bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tripartite organelle platform links growth factor receptor signaling to mitochondrial metabolism
Authors: Mesa Deborah , Barbieri Elisa , Raimondi Andrea , Freddi Stefano , Miloro Giorgia , Jendrisek Gorana , Caldieri Giusi , Quarto Micaela , Schiano Lomoriello Irene , Malabarba Maria Grazia , Bresci Arianna , Manetti Francesco , Vernuccio Federico , Abdo Hind , Scita Giorgio , Lanzetti Letizia , Polli Dario , Tacchetti Carlo , Pinton Paolo , Bonora Massimo , Di Fiore Pier Paolo , Sigismund Sara
Published: June 2024

One open question in the biology of growth factor receptors is how a quantitative input (i.e., ligand concentration) is decoded by the cell to produce specific response(s). Here, we show that an EGFR endocytic mechanism, non-clathrin endocytosis (NCE), which is activated only at high ligand concentrations and targets receptor to degradation, requires a tripartite organelle platform involving the plasma membrane (PM), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. At these contact sites, EGFR-dependent, ER-generated Ca2+ oscillations are sensed by mitochondria, leading to increased metabolism and ATP production. Locally released ATP is required for cortical actin remodeling and EGFR-NCE vesicle fission. The same biochemical circuitry is also needed for an effector function of EGFR, i.e., collective motility. The multiorganelle signaling platform herein described mediates direct communication between EGFR signaling and mitochondrial metabolism, and is predicted to have a broad impact on cell physiology as it is activated by another growth factor receptor, HGFR/MET.
Subthalamic nucleus input-output dynamics are correlated with Parkinson’s burden and treatment efficacy
Authors: Liu Xiaowei , Guang Jing , Glowinsky Stefanie , Abadi Hodaya , Arkadir David , Linetsky Eduard , Abu Snineh Muneer , León Juan F. , Israel Zvi , Wang Wei , Bergman Hagai
Published: June 2024

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is pivotal in basal ganglia function in health and disease. Micro-electrode recordings of >25,000 recording sites from 146 Parkinson’s patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) allowed differentiation between subthalamic input, represented by local field potential (LFP), and output, reflected in spike discharge rate (SPK). As with many natural systems, STN neuronal activity exhibits power-law dynamics characterized by the exponent α. We, therefore, dissected STN data into aperiodic and periodic components using the Fitting Oscillations & One Over F (FOOOF) tool. STN LFP showed significantly higher aperiodic exponents than SPK. Additionally, SPK beta oscillations demonstrated a downward frequency shift compared to LFP. Finally, the STN aperiodic and spiking parameters explained a significant fraction of the variance of the burden and treatment efficacy of Parkinson’s disease. The unique STN input-output dynamics may clarify its role in Parkinson’s physiology and can be utilized in closed-loop DBS therapy.
Quantification of entanglement and coherence with purity detection
Authors: Zhang Ting , Smith Graeme , Smolin John A. , Liu Lu , Peng Xu-Jie , Zhao Qi , Girolami Davide , Ma Xiongfeng , Yuan Xiao , Lu He
Published: June 2024

Entanglement and coherence are fundamental properties of quantum systems, promising to power near-future quantum technologies, such as quantum computation, quantum communication, and quantum metrology. Yet, their quantification, rather than mere detection, generally requires reconstructing the spectrum of quantum states, i.e., experimentally challenging measurement sets that increase exponentially with the system size. Here, we demonstrate quantitative bounds to operationally useful entanglement and coherence that are universally valid, analytically computable, and experimentally friendly. Specifically, our main theoretical results are lower and upper bounds to the coherent information and the relative entropy of coherence in terms of local and global purities of quantum states. To validate our proposal, we experimentally implement two purity detection methods in an optical system: shadow estimation with random measurements and collective measurements on pairs of state copies. The experiment shows that both the coherent information and the relative entropy of coherence of pure and mixed unknown quantum states can be bounded by purity functions. Our research offers an efficient means of verifying large-scale quantum information processing.
Bio-originated mesosilicate SBA-15: synthesis, characterization, and application for heavy metal removal
Authors: Yang Wensheng , Shirazian Saeed , Soltani Roozbeh , Zare Masoud Habibi
Published: June 2024

In the path of walking on the road of sustainable and eco-friendly production methods for manufacturing nanomaterials and utilizing them in environmental applications, this article deals with the prosperous synthesis of a biogenic cyclam-functionalized homologous SBA-15 (BCFH-SBA-15). For this purpose, the agricultural waste of the extensively consumed sorghum was used as a rich source of silica in the preparation of BCFH-SBA-15 with a bimodal micro-mesoporous architecture and a substantial surface area of 325 m2 g–1 through a simple one-pot environmentally friendly approach. The material was structurally characterized through the use of different instrumental analyses such as XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. BCFH-SBA-15 proved to be highly efficient in adsorbing Ni(II) in aqueous solutions, as confirmed by the most reliable classical models utilized for determining isotherm, thermodynamic, and kinetic adsorption parameters. The Langmuir isotherm model provided the most accurate representation of the experimental results, and it was used to calculate the maximum adsorption capacity of BCFH-SBA-15 under optimal conditions (pH = 6.0, adsorbent dose = 3.00 mg, contact time = 20 min). The maximum adsorption capacity at four temperatures of 298, 303, 308, and 313 K was estimated to be 243.36, 253.87, 260.95, and 266.28 mg g–1, respectively; surpassing most previously reported adsorbents for Ni(II) adsorption. The thermodynamic data of Ni(II) adsorption on the BCFH-SBA-15 indicated a strong chemisorption ($${\triangle H}_{{\rm{ads}}.}^{\circ }$$

