Showing papers by "Cornell University published in 2023"
TL;DR: In this paper , the wettability of different phases of TiO2 thin films (anatase, brookite, and rutile) have been studied using molecular-dynamics simulation.
Abstract: In the paper, the wettability of different phases of TiO2 thin films (anatase, brookite, and rutile) have been studied using molecular-dynamics simulation. The principle of micro-wetting is discussed. The simulation results show that the contact angle decreases upon increasing the interaction energy between the water and the titanium dioxide interface during the wetting process. The values of contact angles from large to small are: rutile, brookite and anatase. The calculated equilibrium contact angles are 73.9°, 59.2°, and 43.7°, respectively. The reason is that the structural connection and the arrangement of the surface microtopography directly affect the movement of water droplets on the surface of the material, thus affecting the wettability. In addition, the amount of the interaction energy and the radial distribution function between these three interfaces and the droplets are calculated, and the density change of the droplet is analyzed further which indicate the difference in wetting between the three crystal structures. At the same time, by simulating and comparing the wettability of the trench surface and the original surface of anatase, it is inferred that the rough interface increases the contact angle with the droplet and reduces the wettability.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors characterize Hilbert polynomials that give rise to Hilbert schemes with two Borel-fixed points and determine when the associated Hilbert schemes or its irreducible components are smooth.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to probe structural enzyme changes upon ligand and partner-protein binding and discuss tools for signal deconvolution of complex protein solutions.
4 citations
TL;DR: Banzato et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the use of a clinical questionnaire (Canine Frailty Index; CFI) to assess frailty and an owner assessment tool (VetMetrica HRQL) to evaluate HRQL in 451 adult companion dogs.
Abstract: Abstract Developing valid tools that assess key determinants of canine healthspan such as frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQL) is essential to characterizing and understanding aging in dogs. Additionally, because the companion dog is an excellent translational model for humans, such tools can be applied to evaluate gerotherapeutics and investigate mechanisms underlying longevity in both dogs and humans. In this multi-center, cross-sectional study, we investigated the use of a clinical questionnaire (Canine Frailty Index; CFI; Banzato et al., 2019) to assess frailty and an owner assessment tool (VetMetrica HRQL) to evaluate HRQL in 451 adult companion dogs. Results demonstrated validity of the tools by confirming expectations that frailty score increases and HRQL scores deteriorate with age. CFI scores were significantly higher (higher frailty) and HRQL scores significantly lower (worse HRQL) in old dogs (≥ 7 years of age) compared to young dogs (≥ 2 and < 6 years of age). Body size (small < 11.3 kg (25 lbs) or large > 22.7 kg (50 lbs)) was not associated with CFI or total HRQL score. However, older, larger dogs showed faster age-related decline in HRQL scores specific to owner-reported activity and comfort. Findings suggest that the clinician-assessed CFI and owner-reported VetMetrica HRQL are useful tools to evaluate two determinants of healthspan in dogs: the accumulation of frailty and the progressive decline in quality of life. Establishing tools that operationalize the assessment of canine healthspan is critical for the advancement of geroscience and the development of gerotherapeutics that benefit both human and veterinary medicine. Graphical abstract
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used iron, a component of solid propellant, to coat micron-Al and nano-Al to improve the heat release efficiency and reactivity of Al powder.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a novel health indicator constructed through canonical correlation analysis of dimension reduced degradation feature space is proposed, which is more sensitive to incipient defects, free of massive history degradation data and is able to quantitatively measure a degradation process.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors argue that racism is a function of power relations, and that the redistribution of power is a necessary precursor to health equity, so it must be addressed relationally.
Abstract: Policy Points Racism operates in conjunction with interlocking forms of oppression, so it must be addressed relationally. Racism catalyzes processes of cumulative disadvantage as it extends across multiple policy domains along the life course, so it necessitates multifaceted policy solutions. Racism is a function of power relations, so the redistribution of power is a necessary precursor to health equity.
