bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coordination-induced O-H/N-H bond weakening by a redox non-innocent, aluminum-containing radical
Authors: Sinhababu Soumen , Singh Roushan Prakash , Radzhabov Maxim R. , Kumawat Jugal , Ess Daniel H. , Mankad Neal P.
Published: February 2024

Several renewable energy schemes aim to use the chemical bonds in abundant molecules like water and ammonia as energy reservoirs. Because the O-H and N-H bonds are quite strong (>100 kcal/mol), it is necessary to identify substances that dramatically weaken these bonds to facilitate proton-coupled electron transfer processes required for energy conversion. Usually this is accomplished through coordination-induced bond weakening by redox-active metals. However, coordination-induced bond weakening is difficult with earth’s most abundant metal, aluminum, because of its redox inertness under mild conditions. Here, we report a system that uses aluminum with a redox non-innocent ligand to achieve significant levels of coordination-induced bond weakening of O-H and N-H bonds. The multisite proton-coupled electron transfer manifold described here points to redox non-innocent ligands as a design element to open coordination-induced bond weakening chemistry to more elements in the periodic table.
A 10-m national-scale map of ground-mounted photovoltaic power stations in China of 2020
Authors: Feng Quanlong , Niu Bowen , Ren Yan , Su Shuai , Wang Jiudong , Shi Hongda , Yang Jianyu , Han Mengyao
Published: February 2024

We provide a remote sensing derived dataset for large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) power stations in China of 2020, which has high spatial resolution of 10 meters. The dataset is based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform via random forest classifier and active learning strategy. Specifically, ground samples are carefully collected across China via both field survey and visual interpretation. Afterwards, spectral and texture features are calculated from publicly available Sentinel-2 imagery. Meanwhile, topographic features consisting of slope and aspect that are sensitive to PV locations are also included, aiming to construct a multi-dimensional and discriminative feature space. Finally, the trained random forest model is adopted to predict PV power stations of China parallelly on GEE. Technical validation has been carefully performed across China which achieved a satisfactory accuracy over 89%. Above all, as the first publicly released 10-m national-scale distribution dataset of China’s ground-mounted PV power stations, it can provide data references for relevant researchers in fields such as energy, land, remote sensing and environmental sciences.
From MS/MS library implementation to molecular networks: Exploring oxylipin diversity with NEO-MSMS
Authors: Elloumi Anis , Mas-Normand Lindsay , Bride Jamie , Reversat Guillaume , Bultel-Poncé Valérie , Guy Alexandre , Oger Camille , Demion Marie , Le Guennec Jean-Yves , Durand Thierry , Vigor Claire , Sánchez-Illana Ángel , Galano Jean-Marie
Published: February 2024

Oxylipins, small polar molecules derived from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), serve as biomarkers for many diseases and play crucial roles in human physiology and inflammation. Despite their significance, many non-enzymatic oxygenated metabolites of PUFAs (NEO-PUFAs) remain poorly reported, resulting in a lack of public datasets of experimental data and limiting their dereplication in further studies. To overcome this limitation, we constructed a high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) dataset comprising pure NEO-PUFAs (both commercial and self-synthesized) and in vitro free radical-induced oxidation of diverse PUFAs. By employing molecular networking techniques with this dataset and the existent ones in public repositories, we successfully mapped a wide range of NEO-PUFAs, expanding the strategies for annotating oxylipins, and NEO-PUFAs and offering a novel workflow for profiling these molecules in biological samples.
Recovery of 1887 metagenome-assembled genomes from the South China Sea
Authors: Xu Shuaishuai , Huang Hailong , Chen Songze , Muhammad Zain Ul Arifeen , Wei Wenya , Xie Wei , Jiang Haibo , Hou Shengwei
Published: February 2024

The South China Sea (SCS) is a marginal sea characterized by strong land-sea biogeochemical interactions. SCS has a distinctive landscape with a multitude of seamounts in its basin. Seamounts create “seamount effects” that influence the diversity and distribution of planktonic microorganisms in the surrounding oligotrophic waters. Although the vertical distribution and community structure of marine microorganisms have been explored in certain regions of the global ocean, there is a lack of comprehensive microbial genomic surveys for uncultured microorganisms in SCS, particularly in the seamount regions. Here, we employed a metagenomic approach to study the uncultured microbial communities sampled from the Xianbei seamount region to the North Coast waters of SCS. A total of 1887 non-redundant prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed, of which, 153 MAGs were classified as high-quality MAGs based on the MIMAG standards. The community structure and genomic information provided by this dataset could be used to analyze microbial distribution and metabolism in the SCS.
Migration mechanism of grouting slurry and permeability reduction in mining fractured rock mass
Authors: Zhengzheng Cao , Pengshuai Wang , Zhenhua Li , Feng Du
Published: February 2024

