bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of High Protein and High Dietary Fibre Vegetable Processing Waste for Pasta Fortification
Authors: Teterycz Dorota , Sobota Aldona
Published: June 2023

Background: Food waste has been a major social problem in recent years. Annually, 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted worldwide. It is recommended that food waste should be reduced at every stage of production. By-products from food processing have high nutritional value; therefore their use in the design of new products is advisable. Methods: By-products from tomato processing (tomato waste-TW) and pepper (defatted pepper seeds-DPS, pepper placenta-PP) were used at a level of 10-30% to produce extruded pasta. The farinographic characteristics, chemical composition, cooking quality, and color of the pasta were studied. Results: The results showed a significant up to 27% increase in the protein content in the TW30 samples, compared to the control. The TDF content increased over five times in DPS30 and TW30 (27.99% and 25.44%). The amino acid composition of the pasta improved with the fortification, but failed to achieve the complete protein by FAO. The DPS30, PP20, PP30, and all TW samples can be considered high-protein products according to the EU definition (min. 20% energy from protein). Conclusion: Vegetable waste can be a valuable additive for improvement of the nutritional value of food. Their addition is part of the zero-waste trend, which has a positive impact on the environment.
Machine Learning Method for Assessing Fire Risk in Wildland-Rural and Urban Interface Regions: The Example of Istanbul’s European Side
Authors: Aksoy Ercüment , Kocer Abdulkadir , Yilmaz İsmail , Akcal Arif Nihat , Akpinar Kudret
Published: June 2023

As in many parts of the world, rural-urban, forest-urban interface areas surrounding urban regions expose the natural areas they interact with to a threat of fire risk that can reach various sizes. This risk has been assessed for various regions of the world using many different methods and numerical models so far. Among these, it is seen that machine learning models have successful applications in risk assessment and risk prediction studies. For the fire risk prediction of Istanbul's yet unurbanized regions, but where the city is anticipated to potentially shift, data was collected using the opportunities provided by Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing technologies based on fires that occurred between 2000-2021, and the region was examined. Machine learning methods' Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting (LGB) models were applied for the classification of factors effective in fire. The best result was given by the RF model with 0.93 accuracy, 0.062 F1 score, and 0.753 Area Under Curve (AUC) value. In the classification of factors in the RF model, the grouping between fire-initiating factors and factors effective in spreading is evident, while this distinction is partially noticeable in the other two models.
The State-of-Play in Maritime Economics and Logistics Research (2017-2023)
Authors: Haralambides Professor Hercules
Published: June 2023

This paper presents and summarizes the applied research on Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL), carried out by my teams in Europe and Asia in the past five years. Most of this state-of-the-art research has been funded by external organizations, thus showing the interest of society, and of the global maritime fraternity, in our results. The objective of the paper is to bring to the surface pertinent and ‘hot’ research questions, such as e-fuels and emissions trading, some of which we may have answered, others not; but questions that, nonetheless, open research doors to maritime researchers around the world. In so doing, I have stayed away from descriptive research (of limited value in university ecosystems), staying on our more rigorous output, published in top peer-review journals. It is hoped that the paper will be of value to the wider maritime community as well as, more importantly, to PhD researchers, postdocs and tenure-track university staff.
Spatial-Temporal Influence of Sand Dams on Chemical and Microbial Properties of Water From Scooping Holes in Degraded Semi-Arid Regions
Authors: Churu Harrison , Kamau Solomon , Ngetich Wilson , Magiroi Keziah , Alkamoi Bonface , Kebeney Syphyline , Wamalwa Fred , Mumo James
Published: June 2023

Communities in semi-arid lands use sand dams to enhance access water during the dry seasons. However, there is limited information on the quality of water derived from these sand dams, especially in degraded lands where storm surface runoff poses contamination risk. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the spatial-temporal variations in water quality of sand dams in Chepareria, West Pokot County in Kenya. Water samples were collected from scooping holes across18 purposefully selected sand dams. Results obtained showed significant differences in water quality based on sand-dams age and location of scooping holes, but the magnitude of these differences differed with specific properties. For instance, in recently constructed sand dams (< 1 year), scooping holes near the sand dam wall had lower pH values (8.5) than holes scooped a distance from the sand dam wall (9.2). For total dissolved solutes and microbial properties, sand dam age had the greatest impact than the location of scooping holes. For example, water obtained from < 1 year old sand dams had significantly higher TDS with an average value of 100.3 mg L-1. The thermotolerant coliforms (TTC) exceeded the maximum allowable levels recommended by World Health Organization. Thus, water obtained from these sand dams should be treated before consumption. Finally, sand dams meant for domestic water harvesting should be protected. Shallow wells with appropriate aprons for effective protection against contamination should be installed to enhance abstraction of safe water from sand dams.
MicroRNA-Related Polymorphism and Their Association With Fibromyalgia
Authors: Berg Fabian , Moser Dirk Alexander , Hagena Verena , Streit Fabian , Mosch Benjamin , Kumsta Robert , Herpertz Stephan , Diers Martin
Published: June 2023

