@article{14652, abstract = {In order to demonstrate the stability of newly proposed iridium-based Ir2Cr(In,Sn) and IrRhCr(In,Sn) heusler alloys, we present ab-initio analysis of these alloys by examining various properties to prove their stability. The stability of these alloys can be inferred from different cohesive and formation energies as well as positive phonon frequencies. Their electronic structure results indicate that they are semi-metals in nature. The magnetic moments are computed using the Slater-Pauling formula and exhibit a high value, with the Cr atom contributing the most in all alloys. Mulliken’s charge analysis results show that our alloys contain a range of linkages, mainly ionic and covalent ones. The ductility and mechanical stability of these alloys are confirmed by elastic constants viz. Poisson’s ratio, Pugh’s ratio, and many different types of elastic moduli.}, author = {Gupta, Shyam Lal and Singh, Saurabh and Kumar, Sumit and Anupam, Unknown and Thakur, Samjeet Singh and Kumar, Ashish and Panwar, Sanjay and Diwaker, D.}, issn = {0921-4526}, journal = {Physica B: Condensed Matter}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Ab-initio stability of Iridium based newly proposed full and quaternary heusler alloys}}, doi = {10.1016/j.physb.2023.415539}, volume = {674}, year = {2024}, } @article{14653, abstract = {Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful analytical technique for the two-dimensional (2D) localization of chemicals on surfaces. Conventional MSI experiments require to predefine the surface of interest based on photographic or microscopic images. Typically, these boundaries can no longer be changed or adjusted once the experiment has been started. In terms of a more interactive approach we recently developed a pen-like ionization interface which is directly connected to the mass spectrometer. The device allows the user to ionize chemicals by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and to freely move the interface over a surface of interest. A mini camera, which is mounted on the tip of the pen, magnifies the desorption area and enables a simple positioning of the pen. The combination of optical data from the camera module and chemical data obtained by mass analysis facilitates a novel type of imaging experiment: interactive mass spectrometry imaging (IMSI). For this application, we present a novel approach for a robust, optical flow-based motion detection. While the live video stream from the camera is used to track the pen's motion across the surface a post-acquisition algorithm correlates the coordinates of the pen trajectory with respective mass spectra obtained from a simultaneous mass spectrometric data acquisition. This algorithm is no longer dependent on a single, manually applied optical marker on the sample surface, which has to be visible on all video frames throughout the analysis. The advanced DESI-IMSI method was successfully tested on inkjet-printed letters as well as mouse brain tissue samples. Validation of the results was done by comparing DESI-IMSI with standard DESI-MSI data.}, author = {Kluibenschedl, Florian and Ploner, Anna and Meisenbichler, Christina and Konrat, Robert and Müller, Thomas}, issn = {1387-3806}, journal = {International Journal of Mass Spectrometry}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Advanced motion tracking for interactive mass spectrometry imaging (IMSI)}}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijms.2023.117168}, volume = {495}, year = {2024}, } @article{14660, abstract = {The classical Steinitz theorem states that if the origin belongs to the interior of the convex hull of a set 𝑆⊂ℝ𝑑, then there are at most 2𝑑 points of 𝑆 whose convex hull contains the origin in the interior. Bárány, Katchalski,and Pach proved the following quantitative version of Steinitz’s theorem. Let 𝑄 be a convex polytope in ℝ𝑑 containing the standard Euclidean unit ball 𝐁𝑑. Then there exist at most 2𝑑 vertices of 𝑄 whose convex hull 𝑄′ satisfies 𝑟𝐁𝑑⊂𝑄′ with 𝑟⩾𝑑−2𝑑. They conjectured that 𝑟⩾𝑐𝑑−1∕2 holds with a universal constant 𝑐>0. We prove 𝑟⩾15𝑑2, the first polynomial lower bound on 𝑟. Furthermore, we show that 𝑟 is not greater than 2/√𝑑.}, author = {Ivanov, Grigory and Naszódi, Márton}, issn = {1469-2120}, journal = {Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society}, number = {2}, pages = {796--802}, publisher = {London Mathematical Society}, title = {{Quantitative Steinitz theorem: A polynomial bound}}, doi = {10.1112/blms.12965}, volume = {56}, year = {2024}, } @article{14665, abstract = {We derive lower bounds on the maximal rates for multiple packings in high-dimensional Euclidean spaces. For any N > 0 and L ∈ Z ≥2 , a multiple packing is a set C of points in R n such that any point in R n lies in the intersection of at most L - 1 balls of radius √ nN around points in C . This is a natural generalization of the sphere packing problem. We study the multiple packing problem for