Large Modifications Research Articles

Double and triple Higgs boson production to probe the electroweak phase transition

The production of three Higgs bosons could be a stretch goal for the LHC and a strategic case for future colliders. In this work, we analyse the phenomenological prospects of (neutral) triple Higgs compared to di-Higgs boson production, for a range of Higgs-sector extensions from a strong first-order electroweak phase transition perspective. In parallel, we include constraints from existing exotics and Higgs boson measurements that further limit the parameter space of such models. Resonance contributions offer large modifications in particular for triple Higgs production, albeit starting from a small SM expectation. With enhancements of order 40 over the SM, however, experimental efforts to obtain limits at the HL-LHC are well motivated and well placed. This is further highlighted by the potential of these processes to inform the investigation of the thermal history of our Universe. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Prediction errors lead to updating of memories for conversations

ABSTRACT Previous research has established that the brain uses episodic memories to make continuous predictions about the world and that prediction errors, so the mismatch between generated predictions and reality, can lead to memory updating. However, it remains unclear whether prediction errors can stimulate updating in memories for naturalistic conversations. Participants encoded naturalistic dialogues, which were later presented in a modified form. We found that larger modifications were associated with increased learning of the modified statement. Moreover, memory for the original version of the statement was weakened after medium-strong prediction errors, which resulted from the interplay of modification extent and strength of previous memory. After strong prediction errors, both original and modification were well-remembered. Prediction errors thus play a role in keeping representations of statements and therefore socially relevant knowledge about others up to date.

Cell membrane-inspired COF/AAO hybrid nanofluidic membrane with ion current rectification properties for ultrasensitive detection of E. coli

Nanofluidic membranes hold great prospects in sensitive and rapid detection of bioanalysts, while remaining lacking robust and general approaches for specificity. In this work, we introduce a cell membrane-inspired nanofluidic membrane with excellent ion current rectification properties as a simple and robust platform for label-free and ultrasensitive biosensing. The asymmetric nanofluidic membrane is prepared by coupling a two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COF) membrane to an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanochannel via hydrogen bonding. The prepared COF/AAO membrane presents selective ion transport due to the asymmetric structure and anion selectivity of COF. With the large surface area and abundant functional modification sites of COF, further grafting of the recognition unit can be easily achieved to mimic the recognition process of receptors and ligands on cell membranes. As a proof of concept, the application in bacterial detection is demonstrated by covalently bonded Concanavalin A as recognition units. The highly amplified ionic current based on ion current rectification properties of the COF/AAO membrane allows sensitive and selective bioanalysis. Specifically, the proposed asymmetric nanofluidic membrane presents a linear detection range from 10 to 106 CFU/mL with an ultralow detection limit of 7 CFU/mL for E. coli. This work reveals the great potential of COF/AAO hybrid nanofluidic membrane as a sensor for rapid and precise bioanalysis.

The South Pole‐Aitken Basin: Constraints on Impact Excavation, Melt, and Ejecta

AbstractThe formation and evolution of the South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) basin is critical to relating large impact basin formation and modification to lunar geophysical evolution. Most prior models of the SPA impact were conducted in 2D, making it difficult to compare model output to the 3D crustal structure and ejecta distribution. In order to better constrain the parameters of the SPA impactor and the expected post impact distribution of crust and ejecta, we conducted numerical simulations of the SPA impact in 3D. We tested a wide range of impact parameters and constrained model results with recent geophysical data. We found the crustal structure of the SPA basin is best fit by an oblique impact (30–45°) of a 350–400 km diameter projectile impacting at 12–16 km/s. The impact excavated material from as deep as 80–120 km, and ejecta was deposited in a butterfly pattern with a forbidden region uprange of the impact.

