bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spit for Science and the Limits of Applied Psychiatric Genetics
Authors: Turkheimer Eric , Rodock Greer Sarah
Published: March 2024

The research program Spit For Science was launched at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2011. Since then, more than 10,000 freshmen have been enrolled in the program, filling out extensive questionnaires about their drinking, general substance use, and related behaviors, and also contributing saliva for genotyping. The goals of the program, as initially stated by the investigators, were to find the genes underlying the heritability of alcohol use and related behaviors, and in addition to put genetic knowledge to work in ways that might aid university administrators and mental health professionals in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. We review every empirical paper involving genetic data that has emerged from the program, and reach a surprising conclusion: the study has never identified a single genetic effect of more than trivial magnitude. Although the quantitative results of the studies were reported transparently, the theoretical ramifications of the negligible results have never been acknowledged. To the contrary, most of the papers ignore the tiny effects, reaching optimistic conclusions about the prospects for future genetic explanations of alcohol use. We explore the implications of these results for the broader prospects of applied psychiatric genetics.
Compact polarization transceiver module for fiber optic gyroscopes
Authors: Yu Xueke , Zhang Zuchen , Yu Wenqi , Zhang Shaobo
Published: March 2024

This paper reports a transceiver module with a high polarization extinction ratio (PER) for the polarization-maintaining interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (PM-IFOG). This transceiver utilizes a graded-index lens featuring a slanted face coated with a multilayer film, enabling simultaneous collimation and beam splitting. Configurations of the graded-index splitter lens and the corresponding transceiver module are simulated and designed using the ray matrix method and physical optical propagation. The optical loss of the transceiver module is about 3.77 dB, and the PER exceeds 25 dB. The IFOG prototype is implemented by integrating the transceiver module with a PM sensing coil. The bias instability of the IFOG prototype is evaluated to be 0.51°/h by Allan variance. This research contributes to the reduction in size, weight, power consumption, and cost of PM-IFOG systems.
Highly efficient continuous-wave solid-state Raman crystal lasers at 555 and 559 nm
Authors: Chen Yung-Fu , Chang Xiu-Wei , Huang Hsin-Jia , Hsieh Li-Wei , Hsieh Cheng-Li
Published: March 2024

High-power efficient continuous-wave Nd:YVO4/KGW Raman lasers at 555 and 559 nm are achieved by using a double-sided dichroic coating output coupler to improve the resonance quality factor. The Np-cut potassium gadolinium tungstate (KGW) is used to generate the Stokes waves at 1159 and 1177 nm by placing the polarization of the1064 nm fundamental wave parallel to the Ng and Nm axes, respectively. The lithium triborate (LBO) crystal with the cut angle in the XY plane for the type-I phase matching is used to perform the intracavity sum frequency generation for yielding the green light at 555 nm and the lime light at 559 nm at the optimal phase matching temperature. Experimental results were systematically accomplished to comprehend the optimal cavity length for the conversion efficiency. Under the optimal cavity length, the output powers can reach 6.6 and 6.3 W at a pump power of 22 W for the wavelengths of 555 and 559 nm, respectively. The conversion efficiencies can be up to 30% and 28.6% for 555 and 559 nm, respectively.
Hyperspectral microscopy of boron nitride nanolayers using hybrid femto/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering
Authors: Lin Elodie , Scherman Michael , Pierret Aurelie , Attal-Tretout Brigitte , Andrieux Amandine , Tailpied Laure , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Loiseau Annick
Published: March 2024

The rise in interest in two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has been notable in recent years. In particular, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), recognized as an optimal substrate for enhancing graphene properties, holds promise for electronic applications. However, the widely employed spontaneous Raman microscopy, a gold standard for graphene study, faces strong limitations in h-BN due to its large bandgap and low cross section. In this Letter, high-resolution femto/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs/ps-CARS) spectroscopy is used for hyperspectral imaging of nanometric h-BN layers. Our study establishes that CARS signal effectively enhances Raman signature related to in-plane ring vibrations, thus providing valuable quantitative insights into sample thickness and crystalline quality, also corroborated by additional AFM measurements.
Strategically constructed AlGaN doping barriers for efficient deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Ziqi , Zhou Qianxi , Liu Xu , Lv Zhenxing , Tang Bin , Geng Hansong , Qi Shengli , Zhou Shengjun
Published: March 2024

Here, we propose a sandwich-like Si-doping scheme (undoped/Si-doped/undoped) in Al0.6Ga0.4N quantum barriers (QBs) to simultaneously promote the optoelectronic performances and reliability of deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV-LEDs). Through experimental and numerical analyses, in the case of DUV-LEDs with conventional uniform Si-doping QB structure, severe operation-induced reliability degradation, including the increase of reverse leakage current (IR) and reduction of light output power (LOP), will offset the enhancement of optoelectronic performances as the Si-doping levels increase to an extent, which hinders further development of DUV-LEDs. According to a transmission electron microscope characterization and a numerical simulation, an improved interfacial quality in multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and more uniform carrier distribution within MQWs are demonstrated for our proposed Si-doping structure in comparison to the uniform Si-doping structure. Consequently, the proposed DUV-LED shows superior wall-plug efficiency (4%), IR at −6 V reduced by almost one order of magnitude, and slower LOP degradation after 168-h 100 mA-current-stress operation. This feasible doping scheme provides a promising strategy for the high-efficiency and cost-competitive DUV-LEDs.
Applications of Type I diffracted photons in astronomical imaging and the insensitivity of QCE image sensor to atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Pavel Eugen
Published: March 2024