In order to solve the water and gas discharge hazard caused by gob water and harmful gases (such as CO), the method of grouting overburden fractures is adopted to achieve the purpose of safe and efficient mining production in coal mines. This paper carries out the experimental research on the permeability reduction effect of grouting in fractured rock mass, expounds the relationship between gas flow rate and pressure gradient, seepage pressure and permeability, confining pressure and permeability, and analyzes the permeability change law of fractured rock mass before and after grouting. Besides, the grouting migration and permeability reduction model of fractured fine-grained sandstone is constructed by combining grouting test and numerical simulation, which reveals the dynamic evolution law of rock mass permeability in the grouting process. The results show that the permeability of the grouting rock sample decreases from 700–13,000 to 15–300 mD than that of the ungrouting rock sample, and the decrease is more than 95%, which indicates that the sealing performance of grouting slurry is better. Besides, numerical simulations show that the initial permeability of rock samples is 971.9 mD, and the permeability decreases to 45.79 mD after 1800s, and the permeability decreases to 95.3%, which is basically consistent with the experimental results after grouting. The greater the grouting pressure is, the better the grouting effect is. With the increase of the grouting pressure, the increase of the grouting effect is no longer obvious.
Addressing quantum’s “fine print” with efficient state preparation and information extraction for quantum algorithms and geologic fracture networks
Authors: Henderson Jessie M. , Kath John , Golden John K. , Percus Allon G. , O’Malley Daniel
Published: February 2024

Quantum algorithms provide an exponential speedup for solving certain classes of linear systems, including those that model geologic fracture flow. However, this revolutionary gain in efficiency does not come without difficulty. Quantum algorithms require that problems satisfy not only algorithm-specific constraints, but also application-specific ones. Otherwise, the quantum advantage carefully attained through algorithmic ingenuity can be entirely negated. Previous work addressing quantum algorithms for geologic fracture flow has illustrated core algorithmic approaches while incrementally removing assumptions. This work addresses two further requirements for solving geologic fracture flow systems with quantum algorithms: efficient system state preparation and efficient information extraction. Our approach to addressing each is consistent with an overall exponential speed-up.
A new framework for assessment of park management in smart cities: a study based on social media data and deep learning
Authors: Liu Sijia , Tan Chuandong , Deng Feiyang , Zhang Wei , Wu Xuefei
Published: February 2024

Urban park management assessment is critical to park operation and service quality. Traditional assessment methods cannot comprehensively assess park use and environmental conditions. Besides, although social media and big data have shown significant advantages in understanding public behavior or preference and park features or values, there has been little relevant research on park management assessment. This study proposes a deep learning-based framework for assessing urban park intelligent management from macro to micro levels with comment data from social media. By taking seven parks in Wuhan City as the objects, this study quantitatively assesses their overall state and performance in facilities, safety, environment, activities, and services, and reveals their main problems in management. The results demonstrate the impacts of various factors, including park type, season, and specific events such as remodeling and refurbishment, on visitor satisfaction and the characteristics of individual parks and their management. Compared with traditional methods, this framework enables real-time intelligent assessment of park management, which can accurately reflect park use and visitor feedback, and improve park service quality and management efficiency. Overall, this study provides important reference for intelligent park management assessment based on big data and artificial intelligence, which can facilitate the future development of smart cities.
Whole transcriptome screening for novel genes involved in meiosis and fertility in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sun Siqi , Defosse Tyler , Boyd Ayla , Sop Joel , Verderose Faith , Surray Diya , Aziz Mark , Howland Margaret , Wu Siwen , Changela Neha , Jang Janet , Schindler Karen , Xing Jinchuan , McKim Kim S.
Published: February 2024

Reproductive success requires the development of viable oocytes and the accurate segregation of chromosomes during meiosis. Failure to segregate chromosomes properly can lead to infertility, miscarriages, or developmental disorders. A variety of factors contribute to accurate chromosome segregation and oocyte development, such as spindle assembly and sister chromatid cohesion. However, many proteins required for meiosis remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to develop a screening pipeline for identifying novel meiotic and fertility genes using the genome of Drosophila melanogaster. To accomplish this goal, genes upregulated within meiotically active tissues were identified. More than 240 genes with no known function were silenced using RNA interference (RNAi) and the effects on meiosis and fertility were assessed. We identified 94 genes that when silenced caused infertility and/or high levels of chromosomal nondisjunction. The vast majority of these genes have human and mouse homologs that are also poorly studied. Through this screening process, we identified novel genes that are crucial for meiosis and oocyte development but have not been extensively studied in human or model organisms. Understanding the function of these genes will be an important step towards the understanding of their biological significance during reproduction.
Classification and identification of agricultural products based on improved MobileNetV2
Authors: Chen Haiwei , Zhou Guohui , He Wei , Duan Xiping , Jiang Huixin
Published: February 2024

