bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disproportionate declines of formerly abundant species underlie insect loss
Authors: van Klink Roel , Bowler Diana E. , Gongalsky Konstantin B. , Shen Minghua , Swengel Scott R. , Chase Jonathan M.
Published: December 2023

Studies have reported widespread declines in terrestrial insect abundances in recent years1–4, but trends in other biodiversity metrics are less clear-cut5–7. Here we examined long-term trends in 923 terrestrial insect assemblages monitored in 106 studies, and found concomitant declines in abundance and species richness. For studies that were resolved to species level (551 sites in 57 studies), we observed a decline in the number of initially abundant species through time, but not in the number of very rare species. At the population level, we found that species that were most abundant at the start of the time series showed the strongest average declines (corrected for regression-to-the-mean effects). Rarer species were, on average, also declining, but these were offset by increases of other species. Our results suggest that the observed decreases in total insect abundance2 can mostly be explained by widespread declines of formerly abundant species. This counters the common narrative that biodiversity loss is mostly characterized by declines of rare species8,9. Although our results suggest that fundamental changes are occurring in insect assemblages, it is important to recognize that they represent only trends from those locations for which sufficient long-term data are available. Nevertheless, given the importance of abundant species in ecosystems10, their general declines are likely to have broad repercussions for food webs and ecosystem functioning.
Cryo-EM structures of PP2A:B55–FAM122A and PP2A:B55–ARPP19
Authors: Padi Sathish K. R. , Vos Margaret R. , Godek Rachel J. , Fuller James R. , Kruse Thomas , Hein Jamin B. , Nilsson Jakob , Kelker Matthew S. , Page Rebecca , Peti Wolfgang
Published: December 2023

Progression through the cell cycle is controlled by regulated and abrupt changes in phosphorylation1. Mitotic entry is initiated by increased phosphorylation of mitotic proteins, a process driven by kinases2, whereas mitotic exit is achieved by counteracting dephosphorylation, a process driven by phosphatases, especially PP2A:B553. Although the role of kinases in mitotic entry is well established, recent data have shown that mitosis is only successfully initiated when the counterbalancing phosphatases are also inhibited4. Inhibition of PP2A:B55 is achieved by the intrinsically disordered proteins ARPP195,6 and FAM122A7. Despite their critical roles in mitosis, the mechanisms by which they achieve PP2A:B55 inhibition is unknown. Here, we report the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of PP2A:B55 bound to phosphorylated ARPP19 and FAM122A. Consistent with our complementary NMR spectroscopy studies, both intrinsically disordered proteins bind PP2A:B55, but do so in highly distinct manners, leveraging multiple distinct binding sites on B55. Our extensive structural, biophysical and biochemical data explain how substrates and inhibitors are recruited to PP2A:B55 and provide a molecular roadmap for the development of therapeutic interventions for PP2A:B55-related diseases.
Protracted neuronal recruitment in the temporal lobes of young children
Authors: Nascimento Marcos Assis , Biagiotti Sean , Herranz-Pérez Vicente , Santiago Samara , Bueno Raymund , Ye Chun J. , Abel Taylor J. , Zhang Zhuangzhi , Rubio-Moll Juan S. , Kriegstein Arnold R. , Yang Zhengang , Garcia-Verdugo Jose Manuel , Huang Eric J. , Alvarez-Buylla Arturo , Sorrells Shawn F.
Published: December 2023

The temporal lobe of the human brain contains the entorhinal cortex (EC). This region of the brain is a highly interconnected integrative hub for sensory and spatial information; it also has a key role in episodic memory formation and is the main source of cortical hippocampal inputs1–4. The human EC continues to develop during childhood5, but neurogenesis and neuronal migration to the EC are widely considered to be complete by birth. Here we show that the human temporal lobe contains many young neurons migrating into the postnatal EC and adjacent regions, with a large tangential stream persisting until the age of around one year and radial dispersal continuing until around two to three years of age. By contrast, we found no equivalent postnatal migration in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Immunostaining and single-nucleus RNA sequencing of ganglionic eminence germinal zones, the EC stream and the postnatal EC revealed that most migrating cells in the EC stream are derived from the caudal ganglionic eminence and become LAMP5+RELN+ inhibitory interneurons. These late-arriving interneurons could continue to shape the processing of sensory and spatial information well into postnatal life, when children are actively interacting with their environment. The EC is one of the first regions of the brain to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease, and previous work has linked cognitive decline to the loss of LAMP5+RELN+ cells6,7. Our investigation reveals that many of these cells arrive in the EC through a major postnatal migratory stream in early childhood.
Multiomic spatial landscape of innate immune cells at human central nervous system borders
Authors: Sankowski Roman , Süß Patrick , Benkendorff Alexander , Böttcher Chotima , Fernandez-Zapata Camila , Chhatbar Chintan , Cahueau Jonathan , Monaco Gianni , Gasull Adrià Dalmau , Khavaran Ashkan , Grauvogel Jürgen , Scheiwe Christian , Shah Mukesch Johannes , Heiland Dieter Henrik , Schnell Oliver , Markfeld-Erol Filiz , Kunze Mirjam , Zeiser Robert , Priller Josef , Prinz Marco
Published: December 2023

