bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity of the NIH toolbox cognitive battery in a healthy oldest-old 85+ sample
Authors: Nolin Sara A. , Cowart Hannah , Merritt Stacy , McInerney Katalina , Bharadwaj P. K. , Franchetti Mary Kate , Raichlen David A. , Jessup Cortney J. , Hishaw G. Alex , Van Etten Emily J. , Trouard Theodore P. , Geldmacher David S. , Wadley Virginia G. , Porges Eric S. , Woods Adam J. , Cohen Ron A. , Levin Bonnie E. , Rundek Tatjana , Alexander Gene E. , Visscher Kristina M.
Published: October 2022

Objective:

To evaluate the construct validity of the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIH TB-CB) in the healthy oldest-old (85+ years old).

Method:

Our sample from the McKnight Brain Aging Registry consists of 179 individuals, 85 to 99 years of age, screened for memory, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Using previous research methods on a sample of 85 + y/o adults, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses on models of NIH TB-CB and same domain standard neuropsychological measures. We hypothesized the five-factor model (Reading, Vocabulary, Memory, Working Memory, and Executive/Speed) would have the best fit, consistent with younger populations. We assessed confirmatory and discriminant validity. We also evaluated demographic and computer use predictors of NIH TB-CB composite scores.

Results:

Findings suggest the six-factor model (Vocabulary, Reading, Memory, Working Memory, Executive, and Speed) had a better fit than alternative models. NIH TB-CB tests had good convergent and discriminant validity, though tests in the executive functioning domain had high inter-correlations with other cognitive domains. Computer use was strongly associated with higher NIH TB-CB overall and fluid cognition composite scores.

Conclusion:

The NIH TB-CB is a valid assessment for the oldest-old samples, with relatively weak validity in the domain of executive functioning. Computer use’s impact on composite scores could be due to the executive demands of learning to use a tablet. Strong relationships of executive function with other cognitive domains could be due to cognitive dedifferentiation. Overall, the NIH TB-CB could be useful for testing cognition in the oldest-old and the impact of aging on cognition in older populations.
Childcare, Work, and Household Labor During a Pandemic: Evidence on Parents’ Preferences in the United States
Authors: Hutchinson Annabelle , Khan Sarah , Matfess Hilary
Published: October 2022

By exacerbating a pre-existing crisis of childcare in the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many parents to renegotiate household arrangements. What shapes parents’ preferences over different arrangements? In an online conjoint experiment, we assess how childcare availability, work status and earnings, and the intra-household division of labor shape heterosexual American parents’ preferences over different situations. We find that while mothers and fathers equally value outside options for childcare, the lack of such options – a significant feature of the pandemic – does not significantly change their evaluations of other features of household arrangements. Parents’ preferences over employment, earnings, and how to divide up household labor exhibit gendered patterns, which persist regardless of childcare availability. By illustrating the micro-foundations of household decision-making under constraints, our findings help to make sense of women’s retrenchment from the labor market during the pandemic: a pattern which may have long-term economic and political consequences.
Unusual Plasma Formations Produced by Positive Streamers Entering the Cloud of Negatively Charged Water Droplets
Authors: Kostinskiy A. Yu. , Bogatov N. A. , Syssoev V. S. , Mareev E. A. , Andreev M. G. , Bulatov M. U. , Sukharevsky D. I. , Rakov V. A.
Published: October 2022

Kostinskiy et al. (2015b), https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065620, using a high‐speed infrared (2.5–5.5 μm) camera, discovered the so‐called unusual plasma formations (UPFs) in artificial clouds of charged water droplets. UPFs had complex morphology including both streamer‐like regions and hot channel segments. They were observed both in the presence and in the absence of hot leader channels developing from the grounded plane toward the cloud. In this paper, which is aimed at revealing the genesis of UPFs, we present two UPFs that occurred inside the initial corona streamer burst of positive polarity emitted from the grounded plane, prior to the formation (or in the absence) of associated hot leader channel. These streamer bursts developed at speeds of 5–7 × 105 m/s over 1–1.5 m before entering the optically visible negatively charged cloud and producing UPFs at its periphery. Hot channel segments within UPFs were formed in very short times of the order of 1 μs or less. It is not clear if the UPFs were caused solely by the enhanced electric field near the charged cloud boundary or other factors also played a role. Occurrence of UPFs may be a necessary component of the lightning initiation process.
Integrating Bayesian Networks to Forecast Sea‐Level Rise Impacts on Barrier Island Characteristics and Habitat Availability
Authors: Gutierrez Benjamin T. , Zeigler Sara L. , Lentz Erika , Sturdivant Emily J. , Plant Nathaniel G.
Published: October 2022