With the advancement of technology, the demand for increased production efficiency has gradually risen, leading to the emergence of new trends in agricultural automation and intelligence. Precision classification models play a crucial role in helping farmers accurately identify, classify, and process various agricultural products, thereby enhancing production efficiency and maximizing the economic value of agricultural products. The current MobileNetV2 network model is capable of performing the aforementioned tasks. However, it tends to exhibit recognition biases when identifying different subcategories within agricultural product varieties. To address this challenge, this paper introduces an improved MobileNetV2 convolutional neural network model. Firstly, inspired by the Inception module in GoogLeNet, we combine the improved Inception module with the original residual module, innovatively proposing a new Res-Inception module. Additionally, to further enhance the model's accuracy in detection tasks, we introduce an efficient multi-scale cross-space learning module (EMA) and embed it into the backbone structure of the network. Experimental results on the Fruit-360 dataset demonstrate that the improved MobileNetV2 outperforms the original MobileNetV2 in agricultural product classification tasks, with an accuracy increase of 1.86%.
Integrative analysis of epilepsy-associated genes reveals expression-phenotype correlations
Authors: Chi Wanhao , Kiskinis Evangelos
Published: February 2024

Epilepsy is a highly prevalent neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Patients exhibit broad genetic, molecular, and clinical diversity involving mild to severe comorbidities. The factors that contribute to this phenotypic diversity remain unclear. Here we used publicly available datasets to systematically interrogate the expression pattern of 230 epilepsy-associated genes across human tissues, developmental stages, and central nervous system (CNS) cellular subtypes. We grouped genes based on their curated phenotypes into 3 broad classes: core epilepsy genes (CEG), where seizures are the dominant phenotype, developmental and epileptic encephalopathy genes (DEEG) that are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, and seizure-related genes (SRG), which are characterized by the presence of seizures and gross brain malformations. We find that compared to the other two groups of genes, DEEGs are highly expressed within the adult CNS, exhibit the highest and most dynamic expression in various brain regions across development, and are significantly enriched in GABAergic neurons. Our analysis provides an overview of the expression pattern of epilepsy-associated genes with spatiotemporal resolution and establishes a broad expression-phenotype correlation in epilepsy.
Prevalence and associated factors for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria in adults in the PERSIAN Guilan cohort study (PGCS)
Authors: Joukar Farahnaz , Hassanipour Soheil , Atefi Amirhomayoun , Maroufizadeh Saman , Akhavan Ardalan , Naghipour Mohammadreza , Falahatkar Siavash , Khosousi Mohammad-Javad , Asgharnezhad Mehrnaz , Mansour-Ghanaei Fariborz
Published: February 2024

Although hematuria is not life-threatening, some could be the result of a more severe condition. Our objectives are to report on the prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (AMH) in the prospective epidemiological research studies of the Iranian adults (PERSIAN) Guilan cohort study (PGCS) population. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2017 and consisted of 10,520 individuals aged 35–70. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire during a face-to-face interview. The urine analyses (UA) were done up to 2 h after sample collection. Based on a urine microscopy evaluation, AMH is defined as 3 or more red blood cells per high power field (HPF). Simple and multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore factors associated with AMH. The prevalence of AMH in this study was 34.1% and was more prevalent in participants of older ages and female gender as well as those with low educational level, underweight-body mass index (BMI), high physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and kidney stone disease. On the other hand, obesity, opium, and diabetes decreased the likelihood of AMH. The results of the present study shed light on the prevalence and risk factors of AMH and suggested that a significant portion of the study population is affected by AMH. Considering the lack of consensus on a definite clinical guideline for AMH in our country, the results of the present study could be used to design a unit algorithm for screening and therapy of AMH.
Commodity-specific triads in the Dutch inter-industry production network
Authors: Di Vece Marzio , Pijpers Frank P. , Garlaschelli Diego
Published: February 2024

Triadic motifs are the smallest building blocks of higher-order interactions in complex networks and can be detected as over-occurrences with respect to null models with only pair-wise interactions. Recently, the motif structure of production networks has attracted attention in light of its possible role in the propagation of economic shocks. However, its characterization at the level of individual commodities is still poorly understood. Here we analyze both binary and weighted triadic motifs in the Dutch inter-industry production network disaggregated at the level of 187 commodity groups, which Statistics Netherlands reconstructed from National Accounts registers, surveys and known empirical data. We introduce appropriate null models that filter out node heterogeneity and the strong effects of link reciprocity and find that, while the aggregate network that overlays all products is characterized by a multitude of triadic motifs, most single-product layers feature no significant motif, and roughly 85% of the layers feature only two motifs or less. This result paves the way for identifying a simple ‘triadic fingerprint’ of each commodity and for reconstructing most product-specific networks from partial information in a pairwise fashion by controlling for their reciprocity structure. We discuss how these results can help statistical bureaus identify fine-grained information in structural analyses of interest for policymakers.
Identification of significant m6A regulators and immune microenvironment characterization in ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhao Lili , Song Dingli , Li Tao , li Ye , Dang Meijuan , Hao Qian , fan Hong , Lu Ziwei , Lu Jialiang , Heyingwang  , Wang Xiaoya , Jian Yating , Zhang Guilian
Published: February 2024