Dynamic Modal Reanalysis Using Flexibility Disassembly Perturbation Method

In structural optimization design and reliability analysis, it is necessary to repeatedly modify the structure and calculate the corresponding vibration modal parameters. It will require significant computational costs if a complete analysis is used to calculate the vibration modes of each modified structure. In order to improve computational efficiency, this work develops a dynamic modal reanalysis method based on flexibility disassembly perturbation, which utilizes the modal data of the original structure to quickly calculate the modal parameters of the modified structure. The core idea of the proposed method is to use the flexibility matrix decomposition formula to quickly calculate the flexibility matrix after each modification of the structure and then obtain a high-precision reduced eigenvalue problem for solving the vibration modes of the modified structure. Three numerical examples are used to validate the proposed modal reanalysis method. It has been shown that the proposed method has higher computational accuracy and efficiency than the existing modal reanalysis method, especially for high-rank and large modification scenarios.

Twisting process of basalt fibers in water: The effects of water on microscopic structure and spinning property

Basalt fibers (BFs) are eco-friendly and natural high-performance fibers, specifically engineered for use in protective clothing, offering significant benefits. However, the inherent brittleness of this inorganic fabric not only poses challenges in processing but also renders it uncomfortable for wear. Consequently, there is an urgent need to modify BFs to enhance their torsional property and skin compatibility. Herein, we immersed BFs in water and twist them into yarn to investigate the effects of water erosion on BFs, specifically focusing on its impact on fiber structure and spinning performance. Under water's erosion, the BFs experienced ion-exchange reactions that compromised the silica framework, leading to a significant rise in both static and dynamic friction coefficients 162.5 % and 233.3 %, respectively, and a 1.53-fold improvement in torsional performance. The process of twisting in a water bath facilitated better fiber bundling, yielding a more compact yarn structure. This compaction reduced the occurrence of burrs following friction and enhanced both tensile and loop strength. At the fiber level, we utilized a simple water erosion method to enhance the twisting performance of basalt filament. This approach circumvents the disadvantages of large etching modification damage and poor sizing fastness, offering a novel method for the preparation of basalt twisted yarn.

A First Look at the Relationship Between Large Herbivore-Induced Landscape Modifications and Ixodes ricinus Tick Abundance in Rewilding Sites.

Background: While the influence of landscape and microclimatic conditions on tick populations is well-documented, there remains a gap in more specific data regarding their relationship to rewilding efforts with large herbivore activity. Objective: This pilot study, spanning from 2019 to 2021, explores the effects of naturalistic grazing by large semi-wild ungulates on tick abundance in the Milovice Reserve, Czechia. Methods: Tick collection was observed using flagging techniques at two distinct sites of rewilding area: one grazed, actively utilized by animals involved in the rewilding project, and one ungrazed, left fallow in neighboring areas utilized only by wild animals. Transects, each measuring 150 m in length and 5 m in width (750 m2), were established at these two sampling locations from March to September between 2019 and 2021. To minimize potential bias resulting from tick movement, a 300 m buffer zone separated the two sites. Data analysis employed a generalized estimating equations (GEE) model with negative binomial regression. The study assessed potential variations in tick abundance between selected transects, considering factors such as plant cover seasonality, temperature, and humidity. Results: During the collection periods, we gathered 586 live ticks, with 20% found in grazed areas and 80% in ungrazed areas. Notably, tick abundance was significantly higher in ungrazed areas. Peaks in tick abundance occurred in both grazed and ungrazed areas during spring, particularly in April. However, tick numbers declined more rapidly in grazed areas. Microclimatic variables like temperature and humidity did not significantly impact tick abundance compared to landscape management and seasonal factors. Conclusion: Rewilding efforts, particularly natural grazing by large ungulates, influence tick abundance and distribution. This study provides empirical data on tick ecology in rewilded areas, highlighting the importance of landscape management and environmental factors in tick management and conservation. Trophic rewilding plays a crucial role in shaping ecosystems and tick population dynamics in transformed landscapes.

Polar Vortex Disruptions by High Latitude Ocean Warming

AbstractMid‐latitude extreme cold outbreaks are associated with disruptions of the polar vortex, which often happen abruptly in connection to a sudden stratospheric warming. Understanding global warming (particularly Arctic amplification) impacts on forecasting such events is challenging for the scientific community. Here we apply clustering analysis on the Northern Annular Mode to identify surface precursors and the governing mechanisms causing polar vortex disruption events. Two clusters of vortex breakdown emerge; 65% of the events, mainly displacements, are associated with high‐latitude Ocean warming in the North Pacific and in Barents‐Kara Sea. Such warming may cause large scale modifications of the tropospheric flow that favors a slowdown of the stratospheric vortex. The persistence of Ocean surface temperature patterns favors polar vortex disruptions, potentially improving prediction skills at the sub‐seasonal to seasonal time scales.