3 citations
TL;DR: RuOCou as discussed by the authors is an analogue of the known MCU inhibitor Ru265 that contains fluorescent axial coumarin carboxylate ligands, and upon aquation of RuOCou and release of the axial Coumarin ligands a simultaneous increase in its MCU-inhibitory activity and fluorescence intensity is observed.
Abstract: Inhibitors of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) are valuable tools for studying the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ in various pathophysiological conditions. In this study, a new fluorogenic MCU inhibitor, RuOCou, is presented. This compound is an analogue of the known MCU inhibitor Ru265 that contains fluorescent axial coumarin carboxylate ligands. Upon aquation of RuOCou and release of the axial coumarin ligands, a simultaneous increase in its MCU-inhibitory activity and fluorescence intensity is observed. The fluorescence response of this compound enabled its aquation to be monitored in both HeLa cell lysates and live HeLa cells. This fluorogenic prodrug represents a potential theranostic MCU inhibitor that can be leveraged for the treatment of human diseases related to MCU activity.
2 citations
TL;DR: Limas et al. as discussed by the authors showed that the E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL4Cdt2 only starts to degrade the licensing factor CDT1 after origin firing, raising the question of how cells prevent re-replication before CDT 1 is fully degraded.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors sought to understand the drivers and barriers of IPM adoption from the perspective of state IPM coordinators via an online Qualtrics survey and found that the participants ranked high cost of practice as the most critical barrier to IPM adoption.
Abstract: Abstract Increased Integrated Pest Management (IPM) adoption hinges not only on the future of innovative research, but also on the willingness of growers to adopt new IPM technologies. Adoption and diffusion of innovations can encounter many different challenges. By better understanding the drivers of and barriers to IPM adoption, future research, extension, and education can better target behavior change. This study sought to better understand the IPM adoption drivers and barriers, along with the impacts of IPM, from the perspective of state IPM coordinators via an online Qualtrics survey. These professionals have a statewide perspective on IPM adoption. There were 37 completed surveys out of 56 email survey invitations, a 66% response rate. Overall, the participants ranked ‘high cost of practice’ as the most critical barrier to IPM adoption. ‘Difficulty of implementation’ and ‘lack of awareness’ were also highly ranked as critical barriers to adoption. When asked about ways to increase IPM adoption, participants ranked ‘improved cost-benefit analysis’ as the most critically important. Overall, these findings demonstrate the importance of providing improved IPM economic cost-benefit analyses to accompany the promotion of new and existing IPM innovations. Furthermore, even though the results of this study suggest that the impact of the Regional IPM Centers has been increasing regional IPM coordination, communication, collaboration, and cooperation. These findings also suggest a need for more comprehensive extension and education programs to specifically address the perceived ‘high cost of practice,’ ‘difficulty of implementation’, and ‘lack of awareness’ by communicating improved IPM cost-benefit analyses.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a Co single-atom catalyst (Co-SAC) containing atomically dispersed Co atoms exhibited intrinsic oxidase-like activity for sustainable antibacterial activity and wound healing.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used the functional analysis of variance framework to derive an exact LTRE method, which calculates the exact response of λ to the difference or variance in a given vital rate, for all interactions among vital rates.