both bounded point sets whose points have norm at most √ nP for some constant P > 0, and unbounded point sets whose points are allowed to be anywhere in R n . Given a well-known connection with coding theory, multiple packings can be viewed as the Euclidean analog of list-decodable codes, which are well-studied over finite fields. We derive the best known lower bounds on the optimal multiple packing density. This is accomplished by establishing an inequality which relates the list-decoding error exponent for additive white Gaussian noise channels, a quantity of average-case nature, to the list-decoding radius, a quantity of worst-case nature. We also derive novel bounds on the list-decoding error exponent for infinite constellations and closed-form expressions for the list-decoding error exponents for the power-constrained AWGN channel, which may be of independent interest beyond multiple packing.}, author = {Zhang, Yihan and Vatedka, Shashank}, issn = {1557-9654}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Information Theory}, number = {2}, pages = {1008--1039}, publisher = {IEEE}, title = {{Multiple packing: Lower bounds via error exponents}}, doi = {10.1109/TIT.2023.3334032}, volume = {70}, year = {2024}, } @article{14683, abstract = {Mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) technology enables the generation of genetic mosaic tissue in mice and high-resolution phenotyping at the individual cell level. Here, we present a protocol for isolating MADM-labeled cells with high yield for downstream molecular analyses using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). We describe steps for generating MADM-labeled mice, perfusion, single-cell suspension, and debris removal. We then detail procedures for cell sorting by FACS and downstream analysis. This protocol is suitable for embryonic to adult mice. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Contreras et al. (2021).1}, author = {Amberg, Nicole and Cheung, Giselle T and Hippenmeyer, Simon}, issn = {2666-1667}, journal = {STAR Protocols}, keywords = {General Immunology and Microbiology, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Neuroscience}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Protocol for sorting cells from mouse brains labeled with mosaic analysis with double markers by flow cytometry}}, doi = {10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102771}, volume = {5}, year = {2024}, } @article{14701, author = {Archer, Lynden A. and Bruce, Peter G. and Calvo, Ernesto J. and Dewar, Daniel and Ellison, James H. J. and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Gao, Xiangwen and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Horwitz, Gabriela and Janek, Jürgen and Johnson, Lee R. and Jordan, Jack W. and Matsuda, Shoichi and Menkin, Svetlana and Mondal, Soumyadip and Qiu, Qianyuan and Samarakoon, Thukshan and Temprano, Israel and Uosaki, Kohei and Vailaya, Ganesh and Wachsman, Eric D. and Wu, Yiying and Ye, Shen}, issn = {1364-5498}, journal = {Faraday Discussions}, keywords = {Physical and Theoretical Chemistry}, pages = {392--411}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, title = {{Towards practical metal–oxygen batteries: General discussion}}, doi = {10.1039/d3fd90062b}, volume = {248}, year = {2024}, } @article{14702, author = {Attard, Gary A. and Calvo, Ernesto J. and Curtiss, Larry A. and Dewar, Daniel and Ellison, James H. J. and Gao, Xiangwen and Grey, Clare P. and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Horwitz, Gabriela and Janek, Juergen and Johnson, Lee R. and Jordan, Jack W. and Matsuda, Shoichi and Mondal, Soumyadip and Neale, Alex R. and Ortiz-Vitoriano, Nagore and Temprano, Israel and Vailaya, Ganesh and Wachsman, Eric D. and Wang, Hsien-Hau and Wu, Yiying and Ye, Shen}, issn = {1364-5498}, journal = {Faraday Discussions}, keywords = {Physical and Theoretical Chemistry}, pages = {75--88}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, title = {{Materials for stable metal–oxygen battery cathodes: general discussion}}, doi = {10.1039/d3fd90059b}, volume = {248}, year = {2024}, } @misc{14705, abstract = {Since the commercialization of brine shrimp (genus Artemia) in the 1950s, this lineage, and in particular the model species Artemia franciscana, has been the subject of extensive research. However, our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying various aspects of their reproductive biology, including sex determination, are still lacking. This is partly due to the scarcity of genomic resources for Artemia species and crustaceans in general. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of Artemia franciscana (Kellogg 1906), from the Great Salt Lake, USA. The genome is 1GB, and the majority of the genome (81%) is scaffolded into 21 linkage groups using a previously published high-density linkage map. We performed coverage and FST analyses using male and female genomic and transcriptomic reads to quantify the extent of differentiation between the Z and W chromosomes. Additionally, we quantified the expression levels in male and female heads and gonads and found further evidence for dosage compensation in this species.