bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct Cadmium detoxicity response between rice cultivars carrying functional or loss-of-function OsHMA3 allele
Authors: Sui Fuqing , Tian Jing , Yang Ziyuan , Yang Yanzheng , Li Chang , Liu Hongen , Yan Jiali , Zhao Peng
Published: May 2024

Plant faces various types of abiotic stress during their growth, making it crucial to understand how they respond to such stress. This study aimed to investigate the differences in Cd detoxicity response in rice cultivars with functional or loss-of-function OsHMA3 allele. The experiment involved analyzing growth and photosynthetic indexes, root configuration, antioxidant enzymes, cell ultrastructural changes, subcellular Cd fraction, and Cd species in rice seedlings exposed to different Cd concentrations. The findings showed that Cd significantly inhibited growth in rice seedlings, with greater reductions observed in OsHMA3 loss-of-function allele cultivars. The cultivar exhibited enhanced cell ultrastructural damage and higher Cd accumulation in above-ground tissues when compared to that with functional OsHMA3 gene. Overall, this study highlights the importance of OsHMA3 gene in Cd detoxicity responses, providing valuable insights into plant Cd detoxicity mechanisms and the safe utilization of Cd-contaminated soils.
Galcanezumab Add-on in Refractory Cluster Headache
Authors: Karagiorgis Georgios , Christofilos Savvas , Deligianni Christina , Spanou Ioanna , Vassilopoulou Sofia , Mitsikostas Dimos-Dimitrios D.
Published: May 2024

Background: Cluster headache (CH), currently one of the most painful conditions, lacks a well-established, disease specific, and mechanism-based prophylactic treatment. Galganezumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide, reduced the weekly attacks of CH in one randomized, placebo-controlled trial for the prevention of episodic CH (eCH), but this effect was not detected in people with chronic CH (cCH).
Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of galcanezumab for the prevention of CH in people with refractory CH in a real-world setting.
Methods: In this observational study, we systematically monitored the efficacy and safety outcomes of adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory CH (failure of ≥3 prophylactic treatments) who received galcanezumab (120–360 mg monthly) for 3 consecutive months. A detailed headache diary with monthly in-person follow-ups was used. All participants received intermediate treatment with oral steroids or a great occipital nerve block ≥2 months before starting galcanezumab treatment.
Results: Data from 11 people with CH (eCH n=5, cCH, n=6) were collected. After galcanezumab treatment, the average number of weekly CH attacks and weekly days with any symptomatic treatment for CH decreased significantly from 16.0±9.4 and 6.50±3.59 before treatment to 1.8±1.32 (p=0.002) and 1.8±3.36 (p=0.001) at month 3 of treatment, respectively.Two participants with cCH showed no change in the number of attacks with galcanezumab. No serious adverse events were recorded.
Conclusion: These data, along with those of previous real-world reports, suggest that galcanezumab may help people with refractory CH as an add-on treatment.
Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Staging Patients with High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Fang Andrew , Chapin Brian , Shi Charles , Sun Jia , Qayyum Aliya , Kundra Vikas , Corn Paul , Kuban Deborah , Ravizzini Gregory , Surasi Devaki , Ma Jingfei , Bathala Tharakeswala
Published: May 2024

Background: Staging patients with high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa) with conventional imaging of computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy (BS) is suboptimal. Therefore, we aimed to compare the accuracy of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) with conventional imaging to stage patients with HRPCa.
Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with newly diagnosed HRPCa (prostate‐specific antigen≥20 ng/ml and/or Grade Group≥4). Patients underwent BS, CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and WBMRI within 30 days of evaluation. The primary endpoint was the diagnostic performances of detecting metastatic disease to the lymph nodes and bone for WBMRI and conventional imaging. The reference standard was defined by histopathology or by all available clinical information at 6 months of follow-up. To compare diagnostic tests, Exact McNemar’s test and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics curves were utilized.
Results: Among 92 patients enrolled, 15 (16.3%) and 8 (8.7%) patients were found to have lymphatic and bone metastases, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of WBMRI in detecting lymphatic metastases were 0.60 (95% confidence interval 0.32-0.84), 0.84 (0.74-0.92), and 0.80 (0.71-0.88), respectively, while CT were 0.20 (0.04-0.48), 0.92 (0.84-0.97), and 0.80 (0.71-0.88). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of WBMRI to detect bone metastases were 0.25 (0.03-0.65), 0.94 (0.87-0.98), and 0.88 (0.80-0.94), respectively, while CT and BS were 0.12 (0-0.53), 0.94 (0.87-0.98), and 0.87 (0.78-0.93). For evaluating lymphatic metastases, WBMRI demonstrated a higher sensitivity (p=0.031) and discrimination compared to CT (0.72 versus 0.56, p=0.019).
Conclusions: For staging patients with HRPCa, WBMRI outperforms CT in the detection of lymphatic metastases and performs as well as CT and BS in the detection of bone metastases. Further studies are needed to assess the cost effectiveness of WBMRI and the utility of combined PSMA PET and WBMRI.
Investigating Second-Level Digital Divides in Nationwide Mobile Service Consumption
Authors: Mishra Sachit , Smoreda Zbigniew , Fiore Marco
Published: May 2024