The innate immune compartment of the human central nervous system (CNS) is highly diverse and includes several immune-cell populations such as macrophages that are frequent in the brain parenchyma (microglia) and less numerous at the brain interfaces as CNS-associated macrophages (CAMs). Due to their scantiness and particular location, little is known about the presence of temporally and spatially restricted CAM subclasses during development, health and perturbation. Here we combined single-cell RNA sequencing, time-of-flight mass cytometry and single-cell spatial transcriptomics with fate mapping and advanced immunohistochemistry to comprehensively characterize the immune system at human CNS interfaces with over 356,000 analyzed transcriptomes from 102 individuals. We also provide a comprehensive analysis of resident and engrafted myeloid cells in the brains of 15 individuals with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, revealing compartment-specific engraftment rates across different CNS interfaces. Integrated multiomic and high-resolution spatial transcriptome analysis of anatomically dissected glioblastoma samples shows regionally distinct myeloid cell-type distributions driven by hypoxia. Notably, the glioblastoma-associated hypoxia response was distinct from the physiological hypoxia response in fetal microglia and CAMs. Our results highlight myeloid diversity at the interfaces of the human CNS with the periphery and provide insights into the complexities of the human brain’s immune system.
A dataset of formulation compositions for self-emulsifying drug delivery systems
Authors: Zaslavsky Jonathan , Allen Christine
Published: December 2023

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) are a well-established formulation strategy for improving the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Traditional development of these formulations relies heavily on empirical observation to assess drug and excipient compatibility, as well as to select and optimize the formulation compositions. The aim of this work was to leverage previously developed SEDDS in the literature to construct a comprehensive SEDDS dataset that can be used to gain insights and advance data-driven approaches to formulation development. A dataset comprised of 668 unique SEDDS formulations encompassing 20 poorly water-soluble drugs was curated. While there are still opportunities to enhance the quality and quantity of data on SEDDS, this research lays the groundwork to potentially simplify the SEDDS formulation development process.
A randomized controlled trial of a proactive analgesic protocol demonstrates reduced opioid use among hospitalized adults with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Berry Sameer K. , Takakura Will , Patel Devin , Govalan Rajalakshmi , Ghafari Afsoon , Kiefer Elizabeth , Huang Shao-Chi , Bresee Catherine , Nuckols Teryl K. , Melmed Gil Y.
Published: December 2023

Most hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience pain. Despite the known risks associated with opioids in IBD including risk for misuse, overdose, infection, readmission, and even death, opioid use is more prevalent in IBD than any other chronic gastrointestinal condition. Most hospitalized IBD patients receive opioids; however, opioids have not been shown to improve pain during hospitalization. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in hospitalized patients with IBD to evaluate the impact of a proactive opioid-sparing analgesic protocol. Wearable devices measured activity and sleep throughout their hospitalization. Chronic opioid users, post-operative, and pregnant patients were excluded. The primary endpoint was a change in pain scores from admission to discharge. Secondary endpoints included opioid use, functional activity, sleep duration and quality, and length of stay. Of 329 adults with IBD evaluated for eligibility, 33 were enrolled and randomized to the intervention or usual care. Both the intervention and control group demonstrated significant decreases in pain scores from admission to discharge (− 2.6 ± 2.6 vs. − 3.0 ± 3.2). Those randomized to the intervention tended to have lower pain scores than the control group regardless of hospital day (3.02 ± 0.90 vs. 4.29 ± 0.81, p = 0.059), used significantly fewer opioids (daily MME 11.8 ± 15.3 vs. 30.9 ± 42.2, p = 0.027), and had a significantly higher step count by Day 4 (2330 ± 1709 vs. 1050 ± 1214; p = 0.014). There were no differences in sleep duration, sleep quality, readmission, or length-of-stay between the two groups. A proactive analgesic protocol does not result in worsening pain but does significantly reduce opioid-use in hospitalized IBD patients.

Clinical trial registration number: NCT03798405 (Registered 10/01/2019).
Optimizing the ordering of the Hadamard masks of ghost imaging suitable for the efficient face reconstruction using the max-projection method
Authors: Zhang Haipeng , Du Kang , Zhao Changzhe , Tang Jie , Si Shangyu , Jia Wenhong , Xue Lian , Li Zhongliang
Published: December 2023

One crucial component of ghost imaging (GI) is the encoded mask. Higher-quality reconstruction at lower sampling rates is still a major challenge for GI. Inspired by deep learning, max-projection method is proposed in the paper to reorder the Hadamard masks for its efficient and rapid reconstruction. The simulations demonstrated that max-projection ordering with only 20 face training images yielded excellent reconstruction outcomes. In noise-free simulations, at an ultralow sampling rate of 5%, the PSNR of the max-projection ordering was 1.1 dB higher than that of the cake-cutting ordering with the best performance in the reference group. In noisy simulations, at ultralow sampling rates, the retrieved images remained almost identical to their noise-free counterparts. Irrespective of the presence or absence of noise, the max-projection ordering guaranteed the highest fidelity of image reconstruction at ultralow sampling rates. The reconstruction time was reduced to mere milliseconds, thereby enabling swift visualization of dynamic phenomena. Accordingly, the max-projection ordering Hadamard matrix offers a promising solution for real-time GI due to its higher reconstruction quality, stronger noise immunity and millisecond reconstruction time.
Tocilizumab degradation via photo-catalytic ozonation process from aqueous
Authors: Mehralipour Jamal , Akbari Hesam , Adibzadeh Amir , Akbari Hamed
Published: December 2023

