College of New Rochelle

While past major climate transitions can be unequivocally identified, understanding of underlying mechanisms and timescales remains limited. We employ a dimensional analysis of benthic stable isotope records across different timescales to uncover how Cenozoic climatic fluctuations are associated with changes in the number of feedbacks and mechanisms involved. Our analysis indicates that warmer and colder climates respond substantially differently to orbital forcing. Notably, large numbers of feedbacks dominated during the Icehouse (3.3 Ma to present) state at obliquity and eccentricity timescales, and during the Warmhouse (66–56 Ma and 47–34 Ma) and Hothouse (56–47 Ma) states at precession timescales. During the Coolhouse (34–3.3 Ma) state the number of active feedbacks was low and had no dominant timescale. Coupling between climate signals that affect oxygen and carbon isotope records appears high only in the Icehouse state, and low to absent in all other states. We also find that anomalously high active feedback numbers and very high coupling occurred across all timescales during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, 56 Ma), which suggests a complete system perturbation. In conclusion, our findings challenge the notion of a simple and unique conceptual model of interconnected feedbacks in reproducing Cenozoic paleoclimate variability, given that different numbers of active feedbacks with different levels of coupling governed different timescales between climate states, which then affected the inherent (in-)stability of each climate state.

Ionospheric electric field monitoring has an important role in the understanding of the terrestrial environment and in the study of the various couplings with both the outer space and the ground level. The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) mission consists of a constellation of spacecrafts equipped with several instruments able to provide a large set of information, especially for applications ranging from Space Weather to Ionosphere-Lithosphere coupling. In this work we present the main features of the new Electric Field Detector (EFD-02), developed for the CSES-02 satellite, together with its measurement concept and peculiarities. The characteristics of each subsystem are reported to show the state of the art of the instrument. Particular emphasis is given to the high-level performance and novelties of EFD-02, which significantly improve the scientific information about plasma dynamics. The main scientific objectives of ionospheric electric field monitoring for both the low and high latitudes relevant to EFD-02 capabilities are finally described.

Background Structural variants (SVs) are critical for plant genomic diversity and phenotypic variation. This study investigates a large, 9.7 Mbp highly repetitive segment on chromosome 12 of TMEB117, a region not previously characterized in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). We aim to explore its presence and variability across multiple cassava landraces, providing insights into its genomic significance and potential implications. Results We validated the presence of the 9.7 Mbp segment in the TMEB117 genome, distinguishing it from other published cassava genome assemblies. By mapping short-read sequencing data from 16 cassava landraces to TMEB117 chromosome 12, we observed variability in read mapping, suggesting that while all genotypes contain the insertion region, some exhibit missing segments or sequence differences. Further analysis revealed two unique genes associated with deacetylase activity, HDA14 and SRT2, within the insertion. Additionally, the MUDR-Mutator transposable element was significantly overrepresented in this region. Conclusions This study uncovers a large structural variant in the TMEB117 cassava genome, highlighting its variability among different genotypes. The enrichment of HDA14 and SRT2 genes and the MUDR-Mutator elements within the insertion suggests potential functional significance, though further research is needed to explore this. These findings provide important insights into the role of structural variations in shaping cassava genomic diversity.

The present research aims to numerically analyze the attenuation of waves by a novel device designed to address coastal erosion through an innovative and environmentally friendly approach. The device consists of an array of submerged resonators inspired by the concept of metamaterial wave control. Through their oscillatory movement induced by wave action, these resonators achieve significant wave attenuation driven by viscous dissipation mechanisms. However, the study of metamaterials in the field of water waves remains challenging due to its complexity. Further studies are required to refine the scaling and improve the correspondence to natural beach conditions and to a deeper understanding of the intrinsic (e.g. broad-banded sea) and practical (e.g. mooring, navigation, durability, local scouring processes) limitations. This numerical study shows that, with appropriate particle resolution, the coupling between DualSPHysics and MoorDyn executed on a GPU architecture can accurately predict the motion of moored floating structures when they interact with the free surface making it a useful method for modeling these problems. We investigated the vorticity generation mechanism related to the motion of the wave and the cylinders. The vorticities near the cylinders are shown to be closely related to the motion of both the waves and the cylinders, with the maximum vorticities being enhanced by the natural vorticity of the moving wave. Correspondences emerge between the normalized frequency spectra of the cylinder surges and the vorticities on both sides of the cylinder. Instead, the movement of the cylinders also creates a wake behind the cylinders, which has a tendency to spread downward.