The widespread availability of inexpensive mobile broadband has democratized access to digital services in developed countries. While this has supposedly closed digital divides among the population, more subtle inequalities may still be present that are not driven by the accessibility to mobile services, rather by the heterogeneous capability of individuals to take advantage from those services. This paper focuses on the existence of imbalances in the consumption of mobile services across France using mobile traffic measurement data. We unveil that per-capita mobile traffic demands follow in fact a power law of the local population size, or, equivalently, there exists an emergent behavior that prompts subscribers living in larger urban areas to exhibit higher individual usage of mobile services. The result holds for global traffic, but is consistent across various mobile services, although with varying intensity. Our findings reveal the presence of potential second-level digital divides in developed countries and, surprisingly, show that such divides have steadily increased in France between 2014 and 2019. Moreover, we show how the phenomenon defies explanation by potential confounding factors like broad-band coverage, socioeconomic status, commuting, or inhabitant’s age, but has been indirectly mitigated by the recent containment measures enacted to combat COVID-19.
Robust Prescribed-Time Control for Fully Actuated Fixed-Wing Multirotor Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Silva João Filipe , Ricardo Jorge Antonio , Santos Davi Antonio
Published: May 2024

This paper is concerned with the robust position and attitude control of fully actuated fixed-wing multirotor aerial vehicles in the presence of disturbances and model uncertainties. To address this problem, we formulate the system using the vehicle's nonlinear equations of motion considering the aerodynamic effects of the fixed wing as an additional disturbance. Then, we propose disturbance-observer-based attitude and position control laws using hybrid prescribed-time algorithms to control the vehicle and estimate model uncertainties and disturbances in two stages. In the first stage, the aforementioned algorithms employ nonautonomous formulations to ensure the convergence of the tracking and estimation errors to the origin in a prescribed time interval. Subsequently, in the second stage, the algorithms assume autonomous formulations to ensure robust stability of the errors over the infinite time domain. The proposed method is numerically evaluated, showing to be effective in providing the prescribed-time convergence of the tracking errors to zero and keeping them there afterwards.
Anatomical evaluations of the adipose tissue surrounding the flexor hallucis longus tendon: A study using gross anatomy and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Kawada Tatsuhito , Shinohara Yasushi , Kurihara Toshiyuki , Satake Hayato , Itokawa Kana , Fukuyoshi Masaki , Hayashi Norio , Sugimoto Katsumasa
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of adipose tissue surrounding the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon through gross dissection and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Grossly, we observed the flexor hallucis longus tendon and surrounding tissues in nine cadavers. Using MRI, we quantitatively evaluated each tissue from the horizontal plane in 40 healthy ankles. Macroscopic autopsy revealed the presence of adipose tissue behind the ankle joint between the flexor hallucis longus and fibula, and horizontal cross-sections showed an oval-shaped adipose tissue surrounding the tendon. The cross-sectional area on MRI was 14.4 mm2 (11.7–16.7) for the flexor hallucis longus tendon and 120.5 mm2 (100.3–149.4) for the adipose tissue. Additionally, the volume of the adipose tissue was 963.3 mm3 (896.2–1,115.6). We demonstrated that the presence of adipose tissue surrounding the flexor hallucis longus tendon may be involved in the function and pathological conditions of the tendon.
A novel double mutation of SASH1 associated with Generalized Lentiginosis and unilateral renal dysplasia: pedigree survey and literature review
Authors: Du Jiang , Liang Guobiao , Wu Tao
Published: May 2024

A 19-year-old female patient, diagnosed with generalized lentiginosis and the right renal dysplasia, had all other systems found to be normal. Whole exome sequencing identified double heterozygous missense mutations, c.1029C > T and c.1566C > A, in the SASH1 gene. Her parents each carry a single-site mutation, c.1029C > T, and do not exhibit the similar lentiginous phenotype. According to the literature, both mutation sites are unprecedented, with the c.1566C > A variation representing a novel occurrence within this lineage. The primary pathogenic mutation was identified at c.1566C > A, while the evidence for the pathogenicity of c.1029C > T remains insufficient. There are currently no reported cases in the literature where this gene mutation has led to such symptoms. This finding not only contributes to the expansion of the human gene mutation repository but also provides crucial insights for the genetic counseling of the patient and her relatives. During these consultations, it is essential to elucidate the characteristics and implications of these mutations to accurately gauge the patient's risk factors and inform future familial health decisions.
Elucidating the biological activities of thiadazole derivatives against Vibrio cholerae: Insights from DFT, spectroscopic studies, molecular docking and ADMET
Authors: Edim Moses M. , Ateb Bethel C. , Izachi Friday O. , Assam Precious K. , Gulack Alpha O. , Imojara Anna , Abeng Fidelis E. , Nna Prince J.
Published: May 2024

