In this study we explore cosmological anisotropies and dark energy using Finsler-Randers geometry, an extension of Riemannian geometry that incorporates directional dependence in the spacetime structure. We investigate whether Finslerian modifications including anisotropic corrections can provide a unified theoretical framework to explain both the observed cosmic acceleration and the anisotropies detected in the Cosmic Microwave Background and large-scale structure surveys. By introducing an anisotropic parameter η(t) with its parametrization we study its impact on cosmological models and compare the results with observational data from Cosmic Chronometers (CC), Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO), and the Pantheon+ Type Ia Supernovae sample. The constraints on key cosmological parameters including the Hubble constant H0, matter density parameter Ωm, and the anisotropic parameter n, are derived using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Our findings suggest that Finsler-Randers geometry provides a viable alternative to the standard ΛCDM model offering new insights into the nature of DE and large-scale anisotropies. We also examine the consistency of the anisotropic term n across different datasets evaluating its implications for both the evolution of the universe and potential deviations from isotropy. The results highlight the relevance of Finslerian geometry in cosmology and its potential to resolve some of the longstanding puzzles in contemporary cosmology.
Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity
ABSTRACT The endemic fishes in the upper Yellow River and its adjacent waters on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau are very sensitive and vulnerable to human activities and climate changes. However, the status of populations, such as genetic diversity and population genetic structure, remains unclear, limiting further conservation and utilization of their natural resources. Here, genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the highly specialized Schizothoracinae fishes were analyzed by using concatenated mitochondrial COI and D‐loop sequences of 517 samples from 21 geographic populations in Qinghai Lake (QHL), the canyon section and the river source section of the upper Yellow River (CUYR and RUYR), Qaidam River (DQDR), and Golmud River (GMR). The results showed that populations from CUYR, RUYR, and QHL showed higher genetic diversity than the DQDR populations, and the GMR population exhibited the lowest haplotype diversity but high nucleotide diversity. In the upper Yellow River, dam‐affected populations with low resource supplementation showed reduced genetic diversity, while those with frequent stocking events exhibited comparable genetic diversity relative to undisturbed populations. All samples were divided into three distinct phylogenetic lineages, with QHL and DQDR samples belonging to only one single and distinct lineage each, and GMR samples included in both lineages, with CUYR and RUYR samples assigned to all lineages. Low genetic differentiation was detected between GMR and RUYR, QHL and CUYR, and CUYR and RUYR. These findings indicated that the population genetic structure of endemic Schizothoracinae fishes in the upper Yellow River and its adjacent waters was primarily shaped by hydrological connectivity and isolation caused by historical geological events, and the genetic diversity was influenced by dam construction and stocking activities.
Stuart A. MacGowan, Fábio Madeira, Thiago Britto-Borges
et al.
Abstract Protein evolution is constrained by structure and function, creating patterns in residue conservation that are routinely exploited to predict structure and other features. Similar constraints should affect variation across individuals, but it is only with the growth of human population sequencing that this has been tested at scale. Now, human population constraint has established applications in pathogenicity prediction, but it has not yet been explored for structural inference. Here, we map 2.4 million population variants to 5885 protein families and quantify residue-level constraint with a new Missense Enrichment Score (MES). Analysis of 61,214 structures from the PDB spanning 3661 families shows that missense depleted sites are enriched in buried residues or those involved in small-molecule or protein binding. MES is complementary to evolutionary conservation and a combined analysis allows a new classification of residues according to a conservation plane. This approach finds functional residues that are evolutionarily diverse, which can be related to specificity, as well as family-wide conserved sites that are critical for folding or function. We also find a possible contrast between lethal and non-lethal pathogenic sites, and a surprising clinical variant hot spot at a subset of missense enriched positions.
Summary: Among various electrocatalysts, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have gained significant attention for their unique properties and excellent catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the precise synthesis of HEA catalysts in small sizes remains challenging, which limits further improvement in their catalytic performance. In this study, boron- and nitrogen-doped HEA porous carbon nanofibers (HE-BN/PCNF) with an in situ–grown dendritic structure were successfully prepared, inspired by the germination and growth of tree branches. Furthermore, the dendritic fibers constrained the growth of HEA particles, leading to the synthesis of quantum dot-sized (1.67 nm) HEA particles, which also provide a pathway for designing HEA quantum dots in the future. This work provides design ideas and guiding suggestions for the preparation of borated HEA fibers with different elemental combinations and for the application of dendritic nanofibers in various fields.