The slender scalyhead Trematomus lepidorhinus and the scaly rockcod T. loennbergii are closely related species with similar streamlined body morphology, epibenthic lifestyle and ecological niche. They are distributed in relatively deep waters on the continental shelf and slope of the Weddell Sea, although with some differences in preferential depth of occurrence. As previously reported, the peak of abundance of T. loennbergii (600–800 m) is generally deeper than that of T. lepidorhinus (200–500 m). In the present study, we investigated the role of depth as environmental factor in shaping key life history traits of these species, such as longevity and fecundity. Based on age estimates through otolith readings, males and females of T. loennbergii attained 15 and 20 years, whereas males and females of T. lepidorhinus attained 11 and 12 years, respectively. In both species, growth trajectories differed between sexes, although the growth performance was similar. Matching our and previous data on total and relative fecundities, T. loennbergii spawned a lower number of larger eggs per female and mass unit than T. lepidorhinus. Moreover, they adopted different reproductive strategies, as T. loennbergii likely spawned and hatched in autumn and early spring whereas T. lepidorhinus spawned and hatched in winter and early summer, respectively. In agreement with more general trends reported elsewhere in other fish communities, species living in deeper waters are characterized by longer life span and reduced fecundities.

Enhancement of alkaline water electrolysis requires the development of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) combining high permselectivity with a low resistance to ion transport and stability during prolonged contact with a concentrated alkaline solution. We now report that CytroCell@PIL, a mixed matrix membrane obtained by a synergic combination of CytroCell micronized citrus cellulose mixed at a 1 wt% load with a polymerizable ionic liquid (triethyl(4‐vinylbenzyl)phosphonium tetrafluoroborate), shows vastly enhanced chemical and physical stability along with promising ionic conductivity. These findings establish the proof of concept toward the development of technical and economically viable large‐area AEMs using polymeric membranes chemically and physically stabilized by CytroCell sustainably sourced via cavitation of industrial citrus processing waste conducted in water only.

Some heavy metal tolerant fungal isolates capable of forming ericoid mycorrhiza can also confer increased metal tolerance to the host plant. One of these fungal isolates, Oidiodendron maius Zn, has been characterized and a few molecular mechanisms underlying its metal tolerant phenotype have been identified. Here, we investigate the genomic divergences between the available genome of O. maius Zn and the genomes of metal tolerant and sensitive isolates of O. maius, with the aim of identifying genes or intergenic regions possibly involved in the display of the tolerance. The resequenced genomes of 8 tolerant and 10 sensitive isolates were mapped on the reference, O. maius Zn, yielding 357 gene models from the reference that were either missing or too polymorphic to be identified in the genomes of the sensitive isolates. These regions included genes with functions related to defense mechanisms and with unknown functions. One third of the predicted gene models turned out to be highly polymorphic, including many enriched GO terms, i.e. DNA/RNA metabolism and modification, chromosome/chromatin organization, protein biosynthesis, metabolism and function, energy consumption/transfer and mitochondrion. Overall, our findings indicate that the tolerant phenotype in O. maius likely arises from multiple genetic adaptations rather than a singular mechanism.