The angular resolution of telescope/refractor due to Type I diffracted photons is investigated. Indoor measurements of the angular resolution have reached 16.5 milliarcseconds, an improvement of 50 x towards diffraction limit.
A novel concept is proposed to eliminate the seeing effects of atmospheric turbulence and to impulse the deep space investigations. Imaging through the atmosphere is improved by QCE image sensor due Type I diffracted photons with particle behavior. Sirius (α Canis Majoris) passage measurements have indicated seeing conditions estimated at 11 milliarcseconds. The insensitivity of QCE image sensor to seeing conditions is analyzed and discussed.
Infrared Color-Sorting Metasurface
Authors: Chen Guanghao , Zhou Junxiao , Chen Li , Tian Fanglin , Liu Zhaowei
Published: March 2024

The process of sorting light based on colors (photon energy) is a prerequisite in broadband optical systems, typically achieved in the form of guiding incoming signals through a sequence of spectral filters. The assembly of filters often leads to lengthy optical trains and consequently, large system footprints. In this work, we address this issue by proposing a flat color-sorting device comprised of a diffraction grating and a dielectric Huygens’ metasurface. Upon the incidence of a broadband beam, the grating disperses the light and redirects wavelengths to a continuous range of angles in accordance with the law of diffraction. Subsequently, the metasurface with multiple paired Huygens’ resonances corrects the dispersion and binds wavelengths to the corresponding waveband with a designated output angle. We demonstrate the efficacy by designing a color-sorting metasurface with two discrete dispersion-compensated outputs (10.8±0.3 μm and 11.9±0.3 μm), based on the proposed approach. The optimized metasurface possesses an overall transmittance exceeding 57% and reduces lateral dispersion by 90% at the output. The proposed color-sorting mechanism provides a solution that benefits the designing of metasurface for miniature multi-band systems.
Selbstbestimmte Identitäten im E-Commerce:
Authors: Braun Simone , Sauer Max , Sürmeli Jan , Thessen Jonas
Published: March 2024

Der Online-Handel verzeichnet seit Jahren ein stetiges Wachstum. Durch die
COVID-19-Pandemie kaufen nun auch Nutzende, die zuvor physische Kanäle bevorzugten,
vermehrt online ein. Der Anbietererfolg hängt dabei wesentlich von der Kenntnis über die
Kund*innen ab. Allerdings dominieren einige große Anbieter den Markt, während kleinere
Online-Shops Schwierigkeiten haben, ihre Angebote zu personalisieren. Eine Lösung bietet
der Ansatz selbstbestimmter Identitäten. Dieser ermöglicht Kund*innen, ihre eigenen
Shoppingdaten zu kontrollieren und sie selektiv mit Online-Shops zu teilen. Dadurch
können individuelle Wünsche und Anforderungen der Kund*innen in Online-Shops
berücksichtigt und ein personalisiertes Angebot sowie eine gute Nutzungserfahrung
geboten werden. Trotz des großen Potenzials selbstbestimmter Identitäten ist der Ansatz
in Deutschland kaum verbreitet. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet den Einsatz selbstbestimmter
Identitäten im Online-Handel. Mithilfe eines menschenzentrierten Gestaltungsprozesses
wurden Personas und Ist-Szenarien erstellt, sowie daraus resultierend Anforderungen
erhoben und Potenziale identifiziert. Auf Basis dessen konnte ein Daten- und
Architekturmodell zur Integration von selbstbestimmten Identitäten im Online-Handel
entwickelt werden.
MYCN drives oncogenesis by cooperating with the histone methyltransferase G9a and the WDR5 adaptor to orchestrate global gene transcription
Authors: Liu Zhihui , Zhang Xiyuan , Xu Man , Hong Jason J. , Ciardiello Amanda , Lei Haiyan , Shern Jack F. , Thiele Carol J.
Published: March 2024