The role of m6A modification in the regulation of the immune microenvironment (IME) of ischemic stroke (IS) is barely known. Thus, we aim to investigate the impact of m6A modification on the IME of IS and its diagnostic value in IS. We comprehensively assessed the m6A modification patterns, the relationship between these modification patterns and the characteristics of the IME. The m6A modification patterns of individual IS sample were quantified by m6Ascore. The performance of m6A phenotype-related genes as potential biomarkers was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Experimental validation was also performed by qRT-PCR. Six dysregulated m6A regulators were identified and a classification model consisting of four key m6A regulators (METLL3, RBMX, RBM15B, YTDHF3) could distinguish IS and healthy control samples well. METTL3 and YTHDF3 are closely related to circulating neutrophil abundance. Two distinct m6A modification patterns were determined which differed in immunocyte abundance. We also identified six m6A phenotype-related genes (APOBEC3A, PTMA, FCGR3A, LOC440926, LOC649946, and FTH1L11), and further explored their biological function. Among them, APOBEC3A, FCGR3A, and FTH1L11 were positively associated with neutrophil abundance. APOBEC3A and FCGR3A were stable diagnostic m6A-associated genes in both the discovery and validation cohorts. This study reveals that m6A modification plays a non-negligible role in the formation of a diversified and complex IME in IS. The m6A phenotype-related genes could be diagnostic biomarkers of IS.
Perception of power quality disturbances using Fourier, Short-Time Fourier, continuous and discrete wavelet transforms
Authors: Priyadarshini M. S. , Bajaj Mohit , Prokop Lukas , Berhanu Milkias
Published: February 2024

Electric power utilities must ensure a consistent and undisturbed supply of power, with the voltage levels adhering to specified ranges. Any deviation from these supply specifications can lead to malfunctions in equipment. Monitoring the quality of supplied power is crucial to minimize the impact of fluctuations in voltage. Variations in voltage or current from their ideal values are referred to as "power quality (PQ) disturbances," highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring and management. Signal processing methods are widely used for power system applications which include understanding of voltage disturbance signals and used for retrieval of signal information from the signals Different signal processing methods are used for extracting information about a signal. The method of Fourier analysis involves application of Fourier transform giving frequency information. The method of Short-Time Fourier analysis involves application of Short-Time Fourier transform (STFT) giving time–frequency information. The method of continuous wavelet analysis involves application of Continuous Wavelet transform (CWT) giving signal information in terms of scale and time where frequency is inversely related to scale. The method of discrete wavelet analysis involves application of Discrete Wavelet transform (DWT) giving signal information in terms of approximations and details where approximations and details are low and high frequency representation of original signal. In this paper, an attempt is made to perceive power quality disturbances in MATLAB using Fourier, Short-Time Fourier, Continuous Wavelet and Discrete Wavelet Transforms. Proper understanding of the signals can be possible by transforming the signals into different domains. An emphasis on application of signal processing techniques can be laid for power quality studies. The paper compares the results of each transform using MATLAB-based visualizations. The discussion covers the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, providing valuable insights into the interpretation of power quality disturbances. As the paper delves into the complexities of each method, it takes the reader on a journey of signal processing complexities, culminating in a nuanced understanding of power quality disturbances and their representations across various domains. The outcomes of this research, elucidated through energy values, 3D plots, and comparative analyses, contribute to a comprehensive understanding of power quality disturbances. The findings not only traverse theoretical domains but also find practical utility in real-world scenarios.
Sex- and age-dependent susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias in the rat heart ex vivo
Authors: Oknińska Marta , Duda Monika Katarzyna , Czarnowska Elżbieta , Bierła Joanna , Paterek Aleksandra , Mączewski Michał , Mackiewicz Urszula
Published: February 2024

The incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, the most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD), depends largely on the arrhythmic substrate that develops in the myocardium during the aging process. There is a large deficit of comparative studies on the development of this substrate in both sexes, with a particular paucity of studies in females. To identify the substrates of arrhythmia, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, mitochondrial density, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense and intracellular Ca2+ signaling in isolated cardiomyocytes were measured in the hearts of 3- and 24-month-old female and male rats. Arrhythmia susceptibility was assessed in ex vivo perfused hearts after exposure to isoproterenol (ISO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The number of ventricular premature beats (PVBs), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) episodes, as well as intrinsic heart rate, QRS and QT duration, were measured in ECG signals recorded from the surfaces of the beating hearts. After ISO administration, VT/VFs were formed only in the hearts of males, mainly older ones. In contrast, H2O2 led to VT/VF formation in the hearts of rats of both sexes but much more frequently in older males. We identified several components of the arrhythmia substrate that develop in the myocardium during the aging process, including high spontaneous ryanodine receptor activity in cardiomyocytes, fibrosis of varying severity in different layers of the myocardium (nonheterogenic fibrosis), and high levels of oxidative stress as measured by nitrated tyrosine levels. All of these elements appeared at a much greater intensity in male individuals during the aging process. On the other hand, in aging females, antioxidant defense at the level of H2O2 detoxification, measured as glutathione peroxidase expression, was weaker than that in males of the same age. We showed that sex has a significant effect on the development of an arrhythmic substrate during aging. This substrate determines the incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in the presence of additional stimuli with proarrhythmic potential, such as catecholamine stimulation or oxidative stress, which are constant elements in the pathomechanism of most cardiovascular diseases.
Identification of new pharmacophore against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by multi-fold computational and biochemical techniques
Authors: Ullah Atta , Ullah Saeed , Halim Sobia Ahsan , Waqas Muhammad , Ali Basharat , Ataya Farid S. , El-Sabbagh Nasser M. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Avula Satya Kumar , Csuk Rene , Khan Ajmal , Al-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: February 2024

