bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A qualitative study of career decision making among African and Asian international medical students in China: process, challenges, and strategies
Authors: Li Wen , Sun Hong , Khan Asaduzzaman , Gillies Robyn
Published: April 2024

China hosts around 68,000 international medical students (IMSs) primarily from lower income countries in Africa and Asia, who have the potential to contribute to international medical services. Understanding how these IMSs make career decisions can help better address the issue of global medical workforce shortage. However, such research is limited. Our study aims to explore the career decision-making process of China-educated IMSs, the challenges they experienced and the strategies they employed.

In this exploratory qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with IMSs educated in China in 2022 using purposeful sampling. Twenty virtual one-on-one interviews were conducted, and data were analysed through directed qualitative content analysis. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) theory was applied as the guiding framework for organising and analysing the data.

The career decision-making process of the participants generally followed the stages of decision-making cycle in CIP theory, with a combination of urgent migration decisions and specialisation considerations adding layers of complexity to their career trajectories. Identified challenges encompassed lack of knowledge about oneself and career options, lack of decision-making skills, concerns of contextual complexities that limited the career decision-making process, low motivation and negative thoughts. Specific challenges due to their role as IMSs arose, which were related to career information access, self-capability evaluation, degree accreditation, employment competitiveness and mental states. Participants’ proposed strategies were categorised into personal and institutional aspects, providing insights into addressing these challenges.

This study substantiates and expands the application of the CIP theory within the sphere of the particular cultural and educational context of IMSs educated in China. It highlights the significance of integrating migration decision-making into career guidance for IMSs, and contributes to the literature by proposing an evidence-based tiered career intervention programme for IMSs.
OWA-based multi-criteria decision making based on fuzzy methods
Authors: D’Urso Pierpaolo , Chachi Jalal , Kazemifard Ahmad , De Giovanni Livia
Published: April 2024

One of the most important challenges in Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) problems is how can the optimal weights of the criteria can be determined properly by the decision maker. In the relevant research literature, various methods based on the requirements and assumptions of the problem were introduced to determine the weights of the criteria. In this regard, in particular, the Yager’s OWA operator is one of the most significant and widely used approaches to evaluate the weights of criteria. But there is a drawback, that is, the results of Yager’s OWA operator depend only on the level of decision-maker’s risk and the number of the criteria. Therefore, in this paper, using a multi-objective decision making approach, we try to express this MADM challenge in the form of a generalization of the Yager’s OWA operators and Ahn’s method. One of the advantages of this generalization is that the proposed method uses all the information in the decision matrix compared to the methods proposed by Yager’s OWA operators and the Ahn’s method. The proposed approach is also able to enter various types of preferences considered by the decision maker for the criteria calculations as crisp or fuzzy quantities. Numerical examples and real dataset analysis based on a survey of students’ opinions on teaching activities are provided.
Examining Utilization of Family-Based Treatment in Substance Use Treatment Centers
Authors: Chou Jessica L. , Patton Rikki , Aletraris Lydia , Zaarur Asif , Grella Christine , Roman Paul , Feeney Erika
Published: April 2024

The multiple benefits of family-based treatment (FBT) used in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment include increased treatment engagement, better treatment outcomes, and cost-effectiveness compared to other behavioral health treatment modalities. However, the prevalence and types of FBTs offered among SUD treatment facilities are largely unknown. The present study used data collected during 2009–2010 from 325 treatment centers in the United States to (1) explore the prevalence in the utilization of FBT in SUD treatment, and (2) identify differences between treatment facilities that do and do not offer FBT. Results indicated that the adoption of FBT was negatively associated with the percentage of clients who were unemployed or involved in the criminal justice system at time of intake, and positively related to the number of hours of individual therapy and treatment center emphasis on utilizing the 12 Steps. Additionally, the majority of treatment centers that followed the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) clinical guidelines offered FBT. Lastly, the percentage of families involvement was negatively associated with centers’ proportion of revenues from Medicaid (i.e., health insurance for those with limited income) and positively associated with treatment center revenues from private insurance. The impact of having FBT in SUD treatment centers is discussed.
Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Pediatric Emergency Room Social Workers: A Toolkit for New Graduates
Authors: Benavides Juan Lorenzo , Modeste-James Akeem , Osborn Preston , Radney Angelise , Stepney Lois , Smith Marissa , Rawlins Melanie , Borne Marisa
Published: April 2024

