Irvine University

Relating γ D-crystallin conformations to local aggregate topology

The structural crystallins of the eye lens must persist at high concentrations (up to 600 mg/ml in some species), while remaining solvated within a hydrogel that must endure for the life of the organism. Transient networks of interactions among these proteins may create contacts...

Mathematical simulations of paediatric haemodynamics in isolated ventricular septal defect

Computer modelling of the cardiovascular system has the potential to revolutionize personalized medical care. This is especially promising for congenital heart defects, such as ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the two ventricles of the heart. However, relatively fe...

So similar, yet so different: comparing the US GAAP and IFRS experience at eliciting greater transparency on pension asset disclosures

Abstract We exploit two regulatory changes, one under US GAAP and the other under IFRS, that mandate improved disclosure of pension asset allocation. While the changes are otherwise similar, US GAAP retains the expected rate of return (“ERR”) on pension assets, which preparers ca...

The MoCA Memory Index Score (MIS) as an indicator of episodic memory impairment and its implications for cognitive screening in a mixed clinical sample

OBJECTIVE: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Memory Index Score (MIS) has shown promise as a brief indicator of episodic memory decline, but its correspondence with standardized neuropsychological memory measures in diagnostically heterogeneous clinical populations remains...

Simulated reductions in heterogeneous isoprene epoxydiol reactive uptake from aerosol morphology in the contiguous United States using the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQv5.3.2)

Aerosol particles contain complex mixtures of polar and non-polar species that can undergo organic-inorganic phase separation. In phase-separated aerosol particles, the phase state of the outer organic coating can modulate heterogeneous chemistry. Heterogeneous chemistry leading...

Exposure to airborne fine particulate matter disrupts human embryonic stem cell osteogenic differentiation

Developmental bone toxicity encompasses impairments in skeletal growth and remodeling during embryonic and fetal development that can result in long-term skeletal abnormalities. Airborne fine particulate matter (FPM; ≤ 2.5 μm) is a size-defined fraction of particulate air polluti...

Mixed-Precision Quantization for Language Models: Techniques and Prospects

The rapid scaling of Language Models (LMs) has resulted in unprecedented computational, memory, and energy requirements, making their training and deployment increasingly unsustainable. Quantization has emerged as a crucial compression technique for reducing model size, alleviati...

An Optimized Bioluminescent Lantern for RNA Imaging

Abstract A complete understanding of RNA dynamics requires methods to continuously image transcripts in living systems. We recently developed a panel of bioluminescent tools for multiplexed RNA detection, comprising luciferase fragments fused to RNA-binding proteins (RNA lanterns...

CO2 Electrolysis Paired with Glycerol Oxidation on Transition-Metal Single-Atom Catalysts

Abstract Pairing the carbon dioxide reduction process with the electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol (GOR), instead of the typically applied oxygen evolution reaction, can substantially decrease the cell voltage while forming high-value products at both electrodes. In this contr...

Cigarette Smoke and E-Cigarette Aerosol Extracts Induce Myelopoiesis and Suppress Inflammatory Cytokine Production

Tobacco and nicotine use remain leading preventable drivers of cancer risk, and both combustible cigarettes and electronic nicotine devices perturb immune function and hematopoiesis. However, side-by-side comparisons of their effects across the hematopoietic hierarchy remain limi...

Reproducibility, Replicability, and Research Quality in Homogeneous Catalysis

Abstract Researchers from all sectors of homogeneous catalysis convened in response to concerns regarding reproducibility in science to analyze the issue and provide recommendations. In addition to an in-person workshop, the group engaged the broader homogeneous catalysis communi...

Systematic Underestimation of Nonlinear and Synergistic Soil Moisture‐Precipitation Coupling in Convection‐Permitting Models

Abstract Soil moisture‐precipitation coupling critically shapes Earth's water and energy cycles, yet it remains difficult to quantify because land‐atmosphere interactions are nonlinear, multivariate, and state‐dependent. This study applies the High‐Dimensional Model Representatio...

Intestinal fructose catabolism promotes obesity and insulin resistance via ileal lacteal remodeling

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption is a risk factor for obesity and diabetes, yet the underlying mechanisms, especially at the specific organ level, are incompletely understood. Catabolism of dietary fructose primarily occurs in the small intestine and liver, with fructo...

A bundled anti-parallel cytochrome nanowire structure suggests roles in cell-cell electron transfer and biofilm formation

ABSTRACT Long-range extracellular electron transfer enables respiring microbes to use minerals, organisms, or electrodes as electron acceptors by transporting electrons microns away from the cell surface. This process is primarily studied in Geobacter sulfurreducens , which produ...

Frequency effects of alternating dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuation on turbulent flow of circular cylinder

Abstract An in-house solver for the three-dimensional, unsteady, compressible Navier–Stokes equations with a large-eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model is applied to simulate the unsteady flow over a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of 15,000 under the control of a pair o...

Chitin‐Derived Carbon‐Metal Functional Materials

ABSTRACT Biomass‐derived carbon materials have emerged as sustainable alternatives to petroleum‐derived adsorbents for environmental remediation applications. Among biomass feedstocks, chitin offers advantages due to its abundance as seafood‐processing waste and its intrinsic nit...

Piecewise Constraintsfor Exact End Point Samplingwith λ-Dynamics

Abstract λ-Dynamics simulations are used to explore differences between distinct chemical states through interpolation with a λ parameter. Existing algorithms for λ-dynamics treat the thermodynamic coupling parameter λ as an additional degree of freedom and integrate its motion a...

Reconstitution of lamin assembly on nuclear pore complex-containing membranes

Intermediate filaments called lamins line the metazoan nuclear envelope and organize the nucleus and genome. Unlike actin and microtubules, purified intermediate filament proteins assemble into non-physiological structures, making it difficult to connect lamin functions to their...

La Niña’s longevity shapes Bering Sea ice fate

Abstract La Niña events vary widely in duration, from single-year to multi-year. However, their influence on Bering Sea ice concentration remains unclear. Here, we show that single-year and multi-year La Niña events produce contrasting impacts on spring Bering Sea ice concentrati...

Case-cohort designs to improve efficiency for detecting effect modification

Abstract In analyses of time-to-event outcomes, we may utilize efficient sampling designs to save effort, cost, and valuable specimens. The originally proposed case-cohort design is one such design, and performs analysis on a random sample selected from the full cohort supplement...