}, author = {Elkrewi, Marwan N}, keywords = {sex chromosome evolution, genome assembly, dosage compensation}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Data from "Chromosome-level assembly of Artemia franciscana sheds light on sex-chromosome differentiation"}}, doi = {10.15479/AT:ISTA:14705}, year = {2024}, } @phdthesis{14711, abstract = {In nature, different species find their niche in a range of environments, each with its unique characteristics. While some thrive in uniform (homogeneous) landscapes where environmental conditions stay relatively consistent across space, others traverse the complexities of spatially heterogeneous terrains. Comprehending how species are distributed and how they interact within these landscapes holds the key to gaining insights into their evolutionary dynamics while also informing conservation and management strategies. For species inhabiting heterogeneous landscapes, when the rate of dispersal is low compared to spatial fluctuations in selection pressure, localized adaptations may emerge. Such adaptation in response to varying selection strengths plays an important role in the persistence of populations in our rapidly changing world. Hence, species in nature are continuously in a struggle to adapt to local environmental conditions, to ensure their continued survival. Natural populations can often adapt in time scales short enough for evolutionary changes to influence ecological dynamics and vice versa, thereby creating a feedback between evolution and demography. The analysis of this feedback and the relative contributions of gene flow, demography, drift, and natural selection to genetic variation and differentiation has remained a recurring theme in evolutionary biology. Nevertheless, the effective role of these forces in maintaining variation and shaping patterns of diversity is not fully understood. Even in homogeneous environments devoid of local adaptations, such understanding remains elusive. Understanding this feedback is crucial, for example in determining the conditions under which extinction risk can be mitigated in peripheral populations subject to deleterious mutation accumulation at the edges of species’ ranges as well as in highly fragmented populations. In this thesis we explore both uniform and spatially heterogeneous metapopulations, investigating and providing theoretical insights into the dynamics of local adaptation in the latter and examining the dynamics of load and extinction as well as the impact of joint ecological and evolutionary (eco-evolutionary) dynamics in the former. The thesis is divided into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction into the subject matter, clarifying concepts and ideas used throughout the thesis. In chapter 2, we explore how fast a species distributed across a heterogeneous landscape adapts to changing conditions marked by alterations in carrying capacity, selection pressure, and migration rate. In chapter 3, we investigate how migration selection and drift influences adaptation and the maintenance of variation in a metapopulation with three habitats, an extension of previous models of adaptation in two habitats. We further develop analytical approximations for the critical threshold required for polymorphism to persist. The focus of chapter 4 of the thesis is on understanding the interplay between ecology and evolution as coupled processes. We investigate how eco-evolutionary feedback between migration, selection, drift, and demography influences eco-evolutionary outcomes in marginal populations subject to deleterious mutation accumulation. Using simulations as well as theoretical approximations of the coupled dynamics of population size and allele frequency, we analyze how gene flow from a large mainland source influences genetic load and population size on an island (i.e., in a marginal population) under genetically realistic assumptions. Analyses of this sort are important because small isolated populations, are repeatedly affected by complex interactions between ecological and evolutionary processes, which can lead to their death. Understanding these interactions can therefore provide an insight into the conditions under which extinction risk can be mitigated in peripheral populations thus, contributing to conservation and restoration efforts. Chapter 5 extends the analysis in chapter 4 to consider the dynamics of load (due to deleterious mutation accumulation) and extinction risk in a metapopulation. We explore the role of gene flow, selection, and dominance on load and extinction risk and further pinpoint critical thresholds required for metapopulation persistence. Overall this research contributes to our understanding of ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that shape species’ persistence in fragmented landscapes, a crucial foundation for successful conservation efforts and biodiversity management.