Among the genomic alterations identified as risk factors in mice models of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), heterozygous deletion of Ambra1 (Activating Molecule in Beclin1-Regulated Autophagy) triggers an ASD phenotype associated with hippocampal hyperexcitability exclusively in the female sex although Ambra1 protein is comparably expressed in the hippocampus of symptomatic females and asymptomatic males. Given the intricate relationship between Ambra1 deficiency and sex in the etiology of ASD, we took advantage of asymptomatic mice including Ambra1+/− males and wild-type (Wt) mice of both sexes to investigate whether their non-pathogenic variations in Ambra1 levels could underlie a differential susceptibility to exhibit ASD-like traits in response to experimental elevation of hippocampal excitability. Here we report that selective activation of inhibitory DREADD in CA1 parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PV-IN) reduces GABAergic currents onto pyramidal neurons (PN), causes social and attentional deficits, and augments the proportion of immature/thin spines in CA1 PN dendrites to the same extent in Ambra1+/− males and Wt mice of both sexes. Our findings show that the substantial hippocampal variations in pro-autophagic Ambra1 gene product shown by asymptomatic mice differing in mutation and/or sex do not underlie a differential reactivity to chemogenetic induction of idiopathic ASD.

Photobiological hydrogen production offers a sustainable route to clean energy by harnessing solar energy through photosynthetic microorganisms. The pioneering sulfur-deprivation technique developed by Melis and colleagues in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii successfully enabled sustained hydrogen production by downregulating photosystem II (PSII) activity to reduce oxygen evolution, creating anaerobic conditions necessary for hydrogenase activity. Inspired by this approach, we present the project of the European consortium PhotoSynH2, which builds on these biological insights and employs synthetic biology to replicate and enhance this strategy in cyanobacteria, specifically, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. By genetically engineering precise downregulation of PSII, we aim to reduce oxygen evolution without the unintended effects associated with nutrient deprivation, enabling efficient hydrogen production. Additionally, re-engineering endogenous respiration to continuously replenish glycogen consumed during respiration allows matching oxygen production with consumption, maintaining anaerobic conditions conducive to hydrogen production. This review discusses how focusing on molecular-level processes and leveraging advanced genetic tools can lead to a new methodology that potentially offers improved results over traditional approaches. By redirecting electron flow and optimizing redox pathways, we seek to enhance hydrogen production efficiency in cyanobacteria. Our approach demonstrates how harnessing photosynthesis through synthetic biology can contribute to scalable and sustainable hydrogen production, addressing the growing demand for renewable energy and advancing toward a carbon-neutral future.

Homing pigeons rely on familiar landscape features in learning a visual map, which is orchestrated by the forebrain visual Wulst and hippocampus. Recent global positioning system tracking studies showed that pigeons with damage to the visual Wulst or hippocampus exhibited a still poorly understood, persistent oscillatory flight behaviour, unlike intact pigeons whose oscillations decrease with experience. To evaluate whether landscape heterogeneity influences the extent of these oscillations, we compared the flight behaviour of both intact and Wulst-lesioned pigeons when flying over the sea versus land. Regardless of treatment, pigeons exhibited less oscillatory flight behaviour over the homogeneous landscape of the sea. Further releases from familiar and unfamiliar sites tested whether oscillatory flight behaviour may be influenced by the level of familiarity with the landscape. Indeed, intact pigeons reduced their oscillatory behaviour as landscape familiarity increased. In contrast, Wulst-damaged pigeons persisted in displaying robust oscillatory flight behaviour regardless of the level of landscape familiarity, suggesting that previously experienced landscapes remained relatively unfamiliar to them. The data support the hypothesis that oscillatory flight behaviour reflects active visual scanning, most pronounced over novel, heterogeneous landscapes, contributing to visual map learning. Further, the data suggest a crucial role of the forebrain Wulst for such learning.