Evaluation of sea‐level rise (SLR) impacts on coastal landforms and habitats is a persistent need for informing coastal planning and management, including policy decisions, particularly those that balance human interests and habitat protection throughout the coastal zone. Bayesian networks (BNs) are used to model barrier island change under different SLR scenarios that are relevant to management and policy decisions. BNs utilized here include a shoreline change model and two models of barrier island biogeomorphological evolution at different scales (50 and 5 m). These BNs were then linked to another BN to predict habitat availability for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), a threatened shorebird reliant on beach habitats. We evaluated the performance of the two linked geomorphology BNs and further examined error rates by generating hindcasts of barrier island geomorphology and habitat availability for 2014 conditions. Geomorphology hindcasts revealed that model error declined with a greater number of known inputs, with error rates reaching 55% when multiple outputs were hindcast simultaneously. We also found that, although error in predictions of piping plover nest presence/absence increased when outputs from the geomorphology BNs were used as inputs in the piping plover habitat BN, the maximum error rate for piping plover habitat suitability in the fully‐linked BNs was only 30%. Our findings suggest this approach may be useful for guiding scenario‐based evaluations where known inputs can be used to constrain variables that produce higher uncertainty for morphological predictions. Overall, the approach demonstrates a way to assimilate data and model structures with uncertainty to produce forecasts to inform coastal planning and management.
Monitoring Moisture from Afar
Authors: Beurteaux Danielle
Published: October 2022

Undisturbed tropical rain forests are experiencing more frequent droughts, but the ecosystems are isolated and difficult to assess. Scientists are using remote sensing to expand the depth and scope of monitoring efforts.
Multiple Magma Sources Beneath the Okmok Caldera as Inferred From Local Earthquake Tomography
Authors: Kasatkina Ekaterina , Koulakov Ivan , Grapenthin Ronni , Izbekov Pavel , Larsen Jessica F. , Al Arifi Nassir , Qaysi Saleh Ismail
Published: October 2022

Okmok volcano located on the northeastern part of the Umnak Island is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Arc. It was initially built as a large shield volcano, but 12,000 and 2,050 years ago, it experienced two caldera‐forming eruptions that destroyed the central part of the volcano. The post‐caldera eruptions have occurred mostly along the inner perimeter of the caldera from cinder and tuff cones. Here, we use the local earthquake data of the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) in the time period from 2003 to 2017 to build a model with the 3D distributions of the P and S wave velocities and Vp/Vs ratio. At depths of more than 10 km, we observe a vertically aligned anomaly of high Vp/Vs ratio interpreted as a long‐lived conduit likely responsible for the volcano evolution since its origin. Above this conduit, we reveal a large anomaly of high Vp/Vs ratio representing the main magma reservoir that is connected with several shallow anomalies located below the centers of recent eruptions in the caldera. One of such anomalies represents a large shallow reservoir below the Cone A, which was the source of most of Okmok's historical eruptions. The most recent eruption occurred in 2008 and was fed by a magma diapir that was initially formed in the central magma reservoir and then slowly ascended through a ductile silica rich layer at depths from 6 to 2 km. This interpretation is consistent with the petrology studies and modeling of ground deformations.
A Nonlinear Cause for the Seasonal Predictability Barrier of SST Anomaly in the Tropical Pacific
Authors: Yu Dakuan , Zhou Meng , Hang Chaoxun , Sun De‐Zheng
Published: October 2022

The seasonal Predictability Barrier (PB) of Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA) is characterized by a rapid loss of prediction skills at a particular season in dynamic models. Here, the connection between seasonal PB and the inherent nonlinearity of SSTA was investigated using a statistical method known as Sample Entropy (SamEn). When the SamEn value is large, the chaotic degree of SSTA is high. In the Niño 3 and Niño 3.4 regions, the chaotic degree of SSTA was high in the spring; in the Niño 4 region, it was high in the summer. This result was consistent with the known PB occurrence season in these regions. The month when the chaotic degree of SSTA peaked moved westward longitudinally from March to June. This spatial‐temporal variation of the chaotic degree was consistent with that of the low SSTA variance and PB occurrence timing. Specifically, when the variance of SSTA was low, the low‐amplitude background SSTA signal was more dominant than the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)‐related signal, the chaotic degree of SSTA was high, and the PB phenomenon occurred. Hence, the results indicated that the background SSTA signal was more chaotic than the ENSO‐related signal and the seasonal PB may result from the inherent low predictability of the chaotic background SSTA signal. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between SSTA and shortwave flux anomaly showed similar variation along the longitude compared with the chaotic degree, which suggested that the seasonal connection between SSTA and atmospheric forcing may be responsible for the spatial‐temporal variation of the chaotic degree.
Reef Flat Flow Dynamics for a Nearly Closed Fringing Reef Lagoon: Ofu, American Samoa
Authors: Maticka Samantha A. , Rogers Justin S. , Woodson Clifton B. , Hefner Benjamin B. , Monismith Stephen G.
Published: October 2022

We discuss observations of tidally varying wave‐forced flows in the reef system on Ofu, American Samoa, a barrier reef and lagoon system that appears open at low tide and closed at high tide. At high tide, the free‐surface pressure gradient nearly balances the radiation stress gradient in the depth‐integrated momentum equation. At depth, there is an imbalance between these two forces, generating an undertow and flows that turn alongshore, and for some of the time, offshore, behavior similar to rip currents observed on beaches. At low tides, the wave forcing drives purely onshore flows. In general, wave transport is important to determining the total net transport. While the dynamically closed nature of the lagoon mostly suppresses cross‐reef transport, there is always some flow through the lagoon with the strongest flows occurring at high tides and when the wave forcing is strongest.
How Do Weak, Misaligned Tropical Cyclones Evolve Toward Alignment? A Multi‐Case Study Using the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System
Authors: Alvey George R. , Hazelton Andrew
Published: October 2022

