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Multisensory floral clock: enhanced multisensory timekeeping with technological design
No full textIn recent years, there has been a growing interest in biophilic design and its beneficial effects on human well-being. This article explores the concept of biophilic multisensory timekeeping design through the creation of a Multisensory Floral Clock. Inspired by Carl Linnaeus’s 18th-century floral clock, this innovative project integrates visual and olfactory elements to provide a calming and immersive timekeeping experience. Each hour is represented by a mechanical flower that opens and releases a corresponding scents, aligned with natural patterns of blooming. The design leverages biophilic principles and historical and contemporary multisensory timekeeping practices, such as Chinese and Japanese incense clocks, to enhance the experience of everyday life. This article focuses on presenting the design and conceptual framework, discussing the benefits of biophilic design/art, the challenges of floral scents integration, and the potential impact on emotional, cognitive, and physiological well-being. This article primarily explores whether the Multisensory Floral Clock can reduce the stress associated with conventional timekeeping by offering a more engaging and nature-connected experience, with pilot testing and audience feedback to be conducted in future studies
A Novel Technosignature Search in the Breakthrough Listen Green Bank Telescope Archive
Get PDFThe Breakthrough Listen program is, to date, the most extensive search for technological life beyond Earth. Over the past 9 yr, it has surveyed thousands of nearby stars and close to 100 nearby galaxies with telescopes around the world, including the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in West Virginia. The goal is to find evidence of technosignatures of other civilizations, such as narrowband Doppler-drifting radio signals. Despite the GBT’s location in a radio-quiet zone, the primary challenge of this search continues to be the ability to pick out genuine candidates from the high quantities of human-generated radio-frequency interference (RFI). Here we present a novel search method aimed at finding these “needle-in-a-haystack”-type signals, applied to 9684 observation cadences of 3077 stars (each observed with one or more of the L-, S-, C-, and X-band receivers) from the GBT archive. We implement a low-complexity statistical process to vet out RFI and highlight signals that, upon visual inspection, are less evidently RFI than those from previous analyses. Our work returns candidate signals found previously using both traditional and machine learning algorithms, as well as many not previously identified. This analysis represents the largest data set searched for technosignatures to date, and highlights the efficacy that traditional algorithms continue to have in these types of technosignature searches. We find that less than 1% of stars host transmitters brighter than ∼0.3 Arecibo radar equivalents broadcasting in our direction over the frequency band covered
Tools to Dissect Lipid Droplet Regulation, Players, and Mechanisms
Get PDFSpurred by the authors’ own recent discovery of reactive metabolite-regulated nexuses involving lipid droplets (LDs), this perspective discusses the latest knowledge and multifaceted approaches toward deconstructing the function of these dynamic organelles, LD-associated localized signaling networks, and protein players. Despite accumulating knowledge surrounding protein families and pathways of conserved importance for LD homeostasis surveillance and maintenance across taxa, much remains to be understood at the molecular level. In particular, metabolic stress-triggered contextual changes in LD-proteins’ localized functions, crosstalk with other organelles, and feedback signaling loops and how these are specifically rewired in disease states remain to be illuminated with spatiotemporal precision. We hope this perspective promotes an increased interest in these essential organelles and innovations of new tools and strategies to better understand context-specific LD regulation critical for organismal health
Unveiling a Tunable Moiré Bandgap in Bilayer Graphene/hBN Device by Angle‐Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy
Get PDFOver the years, great efforts have been devoted in introducing a sizable and tunable band gap in graphene for its potential application in next‐generation electronic devices. The primary challenge in modulating this gap has been the absence of a direct method for observing changes of the band gap in momentum space. In this study, advanced spatial‐ and angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy technique is employed to directly visualize the gap formation in bilayer graphene, modulated by both displacement fields and moiré potentials. The application of displacement field via in situ electrostatic gating introduces a sizable and tunable electronic bandgap, proportional to the field strength up to 100 meV. Meanwhile, the moiré potential, induced by aligning the underlying hexagonal boron nitride substrate, extends the bandgap by ≈20 meV. Theoretical calculations effectively capture the experimental observations. This investigation provides a quantitative understanding of how these two mechanisms collaboratively modulate the band gap in bilayer graphene, offering valuable guidance for the design of graphene‐based electronic devices
