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Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the gold standard technique for measuring protein biomarkers due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and throughput. Despite its success, continuous advancements in ELISA and immunoassay formats are crucial to meet evolving global challenges and to address new analytical needs in diverse applications. To expand the capabilities and applications of immunoassays, we introduce a novel ELISA-like assay that we call Bioluminescent-bacteria-linked immunosorbent assay (BBLISA). BBLISA is an enzyme-free assay that utilizes the inner filter effect between the bioluminescent bacteriaAllivibrio fischeriand metallic nanoparticles (gold nanoparticles and gold iridium oxide nanoflowers) as molecular absorbers. Functionalizing these nanoparticles with antibodies induces their accumulation in wells upon binding to molecular targets, forming the classical immune-sandwich complex. Thanks to their ability to adsorb the light emitted by the bacteria, the nanoparticles can suppress the bioluminescence signal, allowing the rapid quantification of the target. To demonstrate the bioanalytical properties of the novel immunoassay platform, as a proof of principle, we detected two clinically relevant biomarkers (human immunoglobulin G and SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein) in human serum, achieving the same sensitivity and precision as the classic ELISA. We believe that BBLISA can be a promising alternative to the standard ELISA techniques, offering potential advancements in biomarker detection and analysis by combining nanomaterials with a low-cost, portable bioluminescent platform.

Community-based natural resource governance is increasingly valued by the leading international organizations that promote environmental conservation and sustainable development. At the same time, the ecosystems of the northeastern Andalusian mountains are intrinsically related to the long-standing presence of pastoralism and its different communal forms that have favored a very particular biocultural diversity and sustainable socio-ecological systems locally. Through a transdisciplinary anthropological and ecological study, we aimed to compare how different types of communal governance and pastoral mobilities impact pasturelands in the region. We focused on three contiguous mountain pastoral commons, those of Castril, Santiago de la Espada, and Pontones, which exhibit different forms of communal organization and two main transhumant types of mobility: long-distance and short-distance transhumance. We conducted long-term ethnographic fieldwork with year-round participatory observations of social life, pastoral practices, and governance systems, and performed botanical and soil analyses. As a general result, we found that local pastoralism positively impacts the environment. There were differences between commons and mobility regimes, with a positive impact related mainly to closer forms of cooperation between herders and daily guiding of flocks, along with seasonal long-distance transhumance, especially when the latter is combined with stricter formal community rules. Within the current context highly determined by public subventions, particularly from the EU, primarily directed at pastureland management’s administrative and economic aspects, local governance increasingly favors these methods over the conservation of traditional, sustainable uses of pastures. This innovative research marks the first step towards a sounder intertwining of anthropological and ecological approaches towards a more holistic understanding of pastoral commons in general and in the Mediterr

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a global epidemic that due to its increasing prevalence worldwide will likely become the most common debilitating health condition. Even if diabetes is primarily a metabolic disorder, it is now well established that key aspects of the pathogenesis of diabetes are associated with nervous system alterations, including deleterious chronic inflammation of neural tissues, referred here as neuroinflammation, along with different detrimental glial cell responses to stress conditions and neurodegenerative features. Moreover, diabetes resembles accelerated aging, further increasing the risk of developing age-linked neurodegenerative disorders. As such, the most common and disabling diabetic comorbidities, namely diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive decline, are intimately associated with neurodegeneration. As described in aging and other neurological disorders, glial cell alterations such as microglial, astrocyte, and Müller cell increased reactivity and dysfunctionality, myelin loss and Schwann cell alterations have been broadly described in diabetes in both human and animal models, where they are key contributors to chronic noxious inflammation of neural tissues within the PNS and CNS. In this review, we aim to describe in-depth the common and unique aspects underlying glial cell changes observed across the three main diabetic complications, with the goal of uncovering shared glial cells alterations and common pathological mechanisms that will enable the discovery of potential targets to limit neuroinflammation and prevent neurodegeneration in all three diabetic complications. Diabetes and its complications are already a public health concern due to its rapidly increasing incidence, and thus its health and economic impact. Hence, understanding the key role that glial cells play in the pathogenesis underlying peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and cognitive decline in diabetes will provide us with novel therapeutic approach

The commercial development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been significantly delayed by the constraint of performing time-consuming degradation studies under real outdoor conditions. These are necessary steps to determine the device lifetime, an area where PSCs traditionally suffer. In this work, we demonstrate that the outdoor degradation behavior of PSCs can be predicted by employing accelerated indoor stability analyses. The prediction was possible using a swift and accurate pipeline of machine learning algorithms and mathematical decompositions. By training the algorithms with different indoor stability data sets, we can determine the most relevant stress factors, thereby shedding light on the outdoor degradation pathways. Our methodology is not specific to PSCs and can be extended to other PV technologies where degradation and its mechanisms are crucial elements of their widespread adoption.

The nature of two recently discovered radio emitters with unusually long periods of 18 minutes (GLEAM-X J1627–52) and 21 minutes (GPM J1839–10) is highly debated. Their bright radio emission resembles that of radio magnetars, but their long periodicities and lack of detection at other wavelengths challenge the neutron star (NS) interpretation. In contrast, long rotational periods are common in white dwarfs (WDs) but, although predicted, dipolar radio emission from isolated magnetic WDs has never been unambiguously observed. In this work, we investigate these long-period objects as potential isolated NS or WD dipolar radio emitters and find that both scenarios pose significant challenges to our understanding of radio emission via pair production in dipolar magnetospheres. We also perform population-synthesis simulations based on dipolar spin-down in both pictures, assuming different initial-period distributions, masses, radii, beaming fractions, and magnetic field prescriptions, to assess their impact on the ultra-long pulsar population. In the NS scenario, we do not expect a large number of ultra-long-period pulsars under any physically motivated (or even extreme) assumptions for the period evolution. On the other hand, in the WD scenario, we can easily accommodate a large population of long-period radio emitters. However, no mechanism can easily explain the production of such bright coherent radio emission in either scenarios.