This study simulates five initially weak, moderately sheared tropical cyclones (TCs) from the 2020–2021 North Atlantic basin hurricane seasons using the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS). Four of the five simulations rapidly evolve from misaligned vortices with asymmetric precipitation and thermodynamic distributions toward more aligned and symmetric configurations. The displaced low‐level (LLC) and mid‐level circulations (MLC) non‐monotonically progress toward alignment with periods of reformation, precession, and advection. Beginning 12–18 hr pre‐alignment, TCs have increasingly greater mid‐tropospheric humidity and areal coverages of precipitation downshear left than the simulation that fails to align. Alignment precedes the most sustained symmetrization of favorable thermodynamics and precipitation, but deep convection (not necessarily symmetric) plays a critical role in alignment. Ida (2021), a high impact US storm, undergoes a vortex‐scale evolution where an increase in areal coverage and intensity of deep convection promotes a reformation of the vortex into a smaller compact core with a closed MLC (a closed LLC does not immediately form). This convective behavior downtilt helps to reshape the irrotational velocity field in the lower troposphere toward the reformed vortex. The increasingly convergent flow of favorable boundary layer thermodynamics within the inflow region thereby increases the instability, which maintains the persistent intense convection. The confluent flow ultimately promotes an advection of the pre‐existing LLC toward the reformed vortex resulting in alignment. Tilt reductions are also shown to be temporally linked with the diurnal cycle, wherein convection preferentially increases near the center during the early morning hours (local time).
Three Rules for the Decrease of Tropical Convection With Global Warming
Authors: Jeevanjee Nadir
Published: October 2022

Tropical convection is expected to decrease with warming, in a variety of ways. Specific incarnations of this idea include the “stability‐iris” hypothesis of decreasing anvil cloud coverage, as well as the decrease of both tropospheric and cloud‐base mass fluxes with warming. This paper seeks to encapsulate these phenomena into three “rules,” and to explore their interrelationships and robustness, using both analytical reasoning as well as cloud‐resolving and global climate simulations. We find that each of these rules can be derived analytically from the usual expression for clear‐sky subsidence, so they all embody the same essential physics. But, these rules do not all provide the same degree of constraint: the stability‐iris effect is not entirely robust due to unconstrained microphysical degrees of freedom, and the decrease in cloud‐base mass flux is not entirely robust due to unconstrained effects of entrainment and detrainment. Tropospheric mass fluxes on the other hand are shown to be well‐constrained theoretically, and when evaluated in temperature coordinates they exhibit a monotonic decrease with warming at all vertical levels and across a hierarchy of models.
High deforestation trajectories in Cambodia slowly transformed through economic land concession restrictions and strategic execution of REDD+ protected areas
Authors: Pauly Maren , Crosse Will , Tosteson Joshua
Published: October 2022

Protected Areas (PAs) are continuously being established in tropical forests in an effort to preserve biodiversity and reduce deforestation. It was recently demonstrated that PAs are more effective at reducing forest loss than unprotected control sites across southeast Asia. The voluntary REDD+ scheme offers a new framework for the protection of high deforestation landscapes, jurisdictions, and countries backed by international carbon finance. Here we analyzed the economic drivers of deforestation in Cambodia and the effectiveness of 3 REDD+ projects vs. adjacent protected areas. We find that Economic Land Concessions were a predominant driver of deforestation in Cambodia and influenced the trajectory of illegal forest conversion in PAs. Furthermore, REDD+ projects offer significantly more protection against deforestation than adjacent PAs in two of the three analyzed cases, likely due to enhanced funding enabling implementation of targeted community activities and rigorous monitoring and enforcement.
Bee-safe peptidomimetic acaricides achieved by comparative genomics
Authors: Jindal Vikas , Li Daqi , Rault Leslie C. , Fatehi Soheila , Singh Rupinder , Mating Moritz , Zou Ye , Ng Ho-Leung , Kaczmarek Krzysztof , Zabrocki Janusz , Gui Shunhua , Smagghe Guy , Anderson Troy D. , Nachman Ronald J. , Park Yoonseong
Published: October 2022

The devastating Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) is an obligatory ectoparasite of the honey bee, contributing to significant colony losses in North America and throughout the world. The limited number of conventional acaricides to reduce Varroa mites and prevent disease in honey bee colonies is challenged with wide-spread resistance and low target-site selectivity. Here, we propose a biorational approach using comparative genomics for the development of honey bee-safe and selective acaricides targeting the Varroa mite-specific neuropeptidergic system regulated by proctolin, which is lacking in the honey bee. Proctolin is a highly conserved pentapeptide RYLPT (Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr) known to act through a G protein-coupled receptor to elicit myotropic activity in arthropod species. A total of 33 different peptidomimetic and peptide variants were tested on the Varroa mite proctolin receptor. Ligand docking model and mutagenesis studies revealed the importance of the core aromatic residue Tyr2 in the proctolin ligand. Peptidomimetics were observed to have significant oral toxicity leading to the paralysis and death of Varroa mites, while there were no negative effects observed for honey bees. We have demonstrated that a taxon-specific physiological target identified by advanced genomics information offers an opportunity to develop Varroa mite-selective acaricides, hence, expedited translational processes.
Phase angle obtained via bioelectrical impedance analysis and objectively measured physical activity or exercise habits
Authors: Yamada Yosuke , Yoshida Tsukasa , Murakami Haruka , Kawakami Ryoko , Gando Yuko , Ohno Harumi , Tanisawa Kumpei , Konishi Kana , Julien Tripette , Kondo Emi , Nakagata Takashi , Nanri Hinako , Miyachi Motohiko
Published: October 2022