}, author = {Olusanya, Oluwafunmilola O}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {183}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Local adaptation, genetic load and extinction in metapopulations}}, doi = {10.15479/at:ista:14711}, year = {2024}, } @article{14726, abstract = {Autocrine signaling pathways regulated by RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTORs (RALFs) control cell wall integrity during pollen tube germination and growth in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). To investigate the role of pollen-specific RALFs in another plant species, we combined gene expression data with phylogenetic and biochemical studies to identify candidate orthologs in maize (Zea mays). We show that Clade IB ZmRALF2/3 mutations, but not Clade III ZmRALF1/5 mutations, cause cell wall instability in the sub-apical region of the growing pollen tube. ZmRALF2/3 are mainly located in the cell wall and are partially able to complement the pollen germination defect of their Arabidopsis orthologs AtRALF4/19. Mutations in ZmRALF2/3 compromise pectin distribution patterns leading to altered cell wall organization and thickness culminating in pollen tube burst. Clade IB, but not Clade III ZmRALFs, strongly interact as ligands with the pollen-specific Catharanthus roseus RLK1-like (CrRLK1L) receptor kinases Zea mays FERONIA-like (ZmFERL) 4/7/9, LORELEI-like glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor (LLG) proteins Zea mays LLG 1 and 2 (ZmLLG1/2) and Zea mays pollen extension-like (PEX) cell wall proteins ZmPEX2/4. Notably, ZmFERL4 outcompetes ZmLLG2 and ZmPEX2 outcompetes ZmFERL4 for ZmRALF2 binding. Based on these data, we suggest that Clade IB RALFs act in a dual role as cell wall components and extracellular sensors to regulate cell wall integrity and thickness during pollen tube growth in maize and probably other plants.}, author = {Zhou, Liang-Zi and Wang, Lele and Chen, Xia and Ge, Zengxiang and Mergner, Julia and Li, Xingli and Küster, Bernhard and Längst, Gernot and Qu, Li-Jia and Dresselhaus, Thomas}, issn = {1532-298X}, journal = {The Plant Cell}, keywords = {Cell Biology, Plant Science}, number = {5}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, title = {{The RALF signaling pathway regulates cell wall integrity during pollen tube growth in maize}}, doi = {10.1093/plcell/koad324}, volume = {36}, year = {2024}, } @article{14733, abstract = {Redox flow batteries (RFBs) rely on the development of cheap, highly soluble, and high-energy-density electrolytes. Several candidate quinones have already been investigated in the literature as two-electron anolytes or catholytes, benefiting from fast kinetics, high tunability, and low cost. Here, an investigation of nitrogen-rich fused heteroaromatic quinones was carried out to explore avenues for electrolyte development. These quinones were synthesized and screened by using electrochemical techniques. The most promising candidate, 4,8-dioxo-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′]bis([1,2,3]triazole)-1,5-diide (−0.68 V(SHE)), was tested in both an asymmetric and symmetric full-cell setup resulting in capacity fade rates of 0.35% per cycle and 0.0124% per cycle, respectively. In situ ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies were used to investigate the electrochemical stability of the charged species during operation. UV–Vis spectroscopy, supported by density functional theory (DFT) modeling, reaffirmed that the two-step charging mechanism observed during battery operation consisted of two, single-electron transfers. The radical concentration during battery operation and the degree of delocalization of the unpaired electron were quantified with NMR and EPR spectroscopy.}, author = {Jethwa, Rajesh B and Hey, Dominic and Kerber, Rachel N. and Bond, Andrew D. and Wright, Dominic S. and Grey, Clare P.}, issn = {2574-0962}, journal = {ACS Applied Energy Materials}, keywords = {Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)}, number = {2}, pages = {414--426}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Exploring the landscape of heterocyclic quinones for redox flow batteries}}, doi = {10.1021/acsaem.3c02223}, volume = {7}, year = {2024}, } @article{14734, abstract = {Developing cost-effective and high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials to assemble efficient TE devices presents a multitude of challenges and opportunities. Cu3SbSe4 is a promising p-type TE material based on relatively earth abundant elements. However, the challenge lies in its poor electrical conductivity. Herein, an efficient and scalable solution-based approach is developed to synthesize high-quality Cu3SbSe4 nanocrystals doped with Pb at the Sb site. After ligand displacement and annealing treatments, the dried powders are consolidated into dense