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Microscopy Image Dataset for Deep Learning-Based Quantitative Assessment of Pulmonary Vascular Changes
Authors: Sinitca Aleksandr M. , Lyanova Asya I. , Kaplun Dmitrii I. , Hassan Hassan , Krasichkov Alexander S. , Sanarova Kseniia E. , Shilenko Leonid A. , Sidorova Elizaveta E. , Akhmetova Anna A. , Vaulina Dariya D. , Karpov Andrei A.
Published: June 2024

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a syndrome complex that accompanies a number of diseases of different etiologies, associated with basic mechanisms of structural and functional changes of the pulmonary circulation vessels and revealed pressure increasing in the pulmonary artery. The structural changes in the pulmonary circulation vessels are the main limiting factor determining the prognosis of patients with PH. Thickening and irreversible deposition of collagen in the pulmonary artery branches walls leads to rapid disease progression and a therapy effectiveness decreasing. In this regard, histological examination of the pulmonary circulation vessels is critical both in preclinical studies and clinical practice. However, measurements of quantitative parameters such as the average vessel outer diameter, the vessel walls area, and the hypertrophy index claimed significant time investment and the requirement for specialist training to analyze micrographs. A dataset of pulmonary circulation vessels for pathology assessment using semantic segmentation techniques based on deep-learning is presented in this work. 609 original microphotographs of vessels, numerical data from experts’ measurements, and microphotographs with outlines of these measurements for each of the vessels are presented. Furthermore, here we cite an example of a deep learning pipeline using the U-Net semantic segmentation model to extract vascular regions. The presented database will be useful for the development of new software solutions for the analysis of histological micrograph.
VectAbundance: a spatio-temporal database of Aedes mosquitoes observations
Authors: Da Re Daniele , Marini Giovanni , Bonannella Carmelo , Laurini Fabrizio , Manica Mattia , Anicic Nikoleta , Albieri Alessandro , Angelini Paola , Arnoldi Daniele , Blaha Marharyta , Bertola Federica , Caputo Beniamino , De Liberato Claudio , della Torre Alessandra , Flacio Eleonora , Franceschini Alessandra , Gradoni Francesco , Kadriaj Përparim , Lencioni Valeria , Del Lesto Irene , La Russa Francesco , Lia Riccardo Paolo , Montarsi Fabrizio , Otranto Domenico , L’Ambert Gregory , Rizzoli Annapaola , Rombolà Pasquale , Romiti Federico , Stancher Gionata , Torina Alessandra , Velo Enkelejda , Virgillito Chiara , Zandonai Fabiana , Rosà Roberto
Published: June 2024

Modelling approaches play a crucial role in supporting local public health agencies by estimating and forecasting vector abundance and seasonality. However, the reliability of these models is contingent on the availability of standardized, high-quality data. Addressing this need, our study focuses on collecting and harmonizing egg count observations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus, obtained through ovitraps in monitoring and surveillance efforts across Albania, France, Italy, and Switzerland from 2010 to 2022. We processed the raw observations to obtain a continuous time series of ovitraps observations allowing for an extensive geographical and temporal coverage of Ae. albopictus population dynamics. The resulting post-processed observations are stored in the open-access database VectAbundance.This initiative addresses the critical need for accessible, high-quality data, enhancing the reliability of modelling efforts and bolstering public health preparedness.
A phenomenological inquiry into farmers’ experiences growing cotton in Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Ashraf Saleem , Ch Khalid Mahmood , Ashraf Ijaz , Akbar Nadeem
Published: June 2024