MicroRNAs are tissue-specifically expressed short RNAs that serve post-transcriptional gene reg-ulation. A specific microRNA can bind to mRNAs of different genes and thereby suppress their protein production. In the context of the complex phenotype of fibromyalgia, we used the Axiom miRNA Target Site Genotyping Array to search genome-wide for DNA variations in microRNA genes, their regulatory regions and in the 3'UTR of protein-coding genes. To identify dis-ease-relevant DNA polymorphisms, a cohort of 176 female fibromyalgia patients was studied in comparison to a cohort of 162 healthy women.
The association between 48.329 markers and fibromyalgia was investigated using logistic regression adjusted for population stratification. 29 markers had p-values < 1 × 10-3 and the strongest asso-ciation was observed for rs758459 (p-value of 0.0001), located in the Neurogenin 1 gene, targeted by hsa-miR-130a-3p. Furthermore, we identified a gene locus (rs2295963) predicted to disrupt binding of hsa-miR-1-3p. Both microRNAs were previously reported to be differentially expressed in fi-bromyalgia patients.
Despite its limited statistical power, this study reports two microRNA-related polymorphisms which may play a functional role in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. For a better understanding of the disease pattern, further functional analyses on the biological significance of microRNAs and microRNA-related polymorphisms are required.
Drifting of Surface Water Masses in the South Adriatic Suggests an Interpretation of Brachyura Dispersal Based on Pelagic Larvae
Authors: Granata Antonia , Bergamasco Alessandro , Bonanzinga Vincenzo , Celentano Paolo , Guglielmo Letterio , Minutoli Roberta , Vanucci Silvana , Veneziano Francesca , Zambianchi Enrico , Belmonte Genuario
Published: June 2023

Among Crustacea, Decapoda Brachyura represent a good candidate for studies on the dispersal capability of coastal benthos by means of larvae. One oceanographic cruise allowed us to describe larvae dispersal routes in the South Adriatic Sea thanks to a multidisciplinary approach. In May 2013 a swarm of zoeae (11 Brachyura taxa, mostly at first instar, with Xantho granulicarpus at 87%) was recorded in the neuston of the Italian side of the basin. Complementary collections of zooplankton, in the same cruise, demonstrated that Decapoda larvae were not abundant below the neuston and concentrated in the first 20-30 m surface layer, with which probably they drift together. The availability of four satellite-tracked surface drifters in the same area and period of the larvae presence, represented a possibility to discuss the geographic dispersal of larvae on the basis of the surface circulation in successive days. During the studied period, only one drifter crossed the south Adriatic passing from the Italian to the Balkan neritic area, employing about 40 days. The daily vertical migration of larvae suggest that they can only employ more time to cross the basin, subtracting and re-entering the surface moving waters. The actual genetic homogeneity of populations of many Brachyura coastal species on the opposite sides of the Adriatic Sea suggests the existence of a genetic connection which, however, should not rely exclusively upon larvae circulation and needs to be fueled by additional strategies of biological communication.
Adaptively Lightweight Spatiotemporal Information Extraction Operator-Based DL Method for Aero-Engine RUL Prediction
Authors: Shi Junren , Gao Jun , Xiang Sheng
Published: June 2023

The ability to handle spatiotemporal information makes contribution for improving the prediction performance of machine RUL. However, most existing models for spatiotemporal information processing are not only complex in structure but also lack adaptive feature extraction capabilities. Therefore, a lightweight operator with adaptive spatiotemporal information extraction ability named Involution GRU (Inv-GRU) is proposed for aero-engine RUL prediction. Involution, the adaptive feature extraction operator, is replaced by the information connection in the gated recurrent unit for obtaining the adaptively spatiotemporal information extraction ability and reducing the parameters. Thus, Inv-GRU can well extract the degradation information the of aero-engine. Then for RUL prediction task, the Inv-GRU based deep learning (DL) framework is firstly constructed, where features extracted by Inv-GRU and several human-made features are separately processed to generate the health indicators (HIs) from multi-raw data of aero-engines. Finally, fully connection layers are adopted are adopted to reduce dimension and regress RUL based on the generated HIs. By applying the Inv-GRU based DL framework to the Commercial Modular Aero Propulsion System Simulation (C-MAPSS) datasets, successful predictions of aero-engines RUL have been achieved. Comparative analysis reveals that the proposed model exhibits superior overall prediction performance compared to recent public methods.
Exploring Structural, Electronic, Magnetic, and Transport Properties of 2D Cr, Fe, and Zr Monoborides
Authors: Arias-Camacho Isabel , Gonzalez Szwacki Nevill
Published: June 2023

Compared to other 2D materials, MBenes are at an early stage in both experimental and theoretical approaches. However, the wide range of possible 2D structures leads to novel and challenging properties and their consequent applications. From all the possible stoichiometries, we have performed a theoretical study of orthorhombic and hexagonal M2B2 MBenes in the framework of the Density Functional Theory. We have found that both symmetries of Cr2B2, Fe2B2, and Zr2B2 show a metallic behavior and could be grown under certain conditions, as they are demonstrated to be dynamically stable. Moreover, the values of the magnetic moment, in specific ferromagnetic cases exceeding 2.5 μB/M2B2, make them suitable as robust 2D magnets. All our findings represent an important step in the understanding of MBenes and open several windows to future research in fields like energy conversion and storage, sensing, catalysis, biochemistry, or nanotechnology, among others.
Стохастическая модель движения группы индивидов в ограниченном пространстве с учетом их социального поведения
Authors: Деревич Игорь Владимирович , Derevich Igor' Vladimirovich , Панова Анастасия Андреевна , Panova Anastasiya Andreevna
Published: June 2023