pellets, and their TE properties are investigated. Pb doping effectively increases the charge carrier concentration, resulting in a significant increase in electrical conductivity, while the Seebeck coefficients remain consistently high. The calculated band structure shows that Pb doping induces band convergence, thereby increasing the effective mass. Furthermore, the large ionic radius of Pb2+ results in the generation of additional point and plane defects and interphases, dramatically enhancing phonon scattering, which significantly decreases the lattice thermal conductivity at high temperatures. Overall, a maximum figure of merit (zTmax) ≈ 0.85 at 653 K is obtained in Cu3Sb0.97Pb0.03Se4. This represents a 1.6-fold increase compared to the undoped sample and exceeds most doped Cu3SbSe4-based materials produced by solid-state, demonstrating advantages of versatility and cost-effectiveness using a solution-based technology.}, author = {Wan, Shanhong and Xiao, Shanshan and Li, Mingquan and Wang, Xin and Lim, Khak Ho and Hong, Min and Ibáñez, Maria and Cabot, Andreu and Liu, Yu}, issn = {2366-9608}, journal = {Small Methods}, number = {8}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Band engineering through Pb-doping of nanocrystal building blocks to enhance thermoelectric performance in Cu3SbSe4}}, doi = {10.1002/smtd.202301377}, volume = {8}, year = {2024}, } @inproceedings{14769, abstract = {For a set of points in Rd, the Euclidean k-means problems consists of finding k centers such that the sum of distances squared from each data point to its closest center is minimized. Coresets are one the main tools developed recently to solve this problem in a big data context. They allow to compress the initial dataset while preserving its structure: running any algorithm on the coreset provides a guarantee almost equivalent to running it on the full data. In this work, we study coresets in a fully-dynamic setting: points are added and deleted with the goal to efficiently maintain a coreset with which a k-means solution can be computed. Based on an algorithm from Henzinger and Kale [ESA'20], we present an efficient and practical implementation of a fully dynamic coreset algorithm, that improves the running time by up to a factor of 20 compared to our non-optimized implementation of the algorithm by Henzinger and Kale, without sacrificing more than 7% on the quality of the k-means solution.}, author = {Henzinger, Monika H and Saulpic, David and Sidl, Leonhard}, booktitle = {2024 Proceedings of the Symposium on Algorithm Engineering and Experiments}, location = {Alexandria, VA, United States}, pages = {220--233}, publisher = {Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics}, title = {{Experimental evaluation of fully dynamic k-means via coresets}}, doi = {10.1137/1.9781611977929.17}, year = {2024}, } @article{14794, abstract = {Mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) technology enables the sparse labeling of genetically defined neurons. We present a protocol for time-lapse imaging of cortical projection neuron migration in mice using MADM. We describe steps for the isolation, culturing, and 4D imaging of neuronal dynamics in MADM-labeled brain tissue. While this protocol is compatible with other single-cell labeling methods, the MADM approach provides a genetic platform for the functional assessment of cell-autonomous candidate gene function and the relative contribution of non-cell-autonomous effects. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hansen et al. (2022),1 Contreras et al. (2021),2 and Amberg and Hippenmeyer (2021).3}, author = {Hansen, Andi H and Hippenmeyer, Simon}, issn = {2666-1667}, journal = {STAR Protocols}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Time-lapse imaging of cortical projection neuron migration in mice using mosaic analysis with double markers}}, doi = {10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102795}, volume = {5}, year = {2024}, } @article{14795, abstract = {Metazoan development relies on the formation and remodeling of cell-cell contacts. Dynamic reorganization of adhesion receptors and the actomyosin cell cortex in space and time plays a central role in cell-cell contact formation and maturation. Nevertheless, how this process is mechanistically achieved when new contacts are formed remains unclear. Here, by building a biomimetic assay composed of progenitor cells adhering to supported lipid bilayers functionalized with E-cadherin ectodomains, we show that cortical F-actin flows, driven by the depletion of myosin-2 at the cell contact center, mediate the dynamic reorganization of adhesion receptors and cell cortex at the contact. E-cadherin-dependent downregulation of the small GTPase RhoA at the forming contact leads to both a depletion of myosin-2 and a decrease of F-actin at the contact center. At the contact rim, in contrast, myosin-2 becomes enriched by the retraction of bleb-like protrusions, resulting in a cortical tension gradient from the contact rim to its center. This tension gradient, in turn, triggers centrifugal F-actin flows, leading to further accumulation of F-actin at the contact rim and the progressive redistribution of E-cadherin from the contact center to the rim. Eventually, this combination of actomyosin downregulation and flows at the contact determines the characteristic molecular organization, with E-cadherin and F-actin accumulating at the contact rim, where they are needed to mechanically link the contractile cortices of the adhering cells.