Cholera has become one of the major global health challenges, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is poor hygiene and sanitation, and due to the emergence of a resistant strain of the causative agent of cholera, there is a need for new therapeutic agents. Thiadiazoles are organic compounds that have been reported to have various biological applications. This study comprehensively analysed the structural, electronic, and biological properties of N1,N10-bis(5-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-decane-diamide, a thiadiazole derivative (TDZD) as an agent against cholera via theoretical approaches. Computational analyses were conducted employing the B3LYP/6-311 + + 2d,2p level of theory, which provided substantial insights. Vibrational assignments via FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the excellent agreement between the theoretical and reported experimental values, confirming the structural stability of the ligand. The electronic property analysis revealed slight variations in the electrophilicity index of the compound across solvents, with the highest (5.790 eV) in water and the lowest (5.753 eV) in the gas phase. Additionally, the high electronegativity values in all solvents, following the order of water (4.640 eV), DMSO (4.639 eV), ethanol (4.637 eV), and gas (4.584 eV), indicated ligand reactivity. Furthermore, molecular docking results indicated distinctive interactions between the ligand and the 1XTC and 6EHB cholera receptor proteins. A higher binding score was observed between the ligand and 1XTC, with a binding score of -7.6 kcal/mol, than between the ligand and 6EHB, with a binding score of -7.1 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the drug amoxicillin (AMOX) showed a comparable binding score of -7.8 kcal/mol for 1XTC and − 7.4 kcal/mol for 6EHB. The obtained results suggest the biological potential of TDZD as an anti-cholera agent and can be the foundation for further studies.
Compare the outcome of different scleral fixation (SFIOL) and retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens (RPICIOL) in correcting aphakia: a meta-analysis
Authors: Bulbanat Ali , Alqabandi Yousef , Kankoni Mohammad , Aljassar Faisal
Published: May 2024

Importance: The varied techniques for aphakia correction, each with its different surgical complexity and duration, necessitate a comparative evaluation focused on postoperative complications, such as iris damage and raised intraocular pressure, to guide tailored surgical decisions for personalized patient care.
Objective: To compare the postoperative outcomes of retropupillary iris-claw and various scleral fixation intraocular lenses in aphakia correction.
Data Sources: Systematic review of studies from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Google Scholar from 2011-2024, including unpublished grey literature
Study Selection: Selection was limited to studies directly comparing RPICIOL with SFIOL techniques reporting specific outcomes such as iris damage, intraocular pressure changes, and visual acuity. Inclusion criteria were applied through a systematic, independent review by dual researchers.
Data Extraction and Synthesis: PRISMA guidelines were adhered to, and two independent reviewers abstracted data. A random-effects model was primarily used, with a fixed-effect model applied in cases of low heterogeneity. Effect sizes were calculated via standardized mean differences and odds ratios.
Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes included Best Corrected Visual Acuity and incidences of iris damage, rise in intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, and cystoid macular edema at six months postoperatively
Results: Best Corrected Visual Acuity at six months postoperatively favored the iris-claw over the Yamane method with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.0592 (95% CI: [0.0166, 0.1018], p=0.0065). The iris-claw was associated with an increased risk of iris damage when compared to Yamane and prolene 10.0 suture methods OR of 8.65 (95% CI: [2.51, 29.80]), and 2.80 (95% CI: [1.05, 7.46]) respectively, however, it had a lower risk of a rise in IOP at six months postoperatively when compared to prolene 10.0 suture with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.44 (95% CI: [0.24, 0.79]. In addition, no significant difference in cystoid macular edema or retinal detachment at six months postoperatively was observed among the various techniques.
Conclusion and Relevance: This study suggests that while the iris claw technique may carry a higher risk of iris damage, it has some advantages in terms of shorter surgical time, lower incidence of raised IOP when compared to the prolene 10.0 suture, with comparable postoperative outcomes, including, BCVA, RD, and CME.
Genome-wide identification of key genes responding to salt stress in Populus alba
Authors: Bian Xiu-Yan , Xue Yuan , Jiang Peng-Fei , Zeng Qing-Yin , Liu Yan-Jing
Published: May 2024