Despite advancements in analytical technologies, the complex nature of cosmetic matrices, coupled with the presence of diverse and trace unauthorized additives, hinders the application of these technologies in cosmetics analysis. This not only impedes effective regulation of cosmetics but also leads to the continual infiltration of illegal products into the market, posing serious health risks to consumers. The establishment of cosmetic regulations is often based on extensive scientific experiments, resulting in a certain degree of latency. Therefore, timely advancement in laboratory research is crucial to ensure the timely update and adaptability of regulations. A comprehensive understanding of the composition of cosmetic matrices and their pretreatment technologies is vital for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of cosmetic detection. Drawing upon the China National Medical Products Administration’s 2021 Cosmetic Classification Rules and Classification Catalogue, we streamline the wide array of cosmetics into four principal categories based on the following compositions: emulsified, liquid, powdered, and wax-based cosmetics. In this review, the characteristics, compositional elements, and physicochemical properties inherent to each category, as well as an extensive overview of the evolution of pretreatment methods for different categories, will be explored. Our objective is to provide a clear and comprehensive guide, equipping researchers with profound insights into the core compositions and pretreatment methods of cosmetics, which will in turn advance cosmetic analysis and improve detection and regulatory approaches in the industry.
In this study, we employed a novel approach to improve the serotonin-responsive ssDNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotube (ssDNA-SWCNT) nanosensors, combining directed evolution and machine learning-based prediction. Our iterative optimization process is aimed at the sensitivity and selectivity of ssDNA-SWCNT nanosensors. In the three rounds for higher serotonin sensitivity, we substantially improved sensitivity, achieving a remarkable 2.5-fold enhancement in fluorescence response compared to the original sequence. Following this, we directed our efforts towards selectivity for serotonin over dopamine in the two rounds. Despite the structural similarity between these neurotransmitters, we achieved a 1.6-fold increase in selectivity. This innovative methodology, offering high-throughput screening of mutated sequences, marks a significant advancement in biosensor development. The top-performing nanosensors, N2-1 (sensitivity) and L1-14 (selectivity) present promising reference sequences for future studies involving serotonin detection.
Manuela Sim-Sim, Anabela Martins, Cesár Augusto Garcia
The aim of the present study is to update the list of bryophytes in the Cape Verde archipelago, with a focus on its distinctive terrestrial biota. The research was carried out through a combination of herbarium collections revision and fieldwork conducted from 2016 to 2019. The revised list includes 185 bryophyte taxa (175 species, 5 subspecies, and 5 varieties) from 93 genera and 42 families. Notably, 8 taxa are endemic, and the inclusion of 35 new taxa further enriches the bryophyte diversity of the archipelago. The distribution of bryophyte taxa varies across islands, with Santo Antão, São Nicolau, and Fogo exhibiting particularly high diversity. Acrocarpous mosses are the most common growth form (58.4%), followed by pleurocarpous mosses, thalloid liverworts (15.1% each), and leafy liverworts (11.4%). In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the bryophyte diversity of southern Macaronesia enhancing our understanding of its unique flora and emphasizing the imperative need for conservation efforts.