The phase angle (PhA), measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis, is considered an indicator of cellular health, where higher values reflect higher cellularity, cell membrane integrity, and better cell function. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PhA and exercise habits or objectively measured physical activity. We included 115 people aged 32–69 years. The body composition and PhA were measured using a bioelectrical impedance device. Physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed using a triaxial accelerometer. Exercise habits were also obtained through structured interviews, and participants were categorized into the no exercise habit (No-Ex), resistance training exercise habit (RT), or aerobic training exercise habit (AT) groups. Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or step count significantly correlated with PhA, independent of age, sex, height, percent body fat, body cell mass, and leg muscle power. In contrast, SB was not significant determinants of PhA. People who exercised regularly (RT or AT) had significantly higher PhA values than did those in the No-Ex group. Furthermore, the PhA was not significantly different between the RT and AT groups. Regularly engaging in exercise with moderate-to-vigorous intensity may improve or maintain muscle cellular health and muscle quality.
Colocalization of senescent biomarkers in deep, superficial, and ovarian endometriotic lesions: a pilot study
Authors: Palmieri Laura , Malvezzi Helena , Cestari Bruna , Podgaec Sergio
Published: October 2022

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition with deleterious effects on women’s quality of life in terms of physical, emotional, and social compromise. It is an inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, and its presentation varies from superficial peritoneal lesions to deep infiltrative endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma. In our previous study, endometriotic lesions were implicated in cellular senescence as their inflammatory pattern could potentially compromise surrounding tissue integrity, thereby inducing a senescent state in cells. P16Ink4a and lamin b1 are biomarkers used to assess cellular senescence. Indirect immunofluorescence staining is a broad technique used to assess cellular structure and behavior driven by protein–protein interactions that provide valuable information about cell functioning. The etiopathogeny of endometriosis is not completely understood and diagnostic approaches still rely on invasive methods; therefore, it is important to use validated methods to increase our understanding of the disease and the development of novel diagnostic tools. However, indirect immunofluorescence protocols are often tissue specific and, if neglected, can lead to misinterpretation of results. Moreover, no valid endometriotic tissue-specific colocalization immunofluorescence protocols have been established. Thus, we have validated a well-funded and suitable protocol to allow precise evaluation of the three presentations of endometriosis lesions using indirect immunofluorescence aiming to support further investigations in endometriosis lesions.
Characterization of a GH5 endoxylanase from Penicillium funiculosum and its synergism with GH16 endo-1,3(4)-glucanase in saccharification of sugarcane bagasse
Authors: Ogunyewo Olusola A. , Okereke Omoaruemike E. , Kumar Sandeep , Yazdani Syed Shams
Published: October 2022

The production of second-generation fuels from lignocellulosic residues such as sugarcane bagasse (SCB) requires the synergistic interaction of key cellulose-degrading enzymes and accessory proteins for their complete deconstruction to useful monomeric sugars. Here, we recombinantly expressed and characterized unknown GH5 xylanase from P. funiculosum (PfXyn5) in Pichia pastoris, which was earlier found in our study to be highly implicated in SCB saccharification. The PfXyn5 has a molecular mass of ~ 55 kDa and showed broad activity against a range of substrates like xylan, xyloglucan, laminarin and p-nitrophenyl-β-d-xylopyranoside, with the highest specific activity of 0.7 U/mg against xylan at pH 4.5 and 50 °C. Analysis of the degradation products of xylan and SCB by PfXyn5 showed significant production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with a degree of polymerization (DP) ranging from two (DP2) to six (DP6), thus, suggesting that the PfXyn5 is an endo-acting enzyme. The enzyme synergistically improved the saccharification of SCB when combined with the crude cellulase cocktail of P. funiculosum with a degree of synergism up to 1.32. The PfXyn5 was further expressed individually and simultaneously with a notable GH16 endoglucanase (PfEgl16) in a catabolite-derepressed strain of P. funiculosum, PfMig188, and the saccharification efficiency of the secretomes from the resulting transformants were investigated on SCB. The secretome of PfMig188 overexpressing Xyn5 or Egl16 increased the saccharification of SCB by 9% or 7%, respectively, over the secretome of PfMig188, while the secretome of dual transformant increased SCB saccharification by ~ 15% at the same minimal protein concentration.
Effects of super-class cannabis terpenes beta-caryophyllene and alpha-pinene on zebrafish behavioural biomarkers
Authors: Johnson Andréa , Stewart Alycia , El-Hakim Ismaeel , Hamilton Trevor J.
Published: October 2022