Ni-Xides (X = B, P, or S) exhibit intriguing properties that have endeared them for electrocatalytic water splitting. However, the role of B, P, and S, among others, in tailoring the catalytic performance of the Ni-Xides remains vaguely understood, especially if they are studied in unpurified KOH (Un-KOH) because of the renowned impact of incidental Fe impurities. Therefore, decoupling the effect induced by Fe impurities from inherent material reconstruction processes necessitates investigation of the materials in purified KOH solutions (P-KOH). Herein, studies of the OER on Ni2B, Ni2P, and Ni3S2 in P-KOH and Un-KOH coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy, ex situ post-electrocatalysis, and online dissolution studies by ICP-OES are used to unveil the distinctive role of Ni-Xide reconstruction and the role of Fe impurities and their interplay on the electrocatalytic behavior of the three Ni-Xide precatalysts during the OER. There was essentially no difference in the OER activity and the electrochemical Ni2+/Ni3+ redox activation fingerprints of the three precatalysts via cyclic voltammetry in P-KOH, whereas their OER activity was considerably higher in Un-KOH with marked differences in the intrinsic activity and evolution of the Ni2+/Ni3+ fingerprint redox peaks. Thus, in the absence of Fe in the electrolyte (P-KOH), neither the nature of the guest element (B, P, and S) nor the underlying reconstruction processes are decisive activity drivers. This underscores the crucial role played by incidental Fe impurities on the OER activity of Ni-Xide precatalysts, which until now has been overlooked. In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the nickel hydroxide derived from Ni2B exhibits higher disorder than in the case of Ni2P and Ni3S2, both exhibiting a similar degree of disorder. The guest elements thus influence the degree of disorder of the formed nickel oxyhydroxides, which through their synergistic interaction with incidental Fe impurities concertedly realize high OER

Multi-resistant pathogens can cause several nosocomial infections that can harm hospital interventions or undermine biological processes. In this scenario, the development of novel and efficient antimicrobial materials is essential for reducing pathogen spread. Though many approaches have been followed with this aim, scalability, safety, and efficiency concerns still hamper their clinical transfer. In this work, we overcome these limitations by co-polymerizing phenolic derivatives with amino-terminal ligands. The resulting coatings are successfully applied to woven and non-woven-based materials used in healthcare: paper, cotton and polypropylene. Moreover, the coatings demonstrate multi-pathway antimicrobial activity against six bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, E. faecalis, and B. subtilis) and two fungi (C. albicans and C. auris), a fact attributed to i) reactive oxygen species generation over time and ii) protic amino groups exposed on the surface. After 180 min, viable bacteria are reduced by more than 99.9 %, with a comparable decline in fungi after 24 h. As a proof-of-concept, coated commercial band-aids tested on skin ex vivo reduced bacterial growth by about 90 %. Considering these results and long-lasting, in vitro biocompatibility, scalability and eco-friendly technology, these coatings represent a promising alternative to be applied in healthcare environments, avoiding pathogen spread, infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Following the global COVID-19 pandemic triggered by SARS-CoV-2, the need for rapid, specific and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic solutions remains paramount. Even though COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, the disease still poses a global threat leading to deaths, and it continues to change with the risk of new variants emerging causing a new surge in cases and deaths. Here, we address the urgent need for rapid, cost-effective and point-of-care diagnostic solutions for SARS-CoV-2. We propose a multiplexed DNA-based sensing platform that utilizes inkjet-printed nanostructured gold electrodes and an inkjet-printed battery-free near-field communication (NFC) potentiostat for the simultaneous quantitative detection of two SARS-CoV-2 genes, the ORF1ab and the N gene. The detection strategy based on the formation of an RNA-DNA sandwich structure leads to a highly specific electrochemical output. The inkjet-printed nanostructured gold electrodes providing a large surface area enable efficient binding and increase the sensitivity. The inkjet-printed battery-free NFC potentiostat enables rapid measurements and real-time data analysis via a smartphone application, making the platform accessible and portable. With the advantages of speed (5 min), simplicity, sensitivity (low pM range, ∼450% signal gain) and cost-effectiveness, the proposed platform is a promising alternative for point-of-care diagnostics and high-throughput analysis that complements the COVID-19 diagnostic toolkit.

Nanostructured electrochemical biosensors have ushered in a new era of diagnostic precision, offering enhanced sensitivity and specificity for clinical biomarker detection. Among them, capacitive biosensing enables ultrasensitive label-free detection of multiple molecular targets. However, the complexity and cost associated with conventional fabrication methods of nanostructured platforms hinder the widespread adoption of these devices. This study introduces a capacitive biosensor that leverages laser-engraved reduced graphene oxide (rGO) electrodes decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The fabrication involves laser-scribed GO-Au3+ films, yielding rGO-AuNP electrodes, seamlessly transferred onto a PET substrate via a press-stamping methodology. These electrodes have a remarkable affinity for biomolecular recognition after being functionalized with specific bioreceptors. For example, initial studies with human IgG antibodies confirm the detection capabilities of the biosensor using electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the biosensor can quantify CA-19-9 glycoprotein, a clinical cancer biomarker. The biosensor exhibits a dynamic range from 0 to 300 U mL−1, with a limit of detection of 8.9 U mL−1. Rigorous testing with known concentrations of a pretreated CA-19-9 antigen from human fluids confirmed their accuracy and reliability in detecting the glycoprotein. This study signifies notable progress in capacitive biosensing for clinical biomarkers, potentially leading to more accessible and cost-effective point-of-care solutions.

En 1903, el sociólogo francés François Simiand imparte una polémica conferencia en contra de los fundamentos del método historiográfico. En ella arremete contra los tres ídolos (político, individual y cronológico) que, a su parecer, impedían la conversión de la historia en un saber científico. Tal ataque, sin embargo, no encontró una respuesta inmediata, si bien es cierto que las críticas posteriores de Simiand acabaron por motivar la respuesta de uno de los historiadores más eminentes de la época, Charles Seignobos, lo que dio lugar a uno de los debates más sonados en la historia de las ciencias sociales. El propósito del presente artículo consiste en retomar este célebre debate, pero de un modo estratégico. Lejos de realizar un mero resumen al uso de la disputa, se procederá a una reinterpretación crítica de la misma, tratando de insertar los argumentos de los interlocutores a la luz de tres ejes básicos de debate: el método, el modelo de ciencia y la disputa en torno al lugar que debe ocupar la ciencia histórica o la sociología en la clasificación de las ciencias sociales., François Simiand delivered a controversial lecture on the foundations of the historiographical method, in which he called into question the three idols that, in his opinion, hindered the conversion of history into a form of scientific knowledge. While it is true that Simiand’s arguments were not followed by immediate reactions, later critiques contributed to the work of one of the most prominent historians of the time, Ch. Seignobos, thus paving the way to one of the most debated issues in the history of social sciences. Far from proposing a summary of the debate, this article attempts to critically reinterpret it by situating the different arguments at stake within three axes: the method, the type of science, and the criterion that should guide the relationship between different human sciences., Depto. de Sociología: Metodología y Teoría, Fac. de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, TRUE, pub