Following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, tocilizumab has emerged as a potentially efficacious therapeutic intervention. The utilization of O3-Heterogeneous photocatalytic process (O3-HPCP) as a hybrid advanced oxidation technique has been employed for the degradation of pollutants. The present study employed a solvothermal technique for the synthesis of the BiOI-MOF composite. The utilization of FTIR, FESEM, EDAX, XRD, UV–vis, BET, TEM, and XPS analysis was employed to confirm the exceptional quality of the catalyst. the study employed an experimental design, subsequently followed by the analysis of collected data in order to forecast the most favorable conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of several factors, including reaction time (30–60 min), catalyst dose (0.25–0.5 mg/L), pH levels (4–8), ozone concentration (20–40 mMol/L), and tocilizumab concentration (10–20 mg/L), on the performance of O3-HPCP. The best model was discovered by evaluating the F-value and P-value coefficients, which were found to be 0.0001 and 347.93, respectively. In the given experimental conditions, which include a catalyst dose of 0.46 mg/L, a reaction time of 59 min, a pH of 7.0, and an ozone concentration of 32 mMol/L, the removal efficiencies were found to be 92% for tocilizumab, 79.8% for COD, and 59% for TOC. The obtained R2 value of 0.98 suggests a strong correlation between the observed data and the predicted values, indicating that the reaction rate followed first-order kinetics. The coefficient of synergy for the degradation of tocilizumab was shown to be 1.22. The catalyst exhibited satisfactory outcomes, but with a marginal reduction in efficacy of approximately 3%. The sulfate ion (SO42−) exhibited no influence on process efficiency, whereas the nitrate ion (NO3−) exerted the most significant impact among the anions. The progress of the process was impeded by organic scavengers, with methanol exhibiting the most pronounced influence and sodium azide exerting the least significant impact. The efficacy of pure BiOI and NH2-MIL125 (Ti) was diminished when employed in their pure form state. The energy consumption per unit of degradation, denoted as EEO, was determined to be 161.8 KWh/m3-order.
Optimal chest compression position for cardiopulmonary resuscitation determined by computed tomography image: retrospective cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Saksobhavivat Nitima , Phattharapornjaroen Phatthranit , Suksukon Patsorn , Atiksawedparit Pongsakorn , Chalermdamrichai Phanorn , Saelee Ratchanee , Sanguanwit Pitsucha
Published: December 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the height of optimal hand position for chest compression during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from the tip of the sternal xiphoid process (TOX) along with the relative heights of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and abdominal organs among the Thai population. The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted through a review of medical records and contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography. The total of 204 Thai patients without obvious chest deformity at Ramathibodi Hospital from January to June 2018 was included as part of a multi-regional study. The heights of the level of maximal LV width (LVmax), LOVT, top of liver and stomach with respect to TOX were measured on midline sagittal image. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 59.5 years and 23.9 kg/m2, respectively. One hundred and one subjects (49.5%) had pulmonary diseases. Mean height of the LVmax from TOX was 37.7 mm, corresponding to 20% of the sternal length (SL) in the inspiration arm raised position (IAR). The adjusted height of LVmax from TOX in the expiration arm-down position (EAD) was 89.7 mm (48% of SL). The inter-nipple line was at 84.5 mm (45.1% of SL) from TOX on IAR. Among 178 and 109 subjects whose uppermost part of the liver and stomach were above TOX, 80.4% and 94.5% were located within the lower half of the sternum, respectively. The adjusted optimal hand position for chest compression during CPR was at approximately 89.7 mm from TOX in EAD (48% of SL). The hand position at the upper part of the lower half of the sternum is closest to the adjusted LVmax and has a better chance to avoid compression of intraabdominal organs.

Trial registration This trial was retrospectively registered on 2 February 2023 in the Thai Clinical Trial Registry, identification number TCTR 20230202006.
Nomogram for predicting severe abdominal pain after initial conventional transarterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study
Authors: Qin Huixia , Xiao Xuhua , Ya Houxiang , Li Jinhai , Liang Fugang , Jin Haiqing , Liao Lianghuan , Li Yaohua , Qin Jiahui , Yu Jue , Gu Jing , Zhou Chunmei , Jin Ming , Miao Ying , Li Shuqun
Published: December 2023

Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is a standard therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, adverse events, including abdominal pain, are common. This study aimed to investigate and verify the feasibility of a nomogram model to predict severe abdominal pain after first conventional TACE (cTACE) among patients with HCC. Patients with HCC treated with cTACE between October 28, 2019, and August 5, 2022, at a single centre were enrolled (n = 216). Patients were divided into training and validation cohorts (ratio, 7:3). A visual analogue scale score between 7 and 10 was considered severe abdominal pain. A total of 127 (58.8%) patients complained of severe abdominal pain after first cTACE treatment. The nomogram considered age and tumour number and size. The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination, with a C-index of 0.749 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.617, 0.881). Further, the C-index in the validation cohort reached 0.728 (95% CI 0.592, 0.864). The calibration curves showed ideal agreement between the prediction and real observations, and the nomogram decision curve analysis performed well. The nomogram model can provide an accurate prediction of severe abdominal pain in patients with HCC after first cTACE, aiding in the personalization of pain management and providing novel insights into hospital nursing.
Prediction of dyskinesia in Parkinson’s disease patients using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Leal Denisson Augusto Bastos , Dias Carla Michele Vieira , Ramos Rodrigo Pereira , Brys Ivani
Published: December 2023

Dyskinesias are non preventable abnormal involuntary movements that represent the main challenge of the long term treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with the gold standard dopamine precursor levodopa. Applying machine learning techniques on the data extracted from the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI, Michael J. Fox Foundation), this study was aimed to identify PD patients who are at high risk of developing dyskinesias. Data regarding clinical, behavioral and neurological features from 697 PD patients were included in our study. Our results show that the Random Forest was the classifier with the best and most consistent performance, reaching an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of up to 91.8% with only seven features. Information regarding the severity of the symptoms, the semantic verbal fluency, and the levodopa treatment were the most important for the prediction, and were further used to create a Decision Tree, whose rules may guide the pharmacological management of PD symptoms. Our results contribute to the identification of PD patients who are prone to develop dyskinesia, and may be considered in future clinical trials aiming at developing new therapeutic approaches for PD.
Fusion of the word2vec word embedding model and cluster analysis for the communication of music intangible cultural heritage
Authors: Ning Hui , Chen Zhenyu
Published: December 2023

This article aims to propose a method for computing the similarity between lengthy texts on intangible cultural heritage (ICH), to facilitate the swift and efficient acquisition of knowledge about it by the public and promote the dissemination and preservation of this culture. This proposed method builds on traditional text similarity techniques. The ultimate goal is to group together those lengthy texts on ICH that exhibit a high degree of similarity. First of all, the word2vec model is utilized to construct the feature word vector of music ICH communication. This includes the acquisition of long text data on music ICH, the word segmentation of music ICH communication based on the dictionary method in the field of ICH, and the creation of a word2vec model of music ICH communication. A clustering algorithm analyzes and categorizes ICH communication within the music. This procedure involves employing text semantic similarity, utilizing a similarity calculation method based on optimized Word Mover Distance (WMD), and designing long ICH communication clustering. The main objective of this analysis is to enhance the understanding and classification of the intricate nature of ICH within the musical realm. Finally, experiments are conducted to confirm the model’s effectiveness. The results show that: (1) the text word vector training based on the word2vec model is highly accurate; (2) with the increase in K value, the effect of each category of intangible word vector is improving; (3) the final F1-measure value of the clustering experiment based on the optimized WMD is 0.84. These findings affirm the usefulness and accuracy of the proposed methodology.
Functional alterations and predictive capacity of gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Dash Nihar Ranjan , Al Bataineh Mohammad T. , Alili Rohia , Al Safar Habiba , Alkhayyal Noura , Prifti Edi , Zucker Jean-Daniel , Belda Eugeni , Clément Karine
Published: December 2023