Background
The molecular mechanism of forest trees responding to salt stress remains poorly understood. As a fast-growing and widely adapted tree species, Populus alba is planted in the world. Understanding the molecular mechanism of P. alba responding to salt stress is helpful to improve the yield of P. alba artificial forest in salinized land.
Results
This study investigated the phenotypic and physiological characteristics of P. alba seedlings under 300 mM NaCl stress. After seven days of salt stress, the leaves of P. alba turned yellow and fell off. Whether under normal growth conditions or salt stress, CAT activities in roots were significantly higher than that in leaves. The root viability of P. alba decreased significantly within 2 h of salt treatment, but gradually increased after 2 h of salt treatment. Intercellular CO2 concentration of leaves of P. alba increased significantly after 72 h of salt treatment, while other photosynthetic parameters decreased significantly after 72 h of salt stress. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in leaves of P. alba decreased gradually after 9 h of salt stress. The ratio of Na+/K+ in roots and leaves of P. alba gradually increased after 1 and 2 h of salt stress, respectively. ABA and cytokinin contents in roots and leaves of P. alba under salt stress were increased significantly. Time-series transcriptomes of roots, stems, leaves, and apical buds of P. alba under NaCl stress were analyzed. Based on gene expression, physiological and biochemical data in P. alba under salt stress, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Thirty-two candidate key genes of P. alba responding to salt stress were identified. Twenty-four candidate key genes showed salt tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Especially for the four genes (Poalb01G005590, Poalb16G007310, Poalb01G036340, and Poalb06G010440), each exhibited strong tolerance to different kinds of salt stress.
Conclusion
The results of this study provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism of trees responding to salt stress.
Cognitive Update and Fast Recovery Using Machine Learning and Parity Delta Shareability for Erasure-Coded Storage Systems
Authors: Wei Bing , Shi Jiaqi , Su Xiaosong , Zhou Lijuan , Zhang Shudong , Luo Ning , Wu Yi
Published: May 2024

Erasure-coded systems require simultaneous updating of data chunks and parity chunks, thereby leading to high input/output (I/O) overhead. Following these updates, the most recent data and parity deltas are dispersed randomly in the log, which results in prolonged recovery time. This study introduces a novel approach named MPLR, which is specifically designed to expedite erasure-coded data updating and recovery. MPLR uses machine learning to categorize files into non-read-only and read-only classes, and then performs updates based on these classifications. For non-read-only files, MPLR applies in-place updates for data chunks and log-based updates for parity chunks, while setting aside disk space adjacent to the parity chunk to minimize disk seeks. For read-only files, MPLR likewise employs a mixture of in-place data updates and log-based parity updates, although without reserving space next to parity chunks. In regard to data recovery, MPLR enhances speed by accessing the parity delta stored in the allocated disk space. To further boost recovery acceleration, MPLR reads the parity delta in parallel and reduces the volume of parity delta leveraging the shareable aspects of the parity delta. Experimental results confirm the efficiency of MPLR in significantly improving update and recovery performances, compared to the state-of-the-art approaches.
Huygens Synchronization of Three Aligned Clocks
Authors: Buescu Jorge , D'Aniello Emma , Oliveira Henrique M.
Published: May 2024

This study examines the synchronization of three identical oscillators
arranged in an array and coupled by small impacts, wherein each oscillator
interacts solely with its nearest neighbor. The synchronized state, which is
asymptotically stable, is
characterized by phase opposition among alternating oscillators. We analyze the system
using a non-linear discrete dynamical system based on a difference equation derived from
the iteration
of a plane diffeomorphism. We illustrate these results with the application to a system of three aligned Andronov clocks, showcasing their applicability to a broad range of oscillator systems.
Depth-resolved Characterization of Meissner Screening Breakdown in Surface Treated Niobium
Authors: Thoeng Edward , Asaduzzaman Md. , Kolb Philipp , McFadden Ryan M. L. , Morris Gerald D. , Ticknor John O. , Dunsiger Sarah , Karner Victoria L. , Fujimoto Derek , Junginger Tobias , Kiefl Robert F. , MacFarlane W. Andrew , Li Ruohong , Saminathan Suresh , Laxdal Robert E.
Published: May 2024

We report direct measurements of the magnetic field screening at the limits of the Meissner phase for two superconducting Nb samples. The samples are processed with two different surface treatments that have been developed for superconducting radio-frequency cavity applications — a “baseline” treatment and an oxygen-doping (“O-doping” ) treatment. The measurements show: 1) that the screening length is significantly longer in the “O-doping” sample compared to the “baseline” sample; 2) that the screening length near the limits of the Meissner phase increases with applied field; 3) the evolution of the screening profile as the material transitions from the Meissner phase to the mixed phase; and 4) a demonstration of the absence of any screening profile for the highest applied field, indicative of the full flux entering the sample. Measurements are performed utilizing the β -detected nuclear magnetic resonance (β -NMR) technique that allows depth resolved studies of the local magnetic field within the first 100 nm of the surface. The study takes advantage of the β -SRF beamline, a new facility at TRIUMF, Canada, where field levels up to 200 mT are available parallel to the sample surface to replicate radio frequency (RF) fields near the Meissner breakdown limits of Nb.
Unraveling the Variability of Human Satiation: Implications for Precision Obesity Management
Authors: Acosta Andres , Cifuentes Lizeth , Anazco Diego , O’Connor Timothy , Hurtado Maria , Ghusn Wissam , Campos Alejandro , Fansa Sima , McRae Alison , Madhusudhan Sunil , Kolkin Elle , Ryks Michael , Harmsen William , Dayyeh Barham Abu , Hensrud Donald , Camilleri Michael
Published: May 2024