Terpenes possess a wide range of medicinal properties and are potential therapeutics for a variety of pathological conditions. This study investigated the acute effects of two cannabis terpenes, β-caryophyllene and α-pinene, on zebrafish locomotion, anxiety-like, and boldness behaviour using the open field exploration and novel object approach tests. β-caryophyllene was administered in 0.02%, 0.2%, 2.0%, and 4% doses. α-pinene was administered in 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.1% doses. As α-pinene is a racemic compound, we also tested its (+) and (−) enantiomers to observe any differential effects. β-caryophyllene had only a sedative effect at the highest dose tested. α-pinene had differing dose-dependent effects on anxiety-like and motor variables. Specifically, (+)-α-pinene and (−)-α-pinene had significant effects on anxiety measures, time spent in the thigmotaxis (outer) or center zone, in the open field test, as well as locomotor variables, swimming velocity and immobility. (+ /−)-α-pinene showed only a small effect on the open field test on immobility at the 0.1% dose. This study demonstrates that α-pinene can have a sedative or anxiolytic effect in zebrafish and may have different medicinal properties when isolated into its (+) or (−) enantiomers.
Improving remote material classification ability with thermal imagery
Authors: Großmann Willi , Horn Helena , Niggemann Oliver
Published: October 2022

Material recognition using optical sensors is a key enabler technology in the field of automation. Nowadays, in the age of deep learning, the challenge shifted from (manual) feature engineering to collecting big data. State of the art recognition approaches are based on deep neural networks employing huge databases. But still, it is difficult to transfer these latest recognition results into the wild—various lighting conditions, a changing image quality, or different and new material classes are challenging complications. Evaluating a larger electromagnetic spectrum is one way to master these challenges. In this study, the infrared (IR) emissivity as a material specific property is investigated regarding its suitability for increasing the material classification reliability. Predictions of a deep learning model are combined with engineered features from IR data. This approach increases the overall accuracy and helps to differentiate between materials that visually appear similar. The solution is verified using real data from the field of automatized disinfection processes.
Reliability and feasibility of visual grading systems and quantitative indexes on [99mTc]Tc-DPD imaging for cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Bae Sungwoo , Gil Joonhyung , Paeng Jin Chul , Park Eun-Ah , Lee Seung-Pyo , Choi Hongyoon , Kang Keon Wook , Cheon Gi Jeong , Lee Dong Soo
Published: October 2022

We aimed to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of visual grading systems and various quantitative indexes of [99mTc]Tc-DPD imaging for cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Patients who underwent [99mTc]Tc-DPD imaging with suspicion of CA were enrolled. On the planar image, myocardial uptake was visually graded using Perugini’s and Dorbala’s methods (PS and DS). As [99mTc]Tc-DPD indexes, heart-to-whole body ratio (H/WB) and heart-to-contralateral lung ratio (H/CL) were measured on planar image. SUVmax, SUVmean, total myocardial uptake (TMU), and C-index were measured on SPECT/CT. Inter-observer agreement of the indexes and their association with visual grading and clinical factors were evaluated. A total of 152 [99mTc]Tc-DPD images, of which 18 were positive, were analyzed. Inter-observer agreement was high for both DS (κ = 0.95) and PS (κ = 0.96). However, DS showed a higher correlation with quantitative indexes than PS. Inter-observer agreement was also high for SPECT/CT indexes, particularly SUVmax. SUVmax was significantly different between different DS groups (P = 0.014–0.036), and showed excellent correlations with H/WB and H/CL (r = 0.898 and 0.910). SUVmax also showed significant differences between normal, AL, and ATTR pathology (P = 0.022–0.037), and a significant correlation with extracellular volume on cardiac MRI (r = 0.772, P < 0.001). DS is a visual grading system for CA that is more significantly matched with quantitative indexes than PS. SUVmax is a reliable quantitative index on SPECT/CT, with a high inter-observer agreement, correlations with the visual grade, and potential association with cardiac MRI findings.
VASA protein and gene expression analysis of human non-obstructive azoospermia and normal by immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Amirian Mehdi , Azizi Hossein , Hashemi Karoii Danial , Skutella Thomas
Published: October 2022

VASA, also known as DDX4, is a member of the DEAD-box proteins and an RNA binding protein with an ATP-dependent RNA helicase. The VASA gene expression, which is required for human germ cell development, may lead to infertility. Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of VASA protein in the human testis sections of azoospermic patients, in-vitro and in-silico models. Some studies of fertile humans showed VASA expression in the basal and adluminal compartments of seminiferous tubules. Our Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry in infertile humans showed expression of VASA in the luminal compartments of the seminiferous tubule. The immunohistochemical analysis of three human cases with different levels of non-obstructive azoospermia revealed a higher expression of VASA-positive cells. For this purpose, Enrichr and Shiny Gene Ontology databases were used for pathway enrichment analysis and gene ontology. STRING and Cytoscape online evaluation were applied to predict proteins' functional and molecular interactions and performed to recognize the master genes, respectively. According to the obtained results, the main molecular functions of the up-regulated and downregulated genes include the meiotic cell cycle, RNA binding, and differentiation. STRING and Cytoscape analyses presented seven genes, i.e., DDX5, TNP2, DDX3Y, TDRD6, SOHL2, DDX31, and SYCP3, as the hub genes involved in infertility with VASA co-function and protein–protein interaction. Our findings suggest that VASA and its interacting hub proteins could help determine the pathophysiology of germ cell abnormalities and infertility.
Construction and internal validation of a novel nomogram for predicting prognosis of infective endocarditis
Authors: Yu Zhao-Jun , Ni Zhi-Jie , Li Jing , Weng Guo-Xing , Dou Zhi
Published: October 2022