}, author = {Arslan, Feyza N and Hannezo, Edouard B and Merrin, Jack and Loose, Martin and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J}, issn = {1879-0445}, journal = {Current Biology}, number = {1}, pages = {171--182.e8}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Adhesion-induced cortical flows pattern E-cadherin-mediated cell contacts}}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.067}, volume = {34}, year = {2024}, } @article{14797, abstract = {We study a random matching problem on closed compact 2 -dimensional Riemannian manifolds (with respect to the squared Riemannian distance), with samples of random points whose common law is absolutely continuous with respect to the volume measure with strictly positive and bounded density. We show that given two sequences of numbers n and m=m(n) of points, asymptotically equivalent as n goes to infinity, the optimal transport plan between the two empirical measures μn and νm is quantitatively well-approximated by (Id,exp(∇hn))#μn where hn solves a linear elliptic PDE obtained by a regularized first-order linearization of the Monge-Ampère equation. This is obtained in the case of samples of correlated random points for which a stretched exponential decay of the α -mixing coefficient holds and for a class of discrete-time Markov chains having a unique absolutely continuous invariant measure with respect to the volume measure.}, author = {Clozeau, Nicolas and Mattesini, Francesco}, issn = {1432-2064}, journal = {Probability Theory and Related Fields}, pages = {485--541}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Annealed quantitative estimates for the quadratic 2D-discrete random matching problem}}, doi = {10.1007/s00440-023-01254-0}, volume = {190}, year = {2024}, } @article{14820, abstract = {We consider a natural problem dealing with weighted packet selection across a rechargeable link, which e.g., finds applications in cryptocurrency networks. The capacity of a link (u, v) is determined by how many nodes u and v allocate for this link. Specifically, the input is a finite ordered sequence of packets that arrive in both directions along a link. Given (u, v) and a packet of weight x going from u to v, node u can either accept or reject the packet. If u accepts the packet, the capacity on link (u, v) decreases by x. Correspondingly, v's capacity on increases by x. If a node rejects the packet, this will entail a cost affinely linear in the weight of the packet. A link is “rechargeable” in the sense that the total capacity of the link has to remain constant, but the allocation of capacity at the ends of the link can depend arbitrarily on the nodes' decisions. The goal is to minimise the sum of the capacity injected into the link and the cost of rejecting packets. We show that the problem is NP-hard, but can be approximated efficiently with a ratio of (1+E) . (1+3) for some arbitrary E>0.}, author = {Schmid, Stefan and Svoboda, Jakub and Yeo, Michelle X}, issn = {0304-3975}, journal = {Theoretical Computer Science}, keywords = {General Computer Science, Theoretical Computer Science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Weighted packet selection for rechargeable links in cryptocurrency networks: Complexity and approximation}}, doi = {10.1016/j.tcs.2023.114353}, volume = {989}, year = {2024}, } @article{14828, abstract = {Production of hydrogen at large scale requires development of non-noble, inexpensive, and high-performing catalysts for constructing water-splitting devices. Herein, we report the synthesis of Zn-doped NiO heterostructure (ZnNiO) catalysts at room temperature via a coprecipitation method followed by drying (at 80 °C, 6 h) and calcination at an elevated temperature of 400 °C for 5 h under three distinct conditions, namely, air, N2, and vacuum. The vacuum-synthesized catalyst demonstrates a low overpotential of 88 mV at −10 mA cm–2 and a small Tafel slope of 73 mV dec–1 suggesting relatively higher charge transfer kinetics for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) compared with the specimens synthesized under N2 or O2 atmosphere. It also demonstrates an oxygen evolution (OER) overpotential of 260 mV at 10 mA cm–2 with a low Tafel slope of 63 mV dec–1. In a full-cell water-splitting device, the vacuum-synthesized ZnNiO heterostructure demonstrates a cell voltage of 1.94 V at 50 mA cm–2 and shows remarkable stability over 24 h at a high current