The Monroe Doctrine occupies a unique place in the US history. It became one of the key foreign policy documents of its time and provided the basis for a wide variety of interpretations of the United States’ role and goals in the international arena at turning points of world history. One of these moments was the turn of the 1910s−1920s, when a new Versailles-Washington order of international relations was emerging. In the US public discourse, this period was marked by intense debates between supporters of the Democratic President V. Wilson and his isolationist opponents. Both Republicans and Democrats constantly referred to the Monroe Doctrine, on the one hand, to justify their own views on US foreign policy in the new conditions, and, on the other hand, to refute the arguments of their political opponents. The controversy surrounding the Monroe Doctrine has been reflected in publications in periodicals and analytical journals, as well as in cartoons. Studying these materials, it is possible to trace the evolution of the approaches of American politicians, experts, editors, and journalists to the Monroe Doctrine. The arguments of the Republicans against the ‘internationalist’ interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine that emerged in the face of the changing global context after the First World War are of particular interest. The study shows that at the initial stage of discussions (1920), the Monroe Doctrine was used by the Republicans primarily to criticize W. Wilson’s concept of international relations in general and his position on the League of Nations in particular. At the next stage (1921−1923), the debate focused around the need to revise the Monroe Doctrine itself, that aroused due to new trends in the development of international relations in the Far East and, in particular, because of the increasing competition between the United States and Japan. The author identifies several main approaches to the interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine formulated during the public debate in 1921−1923. It is shown that, despite significant divergences of view, both isolationists and internationalists eventually came to broader interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine, recognizing the need to extend its principles to the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Rodolphe Sonnier, Loïc Dumazert, Mathieu Vangrevelynghe
et al.
Smoke production in a smoke chamber is characterized by the accumulation of smoke and the continuous consumption of oxygen leading to a vitiated atmosphere. However, a method is proposed to predict the smoke evolution in a smoke chamber at 25 kW/m<sup>2</sup> by using material properties calculated from a cone calorimeter, as already shown in a previous article. These properties represent the ability of a material to produce smoke at a specific mass loss rate. The influence of a flame retardant on these properties can be used as a quantitative measurement of its action on smoke production. These properties can be calculated at another heat flux than 25 kW/m<sup>2</sup>. The knowledge of the curve “mass loss rate = f(time)” in a smoke chamber is still required, but this curve is close to that measured in a cone calorimeter at the same heat flux. The results prove that the smoke production in a smoke chamber and cone calorimeter is qualitatively similar, i.e., the decrease of oxygen content in a smoke chamber has no influence on smoke (at least as long as optical density does not exceed 800).
Madalin Bulzan, Simona Cavalu, Amir Mohamed Abdelhamid
et al.
Background. In orthopedics, the patients’ quality of life relative to the preoperative and postoperative phase is referred with a low impact compared to other branches of medicine. In this context, our interest focused on assessing the quality of life in patients with traumatic and non-traumatic coxarthrosis by longitudinally following the evolution of the patients. Materials and Methods. The well-established instrument Short Form Survey SF-36 was applied in a retrospective study, conducted on a cohort of 203 participants who underwent THA (Total Hip Arthroplasty). Statistical analysis was generated using GraphPad Prism (version 9.5.1). Results. In the pre-operative phase, physical functioning was more affected in participants with traumatic coxarthrosis, while fatigue was specific to nontraumatic coxarthrosis. Emotional well-being and social functioning were high in patients with traumatic coxarthrosis. One month after surgery, we recorded an increased physical functioning and improvement in the perception of the ability to exercise roles in non-traumatic group. Energy/vitality and general health and wellbeing were at high level in traumatic group, 1st month post-surgery, although pain was still frequent. Age was the sole strong independent predictor of postoperative physical functioning in the traumatic group, while in the non-traumatic group, we identified gender, age, symptoms and type of prosthesis as strong predictors of postoperative physical functioning. The overall results related to daily living activities indicated that the traumatic group displayed more favorable post-surgery evolution and higher autonomy compared to the non-traumatic one. Conclusions. We conclude that SF-36 questionnaire is a specific, useful and inexpensive tool for evaluating the outcomes of orthopedic treatment and patients’ evolution after arthroplasty, especially in terms of functional outcome scores relative to coxarthrosis etiology.