MYCN activates canonical MYC targets involved in ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis, and represses neuronal differentiation genes to drive oncogenesis in neuroblastoma (NB). How MYCN orchestrates global gene expression remains incompletely understood. Our study finds that MYCN binds promoters to up-regulate canonical MYC targets but binds to both enhancers and promoters to repress differentiation genes. MYCN binding also increases H3K4me3 and H3K27ac on canonical MYC target promoters and decreases H3K27ac on neuronal differentiation gene enhancers and promoters. WDR5 facilitates MYCN promoter binding to activate canonical MYC target genes, whereas MYCN recruits G9a to enhancers to repress neuronal differentiation genes. Targeting both MYCN’s active and repressive transcriptional activities using both WDR5 and G9a inhibitors synergistically suppresses NB growth. We demonstrate that MYCN cooperates with WDR5 and G9a to orchestrate global gene transcription. The targeting of both these cofactors is a novel therapeutic strategy to indirectly target the oncogenic activity of MYCN.
Emergence of Emotion Selectivity in Deep Neural Networks Trained to Recognize Visual Objects
Authors: Liu Peng , Bo Ke , Ding Mingzhou , Fang Ruogu
Published: March 2024

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that the visual cortex plays an important role in representing the affective significance of visual input. The origin of these affect-specific visual representations is debated: they are intrinsic to the visual system versus they arise through reentry from frontal emotion processing structures such as the amygdala. We examined this problem by combining convolutional neural network (CNN) models of the human ventral visual cortex pre-trained on ImageNet with two datasets of affective images. Our results show that in all layers of the CNN models, there were artificial neurons that responded consistently and selectively to neutral, pleasant, or unpleasant images and lesioning these neurons by setting their output to zero or enhancing these neurons by increasing their gain led to decreased or increased emotion recognition performance respectively. These results support the idea that the visual system may have the intrinsic ability to represent the affective significance of visual input and suggest that CNNs offer a fruitful platform for testing neuroscientific theories.
Kombucha Tea-associated microbes remodel host metabolic pathways to suppress lipid accumulation
Authors: DuMez-Kornegay Rachel N. , Baker Lillian S. , Morris Alexis J. , DeLoach Whitney L. M. , Dowen Robert H.
Published: March 2024

The popularity of the ancient, probiotic-rich beverage Kombucha Tea (KT) has surged in part due to its purported health benefits, which include protection against metabolic diseases; however, these claims have not been rigorously tested and the mechanisms underlying host response to the probiotics in KT are unknown. Here, we establish a reproducible method to maintain C. elegans on a diet exclusively consisting of Kombucha Tea-associated microbes (KTM), which mirrors the microbial community found in the fermenting culture. KT microbes robustly colonize the gut of KTM-fed animals and confer normal development and fecundity. Intriguingly, animals consuming KTMs display a marked reduction in total lipid stores and lipid droplet size. We find that the reduced fat accumulation phenotype is not due to impaired nutrient absorption, but rather it is sustained by a programed metabolic response in the intestine of the host. KTM consumption triggers widespread transcriptional changes within core lipid metabolism pathways, including upregulation of a suite of lysosomal lipase genes that are induced during lipophagy. The elevated lysosomal lipase activity, coupled with a decrease in lipid droplet biogenesis, is partially required for the reduction in host lipid content. We propose that KTM consumption stimulates a fasting-like response in the C. elegans intestine by rewiring transcriptional programs to promote lipid utilization. Our results provide mechanistic insight into how the probiotics in Kombucha Tea reshape host metabolism and how this popular beverage may impact human metabolism.
A natural bacterial pathogen of C. elegans uses a small RNA to induce transgenerational inheritance of learned avoidance
Authors: Sengupta Titas , St. Ange Jonathan , Kaletsky Rachel , Moore Rebecca S. , Seto Renee J. , Marogi Jacob , Myhrvold Cameron , Gitai Zemer , Murphy Coleen T.
Published: March 2024

C. elegans can learn to avoid pathogenic bacteria through several mechanisms, including bacterial small RNA-induced learned avoidance behavior, which can be inherited transgenerationally. Previously, we discovered that a small RNA from a clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PA14, induces learned avoidance and transgenerational inheritance of that avoidance in C. elegans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important human pathogen, and there are other Pseudomonads in C. elegans’ natural habitat, but it is unclear whether C. elegans ever encounters PA14-like bacteria in the wild. Thus, it is not known if small RNAs from bacteria found in C. elegans’ natural habitat can also regulate host behavior and produce heritable behavioral effects. Here we screened a set of wild habitat bacteria, and found that a pathogenic Pseudomonas vranovensis strain isolated from the C. elegans microbiota, GRb0427, regulates worm behavior: worms learn to avoid this pathogenic bacterium following exposure, and this learned avoidance is inherited for four generations. The learned response is entirely mediated by bacterially-produced small RNAs, which induce avoidance and transgenerational inheritance, providing further support that such mechanisms of learning and inheritance exist in the wild. We identified Pv1, a small RNA expressed in P. vranovensis, that has a 16-nucleotide match to an exon of the C. elegans gene maco-1. Pv1 is both necessary and sufficient to induce learned avoidance of Grb0427. However, Pv1 also results in avoidance of a beneficial microbiome strain, P. mendocina. Our findings suggest that bacterial small RNA-mediated regulation of host behavior and its transgenerational inheritance may be functional in C. elegans’ natural environment, and that this potentially maladaptive response may favor reversal of the transgenerational memory after a few generations. Our data also suggest that different bacterial small RNA-mediated regulation systems evolved independently, but define shared molecular features of bacterial small RNAs that produce transgenerationally-inherited effects.
Elevator block brake structural optimization design based on an approximate model
Authors: Wang Haijian , Yu Chengwen , Zhu Xishan , Jian Liu , Lu Congcong , Pan Xiaoguang
Published: March 2024