The gut microbiome plays a significant role in the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), but the functional mechanisms behind this association merit deeper investigation. Here, we used the nanopore sequencing technology for metagenomic analyses to compare the gut microbiome of individuals with T2DM from the United Arab Emirates (n = 40) with that of control (n = 44). DMM enterotyping of the cohort resulted concordantly with previous results, in three dominant groups Bacteroides (K1), Firmicutes (K2), and Prevotella (K3) lineages. The diversity analysis revealed a high level of diversity in the Firmicutes group (K2) both in terms of species richness and evenness (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p value < 0.05 vs. K1 and K3 groups), consistent with the Ruminococcus enterotype described in Western populations. Additionally, functional enrichment analyses of KEGG modules showed significant differences in abundance between individuals with T2DM and controls (FDR < 0.05). These differences include modules associated with the degradation of amino acids, such as arginine, the degradation of urea as well as those associated with homoacetogenesis. Prediction analysis with the Predomics approach suggested potential biomarkers for T2DM, including a balance between a depletion of Enterococcus faecium and Blautia lineages with an enrichment of Absiella spp or Eubacterium limosum in T2DM individuals, highlighting the potential of metagenomic analysis in predicting predisposition to diabetic cardiomyopathy in T2DM patients.
The effectiveness of nature-based therapy for community psychological distress and well-being during COVID-19: a multi-site trial
Authors: Yang Yeji , Kim Hyunjin , Kang Minjung , Baik Hyunjin , Choi Yunseok , Jang Eu-Jean , Chang Eun-Jin , Yun Sukyoung , Park Miok , Park Eunyeong , Yun Hojun , Lee Taek-Joo , Kwon Yeong-Han , Hong Kwang-Pyo , Lee Ai-Ran , Jung Songhie , Ahn Tai-Hyeon , Jin Hye-Young , Choi Kee-Hong
Published: December 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world population faced various mental health challenges, highlighting a need for new community-based psychosocial interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of Nature-Based Therapy (NBT) for the community experiencing psychological distress during the pandemic. A multi-site trial comparing NBT and control groups was conducted in Korea with 291 participants exhibiting mild to severe depression or anxiety. A total of 192 participated in 30 sessions of therapeutic gardening, while 99 remained in the control group. Psychological distress and well-being were assessed using seven measures of depression, anxiety, daily activity, life satisfaction, mindfulness, stress, and loneliness. The effect sizes (Cohen’s d) of NBT compared to the control group were medium to large: depression (0.583), anxiety (0.728), daily activity (1.002), life satisfaction (0.786), mindfulness (0.645), stress (0.903), and loneliness (0.695). Multilevel analysis revealed significant Time × Group interaction effects for all measures. Pearson correlation (r = − 0.28 to 0.71) showed that changes in all variables correlated significantly with each other, with small to large effect sizes. Therapeutic alliance at post-test positively moderated the intervention effects on the outcomes. We concluded that NBT is a promising psychosocial intervention for treating psychological distress for community dwellers.
Abnormal neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in children with autism spectrum disorder and history of maternal immune activation
Authors: Ellul Pierre , Maruani Anna , Peyre Hugo , Vantalon Valérie , Hoareau Daphnée , Tiercelin Hugo , Rosenzwajg Michelle , Klatzmann David , Delorme Richard
Published: December 2023

Maternal immune activation (MIA), related to autoimmune/inflammatory diseases or acute infections, during the two first trimesters of pregnancy is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in offspring. In mice, MIA has a long-term impact on offspring’s immune equilibrium resulting in a pro-inflammatory phenotype. We therefore hypothesized that children with ASD and a history of MIA could display a similar phenotype specifically assessed by a higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In this study, we used a retrospective sample of 231 dyads involving children with ASD and their mothers. Among ASD patients, 12% had a history of MIA. The multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between NLR in children with ASD and maternal history of MIA (F = 2.27, p = 0.03). Using a categorical approach, we observed an abnormal NLR (over 3) in 7.4% of children with ASD MIA+ compared to 1.9% for MIA−. Our study supports the hypothesis suggesting an impact of MIA on the risk of ASD. Further studies could contribute to the development of biomarkers in MIA+ ASD and enable the development of targeted immunomodulatory therapies.
Progressive failure analysis of perforated composite laminates considering nonlinear shear effect
Authors: Wu Z. R. , Yang Yirong , Lei Hang
Published: December 2023

Composites are widely used in high performance structures such as aerospace structures due to their excellent properties. The analysis of failure evolution of composite perforated structures by finite element simulation is of great significance for practical work as engineering composite structures often contain notches and voids. In this paper, the numerical simulation of failure evolution and failure modes of carbon fiber reinforced resin composite laminates with large openings was carried out. A UMAT subroutine was written based on the 3D Hashin-Ye failure criterion and progressive damage model theory. The characteristic length and viscosity coefficient were introduced into the model to reduce mesh dependency and improve computational convergence. The nonlinear shear constitutive relationship defined by the Ramberg–Osgood equation was introduced into the continuous damage degradation model. The effect of nonlinear shear on the failure evolution of laminates with different stacking sequence was studied.
Comparison of two reaction-time-based and one foraging-based behavioral approach-avoidance tasks in relation to interindividual differences and their reliability
Authors: Fricke Kim , Alexander Nina , Jacobsen Thomas , Vogel Susanne
Published: December 2023

Approaching rewards and avoiding punishments is a fundamental aspect of behavior, yet individuals differ in the extent of these behavioral tendencies. One popular method to assess differences in approach-avoidance tendencies and even modify them, is using behavioral tasks in which spontaneous responses to differently valenced stimuli are assessed (e.g., the visual joystick and the manikin task). Understanding whether these reaction-time-based tasks map onto the same underlying constructs, how they predict interindividual differences in theoretically related constructs and how reliable they are, seems vital to make informed judgements about current findings and future studies. In this preregistered study, 168 participants (81 self-identified men, 87 women) completed emotional face versions of these tasks as well as an alternative, foraging-based paradigm, the approach-avoidance-conflict task, and answered self-report questionnaires regarding anxiety, aggression, depressive symptoms, behavioral inhibition and activation. Importantly, approach-avoidance outcome measures of the two reaction-time-based tasks were unrelated with each other, showed little relation to self-reported interindividual differences and had subpar internal consistencies. In contrast, the approach-avoidance-conflict task was related to behavioral inhibition and aggression, and had good internal consistencies. Our study highlights the need for more research into optimizing behavioral approach-avoidance measures when using task-based approach-avoidance measures to assess interindividual differences.
A novel hybrid model integrating MFCC and acoustic parameters for voice disorder detection
Authors: Verma Vyom , Benjwal Anish , Chhabra Amit , Singh Sunil K. , Kumar Sudhakar , Gupta Brij B. , Arya Varsha , Chui Kwok Tai
Published: December 2023