Satiation is the physiologic process that regulates meal size and termination, and it is quantified by the calories consumed to reach satiation. Given its role in energy intake, changes in satiation contribute to obesity's pathogenesis. Our study employed a protocolized approach to study the components of food intake regulation including a standardized breakfast, a gastric emptying study, appetite sensation testing, and a satiation measurement by an ad libitummeal test. These studies revealed that satiation is highly variable among individuals, and while baseline characteristics, anthropometrics, body composition and hormones, contribute to this variability, these factors do not fully account for it. To address this gap, we explored the role of a germline polygenic risk score, which demonstrated a robust association with satiation. Furthermore, we developed a machine-learning-assisted gene risk score to predict satiation and leveraged this prediction to anticipate responses to anti-obesity medications. Our findings underscore the significance of satiation, its inherent variability, and the potential of a genetic risk score to forecast it, ultimately allowing us to predict responses to different anti-obesity interventions.
Understanding the conflict between ecological environment and human activities in the process of urbanization based on constitutive model
Authors: Zhou Yazhou , Huang Yong , Liu Wenyuan
Published: May 2024

In the process of human social development, the coupling and coordinated development among the ecological environment(E), production(P), and living functions(L) is of great significance for sustainable development. This study uses an improved coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) to discover the coordination conflict between E and human settlement environment. The main work of this study is as follows: (1)It is found that in the process of urbanization development of Ya 'an city from 2014 to 2018, the degree of coupling(DOC) value between E, P, and L is high, but the coupling coordination degree(CCD) of the three is low, especially the DOC value of E and the other two has the biggest decline. (2)a more objective weight value is obtained, which can avoid the analysis error caused by subjective judgment weight value.(3) This study constructs a constitutive model of E, P, and L, then proposes resilience indicators that reflect the carrying capacity of human activities in the E. (4) Finally, the resilience of the E was used to explain the phenomenon of a decrease in coordination between the E, P, and L, while also explaining the most obvious problem of a decrease in CCD between the E and the other two.
Segmented constitutive relationship of weakly cemented sandstone and numerical implementation based on homogeneity
Authors: WANG Hong , Zuo Yujun , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2024

In this study, we employed triaxial compression tests on weakly cemented sand specimens under varying confining pressures (ranging from 3.5 to 19.5 MPa) to investigate their mechanical properties and deformation characteristics. Utilizing the Two-Parts Hook's Model (TPHM) and statistical damage theory, we constructed a comprehensive model, which was subsequently integrated into the FLAC3D numerical platform. The findings revealed a decrease in the compaction stage as confinement pressure increased, with strains of 0.005 at 3.5 MPa and 0.002 at 19.5 MPa. The TPHM effectively captured the non-linear elastic and elastic deformation before damage onset, while the statistical damage model aptly described post-damage deformation. Incorporating the rock's homogeneity parameter (m) in the model implementation, the simulation results closely matched experimental data, providing a more accurate representation of stress field migration and damage zone evolution during the failure process of weakly cemented sandstone. These findings contribute valuable insights to understanding stability changes in tunnel surroundings, roofs, and floors during coal mining operations in areas with weakly cemented sandstone, thereby offering a reference for practical applications.
WITHDRAWN: Research on Enhanced Visual SLAM Loop Closure Detection Algorithm in Indoor Dynamic Scenes
Authors: Wang Lu , Hu Chao , Lu Xiaoxia
Published: May 2024

The currently mature vision SLAM loop closure detection algorithms, when applied to dynamic scenes, often suffer from mismatching of feature points due to interference from pedestrians or other moving objects, thereby disrupting the consistency of the map. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an enhanced visual SLAM loop closure detection algorithm suitable for indoor dynamic scenes. Firstly, we propose the BSENet (Bottleneck with Squeeze and Excitation Network) convolutional network to replace the convolutional modules in the U-Net + + model, thereby enhancing the semantic segmentation model's ability to process complex features. Secondly, we dynamically allocate weights to each semantic information using the motion levels of semantic information and the centroid coordinates of K-means clustering. Finally, the similarity between key frames and candidate frames is calculated based on these weights, and the results of this calculation are used to enhance the loop closure detection algorithm's performance in dynamic scenes. Experimental results show that the improved U-Net + + model has increased its MIoU (Mean Intersection over Union) to 76.9% on the validation set and reduced its loss to 0.172. In contrast, the traditional bag-of-words-based loop closure detection algorithm only achieved a maximum similarity of 0.262 for images identified as loop closures, whereas the enhanced loop closure detection algorithm achieved a similarity of 0.757 for loop closure photos, enabling accurate identification of loop closures in dynamic scenes.
Sex, age, body mass index, and contraceptive use but not perceived stress influence healthy plasma lipidomic profiles
Authors: Hahnefeld Lisa , Hackel Juliane , Trautmann Sandra , Angioni Carlo , Schreiber Yannick , Gurke Robert , Thomas Dominique , Wicker Sabine , Geisslinger Gerd , Tegeder Irmgard
Published: May 2024