La idea de racionalidad en Michel Foucault no se refiere a un criterio de razón universal a modo de conocimiento puro y neutral, sino conjugada en plural como «racionalidades». Funciona como un régimen de verdad que no solo produce nuevos conceptos y una organización histórica de la observación, sino también dominios de regulación e intervenciones políticas y técnicas. Aplicadas a la economía punitiva, y por extensión a la del poder, las racionalidades punitivas han permitido aflorar un análisis crítico inusual de los sistemas del castigo mediante diferentes conceptos en apariencia usuales que alcanzan una radicalidad inusitada en la objetivación de las redes de poder/saber, y que desbordan tanto el campo de la política penal como el de las rígidas explicaciones materialistas. En última instancia, han permitido construir un orden punitivo macrosocial y unas macroformas de dominación a partir de la diversidad de micropoderes., Michel Foucault’s idea of rationality does not refer to a universal criterion of reason as pure and neutral knowledge, but rather is understood in the plural, as «rationalities». His perspective functions as a regime of truth that not only produces new concepts and a historical organisation of observation, but also areas of regulation and political and technical intervention. Applied to the punitive economy, and by extension to the economy of power, punitive rationalities have enabled an unusual critical analysis of punishment systems to flourish. This analysis is produced through different concepts, apparently usual, that reach an unusual radicality in the objectification of the networks of power/knowledge that spread beyond both the field of penal policy and that of rigid materialist explanations. And ultimately it has allowed a macro-social punitive order and macro-forms of domination to be constructed out of the diversity of micropower., Depto. de Sociología: Metodología y Teoría, Fac. de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, TRUE, pub

Using physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to solve a specific boundary value problem is becoming more popular as an alternative to traditional methods. However, depending on the specific problem, they could be computationally expensive and potentially less accurate. The functionality of PINNs for real-world physical problems can significantly improve if they become more flexible and adaptable. To address this, our work explores the idea of training a PINN for general boundary conditions and source terms expressed through a limited number of coefficients, introduced as additional inputs in the network. Although this process increases the dimensionality and is computationally costly, using the trained network to evaluate new general solutions is much faster. Our results indicate that PINN solutions are relatively accurate, reliable, and well behaved. We applied this idea to the astrophysical scenario of the magnetic field evolution in the interior of a neutron star connected to a force-free magnetosphere. Solving this problem through a global simulation in the entire domain is expensive due to the elliptic solver’s needs for the exterior solution. The computational cost with a PINN was more than an order of magnitude lower than the similar case solved with a finite difference scheme, arguably at the cost of accuracy. These results pave the way for the future extension to three-dimensional of this (or a similar) problem, where generalized boundary conditions are very costly to implement.

In this work, we introduce a quantitative methodology to define what is the main trunk and what are the significant branches of a minimum spanning tree (MST). We apply it to the pulsar tree, i.e. the MST of the pulsar population constructed upon a Euclidean distance over the pulsar’s intrinsic properties. Our method makes use of the betweenness centrality estimator, as well as of non-parametric tests to establish the distinct character of the defined branches. Armed with these concepts, we study how the pulsar population has evolved throughout history and analyse how to judge whether a new class of pulsars appears in new data, future surveys, or new incarnations of pulsar catalogs.

While magnetism in exoplanets remains largely unknown, hot Jupiters have been considered as natural candidates to harbour intense magnetic fields, both due to their large masses, which might empower a larger internal dynamo, and, possibly, due to their high energy budgets coming from irradiation. In this work, we focus on the latter aspect and perform MHD simulations of a narrow dayside atmospheric column of ultra-hot Jupiters, suitable for very high local temperatures (T ≳ 3000 K). Due to the high conductivity in this regime, the primary influence is the winding of the magnetic field caused by the intense zonal winds. In our study, we include a forcing that mimics the wind profiles observed in GCMs near the substellar point. As a result, the shear layer generates a toroidal magnetic field, locally reaching a few kG, which is supported by meridional currents. Such fields and the sustaining currents do not depend on the internal field but are all confined in the thin (less than a scale-height) shear layer around 1 bar. Additionally, we add random perturbations that induce turbulent motions, which lead to further (but much smaller) magnetic field generation to a broader range of depths. These results enable the assessment of the atmospheric currents that are induced. Although here we use ideal MHD and the only resistivity comes from the numerical scheme at a fixed resolution, we estimate a posteriori the amount of Ohmic heat deposited in the outer layers, which could be employed in evolutionary models for Hot Jupiters’ inflated radii.

There is an urgent need for cost-effective strategies to produce hydrogen from renewable net-zero carbon sources using renewable energies. In this context, the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction can be boosted by replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with the oxidation of small organic molecules, such as ethylene glycol (EG). EG is a particularly interesting organic liquid with two hydroxyl groups that can be transformed into a variety of C1 and C2 chemicals, depending on the catalyst and reaction conditions. Here, a catalyst is demonstrated for the selective EG oxidation reaction (EGOR) to formate on nickel selenide. The catalyst nanoparticle (NP) morphology and crystallographic phase are tuned to maximize its performance. The optimized NiS electrocatalyst requires just 1.395 V to drive a current density of 50 mA cm-2 in 1 m potassium hydroxide (KOH) and 1 m EG. A combination of in situ electrochemical infrared absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) to monitor the electrocatalytic process and ex situ analysis of the electrolyte composition shows the main EGOR product is formate, with a Faradaic efficiency above 80%. Additionally, C2 chemicals such as glycolate and oxalate are detected and quantified as minor products. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the reaction process show the glycol-to-oxalate pathway to be favored via the glycolate formation, where the CC bond is broken and further electro-oxidized to formate.

We perform the first 3D fully coupled magneto-thermal simulations of neutron stars (including the most realistic background structure and microphysical ingredients so far) applied to a very complex initial magnetic field topology in the crust, similar to what was recently obtained by proto-neutron stars dynamo simulations. In such configurations, most of the energy is stored in the toroidal field, while the dipolar component is a few per cent of the mean magnetic field. This initial feature is maintained during the long-term evolution (∼106 yr), since the Hall term favours a direct cascade (compensating for Ohmic dissipation) rather than a strong inverse cascade, for such an initial field topology. The surface dipolar component, responsible for the dominant electromagnetic spin-down torque, does not show any increase in time, when starting from this complex initial topology. This is in contrast to the timing properties of young pulsars and magnetars which point to higher values of the surface dipolar fields. A possibility is that the deep-seated magnetic field (currents in the core) is able to self-organize in large scales (during the collapse or in the early life of a neutron star). Alternatively, the dipolar field might be lower than is usually thought, with magnetosphere substantially contributing to the observed high spin-down, via e.g. strong winds or strong coronal magnetic loops, which can also provide a natural explanation to the tiny surface hotspots inferred from X-ray data.