Voice is an essential component of human communication, serving as a fundamental medium for expressing thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Disruptions in vocal fold vibratory patterns can lead to voice disorders, which can have a profound impact on interpersonal interactions. Early detection of voice disorders is crucial for improving voice health and quality of life. This research proposes a novel methodology called VDDMFS [voice disorder detection using MFCC (Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients), fundamental frequency and spectral centroid] which combines an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on acoustic attributes and a long short-term memory (LSTM) model trained on MFCC attributes. Subsequently, the probabilities generated by both the ANN and LSTM models are stacked and used as input for XGBoost, which detects whether a voice is disordered or not, resulting in more accurate voice disorder detection. This approach achieved promising results, with an accuracy of 95.67%, sensitivity of 95.36%, specificity of 96.49% and f1 score of 96.9%, outperforming existing techniques.
A modular technique of Booth encoding and Vedic multiplier for low-area and high-speed applications
Authors: Kalaiselvi C. M. , Sabeenian R. S.
Published: December 2023

A technique for efficiently multiplying two signed numbers using limited area and high speed is presented in this paper. This work uses both the Booth and Vedic multiplication sutra methodologies to enhance the speed and reduction in the area by using two VLSI architectures of radix encoding techniques—Radix-4 and Radix-8—with the Vedic multiplier. The functionality of the proposed methods is tested using an Artix-7 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA-XC7A100T-CSG324) in Xilinx Vivado 2019.1 and ASIC 45 nm technology. Two methods of Booth encoding using Vedic multiplier (Urdhva-Tiryakbhyam sutra) were used to develop, and examine the benefits of rapid computational multiplier. The results of the proposed multiplier for Booth-Vedic-Radix-4 encoding (BVR-4) decrease area by 89% and improve Area-Delay Product (ADP) by 72% for a 16-bit multiplier when subjected to other existing multipliers. The Booth-Vedic-Radix-8 (BVR-8) method shows that there will be an 89% reduction in area and an improvement in ADP by 72% for the 16-bit multiplier. The performance is evaluated regarding area occupancy (i.e., LUTs number) and propagation delay (output time). In terms of resource utilization, the proposed BVR-4 and BVR-8 multipliers outperform all the current designs with a marginal effect on speed and area for narrower bit-width ranges.
Sleep time on back as a predictor of adherence to positive airway pressure therapy
Authors: Kwak Hyun-Ho , Park Ji-Hwan , Lee Dong-Joo , Bae Gyo Han , Kim Sung-Dong , Cho Kyu-Sup
Published: December 2023

Upper airway collapse can be effectively dealt with positive airway pressure (PAP), and patient adherence is considered as a major determining factor for success of PAP therapy. This study was performed to determine the potential factors affecting the adherence to PAP in patients with OSA by using polysomnography (PSG) parameters recorded for diagnosis of OSA. The data of 158 patients between December 2018 and July 2021 were collected. They were prescribed with PAP and used the device during the adaptation period for 90 days. They were categorized into adherent and non-adherent group according to the criteria of good adherence as use of PAP ≥ 4 h per night on 70% of nights. Demographic, clinical characteristics, and PSG results were reviewed. Among 158 patients engaged in PAP therapy, 121 patients (76.6%) met the criteria of good adherence. No significant differences were found in good adherence rate regarding demographic and clinical characteristics. None of the polysomnographic factors showed significant differences between adherent and non-adherent groups. However, the percentage of sleep time on back in the adherent group was significantly higher than non-adherent group (p = 0.041). The cut-off value was determined to be 41.45% (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.79) by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the odds ratio was calculated as 2.97. Only the percentage of sleep time on back appeared to be polysomnographic predictor for identifying good adherence to PAP therapy in OSA patients. However, the conclusions may be limited in generalization due to the small sample size.
Highly efficient ZnO/WO3 nanocomposites towards photocatalytic gold recovery from industrial cyanide-based gold plating wastewater
Authors: Sangkhanak Satjaporn , Kunthakudee Naphaphan , Hunsom Mali , Ramakul Prakorn , Serivalsatit Karn , Pruksathorn Kejvalee
Published: December 2023

Discharging the gold-contained wastewater is an economic loss. In this work, a set of ZnO/WO3 was facile synthesized by hydrothermal method in order to recover gold from the industrial cyanide-based gold plating wastewater by photocatalytic process. Effect of ZnO contents coupled with WO3 was first explored. Then, effects of operating condition including initial pH of wastewater, type of hole scavenger, concentration of the best hole scavenger and photocatalyst dose were explored. A series of experimental results demonstrated that the ZnO/WO3 nanocomposite with 5 wt% ZnO (Z5.0/WO3) depicted the highest photocatalytic activity for gold recovery due to the synergetic effect of oxygen vacancies, a well-constructed ZnO/WO3 heterostructure and an appropriate band position alignment with respect to the redox potentials of [Au(CN)2]− and hole scavengers. Via this ZnO/WO3 nanocomposite, approximately 99.5% of gold ions was recovered within 5 h using light intensity of 3.57 mW/cm2, catalyst dose of 2.0 g/L, ethanol concentration of 20 vol% and initial pH of wastewater of 11.2. In addition, high stability and reusability were observed with the best nanocomposite even at the 5th reuse. This work provides the guidance and pave the way for designing the ZnO/WO3 nanocomposite for precious metal recovery from a real industrial wastewater.
Superior cerebellar artery occlusion remaining after thrombectomy for acute basilar artery occlusion
Authors: Baek Byung Hyun , Lee Yun Young , Kim Seul Kee , Yoon Woong
Published: December 2023