COVID-19 appeared as a highly contagious disease after its outbreak in December 2019 by the virus, named SARS-CoV-2. The threat, which originated in Wuhan, China, swiftly became an international emergency. Among different genomic products, spike protein of virus plays a crucial role in the initiation of the infection by binding to the human lung cells, therefore, SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein is a promising therapeutic target. Using a combination of a structure-based virtual screening and biochemical assay, this study seeks possible therapeutic candidates that specifically target the viral spike protein. A database of ~ 850 naturally derived compounds was screened against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to find natural inhibitors. Using virtual screening and inhibitory experiments, we identifiedacetyl 11-keto-boswellic acid(AKBA) as a promising molecule for spike protein, which encouraged us to scan the rest of AKBA derivatives in our in-house database via 2D-similarity searching. Later 19 compounds with > 85% similarity with AKBA were selected and docked with receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein. Those hits declared significant interactions at the RBD interface, best possess and excellent drug-likeness and pharmacokinetics properties with high gastrointestinal absorption (GIA) without toxicity and allergenicity. Ourin-silicoobservations were eventually validated by in vitro bioassay, interestingly, 10 compounds(A3, A4, C3, C6A, C6B, C6C, C6E, C6H, C6I,andC6J)displayed significant inhibitory ability with good percent inhibition (range: > 72–90). The compoundsC3(90.00%),C6E(91.00%),C6C(87.20%), andC6D(86.23%) demonstrated excellent anti-SARS CoV-2 spike protein activities. The docking interaction of high percent inhibition of inhibitor compoundsC3andC6Ewas confirmed by MD Simulation. In the molecular dynamics simulation, we observed the stable dynamics of spike protein inhibitor complexes and the influence of inhibitor binding on the protein’s conformational arrangements. The binding free energy ΔGTOTALofC3(−38.0 ± 0.08 kcal/mol) andC6E(−41.98 ± 0.08 kcal/mol) respectively indicate a strong binding affinity to Spike protein active pocket. These findings demonstrate that these molecules particularly inhibit the function of spike protein and, therefore have the potential to be evaluated as drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2.
Majority of human circulating IgG plasmablasts stop blasting in a cell-free pro-survival culture
Authors: Nguyen Doan C. , Saney Celia , Hentenaar Ian T. , Cabrera-Mora Monica , Capric Violeta , Woodruff Matthew C. , Andrews Joel , Lonial Sagar , Sanz Ignacio , Lee F. Eun-Hyung
Published: February 2024

Following infection or vaccination, early-minted antibody secreting cells (ASC) or plasmablasts appear in circulation transiently, and a small fraction migrates to the spleen or bone marrow (BM) to mature into long-lived plasma cells (LLPC). While LLPC, by definition, are quiescent or non-dividing, the majority of blood ASC are thought to be “blasting” or proliferative. In this study, we find > 95% nascent blood ASC in culture express Ki-67 but only 6–12% incorporate BrdU after 4 h or 24 h labeling. In contrast, < 5% BM LLPC in culture are Ki-67+ with no BrdU uptake. Due to limitations of traditional flow cytometry, we utilized a novel optofluidic technology to evaluate cell division with simultaneous functional IgG secretion. We find 11% early-minted blood ASC undergo division, and none of the terminally differentiated BM LLPC (CD19−CD38hiCD138+) divide during the 7–21 days in culture. While BM LLPC undergo complete cell cycle arrest, the process of differentiation into an ASC or plasmablasts also discourages entry into S phase. Since the majority of Ki-67+ nascent blood ASC have exited cell cycle and are no longer actively “blasting”, the term “plasmablast”, which traditionally refers to an ASC that still has the capacity to divide, may probably be a misnomer.
Associations between fears related to safety during sleep and self-reported sleep in men and women living in a low-socioeconomic status setting
Authors: Correia Arron T. L. , Forshaw Philippa E. , Roden Laura C. , Lipinska Gosia , Rauch H. G. Laurie , Lambert Estelle V. , Layden Brian T. , Reutrakul Sirimon , Crowley Stephanie J. , Luke Amy , Dugas Lara R. , Rae Dale E.
Published: February 2024