An Aquila optimizer-back propagation (AO-BP) neural network was used to establish an approximate model of the relationship between the design variables and the optimization objective to improve elevator block brake capabilities and achieve a lightweight brake design. Subsequently, the constraint conditions and objective functions were determined. Moreover, the multi-objective genetic algorithm optimized the structural block brake design. Finally, the effectiveness of the optimization results was verified using simulation experiments. The results demonstrate that the maximum temperature of the optimized brake wheel during emergency braking was 222.09°C, which is 36.71°C lower than that of 258.8°C before optimization, with a change rate of 14.2%. The maximum equivalent stress after optimization was 246.89 MPa, 28.87 MPa lower than that of 275.66 MPa before optimization, with a change rate of 10.5%. In addition, the brake wheel mass was reduced from 58.85 kg to 52.40 kg, and the thermal fatigue life at the maximum equivalent stress increased from 64 times before optimization to 94 times after optimization.
Assessing the quality of drinking water from selected water sources in Mbarara city, South-western Uganda
Authors: Abaasa Catherine N. , Ayesiga Savino , Lejju Julius B. , Andama Morgan , Tamwesigire Imelda K. , Bazira Joel , Byarugaba Frederick
Published: March 2024

This study assessed the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality with emphasis on risk score, source apportionment, geochemistry, feacal coliforms and water quality index of drinking water from selected water sources. A cross-sectional study was conducted in six villages in Mbarara city, south-western Uganda. Each selected source was inspected using a WHO-adopted sanitary inspection questionnaire. Each source’s risk score was calculated. Thirty-seven samples were taken from one borehole, nine open dug wells, four rain harvest tanks, and twenty-three taps. The values for apparent color and phosphate were higher than the permissible level as set by the World Health Organization and Ugandan standards (US EAS 12). The isolated organisms were Klebsiella spp. (8.11%), Citrobacter divergens (62.16%), Citrobacter fluendii (2.7%), E. coli (35.14%), Enterobacter aerogenes (8.11%), Enterobacter agglomerus (5.4%), Proteus spp. (2.7%), Enterobacter cloacae (13.5%), and Proteus mirabilis (2.7%). Twelve water sources (32.4%) had water that was unfit for human consumption that was unfit for human consumption (Grade E), Five sources (13.5%) had water that had a very poor index (Grade D), nine (24.3%) had water of poor index (Grade C), eight (21.6%) had water of good water index (Grade B), and only three (8.1%) had water of excellent water quality index (Grade A). The piper trilinear revealed that the dominant water type of the area were Mgso4 and Caso4 type. Gibbs plot represents precipitation dominance. PCA for source apportionment showed that well, tap and borehole water account for the highest variations in the quality of drinking water. These results suggest that drinking water from sources in Mbarara city is not suitable for direct human consumption without treatment. We recommend necessary improvements in water treatment, distribution, and maintenance of all the available water sources in Mbarara City, South Western Uganda.
Agriculture along the upper part of the Middle Zarafshan River during the first millennium AD: A multi-site archaeobotanical analysis
Authors: Mir-Makhamad Basira , Lurje Pavel , Parshuto Vikentiy , Pulotov Abdurahmon , Aminov Firuz , Shenkar Michael , Saidov Muminkhon , Semenov Nikita , Kurbanov Sharof , Mirzaakhmedov Sirojiddin , Rakhmanov Khusniddin , dal Martello Rita , Spengler Robert
Published: March 2024

The Zarafshan River runs from the mountains of Tajikistan and terminates in the sands of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert in Uzbekistan; it served as a communication route and homeland for the Sogdians. The Sogdians are historically depicted as merchants existing from the end of the first millennium BC through the first millennium AD. While recent research has provided the first glimpse into cultivation, commerce, communication, and consumption in the Lower Zarafshan, the agricultural heartland of the Middle Zarafshan Basin has remained unstudied. This paper presents the results of archaeobotanical investigations conducted at five ancient urban sites/areas spanning the fifth to the twelfth centuries AD: Kainar (Penjikent citadel), Penjikent (shahristan), Sanjar-Shah, Kuk-Tosh (pre-Mongol Penjikent), and Afrasiab. Collectively, these data show that cereals, legumes, oil/fiber crops, fruits, and nuts were cultivated on the fertile Zarafshan floodplains. In this paper, we discuss evidence for the diversification of the agricultural assemblage over time, including the introduction of new staple crops and fruits into an already complex cultivation system. In addition, we contrast our data with previously published results from sites along the course of the Zarafshan to determine whether there is a dietary difference between pre-and post-Islamic conquest periods at settlements located along the river.
Similarity and dissimilarity in alterations of the gene expression profile associated with inhalational anesthesia between sevoflurane and desflurane
Authors: Nogi Takehiro , Uranishi Kousuke , Suzuki Ayumu , Hirasaki Masataka , Nakamura Tina , Kazama Tomiei , Nagasaka Hiroshi , Okuda Akihiko , Mieda Tsutomu
Published: March 2024