To develop a nomogram prediction model capable of early identification of high-risk infective endocarditis (IE) patients. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 383 patients with IE and divided them into survival and non-survival groups according to different hospitalization outcomes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to screen independent risk factors affecting the survival outcome of IE, and a Nomogram prediction model was constructed by these factors. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was applied to assess the model fit, the discrimination and calibration of the model were evaluated by plotting ROC curves and calibration curves. Advanced age, embolic symptoms, abnormal leukocyte count, low hemoglobin level and double-sided IE were associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with IE (P < 0.05). The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test for the model was χ2 = 7.107, P = 0.311. The AUC of the ROC curve of the model was 0.738 (95% CI 0.677–0.800). The bootstrap method was used to validate the prediction model. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the model in the validation cohort was 0.842. The nomogram prediction model can accurately predict the in-hospital mortality risk of IE and can help clinicians identify high-risk IE patients early.
Transcriptome analysis of floral bud development and function analysis of a novel CO gene in Paeonia × lemoinei ‘High Noon’
Authors: Chang Yanting , Zhang Wenbo , Ma Yanjun , Xia Mengsi , Fan Keke , Jiang Zehui , Hu Tao
Published: October 2022

Paeonia × lemoinei 'High Noon' is one of the most important cultivars in tree peony (Paeonia sect. Moutan), a traditional horticultural plant in China, with a re-blooming characteristic which was quite different from other cultivars. So, the genetic resources in 'High Noon' were incredibly valuable in flowering-time-modified molecular breeding in tree peony. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the floral bud formation of 'High Noon' was not clear yet. To explore the molecular mechanism in this process, the transcriptomes of three stages during floral bud development were deeply analyzed in this study. As a result, a total of 5816 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the three developmental stages, and pathways including ''DNA replication'', ''metabolic pathways'', ''circadian rhythm'', and ''plant hormone signal transduction'' were mostly enriched in the functional enrichment and expression pattern analysis. Furthermore, a total of 584 genes related to the photoperiod pathway were further identified and a novel CO homolog gene PlCO was identified to be a stable hydrophilic protein, which contained both CCT domain and B-box domain. Over-expression of PlCO in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering, which suggested a promotion role of flowering. The PlCO protein localized in nucleus and possessed a transcription activity ability, which implied that PlCO might function as a transcription factor. The transcriptome analysis revealed pathways involved in floral bud development in tree peony and provided new insight into the regulatory network underlying the floral bud development. The gene identification in 'High Noon' provided new valuable candidate genes for flowering-time-modified molecular breeding in tree peony.
The impact of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C global warming on global maize production and trade
Authors: Li Kuo , Pan Jie , Xiong Wei , Xie Wei , Ali Tariq
Published: October 2022

Climate change is becoming more and more remarkable which has an obvious impact on crop yields all over the world. Future climate scenario data was simulated by 5 climate models recommended by ISI-MIP under 4 RCP scenarios, in which the approximate scenarios with global warming by 1.5 °C and 2 °C were selected. Applying DSSAT and GTAP models, the per unit yield changes of maize in the world under global warming by 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C were analyzed and the market prices of maize at national and global levels were simulated. The results showed that, the risk of maize yield reduction under 2.0 °C scenario was much more serious than 1.5 °C scenario; the ratios of yield changes were separately 0.18% and − 10.8% under 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C scenarios. The reduction trend of total maize production is obvious in the top five countries and the main producing regions of the world, especially under the 2.0 °C scenario. The market price of maize would increase by around 0.7% and 3.4% under 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C scenarios. With the quickly increasing population in the world, it is urgent for all countries to pay enough attention to the risk of maize yield and take actions of mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Translation-invariant optical neural network for image classification
Authors: Sadeghzadeh Hoda , Koohi Somayyeh
Published: October 2022

The classification performance of all-optical Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is greatly influenced by components’ misalignment and translation of input images in the practical applications. In this paper, we propose a free-space all-optical CNN (named Trans-ONN) which accurately classifies translated images in the horizontal, vertical, or diagonal directions. Trans-ONN takes advantages of an optical motion pooling layer which provides the translation invariance property by implementing different optical masks in the Fourier plane for classifying translated test images. Moreover, to enhance the translation invariance property, global average pooling (GAP) is utilized in the Trans-ONN structure, rather than fully connected layers. The comparative studies confirm that taking advantage of vertical and horizontal masks along GAP operation provide the best translation invariance property, compared to the alternative network models, for classifying horizontally and vertically shifted test images up to 50 pixel shifts of Kaggle Cats and Dogs, CIFAR-10, and MNIST datasets, respectively. Also, adopting the diagonal mask along GAP operation achieves the best classification accuracy for classifying translated test images in the diagonal direction for large number of pixel shifts (i.e. more than 30 pixel shifts). It is worth mentioning that the proposed translation invariant networks are capable of classifying the translated test images not included in the training procedure.
Rapid and accurate quantification of isomiRs by RT-qPCR
Authors: Franco Sandra , Pluvinet Raquel , Sanchez-Herrero Jose Francisco , Sumoy Lauro , Martinez Miguel Angel
Published: October 2022

