to be spatially uniform, while the gel height may vary spatially. If we further assume that all three of these variables are initially spatially uniform, this continues for all time and the thin film model can be further reduced to solving a single, non-linear ODE for gel height as a function of time. The thin film model is further investigated for both spatially-uniform and varying initial conditions, using a combination of analytical techniques and numerical simulations. We show that a number of qualitatively different behaviours are possible, depending on the composition of the gel (i.e., the chemical potentials) and the strength of the cell traction forces. However, unlike in the earlier one-dimensional model, we do not observe cases where the gel oscillates between swelling and contraction. For the case of initially uniform cell and gel density, our model predicts that the relative change in the gels’ height and length are equal, which justifies an assumption previously used in the work of Stevenson et al. (Biophys J 99(1):19–28, 2010). Conversely, however, even for non-uniform initial conditions, we do not observe cases where the length of the gel changes whilst its height remains constant, which have been reported in another model of osmotic swelling by Trinschek et al. (AIMS Mater Sci 3(3):1138–1159, 2016; Phys Rev Lett 119:078003, 2017).
Collating the voice of people with autoimmune diseases: Methodology for the Third Phase of the COVAD Studies
Authors: Kadam Esha , Javaid Mahnoor , Sen Parikshit , Saha Sreoshy , Ziade Nelly , Day Jessica , Wincup Chris , Andreoli Laura , Parodis Ioannis , Tan Ai Lyn , Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki , Dey Dzifa , Cavagna Lorenzo , Chatterjee Tulika , Knitza Johannes , Wang Guochun , Dalbeth Nicola , Velikova Tsvetelina , Battista Simone , Cheng Karen , Boyd Peter , Kobert Linda , Gracia-Ramos Abraham Edgar , Mittal Srijan , Makol Ashima , Gutiérrez Carlos Enrique Toro , Uribe Carlo V Caballero , Kuwana Masataka , Burmester Gerd-Rüdiger , Guillemin Francis , Nikiphorou Elena , Chinoy Hector , Aggarwal Vikas , Gupta Latika ,   the COVAD Study Group
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Introduction
The growing recognition of holistic patient care highlights the various factors shaping the quality of life of individuals with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (AIRDs). Beyond the traditional disease measures, there is an emerging acknowledgment of the less-explored aspects, including subjective well-being, social determinants of health, comorbidities, mental health, and medication adherence. Moreover, digital health services have empowered patients to engage actively in decision-making alongside clinicians. To explore these domains within the context of AIRDs, the “Collating the Voice of People with Autoimmune Diseases” COVAD survey was conceived, a successor of the previous two COVAD surveys. In this document, we present the study protocol in comprehensive detail.

Methods
The COVAD-3 survey is a cross-sectional patient self-reported e-survey incorporating multiple widely accepted scales/scores to assess various aspects of patients’ lifestyles objectively. To ensure the survey's accuracy and usability across diverse regions, it will be translated into multiple languages and subjected to rigorous vetting and pilot testing. It will be distributed by collaborators via online platforms and data will be collected from patients with AIRDs, and healthy individuals over eight months. Data analysis will focus on outcome measures related to various social, demographic, economic, and psychological factors.

Conclusion
With the increasing awareness to adopt a holistic treatment approach encompassing all avenues of life, the COVAD-3 survey aims to gain valuable insights into the impact of social, demographic, economic, and psychological determinants of health on the subjective well-being in patients with AIRDs, which will contribute to a better understanding of their overall health and well-being.
Calorimetric wall-shear-stress microsensors for low-speed aerodynamics
Authors: Weiss Julien , Giani Alain 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article describes the design, calibration, and testing of new calorimetric microsensors for the measurement of wall shear stress in low-speed aerodynamic flows. The sensors are made of three beams of platinum-plated silicon nitride suspended over a small cavity. Their range of operation and their bandwidth are of the order of $$\pm 10$$