density of 100 mA cm–2. It is also demonstrated in this study that Zn-doping, surface, and interface engineering in transition-metal oxides play a crucial role in efficient electrocatalytic water splitting. Also, the results obtained from density functional theory (DFT + U = 0–8 eV), where U is the on-site Coulomb repulsion parameter also known as Hubbard U, based electronic structure calculations confirm that Zn doping constructively modifies the electronic structure, in both the valence band and the conduction band, and found to be suitable in tailoring the carrier’s effective masses of electrons and holes. The decrease in electron’s effective masses together with large differences between the effective masses of electrons and holes is noticed, which is found to be mainly responsible for achieving the best water-splitting performance from a 9% Zn-doped NiO sample prepared under vacuum.}, author = {Kiran, Gundegowda Kalligowdanadoddi and Singh, Saurabh and Mahato, Neelima and Sreekanth, Thupakula Venkata Madhukar and Dillip, Gowra Raghupathy and Yoo, Kisoo and Kim, Jonghoon}, issn = {2574-0962}, journal = {ACS Applied Energy Materials}, keywords = {Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)}, number = {1}, pages = {214--229}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Interface engineering modulation combined with electronic structure modification of Zn-doped NiO heterostructure for efficient water-splitting activity}}, doi = {10.1021/acsaem.3c02519}, volume = {7}, year = {2024}, } @article{14834, abstract = {Bacteria divide by binary fission. The protein machine responsible for this process is the divisome, a transient assembly of more than 30 proteins in and on the surface of the cytoplasmic membrane. Together, they constrict the cell envelope and remodel the peptidoglycan layer to eventually split the cell into two. For Escherichia coli, most molecular players involved in this process have probably been identified, but obtaining the quantitative information needed for a mechanistic understanding can often not be achieved from experiments in vivo alone. Since the discovery of the Z-ring more than 30 years ago, in vitro reconstitution experiments have been crucial to shed light on molecular processes normally hidden in the complex environment of the living cell. In this review, we summarize how rebuilding the divisome from purified components – or at least parts of it - have been instrumental to obtain the detailed mechanistic understanding of the bacterial cell division machinery that we have today.}, author = {Radler, Philipp and Loose, Martin}, issn = {0171-9335}, journal = {European Journal of Cell Biology}, keywords = {Cell Biology, General Medicine, Histology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine}, number = {1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{A dynamic duo: Understanding the roles of FtsZ and FtsA for Escherichia coli cell division through in vitro approaches}}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151380}, volume = {103}, year = {2024}, } @article{14841, abstract = {De novo heterozygous variants in KCNC2 encoding the voltage-gated potassium (K+) channel subunit Kv3.2 are a recently described cause of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). A de novo variant in KCNC2 c.374G > A (p.Cys125Tyr) was identified via exome sequencing in a patient with DEE. Relative to wild-type Kv3.2, Kv3.2-p.Cys125Tyr induces K+ currents exhibiting a large hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of activation, accelerated activation, and delayed deactivation consistent with a relative stabilization of the open conformation, along with increased current density. Leveraging the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of Kv3.1, molecular dynamic simulations suggest that a strong π-π stacking interaction between the variant Tyr125 and Tyr156 in the α-6 helix of the T1 domain promotes a relative stabilization of the open conformation of the channel, which underlies the observed gain of function. A multicompartment computational model of a Kv3-expressing parvalbumin-positive cerebral cortex fast-spiking γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneuron (PV-IN) demonstrates how the Kv3.2-Cys125Tyr variant impairs neuronal excitability and dysregulates inhibition in cerebral cortex circuits to explain the resulting epilepsy.}, author = {Clatot, Jerome and Currin, Christopher and Liang, Qiansheng and Pipatpolkai, Tanadet and Massey, Shavonne L. and Helbig, Ingo and Delemotte, Lucie and Vogels, Tim P and Covarrubias, Manuel and Goldberg, Ethan M.}, issn = {1091-6490}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {3}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, title = {{A structurally precise mechanism links an epilepsy-associated KCNC2 potassium channel mutation to interneuron dysfunction}}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2307776121}, volume = {121}, year = {2024}, }