Al–50Si alloys were prepared by powder extrusion and characterized for electronic packaging. The optimization of powder size, extrusion temperature, and heat treatment parameters was performed to enhance the microstructure and thermo-physical properties. The alloy exhibits a high relative density >99 %, a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) < 10 × 10−6/K, and a good thermal conductivity (TC) ∼117 Wm−1K−1 achieved by employing a large size powder and high extrusion temperature during the extrusion process. Subsequent heat treatment of the optimized alloy at 550 °C for various time reveals a fluctuating increasing trend in TC during the heat treatment process. The TC values exhibit periodic fluctuations as they alternate between increments and decrements, primarily resulting from the recrystallization and secondary recrystallization of Al grains during heat treatment process. Notably, the maximum TC value (∼159.1 Wm−1K−1) at room temperature is obtained after heating the alloy to 550 °C for 26 h. Compared to the as-extruded alloy, the TC of heat-treated alloy increases by approximately 36 %, which can be attributed to the elimination of eutectic Si and growth of Si and Al grains within the alloy. The study may shed light on the mechanism underlying the improvement in thermal conductivity of Al–50Si alloy by microstructural evolution.
Sylvia L. R. Wood, Kyle T. Martins, Véronique Dumais-Lalonde
et al.
Designing effective habitat and protected area networks, which sustain species-rich communities is a critical conservation challenge. Recent decades have witnessed the emergence of new computational methods for analyzing and prioritizing the connectivity needs of multiple species. We argue that the goal of prioritizing habitat for multispecies connectivity should be focused on long-term persistence of a set of species in a landscape or seascape. Here we present a review of the literature based on 77 papers published between 2010 and 2020, in which we assess the current state and recent advances in multispecies connectivity analysis in terrestrial ecosystems. We summarize the four most employed analytical methods, compare their data requirements, and provide an overview of studies comparing results from multiple methods. We explicitly look at approaches for integrating multiple species considerations into reserve design and identify novel approaches being developed to overcome computational and theoretical challenges posed by multispecies connectivity analyses. There is a lack of common metrics for multispecies connectivity. We suggest the index of metapopulation capacity as one metric by which to assess and compare the effectiveness of proposed network designs. We conclude that, while advances have been made over the past decade, the field remains nascent by its ability to integrate multiple species interactions into analytical approaches to connectivity. Furthermore, the field is hampered its ability to provide robust connectivity assessments for lack of a clear definition and goal for multispecies connectivity conservation.
As the northern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau, the long Altyn Tagh fault (ATF) controls the regional tectonic environment, and the study of its long-term fault slip rate is key to understanding the tectonic evolution and deformation of the northern Tibetan Plateau. In this paper, we measure the fault slip rate of the western segment of the ATF using InSAR observations between 2015 to 2020. The Multi-Temporal Interferometric InSAR analysis is applied to obtain the two-dimensional fault-parallel and vertical displacement fields. The spatially dense InSAR observations clearly illustrate the asymmetrical pattern of displacement fields across the fault. Constrained by our InSAR observations, the fault slip rate and locking depth of the western segment of the ATF are inverted using four different models in a Bayesian framework. The two-layer viscoelastic model incorporating lateral heterogeneity of rheology in the lower crust indicates that the fault slip rate of the western ATF is estimated to be 9.8 ± 1.1 mm/yr (at 83.8°E across the ATF) and 8.6 ± 1.1 mm/yr (at 85.1°E), respectively, and the locking depth is 15.8 ± 4.3 km and 14.8 ± 4.9 km. Our new estimates generally agree with the previous estimates of fault slip rate constrained by GPS observations. We conclude that the contrast between the thickness of the elastic layer and the shear modulus of the Tibetan plateau and the Tarim basin jointly contribute to the asymmetric interseismic strain accumulation on the ATF.
Ian M. Hastings, Diggory Hardy, Katherine Kay
et al.
Abstract Introduction Control strategies for human infections are often investigated using individual‐based models (IBMs) to quantify their impact in terms of mortality, morbidity and impact on transmission. Genetic selection can be incorporated into the IBMs to track the spread of mutations whose origin and spread are driven by the intervention and which subsequently undermine the control strategy; typical examples are mutations which encode drug resistance or diagnosis‐ or vaccine‐escape phenotypes. Methods and results We simulated the spread of malaria drug resistance using the IBM OpenMalaria to investigate how the finite sizes of IBMs require strategies to optimally incorporate genetic selection. We make four recommendations. Firstly, calculate and report the selection coefficients, s, of the advantageous allele as the key genetic parameter. Secondly, use these values of “s” to calculate the wait time until a mutation successfully establishes itself in the pathogen population. Thirdly, identify the inherent limits of the IBM to robustly estimate small selection coefficients. Fourthly, optimize computational efficacy: when “s” is small, fewer replicates of larger IBMs may be more efficient than a larger number of replicates of smaller size. Discussion The OpenMalaria IBM of malaria was an exemplar and the same principles apply to IBMs of other diseases.