Sustainability in cotton production is inevitable because producing more cotton means more employment, economic acceleration, and industrial expansion. India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan contribute 74% of worldwide cotton production. Pakistan is contributing only 5%, despite the high potential of cotton. The average yield of cotton in Pakistan is stagnant at 570.99 kg hm−2, whereas it entails the highest cost of production among all other crops. The yield obtained in Pakistan is less than the potential, profitability is drastically lessening, and farmers are abandoning cotton for alternative kharif crops. Some traditional quantitative studies have unveiled different factors that affect cotton production. However, an in-depth qualitative study has never been conducted in Pakistan to explore the root causes of growing cotton crop failure. Following Moustakas’s traditional phenomenological guidelines, this phenomenological study was conducted in the district of Rahim Yar Khan in the core cotton zone of Punjab province. A total of 10 interviews were conducted with purposively selected cotton growers based on a criterion: (i) having more than 10 years of cotton growing experience, (ii) being a cotton grower, and (iii) having at least 10 years of formal schooling. Interviews were conducted face to face on an interview guide. One interview lasted 45–50 min, and responses were recorded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. A total of 6 themes emerged from the collected data, including (i) climate change, (ii) varietal problems, (iii) pesticide usage, (iv) sense of institutional services, (v) attitude of farmers and (vi) soil health and environment. These six merging themes contributed to cotton crop failure and yield decline. The deep exploration further summarized that researchers, extensionists, and farmers need to seriously consider variety, sowing time, and the environment to revive cotton crops. The detailed recommendations and policy guidelines are presented in this paper, highlighting the cotton sector’s research, development and investment areas.
Assessment of the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on intercultural communication among postgraduate students in a multicultural university environment
Authors: Sarwari Abdul Qahar , Javed Muhammad Naeem , Mohd Adnan Hamedi , Abdul Wahab Mohammad Nubli
Published: June 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) broadly influences different aspects of human life, especially human communication. One of the main concerns of the broad use of AI in daily interactions among different people could be whether it helps them interact easily or complicates their interactions. To answer the mentioned question, this study assessed the impacts of AI on intercultural communication among postgraduate students in a multicultural university environment. A newly developed survey instrument was used to conduct this study. The participants of this study were 115 postgraduate students from nine different countries. The descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and Bivariate correlation tests of the 29th version of IBM-SPSS software were used to analyze the quantitative data, and inductive coding and conceptual content analysis were used to code and analyze the qualitative data. Based on descriptive results, the vast majority (93%) of the participants already used and experienced AI in their daily lives, and the majority of them believed that AI and AI technologies connect different cultures, reduce language and cultural barriers, and help people of different cultures to interact and be connected. Based on the results from the correlation test, there were strong positive correlations between AI attitudes and AI benefits, and also between AI regulation and AI benefits.
Vat photopolymerization printing of functionalized hydrogels on commercial contact lenses
Authors: Hisham Muhammed , Butt Haider
Published: June 2024

Contact lenses are widely used for vision correction and cosmetic purposes. Smart contact lenses offer further opportunities as functionalized non-invasive devices capable of simultaneous vision correction, real-time health monitoring and patient specific drug delivery. Herein, a low-cost vat photopolymerization technique is developed for directly 3D printing functionalized structures on commercially available contact lenses. The process enables controlled deposition of functionalized hydrogels, in customizable patterns, on the commercial contact lens surface with negligible optical losses. Multi-functional contact lenses can also be 3D printed with multiple materials deposited at different regions of the contact lens. Herein, the functionalities of colour blindness correction and real-time UV monitoring are demonstrated, by employing three suitable dyes incorporated into 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hydrogel structures printed on contact lenses. The results suggest that 3D printing can pave the way towards simple production of low-cost patient specific smart contact lenses.
Contactless vital signs monitoring in macaques using a mm-wave FMCW radar
Authors: Zhang Jiajin , Hu Renjie , Chen Lichang , Gao Yu , Wu Dong-Dong
Published: June 2024

Heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) play an important role in the study of complex behaviors and their physiological correlations in non-human primates (NHPs). However, collecting HR and RR information is often challenging, involving either invasive implants or tedious behavioral training, and there are currently few established simple and non-invasive techniques for HR and RR measurement in NHPs owing to their stress response or indocility. In this study, we employed a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar to design a novel contactless HR and RR monitoring system. The designed system can estimate HR and RR in real time by placing the FMCW radar on the cage and facing the chest of both awake and anesthetized macaques, the NHP investigated in this study. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing methods, with averaged absolute errors between the reference monitor and radar estimates of 0.77 beats per minute (bpm) and 1.29 respirations per minute (rpm) for HR and RR, respectively. In summary, we believe that the proposed non-invasive and contactless estimation method could be generalized as a HR and RR monitoring tool for NHPs. Furthermore, after modifying the radar signal-processing algorithms, it also shows promise for applications in other experimental animals for animal welfare, behavioral, neurological, and ethological research.
A qualitative assessment of limits of active flight in low density atmospheres
Authors: Pajusalu Mihkel , Seager Sara , Huang Jingcheng , Petkowski Janusz J.
Published: June 2024

Exoplanet atmospheres are expected to vary significantly in thickness and chemical composition, leading to a continuum of differences in surface pressure and atmospheric density. This variability is exemplified within our Solar System, where the four rocky planets exhibit surface pressures ranging from 1 nPa on Mercury to 9.2 MPa on Venus. The direct effects and potential challenges of atmospheric pressure and density on life have rarely been discussed. For instance, atmospheric density directly affects the possibility of active flight in organisms, a critical factor since without it, dispersing across extensive and inhospitable terrains becomes a major limitation for the expansion of complex life. In this paper, we propose the existence of a critical atmospheric density threshold below which active flight is unfeasible, significantly impacting biosphere development. To qualitatively assess this threshold and differentiate it from energy availability constraints, we analyze the limits of active flight on Earth, using the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. We subjected Drosophila melanogaster to various atmospheric density scenarios and reviewed previous data on flight limitations. Our observations show that flies in an N2-enriched environment recover active flying abilities more efficiently than those in a helium-enriched environment, highlighting behavioral differences attributable to atmospheric density vs. oxygen deprivation.
A novel efficient strategy to generate liver sinusoidal endothelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Tian Shang-Ping , Ge Jian-Yun , Song Yu-Mu , Yu Xiao-Qing , Chen Wen-Hao , Chen Yu-Ying , Ye Di , Zheng Yun-Wen
Published: June 2024