Abstract: Matrix population models are frequently built and used by ecologists to analyse demography and elucidate the processes driving population growth or decline. Life Table Response Experiments (LTREs) are comparative analyses that decompose the realized difference or variance in population growth rate ( λ ) into contributions from the differences or variances in the vital rates (i.e. the matrix elements). Since their introduction, LTREs have been based on approximations and have not included biologically relevant interaction terms. We used the functional analysis of variance framework to derive an exact LTRE method, which calculates the exact response of λ to the difference or variance in a given vital rate, for all interactions among vital rates—including higher-order interactions neglected by the classical methods. We used the publicly available COMADRE and COMPADRE databases to perform a meta-analysis comparing the results of exact and classical LTRE methods. We analysed 186 and 1487 LTREs for animal and plant matrix population models, respectively. We found that the classical methods often had small errors, but that very high errors were possible. Overall error was related to the difference or variance in the matrices being analysed, consistent with the Taylor series basis of the classical method. Neglected interaction terms accounted for most of the errors in fixed design LTRE, highlighting the importance of two-way interaction terms. For random design LTRE, errors in the contribution terms present in both classical and exact methods were comparable to errors due to neglected interaction terms. In most examples we analysed, evaluating exact contributions up to three-way interaction terms was sufficient for interpreting 90% or more of the difference or variance in λ . Relative error, previously used to evaluate the accuracy of classical LTREs, is not a reliable metric of how closely the classical and exact methods agree. Error compensation between estimated contribution terms and neglected contribution terms can lead to low relative error despite faulty biological interpretation. Trade-offs or negative covariances among matrix elements can lead to high relative error despite accurate biological interpretation. Exact LTRE provides reliable and accurate biological interpretation, and the R package exactLTRE makes the exact method accessible to ecologists.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors generalize the recently proposed continuum dark matter model to the case where the dark matter consists of a spin-1/2 or spin- 1 gapped continuum.
Abstract: A bstract We generalize the recently proposed continuum dark matter model to the case where the dark matter consists of a spin-1/2 or spin-1 gapped continuum. We construct simple continuum analogs of weakly interacting massive particles annihilating through the Z portal. We discuss all existing experimental constraints, with the strongest bounds arising from indirect detection and limits on continuum decays from the cosmic microwave background. Our models are phenomenologically viable for gap scales of 60–200 GeV (spin-1/2) and 35–90 GeV (spin-1), owing to the strong kinematic suppression of direct detection bounds which is unique to continuum states. We comment on future prospects for detection and suggest directions for further continuum model building.
TL;DR: In this article , the optical properties of intra-and interlayer excitons at a tetracene/TMD interface were investigated and the role of phonons on the photoluminescence spectra in these heterostructures was explored.
Abstract: In a joint theoretical–experimental study, we shed light on the optical properties of intra- and interlayer excitons at a tetracene/TMD interface. We explore the role of phonons on the photoluminescence spectra in these heterostructures.
TL;DR: In this paper , the heat transfer process of hydrate decomposition in the PHS was investigated, and the real-time decomposition rate and the energy utilization efficiency of the hydrate was quantitatively studied.
TL;DR: In this paper , a constitutive model for the deformation of collagen fibrils under cyclic loading was proposed to analyze the effects of inelasticity and energy dissipation in this material, and more specifically the competition between viscoelasticness and plasticity in the context of loading and overload.
TL;DR: A global survey of how chemical elements contribute to life can be found in this article , where the authors define five classes of elements: those that are essential for all life, essential or beneficial for many organisms in all three domains of life, beneficial to at least some species, and no known beneficial use.
Abstract: Living systems are built from a small subset of the atomic elements, including the bulk macronutrients (C,H,N,O,P,S) and ions (Mg,K,Na,Ca) together with a small but variable set of trace elements (micronutrients). Here, we provide a global survey of how chemical elements contribute to life. We define five classes of elements: those that are (i) essential for all life, (ii) essential for many organisms in all three domains of life, (iii) essential or beneficial for many organisms in at least one domain, (iv) beneficial to at least some species, and (v) of no known beneficial use. The ability of cells to sustain life when individual elements are absent or limiting relies on complex physiological and evolutionary mechanisms (elemental economy). This survey of elemental use across the tree of life is encapsulated in a web-based, interactive periodic table that summarizes the roles chemical elements in biology and highlights corresponding mechanisms of elemental economy.
TL;DR: In this article , a systematic review examined evidence on dietary zinc and physiological status (zinc deficiency or high zinc/zinc overload) effects on the gut microbiota and found that zinc deficiency led to inconsistent changes in α-diversity and short-chain fatty acid production but led to alterations in bacterial taxa with functions in carbohydrate metabolism, glycan metabolism, and intestinal mucin degradation.