Although sevoflurane is one of the most commonly used inhalational anesthetic agents, the popularity of desflurane is increasing to a level similar to that of sevoflurane. Inhalational anesthesia generally activates and represses the expression of genes related to xenobiotic metabolism and immune response, respectively. However, there has been no comprehensive comparison of the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on the expression of these genes. Thus, we used a next-generation sequencing method to compare alterations in the global gene expression profiles in the livers of rats subjected to inhalational anesthesia by sevoflurane or desflurane. Our bioinformatics analyses revealed that sevoflurane and, to a greater extent, desflurane significantly activated genes related to xenobiotic metabolism. Our analyses also revealed that both anesthetic agents, especially sevoflurane, downregulated many genes related to immune response.
YOLO-B:An infrared target detection algorithm based on bi-fusion and efficient decoupled
Authors: Hou Yanli , Tang Bohua , Ma Zhen , Wang Juan , Liang Ben , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: March 2024

The YOLO-B infrared target detection algorithm is proposed to address the problems of incomplete extraction of detailed features and missed and wrong detection of infrared targets by YOLOv5s. The algorithm improves the SPPF of YOLOv5s feature extraction network by proposing the CSPPF structure to increase the sensory field of the model. The Bifusion Neck structure is invoked to fuse the shallow location information with deep semantic information to enhance the feature extraction capability of the model. Taking fully into account the different information of concern for classification and localization, the efficient decoupled head is used as the prediction head of this algorithm, which reduces the latency while maintaining the accuracy. WIoUv3 loss is used as a bounding box regression loss function to reduce the harmful gradient generated by low-quality examples and reduce the competitiveness of high-quality anchor frames. Comparative experiments were conducted for each of the four improvement points, and the experimental results showed that each improvement point had the highest detection accuracy in the comparative experiments of the same category. All improvement points are fused in turn and ablation experiments are performed. The YOLO-B algorithm improves 1.9% in accuracy, 7.3% in recall, 3.8% in map_0.5, and 4.6% in map_0.5:0.95 compared to YOLOv5s. When compared with YOLOv7 and YOLOv8s, the proposed algorithm has better performance in terms of the number of parameters and detection accuracy.
Efficacy and safety of biologic agents for IgA nephropathy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ma Jia , Xing Jianyue , Zhang Yupeng , Liu Guangzhen
Published: March 2024

Background

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and a leading cause of chronic kidney failure. There are currently no definitive therapeutic regimens to treat or prevent the progression of IgAN. However, biologic agents offer novel therapeutic approaches that target immunological mechanisms to slow or halt disease progression. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biologic agents in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Methods

We will systematically search PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and www.clinicaltrials.gov for randomized controlled trials of biologic agents for the treatment of IgA nephropathy. The search period will span from the establishment of each database until October 2023. The quality assessment of included studies will be performed individually using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2), and meta-analysis will be conducted using Revman 5.4.1 software.

Conclusions

The results of this study will provide evidence-based medical evidence for the clinical application of biologic agents in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Prospero registration number

CRD42023400450.
The effect of cooperator recognition on competition among clones in spatially structured microbial communities
Authors: Bingham Adrienna , Sur Aparajita , Shaw Leah B. , Murphy Helen A.
Published: March 2024

In spatially structured microbial communities, clonal growth of stationary cells passively generates clusters of related individuals. This can lead to stable cooperation without the need for recognition mechanisms. However, recent research suggests that some biofilm-forming microbes may have mechanisms of kin recognition. To explore this unexpected observation, we studied the effects of different types of cooperation in a microbial colony using spatially explicit, agent-based simulations of two interacting strains. We found scenarios that favor a form of kin recognition in spatially structured microbial communities. In the presence of a “cheater” strain, a strain with greenbeard cooperation was able to increase in frequency more than a strain with obligate cooperation. This effect was most noticeable in high density colonies and when the cooperators were not as abundant as the cheaters. We also studied whether a polychromatic greenbeard, in which cells only cooperate with their own type, could provide a numerical benefit beyond a simple, binary greenbeard. We found the greatest benefit to a polychromatic greenbeard when cooperation is highly effective. These results suggest that in some ecological scenarios, recognition mechanisms may be beneficial even in spatially structured communities.
A phage-displayed disulfide constrained peptide discovery platform yields novel human plasma protein binders
Authors: Gao Xinxin , Kaluarachchi Harini , Zhang Yingnan , Hwang Sunhee , Hannoush Rami N.
Published: March 2024