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are highly specialized endothelial cells (ECs) that play an important role in liver development and regeneration. Additionally, it is involved in various pathological processes, including steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the rapid dedifferentiation of LSECs after culture greatly limits their use in vitro modeling for biomedical applications. In this study, we developed a highly efficient protocol to induce LSEC-like cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in only 8 days. Using single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we identified several novel LSEC-specific markers, such as EPAS1, LIFR, and NID1, as well as several previously revealed markers, such as CLEC4M, CLEC1B, CRHBP and FCN3. These LSEC markers are specifically expressed in our LSEC-like cells. Furthermore, hiPSC-derived cells expressed LSEC-specific proteins and exhibited LSEC-related functions, such as the uptake of acetylated low density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) and immune complex endocytosis. Overall, this study confirmed that our novel protocol allowed hiPSCs to rapidly acquire an LSEC-like phenotype and function in vitro. The ability to generate LSECs efficiently and rapidly may help to more precisely mimic liver development and disease progression in a liver-specific multicellular microenvironment, offering new insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Enteric viral pathogens and child growth among under-five children: findings from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Das Rina , Haque Md. Ahshanul , Kotloff Karen L. , Nasrin Dilruba , Hossain M. Jahangir , Sur Dipika , Ahmed Tahmeed , Levine Myron M. , Breiman Robert F. , Faruque A. S. G. , Freeman Matthew C.
Published: June 2024

Enteric viral pathogens are associated with a significant burden of childhood morbidity and mortality. We investigated the relationship between viral pathogens and child growth among under-5 children. We analyzed data from 5572/22,567 children enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study across seven study sites (2007–2011). Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between the viral pathogens and changes of length/height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-length/height (WHZ) z-scores, stratified by diarrheal symptoms and adjusted for potential covariates. Rotavirus (18.51%) and norovirus (7.33%) were the most prevalent enteric viral pathogens among symptomatic and asymptomatic under-5 children, respectively. Infection with individual enteric viral pathogens hurts child growth in asymptomatic children. However, the relationship with HAZ was less clear and statistically non-significant. On the other hand, the combined viral pathogens demonstrated a strong negative influence on child growth [WAZ: β coef.: − 0.10 (95%, CI − 0.15, − 0.05); P < 0.001 and WHZ: β: − 0.12 (95% CI − 0.17, − 0.07); P < 0.001] among asymptomatic children. Infection with any viral pathogen was associated with growth shortfalls [HAZ: β: − 0.05 (95% CI − 0.09, 0.00); P = 0.03 and WAZ: β: − 0.11 (95% CI − 0.16, − 0.07); P < 0.001 and WHZ: β: − 0.13 (95% CI − 0.18, − 0.09); P < 0.001], though the relationship with HAZ was less evident and became statistically non-significant in older children. Notably, among symptomatic children with moderate-to-severe diarrhea, individual enteric viral pathogens, as well as the combined effects of these pathogens [WHZ: β: 0.07; (95% CI 0.01, 0.14); P = 0.03] and the presence of any virus [HAZ: β: 0.09 (95% CI 0.05, 0.13) & WAZ: β: 0.08 (95% CI 0.03, 0.12); P < 0.001], exhibited positive effects on child growth. While previous studies hypothesized that several viral pathogens had a conflicting controversial role in child growth, we find clear indications that enteric viral pathogens are associated with growth shortfalls, specifically among asymptomatic children. These findings highlight the need for preventive strategies targeting children with enteric viral pathogens, which could address the consequences of growth faltering.
Rapid mapping of global flood precursors and impacts using novel five-day GRACE solutions
Authors: Rateb Ashraf , Save Himanshu , Sun Alexander Y. , Scanlon Bridget R.
Published: June 2024