Abstract: Zinc serves critical catalytic, regulatory, and structural roles. Hosts and their resident gut microbiota both require zinc, leading to competition, where a balance must be maintained. This systematic review examined evidence on dietary zinc and physiological status (zinc deficiency or high zinc/zinc overload) effects on gut microbiota. This review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021250566). PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for in vivo (animal) studies, resulting in eight selected studies. Study quality limitations were evaluated using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool and according to ARRIVE guidelines. The results demonstrated that zinc deficiency led to inconsistent changes in α-diversity and short-chain fatty acid production but led to alterations in bacterial taxa with functions in carbohydrate metabolism, glycan metabolism, and intestinal mucin degradation. High dietary zinc/zinc overload generally resulted in either unchanged or decreased α-diversity, decreased short-chain fatty acid production, and increased bacterial metal resistance and antibiotic resistance genes. Additional studies in human and animal models are needed to further understand zinc physiological status effects on the intestinal microbiome and clarify the applicability of utilizing the gut microbiome as a potential zinc status biomarker.
21 Mar 2023
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigate how males alter marking decisions across variable social landscapes using thermal imaging to capture spatiotemporal marking data and show that mice flexibly update their marking decisions in response to changing social landscapes.
Abstract: Abstract Urine marking is central to mouse social behavior. Males use depletable and costly urine marks in intrasexual competition and mate attraction. We investigate how males alter signaling decisions across variable social landscapes using thermal imaging to capture spatiotemporal marking data. Thermal recording reveals fine-scale adjustments in urinary motor patterns in response to competition and social odors. Males demonstrate striking winner-loser effects in scent mark allocation effort and timing. Competitive experience primes temporal features of marking and modulates responses to scent familiarity. Males adjust signaling effort, mark latency, and marking rhythm, depending on the scent identities in the environment. Notably, recent contest outcome affects how males respond to familiar and unfamiliar urine. Winners increase marking effort toward unfamiliar relative to familiar male scents, whereas losers reduce marking effort to unfamiliar but increase to familiar rival scents. All males adjust their scent mark timing after a contest regardless of fight outcome, and deposit marks in more rapid bursts during marking bouts. In contrast to this dynamism, initial signal investment predicts aspects of scent marking days later, revealing the possibility of alternative marking strategies among competitive males. These data show that mice flexibly update their signaling decisions in response to changing social landscapes.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors derive necessary and sufficient conditions for when a given differential form is invariant, with special attention paid to the case of invariant volumes, and demonstrate that the existence of a smooth invariant volume severely inhibits Zeno behavior.
Abstract: Hybrid (and impact) systems are dynamical systems experiencing both continuous and discrete transitions. In this work, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for when a given differential form is invariant, with special attention paid to the case of the existence of invariant volumes. Particular attention is given to impact systems where the continuous dynamics are Lagrangian and subject to nonholonomic constraints. A celebrated result for volume-preserving dynamical systems is Poincaré recurrence. In order to be recurrent, trajectories need to exist for long periods of time, which can be controlled in continuous-time systems through e.g. compactness. For hybrid systems, an additional mechanism can occur which breaks long-time existence: Zeno (infinitely many discrete transitions in a finite amount of time). We demonstrate that the existence of a smooth invariant volume severely inhibits Zeno behavior; hybrid systems with the “boundary identity property” along with an invariant volume-form have almost no Zeno trajectories (although Zeno trajectories can still exist). This leads to the result that many billiards (e.g. the classical point, the rolling disk, and the rolling ball) are recurrent independent on the shape of the compact table-top.
TL;DR: A review of the role of mast cells in joint inflammation and arthritis can be found in this paper , where the authors report that mast cells play a role in mediating synovial inflammation and OA progression.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors proposed a generalized degradation tendency tracking strategy (GDTTS) for gearbox RUL prediction, where a health indicator (HI) of gearbox degradation process is constructed based on improved HI fusion method.