Предложена стохастическая модель случайного перемещения небольшой группы индивидов в ограниченном пространстве с внутренними препятствиями. Учитывается социальное поведение индивидов в группе, снижающее вероятность их близкого физического контакта и столкновений с внутренними препятствиями. Уравнения движения индивидов записаны в виде системы обыкновенных стохастических дифференциальных уравнений (СОДУ). Направление и скорость желаемого перемещения индивида описывается структурированным во времени случайным процессом. Социальное поведение и взаимодействие индивидов с препятствиями моделируется эффективным потенциалом. Система СОДУ интегрируется на основе модифицированных алгоритмов Рунге-Кутта. Представлены примеры движения небольшой группы в замкнутой галерее с колоннами в условиях блуждания при плохой видимости, при эвакуации из галереи с учетом паники. Иллюстрируется сценарий передачи вирусной инфекции при уменьшении относительного расстояния между инфицированным индивидом и восприимчивыми членами группы.
Tasa de letalidad por Covid-19 en zonas con altitud elevada en Perú
Authors:   , Chavez Alva Verna Nicolle , Canchucaja Bendezu Milagros Rubi
Published: June 2023

Introducción. La infección por COVID-19 en distritos de altitud elevada ha sido motivo de estudio para varios investigadores ya que la incidencia y la capacidad de transmisión de este virus es menor a mayor altitud. Objetivo. Comparar la tasa de mortalidad de COVID-19 a diferentes alturas en todos los distritos del Perú desde marzo del 2020 a Junio del 2021. Material y Métodos. Realizamos un estudio observacional analítico secundario, a partir de la base de datos abiertos del Ministerio de Salud, tomamos como unidad de análisis 1692 distritos del Perú, tomando como variable dependiente la tasa de mortalidad. En nuestro análisis principal, desarrollamos una regresión lineal cruda, y ajustada a cofactores, entre tasa de mortalidad de COVID-19 por millón de habitantes y altitud de residencia de los distritos del Perú, asimismo realizamos dos análisis de sensibilidad, con la finalidad de brindar diferentes enfoques al problema, todos los análisis fueron estimados de manera cruda y ajustada, con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) y significancia menos de 0.05 (p<0.05). Resultados. La tasa de mortalidad promedio de cada distrito ubicado a menos de 1500 m.s.n.m fue de 4154,86% por millón de habitantes, mientras que a más de 3500 m.s.n.m, disminuye a casi la mitad. Sin embargo, al realizar el análisis ajustado por confusores, densidad poblacional y quintil de pobreza, se observó que no existía diferencia estadísticamente significativa (RPa= 0.99, IC=95%, p=0.359). Conclusión. Nuestros hallazgos muestran que si bien a mayor altitud sobre el nivel del mar, existe menor tasa de mortalidad, este valor no se atribuye netamente a la altura.
Comparative Analysis of Deep Learning Models for Dysarthric Speech Detection
Authors: Padmanaban Shanmugapriya , Mohan V
Published: June 2023

Dysarthria is a speech communication disorder that is associated with neurological impairments. In order to detect this disorder from speech, we present an experimental comparison of deep models developed based on frequency domain features. A comparative analysis of deep models is performed in the detection of dysarthria using scalogram of Dysarthric Speech. Also, it can assist physicians, specialists, and doctors based on the results of its detection. Since Dysarthric speech signals have segments of breathy and semi-whispery, experiments are performed only on the frequency domain representation of speech signals. Time domain speech signal is transformed into a 2-D scalogram image through wavelet transformation. Then, the scalogram images are applied to pre-trained convolutional neural networks. The layers of pre-trained networks are tuned for our scalogram images through transfer learning. The proposed method of applying the scalogram images as input to pre-trained CNNs is evaluated on the TORGO database and the classification performance of these networks is compared. In this work, AlexNet, GoogLeNet, and ResNet 50 are considered deep models of pre-trained convolutional neural networks. The proposed method of using pre-trained and transfer learned CNN with scalogram image feature achieved better accuracy when compared to other machine learning models in the dysarthria detection system.
Quality of Life of Children After Completion of Surgical Treatment for Anorectal Malformation: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Study in South-Western Uganda
Authors: Mucunguzi Denis , Oyania Felix , Egesa Walufu Ivan , Aturinde Mercy , Mutakooha Marvin Mwesigwa , Kyengera Kisitu Dan
Published: June 2023