Secondary traumatic stress (STS), the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another, is a significant concern for many social workers, particularly those in high-stress and trauma-exposed environments such as emergency rooms or psychiatric hospitals. Newly graduated social workers are especially susceptible to STS due to their limited experience and exposure to the emotional distress of clients. Yet, limited studies have focused on newly graduated social workers and STS. This study is twofold: (1) it attempts to provide insight into the experiences of pediatric emergency room social workers (PERSW) with STS, and (2) to explicate the utility of the findings in practical strategies to assist newly graduated and current social workers entering high-stressful work environments. A thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews were used with twenty-three pediatric emergency room social workers with at least one year of experience. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) the trauma of the job, (2) the effects of STS, and (3) coping strategies for STS. The findings underscore the need for a specialized toolkit for new graduates in pediatric emergency social work, offering resources and strategies tailored to the unique challenges of this field.
Gambling and Migration – The Role of Culture and Family
Authors: Nilsson Anders , Demetry Youstina , Shahnavaz Shervin , Gripenberg Johanna , Kvillemo Pia
Published: April 2024

Problem gambling (PG) is a public health concern with severe repercussions for the individual, concerned significant others and the society. Foreign borns generally gamble less but are overrepresented among those with PG. Previous research has suggested that other factors, such as socio-economic status, might explain this, but also that cultural factors might play a role in the relationship to gambling and the development of PG. This qualitative study using content analysis investigates the experiences of and opinions about gambling and PG among 12 males living in Sweden with a migrant background in Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Africa. The results were show that the acculturation process could be a factor in developing PG, as well as a cultural values regarding money and wealth. PG was seen as more stigmatized in the origin country, and the family played a more important role in the rehabilitation of PG compared to the general population. The results of this study could be used to inform preventive and clinical programs to better reach people with a migrant background.
Tropical or extratropical cyclones: what drives the compound flood hazard, impact, and risk for the United States Southeast Atlantic coast?
Authors: Nederhoff Kees , Leijnse Tim W. B. , Parker Kai , Thomas Jennifer , O’Neill Andrea , van Ormondt Maarten , McCall Robert , Erikson Li , Barnard Patrick L. , Foxgrover Amy , Klessens Wouter , Nadal-Caraballo Norberto C. , Massey Thomas Chris
Published: April 2024

Subtropical coastlines are impacted by both tropical and extratropical cyclones. While both may lead to substantial damage to coastal communities, it is difficult to determine the contribution of tropical cyclones to coastal flooding relative to that of extratropical cyclones. We conduct a large-scale flood hazard and impact assessment across the subtropical Southeast Atlantic Coast of the United States, from Virginia to Florida, including different flood hazards. The physics-based hydrodynamic modeling skillfully reproduces coastal water levels based on a comprehensive validation of tides, almost two hundred historical storms, and an in-depth hindcast of Hurricane Florence. We show that yearly flood impacts are two times as likely to be driven by extratropical than tropical cyclones. On the other hand, tropical cyclones are 30 times more likely to affect people during rarer 100-year events than extratropical cyclones and contribute to more than half of the regional flood risk. With increasing sea levels, more areas will be flooded, regardless of whether flooding is driven by tropical or extratropical cyclones. Most of the absolute flood risk is contained in the greater Miami metropolitan area. However, several less populous counties have the highest relative risks. The results of this study provide critical information for understanding the source and frequency of compound flooding across the Southeast Atlantic Coast of the United States.
Coherent mesh representation for parallel I/O of unstructured polyhedral meshes
Authors: Weiß R. Gregor , Lesnik Sergey , Galeazzo Flavio C. C. , Ruopp Andreas , Rusche Henrik
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a new mesh data layout for parallel I/O of linear unstructured polyhedral meshes. The new mesh representation infers coherence across entities of different topological dimensions, i.e., grid cells, faces, and points. The coherence due to cell-to-face and face-to-point connectivities of the mesh is formulated as a tree data structure distributed across processors. The mesh distribution across processors creates consecutive and contiguous slices that render an optimized data access pattern for parallel I/O. A file format using the coherent mesh representation, developed and tested with OpenFOAM, enables the usability of the software at unprecedented scales. Further implications of the coherent and sliceable mesh representation arise due to simplifications in partitioning and diminished pre- and post-processing overheads.
Music and Affectivity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: de Aguiar Vinicius
Published: April 2024