South Africans living in low socioeconomic areas have self-reported unusually long sleep durations (approximately 9–10 h). One hypothesis is that these long durations may be a compensatory response to poor sleep quality as a result of stressful environments. This study aimed to investigate whether fear of not being safe during sleep is associated with markers of sleep quality or duration in men and women. South Africans (n = 411, 25–50 y, 57% women) of African-origin living in an urban township, characterised by high crime and poverty rates, participated in this study. Participants are part of a larger longitudinal cohort study: Modelling the Epidemiologic Transition Study (METS)–Microbiome. Customised questions were used to assess the presence or absence of fears related to feeling safe during sleep, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index were used to assess daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and insomnia symptom severity respectively. Adjusted logistic regression models indicated that participants who reported fears related to safety during sleep were more likely to report poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) compared to participants not reporting such fears and that this relationship was stronger among men than women. This is one of the first studies outside American or European populations to suggest that poor quality sleep is associated with fear of personal safety in low-SES South African adults.
Comparative assessment of direct and indirect cold atmospheric plasma effects, based on helium and argon, on human glioblastoma: an in vitro and in vivo study
Authors: Bakhtiyari-Ramezani Mahdiyeh , Nohekhan Mojtaba , Akbari Mohammad Esmaeil , Abbasvandi Fereshteh , Bayat Mahdis , Akbari Atieh , Nasiri Meysam
Published: February 2024

Recent research has highlighted the promising potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in cancer therapy. However, variations in study outcomes are attributed to differences in CAP devices and plasma parameters, which lead to diverse compositions of plasma products, including electrons, charged particles, reactive species, UV light, and heat. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the optimal exposure time, duration, and direction-dependent cellular effects of two CAPs, based on argon and helium gases, on glioblastoma U-87 MG cancer cells and an animal model of GBM. Two plasma jets were used as low-temperature plasma sources in which helium or argon gas was ionized by high voltage (4.5 kV) and frequency (20 kHz). In vitro assessments on human GBM and normal astrocyte cell lines, using MTT assays, flow cytometry analysis, wound healing assays, and immunocytochemistry for Caspase3 and P53 proteins, demonstrated that all studied plasma jets, especially indirect argon CAP, selectively induced apoptosis, hindered tumor cell growth, and inhibited migration. These effects occurred concurrently with increased intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and decreased total antioxidant capacity in the cells. In vivo results further supported these findings, indicating that single indirect argon and direct helium CAP therapy, equal to high dose Temozolomide treatment, induced tumor cell death in a rat model of GBM. This was concurrent with a reduction in tumor size observed through PET-CT scan imaging and a significant increase in the survival rate. Additionally, there was a decrease in GFAP protein levels, a significant GBM tumor marker, and an increase in P53 protein expression based on immunohistochemical analyses. Furthermore, Ledge beam test analysis revealed general motor function improvement after indirect argon CAP therapy, similar to Temozolomide treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that CAP therapy, using indirect argon and direct helium jets, holds great promise for clinical applications in GBM treatment.
ARID2 mutations may relay a distinct subset of cutaneous melanoma patients with different outcomes
Authors: Akinjiyan Favour A. , Nassief George , Phillipps Jordan , Adeyelu Tolulope , Elliott Andrew , Abdulla Farah , Zhou Alice Y. , Souroullas George , Kim Kevin B. , Vanderwalde Ari , Park Soo J. , Ansstas George
Published: February 2024

ARID genes encode subunits of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes and are frequently mutated in human cancers. We investigated the correlation between ARID mutations, molecular features, and clinical outcomes in melanoma patients. Cutaneous melanoma samples (n = 1577) were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Samples were stratified by pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutation in ARID genes (ARID1A/2/1B/5B). PD-L1 expression was assessed using IHC (SP142; positive (+): ≥ 1%). Tumor mutation burden (TMB)-high was defined as ≥ 10 mutations/Mb. Transcriptomic signatures predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors—interferon gamma and T-cell inflamed score were calculated. Real-world overall survival (OS) information was obtained from insurance claims data, with Kaplan–Meier estimates calculated from time of tissue collection until last date of contact. Mann–Whitney U, Chi-square, and Fisher exact tests were applied where appropriate, with p values adjusted for multiple comparisons. ARID2 mutations were more prevalent in cutaneous melanoma compared to ARID1A (11.0%: n = 451 vs 2.8%: n = 113), with concurrent ARID1A/ARID2 mutation in 1.1% (n = 46) of samples. ARID mutations were associated with a high prevalence of RAS pathway mutations—NF1 (ARID1A, 52.6%; ARID2, 48.5%; ARID1A/2, 63.6%; and ARID-WT, 13.3%; p < 0.0001) and KRAS (ARID1A, 3.5%; ARID2, 3.1%; ARID1A/2, 6.5%; and ARID-WT, 1.0%; p = 0.018)), although BRAF mutations were less common in ARID-mutated cohorts (ARID1A, 31.9%; ARID2, 35.6%; ARID1A/2, 26.1%; and ARID-WT, 50.4%; p < 0.0001). TMB-high was more common in ARID-mutated samples (ARID1A, 80.9%; ARID2, 89.9%; ARID1A/2, 100%; and ARID-WT, 49.4%; p < 0.0001), while PD-L1 positivity was similar across subgroups (ARID1A, 43.8%; ARID2, 51.1%; ARID1A/2, 52.5%; and ARID-WT, 44.9%; p = 0.109). Patients with ARID1A mutations had a higher prevalence of dMMR/MSI-H compared to those with ARID-WT (2.7% vs 0.2%, p = 0.030). Median IFN-γ and T-cell signatures were higher in ARID2-mutated samples compared to ARID-WT (IFN-γ: − 0.15 vs − 0.21, p = 0.0066; T-cell: 23.5 vs − 18.5, p = 0.041). ARID2-mutated patients had improved survival compared to ARID-WT; (HR: 1.22 (95% CI 1.0–1.5), p = 0.022). No additional OS benefit was observed with anti-PD-1 therapy for ARID2 mutation compared to ARID-WT. Melanoma patients with ARID mutations exhibited higher prevalence of markers associated with ICI response, including TMB-H, and immune-related signatures. Our data also suggests improved survival outcome in patients with ARID2 mutations, irrespective of anti-PD1 therapy.
Research on variable universe fuzzy PID control for semi-active suspension with CDC dampers based on dynamic adjustment functions
Authors: Ji Guanggang , Zhang Lidong , Cai Mingda , Meng Xianke , Du Zhengyu , Ruan Jiuhong , Guan Shenhao , Liu Zhiwen
Published: February 2024