Heavier alkaline earth and heterobimetallic s-block “ate” complexes of a di(amido)siloxane ligand: solid-state structure and dynamic solution-phase behaviour †
Get PDFThe diverse solid-state structures and solution-phase dynamics of both neutral and heterometallic s-block “ate” complexes of the heavier alkaline earth metals (Ae; Ca–Ba) supported by a chelating and flexible di(amido)siloxane ligand ([NON-DippL]2− = [O(SiMe2NDipp)2]2−) are described, enabling comparison with those of closely related di(amido) ligands based on either flexible aliphatic or rigid xanthene-based backbones. Three dimeric alkaline earth complexes [(NON-DippL)Ae]2 (Ae = Ca (2), Sr (3) and Ba (4)) which feature a κ3-N,O,N′-κ1-N′-tridentate coordination mode were prepared from protonolysis reactions between NON-DippLH2 with (Ae = Ca, Sr and Ba); N′′ = [N(SiMe3)2]−. In tetrahydrofuran, these complexes were readily converted into the monomeric adducts [(NON-DippL)Ae(thf)n] (n = 2, Ae = Ca (5); n = 3, Ae = Sr (6) and Ba (7)). Heterometallic Ae/K amide “ate” complexes were afforded through two routes: reaction of previously reported [(NON-DippL)Mg]2 (1) with two equivalents of KN′′ at elevated temperatures resulted in [(NNO-DippL)Mg(μ-N′′)K]n (8; NNO-DippL = [OSiMe2NDippSiMe2NDipp]2−), whereas the equimolar reaction of NON-DippLH2 with led to [(NON-DippL)Ae(μ-N′′)K]n (Ae = Ca (9), Sr (10) and Ba (11)). Complexes 8–11 exist as one-dimensional coordination polymers propagated by K+–aryl π-facial interactions in the solid-state. The mixed amide/siloxide “NNO” ligand in 8 results from a 1,3-silyl retro-Brook rearrangement of the original di(amido)siloxane ligand, while the larger Ae2+ congeners readily accommodate the coordination of KN′′ with the di(amido)siloxane ligand retaining a κ3-N,O,N′-tridentate motif in 9–11. Finally, the solution-phase behaviour of 8–11 in both toluene and thf were investigated indicating the reversible dissociation of KN′′ from 9–11 and the thermodynamic parameters of this process were elucidated
Spatially Resolved Visible Wavelength Spectroscopy of the Galilean Moons With VLT/MUSE
Get PDFWe present observations of all four Galilean satellites using spatially resolved visible wavelength (475–935 nm) spectroscopic observations with the ground‐based VLT/MUSE + AOF facility in 2019. A range of features in the observed reflectance spectra were compared to laboratory measured spectra, and mapped to understand the spatial distributions (at ∼ 300 km spatial resolution) of different compositional species on the moons' surfaces, providing near‐global context for future observations. The ∼ 485 nm spectral slope on Io is consistent with the presence sulfur materials such as S 8 , with stronger slopes on the trailing hemisphere and at high latitudes. Io's 560 nm absorption band is strongest at high latitudes, and shows an enhancement in the Pele plume deposit, consistent with the presence of S 4 . The similar 530 nm absorption band on Europa is constrained to the trailing hemisphere, and also appears consistent with sulfur materials. On Ganymede, a proxy for the 577.3 nm molecular oxygen absorption was found to be strongest at low‐mid latitudes, particularly around the trailing hemisphere, with a potential slight southward bias. This distribution appears consistent with the hypothesis that Ganymede's closed magnetic field line region allows stable bubbles of O 2 to exist in Ganymede's surface ice
Expanding the SIAH1 ‐Associated Phenotypic Spectrum: Insights From Loss‐of‐Function Variants
Get PDFSIAH1 encodes for a RING‐type E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in protein ubiquitination. More specifically, it positively regulates Wnt signaling through promoting the accumulation of β‐catenin and mediates ubiquitination and degradation of Akt3 in neural development. Heterozygous de novo missense pathogenic variants in SIAH1 have been described in five unrelated individuals and are associated with developmental delay, hypotonia, and dysmorphic features. In this report, we present additional individuals from eight unrelated families and their clinical and genetic findings. We identified two missense and six predicted loss‐of‐function variants. Motor and speech delay and intellectual disabilities of varying severity were observed in all individuals. Neurodevelopmental issues, as well as infantile hypotonia and facial dysmorphism, were observed in the majority of individuals. Hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease or other gastrointestinal issues, endocrinology abnormalities, and recurrent infections were observed in over 50% of individuals. This study expands the phenotypic spectrum of this syndrome and emphasizes the diverse impact of SIAH1 variation on multi‐system clinical manifestations
Key Structural Features of Microvascular Networks Leading to the Formation of Multiple Equilibria