Background
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) range from minor abnormalities such as imperforate anus to complex forms such as cloaca, and are often associated with other anomalies and residual functional stooling problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of children after surgical treatment for ARMs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in South-Western Uganda.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled children who had completed surgical treatment for ARMs between 2014 to 2021 at MRRH. A 23-item PedsQL 4.0 inventory was used to evaluate health-related QoL in children using a multidimensional parent proxy reporting for children aged 3 months to 7 years and child self-reporting for children aged 8 to 17 years. Regression analysis was used to determine the association between sociodemographic and clinical variables and QoL. Crude and adjusted coefficients and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The significance level was set to a p-value < 0.05.
Results
A total of 88 participants (F:M ratio = 1.15:1) aged 3 months to 18 years with a median age of 4.5 (IQR 3–7) years were enrolled. The median age at diagnosis of ARM and preliminary diverting colostomy was 3 days (range: 2 to 30 days) and 3 days (range: 2 to 60 days) respectively. Rectovestibular fistulas, 47 (53.4%) were the most prevalent subtype of ARMs, and 5.7% of children had associated anomalies. Over one-third of the participants (38.6%) had definitive surgery after 3 years of age, and PSARP was the most common procedure. The average PedsQL score was 94 out of a maximum score of 100. The mean physical functioning score was 96.7 in males and 98.9 in females. The overall mean emotional functioning score was 91 ± 2. The mean social functioning score was 92 ± 3.0. The mean school functioning score was 95.7 in males and 98.5 in females. Associated anomalies and reoperation significantly predicted poor QoL. Increasing years after completion of surgery was significantly associated with good QoL scores.
Conclusion
The overall QoL of the participants was good. Associated anomalies and reoperation were associated with poor QoL, while years after completion of definitive surgery was associated with good QoL. There is need for increased awareness and utilization of QoL assessments as an outcome measure after definitive surgery for ARM.
Effect of Cinnamon and Aconite on Bone Formation-Bone Absorption Coupling in Bone Microenvironment
Authors: Yao Liping , Zhang Qiaoyan , Sun Peng , Qin Luping , Zhang Lu
Published: June 2023

Aconite and cinnamon can treat many diseases. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness and mechanism of aconite, cinnamon, and aconite-cinnamon in treating osteoporosis. The co-culture system was treated with serum containing aconite, cinnamon, and aconite-cinnamon, and the effects on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation were evaluated through ALP activity, ALP staining, alizarin red staining, TRAP activity detection, TRAP staining, and F-actin staining. The study also examined the effects of aconite-cinnamon on intercellular factors using ELISA kits, and the effects on different genes were detected through RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results showed that aconite-cinnamon improved osteoblast differentiation and activity, reduced the release of RANKL, inhibited osteoclast differentiation and activity, and activated the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Therefore, aconite-cinnamon can effectively treat and prevent osteoporosis by improving osteogenic differentiation activity and reducing osteoclast differentiation and activity, while activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
The predictive value of systemic nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with imatinib
Authors: kus tulay , aktas gokmen , yucel hakan , safakoglu burhan
Published: June 2023

Background
Systemic nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers have been shown to be prognostic for many types of cancer. However, there are limited data on their predictive significance in advanced stage gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed data of 71 patients with advanced GIST treated with first-line imatinib. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of nutritional and inflammatory parameters, including albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), prognostic-nutritional-index (PNI), systemic-immune-inflammation-index (SII), HALP (haemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and haemoglobin for progression free survival (PFS). Kaplan-Meier curve was used to assess the predictive value of clinical and laboratory parameters, followed by multivariable analysis with cox-regression analysis.
Results
Median PFS was 26.0 (16.1–35.8) months. While age, gender, stage, metastatic site, number of metastases were not effective on PFS, HALP, PNI, haemoglobin, AGR and SII were predictive. In multivariate analysis, AGR (HR 95%CI: 2.01, 1.04–3.90, p value: 0.039) and Hgb (HR 95%CI: 2.22, 1.19–4.13, P: 0.012) remained independent predictive parameters for PFS. Age, HALP, Heamoglobin, and AGR were independent prognostic biomarkers for overall survival.
Conclusion
The predictive value of AGR and Hgb levels is more prominent in advanced stage GISTs than inflammatory parameters.
Fractional Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation changes in children with anisometropic amblyopia: a resting-state fMRI study
Authors: Yu Xueliang , Zhao Feng , Lu Weizhao , Chen Di , Li Xiujuan , Wang Yi , Wang Baojian
Published: June 2023

Aims: This study evaluates the changes of brain spontaneous activity in patients with anisometropia amblyopia compared with healthy controls.
Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data of 18 children patients with anisometropia amblyopia（PAA group）and 14 healthy children (control group) were collected. Fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) was used to assess brain spontaneous activity changes between the two groups. Two-sample t test was used for statistical analysis of fALFF value between groups. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between fALFF value in anisometropic amblyopia and clinical information.
Results: Compared with healthy controls, children with anisometropia amblyopia showed higher fALFF values in the middle right occipital gyrus and left central paracentric lobule. While fALFF value in the left middle frontal gyrus in children with anisometropic amblyopia was lower than that of healthy controls. There were no significant correlations between clinical information and mean fALFF values in PAA group.
Conclusion: Rs-fMRI fALFF analysis of children with anisometropic amblyopia reflects brain spontaneous activity changes in the visual cortex.
Microbial Community Structure and Metabolism of Xinjiang Fine-Wool Sheep based on high-throughput sequencing technology
Authors: Yao Rui , Dong Xuyang , Xu Yueren , Hu Ruirui , Wang Limin , Liu Xiaogang , Ni Wei , Zhou Ping , Hu Shengwei
Published: June 2023