Floods affect communities and ecosystems worldwide, emphasizing the importance of identifying their precursors and enhancing resilience to these events. Here, we calculated Antecedent Total Water Storage (ATWS) anomalies from the new 5-day (5D) Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellite solutions to enhance the detection of pre-flood and active flood conditions and to map post-flood storage anomalies. The GRACE data were compared with ~ 3300 flood events reported by the Dartmouth Flood Observatory (2002–2021), revealing distinct ATWS precursor signals in 5D solutions, in contrast to the monthly solutions. Specifically, floods caused by saturation-excess runoff—triggered by persistent rainfall, monsoonal patterns, snowmelt, or rain-on-snow events—show detectable ATWS increases 15 to 50 days before and during floods, providing a valuable opportunity to improve flood monitoring. These 5D solutions also facilitate a more rapid mapping of post-flood storage changes to assess flood recovery from tropical cyclones and sub-monthly weather extremes. Our findings show the promising potential of 5D GRACE solutions, which are still in the development phase, for future integration into operational frameworks to enhance flood detection and recovery, facilitating the rapid analysis of storage changes relative to monthly solutions.
The pigeon circovirus evolution, epidemiology and interaction with the host immune system under One Loft Race rearing conditions
Authors: Stenzel Tomasz , Dziewulska Daria , Łukaszuk Ewa , Custer Joy M. , De Koch Matthew D. , Kraberger Simona , Varsani Arvind
Published: June 2024

This study was aimed to investigate the frequency of PiCV recombination, the kinetics of PiCV viremia and shedding and the correlation between viral replication and host immune response in young pigeons subclinically infected with various PiCV variants and kept under conditions mimicking the OLR system. Fifteen racing pigeons originating from five breeding facilities were housed together for six weeks. Blood and cloacal swab samples were collected from birds every seven days to recover complete PiCV genomes and determine PiCV genetic diversity and recombination dynamics, as well as to assess virus shedding rate, level of viremia, expression of selected genes and level of anti-PiCV antibodies. Three hundred and eighty-eight complete PiCV genomes were obtained and thirteen genotypes were distinguished. Twenty-five recombination events were detected. Recombinants emerged during the first three weeks of the experiment which was consistent with the peak level of viremia and viral shedding. A further decrease in viremia and shedding partially corresponded with IFN-γ and MX1 gene expression and antibody dynamics. Considering the role of OLR pigeon rearing system in spreading infectious agents and allowing their recombination, it would be reasonable to reflect on the relevance of pigeon racing from both an animal welfare and epidemiological perspective.
Prediction of preventive behaviors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the endemic areas of northwest Iran: an application of BASNEF model
Authors: Moradi-Asl Eslam , Latifi Arman , Rashtbari Mahsa , Abbasi-Ghahramanloo Abbas , Rahimi Sara
Published: June 2024

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and is endemic in many regions of the world and Iran, and annually imposes a large burden on the health system. This study was conducted to identify the effective factors in the preventive behaviors of CL based on the BASNEF model in endemic areas in the northwest of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Bileh-Savar, ‘endemic areas of Ardabil Province, Iran’, from June 2022 to October 2022. 200 non-patients were included in the study by a multi-stage sampling method. A standard questionnaire based on the BASNEF model was applied for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Means and standard deviations were calculated to describe the continuous variables, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the prediction of intention and behavior by the model structures. The BASNEF constructs predict 27% of behavioral intention changes. Among the constructs, attitude has a greater contribution in predicting changes (R2 = 0.27, p < 0.01). Also, the results showed that the BASNEF constructs predict 23% of behavior changes. Among the constructs, enabling factors have a greater contribution to predicting changes (R2 = 0.23, p < 0.01). This finding shows that behavior is more influenced by environmental factors, and educational interventions based on behavior change models, along with providing environmental conditions, can facilitate behavior change.
Evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of whole-body MRI versus 123I-mIBG/131I-mIBG imaging in metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Mori Hiroshi , Wakabayashi Hiroshi , Saito Shintaro , Nakajima Kenichi , Yoshida Kotaro , Hiromasa Tomo , Kinuya Seigo
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to compare tumor lesion detectability and diagnostic accuracy of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) and radioiodine-labeled meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (mIBG) imaging techniques in patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). This retrospective study included 13 patients had pheochromocytoma and 5 had paraganglioma, who were all suspected of having metastatic tumors. Each patient underwent WB-MRI and 123I-mIBG as a pretreatment screening for 131I-mIBG therapy. Two expert reviewers evaluated WB-MRI, 123I-mIBG images, and post-therapy 131I-mIBG images for the presence of metastatic lesions in the lungs, bones, liver, lymph nodes, and other organs. Diagnostic measures for detecting metastatic lesions, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and receiver operating characteristics (ROC)—area under the curve (AUC), were calculated for each imaging technique. We analyzed WB-MRI images for detecting metastatic lesions, which demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, NPV, and AUC of 82%, 97%, 90%, 96%, 86%, and 0.92, respectively. These values were 83%, 95%, 89%, 94%, 86%, and 0.90 in 123I-mIBG images and 85%, 92%, 89%, 91%, 87%, and 0.91 in post-therapy 131I-mIBG images, respectively. Our results reveal the comparable diagnostic accuracy of WB-MRI to one of the mIBG images.
Discovering tungsten-based composites as plasma facing materials for future high-duty cycle nuclear fusion reactors
Authors: Marchhart Trevor , Hargrove Chase , Marin Alexandru , Schamis Hanna , Saefan Ashrakat , Lang Eric , Wang Xing , Allain Jean Paul
Published: June 2024