Disulfide constrained peptides (DCPs) show great potential as templates for drug discovery. They are characterized by conserved cysteine residues that form intramolecular disulfide bonds. Taking advantage of phage display technology, we designed and generated twenty-six DCP phage libraries with enriched molecular diversity to enable the discovery of ligands against disease-causing proteins of interest. The libraries were designed based on five DCP scaffolds, namelyMomordica charantia1 (Mch1), gurmarin, Asteropsin-A, antimicrobial peptide-1 (AMP-1), and potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (CPI). We also report optimized workflows for screening and producing synthetic and recombinant DCPs. Examples of novel DCP binders identified against various protein targets are presented, including human IgG Fc, serum albumin, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). We identified DCPs against human IgG Fc and serum albumin with sub-micromolar affinity from primary panning campaigns, providing alternative tools for potential half-life extension of peptides and small protein therapeutics. Overall, the molecular diversity of the DCP scaffolds included in the designed libraries, coupled with their distinct biochemical and biophysical properties, enables efficient and robust identification ofde novobinders to drug targets of therapeutic relevance.
Inoculation of Pan02 cells produces tumor nodules in mouse pancreas: Characterization of a novel orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor model for interventional studies
Authors: Griffin James I. , Chen Xinyue , Duan Luqi , Mu Qingxin , Ho Rodney J. Y.
Published: March 2024

Preclinical models of cancer are vital for assessing and predicting efficacies and toxicities of novel treatments prior to testing in human subjects. Current pancreatic tumor models exhibit variable growth rates, unpredictable tumor size after implantation in non-native tissues, or require surgical implantation. Surgical implantation in the pancreas may produce not only unpredictable tumor uptake but could also elicit additional inflammatory responses. In searching for a pancreatic carcinoma cell that can be introduced into a mouse via simple injection, we found that Pan02, a murine ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma derived from a pancreatic lesion of a C57BL/6 mouse, inoculated peritoneally can consistently produce pancreatic tumors. This intraperitoneal, but not intravenous, introduction of Pan02 cells leads to the attachment and growth of Pan02 in the pancreas before spreading to other tissues. Time-course tissue analysis indicates that the Pan02 cells first find, infiltrate, and grow within the pancreas, producing a pancreatic tumor model. This model appears to mimic pancreatic cancer development in humans and is the first reported use of Pan02 cells to produce orthotopic pancreatic and metastatic neoplasms in a mouse model without the need for tumor implantation within matrices or survival surgeries. This orthotopic pancreatic tumor model, with consistent tumor uptake, synchronized tumor development and survival, and predictable outcomes may enable and accelerate the preclinical evaluation of treatment candidates for pancreatic cancer.
Does attitude importance moderate the effects of person-first language? A registered report
Authors: Schumann Sandy , Zohny Hazem
Published: March 2024

Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to outgroup descriptions that use person-first, as compared to identity-first, language can attenuate negative stereotypes or prejudice and enhance support for policies that seek to advance outgroup rights. However, those benefits of person-first language may not apply to all social groups equally. The present study examines a boundary condition of the effects of person-first language. Specifically, we postulate that person-first language reduces the stigmatization of outgroups to a lesser degree if individuals hold more important negative attitudes towards the respective communities. We will test this hypothesis in a two-factorial 2 (target group) x 2 (descriptor) online experiment that includes a control group and for which we will recruit a general-population sample (N= 681). Stereotyping, dehumanization, as well as negative affect and behavioral intentions towards two outgroups will be compared: people with a physical disability/the physically disabled (i.e., negative attitudes are expected to be less important) and people who have committed a violent crime/violent criminals (i.e., negative attitudes are expected to be more important). Our findings will bear implications for understanding when language use could influence public opinion of different social groups. Additionally, the research can inform the development of more effective communication policies to promote inclusion and reduce stigma.
Saliva sampling method influences oral microbiome composition and taxa distribution associated with oral diseases
Authors: Roca Cristian , Alkhateeb Alaa A. , Deanhardt Bryson K. , Macdonald Jade K. , Chi Donald L. , Wang Jeremy R. , Wolfgang Matthew C.
Published: March 2024

Saliva is a readily accessible and inexpensive biological specimen that enables investigation of the oral microbiome, which can serve as a biomarker of oral and systemic health. There are two routine approaches to collect saliva, stimulated and unstimulated; however, there is no consensus on how sampling method influences oral microbiome metrics. In this study, we analyzed paired saliva samples (unstimulated and stimulated) from 88 individuals, aged 7–18 years. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we investigated the differences in bacterial microbiome composition between sample types and determined how sampling method affects the distribution of taxa associated with untreated dental caries and gingivitis. Our analyses indicated significant differences in microbiome composition between the sample types. Both sampling methods were able to detect significant differences in microbiome composition between healthy subjects and subjects with untreated caries. However, only stimulated saliva revealed a significant association between microbiome diversity and composition in individuals with diagnosed gingivitis. Furthermore, taxa previously associated with dental caries and gingivitis were preferentially enriched in individuals with each respective disease only in stimulated saliva. Our study suggests that stimulated saliva provides a more nuanced readout of microbiome composition and taxa distribution associated with untreated dental caries and gingivitis compared to unstimulated saliva.
Attentional cueing: Gaze is harder to override than arrows
Authors: Schmitz Inka , Strauss Hanna , Reinel Ludwig , Einhäuser Wolfgang
Published: March 2024