±
10

Pa and 1 kHz, respectively. Results from experimental campaigns in a laminar separation bubble, a turbulent separation bubble, and on a NACA 0015 airfoil at low Reynolds number indicate a high sensitivity and an inherent capacity to measure instantaneous backflow. This demonstrates the capability of the new sensors to accurately determine the mean and fluctuating wall shear stress in laminar, transitional, and turbulent separating and reattaching flows.
Cut-PFEM: a Particle Finite Element Method using unfitted boundary meshes
Authors: Zorrilla Rubén , Franci Alessandro 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this work, we present a novel unfitted mesh boundary strategy in the context of the Particle Finite Flement Method (PFEM) aiming to improve endemic limitations of the PFEM relative to boundary conditions treatment and mass conservation. In this new methodology, which we called Cut-PFEM, the fluid–wall interaction is not performed by adding interface elements, as is done in the standard PFEM boundaries. Instead, we use an implicit representation of (all or some of) the boundaries by introducing the use of a level set function. Such distance function detects the elements trespassing the (virtual) contours of the domain to equip them with opportunely boundary conditions, which are variationally enforced using Nitsche’s method. The proposed Cut-PFEM circumvents important issues associated with the standard PFEM contact detection algorithm, such as the artificial addition of mass to the computational domain and the anticipation of contact time. Furthermore, the Cut-PFEM represents a natural ground for the imposition of alternative wall boundary conditions (e.g., pure slip) which pose significant difficulties in a standard PFEM framework. Several numerical examples, featuring both no-slip and slip boundary conditions, are presented to prove the accuracy and robustness of the method in two-dimensional and three-dimensional scenarios.
Brain-inspired spiking neural networks in Engineering Mechanics: a new physics-based self-learning framework for sustainable Finite Element analysis
Authors: Tandale Saurabh Balkrishna , Stoffel Marcus 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe present study aims to develop a sustainable framework employing brain-inspired neural networks for solving boundary value problems in Engineering Mechanics. Spiking neural networks, known as the third generation of artificial neural networks, are proposed for physics-based artificial intelligence. Accompanied by a new pseudo-explicit integration scheme based on spiking recurrent neural networks leading to a spike-based pseudo explicit integration scheme, the underlying differential equations are solved with a physics-informed strategy. We propose additionally a third-generation spike-based Legendre Memory Unit that handles large sequences. These third-generation networks can be implemented on the coming-of-age neuromorphic hardware resulting in less energy and memory consumption. The proposed framework, although implicit, is viewed as a pseudo-explicit scheme since it requires almost no or fewer online training steps to achieve a converged solution even for unseen loading sequences. The proposed framework is deployed in a Finite Element solver for plate structures undergoing cyclic loading and a Xylo-Av2 SynSense neuromorphic chip is used to assess its energy performance. An acceleration of more than 40% when compared to classical Finite Element Method simulations and the capability of online training is observed. We also see a reduction in energy consumption down to the thousandth order.
Oceanic maintenance of atmospheric blocking in wintertime in the North Atlantic
Authors: Mathews Jamie , Czaja Arnaud 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe connection between atmospheric blocking over the North Atlantic and the diabatic influence of the Gulf Stream is investigated using potential vorticity and moist potential vorticity diagnostics in the ERA5 reanalysis data set during wintertime (1979 - 2020). In line with previous research, the reliance atmospheric blocking has on turbulent heat fluxes over the Gulf Stream and its extension, for induction and maintenance, is shown to be significant. The air-sea heat flux generates negative potential vorticity air masses in the atmospheric boundary layer. These air masses subsequently contribute to the block’s negative potential vorticity anomaly at upper levels through ascending motion in the warm conveyor belt. It is shown that the block’s size and frequency partially depends on oceanic preconditioning via anomalous oceanic heat transport and heat content, prior to the blocking event, both of which allow for stronger turbulent heat fluxes. It is further hypothesized that the block feeds back positively on itself through the advection of cold dry air over the Gulf Stream, sustaining this air-sea interaction. This in turn decreases ocean heat content, eventually halting this air-sea interaction and severing the atmospheric block from its maintenance pathway.