Chimera‐type galectin‐3 (Gal‐3) is a β‐galactoside‐binding protein containing a single conserved carbohydrate‐recognition domain, crucial in fibrosis and carcinogenesis. Selenium‐based Gal‐3 inhibitors have emerged as promising therapeutic agents, particularly for treating neoplastic diseases. Among them, a seleno‐digalactoside (SeDG) substituted with a benzyl group at position 3 of both saccharide residues (benzyl 3,3′‐seleno‐digalactoside, SeDG‐Bn), attracted considerable attention for its selectivity and potent inhibitory efficacy against Gal‐3. NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations were combined to investigate the binding of SeDG‐Bn to Gal‐3 at the molecular level. This approach revealed the recognized epitope, the binding mode within Gal‐3 binding pocket and enabled the generation of a 3D model of the complex. Our findings show that the presence of a single benzyl group establishes hydrophobic contacts with amino acids in Gal‐3 β‐sheets S2 and S3, crucially enhancing the binding affinity compared to unmodified SeDG. The digalactose backbone orientation in Gal‐3 binding site is partially modified by the benzyl group with respect to complexes with lactosamine and SeDG. These results provide valuable insights into the design of more potent and selective inhibitors for Gal‐3, potentially contributing to new therapeutic strategies for conditions such as cancer and fibrosis.

Ordered functional weighted averaging (OFWA) operators are a generalization of the well-known ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operators in which functions, instead of single values, are considered as weights. This fact offers an extra level of flexibility; for example, in multi-criteria decision-making, it can be used to aggregate available information and provide recommendations. This paper furthers the analysis of these general operators, studying how they can be combined to obtain conservative and aggressive perspectives from experts and studying the algebraic structure of the whole set of these operators.

The B isotope systematics (δ ¹¹ B) in amphibole offer insights into fluid‐ and melt‐dominated processes in the crust‐mantle system. We developed an analytical strategy for in situ B isotope determination in amphibole using LA‐ MC‐ICP‐MS on material with a B fraction of a few μg g ⁻¹ using 10 ¹³ Ω resistors. Sources of error deriving from matrix effects were evaluated. Two Ca‐amphiboles, one from Pargas, Finland (PRG), and another from the Finero Complex (S. Alps, FIN), were characterised as potential reference materials. PRG has a B mass fraction of 6.75 ± 1.10 μg g ⁻¹ and a δ ¹¹ B value of ‐16.58 ± 0.06‰, while FIN has 3.27 ± 0.68 μg g ⁻¹ of B and a δ ¹¹ B value of ‐5.90 ± 0.09‰. A standard‐sample‐standard bracketing method, using USGS BHVO‐2G basaltic glass as the bracketing ‘standard’ (calibrator), provided accurate and reproducible in situ δ ¹¹ B measurements with 2 s of ± 2.86‰ ( n = 87) for PRG and ± 3.96‰ for FIN ( n = 70). These Ca‐amphiboles are suitable reference materials to assess accuracy during in situ B isotope determination with LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS. The potential of in situ B isotope determination in Ca‐amphibole as a geochemical tool to investigate petrogenetic processes of a well‐characterised amphibole‐bearing gabbro from the Adamello batholith (C. Alps) has been tested successfully.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with over 1 million new cases and around 400,000 deaths annually worldwide. This makes it a significant and costly global health challenge. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often used after mastectomy, show varying effectiveness based on the cancer subtype. Combining these treatments can improve outcomes, though radiotherapy faces limitations such as radiation resistance and low selectivity for malignant cells. Nanotechnologies, especially metallic nanoparticles (NPs), hold promise for enhancing radiotherapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are particularly notable due to their high atomic number, which enhances radiation damage through the photoelectric effect. Studies shown that AuNPs can act as effective radiosensitizers, improving tumor damage during radiotherapy increasing the local radiation dose delivered. Traditional AuNPs synthesis methods involve harmful chemicals and extreme conditions, posing health risks. Green synthesis methods using plant extracts offer a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. This study investigates the synthesis of AuNPs using Laurus nobilis leaf extract and their potential as radiosensitizers in breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7). These cells were exposed to varying doses of X-ray irradiation, and the study assessed cell viability, morphological changes and DNA damage. The results showed that green-synthesized AuNPs significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy at lower radiation doses, indicating their potential as a valuable addition to breast cancer treatment.