Gaze is an important and potent social cue to direct others’ attention towards specific locations. However, in many situations, directional symbols, like arrows, fulfill a similar purpose. Motivated by the overarching question how artificial systems can effectively communicate directional information, we conducted two cueing experiments. In both experiments, participants were asked to identify peripheral targets appearing on the screen and respond to them as quickly as possible by a button press. Prior to the appearance of the target, a cue was presented in the center of the screen. In Experiment 1, cues were either faces or arrows that gazed or pointed in one direction, but were non-predictive of the target location. Consistent with earlier studies, we found a reaction time benefit for the side the arrow or the gaze was directed to. Extending beyond earlier research, we found that this effect was indistinguishable between the vertical and the horizontal axis and between faces and arrows. In Experiment 2, we used 100% “counter-predictive” cues; that is, the target always occurred on the side opposite to the direction of gaze or arrow. With cues without inherent directional meaning (color), we controlled for general learning effects. Despite the close quantitative match between non-predictive gaze and non-predictive arrow cues observed in Experiment 1, the reaction-time benefit for counter-predictive arrows over neutral cues is more robust than the corresponding benefit for counter-predictive gaze. This suggests that–if matched for efficacy towards their inherent direction–gaze cues are harder to override or reinterpret than arrows. This difference can be of practical relevance, for example, when designing cues in the context of human-machine interaction.
Cybersecurity on a budget: Evaluating security and performance of open-source SIEM solutions for SMEs
Authors: Manzoor Jawad , Waleed Abdul , Jamali Abdul Fareed , Masood Ammar
Published: March 2024

The proliferation of cyber threats necessitates robust security measures to safeguard critical assets and data in today’s evolving digital landscape. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of the global economy are particularly vulnerable to these threats due to inadequate protection for critical and sensitive information, budgetary constraints, and lack of cybersecurity expertise and personnel. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems have emerged as pivotal tools for monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents. While proprietary SIEM solutions have historically dominated the market, open-source SIEM systems have gained prominence for their accessibility and cost-effectiveness for SMEs. This article presents a comprehensive study focusing on the evaluation of open-source SIEM systems. The research investigates the capabilities of these open-source solutions in addressing modern security challenges and compliance with regulatory requirements. Performance aspects are explored through empirical testing in simulated enterprise-grade SME network environments to assess resource utilization, and real-time data processing capabilities. By providing a rigorous assessment of the security and performance features of open-source SIEM systems, this research offers valuable insights to cybersecurity practitioners, organizations seeking cost-effective security solutions, and the broader academic community. The findings shed light on the strengths and limitations of these systems, aiding decision-makers in selecting the most suitable SIEM solution for their specific requirements while enhancing the cybersecurity posture of SMEs.
Vision SLAM algorithm for wheeled robots integrating multiple sensors
Authors: Zhou Weihua , Zhou Rougang
Published: March 2024

Wheeled robots play a crucial role in driving the autonomy and intelligence of robotics. However, they often encounter challenges such as tracking loss and poor real-time performance in low-texture environments. In response to these issues, this research proposes a real-time localization and mapping algorithm based on the fusion of multiple features, utilizing point, line, surface, and matrix decomposition characteristics. Building upon this foundation, the algorithm integrates multiple sensors to design a vision-based real-time localization and mapping algorithm for wheeled robots. The study concludes with experimental validation on a two-wheeled robot platform. The results indicated that the multi-feature fusion algorithm achieved the highest average accuracy in both conventional indoor datasets (84.57%) and sparse-feature indoor datasets (82.37%). In indoor scenarios, the vision-based algorithm integrating multiple sensors achieved an average accuracy of 85.4% with a processing time of 64.4 ms. In outdoor scenarios, the proposed algorithm exhibited a 14.51% accuracy improvement over a vision-based algorithm without closed-loop detection. In summary, the proposed method demonstrated outstanding accuracy and real-time performance, exhibiting favorable application effects across various practical scenarios.
Optimized treatment parameter by computer simulation for high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of uterine adenomyosis: Short-term and long-term results
Authors: Bae Jae Seok , Lee Jae Young , Chung Hyun Hoon , Lee Maria , Jeon Myung Jae , Kim Hoon , Kim Hee Seung , Kim Kidong , Lee Chang-Soon , Son Keonho , Han Joon Koo
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of using optimized parameters obtained by computer simulation for ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of uterine adenomyosis in comparison with conventional parameters. We retrospectively assessed a single-institution, prospective study that was registered at Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS) of Republic of Korea (KCT0003586). Sixty-six female participants (median age: 44 years) with focal uterine adenomyosis were prospectively enrolled. All participants were treated with a HIFU system by using treatment parameters either for treating uterine fibroids (Group A, first 20 participants) or obtained via computer simulation (Group B, later 46 participants). To assess the treatment efficacy of HIFU, qualitative indices, including the clinically effective dysmenorrhea improvement index (DII), were evaluated up to 3 years after treatment, whereas quantitative indices, such as the nonperfused volume ratio and adenomyosis volume shrinkage ratio (AVSR), on MRI were evaluated up to 3 months after treatment. Quantitative/qualitative indices were compared between Groups A and B by using generalized linear mixed effect model. A safety assessment was also performed. Results showed that clinically effective DII was more frequently observed in Group B than in Group A (odds ratio, 3.69; P = 0.025), and AVSR were higher in Group B than in Group A (least-squares means, 21.61; P = 0.001). However, two participants in Group B developed skin burns at the buttock and sciatic nerve pain and required treatment. In conclusion, parameters obtained by computer simulation were more effective than the conventional parameters for treating uterine adenomyosis by using HIFU in terms of clinically effective DII and AVSR. However, care should be taken because of the risk of adverse events.
Enhanced amygdala–anterior cingulate white matter structural connectivity in Sahaja Yoga Meditators
Authors: Perez-Diaz Oscar , Góngora Daylín , González-Mora José L. , Rubia Katya , Barrós-Loscertales Alfonso , Hernández Sergio Elías
Published: March 2024