Despite of excellent thermal properties and high sputtering resistance, pure tungsten cannot fully satisfy the requirements for plasma facing materials in future high-duty cycle nuclear fusion reactions due to the coupled extreme environments, including the high thermal loads, plasma exposure, and radiation damage. Here, we demonstrated that tungsten-based composite materials fabricated using spark-plasma sintering (SPS) present promising solutions to these challenges. Through the examination of two model systems, i.e., tungsten-zirconium composite for producing porous tungsten near the surface and dispersoid-strengthened tungsten, we discussed both the strengths and limitations of the SPS-fabricated materials. Our findings point towards the need for future studies aimed at optimizing the SPS process to achieve desired microstructures and effective control of oxygen impurities in the tungsten-based composite materials.
Synthesis of Gemini-type imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt using by-product fatty acid as corrosion inhibitor for Q235 steel
Authors: Ma Yuting , Qi Weijun , Yu Min , Huang Nengkun , Li Ruiming , Tan Jihuai , Zhu Xinbao
Published: June 2024

Gemini-type imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt is a new type of environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor has been widely used in engineering materials. However, most of them are hazardous/toxic compounds derived from petroleum-based products, which did harm to environment. In this work, an environmentally friendly Gemini-shaped imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt corrosion inhibitor (G211) was synthesized using cheap fatty acid recycled from dimer acid industry as feedstock. The corrosion inhibition effects of G211 on Q235 steel in 1 M HCl solution were investigated through weight loss experiments, potential polarization curves, and alternating current impedance spectroscopy experiments. The results show that the inhibition rate of G211 as a mixed-type inhibitor is up to 94.4% and the concentration drop as low as 500 ppm at 25 ℃. The adsorption of G211 on Q235 surface follows Langmuir adsorption isothermal curve. The chemical composition of the Q235 steel surface was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the possible corrosion inhibition mechanism of G211 on the surface of Q235 steel is proposed. This article not only presents an outstanding solution for safeguarding Q235 steel against corrosion but also introduces a feasible method for high-value utilization of monomer acid (MA).
Exploring e-sports fans’ motivation for watching live streams based on self-determination theory
Authors: Tang Yuxin , Zhang Xiaowen , Zan Shengfeng
Published: June 2024

This study seeks to examine the multifaceted influences of diverse motivational factors on the live streaming engagement of e-sports fans based on self-determination theory. While previous research has focused on the offline participation in e-sports events, the shift towards live streaming engagement has created a new and underexplored area: the motivations for live streaming viewing among e-sports fans. Consequently, this research develops an e-sports Live Streaming Viewing Motivation Scale for evaluating both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations underlying e-sports fans’ live streaming engagement, and then utilises SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. Subsequently, multiple linear regression analysis of 1052 questionnaires is employed to construct models and evaluate hypotheses. Findings indicate that : (1) Intrinsic motivation exhibits significant impact on the live viewing behaviour of e-sports fans. (2) However, the impact of extrinsic motivation is insignificant. (3) When both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations coexist, intrinsic motivation maintains a positive impact, whereas extrinsic motivation demonstrates a negative influence. (4) The motivational influence is multifaceted; notably, dimensions such as idol worship, leisure entertainment, and competitive stimulation positively affect live viewing motivation, while belonging identification, social engagement, and peripheral activities exert a negative impact. In conclusion, intrinsic motivation emerges as the primary driving force behind e-sports fans’ live streaming viewing behaviour. Extrinsic motivation fails to independently influence live streaming engagement and even dampens enthusiasm when combined with intrinsic motivation. Theoretically, this study contributes to the existing literature on Self-determination theory and motivations behind e-sports live streaming viewing behaviour. It not only refines the motivation scale, but also elucidates the impact of various motivations on viewing behaviour. Practically, it provides insights for optimising e-sports products and services.
Study on the effect of rubber content on the frost resistance of steel fiber reinforced rubber concrete
Authors: Jiang Lei , Jing Jiahua , Zhang Ming , Yang Shuai
Published: June 2024

In cold areas, the steel fiber reinforced rubber concrete (SFRRC) pavement is exposed to natural environment and experiences varying degrees of damage from freezing and thawing. This can have a serious impact on the normal usage and safe operation of the pavement structure. This research examines the impact of varying rubber concentrations on multiple variables, such as the rate of mass reduction, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, compressive strength, and thickness of the damage layer (Hf) during freeze–thaw (F-T) durability testing conducted on SFRRC. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted to determine the degradation pattern exhibited by SFRRC. The internal structure evolution and pore structure characteristics of SFRRC were examined using scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry techniques, which revealed the underlying damage mechanism in SFRRC during F-T cycles. The results suggest that the addition of an appropriate amount of rubber can effectively enhance the frost resistance of SFRRC in water. A gradual improvement in the frost resistance of SFRRC is observed when increasing the rubber content from 0 to 10%. The optimal frost resistance is observed in SFRRC with 10% rubber content. However, when the rubber content reaches 15%, SFRRC exhibits significant degradation and lower level of resistance to freezing compared to SFRRC without rubber. Microcracks form within SFRRC due to the freezing–thawing forces experienced during the experiment, resulting in the development of a damage layer that extends from the surface to the interior. The compressive strength of the damaged layer significantly decreases as Hf increases. The addition of appropriate rubber in SFRRC improves its pore structure, leading to an increased proportion of harmless or less harmful pores and a reduction in average pore size, thereby significantly enhancing its frost resistance.
A very lightweight image super-resolution network
Authors: Bai Haomou , Liang Xiao
Published: June 2024