Background
The stress of everyday life is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic, vascular, mental, and immune diseases, with different susceptibilities in women and men. We hypothesized that sex differences in stress perception may manifest in sex-dependent lipid profiles.
Methods
The present study investigated the effect of sex, age, body mass index, perceived stress, regular and occasional drug use, and dietary supplements on plasma lipidomic profiles, obtained by mass spectrometry analyses. The study included 217 healthy women and 108 healthy men aged 18–68 years, who were recruited in a 2:1 female:male ratio to account for women with/without contraceptives.
Results
As expected, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and ceramides were higher in men than in women, and in both sexes DHEAS decreased with age, while ceramides increased. Contrary to expectations, neither DHEAS nor ceramides were associated with perceived stress (PSQ30 questionnaire), which peaked in young and 51 + women (low in ages between), and in obese young men, whereas the overall male PSQ30 peak was around 40 years of age. None of the lipid species or classes showed a similar "age X sex X BMI" interaction. Strong sex differences were found for lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) (low in women) and their metabolites, lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) (high in women). The LPA:LPC ratio was particularly high in women receiving contraceptives suggesting a strong hormone-induced conversion of LPCs to LPAs via autotaxin, which was much higher in women than in men, and is known to trigger platelet aggregation. In addition, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) were high in women. They are precursors of endocannabinoids such as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), which was elevated in subjects with a medical history of hypertension and increased with the BMI.
Conclusion
The results reveal complex sex differences in perceived stress and lipidomic profiles, the latter being exacerbated by contraceptive use, but perceived stress and lipids were not directly correlated.
Trial registration
Not applicable
Fiscal decentralization and the size of government: an empirical test of the Leviathan hypothesis
Authors: ASNGAR Thierry MAMADOU , NKOA Bruno Emmanuel ONGO , YOUNDA Derick Ulrich
Published: May 2024

results
(i) resource decentralization and expenditure decentralization reduce the size of the central public sector, while tax decentralization increases it; (ii) fiscal decentralization (resources, expenditure and taxes) tends to increase the size of the local public sector, suggesting the existence of a local Leviathan in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, as Brennan and Buchanan (1980) suggested, decentralized countries have less expensive national public sectors. However, as Oates (1985) and Wallis and Oates (1988) suspected, the allocation of a wider range of functions to government in the event of decentralization suggests a positive association between greater fiscal decentralization and the size of the local public sector.
Observing Dendrite Growth in Solid-State Sodium Batteries Using Fluorescence Tomography Technology
Authors: Jin Haibo , Yang Shuaishuai , Li Na , Zhao Enyue , Wang Chengzhi , He Jingxin , Xiao Xiong , Fang Debao , Ni Qing , Han Xile , Xue Xiaobin , Chen Lai , Li Ning , Li Jingbo , Guo Tuan , Su Yuefeng
Published: May 2024

Dendrite growth in solid-state sodium batteries (SSBs) is one of the most concerned issues that critically affect the battery efficiency and cycling performance. Herein, a fluorescence tomography technology is developed to observe the sodium dendrite growth in SSBs by designing a fluorescent Eu3+-doped Na3Zr2Si2PO12 solid electrolyte (SE). Under the Eu3+-fluorescence contrast, three-dimensional optical images of the sodium dendrites are obtained by using a confocal laser scanning microscopy. In this way, in-depth sodium dendrite observation during charge/discharge cycles is performed, showing the dendrite initiating stage near the surface and subsequent propagation along the grain boundaries of the SE. Further, a grain-boundary-doping method is promoted and the corresponding Na//Na symmetric cell achieves a record-high cycling stability for more than 1 year (415 d, ongoing) at 25 ℃. This work demonstrates an optical tomography method observing dendrite growth in SSBs and provides an insightful guidance for the design of high-performance SEs.
Stock mispricing and firm innovation: evidence from an emerging equity market
Authors: Duong Le Quy
Published: May 2024