The vehicle suspension system is a complex system with multiple variables, nonlinearity and time-varying characteristics, and the traditional variable universe fuzzy PID control algorithm has the problems of over-reliance on expert experience and non-adaptive adjustment of the contracting-expanding factor parameters, which make it difficult to achieve a better control effect. In this paper, the system error e(t) and its change rate ec(t) are introduced into the contracting-expanding factor as dynamic parameters to realize the adaptive adjustment of the contracting-expanding factor parameters, and propose a variable universe fuzzy PID control based on dynamic adjustment functions (VUFP-DAF), which uses the real-time contracting-expanding factor to realize the adaptive adjustment of the fuzzy universe, so as to improve the ride comfort of vehicles. The research results show that the proposed VUFP-DAF has strong adaptability and can effectively improve the ride comfort and handling stability of vehicles under different speeds and road excitations, providing a certain technical basis for the development of the semi-active suspension system.
Isotopic analysis of formula milk reveals potential challenges in geolocating bottle-fed babies
Authors: Kootker Lisette M. , Ammer Saskia T. M. , Davies Gareth R. , Lehn Christine
Published: February 2024

In forensic investigations involving the identification of unknown deceased individuals, isotope analysis can provide valuable provenance information. This is especially pertinent when primary identifiers (i.e., DNA, dactyloscopy, etc.) fail to yield matches. The isotopic composition of human tissues is linked to that of the food consumed, potentially allowing the identification of regions of origin. However, the isotopic composition of deceased newborns and infants fed with milk formula may be influenced by that of the prepared milk. The findings contribute towards the possibility to isotopically identify bottle-fed infants. More importantly, the data convincingly show that the Sr isotope composition of the prepared milk is determined by that of the formula and not the (local) tap water, thereby limiting the potential of Sr isotope analysis for determining the geological or geographical origin in formula-fed babies in medico-legal cases.
Subjectively salient faces differ from emotional faces: ERP evidence
Authors: Żochowska Anna , Nowicka Anna
Published: February 2024

The self-face is processed differently than emotional faces. A question arises whether other highly familiar and subjectively significant non-self faces (e.g. partner’s face) are also differentiated from emotional faces. The aim of this event-related potential (ERP) study was to investigate the neural correlates of personally-relevant faces (the self and a close-other’s) as well as emotionally positive (happy) and neutral faces. Participants were tasked with the simple detection of faces. Amplitudes of N170 were more negative in the right than in the left hemisphere and were not modulated by type of face. A similar pattern of N2 and P3 results for the self-face and close-other’s face was observed: they were associated with decreased N2 and increased P3 relative to happy and neutral faces. However, the self-face was preferentially processed also when compared to a close-other’s face as revealed by lower N2 and higher P3 amplitudes. Nonparametric cluster-based permutation tests showed an analogous pattern of results: significant clusters for the self-face compared with all other faces (close-other’s, happy, neutral) and for close-other’s face compared to happy and neutral faces. In summary, the self-face prioritization was observed, as indicated by significant differences between one’s own face and all other faces. Crucially, both types of personally-relevant faces differed from happy faces. These findings point to the pivotal role of subjective evaluation of the saliency factor.
In vitro infection of bovine erythrocytes with Theileria annulata merozoites as a key step in completing the T. annulata life cycle in vitro
Authors: Elati Khawla , Tajeri Shahin , Mugo Robert M. , Obara Isaiah , Darghouth Mohamed Aziz , Zweygarth Erich , Nijhof Ard Menzo
Published: February 2024