Shape optimization of embedded solids using implicit Vertex-Morphing

One of the biggest challenges in optimizing the shape of complex solids is the requirement to maintain a reasonable mesh quality not only at the boundary but also for the bulk discretization of the interior. Thus, additional regularization and, in many cases, re-meshing of the structure during the iterative process is unavoidable with a Lagrangian description. By tracking the shape update using an Eulerian representation, embedded boundary methods are a promising technique for eliminating mesh distortion problems.This work consistently combines the unique features of implicit Vertex-Morphing and embedded boundary methods, facilitating the node-based shape optimization of solids with industrial complexity. One of the crucial elements for solving the primal problem on a fixed background grid is an efficient and robust quadrature scheme. To this end, we incorporate the open-source C++ framework QuESo (https://github.com/manuelmessmer/QuESo) developed for the numerical integration of arbitrarily complex embedded solids defined by oriented boundary meshes, e.g., in STereoLithography (STL) format. Meanwhile, applying the Helmholtz/Sobolev-based (implicit) filter to the vertices of the embedded boundary mesh not only exploits the extensive design space of node-based optimization but also ensures robust control over the feature size. To realize the above methodology, this work introduces a novel sensitivity analysis that yields mesh-independent shape gradients with respect to the immersed boundary. Through a specific sensitivity weighting, we recover a continuous gradient field from discrete values calculated at the nodes of the background grid. In addition, the presented workflow ensures robust enforcement of challenging geometrical constraints, including minimum wall thicknesses and design space limitations.We critically assess our approach with benchmarks and structures of industrial relevance. In all examples, trivariate B-Spline bases span the background grid, providing highly accurate finite element solutions and shape sensitivities at every iteration. Moreover, the elimination of mesh distortion problems enables a successful termination at the local optimum, even for large shape modifications.

Phosphoproteomics Revealed Differentially Expressed Sites and Function of the Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane in Colostrum and Mature Milk.

One type of large and intricate post-translational modification of milk proteins that has significant biological implications is phosphorylation. The characterization of phosphoproteins found in the bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is still mostly unknown. Here, label-free phosphoproteomics was used to identify 94 phosphorylation sites from 54 MFGM phosphoproteins in bovine colostrum (BC) and 136 phosphorylation sites from 91 MFGM phosphoproteins in bovine mature milk (BM). αs1-Casein and β-casein were the most phosphorylated proteins in bovine colostrum. In bovine mature milk, perilipin-2 was the protein with the greatest number of phosphorylation sites. The results show that bovine colostrum MFGM phosphoproteins were mainly involved in immune function, whereas bovine mature MFGM phosphoproteins were mainly involved in metabolic function. Plasminogen and osteopontin were the most strongly interacting proteins in colostrum, whereas perilipin-2 was the most strongly interacting protein in bovine mature milk. This work demonstrates the unique alterations in the phosphorylation manner of the bovine MFGM protein during lactation and further expands our knowledge of the site characteristics of bovine MFGM phosphoproteins. This result confirms the value of MFGM as a reference ingredient for infant formula during different stages.

Control of Dielectric Parameters of Micro- and Nanomodified Epoxy Resin Using Electrophoresis