Background: It turns out that the more than trillion microorganisms living in the host’s digestive tract are crucial for maintaining nutrient intake, environmental suitability, and physiological mechanism. Xinjiang Fine-Wool Sheep is a kind of wool breed bred independently in China, which excellent stress tolerance. Understanding the microbial community of Xinjiang Fine-Wool Sheep helps to raise sheep healthy and the production of superior traits.
Result: In this study, we collected feces and blood samples of 20 Xinjiang fine-wool sheep in different wool-length. By 16S rDNA amplicon sequence, ITS1 region amplicons and Targeted Metabolomics, we analysed the microbial community structure of fecal microorganisms and Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in serum of the Xinjiang fine-wool sheep as different by the host wool-length. Fecal microbial sequencing showed that the bacterial composition and structure of the two groups were similar, while the fungal community composition and structure were significantly different. Among them, the bacterial gut community was similar to those characterised in previous studies and are the dominated phyla by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. However, compared to the Control Fine-Wool Sheep (CFWS) group, the fungal gut communities of Fine-Wool Sheep (FWS) have more abundant Neocallimastigomycota. According to report that polysaccharide degrading enzyme produced by a majority of the bacteria in Neocallimastigomycota can hydrolyze non-lignified plant cell walls. In addition, the results of serum SCFAs content showed that butyric acid were significantly differences than another group. Correlation analysis between SCFAs and bacteria found that butyric acid metabolism had positively correlated (p<0.05) with Ruminococcus and UCG-005.
Conclusion: Overall, our data provide more supplement about the gut microbes community composition and structure of the Xinjiang Fine-Wool Sheep. These results might be useful for improving stress tolerance and gut health in sheep, and taking nutritional control measure to improve production traits of animals in future.
Extrapolation to complete basis-set limit in density-functional theory by quantile random-forest models
Authors: Carbogno Christian , Ghiringhelli Luca , Lubeck Sven , Scheffler Matthias , Draxl Claudia , Speckhard Daniel
Published: June 2023

The numerical precision of density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations depends on a variety of computational parameters, one of the most critical being the basis-set size. The ultimate precision is reached with an infinitely large basis set, \ie in the limit of a complete basis set (CBS). Our aim in this work is to find a machine-learning model that extrapolates finite basis-size calculations to the CBS limit. We start with a data set of 63 binary solids investigated with two all-electron DFT codes, \exciting\ and FHI-aims, which employ very different types of basis sets. A quantile-random-forest model is used to estimate the total-energy correction with respect to a fully converged calculation as a function of the basis-set size. The random-forest model achieves a symmetric mean absolute percentage error of lower than 25\% for both codes and outperforms previous approaches in the literature. Our approach also provides prediction intervals, which quantify the uncertainty of the models' predictions.
Competitive exclusion of a burying beetle by a mongoose
Authors: UEDA AKIRA
Published: June 2023

Competitive exclusion, a mechanism for local extinction of organisms, has been well established among taxonomically related species, including those within the same genus, family, or class in animal communities. This study, however, focuses on competitive exclusion that occurs across phyla, exemplified by the exclusion of a native insect by an invading exotic mammal, where their food resources overlap. The hypothesis proposed in this study is that the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) has caused the local extinction of a burying beetle (Nicrophorus nepalensis) on Okinawa Is., Japan due to competition for dead bodies of small vertebrates. To test this hypothesis, the beetles were collected from two areas - one where the mongoose has been controlled for over 10 years, including UNESCO’s natural World Heritage, and another where the mongoose has never been controlled or has/had been controlled for only a few years. The use of dead mice bodies laid on the forest floor was also observed in each area. The results showed that the beetle abundance was clearly higher in the former area than in the latter area, and no beetles were collected at sites far from the mongoose controlled area. The beetles often buried the dead mice for their reproduction in the former area, whereas in the latter area, the mongoose frequently fed on the dead mice. The beetle abundance in the former area significantly positively correlated with the canopy cover rate, while no such correlation was observed in the latter area due to the strong impact of the mongoose on the beetle abundance. These results provide the evidence of competitive exclusion of the burying beetle by the mongoose. This conclusion represents the world's first demonstration of competitive exclusion across phyla in the animal community.
Boosting Lipid Production in the Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum by Knockdown of the Enoyl CoA Hydratase Using CRISPR Interference
Authors: Guo Wenfeng , Gao Yuqing , Weng Yuwei , Chang Chaofeng , Huang Xuguang , Zhang Feng
Published: June 2023