Recently, ConvNeXt and blueprint separable convolution (BSConv) constructed from standard ConvNet modules have demonstrated competitive performance in advanced computer vision tasks. This paper proposes an efficient model (BCRN) based on BSConv and the ConvNeXt residual structure for single image super-resolution, which achieves superior performance with very low parametric numbers. Specifically, the residual block (BCB) of the BCRN utilizes the ConvNeXt residual structure and BSConv to significantly reduce the number of parameters. Within the residual block, enhanced spatial attention and contrast-aware channel attention modules are simultaneously introduced to prioritize valuable features within the network. Multiple residual blocks are then stacked to form the backbone network, with Dense connections utilized between them to enhance feature utilization. Our model boasts extremely low parameters compared to other state-of-the-art lightweight models, while experimental results on benchmark datasets demonstrate its excellent performance. The code will be available at https://github.com/kptx666/BCRN.
Metagenomic and culture-dependent analysis of Rhinopithecius bieti gut microbiota and characterization of a novel genus of Sphingobacteriaceae
Authors: Wang Qiong , Zhan Peng-Chao , Han Xiu-Lin , Lu Tao
Published: June 2024

Culture-dependent and metagenomic binning techniques were employed to gain an insight into the diversification of gut bacteria in Rhinopithecius bieti, a highly endangered primate endemic to China. Our analyses revealed that Bacillota_A and Bacteroidota were the dominant phyla. These two phyla species are rich in carbohydrate active enzymes, which could provide nutrients and energy for their own or hosts’ survival under different circumstances. Among the culturable bacteria, one novel bacterium, designated as WQ 2009T, formed a distinct branch that had a low similarity to the known species in the family Sphingobacteriaceae, based on the phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence or phylogenomic analysis. The ANI, dDDH and AAI values between WQ 2009T and its most closely related strains S. kitahiroshimense 10CT, S. pakistanense NCCP-246T and S. faecium DSM 11690T were significantly lower than the accepted cut-off values for microbial species delineation. All results demonstrated that WQ 2009T represent a novel genus, for which names Rhinopithecimicrobium gen. nov. and Rhinopithecimicrobium faecis sp. nov. (Type strain WQ 2009T = CCTCC AA 2021153T = KCTC 82941T) are proposed.
Investigating the impact of a large river and its surrounding contextual conditions on pedestrians’ summer thermal perceptions in a Cfa-climate city
Authors: Liu Ting , Wang Siqi , Zhang Jian , He Lintai , Cheng Bin , Peng Huiyun , Liu Fanchun , Tan Bo , Shang Xiaowei , Liu Fan
Published: June 2024

Thermal comfort studies are usually employed to find subjective thermal responses [indicated by neutral temperature (NT), i.e. the temperature with no thermal stress] of residents from a region towards thermal environments. According to the recently published works in the literature, NTs are affected by many factors, such as geographical location and microenvironments. To elucidate the origins of these effects, the impact of microenvironment elements around a water surface on pedestrians’ thermal perceptions was systematically investigated in this work. The Fujiang River (FJR) in Mianyang City was taken as the sample site. The municipal meteorology station is located next to the site by around 2.5 km. By performing meteorology measurements combining questionnaires, it was found that the riverside NT (indicated by physiologically equivalent temperature, PET) of Mianyang in the summer of 2023 was 21.4 °C. The relationship between the distance from the water (DFW) and NT was quadratic linear. The same phenomenon took place by using either PET or Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) indexes. Meanwhile, the meteorological contexts also affected NTs, including relative humidity (RH) and air velocity (Va). Regarding RH, the NPET increased from 15.2 °C (RH = 50%) to 26.9 °C (RH = 90%). In contrast, the NPET dropped from 23.0 to − 50.6 °C when the Va increased from 0.2 to 2.5 m/s, respectively. From our analysis, it was demonstrated that human thermal responses are significantly affected by both the microenvironmental and meteorological backgrounds around the water surface. Our work provides valuable insights for the proper use of water surfaces in urban design for adjusting thermal comfort.
Eco-evolutionary processes shaping floral nectar sugar composition
Authors: Liu Yicong , Dunker Susanne , Durka Walter , Dominik Christophe , Heuschele Jonna M. , Honchar Hanna , Hoffmann Petra , Musche Martin , Paxton Robert J. , Settele Josef , Schweiger Oliver
Published: June 2024