Get PDFWe analyse mathematical models of blood flow in two simple vascular networks in order to identify structural features that lead to the formation of multiple equilibria. Our models are based on existing rules for blood rheology and haematocrit splitting. By performing bifurcation analysis on these simple network flow models, we identify a link between the changing flow direction in key vessels and the existence of multiple equilibria. We refer to these key vessels as redundant vessels, and relate the maximum number of equilibria with the number of redundant vessels. We vary geometric parameters of the two networks, such as vessel length ratios and vessel diameters, to demonstrate that equilibria are uniquely defined by the flow in the redundant vessels. Equilibria typically emerge in sets of three, each having a different flow characteristic in one of the network's redundant vessels. For one of the three equilibria, the flow within the relevant redundant vessel will be smaller in magnitude than the other two and the redundant vessel will contain few Red Blood Cells (RBCs), if any. For the other two equilibria, the redundant vessel contains RBCs and significant flow in the two available directions. These structural features of networks provide a useful geometric property when studying the equilibria of blood flow in microvascular networks
Vaterite/Hydroxyapatite Core–Shell Microspheres: Dissolution Kinetics and Mechanism
Get PDFThe synthesis and characterization of spherical vaterite/hydroxyapatite core–shell microspheres with an overall radius of 1.9 ± 1 μm is reported. The particle synthesis conditions were optimized by exposing preformed, well-characterized porous, spherulitic vaterite particles to solutions of K2HPO4, KH2PO4, or H3PO4 with concentrations in the range 0.001 to 2 M for varying periods of time (0 to 24 h). Characterization employed XRD, SEM, and optical microscopy. The dissolution of single diffusionally independent core–shell particles was studied via optical microscopy, and the particle area was monitored as a function of time over the duration of single particle dissolution into pure water. The size–time profiles showed two distinct regions assigned respectively to the dissolution of, first, the hydroxyapatite shell, and second, to the more soluble porous vaterite core. Quantitative analysis showed that both core and shell dissolved under “thermodynamic” control with the rate-determining step being the diffusion away from the particle of dissolved solid at a rate reflecting the magnitude of the concentration of dissolved species at the surface of the dissolving solid pinned by the solubility of either hydroxyapatite or vaterite so that the shell dissolved more slowly than the core. Insight into the specific dissolution characteristics of vaterite/hydroxyapatite has significant implications for applicability in a biomedical context. Further, the demonstrated method for extracting mechanistic insights and specific variations in the dissolution rates of different core–shell particle compositions represents a methodology that can be broadly applied to core–shell microparticles
The Association Between Cognitive Functioning and Depression Severity: A Multiwave Longitudinal Remote Assessment Study
Get PDFCognitive difficulties are prevalent in depression and are linked to various negative life outcomes such as psychosocial impairment, absenteeism, lower chance of recovery or remission, and overall poor quality of life. Thus, assessing cognitive functioning over time is key to expanding our understanding of depression. Recent methodological advances and the ubiquity of smartphones enable remote assessment of cognitive functioning through smartphone-based tasks and surveys. However, the association of smartphone-based assessments of cognitive functioning to depression severity remains underexplored. Using a dedicated mobile application for assessing cognitive functioning (THINC-it), we investigate within- and between-person associations between performance-based (attention, working memory, processing speed, attention switching) and self-report measures of cognitive functioning with depression severity in 475 participants from the RADAR-MDD (Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse-Major Depressive Disorder) cohort study (t = 2036 observations over an average of 14 months of follow-up). At the between-person level, we found stronger negative associations between the self-reported cognitive functioning measure and depression severity (β = −0.649, p <0.001) than between the performance-based measures and depression severity (βs = −0.220 to −0.349, ps <0.001). At the within-person level, we found negative associations between depression severity and the self-reported measure (β = −0.223, p <0.001), processing speed (β = −0.026, p=0.032) and attention (β = −0.037, p=0.003). These findings suggest that although THINC-it could adequately and remotely detect poorer cognitive performance in people with higher depressive symptoms, it was not capable of tracking within-person change over time. Nonetheless, repeatedly measuring self-reports of cognitive functioning showed more potential in tracking within-person changes in depression severity, underscoring their relevance for patient monitoring