To investigate the incidence and impact of superior cerebellar artery (SCA) occlusion remaining after thrombectomy for acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). We retrospectively analyzed data from 116 patients who underwent thrombectomy for BAO. The patency of SCA was assessed on final angiograms. Clinical and radiologic data of the patients were retrieved from a prospectively collected database and analyzed. All patients underwent pretreatment and follow-up DWI to detect new infarctions in SCA territory. Ten patients (8.6%) had SCA occlusions on final angiograms. Of these, two patients had bilateral occlusions. A new infarction with a diameter ranged from 4 to 11 mm in corresponding SCA territory occurred in 5 of 10 patients. No patients with SCA occlusions experienced symptomatic cerebellar hemorrhage or malignant cerebellar infarction. Nine of 12 SCA occlusions showed spontaneous recanalization on follow-up CT angiography. Four of 10 patients showed 90-day favorable outcome (mRS 0–3) and 90-day mortality occurred in one patient. SCA occlusions remaining after thrombectomy for acute BAO had a benign clinical course. Most of these lesions recanalized spontaneously. Our study suggests that attempts to recanalize remnant SCA occlusion may be unnecessary after basilar artery thrombectomy.
Design and implementation of load intensity monitoring platform supported by big data technology in stage training for women’s sitting volleyball
Authors: Liang Zhijun , Liang Chen
Published: December 2023

This study aims to discuss the load intensity monitoring in the training process of sitting volleyball, to help coaches understand the training status of athletes, and to provide a scientific basis for the follow-up training plan. Through big data technology, the physiological changes of athletes can be more accurately grasped. This includes classification and summary of exercise load intensity and experimental study of the relationship between heart rate and rating perceived exertion (RPE). Through monitoring the training process of a provincial women’s sitting volleyball team, it is found that there is a significant positive correlation between athletes’ RPE and average heart rate. This result shows that by monitoring the change in heart rate and RPE of athletes, athletes' training state and physical condition can be more accurately understood. The results reveal that through the use of big data technology and monitoring experiments, it is found that heart rate and RPE are effective monitoring indicators, which can scientifically reflect the load intensity during sitting volleyball training. The conclusions provide coaches with a more scientific basis for making training plans and useful references for sports involving people with disabilities.
Nurse navigation, symptom monitoring and exercise in vulnerable patients with lung cancer: feasibility of the NAVIGATE intervention
Authors: Langballe Rikke , Svendsen Lukas , Jakobsen Erik , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg , Karlsen Randi Valbjørn , Iachina Maria , Freund Karen M. , Leclair Amy , Jørgensen Lars Bo , Skou Søren T. , Ehlers Jeanette Haar , Torenholt Rikke , Svendsen Mads Nordahl , Envold Bidstrup Pernille
Published: December 2023

We developed the Navigate intervention to improve survival among vulnerable lung cancer patients. In this intervention-only study, we examined feasibility in terms of recruitment, retention, attendance, adherence, and acceptability to specify adjustments to study procedures and intervention components prior to a randomized trial. The Navigate intervention includes nurse navigation, patient-reported outcomes, and physical exercise. Patients ≥ 18 years old, diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer at any stage, with performance status ≤ 2, eligible for cancer treatment and vulnerable according to a screening instrument were included. The recruitment goal of eligible patients was 40% while the retention goal was 85%. The predefined cut-offs for sufficient attendance and adherence were ≥ 75%. Acceptability was evaluated by semi-structured interviews with participants, nurse navigators, and physiotherapists. Seventeen (56%) out of 30 screened patients were considered vulnerable and eligible for the study, 14 (82%) accepted participation, and 3 (21%) were subsequently excluded due to ineligibility, leaving 11 patients. Four patients dropped out (36%) and four patients died (36%) during follow-up and 3 (27%) were retained. All 11 patients participated in nurse sessions (mean 16, range 1–36) with 88% attendance and dialogue tools being applied in 68% of sessions. Ninety-one percent of patients responded to PROs (mean of 9 PROs, range 1–24) with 76% of the PRO questionnaires used (attendance) and 100% adherence (completion of all questions in PRO questionnaires), and 55% participated in exercise sessions with 58% attendance and 85% adherence. We identified important barriers primarily related to transportation, but overall acceptability was high. The Navigate intervention was feasible with high participation, acceptability and satisfactory adherence. Retention and exercise attendance were low, which resulted in adjustments.