Objective

To study the white matter connections between anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula and amygdala as key regions of the frontal-limbic network that have been related to meditation.

Design

Twenty experienced practitioners of Sahaja Yoga Meditation and twenty nonmeditators matched on age, gender and education level, were scanned using Diffusion Weighted Imaging, using a 3T scanner, and their white matter connectivity was compared using diffusion tensor imaging analyses.

Results

There were five white matter fiber paths in which meditators showed a larger number of tracts, two of them connecting the same area in both hemispheres: the left and right amygdalae and the left and right anterior insula; and the other three connecting left anterior cingulate with the right anterior insula, the right amygdala and the left amygdala. On the other hand, non-meditators showed larger number of tracts in two paths connecting the left anterior insula with the left amygdala, and the left anterior insula with the left anterior cingulate.

Conclusions

The study shows that long-term practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation is associated with larger white matter tracts strengthening interhemispheric connections between limbic regions and connections between cingulo-amygdalar and cingulo-insular brain regions related to top-down attentional and emotional processes as well as between top-down control functions that could potentially be related to the witness state perceived through the state of mental silence promoted with this meditation. On the other hand, reduced connectivity strength in left anterior insula in the meditation group could be associated to reduced emotional processing affecting top-down processes.
A new automatic sugarcane seed cutting machine based on internet of things technology and RGB color sensor
Authors: Yang Liu , Nasrat Loai S. , Badawy Mohamed E. , Mbadjoun Wapet Daniel Eutyche , Ourapi Manar A. , El-Messery Tamer M. , Aleksandrova Irina , Mahmoud Mohamed Metwally , Hussein Mahmoud M. , Elwakeel Abdallah E.
Published: March 2024

Egypt is among the world’s largest producers of sugarcane. This crop is of great economic importance in the country, as it serves as a primary source of sugar, a vital strategic material. The pre-cutting planting mode is the most used technique for cultivating sugarcane in Egypt. However, this method is plagued by several issues that adversely affect the quality of the crop. A proposed solution to these problems is the implementation of a sugarcane-seed-cutting device, which incorporates automatic identification technology for optimal efficiency. The aim is to enhance the cutting quality and efficiency of the pre-cutting planting mode of sugarcane. The developed machine consists of a feeding system, a node scanning and detection system, a node cutting system, a sugarcane seed counting and monitoring system, and a control system. The current research aims to study the pulse widths (PW) of three-color channels (R, G, and B) of the RGB color sensors under laboratory conditions. The output PW of red, green, and blue channel values were recorded at three color types for hand-colored nodes [black, red, and blue], three speeds of the feeding system [7.5 m/min, 5 m/min, and 4.3 m/min], three installing heights of the RGB color sensors [2.0 cm, 3.0 cm, and 4.0 cm], and three widths of the colored line [10.0 mm, 7.0 mm, and 3.0 mm]. The laboratory test results s to identify hand-colored sugarcane nodes showed that the recognition rate ranged from 95% to 100% and the average scanning time ranged from 1.0 s to 1.75 s. The capacity of the developed machine ranged up to 1200 seeds per hour. The highest performance of the developed machine was 100% when using hand-colored sugarcane stalks with a 10 mm blue color line and installing the RGB color sensor at 2.0 cm in height, as well as increasing the speed of the feeding system to 7.5 m/min. The use of IoT and RGB color sensors has made it possible to get analytical indicators like those achieved with other automatic systems for cutting sugar cane seeds without requiring the use of computers or expensive, fast industrial cameras for image processing.