Floral nectar sugar composition is assumed to reflect the nutritional demands and foraging behaviour of pollinators, but the relative contributions of evolutionary and abiotic factors to nectar sugar composition remain largely unknown across the angiosperms. We compiled a comprehensive dataset on nectar sugar composition for 414 insect-pollinated plant species across central Europe, along with phylogeny, paleoclimate, flower morphology, and pollinator dietary demands, to disentangle their relative effects. We found that phylogeny was strongly related with nectar sucrose content, which increased with the phylogenetic age of plant families, but even more strongly with historic global surface temperature. Nectar sugar composition was also defined by floral morphology, though it was not related to our functional measure of pollinator dietary demands. However, specialist pollinators of current plant-pollinator networks predominantly visited plant species with sucrose-rich nectar. Our results suggest that both physiological mechanisms related to plant water balance and evolutionary effects related to paleoclimatic changes have shaped floral nectar sugar composition during the radiation and specialisation of plants and pollinators. As a consequence, the high velocity of current climate change may affect plant-pollinator interaction networks due to a conflicting combination of immediate physiological responses and phylogenetic conservatism.
Complete mitogenome and intra-family comparative mitogenomics showed distinct position of Pama Croaker Otolithoides pama
Authors: Siddika Most Ayesha , Ahmed Khandaker Asif , Alam Mohammad Shamimul , Bushra Jannatul , Begum Rowshan Ara
Published: June 2024

The Pama Croaker, Otolithoides pama, is an economically important fish species in Bangladesh. Intra-family similarities in morphology and typical barcode sequences of cox1 create ambiguities in its identification. Therefore, morphology and the complete mitochondrial genome of O. pama, and comparative mitogenomics within the family Sciaenidae have been studied. Extracted genomic DNA was subjected to Illumina-based short read sequencing for De-Novo mitogenome assembly. The complete mitogenome of O. pama (Accession: OQ784575.1) was 16,513 bp, with strong AC biasness and strand asymmetry. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) among 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) of O. pama was also analyzed. The studied mitogenomes including O. pama exhibited consistent sizes and gene orders, except for the genus Johnius which possessed notably longer mitogenomes with unique gene rearrangements. Different genetic distance metrics across 30 species of Sciaenidae family demonstrated 12S rRNA and the control region (CR) as the most conserved and variable regions, respectively, while most of the PCGs undergone a purifying selection. Different phylogenetic trees were congruent with one another, where O. pama was distinctly placed. This study would contribute to distinguishing closely related fish species of Sciaenidae family and can be instrumental in conserving the genetic diversity of O. pama.
Multilingual end-to-end ASR for low-resource Turkic languages with common alphabets
Authors: Bekarystankyzy Akbayan , Mamyrbayev Orken , Mendes Mateus , Fazylzhanova Anar , Assam Muhammad
Published: June 2024

To obtain a reliable and accurate automatic speech recognition (ASR) machine learning model, it is necessary to have sufficient audio data transcribed, for training. Many languages in the world, especially the agglutinative languages of the Turkic family, suffer from a lack of this type of data. Many studies have been conducted in order to obtain better models for low-resource languages, using different approaches. The most popular approaches include multilingual training and transfer learning. In this study, we combined five agglutinative languages from the Turkic family—Kazakh, Bashkir, Kyrgyz, Sakha, and Tatar,—in order to provide multilingual training using connectionist temporal classification and an attention mechanism including a language model, because these languages have cognate words, sentence formation rules, and alphabet (Cyrillic). Data from the open-source database Common voice was used for the study, to make the experiments reproducible. The results of the experiments showed that multilingual training could improve ASR performances for all languages included in the experiment, except Bashkir language. A dramatic result was achieved for the Kyrgyz language: word error rate decreased to nearly one-fifth and character error rate decreased to one-fourth, which proves that this approach can be helpful for critically low-resource languages.
Bimodality in simulated precipitation frequency distributions and its relationship with convective parameterizations
Authors: Ahn Min-Seop , Ullrich Paul A. , Lee Jiwoo , Gleckler Peter J. , Ma Hsi-Yen , Terai Christopher R. , Bogenschutz Peter A. , Ordonez Ana C.
Published: June 2024

Bimodality in precipitation frequency distributions is often evident in atmospheric models, but rarely in observations. This study i) proposes a metric to objectively quantify the bimodality in precipitation distributions, ii) evaluates model simulations contributed to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) phase 5 (CMIP5), phase 6 (CMIP6), and the DYnamics of the Atmospheric general circulation Modeled On Non-hydrostatic Domains (DYAMOND) project by comparing them to satellite-based and reanalysis precipitation products, and iii) investigates possible origins of bimodal precipitation distributions. Our results reveal that about 83% (20 out of 24) of CMIP5 and 70% (21 out of 30) of CMIP6 models used in this study exhibit bimodal distributions. The few DYAMOND models that use a deep convective parameterization also show bimodal distributions, while most DYAMOND models do not. Predictably, the bimodality originates from the separation of precipitation process between resolved grid-scale and parameterized subgrid-scale. However, in a larger number of models bimodality arises from the parameterized subgrid-scale convective precipitation alone.