This study analyzes the effects of equity market mispricing on firm innovation. Using a sample of nearly 450 non-financial listed firms in Vietnam from to 2014-2023, the authors examine whether firm innovation is sensitive to stock mispricing. Adopting the method of Rhodes-Kropf et al. (2005), the authors estimated the difference between market capitalization and the long-term fundamental value of equity to measure stock mispricing. As Shen et al. (2021) suggest, firm innovation is measured by research and development funding scaled by operating income. The relationship between stock misvaluation and firm innovation was analyzed using regression analysis. Empirical results show that stock mispricing positively affects firm innovation in Vietnam. Overvalued listed companies invest more actively in R&D. Further, the relationship between stock mispricing and corporate innovation is more prominent for frequently traded stocks. The promoting effect of stock mispricing on enterprise innovation is amplified in high-growth firms. This study provides new evidence regarding the impact of stock mispricing on firm innovation in Vietnam, in comparison with more developed markets such as the US or representative emerging markets such as China. Our results help foreign investors and scholars to better understand the connection between equity markets and corporate finance in the context of Vietnam
Salidroside promotes the eNOS-NO-sGC-cGMP-PKG pathway by correcting arginine metabolism and improves Monocrotaline-induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Li Junfei , Zhang Zengyu , Zhu Chenghui , Zheng Xiaorong , Wang Chunlei , Jiang Jianwei , Zhang Hongyan
Published: May 2024

Salidroside (SAL), an active component derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Rhodiola, has been demonstrated to have protective effects on models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), though its mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of SAL on a PAH rat model induced by monocrotaline, as well as its impact on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in lung tissues, by employing immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot, and untargeted metabolomics approaches. The results indicated that SAL treatment significantly reduced pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular compensatory hypertrophy, ameliorated pulmonary vascular wall thickening and remodeling, and alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the lungs of PAH rats. The underlying mechanisms were associated with the promotion of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and bioavailability. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis revealed metabolic dysregulation in the PAH rat model, characterized by disturbances in arginine, proline, citrate, aminoacyl-tRNA, glycerophospholipid, riboflavin, and serine metabolism. SAL intervention effectively restored metabolic balance in the pulmonary artery of PAH rats. The findings of this study suggest that SAL exerts its anti-PAH effects by improving arginine metabolism dysregulation, promoting endogenous NO synthesis and bioactivity utilization, thereby mitigating lung tissue damage and improving pulmonary vascular wall thickening and remodeling.
The model for estimation of testicular volume in different age male rats – suitability of various testicular volume calculation formulas for living animals
Authors: Lasiene Kristina , Kleina Regina , Dabuzinskiene Anita , Gasiliunas Donatas , Juodziukyniene Nomeda , Zilaitiene Birute , Dirziuviene Raminta
Published: May 2024

The change in testicular volume can indicate decreased male fertility and is useful for comparing spermatogenesis before and after experiments in animals, or before and after treatment of especially valuable breeding domestic animals with pharmaceuticals affecting spermatogenesis, such as antitumor drugs. Various formulas can be used to calculate living males testes’ volume. This study examined suitability of four testicular volume calculation formulas for male Wistar rats of different ages (2-months, 1-year, and 2-year-old) and the changes of testicular volume during 90-days observation. The calculated volume after ultrasound examination of testes size was compared with water displacement volume. In 2-months-old rats, the Solid ellipsoid triaxial body calculation formula and the Prolate ellipsoid formula were most suitable for calculation of testes volume, and the volume of both testes increased very significantly during 90-days observation. In 1-year-old rats, the Solid ellipsoid triaxial body calculation formula was optimal, and the volume of both testes increased insignificantly. For 2-year-old rats, Solid ellipsoid triaxial body calculation and Prolate ellipsoid formulas or their average was recommended, and the volume of both testes decreased slightly during 90-days observation.
Rapid and Sensitive Protein Complex Alignment with Foldseek-Multimer
Authors: Steinegger Martin , Levy Emmanuel , Kim Woosub , Mirdita Milot , Karin Eli , Gilchrist Cameron , Schweke Hugo , Söding Johannes
Published: May 2024

Advances in computational structure prediction will vastly augment the hundreds of thousands of currently-available protein complex structures. Translating these into discoveries requires aligning them, which is computationally prohibitive. Foldseek-Multimer computes complex alignments from compatible chain-to-chain alignments, identified by efficiently clustering their superposition vectors. Foldseek-Multimer is 3-4 orders of magnitudes faster than the gold standard, while producing comparable alignments; allowing it to compare dozens of billions of complex-pairs in 14 hours. Foldseek-Multimer is open-source software: github.com/steineggerlab/foldseek and webserver: search.foldseek.com.
Mesh regularization through predictive scaling factors based on material model parameter estimation for debris impact test on titanium alloy (TI-6Al-4V) plate.
Authors: Tabiei Ala , Patro Abinash
Published: May 2024