This work presents the results of research on submicro- and nanocomposites with gradient properties, produced in a planned electrophoretic process. Epoxy-resin-based samples were filled with TiO2 particles of three different sizes (13 nm, 38 nm, and <1 µm) at four different values of average electric field Eav (0.0 Vmm−1, 125 Vmm−1, 250 Vmm−1, and 500 Vmm−1) for 1 h each. Changes in selected dielectric parameters (dielectric constant εr and dielectric loss factor tanδ) of the composites were analyzed using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (10−1 Hz to 105 Hz). The influence of the Eav and the current i(t) flowing through the sample material and the Joule heat generated in it on the resin curing process and the final gradient of dielectric parameters were investigated. The results show that the degree of modification of the εr gradient increases with increasing Eav and is more pronounced in the case of TiO2 nanoparticles. The largest modifications in the εr and tanδ were obtained for nanoparticles with a diameter of 13 nm at Eav = 500 Vmm−1, while the lowest for particles < 1 µm at Eav = 125 Vmm−1. The effect of electrophoresis on the dielectric parameters is significant, especially near the anode region. Increasing the concentration of TiO2 particles at the anode occurs at the expense of reducing their concentration in the remaining volume of the sample. The test results clearly demonstrate the importance of particle dimension and electric field strength for the gradient modification of the properties of the epoxy composite using electrophoresis. Numerical simulations of electric field stresses in the epoxy resin during the electrophoresis process, performed in the COMSOL program, revealed a significant increase in the E field strength in the areas close to the anode and cathode.

Genetic Diversity Study of Cinnamomum cassia Blume Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DN A Markers (RAPD)

Aims: To investigate Genetic diversity study of Cinnamomum cassia Blume in Vietnam.
 Methodology: Fresh leaves of Cinnamomum cassia Blume sample were grinded in liquid nitrogen and total genomic DNA was extracted and purified by CTAB method. The primer was amplified via the polymerase chain reaction on a Gene Amp PCR system 9700. The binary data set was utilized to compute the pairwise Jaccard similarity index and to construct the related similarity matrix. All analyses were performed by using the NTSYS-PC software application.
 Results: Twenty-four accessions of Cinnamomum cassia Blume belongs to Cinnamomum species collected from some mountainous areas of the Yenbai province, Vietnam were examined to assess genetic variation using the RAPD method. The accessions included 4 in Lucyen, 5 in Tranyen, 5 in Vanchan, 6 in Vanyen and 4 in Yenbinh. Eighty-one out of 99 bands detected by 15 selected RAPD primers were polymorphic. The average number of band/primer was 6.6, in which the polymorphic bands/primer was 5.4, corresponding to 82 %. The similarity indexes among accessions fluctuate between 0.67 to 0.91 The coefficient of estimated PIC/primer range from 0.371 to 0.883, with an average of 0.756. The hight polymophylic and similarity indexes showed large modification of genome. Grouping accessions in phylogenetic tree reflected the fact that the different areas may used the same or different cultivars of Cinnamomum cassia Blume for cultivation.
 Conclusion: Cinnamomum cassia Blume belongs to Cinnamomum species was introduced in Yenbai from multiple sources and possesses hight genetic diversity and variation and suggests that necessary to establish conservation plan, evaluation and selection of the best gene resources for commercial purposes.

Extended-Range Forecast of Winter Rainfall in the Yangtze River Delta Based on Intra-Seasonal Oscillation of Atmospheric Circulations

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is an important economic region in China. Heavy winter rainfall may pose serious threats to city operations. To ensure the safe operation of the city, meteorological departments need to provide forecast results for the Spring Festival travel rush weather service. Therefore, the extended-range forecast of winter rainfall is of considerable importance. To solve this problem, based on the analysis of low-frequency rainfall and the intra-seasonal oscillation of atmospheric circulation, an extended-range forecast model for winter rainfall is developed using spatiotemporal projection methods and is applied to a case study from 2020. The results show that: (1) The precipitation in the YRD during the winter has a significant intra-seasonal oscillation (ISO) with a periodicity of 10–30 d. (2) The atmospheric circulations associated with winter rainfall in the YRD have a significant characteristic of low-frequency oscillation. From a 30-day to a 0-day lead, large modifications appear in the low-frequency atmospheric circulations at low, mid, and high latitudes. At low latitudes, strong wet convective activity characterized by a negative OLR combined with a positive RH700 correlation coefficient moves northwestward and covers the entire YRD. Meanwhile, the Western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) characterized by a positive Z500 anomaly enhances and lifts northward. At mid and high latitudes, the signal of negatively correlated Z500 northwest of Lake Balkhash propagates southeastward, indicating the cold is air moving southward. Multiple circulation factors combine together and lead to the precipitation process in the YRD. (3) Taking the intra-seasonal dynamical evolution process of the atmospheric circulation as the prediction factor, the spatiotemporal method is used to build the model for winter mean extended-range precipitation anomaly tendency in the YRD. The hindcast for the recent 10 years shows that the ensemble model has a higher skill that can reach up to 20 days. In particular, the skill of the eastern part of the YRD can reach 25 days. (4) The rainfall in the 2019/2020 winter has a significant ISO. The ensemble model could forecast the most extreme precipitation for 20 days ahead.