Music and affects share a long history. In recent times, 4E cognitive sciences (embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended), situated affectivity, and related ecological theoretical frameworks have been conceptualizing music as a case of a tool for feeling. Drawing on this debate, I propose to further theorize the role of music in situating our affectivity by analyzing how the very affective affordances of music are technologically situated. In other words, I propose to shift the attention from music as a tool for feeling to the tools for feeling music. I argue that the experience of music as a tool for feeling may be altered, enhanced, or lessened depending on the tools for feeling music. I investigate the extent to which AI might be a case of a tool for feeling music and examine the influence it could exert over musical affectivity. I conclude that AI can be considered a tool for feeling music of curatorial type and that the limitations and/or biases of AI as a method risk lessening the power of musical affective affordances.
Physics-informed loss functions for vertical total electron content forecast
Authors: Asamoah Eric Nana , Cafaro Massimo , Epicoco Italo , De Franceschi Giorgiana , Cesaroni Claudio
Published: April 2024

We design physics-informed loss functions for training Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to forecast the ionospheric vertical Total Electron Content (vTEC) from 1 to 24 hours in advance. The ANN models exploit our physics-informed loss functions, data provided by the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receiver installed at Tsukuba (36.06$$^{o}$$

o

N, 140.05$$^{o}$$

o

E), Japan, and external drivers (solar and geomagnetic indices). The time series used span from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2018, i.e., a full solar cycle. A proper set of external drivers for the ANN models training are selected by ranking their importance in relation to the vTEC dynamics at different forecasting horizons. They result to be the 10.7 cm Solar Flux (F10.7), the magnitude of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) $$\boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{T}}$$

B

T

, and the Auroral Electrojet (AE) index. Moreover, a second set of indices among those available has been considered as constraints in the design of the physics-informed loss functions. They are the Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) index, the solar wind speed $$\boldsymbol{v}, \boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{T}}$$

v

,

B

T

, and the By and Bz components of the interplanetary magnetic field. To assess the performance of the resulting ANN models, we use the statistical parameter coefficient of determination ($$\boldsymbol{R}^{{\textbf {2}}}$$

R

2

), the standard deviation (SD), and the Wilcoxon non-parametric signed ranked test. We show that, in the testing period analyzed (from 2017-09-13, at 04:40:00, to 2018-12-31, at 23:55:00), one of our physics-informed loss functions provides a better performance of the ANN with regard to the standard loss function commonly adopted. In particular, when the new loss function is used in the ANN model, the average SD is minimized across all forecasting horizons in the training, validation and test datasets. SD is 0.2560 TECU, 0.3183 TECU and 0.4240 TECU for the training, validation and test dataset respectively, where 1 TECU = $${\textbf {10}}^{{\textbf {16}}}$$

10

16

electrons/$$\boldsymbol{m}^{{\textbf {2}}}$$

m

2

. The ANN model, incorporating the new loss function and applied to the test dataset, shows a significant improvement according to the Wilcoxon signed ranked test. In fact by selecting a significance level $$\boldsymbol{\alpha }~ \mathbf {= 0.05}$$

α

=
0.05

, the probability to obtain results by chance with the new loss function as compared to the standard loss function is 0.01504 (i.e., $$<\alpha $$

<
α

), which implies that the new loss function gives a statistical improvement to the forecasting capability of the ANN model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a physics-informed loss function has been designed for the task of forecasting the ionospheric vTEC.
Der orale Lichen planus
Authors: Bornstein Michael M.
Published: April 2024

Der orale Lichen planus (OLP) ist eine häufige, chronisch verlaufende Mukodermatose, deren Ätiologie nicht bekannt ist. Effloreszenzen können auf der Haut, der oralen Mukosa und im Genitalbereich auftreten. In der Mundhöhle führen Effloreszenzen zu asymptomatischen oder symptomatischen Schleimhautveränderungen. Die Therapie des OLP erfolgt häufig über topische Kortikosteroidgaben, nur bei schweren Verläufen werden systemische Medikamente eingesetzt. Dies sollte i. d. R. in Zusammenarbeit mit einem erfahrenen Dermatologen geschehen. Da der OLP als Risikofaktor für eine maligne Entartung angesehen wird, sollte ein regelmäßiger Recall erfolgen, wobei die Nachsorgefrequenz in der Regel individuell entsprechend den Befunden und der Symptomatik angepasst wird.
Perceptions about health-risk awareness and lifestyle change among women at risk for developing cardiometabolic disease: a qualitative study
Authors: Kent-Marvick Jacqueline , St. Clair Stephanie Lynn , Bristol Alycia A. , Gibson Bryan , Simonsen Sara E.
Published: April 2024