The oleaginous Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a priming source for biofuel production. However, the contribution of the fatty acid β-oxidation to lipid productivity in this microalga is still poorly understood. In this study, we established a CRISPR interference method to characterize the enoyl CoA hydratase (PtECH), which catalyzed the second step of the β-oxidation pathway. With this method, we generated two transgenic lines: PtECH21 and PtECH1487. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that the mRNA levels of PtECH in both mutants were significantly impaired as compared to the wild type. Conversely, the lipid content of two PtECH knockdown lines was remarkably elevated, although the growth rates of them were obviously limited. Interestingly, the Fv/Fm values and the expression levels of carbonic anhydrases suggested that both knockdown mutants had a higher photosynthetic efficiency than the wild type. Totally, this study provided a new strategy for enhancing lipid productivity in P. tricornutum, and enlarged our knowledge about the roles of enoyl CoA hydratase in microalgae.
Inactivation of hypocretin receptor-2 signaling in dopaminergic neurons induces hyperarousal and enhanced cognition but impaired inhibitory control
Authors: Bandarabadi Mojtaba , Li Sha , Aeschlimann Lea , Colombo Giulia , Tzanoulinou Stamatina , Tafti Mehdi , Becchetti Andrea , Boutrel Benjamin , Vassalli Anne
Published: June 2023

Hypocretin/Orexin (HCRT/OX) and dopamine (DA) are two key effectors of salience processing, reward and stress-associated behavior and motivational states, yet their respective roles and interactions are poorly delineated. We inactivated HCRT-to-DA connectivity by genetic disruption of Hypocretin receptor type-1 (Hcrtr1), Hypocretin receptor type-2 (Hcrtr2), or both receptors (Hcrtr1&2) in dopamine neurons and analyzed the consequences on vigilance states, brain oscillations, and cognitive performance in freely behaving mice. Unexpectedly, loss of Hcrtr2, but not Hcrtr1 or Hcrtr1&2, led to dramatic increases in theta (7-11 Hz) electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during both wakefulness and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Compared to controls, DAHcrtr2-deficient mice spent more time in an active (or theta activity-enriched) substate of wakefulness, as well as exhibited prolonged REM sleep. Additionally, both wake and REM sleep displayed enhanced theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling. The baseline waking EEG of DAHcrtr2-deficient mice exhibited diminished infra-theta, but increased theta power, two hallmarks of EEG hyperarousal, which however were found to be uncoupled from the mice’ locomotor activity. Upon exposure to novel, either rewarding or stress-inducing environments, DAHcrtr2-deficient mice’ waking state featured more pronounced surges in theta and fast-gamma (52-80 Hz) EEG activities compared to their littermate controls, further suggesting increased alertness. Cognition was next evaluated using an operant conditioning paradigm, demonstrating that DAHcrtr2-ablated mice exhibit faster learning, and once performance was stable and attentional demands were increased, they manifested higher attentional capabilities. Concomitantly, the mice however displayed maladaptive patterns of reward-seeking, with behavioral indices of increased impulsivity as well as compulsivity. None of the EEG changes observed in DAHcrtr2-deficient mice were seen in dopaminergic Hcrtr1-ablated mice, which tended to show opposite EEG phenotypes. Our findings establish a clear, genetically-defined link between monosynaptic HCRT-to-dopaminergic neurotransmission and theta oscillations, with a differential and novel role of HCRTR2 in cross-frequency coupling, attentional processes, and executive functions, relevant to disorders including narcolepsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and Parkinson’s disease.
Submonolayer Biolasers for Ultrasensitive Biomarker Detection
Authors: Gong Chaoyang , Yang Xi , Tang Shui-Jing , Zhang Qian-Qian , Wang Yanqiong , Liu Yi-Ling , Chen Yu-Cheng , Peng Gang-Ding , Fan Xudong , Xiao Yun-Feng , Rao Yun-Jiang , Gong Yuan
Published: June 2023

Biomarker detection is key to identifying health risks. However, designing sensitive and single-use biosensors for early diagnosis remains a major challenge. Here, we report submonolayer lasers on optical fibers as ultrasensitive and disposable biosensors. Telecom optical fibers serve as distributed optical microcavities with high Q-factor, great repeatability, and ultralow cost, which enables whispering-gallery laser emission to detect biomarkers. It is found that the sensing performance strongly depends on the number of gain molecules. The submonolayer lasers obtained a six-order-of-magnitude improvement in the lower limit of detection (LOD) when compared to saturated monolayer lasers. We further achieve an ultrasensitive immunoassay for a Parkinson's disease biomarker, alpha-synuclein, with a lower LOD of 0.32 pM in serum. Our demonstration of submonolayer biolaser offers great potentials in high-throughput clinical diagnosis with ultimate sensitivity.
Reduction of p11 in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Serotonergic Neurons Mediates Depression-like Behaviors
Authors: Li Wei , Shen Zuqi , Yin Xuan , Chang Weiqi , Chen Xiaorong , Yu Jin , Xu Shifen
Published: June 2023