Theileria annulata is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle involving a bovine host and a tick vector. It is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and is the causative agent of tropical theileriosis, a debilitating and often fatal disease in southern Europe, northern Africa and large parts of Asia. Understanding the biology of different life cycle stages is critical for the control of tropical theileriosis and requires the use of experimental animals which poses an ethical concern. We present for the first time the in vitro infection of red blood cells (RBCs) with T. annulata differentiated schizonts. The Ankara cell line of T. annulata was cultured at 41 °C for nine days to induce merogony and subsequently incubated with purified RBCs for one to three days. Percentage of parasitized erythrocyte (PPE) over the short culture period was estimated by Giemsa staining (0.007–0.01%), Flow cytometry activated sorting (FACS) (0.02–1.1%) and observation of FACS sorted cells by confocal microscopy (0.05–0.4%). There was a significant difference in the PPE between FACS and the two other techniques (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test, P = 0.004) but no significant difference was observed between the confocal imaging and Giemsa staining methods (ANOVA one-way followed by Tukey test, P = 0.06). Importantly, all three complementary methods confirmed the invasion of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites in vitro. Although the experimental conditions will require further optimization to increase the PPE, the in vitro infection of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites is pivotal in paving the way for the eventual completion of the T. annulata life cycle in vitro when combined with artificial tick feeding.
Coral thermal stress and bleaching enrich and restructure reef microbial communities via altered organic matter exudation
Authors: Sparagon Wesley J. , Arts Milou G. I. , Quinlan Zachary A. , Wegley Kelly Linda , Koester Irina , Comstock Jacqueline , Bullington Jessica A. , Carlson Craig A. , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Aluwihare Lihini I. , Haas Andreas F. , Nelson Craig E.
Published: February 2024

Coral bleaching is a well-documented and increasingly widespread phenomenon in reefs across the globe, yet there has been relatively little research on the implications for reef water column microbiology and biogeochemistry. A mesocosm heating experiment and bottle incubation compared how unbleached and bleached corals alter dissolved organic matter (DOM) exudation in response to thermal stress and subsequent effects on microbial growth and community structure in the water column. Thermal stress of healthy corals tripled DOM flux relative to ambient corals. DOM exudates from stressed corals (heated and/or previously bleached) were compositionally distinct from healthy corals and significantly increased growth of bacterioplankton, enriching copiotrophs and putative pathogens. Together these results demonstrate how the impacts of both short-term thermal stress and long-term bleaching may extend into the water column, with altered coral DOM exudation driving microbial feedbacks that influence how coral reefs respond to and recover from mass bleaching events.
Weak signal extraction enabled by deep neural network denoising of diffraction data
Authors: Oppliger Jens , Denner M. Michael , Küspert Julia , Frison Ruggero , Wang Qisi , Morawietz Alexander , Ivashko Oleh , Dippel Ann-Christin , Zimmermann Martin von , Biało Izabela , Martinelli Leonardo , Fauqué Benoît , Choi Jaewon , Garcia-Fernandez Mirian , Zhou Ke-Jin , Christensen Niels Bech , Kurosawa Tohru , Momono Naoki , Oda Migaku , Natterer Fabian D. , Fischer Mark H. , Neupert Titus , Chang Johan
Published: February 2024

The removal or cancellation of noise has wide-spread applications in imaging and acoustics. In applications in everyday life, such as image restoration, denoising may even include generative aspects, which are unfaithful to the ground truth. For scientific use, however, denoising must reproduce the ground truth accurately. Denoising scientific data is further challenged by unknown noise profiles. In fact, such data will often include noise from multiple distinct sources, which substantially reduces the applicability of simulation-based approaches. Here we show how scientific data can be denoised by using a deep convolutional neural network such that weak signals appear with quantitative accuracy. In particular, we study X-ray diffraction and resonant X-ray scattering data recorded on crystalline materials. We demonstrate that weak signals stemming from charge ordering, insignificant in the noisy data, become visible and accurate in the denoised data. This success is enabled by supervised training of a deep neural network with pairs of measured low- and high-noise data. We additionally show that using artificial noise does not yield such quantitatively accurate results. Our approach thus illustrates a practical strategy for noise filtering that can be applied to challenging acquisition problems.
Arctic marine heatwaves forced by greenhouse gases and triggered by abrupt sea-ice melt
Authors: Barkhordarian Armineh , Nielsen David M. , Olonscheck Dirk , Baehr Johanna
Published: February 2024

Since 2007, unprecedented marine heatwave events are occurring over the Arctic Ocean. Here we identify the fraction of the likelihood of Arctic marine heatwaves magnitude that is attributable to greenhouse gas forcing. Results reveal that Arctic marine heatwaves are primarily triggered by an abrupt sea-ice retreat, which coincides with the maximum downward radiative fluxes. Up to 82% of the sea surface temperature variability over the shallow Arctic marginal seas, where marine heatwaves are prone to occur, can be explained by net accumulation of seasonal surface heat flux in the ocean. Event attribution analysis demonstrates that the 103-day long 2020 event – the most intense (4 ∘C) recorded so far in the Arctic – would be exceptionally unlikely in the absence of greenhouse gas forcing in terms of both intensity and duration. Our further results imply that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, along with the expansion of first-year ice extent, moderate marine heatwaves in the Arctic will very likely persistently reoccur.