Currently, microRNAs (miRs) are annotated as a single defined sequence (canonical), even though high-throughput small RNA sequencing has identified miR isoforms (isomiRs) that differ from their canonical counterparts in length, sequence, or both. Here we describe a simple reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)-based assay for quantification of the miR-100-5p_iso_3p:−2 variant. We chose miR-100-5p because the canonical sequence was underrepresented in our evaluation of human plasma. The quantification of miR-100-5p_iso_3 p:−2 from 57 plasma samples demonstrated high concordance between high-throughput RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR results (r = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Of note, we could not detect or quantify miR-100-5p in our plasma samples using a commercial TaqMan canonical miR-100-5p RT-qPCR kit. With these 57 samples, we also adapted this assay to specifically quantify the canonical sequences of miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p. Similar to the results obtained with miR-100-5p_iso_3p:−2, RT-qPCR results for miR-122-5p and miR-192-5p highly correlated with high-throughput RNA sequencing data (miR-122-5p: r = 0.44, p = 0.0005; miR-192-5p: r = 0.72, p < 0.0001). The assay described here can be easily adapted to many different identified isomiRs. Because of the high specificity of isomiRs, their reliable RT-qPCR-based quantification could provide greater resolution and higher accuracy than using canonical sequences.
Damage in InGaN/GaN bilayers upon Xe and Pb swift heavy ion irradiation
Authors: Jóźwik Przemysław , Cardoso José P. S. , Carvalho Diogo F. , Correia Maria R. P. , Sequeira Miguel C. , Magalhães Sérgio , Faye Djibril Nd. , Grygiel Clara , Monnet Isabelle , Bross Adam S. , Wetzel Christian , Alves Eduardo , Lorenz Katharina
Published: October 2022

350 nm and 550 nm thick InGaN/GaN bilayers were irradiated with different energies (from ∼82 to ∼38 MeV) of xenon (129Xe) ions and different fluences of 1.2 GeV lead (208Pb) ions, respectively.
The reaction between the bromine atom and the water trimer: high level theoretical studies
Authors: Li Guoliang , Yao Ying , Lin Yan , Meng Yan , Xie Yaoming , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: October 2022

The Br + (H2O)3→ HBr + (H2O)2OH reaction has been investigated using the CCSD(T) method with the basis sets as large as cc-pVQZ(-PP). The Br + (H2O)3reaction is also compared with related Br + H2O/(H2O)2and F/Cl + (H2O)3reactions.
Chiral tandem modifiers: highly efficient cinchonidine-derivative modifiers at low concentrations for the enantioselective hydrogenation of (E)-2,3-diphenylpropenoic acid over Pd/C
Authors: Mameda Takuya , Shimogaki Mio , Okamoto Yasuaki , Sugimura Takashi
Published: October 2022

Chiral tandem modifiers linking two or three cinchonidine molecules at the 2′-position of the quinoline ring are highly effective at low concentrations for the enantioselective hydrogenation of PCA over Pd/C.
Ene-adducts from 1,4-dihydropyridines and α,β-unsaturated nitriles: asynchronous transition states displaying aromatic features
Authors: Saez David Adrian , Vogt-Geisse Stefan , Vöhringer-Martinez Esteban
Published: October 2022

Covalent adducts between 1,4-ditrimethylsilyl-1,4-dihydropyridine and α,β-unsaturated nitriles are formed through ionic or Ene mechanisms modulated by environmental or structural features, sharing common transition states with aromatic properties.
Amyloid fibrillation of the glaucoma associated myocilin protein is inhibited by epicatechin gallate (ECG)
Authors: Sharma Ritika , Kumari Anchala , Kundu Bishwajit , Grover Abhinav
Published: October 2022

Epicatechin gallate prevents structural transformations in m-OLF and thus inhibits its aggregation into amyloid fibrils.
The effect of a lateral alkyloxy chain on the ferroelectric nematic phase
Authors: Cruickshank Ewan , Walker Rebecca , Storey John M. D. , Imrie Corrie T.
Published: October 2022

Properties of two series of ferronematogens are discussed to understand the influence of lateral bulk on the ferroelectric nematic phase.
Symmetry-based classification of forces driving chromatin dynamics
Authors: Eshghi Iraj , Zidovska Alexandra , Grosberg Alexander Y.
Published: October 2022

We classify active processes driving dynamics in the cell nucleus based on their symmetry and examine their effect on both chromatin and nucleoplasmic flows.
Effects of AC frequency on the capacitance measurement of hybrid response pressure sensors
Authors: Li Zhengjie , Ha Kyoung-Ho , Wang Zheliang , Kim Sangjun , Davis Ben , Lu Ruojun , Sirohi Jayant , Lu Nanshu
Published: October 2022

E-skins consisting of soft pressure sensors are enabling technology for soft robots, bio-integrated devices, and deformable touch panels.
A Systematic Review of Interventions for Late Talkers: Intervention Approaches, Elements, and Vocabulary Outcomes
Authors: Carson Lynn , Baker Elise , Munro Natalie
Published: October 2022

Purpose:

The aim of this systematic review was to examine the empirical evidence on interventions for late talkers between 18 and 42 months according to type of intervention approach (direct, indirect, and hybrid), reporting of intervention elements, and outcomes for receptive and expressive vocabulary.