The mesh Size is a crucial element of the FEA simulation. This study focuses on mesh regularization, which is the process of removing mesh dependency from FEA simulations. These techniques are commonly used to match experimental data and reduce computational time. In this study, mesh regularization was approached using a material failure criterion based on the element size. However, the current approach to failure scaling based on the element size is a trial-and-error process. To address this, four different analytical models were formulated to predict the scaling factors based on the failure criterion vs. mesh size. The material model-based scaling factors were determined for the tensile tests using 11 different mesh sizes. These predictive scaling factors were then compared with the scaling factor obtained using the conventional tensile testing method. The findings of this study show that using the scaling factors found through the experimental method eliminates errors in the tensile test model, and the predicted scaling factor significantly reduces the error in force-displacement for different mesh sizes compared to the base mesh size. Additionally, in the debris impact test, the predictive scaling factors reduced the deviation in residual velocity to 1.67 % from the initial 17.81 %, and the maximum deviation in energy absorption was reduced from 48.40 % to 8.10 % without scaling factors. This study introduces a new method for predicting material-model-based scaling factors for mesh regularization and discusses the applicability of this method to various problems.
Building a Culture of Health Through the Built Environment: Impact of a Cluster Randomized Trial Remediating Vacant and Abandoned Property on Health Mindsets
Authors: Theall Katherine , Wallace Jasmine , Tucker Amber , Wu Kimberly , Walker Brigham , Gustat Jeanette , Kondo Michelle , Morrison Christopher , Pealer Casius , Branas Charles C , Richardson Lisa
Published: May 2024

Changing built environment conditions to impact health mindsets and health equity may be a promising target for public health interventions. The present study was a cluster randomized controlled trial to test the impact of remediating vacant and abandoned properties on factors related to health mindset—including well-being, health interconnectedness, social capital markers, neighborhood disorder and worry—as well as direct and indirect violence experiences and the moderating role of racial and income segregation on outcomes. A residential cohort of 405 participants from 194 randomly assigned geographic clusters were surveyed over five waves from 2019 to 2023. Compared to clusters with no treatment, participants in clusters where both vacant lots and abandoned homes were treated experienced significant increases in sense of community (83%, 95% CI=71 to 96%, p=0.01). Among participants in randomization clusters where only vacant lots were treated, there were declines in perceived neighborhood disorder (-55%, 95% CI=-79 to -5, p=0.06) and worry about community violence (-56%, 95% CI=-58 to -12, p=0.06). There was also a moderating effect of racial and income spatial polarization, with the greatest changes in sense of community observed among more deprived areas with both homes and lots treated; and the largest changes in neighborhood worry and disorder were seen in more deprived areas with only lots treated. Remediation of vacant and abandoned properties may be one approach to change some but not all mindsets around health, and the effects may depend on the type of remediation as well as larger neighborhood conditions such segregation.
Ethanol selectively inducing the separation of single-chirality carbon nanotubes from polymer-dispersed mixture
Authors: Yang Dehua , Chang Xuan , Yuan Xiaoyang , Yang Xiaofei , Li Linhai , Xi Wei , Liu Huaping , Chen Jianhui
Published: May 2024

Structural separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is crucial for high-performance SWCNT-based devices. Compared with separation methods in aqueous systems, SWCNTs separated via polymer wrapping are more conducive to being processed into uniform and well-oriented films for high-speed nanoelectronic devices. However, high-purity separation of multiple single-chirality SWCNTs in organic systems remains a challenge due to the limited chiral resolution of polymer-based methods. Herein, we develop a straightforward technique to enlarge the polymer coating differences of different SWCNT species by employing ethanol and precisely recognize the various (n, m) species by introducing undispersed SWCNTs to induce a spontaneous chiral selective reaggregation. With this technique, we obtained eight types of single-chirality SWCNTs in organic systems, including (6, 5), (7, 5), (7, 6), (8, 6), (8, 7), (9, 7), (10, 5) and (10, 6), with purities higher than 90% in five of them. Ethanol also induces the reaggregation of metallic SWCNTs, increasing the purity of large-diameter semiconducting SWCNTs. This technique makes significant progress in the polymer-based method for achieving single-chirality separation. We believe that this work promotes the SWCNT-based electronics.
Flowers or Leaves? Assessing the Impact of Crape Myrtle Observation on the Physical and Mental Well-being of Senior Citizens
Authors: Hao Siwen , Zhang Donglin , Wen Yafeng , Yang Yiqun , Zhang Hengwei , Hou Lu
Published: May 2024

Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact of plants on the overall well-being of elderly individuals. However, there remains a gap in our understanding which specific plant species have a notable influence on the physical and mental health of the elderly population. Among the various woody ornamental plants used worldwide, crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) holds a growing significance in the natural environment. This study aimed to investigate the physiological parameters (such as blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and fingertip pulse) as well as psychological aspects (measured using positive and negative affect schedule scores and smile face scale) associated with crape myrtle observation activities. The finding revealed the following key points: 1) engaging in crape myrtle observation activities significantly enhanced the physical and mental well-being of elderly participants; 2) the impact of observing crape myrtle flowers differed notably from that of observing its leaves, with flower observation having a more positive effect on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals; and 3) the natural environment was found to exert an influence on the physical and mental health of elderly individuals through visual stimulation. Following the observation of crape myrtle, there was a significant decrease in the physiological indices of elderly individuals. Our findings offer valuable insights into the therapeutic benefits of crape myrtle observation activities and contributing evidence-based recommendations for future landscape design aimed at enhancing well-being.