Genetically modified pigs with CD163 point mutation are resistant to HP-PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a globally prevalent contagious disease caused by the positive-strand RNA PRRS virus (PRRSV), resulting in substantial economic losses in the swine industry. Modifying the CD163 SRCR5 domain, either through deletion or substitution, can eff1ectively confer resistance to PRRSV infection in pigs. However, large fragment modifications in pigs inevitably raise concerns about potential adverse effects on growth performance. Reducing the impact of genetic modifications on normal physiological functions is a promising direction for developing PRRSV-resistant pigs. In the current study, we identified a specific functional amino acid in CD163 that influences PRRSV proliferation. Viral infection experiments conducted on Marc145 and PK-15 CD163 cells illustrated that the mE535G or corresponding pE529G mutations markedly inhibited highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) proliferation by preventing viral binding and entry. Furthermore, individual viral challenge tests revealed that pigs with the E529G mutation had viral loads two orders of magnitude lower than wild-type (WT) pigs, confirming effective resistance to HP-PRRSV. Examination of the physiological indicators and scavenger function of CD163 verified no significant differences between the WT and E529G pigs. These findings suggest that E529G pigs can be used for breeding PRRSV-resistant pigs, providing novel insights into controlling future PRRSV outbreaks.

CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing in Paenibacillus polymyxa.

In recent years, the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-Cas (CRISPR-Cas) technology has become the method of choice for precision genome editing in many organisms due to its simplicity and efficacy. Multiplex genome editing, point mutations, and large genomic modifications are attractive features of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. These applications facilitate both the ease and velocity of genetic manipulations and the discovery of novel functions. In this protocol chapter, we describe the use of a CRISPR-Cas9 system for multiplex integration and deletion modifications, and deletions of large genomic regions by the use of a single guide RNA (sgRNA), and, finally, targeted point mutation modifications in Paenibacillus polymyxa.

In situ modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles: synthesis, properties and theranostic applications.

Over the last 20 years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have drawn considerable attention in the biomedical field due to their large surface area, porous network, biocompatibility, and abundant modification possibilities. In situ MSN modification refers to the incorporation of materials such as alkoxysilanes, ions and nanoparticles (NPs) in the silica matrix during synthesis. Matrix modification is a popular approach for endowing MSNs with additional functionalities such as imaging properties, bioactivity, and degradability, while leaving the mesopores free for drug loading. As such, in situ modified MSNs are considered promising theranostic agents. This review provides an extensive overview of different materials and modification strategies that have been used and their effect on MSN properties. We also highlight how in situ modified MSNs have been applied in theranostic applications, oncology and regenerative medicine. We conclude with perspectives on the future outlooks and current challenges for the widespread clinical use of in situ modified MSNs.

Structural static reanalysis using flexibility disassembly perturbation and system reduction

Rapid static reanalysis technology is an important tool commonly used in structural optimization design and reliability analysis. The existing static reanalysis methods are not efficient enough in solving high-rank large modification problems. To overcome this drawback, this paper proposes a new method for structural static reanalysis based on flexibility disassembly perturbation and system reduction. Firstly, a generalized flexibility disassembly perturbation technique is developed to directly compute the flexibility matrix of the modified structure. Subsequently, a new system reduction method is proposed to quickly approximate the exact solution of the modified static displacement. Even for the global large modification problem, the proposed method only requires two basis vectors to obtain very accurate calculation results. Two numerical models of statically indeterminate structures are used to verify the effectiveness and progressiveness of the method. The results show that the proposed reanalysis method has higher computational accuracy than the existing combined approximation (CA) and preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) methods, especially for the high-rank large modification case. A steel reticulated shell structure is further used to illustrate the application of the proposed reanalysis method in structural reliability analysis. It can be found that the proposed method significantly saves the calculation time of structural reliability analysis.