In this article, Joan C. Browning, a white female veteran of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, reflects on the writing of an autobiographical chapter she wrote for a collective book published in 2000 (Deep in Our Hearts: Nine White Women in the Freedom Movement). Focusing on the dialectical tension between memory and history, she discusses several questions ranging from the genesis of the book project to her regrets at censoring herself in anticipation of criticisms. The essay sheds new light on her personal experience of the Southern Civil Rights Movement—especially her participation in the Albany Freedom Ride in 1961, the role of religion in her commitment to the Movement, and her feelings about the movement’s evolution after 1964. The author describes the profound impact of the Movement on her life and her identity as a white, Southern woman. In addition to this personal account, she probes into the scientific issues of writing the history of the Civil Rights Movement, i.e. the place of women in historiography, the relationship between historians and their living subjects, the question of privacy, the tension between objectivity and subjectivity, and the difficult negotiation between history and activism in the self-writing process.
The evolution of double-emulsion droplets is of great importance for the application of microdroplets and microparticles. We study the driving force of the dewetting process, the equilibrium configuration and the dewetting time of double-emulsion droplets. Through energy analysis, we find that the equilibrium configuration of a partial engulfed droplet depends on a dimensionless interfacial tension determined by the three relevant interfacial tensions, and the engulfing part of the inner phase becomes larger as the volume of the outer phase increases. By introducing a dewetting boundary, the dewetting time can be calculated by balancing the driving force, caused by interfacial tensions, and the viscous force. Without considering the momentum change of the continuous phase, the dewetting time is an increasing function against the viscosity of the outer phase and the volume ratio between the outer phase and inner phase.
Andreas Roetzer, Roland Diel, Thomas A Kohl
et al.
<h4>Background</h4>Understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission is essential to guide efficient tuberculosis control strategies. Traditional strain typing lacks sufficient discriminatory power to resolve large outbreaks. Here, we tested the potential of using next generation genome sequencing for identification of outbreak-related transmission chains.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>During long-term (1997 to 2010) prospective population-based molecular epidemiological surveillance comprising a total of 2,301 patients, we identified a large outbreak caused by an Mtb strain of the Haarlem lineage. The main performance outcome measure of whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses was the degree of correlation of the WGS analyses with contact tracing data and the spatio-temporal distribution of the outbreak cases. WGS analyses of the 86 isolates revealed 85 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), subdividing the outbreak into seven genome clusters (two to 24 isolates each), plus 36 unique SNP profiles. WGS results showed that the first outbreak isolates detected in 1997 were falsely clustered by classical genotyping. In 1998, one clone (termed "Hamburg clone") started expanding, apparently independently from differences in the social environment of early cases. Genome-based clustering patterns were in better accordance with contact tracing data and the geographical distribution of the cases than clustering patterns based on classical genotyping. A maximum of three SNPs were identified in eight confirmed human-to-human transmission chains, involving 31 patients. We estimated the Mtb genome evolutionary rate at 0.4 mutations per genome per year. This rate suggests that Mtb grows in its natural host with a doubling time of approximately 22 h (400 generations per year). Based on the genome variation discovered, emergence of the Hamburg clone was dated back to a period between 1993 and 1997, hence shortly before the discovery of the outbreak through epidemiological surveillance.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our findings suggest that WGS is superior to conventional genotyping for Mtb pathogen tracing and investigating micro-epidemics. WGS provides a measure of Mtb genome evolution over time in its natural host context.
A knowledge contribution is provided in order to understand agroecology as both a scientific discipline and a philosophical paradigm for promoting sustainability in agriculture. The peculiar character of agroecology as an applied science based on the systems paradigm is explored in the fields of research and tuition. As an organisational capability of connecting different hierarchical levels in accordance with the goal of sustainability, integration is shown as an emergent property of the evolution of agriculture as a human activity system.