Recent work from Lemaitre and colleagues leveraged a central nervous system (CNS)-specific gene delivery approach to expand regulatory T cells (Treg) in aged mice. CNS-restricted Treg expansion reversed age-related glial cell transcriptomic changes and prevented aspects of cognitive decline, unveiling immune modulation as a potential approach to protect cognitive function with age.

The Afromontane and Afroalpine areas constitute some of the main biodiversity hotspots of Africa. They are particularly rich in plant endemics, but the biogeographic origins and evolutionary processes leading to this outstanding diversity are poorly understood. We performed phylogenomic and biogeographic analyses of one of the most species-rich plant genera in these mountains, Helichrysum (Compositae-Gnaphalieae). Most previous studies have focused on Afroalpine elements of Eurasian origin, and the southern African origin of Helichrysum provides an interesting counterexample. We obtained a comprehensive nuclear dataset from 304 species (≈50% of the genus) using target-enrichment with the Compositae1061 probe set. Summary-coalescent and concatenation approaches combined with paralog recovery yielded congruent, well-resolved phylogenies. Ancestral range estimations revealed that Helichrysum originated in arid southern Africa, whereas the southern African grasslands were the source of most lineages that dispersed within and outside Africa. Colonization of the tropical Afromontane and Afroalpine areas occurred repeatedly throughout the Miocene-Pliocene. This timing coincides with mountain uplift and the onset of glacial cycles, which together may have facilitated both speciation and intermountain gene flow, contributing to the evolution of the Afroalpine flora.

Iberian ibex (Caprapyrenaica) is an ecologically and economically relevant medium-sized emblematic mountain ungulate. Diseases participate in the population dynamics of the species as a regulating agent, but can also threaten the conservation and viability of vulnerable population units. Moreover, Iberian ibex can also be a carrier or even a reservoir of pathogens shared with domestic animals and/or humans, being therefore a concern for livestock and public health. The objective of this review is to compile the currently available knowledge on (1) diseases of Iberian ibex, presented according to their relevance on the health and demography of free-ranging populations; (2) diseases subjected to heath surveillance plans; (3) other dis-eases reported in the species; and (4) diseases with particular relevance in captive Iberian ibex populations. The systematic review of all the information on diseases affecting the species unveils unpublished reports, scientific communications in meetings, and scientific articles, allowing the first comprehensive compilation of Iberian ibex diseases. This review identi-fies the gaps in knowledge regarding pathogenesis, immune response, diagnostic methods, treatment, and management of diseases in Iberian ibex, providing a base for future research. Moreover, this challenges wildlife and livestock disease and wildlife population managers to assess the priorities and policies currently implemented in Iberian ibex health surveillance and monitoring and disease management.

Studies based on protein-coding genes are essential to describe the diversity within bacterial functional groups. In the case of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria, the pufM gene has been established as the genetic marker for this particular functional group, although available primers are known to have amplification biases. We review here the existing primers for pufM gene amplification, design new ones, and evaluate their phylogenetic coverage. We then use samples from contrasting marine environments to evaluate their performance. By comparing the taxonomic composition of communities retrieved with metagenomics and with different amplicon approaches, we show that the commonly used PCR primers are biased towards the Gammaproteobacteria phylum and some Alphaproteobacteria clades. The metagenomic approach, as well as the use of other combinations of the existing and newly designed primers, show that these groups are in fact less abundant than previously observed, and that a great proportion of pufM sequences are affiliated to uncultured representatives, particularly in the open ocean. Altogether, the framework developed here becomes a better alternative for future studies based on the pufM gene and, additionally, serves as a reference for primer evaluation of other functional genes

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess high CO2 adsorption properties and are considered to be a promising candidate for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (eCO2RR). However, their insufficient selectivity and current density constrain their further exploration in the eCO2RR. In this work, by introducing a very small proportion of 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DOBDC) into ZIF-8, a surface modified ZIF-8-5% catalyst was synthesized by a post-modification method, exhibiting enhanced selectivity (from 56% to 79%) and current density (from -4 mA cm-2 to -10 mA m-2) compared to ZIF-8. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrate that the boosted eCO2RR performance on ZIF-8-5% could be attributed to the improved formation of the *COOH intermediate stemming from successful DOBDC surface modification. This work opens a new path for improving the catalytic properties of MOFs via their surface modification.

Cu2-xS and Cu2-xSe have recently been reported as promising thermoelectric (TE) materials for medium-temperature applications. In contrast, Cu2-xTe, another member of the copper chalcogenide family, typically exhibits low Seebeck coefficients that limit its potential to achieve a superior thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, particularly in the low-temperature range where this material could be effective. To address this, we investigated the TE performance of Cu1.5-xTe-Cu2Se nanocomposites by consolidating surface-engineered Cu1.5Te nanocrystals. This surface engineering strategy allows for precise adjustment of Cu/Te ratios and results in a reversible phase transition at around 600 K in Cu1.5-xTe-Cu2Se nanocomposites, as systematically confirmed by in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction combined with differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The phase transition leads to a conversion from metallic-like to semiconducting-like TE properties. Additionally, a layer of Cu2Se generated around Cu1.5-xTe nanoparticles effectively inhibits Cu1.5-xTe grain growth, minimizing thermal conductivity and decreasing hole concentration. These properties indicate that copper telluride based compounds have a promising thermoelectric potential, translated into a high dimensionless zT of 1.3 at 560 K.

Neutron stars cool down during their lifetime through the combination of neutrino emission from the interior and photon cooling from the surface. Strongly magnetized neutron stars, called magnetars, are no exception, but the effect of their strong fields adds further complexities to the cooling theory. Besides other factors, modelling the outermost hundred meters (the envelope) plays a crucial role in predicting their surface temperatures. In this letter, we revisit the influence of envelopes on the cooling properties of neutron stars, with special focus on the critical effects of the magnetic field. We explore how our understanding of the relation between the internal and surface temperatures has evolved over the past two decades, and how different assumptions about the neutron star envelope and field topology lead to radically different conclusions on the surface temperature and its cooling with age. In particular, we find that relatively old magnetars with core-threading magnetic fields are actually much cooler than a rotation-powered pulsar of the same age. This is at variance with what is typically observed in crustal-confined models. Our results have important implications for the estimates of the X-ray luminosities of aged magnetars, and the subsequent population study of the different neutron star classes.