Thermal radiation at the nanoscale and applications

There has been a paradigm shift from the well-known laws of thermal radiation derived over a century ago, valid only when the length scales involved are much larger than the thermal wavelength (around 10 μm at room temperature), to a general framework known as fluctuational electrodynamics that allows calculations of radiative heat transfer for arbitrary sizes and length scales. Near-field radiative heat transfer and thermal emission in systems of sub-wavelength size can exhibit super-Planckian behavior, i.e., flux rates several orders of magnitude larger than that predicted by the Stefan–Boltzmann (or blackbody) limit. These effects can be combined with novel materials, e.g., low-dimensional or topological systems, to yield even larger modifications and spectral and/or directional selectivity. We introduce briefly the context and the main steps that have led to the current boom of ideas and applications. We then discuss the original and impactful works gathered in the associated Special Topic collection, which provides an overview of the flourishing field of nanoscale thermal radiation.

Insight into the Role of Gut Microbiota in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: An Age-Related Study in Mdx Mice

Dystrophindeficiency alters the sarcolemma structure, leading to muscle dystrophy, muscle disuse, and ultimately death. Beyond limb muscle deficits, patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have numerous transit disorders. Many studies have highlighted the strong relationship between gut microbiota and skeletal muscle. The aims of this study were: i) to characterize the gut microbiota composition over time up to 1 year in dystrophin-deficientmdxmice, and ii) to analyze the intestine structure and function and expression of genes linked to bacterial-derived metabolites in ileum, blood, and skeletal muscles to study interorgan interactions.Mdxmice displayed a significant reduction in the overall number of different operational taxonomic units and their abundance (α-diversity).Mdxgenotype predicted 20% ofβ-diversity divergence, with a large taxonomic modification of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, and Deferribacteres phyla and the included genera. Interestingly, mdx intestinal motility and gene expressions of tight junction andFfar2receptor were down-regulated in the ileum. Concomitantly, circulating inflammatory markers relatedto gut microbiota (tumor necrosis factor, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and muscle inflammationTlr4/Myd88pathway (Toll-like receptor 4, which recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns) were up-regulated. Finally, inmdxmice, adiponectin was reduced in blood and its receptor modulated in muscles. This study highlights a specific gut microbiota composition and highlights interorgan interactions inmdxphysiopathology with gut microbiota as the potential central metabolic organ.

The Health Inequality Impact of a New Cancer Therapy Given Treatment and Disease Characteristics

ObjectivesThis study aimed to perform a simulation study to quantify the health inequality impact of a cancer therapy given cancer and treatment characteristics using the distributional cost-effectiveness framework. MethodsThe following factors were varied in 10 000 simulations: lifetime risk of the disease, median overall survival (OS) with standard of care (SOC), difference in OS between non-Hispanic (NH)-Black and NH-White patients (prognostic effect), treatment effect of the new therapy relative to SOC, whether the treatment effect differs between NH-Black and NH-White patients (effect modification), health utility, drug costs, and preprogression and postprogression costs. Based on these characteristics, the incremental population net health benefits were calculated for the new therapy and applied to a US distribution of quality-adjusted life expectancy at birth. The health inequality impact was quantified as the difference in the degree of inequality in the “post–new therapy” versus “pre–new therapy” quality-adjusted life expectancy distributions. ResultsFor cancer types characterized by relatively large lifetime risk, large median OS with SOC, large treatment effect, and large effect modification, the direction of the impact of the new therapy on inequality is easy to predict. When effect modification is minor or absent, which is a realistic scenario, the direction of the inequality impact is difficult to predict. Larger incremental drug costs have a worsening effect on health inequality. ConclusionsThe findings provide a guide to help decision makers and other stakeholders make an initial assessment whether a new therapy with known treatment effects for a specific tumor type can have a positive or negative health inequality impact.