UN Women is the United Nations "entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women". UN Women is an example of the institutions of global governance that followed the gender turn in women's rights over the past 2 decades. This opinion commentary unpacks a brief history of UN Women, and the ongoing disparities in gender diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science, engineering, and medicine, not to mention in science communication, with the aim to shed light on the adverse impacts of gender essentialism and gender binary. First, I argue that another world and liberatory structural change are indeed possible by resisting and refusing empty platitudes for band-aid solutions, disingenuous pleasantries and cultures of scheming for professional ladder-climbing that cloak the systemic causes-of-causes and sustain DEI inequities. Second, I argue for systems thinking and reflexive change in research cultures through queering global science, and rethinking everyday hegemonic assumptions and the prevailing blind spots in sex, gender, science, and society. Third, queer theory is not limited to studies of gender and sexuality. When used as a verb, "queering," its meaning broadens so as to mean critical examination of the unchecked assumptions and norms in a given field of scholarly inquiry. The DEI inequities in science, engineering, and medicine are real, harmful to individuals and communities in the present historical moment, and undermine intergenerational justice, not to mention hinder science and innovation. Going forward in the current decade amid uncertainty and polycrisis in world affairs and global democracy, the systemic gaps in gender equity in everyday laboratory life and on the streets ought to be remedied for global science and planetary health to be just, responsible, democratic, and innovative.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a new carlavirus causing mosaic on mint plants in Italy, which we have tentatively named "mint virus C" (MVC). Flexuous particles of around 600 nm were observed using transmission electron microscopy, and next-generation sequencing was performed to determine the nucleotide sequence of the MVC genome, which was found to be 8558 nt long, excluding the poly(A) tail, and shows the typical organization of a carlavirus. The putative proteins encoded by MVC are 44–56% identical to the closest matches in the NCBI database, suggesting that MVC should be considered a member of a new species in the genus Carlavirus. MVC was detected in independent mint samples from different regions of Italy, collected in 2023 and 2024. Two MVC isolates, identified in 2023 (Me1) and in 2024 (Me2), have been included in the Plant Virus Italy (PLAVIT) collection.

Problem Hashimoto's disease is the commonest autoimmune disease of pregnancy. The presence of Anti‐Thyroid antibodies (ATAs) alone [subclinical hypothyroidism] has also been shown to have adverse pregnancy effects. These can result in failure to conceive, recurrent miscarriages, anemia, preeclampsia, and abruption. Hashimoto's disease in reproduction can cause difficulty in conception through hormonal interference. It can also cause miscarriages, growth retardation, and preterm birth. The current recommended treatment is the administration of levothyroxine. This corrects the thyroid balance and may relieve the patient's hypothyroid symptoms. However, repeated recent studies have shown that it is no more effective than a placebo in correcting obstetric complications. Method of Study As a result, we decided to use an anti‐autoimmune‐directed treatment for this disorder. We selected to use IVIG for both its known powerful anti‐inflammatory and anti‐autoimmune benefits. There are several studies and observational reports in the literature on the use of IVIG in pregnancy for treating recurrent miscarriages and repeated failed IVF. However, there are no reports in the literature on using IVIG to treat Hashimoto's disease, or the presence of ATAs alone, in pregnancy. Results This study showed an increase in live births in the IVIG‐treated group versus the non‐IVIG‐treated group after adjustment for maternal age at delivery (OR = 4.6, 95% CI (1.1, 18.1)). There were no adverse effects in the patients who received IVIG. Conclusion IVIG is effective in significantly improving the obstetric outcome in patients with Hashimoto's disease, or the presence of ATAs alone.