A better characterization of the rich variety of anomalous ionic-electronic mechanisms in organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells is essential to obtain a stable and physically robust interpretation of the dynamic responses obtained. Therefore, new approaches towards light intensity-induced effects understanding are intensively searched for. Among all the mechanisms whose elucidation is locked and still under live debate, the apparent inductance phenomena stand out, which are visible not only in photovoltaic devices and optoelectronic elements, but also, for instance, in electrochemical and biological systems. Usually, the negative loops in impedance spectra are modeled through ideal elements (negative capacitance or inductance) although the results show systematic deviations (constant-phase-element behavior). In most scenarios, the influence of chemical inductance dispersion is somehow neglected, that is, ideal conditions are mimicked, omitting the practical device operation. Here we reformulate the theory that captures the slow (non-electromagnetic) inductive effects in the current-voltage curves of perovskite solar cells, deciphering the microscale behavior, consisting essentially of defects associated with deep trap states, from macroscale observations and experimental measurements. The audience is potentially huge, since many authors of multidisciplinary backgrounds are genuinely interested in adequately interpreting this behavior of general character.

Nanoparticle (NP) pharmacokinetics significantly differ from traditional small molecule principles. From this emerges the need to create new tools and concepts to harness their full potential and avoid unnecessary risks. Nanoparticle pharmacokinetics strongly depend on size, shape, surface functionalisation, and aggregation state, influencing their biodistribution, accumulation, transformations, and excretion profile, and hence their efficacy and safety. Today, while NP biodistribution and nanoceria biodistribution have been studied often at short times, their long-term accumulation and excretion have rarely been studied. In this work, 3 nm nanoceria at 5.7 mg/kg of body weight was intravenously administrated in a single dose to healthy mice. Biodistribution was measured in the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, brain, lymph nodes, ovary, bone marrow, urine, and faeces at different time points (1, 9, 30, and 100 days). Biodistribution and urinary and faecal excretion were also studied in rats placed in metabolic cages at shorter times. The similarity of results of different NPs in different models is shown as the heterogeneous nanoceria distribution in organs. After the expectable accumulation in the liver and spleen, the concentration of cerium decays exponentially, accounting for about a 50% excretion of cerium from the body in 100 days. Cerium ions, coming from NP dissolution, are most likely excreted via the urinary tract, and ceria nanoparticles accumulated in the liver are most likely excreted via the hepatobiliary route. In addition, nanoceria looks safe and does not damage the target organs. No weight loss or apathy was observed during the course of the experiments.

Swift J1818.0−1607 is a radio-loud magnetar with a spin period of 1.36 s and a dipolar magnetic field strength of B ∼ 3 × 1014 G, which is very young compared to the Galactic pulsar population. We report here on the long-term X-ray monitoring campaign of this young magnetar using XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, and Swift from the activation of its first outburst in 2020 March until 2021 October, as well as INTEGRAL upper limits on its hard X-ray emission. The 1–10 keV magnetar spectrum is well modeled by an absorbed blackbody with a temperature of kTBB ∼ 1.1 keV and apparent reduction in the radius of the emitting region from ∼0.6 to ∼0.2 km. We also confirm the bright diffuse X-ray emission around the source extending between ∼50'' and ∼110''. A timing analysis revealed large torque variability, with an average spin-down rate $\dot{\nu }\,\sim $ −2.3 × 10−11 Hz2 that appears to decrease in magnitude over time. We also observed Swift J1818.0−1607 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array on 2021 March 22. We detected the radio counterpart to Swift J1818 measuring a flux density of Sv = 4.38 ± 0.05 mJy at 3 GHz and a half-ringlike structure of bright diffuse radio emission located at ∼90'' to the west of the magnetar. We tentatively suggest that the diffuse X-ray emission is due to a dust-scattering halo and that the radio structure may be associated with the supernova remnant of this young pulsar, based on its morphology.

The long-term evolution of the internal, strong magnetic fields of neutron stars needs a specific numerical modelling. The diversity of the observed phenomenology of neutron stars indicates that their magnetic topology is rather complex and 3D simulations are required, for example, to explain the observed bursting mechanisms and the creation of surface hotspots. We present MATINS, a new 3D numerical code for magnetothermal evolution in neutron stars, based on a finite-volume scheme that employs the cubed-sphere system of coordinates. In this first work, we focus on the crustal magnetic evolution, with the inclusion of realistic calculations for the neutron star structure, composition, and electrical conductivity assuming a simple temperature evolution profile. MATINS follows the evolution of strong fields (1014 − 1015 Gauss) with complex non-axisymmetric topologies and dominant Hall-drift terms, and it is suitable for handling sharp current sheets. After introducing the technical description of our approach and some tests, we present long-term simulations of the non-linear field evolution in realistic neutron star crusts. The results show how the non-axisymmetric Hall cascade redistributes the energy over different spatial scales. Following the exploration of different initial topologies, we conclude that during a few tens of kyr, an equipartition of energy between the poloidal and toroidal components happens at small-scales. However, the magnetic field keeps a strong memory of the initial large scales, which are much harder to be restructured or created. This indicates that large-scale configuration attained during the neutron star formation is crucial to determine the field topology at any evolution stage.

The surge of supervised learning methods for segmentation lately has underscored the critical role of label quality in predicting performance. This issue is prevalent in the domain of medical imaging, where high annotation costs and inter-observer variability pose significant challenges. Acquiring labels commonly involves multiple experts providing their interpretations of the “true” segmentation labels, each influenced by their individual biases. The blind acceptance of these noisy labels as the ground truth restricts the potential effectiveness of segmentation algorithms. Here, we apply coupled convolutional neural network approaches to a small-sized real-world dataset of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes. This is the first time these methods have been applied to a real-world annotation medical dataset, since they were previously tested only on artificially generated labels of medical and non-medical datasets. This dataset is crucial for healthy embryo development. Its application revealed an important challenge: the inability to effectively learn distinct confusion matrices for each expert due to large areas of agreement. In response, we propose a novel method that focuses on areas of high uncertainty. This approach allows us to understand the individual characteristics better, extract their behavior, and use this insight to create a more sophisticated ground truth using maximum likelihood. These findings contribute to the ongoing discussion of leveraging machine learning algorithms for medical image segmentation, particularly in scenarios involving multiple human annotators.