The pathology of depression is related to the imbalance of various neurotransmitters. The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), the main brain region producing 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is crucially involved in the pathophysiology of depression. It contains several neuron types, in which GABAergic neurons are activated by stimuli associated with negative experiences and 5-HT neurons are activated by reward signals. However, little is known about its underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we found that p11, a multifunctional protein associated with depression, was down-regulated by chronic social defeat stress in 5-HTDRN neurons. Knockdown of p11 in DRN induced depression-like behaviors, while its overexpression in 5-HTDRN neurons alleviated depression-like behavior caused by chronic social defeat stress. Further, p11 affected neuronal activity by regulating glutamate receptor signaling pathways in DRN neurons, suggesting a possible molecular mechanism underlying the participation of p11 in the pathological process of depression. This may facilitate the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of depression.
Alamandine attenuates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation via AMPK/eNOS axis
Authors: Luo Wanxin , Yao Chen , Sun Jie , Zhang Bo , Chen Hao , Miao Jin , Zhang Yafeng
Published: June 2023

Background
Alamandine is a newly characterized peptide of renin angiotensin system. Our study aims to investigate the osteo-preservative effects of alamandine, explore underlying mechanism and bring a potential preventive strategy for postmenopausal osteoporosis in the future.
Methods
An ovariectomy (OVX)-induced rat osteoporosis model was established for in vivo experiments. Micro-computed tomography and three-point bending test were used to evaluate bone strength. Histological femur slices were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Bone turnover markers and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in serum were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mouse embryo osteoblast precursor (MC3T3-E1) cells were used for in vitro experiments. The cell viability was analysed with a Cell Counting Kit‑8. We performed Alizarin Red S staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay to observe the differentiation status of osteoblasts. Western blotting was adopted to detect the expression of osteogenesis related proteins and AMP-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (AMPK/eNOS) in osteoblasts. DAF-FM diacetate was used for semi-quantitation of intracellular NO.
Results
In OVX rats, alamandine alleviated osteoporosis and maintained bone strength. The IHC showed alamandine increased osteocalcin and collagen type I α1 (COL1A1) expression. The ELISA revealed alamandine decreased bone turnover markers and restored NO level in serum. In MC3T3-E1 cells, alamandine promoted osteogenic differentiation. Western blotting demonstrated that alamandine upregulated the expression of osteopontin, Runt-related transcription factor 2 and COL1A1. The intracellular NO was also raised by alamandine. Additionally, the activation of AMPK/eNOS axis mediated the effects of alamandine on MC3T3-E1 cells and bone tissue. PD123319 and dorsomorphin could repress the regulating effect of alamandine on bone metabolism.
Conclusion
Alamandine attenuates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation via AMPK/eNOS axis.
Increasing Energy Efficiency and Flow Coefficient by Determining Fluid Behaviours with Computer Aided Design and CFD Analysis in Isolation Valves
Authors: OZKAN ERHAN
Published: June 2023

In this study, it was aimed to convey theoretical and practical development of the double eccentric butterfly valve, which would be the first in the sector, with highly efficient, saves energy, has a long life, and requires less maintenance. For this purpose, a prototype with lower weight and higher flow coefficient has been developed by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. Thanks to the use of computer aided design and simulation techniques, environmentally friendly and highly efficient valves have been produced, improving competitive conditions and an innovative product has been obtained in the sector. The design, CFD analysis, and casting simulation were carried out by Solidworks, ANSYS, and Anycasting computer programs respectively. At the same time, as a result of this study, a design suitable for an innovative production technique that leads to less energy and less waste has been obtained. Innovative material selection and casting techniques were used by optimizing the total material weight and valve cost.
Computational immune synapse analysis reveals T-cell interactions in distinct tumor microenvironments
Authors: Wang Victor , Liu Zichao , Martinek Jan , Zhou Jie , Boruchov Hannah , Ray Kelly , Palucka Karolina , Chuang Jeffrey
Published: June 2023

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cellular interactions within it can be critical to tumor progression and treatment response. Although technologies to generate multiplex images of the TME are advancing, the many ways in which TME imaging data can be mined to elucidate cellular interactions are only beginning to be realized. Here, we present a novel approach for multipronged computational immune synapse analysis (CISA) that reveals T-cell synaptic interactions from multiplex images. CISA enables automated discovery and quantification of immune synapse interactions based on the localization of proteins on cell membranes. We first demonstrate the ability of CISA to detect T-cell:APC (antigen presenting cell) synaptic interactions in two independent human melanoma imaging mass cytometry (IMC) tissue microarray datasets. We then generate melanoma histocytometry whole slide images and verify that CISA can detect similar interactions across data modalities. Interestingly, CISA histoctyometry analysis also reveals that T-cell:macrophage synapse formation is associated with T-cell proliferation. We next show the generality of CISA by extending it to breast cancer IMC images, finding that CISA quantifications of T-cell:B-cell synapses are predictive of improved patient survival. Our work demonstrates the biological and clinical significance of spatially resolving cell-cell synaptic interactions in the TME and provides a robust method to do so across imaging modalities and cancer types.
A new adaptive differential evolution-hybrid fuzzy PIDN controller for performance amelioration of power systems
Authors: Chintu Jagan Mohana Rao , Sahu Rabindra Kumar , ARYA YOGENDRA , Panda Sidhartha , Gorripotu Tulasichandra Sekhar
Published: June 2023