Background

The reproductive years provide a window into future risk for Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM); women’s risk is seven to 10 times higher after gestational diabetes (GDM) and two to four times higher after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). Targeting reproductive-aged women at high risk for T2DM could reduce future incidence. However, little is known about such women’s diabetes risk perceptions, barriers to/motivators of lifestyle change or their knowledge about lifestyle change—information essential to understanding how to engage these at-risk women in tailored prevention programs promoting long-term health. This study’s aims were to describe: among reproductive-aged women at high risk for T2DM, what is/are (1) personal health-risk awareness, (2) lifestyle-change interest, and (3) barriers to/motivators of participation in lifestyle-change programs?

Methods

Women aged 18 and older were eligible if they had one of the following health risks: (1) GDM or HDP during pregnancy, (2) prediabetes diagnosis, or (3) BMI classified as obese. Three Zoom focus groups, organized by risk group, were conducted with a total of 20 participants. Qualitative content and thematic analysis were used for the focus-group transcriptions.

Results

Women’s personal health-risk awareness was limited and generalized (e.g., being overweight might lead to other risks) and rarely reflected awareness connected to their personal health history (e.g., GDM increases their lifetime risk of T2DM). Participants had at least one of the outlined eligibility health risks (e.g., GDM, prediabetes); they did not believe their healthcare providers sufficiently followed or addressed those risks. All women expressed interest in making healthy-lifestyle changes, including engagement in formal programs, but they identified multiple barriers to healthy-behavior change related to being “busy moms.” Women emphasized the need for social support and realistic solutions that accounted for the dynamics of motherhood and family life. Common motivators included the desire to maintain health for their families and to set a good example for their children.

Conclusions

Participants lacked knowledge and were eager for information. Healthcare improvement opportunities include better coordination of care between primary and specialty-care providers, and more frequent communication and education on diabetes-related health risks and long-term health. Formal lifestyle programs should tailor content by providing multiple formats and flexibility of scheduling while leveraging peer support for sustained engagement.
Saint Joseph, the Turks, and the Jews: The Path to Antisemitism of Josef Deckert, Priest in Vienna, 1869–1901
Authors: Dahl David Lebovitch
Published: April 2024

This article studies the development of antisemitism in Austria in the late nineteenth century through the example of Josef Deckert. The priest is depicted in historiography as one of the most prominent anti-Jewish agitators of that period, but his path to antisemitism has not been explored. This research indicates that Deckert's adoption of antisemitic ideology happened abruptly and was not guided by ecclesiastical or lay authorities. The article, therefore, invites us to look more at individual actors and local cultures and less on strategies from above when studying the spread of populist movements. At the same time, the analysis draws attention to two aspects that have been studied little in connection to the diffusion of antisemitism in the modern period, the cult of Saint Joseph and the remembrance of the Turkish siege of Vienna. Deckert was deeply devoted to Saint Joseph and invoked the patron saint of the Habsburg monarchy, not only as protector of Catholic Austria at the time of the Ottoman wars, but as patron of the workers and defender against the contemporary Austrian Jews.
Why Motivational Interviewing Is a Person-Centered Approach
Authors: Miller William R. , Rollnick Stephen
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Background: The original developers of motivational interviewing (MI) describe the foundation of their therapeutic method in the person-centered tradition of Carl Rogers. Although MI is sometimes interpreted as a cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), it did not derive from learning theory and has from the beginning been understood and expounded as a person-centered approach (PCA). Method: Narrative and conceptual review. Results: As with Rogers’s original method, the development of MI has been guided by empirical science based on the close observation of clinical practice. It is a behavioral approach in the broad sense of behavioral science. The underlying attitude or spirit with which MI is practiced is unambiguously humanistic in emphasizing partnership, acceptance, compassion, and empowerment. MI focuses on specific observable elements of therapeutic relationship that predict better client outcomes. Various behavioral scientists have distinguished MI from CBT both conceptually and with distinct clinical procedures. The psychological content of MI overlaps substantially with PCA practices such as accurate empathy and also with therapist skills often described as common or nonspecific factors in psychotherapy. Its component processes are engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning. The evoking process of MI distinguishes it from both CBT and nondirective PCA, involving MI-specific technical skills focused on specific client language known as change talk and sustain talk. Conclusions: Like PCA more generally, MI has found broad applications in helping professions well beyond counseling and psychotherapy such as health care, education, pastoral care, conflict resolution, and leadership. Possible historic reasons for confusing MI with CBT are explored.
Earthquakes Can Trigger Megathrust Slip in Cascadia
Authors: Hasler Caroline
Published: April 2024