Trial registration: The feasibility study was initiated prior to the multicenter randomized controlled trial registered by ClinicalTrials.gov (number: NCT05053997; date 23/09/2021).
Embryonic-stem-cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells relieve experimental contact urticaria by regulating the functions of mast cells and T cells
Authors: Hyun Seung Yeun , Kim Eun-Young , Kang Minseong , Park Jeong Won , Hong Ki-Sung , Chung Hyung-Min , Choi Wahn Soo , Park Se-Pill , Noh Geunwoong , Kim Hyuk Soon
Published: December 2023

Contact urticaria (CU) is an inflammatory skin disorder triggered by specific substances upon skin contact, leading to immediate acute or chronic manifestations characterized by swelling and redness. While mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential in immune diseases, research on the efficacy and mechanisms of stem cell therapy for urticaria remains scarce. This study investigates the regulatory role of embryonic-stem-cell-derived multipotent MSCs (M-MSCs) administered in a CU mouse model. Therapeutic effects of M-MSC administration were assessed in a Trimellitic anhydride-induced contact urticaria model, revealing significant inhibition of urticarial reactions, including ear swelling, itchiness, and skin lesion. Moreover, M-MSC administration exerted control over effector T cell activities in major lymphoid and peripheral tissues, while also suppressing mast cell degranulation in peripheral tissues. Notably, the inhibitory effects mediated by M-MSCs were found to be TGF-β-dependent. Our study demonstrates the capacity of M-MSCs to regulate contact urticaria in a murine model, harmonizing the activation of inflammatory T cells and mast cells. Additionally, we suggest that TGF-β derived from M-MSCs could play a pivotal role as an inhibitory mechanism in contact urticaria.
An increase in widespread extreme precipitation events during the northeast monsoon season over south peninsular India
Authors: Shahi Namendra Kumar , Rai Shailendra
Published: December 2023

While the spatio-temporal characteristics of Indian summer monsoon precipitation and its extreme spells have been extensively studied, the northeast monsoon, which occurs from October to December (i.e., post-monsoon season) and affects the southern peninsula of India, has not received as much attention. In light of this, the present study explores the spatio-temporal characteristics of precipitation during the northeast monsoon, with a particular emphasis on widespread extreme precipitation events and their associated large-scale synoptic systems, using recent ensemble of high-resolution regional climate models (RCMs) simulations and the Indian monsoon data assimilation and analysis (IMDAA) reanalysis. The study reveals that both models tend to underestimate the intensity and frequency of observed precipitation events, although their skills in reproducing the observed spatial patterns of both mean and extreme precipitation are quite high (r > 0.75). A substantial increase in widespread extreme precipitation events (nearly twofold), along with a 30% rise in precipitation intensity, has been observed in the recent decade compared to the 1980s, and models demonstrate a similar directional change but tend to underestimate the magnitude of observed precipitation. This increase appears to be linked to the rapid warming of the Indian Ocean, which, in turn, increases the water vapor in the atmosphere, ultimately supplying more moisture to the southeastern peninsular India. On the other hand, observed discrepancies in replicating some of the reported widespread impactful extreme precipitation events in the years 2007 and 2015 over the southern India region underscore the need for caution when interpreting model simulations. Low-pressure systems, such as troughs, associated with cyclonic circulations originating from the Bay of Bengal, have been identified as the primary sources of moisture fueling heavy precipitation during these events. Cluster analysis highlights varying synoptic patterns within the general framework, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach in simulating and forecasting extreme precipitation events. Overall, this study underscores the importance of enhancing modeling capabilities to better understand and prepare for the growing challenges posed by extreme precipitation events.
Bcl-xL targeting eliminates ageing tumor-promoting neutrophils and inhibits lung tumor growth
Authors: Bodac Anita , Mayet Abdullah , Rana Sarika , Pascual Justine , Bowler Amber D , Roh Vincent , Fournier Nadine , Craciun Ligia , Demetter Pieter , Radtke Freddy , Meylan Etienne
Published: December 2023

Elevated peripheral blood and tumor-infiltrating neutrophils are often associated with a poor patient prognosis. However, therapeutic strategies to target these cells are difficult to implement due to the life-threatening risk of neutropenia. In a genetically engineered mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma, tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN) demonstrate tumor-supportive capacities and have a prolonged lifespan compared to circulating neutrophils. Here, we show that tumor cell-derived GM-CSF triggers the expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein and enhances neutrophil survival through JAK/STAT signaling. Targeting Bcl-xL activity with a specific BH3 mimetic, A-1331852, blocked the induced neutrophil survival without impacting their normal lifespan. Specifically, oral administration with A-1331852 decreased TAN survival and abundance, and reduced tumor growth without causing neutropenia. We also show that G-CSF, a drug used to combat neutropenia in patients receiving chemotherapy, increased the proportion of young TANs and augmented the anti-tumor effect resulting from Bcl-xL blockade. Finally, our human tumor data indicate the same role for Bcl-xL on pro-tumoral neutrophil survival. These results altogether provide preclinical evidence for safe neutrophil targeting based on their aberrant intra-tumor longevity.