The floras on the highest mountains in tropical eastern Africa are among the most unique floras in the world. Despite the exceptionally high concentration of endemic species, these floras remain understudied from an evolutionary point of view. In this study, we focus on the Carduus-Cirsium group (subtribe Carduinae) to unravel the evolutionary relationships of the species endemic to the tropical Afromontane and Afroalpine floras, aiming to improve the systematics of the group. We applied the Hyb-Seq approach using the Compositae1061 probe set on 190 samples (159 species), encompassing representatives of all genera of Carduinae. We used two recently developed pipelines that enabled the processing of raw sequence reads, identification of paralogous sequences and segregation into orthologous alignments. After the implementation of a missing data filter, we retained sequences from 986 nuclear loci and 177 plastid regions. Phylogenomic analyses were conducted using both concatenated and summary-coalescence methods. The resulting phylogenies were highly resolved and revealed three distinct evolutionary lineages consisting of the African species traditionally referred to as Carduus and Cirsium. Consequently, we propose the three new genera Afrocarduus, Afrocirsium and Nuriaea; the latter did notably not belong to the Carduus-Cirsium group. We detected some incongruences between the phylogenies based on concatenation vs. coalescence and on nuclear vs. plastid datasets, likely attributable to incomplete lineage sorting and/or hybridization.

This article addresses the issue of bulk electrode design and the factors limiting the performance of thick electrodes. Indeed, one of the challenges for achieving improved performance in electrochemical energy storage devices (batteries or supercapacitors) is the maximization of the ratio between active and non-active components while maintaining ionic and electronic conductivity of the assembly. In this study, we developed and compared supercapacitor thick electrodes using commercially available carbons and utilising conventional, easily scalable methods such as spray coating and freeze-casting. We also compared different binders and conductive carbons to develop thick electrodes and analysed factors that determine the performance of such thick electrodes, such as porosity and tortuosity. The spray-coated electrodes showed high areal capacitances of 1428 mF cm−2 at 0.3 mm thickness and 2459 F cm−2 at 0.6 mm thickness.

Nanoscale electrodes have been a topic of intense research for many decades. Their enhanced sensitivities, born out of an improved signal-to-noise ratio as electrode dimensions decrease, make them ideal for the development of low-concentration analyte sensors. However, to date, nanoelectrode fabrication has typically required expensive equipment and exhaustive, time-consuming fabrication methods that have rendered them unsuitable for widespread use and commercialization. Herein, a method of nanoband electrode fabrication using low cost materials and equipment commonly found in research laboratories around the world is reported. The materials' cost to produce each nanoband is less than €0.01 and fabrication of a batch takes less than 1 h. The devices can be made of flexible plastics and their designs can be quickly and easily iterated. Facile methods of combining these nanobands into powerful devices, such as complete three-electrode systems, are also displayed. As a proof of concept, the electrodes are functionalized for the detection of a DNA sequence specific to SARS-CoV-2 and found to display single molecule sensitivity.

Despite the performance improvement in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) when MXenes are employed as transport layers, device stability studies are still missing. Especially under real outdoor conditions where devices are subjected to the synergy of multiple stressors. In this work, functionalized 2D titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene is employed in normal PSC configuration, at the interface between the halide perovskite and the hole transport layer. The functionalization of the Ti3C2 MXene is made utilizing the same organic additive passivating the halide perovskite layer. The functionalizing strategy creates a continuous link between the MXene and the halide perovskite layer. Champion MXene-based PSCs revealed a ≈22% efficiency, in comparison with the control device showing 20.56%. Stability analyses under ISOS protocols under different conditions (dark, continuous light irradiation and real outdoor analysis) reveal that the enhancement of the PSCs lifespan is always observed when the MXene layer is employed. Analysis under continuous light irradaition (ISOS-L) reveal an almost 100% retention of the efficiency for the MXene-modified device, and outdoor testing (ISOS-O) carried out for > 600 h reveals a T80 of ≈600 h, while the control device degrades completely. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the stability assesment of MXene-based PSCs carried out under real outdoor (ISOS-O) conditions.

In view of the current increase and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is an urgent need to find new strategies to combat it. This study had two aims. First, we synthesized highly monodispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of approximately 17 nm, and we functionalized them with mercaptopoly(ethylene glycol) carboxylic acid (mPEG-COOH) and amikacin (AK). Second, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of this treatment (AgNPs_mPEG_AK) alone and in combination with hyperthermia against planktonic and biofilm-growing strains. AgNPs, AgNPs_mPEG, and AgNPs_mPEG_AK were characterized using a suite of spectroscopy and microscopy methods. Susceptibility to these treatments and AK was determined after 24 h and over time against 12 clinical multidrug-resistant (MDR)/extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The efficacy of the treatments alone and in combination with hyperthermia (1, 2, and 3 pulses at 41°C to 42°C for 15 min) was tested against the same planktonic strains using quantitative culture and against one P. aeruginosa strain growing on silicone disks using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The susceptibility studies showed that AgNPs_mPEG_AK was 10-fold more effective than AK alone, and bactericidal efficacy after 4, 8, 24, or 48 h was observed against 100% of the tested strains. The combination of AgNPs_mPEG_AK and hyperthermia eradicated 75% of the planktonic strains and exhibited significant reductions in biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa in comparison with the other treatments tested, except for AgNPs_mPEG_AK without hyperthermia. In conclusion, the combination of AgNPs_mPEG_AK and hyperthermia may be a promising therapy against MDR/XDR and biofilm-producing strains., [IMPORTANCE] Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health challenges, accounting for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Biofilms, a complex microbial community, directly contribute to increased AMR. Therefore, new strategies are urgently required to combat infections caused by AMR and biofilm-producing strains. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit antimicrobial activity and can be functionalized with antibiotics. Although AgNPs are very promising, their effectiveness in complex biological environments still falls below the concentrations at which AgNPs are stable in terms of aggregation. Thus, improving the antibacterial effectiveness of AgNPs by functionalizing them with antibiotics may be a significant change to consolidate AgNPs as an alternative to antibiotics. It has been reported that hyperthermia has a large effect on the growth of planktonic and biofilm-producing strains. Therefore, we propose a new strategy based on AgNPs functionalized with amikacin and combined with hyperthermia (41°C to 42°C) to treat AMR and biofilm-related infections.

In the last few years, there has been an unprecedented progress in the increase of the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Evidently, further advances in the efficiency of these devices will depend on the constraints imposed by the optical and electronic properties of their constituents. Quite apparently during the manufacturing process of a solar cell, there is an inevitable variation in the thicknesses of various functional layers, which affects the optoelectronic characteristics of the final sample. In this work, a possible strategy of the analysis of the solar cell performance is suggested, based on statistically averaging procedure of experimental data. We present a case study, in which the optoelectronic properties of the meso-structured perovskite solar cell (with a mesoporous TiO2 layer) are analyzed within the method providing a deeper understanding of the device operation. This method enables an assessment of the overall quality of the device, pointing pathways towards the maximum efficiency design of a perovskite solar cell by material properties tuning.