TL;DR: In this article , a modified membrane (called PVDF/[email protected]@Fe3+) with superior oil resistance was developed by co-depositing Fe3+ and 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH550) with polydopamine (PDA), which achieved high efficiency of 90.33% and high evaporation rate of 1.40 kg m−2 h−1.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identify a primate-specific FOXO3A-Short (FOXO3a-S), encoding a major longevity-associated SNP, rs9400239 (C or T), within its 5' untranslated region.
Abstract: Intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FOXO3A are associated with human longevity. Currently, it is unclear how these SNPs alter FOXO3A functionality and human physiology, thereby influencing lifespan. Here, we identify a primate-specific FOXO3A transcriptional isoform, FOXO3A-Short (FOXO3A-S), encoding a major longevity-associated SNP, rs9400239 (C or T), within its 5' untranslated region. The FOXO3A-S mRNA is highly expressed in the skeletal muscle and has very limited expression in other tissues. We find that the rs9400239 variant influences the stability and functionality of the primarily nuclear protein(s) encoded by the FOXO3A-S mRNA. Assessment of the relationship between the FOXO3A-S polymorphism and peripheral glucose clearance during insulin infusion (Rd clamp) in a cohort of Danish twins revealed that longevity T-allele carriers have markedly faster peripheral glucose clearance rates than normal lifespan C-allele carriers. In vitro experiments in human myotube cultures utilizing overexpression of each allele showed that the C-allele represses glycolysis independently of PI3K signaling, while overexpression of the T-allele represses glycolysis only in a PI3K-inactive background. Supporting this finding inducible knockdown of the FOXO3A-S C-allele in cultured myotubes increases the glycolytic rate. We conclude that the rs9400239 polymorphism acts as a molecular switch which changes the identity of the FOXO3A-S-derived protein(s), which in turn alters the relationship between FOXO3A-S and insulin/PI3K signaling and glycolytic flux in the skeletal muscle. This critical difference endows carriers of the FOXO3A-S T-allele with consistently higher insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose clearance rates, which may contribute to their longer and healthier lifespans.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated whether commercial bumble bee Bombus impatiens colonies managed for early spring crop pollination act as ecological traps for wild nest-searching Bombus queens by subverting their natural nest usurpation behaviour.
Abstract: In response to anthropogenic environmental change, the cues that animals use throughout their lifecycle to optimize fitness may become unreliable, resulting in an ecological trap. Here we investigated whether commercial bumble bee Bombus impatiens colonies managed for early spring crop pollination act as ecological traps for wild nest-searching Bombus queens by subverting their natural nest usurpation behaviour. An average of 10 dead wild queens were recovered from each standard colony during the 2-week period of the experiment, but colonies with queen excluders were successful in preventing wild queen deaths. The use of queen excluders did not impact colony performance in terms of resident queen survival, colony reproduction, colony weight gain or worker body size. Sites where wild nest-searching queens were small had higher rates of failed usurpation, suggesting smaller-sized queens are disproportionately at risk from failed usurpation. Furthermore, sites where commercial colonies without queen excluders were introduced for spring crop pollination had fewer bumble bee visits to a later-blooming crop compared to sites without commercial colonies. Synthesis and applications. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which commercial colonies can negatively impact wild bumble bee populations and their pollination services. At the same time, we demonstrate a simple and inexpensive risk mitigation tool—a queen excluder—was 100% effective at eliminating this risk without compromising colony performance. Commercial colonies used outdoors during the bumble bee nest-searching period should be fit with queen excluders to prevent negative impacts on wild pollinator communities and their services.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identified 1,064 magmatic eruptions that occurred between 1980 and 2019 from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database and quantified the temporal and spatial evolution of subaerial volcanism and its products at a global and regional scale.