A 2022 earthquake in Northern California may have triggered slow slip in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, according to a new study.
Bone marrow stromal cells dictate lanosterol biosynthesis and ferroptosis of multiple myeloma
Authors: Jiang Hongmei , Wang Lijuan , Zhang Qiguo , Wang Sheng , Jia Linchuang , Cheng Hao , Wang Jingya , Li Xin , Xie Ying , Wang Yixuan , Hu Meilin , Guo Jing , Li Qian , Peng Ziyi , Wang Mengqi , Xie Yangyang , Li Tiantian , Wang Yafei , Geng Bill D. , Swaminathan Sundararaman , Bergsagel P. Leif , Liu Zhiqiang
Published: April 2024

Ferroptosis has been demonstrated a promising way to counteract chemoresistance of multiple myeloma (MM), however, roles and mechanism of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in regulating ferroptosis of MM cells remain elusive. Here, we uncovered that MM cells were more susceptible to ferroptotic induction under the interaction of BMSCs using in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, BMSCs elevated the iron level in MM cells, thereby activating the steroid biosynthesis pathway, especially the production of lanosterol, a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MM cells. We discovered that direct coupling of CD40 ligand and CD40 receptor constituted the key signaling pathway governing lanosterol biosynthesis, and disruption of CD40/CD40L interaction using an anti-CD40 neutralizing antibody or conditional depletion of Cd40l in BMSCs successfully eliminated the iron level and lanosterol production of MM cells localized in the Vk*MYC Vk12653 or NSG mouse models. Our study deciphers the mechanism of BMSCs dictating ferroptosis of MM cells and highlights the therapeutic potential of non-apoptosis strategies for managing refractory or relapsed MM patients.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): advances in structures, mechanisms and drug discovery
Authors: Zhang Mingyang , Chen Ting , Lu Xun , Lan Xiaobing , Chen Ziqiang , Lu Shaoyong
Published: April 2024

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of human membrane proteins and an important class of drug targets, play a role in maintaining numerous physiological processes. Agonist or antagonist, orthosteric effects or allosteric effects, and biased signaling or balanced signaling, characterize the complexity of GPCR dynamic features. In this study, we first review the structural advancements, activation mechanisms, and functional diversity of GPCRs. We then focus on GPCR drug discovery by revealing the detailed drug-target interactions and the underlying mechanisms of orthosteric drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years. Particularly, an up-to-date analysis is performed on available GPCR structures complexed with synthetic small-molecule allosteric modulators to elucidate key receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Finally, we highlight how the widespread GPCR-druggable allosteric sites can guide structure- or mechanism-based drug design and propose prospects of designing bitopic ligands for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family.
Cell membrane vesicles derived from hBMSCs and hUVECs enhance bone regeneration
Authors: Wang Dandan , Guo Yaru , Heng Boon Chin , Zhang Xuehui , Wei Yan , He Ying , Xu Mingming , Xia Bin , Deng Xuliang
Published: April 2024