Regulating the local microenvironment of active sites to increase their specific CO2 concentration and pH gradient, is a promising approach to optimize the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR). However, currently reported morphological strategies display an uncertainty to the compatibility and distribution between catalytic sites and their microenvironment. Here, a uniform spatial-separation metal–organic framework (MOF) layer between active sites and bulk electrolyte is proposed, which enables each active site to locate in a similarly favorable microenvironment. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NR), a representative electrocatalyst for eCO2RR, is covered with a Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) thin layer to serve as a model system. The prepared ZnO NR@ZIF-8 exhibits an enhanced Faradaic efficiency toward CO at a wide range of potentials and reaches a maximum FE of CO (85%) at −1.05 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, which is one of the best records till date. Moreover, the hydrophobic ZIF-8 layer protects ZnO against self-reduction. Such performance benefits from the porous ZIF-8 shell with high CO2 affinity, realizing efficient CO2 access and retaining an increased local pH near ZnO active sites.

Bacterial pathogens exhibit a remarkable ability to persist and thrive in diverse ecological niches. Understanding the mechanisms enabling their transition between habitats is crucial to control dissemination and potential disease outbreaks. Here, we use Ralstonia solanacearum, the causing agent of the bacterial wilt disease, as a model to investigate pathogen adaptation to water and soil, two environments that act as bacterial reservoirs, and compare this information with gene expression in planta. Gene expression in water resembled that observed during late xylem colonization, with an intriguing induction of the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). Alkaline pH and nutrient scarcity—conditions also encountered during late infection stages–were identified as the triggers for this T3SS induction. In the soil environment, R. solanacearum upregulated stress-responses and genes for the use of alternate carbon sources, such as phenylacetate catabolism and the glyoxylate cycle, and downregulated virulence-associated genes. We proved through gain- and loss-of-function experiments that genes associated with the oxidative stress response, such as the regulator OxyR and the catalase KatG, are key for bacterial survival in soil, as their deletion cause a decrease in culturability associated with a premature induction of the viable but non culturable state (VBNC). This work identifies essential factors necessary for R. solanacearum to complete its life cycle and is the first comprehensive gene expression analysis in all environments occupied by a bacterial plant pathogen, providing valuable insights into its biology and adaptation to unexplored habitats.

This study aims to characterize the dietary habits of the Barcelona plain (Spain) population during the Early Bronze Age. An analysis of buccal microwear has been performed on 467 samples from 20 individuals buried in the largest cemetery of the plain of Barcelona in this period, the Plaça de la Gardunya, and 1 sample from the site of the Mercat de Santa Caterina. Molars and premolars were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and their microwear patterns were compared with reference patterns associated with known dietary habits and subsistence strategies. The results suggest that dietary habits differed between age groups and between sexes: males were more carnivorous than females, and subadults ate harder foods than adults. Buccal microwear from the Barcelona plain shows similar values to carnivorous diets of anthropological populations. Based on all the archaeological evidence (building types and zooarchaeology, archaeobotany and stone tools) from this settlement and those in its vicinity, we propose that the individuals from the Barcelona plain had a mixed diet, with large consumption of meat, secondary products and fish. Agricultural products, stored in silos and grill structures and processed with more sophisticated grinding techniques, were also consumed, mainly by subadult individuals.

Experimental studies and clinical trials of nanoparticles for treating diseases are increasing continuously. However, the reach to the market does not correlate with these efforts due to the enormous cost, several years of development, and off-target effects like cardiotoxicity. Multicellular organisms such as the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) can bridge the gap between in vitro and vertebrate testing as they can provide extensive information on systemic toxicity and specific harmful effects through facile experimentation following 3R EU directives on animal use. Since the nematodes’ pharynx shares similarities with the human heart, we assessed the general and pharyngeal effects of drugs and polypyrrole nanoparticles (Ppy NPs) using C. elegans. The evaluation of FDA-approved drugs, such as Propranolol and Racepinephrine reproduced the arrhythmic behavior reported in humans and supported the use of this small animal model. Consequently, Ppy NPs were evaluated due to their research interest in cardiac arrhythmia treatments. The NPs’ biocompatibility was confirmed by assessing survival, growth and development, reproduction, and transgenerational toxicity in C. elegans. Interestingly, the NPs increased the pharyngeal pumping rate of C. elegans in two slow-pumping mutant strains, JD21 and DA464. Moreover, the NPs increased the pumping rate over time, which sustained up to a day post-excretion. By measuring pharyngeal calcium levels, we found that the impact of Ppy NPs on the pumping rate could be mediated through calcium signaling. Thus, evaluating arrhythmic effects in C. elegans offers a simple system to test drugs and nanoparticles, as elucidated through Ppy NPs.

The context of accelerated climate change, environmental pollution, ecosystems depletion, loss of biodiversity and growing undernutrition has led human societies to a crossroads where food systems require transformation. New agricultural practices are being advocated in order to achieve food security and face environmental challenges. Cultivated meat has recently been considered one of the most desired alternatives by animal rights advocates because it promises to ensure nutrition for all people while dramatically reducing ecological impacts and animal suffering. It is therefore presented as one of the fairest means of food production for the coming decades, according to utilitarian arguments., However, food security, environmental concerns and animal welfarism guided by a short-term utilitarianism could have techno-optimism bias and could result in some forms of oppression such as anthropocentrism. I argue that there are still deep-rooted moral issues in food systems that are not addressed primarily by lab-grown meat, mainly derived from a loss of sovereignty. Food practices developed in high-tech labs with artificial interventionism constrain the ability of living entities (that are used as food) to flourish on their own terms. This paper aims to explore how sovereignty entitlements for humans and nonhumans are often overlooked by advocates of cultivated meat and the moral challenges it may pose. Accordingly, a more than utilitarian approach framed by ecological and republican justice is proposed here to shed light on some pitfalls of food chains based on cellular agriculture.