Method:

This review was registered with PROSPERO and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Eleven databases were systematically searched with 34 intervention studies involving 1,207 participants meeting criteria. Studies were categorized as using a direct, indirect, or hybrid intervention approach, then examined according to intervention elements, vocabulary outcomes, as well as reported tools and type of score used to evaluate outcomes.

Results:

Across 34 studies, nine used a direct intervention approach, 10 an indirect intervention approach, and 14 a hybrid intervention approach. One study compared direct and hybrid intervention approaches. All indirect and hybrid approaches included parent training; direct approaches did not. The type and degree of reporting of other intervention elements, as well as the tools and type of score used to evaluate outcomes, varied within and across approaches. Overall, improvements in expressive vocabulary were reported by 93% of studies, with variable results for the nine studies reporting receptive vocabulary outcomes.

Conclusions:

The direct, indirect, and hybrid intervention approaches were typified by specific intervention elements; however, there was diversity in how other elements comprising the approaches were arranged. When making decisions about which intervention approach to use, clinicians need to be mindful of the differences among approaches, how they discuss those differences with parents, and which approaches and elements might be best suited to individual children and their families.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21291405
Local robust stability on compact set for nonlinear systems with continuous time controller against to aperiodic sampling and disturbance
Authors: Umemoto Kazuki , Endo Takahiro , Matsuno Fumitoshi
Published: October 2022

In this study, the stability of a sampled‐value control system with time‐ and state‐dependent disturbance and aperiodic sampling is investigated. To expand the application class of the sampled‐value controller, the local stability on a compact set is considered under the assumption of local Lipschitz continuity on the compact set. Because the assumption is weaker than the global Lipschitz continuity, the proposed stability analysis is applicable to a wider class of controlled systems. Global stability under the assumption of global Lipschitz continuity is also considered. The effectiveness of the derived stability condition is verified by conducting numerical simulations with some control parameters variations such as the disturbance magnitude and sample interval.
Multi‐task few‐shot learning with composed data augmentation for image classification
Authors: Zhang Rui , Yang Yixin , Li Yang , Wang Jiabao , Li Hang , Miao Zhuang
Published: October 2022

Few‐shot learning (FSL) attempts to learn and optimise the model from a few examples on image classification, which is still threatened by data scarcity. To generate more data as supplements, data augmentation is considered as a powerful and popular technique to enhance the robustness of few‐shot models. However, there are still some weaknesses in applying augmentation methods. For example, all augmented samples have similar semantic information with respect to different augmented transformations, which makes these traditional augmentation methods incapable of learning the property being varied. To address this challenge, we introduce multi‐task learning to learn a primary few‐shot classification task and an auxiliary self‐supervised task, simultaneously. The self‐supervised task can learn transformation property as auxiliary self‐supervision signals to improve the performance of the primary few‐shot classification task. Additionally, we propose a simple, flexible, and effective mechanism for decision fusion to further improve the reliability of the classifier, named model‐agnostic ensemble inference (MAEI). Specifically, the MAEI mechanism can eliminate the influence of outliers for FSL using non‐maximum suppression. Extensive experiment results demonstrate that our method can outperform other state‐of‐the‐art methods by large margins.
Évaluation des apports de géogrilles dans une structure d’assise ferroviaire en conditions opérationnelles
Authors: Yaba Olatounde Alexandre , Emeriault Fabrice , Jenck Orianne , Ferellec Jean-François , Dhemaied Amine
Published: October 2022

Dans le cadre de la réhabilitation des lignes ferroviaires classiques (vitesse ≤ 220 km/h), SNCF Réseau propose d’intégrer l’utilisation de géogrilles afin d’optimiser et adapter le dimensionnement des structures d’assises à l’évolution du trafic. Ainsi, plusieurs expérimentations ont été mises en place pour étudier le comportement de géogrilles sous conditions opérationnelles et quantifier leurs apports en termes d’amélioration de portance et de limitation de tassements différentiels. Ces expérimentations in situ comprennent la rénovation, l’instrumentation et le suivi de sections de voies. Elles fournissent des données sur le comportement réel des structures d’assises en ce qui concerne des facteurs tels que le chargement dynamique, le confinement latéral, les variations saisonnières, etc. Cet article présente la mise en place et les premiers résultats d’une telle expérimentation. Les premiers résultats indiquent que l’installation de géogrilles a un impact positif net, notamment grâce à une meilleure répartition de la contrainte dans la structure d’assise. Une mobilisation des géogrilles a été observée par des mesures de déformations de leurs brins transversaux, confirmant ainsi que les granulats sont confinés latéralement par l’enchevêtrement des grains dans les ouvertures de la géogrille. Malgré ces résultats encourageants, ce projet de recherche n’en est encore qu’à ses débuts. Les expérimentations sur le terrain nécessiteront encore plusieurs années de suivi avant que l’on puisse se prononcer définitivement sur l’apport quantitatif des géogrilles dans ce cas d’application.