Abstract: Volcanism is one of the main mechanisms transferring mass and energy between the interior of the Earth and the Earth's surface. However, the global mass flux of lava, volcanic ash and explosive pyroclastic deposits is not well constrained. Here we review published estimates of the mass of the erupted products from 1980 to 2019 by a global compilation. We identified 1,064 magmatic eruptions that occurred between 1980 and 2019 from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database. For each eruption, we reported both the total erupted mass and its partitioning into the different volcanic products. Using this data set, we quantified the temporal and spatial evolution of subaerial volcanism and its products from 1980 to 2019 at a global and regional scale. The mass of magma erupted in each analyzed decade ranged from 1.1–4.9 × 1013 kg. Lava is the main subaerial erupted product representing ∼57% of the total erupted mass of magma. The products related to the biggest eruptions (Magnitude ≥6), with long recurrence times, can temporarily make explosive products more abundant than lava (e.g., decade 1990–1999). Twenty-three volcanoes produced ∼72% of the total mass, while two different sets of 15 volcanoes erupted >70% of the total mass of either effusive or explosive products. At a global scale, the 10 and 40-year average eruptive rates calculated from 1980 to 2019 have the same magnitude as the long-term average eruptive rates (from thousand to millions of years), because in both cases rates are scaled for times comparable to the recurrence time of the biggest eruptions occurred.
19 Feb 2023
TL;DR: In this article , the authors analyzed the evolution and function of RNA polymerase II pausing in 20 organisms across the tree of life and discovered how pausing evolved and increased regulatory complexity in metazoans.
Abstract: Abstract Promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a key regulatory step during transcription. To understand the evolution and function of pausing, we analyzed transcription in 20 organisms across the tree of life. Unicellular eukaryotes have a slow acceleration of Pol II near transcription start sites that matured into a longer and more focused pause in metazoans. Increased pause residence time coincides with the evolution of new subunits in the NELF and 7SK complexes. In mammals, depletion of NELF reverts a focal pause to a proto-paused-like state driven in part by DNA sequence. Loss of this focal pause compromises transcriptional activation for a set of heat shock genes. Overall, we discovered how pausing evolved and increased regulatory complexity in metazoans.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors apply a macrophysiological approach to understand how hematological traits related to oxygen transport shape elevational ranges in a tropical biodiversity hot spot, finding that birds with greater hematology sensitivity had broader ranges, consistent with the idea that greater acclimatization capacity facilitates elevational range expansion.
Abstract: AbstractThe extent to which species ranges reflect intrinsic physiological tolerances is a major question in evolutionary ecology. To date, consensus has been hindered by the limited tractability of experimental approaches across most of the tree of life. Here, we apply a macrophysiological approach to understand how hematological traits related to oxygen transport shape elevational ranges in a tropical biodiversity hot spot. Along Andean elevational gradients, we measured traits that affect blood oxygen-carrying capacity-total and cellular hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit, the volume percentage of red blood cells-for 2,355 individuals of 136 bird species. We used these data to evaluate the influence of hematological traits on elevational ranges. First, we asked whether the sensitivity of hematological traits to changes in elevation is predictive of elevational range breadth. Second, we asked whether variance in hematological traits changed as a function of distance to the nearest elevational range limit. We found that birds showing greater hematological sensitivity had broader elevational ranges, consistent with the idea that a greater acclimatization capacity facilitates elevational range expansion. We further found reduced variation in hematological traits in birds sampled near their elevational range limits and at high absolute elevations, patterns consistent with intensified natural selection, reduced effective population size, or compensatory changes in other cardiorespiratory traits. Our findings suggest that constraints on hematological sensitivity and local genetic adaptation to oxygen availability promote the evolution of the narrow elevational ranges that underpin tropical montane biodiversity.
TL;DR: In this paper , the first benzothiazole-ratio probe, 4-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxy benzaldehyde (HBTA), dynamically tracks the concentration of malononitrile by showing its sensitivity to the two phases (organic and aqueous) of benzaldehyde.