Mapping the entire frequency bandwidth of brain electrophysiological signals is of paramount importance for understanding physiological and pathological states. The ability to record simultaneously DC-shifts, infraslow oscillations (<0.1 Hz), typical local field potentials (0.1–80 Hz) and higher frequencies (80–600 Hz) using the same recording site would particularly benefit preclinical epilepsy research and could provide clinical biomarkers for improved seizure onset zone delineation. However, commonly used metal microelectrode technology suffers from instabilities that hamper the high fidelity of DC-coupled recordings, which are needed to access signals of very low frequency. In this study we used flexible graphene depth neural probes (gDNPs), consisting of a linear array of graphene microtransistors, to concurrently record DC-shifts and high-frequency neuronal activity in awake rodents. We show here that gDNPs can reliably record and map with high spatial resolution seizures, pre-ictal DC-shifts and seizure-associated spreading depolarizations together with higher frequencies through the cortical laminae to the hippocampus in a mouse model of chemically induced seizures. Moreover, we demonstrate the functionality of chronically implanted devices over 10 weeks by recording with high fidelity spontaneous spike-wave discharges and associated infraslow oscillations in a rat model of absence epilepsy. Altogether, our work highlights the suitability of this technology for in vivo electrophysiology research, and in particular epilepsy research, by allowing stable and chronic DC-coupled recordings.

The intrinsic alignment (IA) of galaxies is potentially a major limitation in deriving cosmological constraints from weak lensing surveys. In order to investigate this effect, we assign intrinsic shapes and orientations to galaxies in the light-cone output of the MICE simulation, spanning ∼5000deg2 and reaching redshift z=1.4. This assignment is based on a semianalytic IA model that uses photometric properties of galaxies as well as the spin and shape of their host halos. Advancing on previous work, we include more realistic distributions of galaxy shapes and a luminosity-dependent galaxy-halo alignment. The IA model parameters are calibrated against COSMOS and BOSS LOWZ observations. The null detection of IA in observations of blue galaxies is accounted for by setting random orientations for these objects. We compare the two-point alignment statistics measured in the simulation against predictions from the analytical IA models NLA and TATT over a wide range of scales, redshifts, and luminosities for red and blue galaxies separately. We find that both models fit the measurements well at scales above 8 h−1Mpc, while TATT outperforms NLA at smaller scales. The IA parameters derived from our fits are in broad agreement with various observational constraints from red galaxies. Lastly, we build a realistic source sample, mimicking DES Year 3 observations and use it to predict the IA contamination to the observed shear statistics. We find this prediction to be within the measurement uncertainty, which might be a consequence of the random alignment of blue galaxies in the simulation.

Modelling higher plant growth is of strategic interest for modern agriculture as well as for the development of bioregenerative life support systems for space applications, where crop growth is expected to play an essential role. The capability of constraint-based metabolic models to cope the diel dynamics of plants growth is integrated into a multilevel modelling approach including mass and energy transfer and enzyme kinetics. Lactuca sativa is used as an exemplary crop to validate, with experimental data, the approach presented as well as to design a novel model-based predictive control strategy embedding metabolic information. The proposed modelling strategy predicts with high accuracy the dynamics of gas exchange and the distribution of fluxes in the metabolic network whereas the control architecture presented can be useful to manage higher plants chambers and open new ways of merging metabolome and control algorithms.

Transposon insertion polymorphisms can improve prediction of complex agronomic traits in rice compared to using SNPs only, especially when accessions to be predicted are less related to the training set. Abstract: Transposon insertion polymorphisms (TIPs) are significant sources of genetic variation. Previous work has shown that TIPs can improve detection of causative loci on agronomic traits in rice. Here, we quantify the fraction of variance explained by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) compared to TIPs, and we explore whether TIPs can improve prediction of traits when compared to using only SNPs. We used eleven traits of agronomic relevance from by five different rice population groups (Aus, Indica, Aromatic, Japonica, and Admixed), 738 accessions in total. We assess prediction by applying data split validation in two scenarios. In the within-population scenario, we predicted performance of improved Indica varieties using the rest of Indica accessions. In the across population scenario, we predicted all Aromatic and Admixed accessions using the rest of populations. In each scenario, Bayes C and a Bayesian reproducible kernel Hilbert space regression were compared. We find that TIPs can explain an important fraction of total genetic variance and that they also improve genomic prediction. In the across population prediction scenario, TIPs outperformed SNPs in nine out of the eleven traits analyzed. In some traits like leaf senescence or grain width, using TIPs increased predictive correlation by 30–50%. Our results evidence, for the first time, that TIPs genotyping can improve prediction on complex agronomic traits in rice, especially when accessions to be predicted are less related to training accessions.

The PP˙ diagram is a cornerstone of pulsar research. It is used in multiple ways for classifying the population, understanding evolutionary tracks, identifying issues in our theoretical reach, and more. However, we have been looking at the same plot for more than five decades. A fresh appraisal may be healthy. Is the PP˙ -diagram the most useful or complete way to visualize the pulsars we know? Here we pose a fresh look at the information we have on the pulsar population. First, we use principal component analysis over magnitudes depending on the intrinsic pulsar’s timing properties (proxies to relevant physical pulsar features), to analyse whether the information contained by the pulsar’s period and period derivative is enough to describe the variety of the pulsar population. Even when the variables of interest depend on P and P˙⁠, we show that PP˙ are not principal components. Thus, any distance ranking or visualization based only on P and P˙ is potentially misleading. Next, we define and compute a properly normalized distance to measure pulsar nearness, calculate the minimum spanning tree of the population, and discuss possible applications. The pulsar tree hosts information about pulsar similarities that go beyond P and P˙⁠, and are thus naturally difficult to read from the PP˙-diagram. We use this work to introduce the pulsar tree website containing visualization tools and data to allow users to gather information in terms of MST and distance ranking.

For about half a century, the radio pulsar population was observed to spin in the ∼0.002–12 s range, with different pulsar classes having a spin-period evolution that differs substantially depending on their magnetic fields or past accretion history. The recent detection of several slowly rotating pulsars has reopened the long-standing question of the exact physics, and observational biases, driving the upper bound of the period range of the pulsar population. In this work, we perform a parameter study of the spin-period evolution of pulsars interacting with supernova fallback matter and specifically look at the fallback accretion disk scenario. Depending on the initial conditions at formation, this evolution can differ substantially from the typical dipolar spin-down, resulting in pulsars that show spin periods longer than their coeval peers. By using general assumptions for the pulsar spin period and magnetic field at birth, initial fallback accretion rates, and including magnetic field decay, we find that very long spin periods (≳100 s) can be reached in the presence of strong, magnetar-like magnetic fields (≳1014 G) and moderate initial fallback accretion rates (∼1022−1027 g s−1). In addition, we study the cases of two recently discovered periodic radio sources, the pulsar PSR J0901–4046 (P = 75.9 s) and the radio transient GLEAM-X J162759.5–523504.3 (P = 1091 s), in light of our model. We conclude that the supernova fallback scenario could represent a viable channel to produce a population of long-period isolated pulsars that only recent observation campaigns are starting to unveil.