Rapidly returning back the synchronism of an inter-connected multi-area power system under continuous varying load demand conditions is documented as a distinguished issue to be tackled by automatic generation control (AGC). AGC supports to alleviate both the frequency and tie-line power deviations on occurrence of load perturbations. Therefore, a robust and intelligent controller is indispensable for an effective AGC in power system. In the current work, a hybrid fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative with filter (FPIDN) controller is employed for AGC of 2-area non-reheat/reheat thermal power systems. A new adaptive differential evolution (ADE) is exploited to adjust parameters of the controller. The dominance of the endorsed technique is revealed by evaluating it with lately published approaches. Then, the recommended scheme is extended to a realistic 4-area interconnected reheat thermal system, which includes all possible uncertainties such as generation rate constraint, boiler dynamics and governor dead band. It is perceived that the performance of the suggested ADE aided hybrid FPIDN controller provides a better response than other control techniques. Lastly, the robustness of the advocated method is tested for an extensive variety of system parameters. The stability analysis is validated by analyzing frequency domain specifications such as gain margin and phase margin. Finally, real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulations are performed to confirm the applicability of the advocated controller for AGC.
Tandemly repeated NBPF 3mer HOR copies (Olduvai triplets) in Neanderthal AltaiNea.hg19 assembly and two novel tandem arrays of NBPF 3mer HOR repeats in complete T2T-CHM13 assembly of human chromosome 1
Authors: Glunčić Matko , Vlahović Ines , Rosandić Marija , Paar Vladimir
Published: June 2023

It is known that the ~ 1.6 kb NBPF repeats are human specific and contributing to cognitive capabilities, with increasing frequency in higher order repeat 3mer HORs (Olduvai triplets). From chimpanzee to modern human there is a discontinuous jump from 0 to ~ 50 tandemly organized 3mer HORs. Here we investigate the structure of NBPF 3mer HORs in the Neanderthal genome assembly of Pääbo and collaborators, comparing it to the results obtained for human hg38.p14 chromosome 1. Our findings reveal corresponding NBPF 3mer HOR arrays in Neanderthals with slightly different monomer structures and numbers of HOR copies compared to humans. Additionally, we compute the NBPF 3mer HOR pattern for the complete telomere-to-telomere human genome assembly (T2T-CHM13) by Miga and collaborators, identifying two novel tandem arrays of NBPF 3mer HOR repeats with 5 and 9 NBPF 3mer HOR copies. We hypothesize that these arrays correspond to novel NBPF genes (here referred to as NBPFA1 and NBPFA2). Further improving the quality of the Neanderthal genome using T2T-CHM13 as a reference would be of great interest in determining the presence of such distant novel NBPF genes in the Neanderthal genome and enhancing our understanding of human evolution.
A computational approach to demonstrate the control of gene expression via chromosomal access in colorectal cancer
Authors: Pecka Caleb J. , Thapa Ishwor , Singh Amar , Bastola Dhundy
Published: June 2023

Improved technologies for chromatin accessibility sequencing such as ATAC-seq have increased our understanding of gene regulation mechanisms, particularly in disease conditions such as cancer. This study introduces a computational tool that quantifies and establishes connections between chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding, transcription factor mutations, and gene expression using publicly available colorectal cancer data. The tool has been packaged using a workflow management system to allow biologists and researchers to reproduce the results of this study. Through the application of this pipeline, we present compelling evidence linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression, with particular emphasis on SNP mutations and the accessibility of transcription factor genes. Furthermore, we have identified significant upregulation of key transcription factor interactions in colon cancer patients, including the apoptotic regulation facilitated by E2F1, MYC, and MYCN, as well as activation of the BCL-2 protein family facilitated by TP73. The code for this project is openly available on GitHub at the following address: https://github.com/CalebPecka/ATAC-Seq-Pipeline/.
Exploring the Learning Curve of Medical Students in Orthopedic Special Tests for ACL Tear Diagnosis
Authors: Dawod Moh'd S. , Alswerki Mohammad N. , Darabah Asem J. , Darabah Yazeed J.
Published: June 2023

Objectives Teaching medical students proper physical examination techniques is an integral component of their clinical training. Multiple physical examination tests exist in orthopedics, with tests for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears being conducted frequently due to the prevalence of this injury. The three most common physical examination tests are Lachman's test, anterior drawer test, and Lilli's test. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical accuracy, competence, and motor skill acquisition of medical students while performing these tests. Methods Four patients with a complete ACL tear were selected using a cross-sectional study design. Over the course of one month, the four patients were examined for ACL injury using the three specialized tests. The results of these examinations were recorded, and a statistical evaluation of the student's performance and diagnostic metrics was conducted. Results In terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy, we find that the Lachman's and anterior drawer tests perform considerably lower than Lilli's test. When compared to the other tests, students demonstrated a faster learning curve for Lilli's test. Conclusion Orthopedic special tests are notoriously difficult for medical students, despite their apparent simplicity. Special tests that are less technically demanding (Lilli's) have a shorter learning curve and can be implemented more rapidly by the students. Level of Evidence: Level 4, Cross sectional Descriptive