Bone tissue renewal can be enhanced through co-transplantation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and vascular endothelial cells (ECs). However, there are apparent limitations in stem cell-based therapy which hinder its clinic translation. Hence, we investigated the potential of alternative stem cell substitutes for facilitating bone regeneration. In this study, we successfully prepared cell membrane vesicles (CMVs) from BMSCs and ECs. The results showed that BMSC-derived cell membrane vesicles (BMSC-CMVs) possessed membrane receptors involved in juxtacrine signaling and growth factors derived from their parental cells. EC-derived cell membrane vesicles (EC-CMVs) also contained BMP2 and VEGF derived from their parental cells. BMSC-CMVs enhanced tube formation and migration ability of hUVECs, while EC-CMVs promoted the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs in vitro. Using a rat skull defect model, we found that co-transplantation of BMSC-CMVs and EC-CMVs could stimulate angiogenesis and bone formation in vivo. Therefore, our research might provide an innovative and feasible approach for cell-free therapy in bone tissue regeneration.
Characteristics and hot corrosion behavior of NiCrAlY metal bonding layers prepared by different processes
Authors: Qu Weiwei , Chen Zehao , Zhang Zhilin , Li Xue , Yang Fan , Wang Jinlong , Chen Minghui , Li Shusuo , Wang Fuhui
Published: April 2024

The hot corrosion experiments of René N5 alloy coated with three different NiCrAlY metal bonding layers are carried out, that the layers are prepared by different methods (APS, HVAF and MIP). Compared with bare René N5 alloy samples, the hot corrosion resistance of coated samples is improved. It can be attributed to the small internal stress of the surface oxide layer on the coating sample, which is difficult to spall, reducing the degree of hot corrosion reaction. The hot corrosion resistance of NiCrAlY layers is MIP > HVAF > APS, which is positively positively related to the density of layers, because the influence of element diffusion in the process of hot corrosion is effectively slowed down.
CD32 captures committed haemogenic endothelial cells during human embryonic development
Authors: Scarfò Rebecca , Randolph Lauren N. , Abou Alezz Monah , El Khoury Mahassen , Gersch Amélie , Li Zhong-Yin , Luff Stephanie A. , Tavosanis Andrea , Ferrari Ramondo Giulia , Valsoni Sara , Cascione Sara , Didelon Emma , Passerini Laura , Amodio Giada , Brandas Chiara , Villa Anna , Gregori Silvia , Merelli Ivan , Freund Jean-Noël , Sturgeon Christopher M. , Tavian Manuela , Ditadi Andrea
Published: April 2024

During embryonic development, blood cells emerge from specialized endothelial cells, named haemogenic endothelial cells (HECs). As HECs are rare and only transiently found in early developing embryos, it remains difficult to distinguish them from endothelial cells. Here we performed transcriptomic analysis of 28- to 32-day human embryos and observed that the expression of Fc receptor CD32 (FCGR2B) is highly enriched in the endothelial cell population that contains HECs. Functional analyses using human embryonic and human pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells revealed that robust multilineage haematopoietic potential is harboured within CD32+ endothelial cells and showed that 90% of CD32+ endothelial cells are bona fide HECs. Remarkably, these analyses indicated that HECs progress through different states, culminating in FCGR2B expression, at which point cells are irreversibly committed to a haematopoietic fate. These findings provide a precise method for isolating HECs from human embryos and human pluripotent stem cell cultures, thus allowing the efficient generation of haematopoietic cells in vitro.
Single-cell long-read sequencing-based mapping reveals specialized splicing patterns in developing and adult mouse and human brain
Authors: Joglekar Anoushka , Hu Wen , Zhang Bei , Narykov Oleksandr , Diekhans Mark , Marrocco Jordan , Balacco Jennifer , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C. , Milner Teresa A. , Fedrigo Olivier , Jarvis Erich D. , Sheynkman Gloria , Korkin Dmitry , Ross M. Elizabeth , Tilgner Hagen U.
Published: April 2024

RNA isoforms influence cell identity and function. However, a comprehensive brain isoform map was lacking. We analyze single-cell RNA isoforms across brain regions, cell subtypes, developmental time points and species. For 72% of genes, full-length isoform expression varies along one or more axes. Splicing, transcription start and polyadenylation sites vary strongly between cell types, influence protein architecture and associate with disease-linked variation. Additionally, neurotransmitter transport and synapse turnover genes harbor cell-type variability across anatomical regions. Regulation of cell-type-specific splicing is pronounced in the postnatal day 21-to-postnatal day 28 adolescent transition. Developmental isoform regulation is stronger than regional regulation for the same cell type. Cell-type-specific isoform regulation in mice is mostly maintained in the human hippocampus, allowing extrapolation to the human brain. Conversely, the human brain harbors additional cell-type specificity, suggesting gain-of-function isoforms. Together, this detailed single-cell atlas of full-length isoform regulation across development, anatomical regions and species reveals an unappreciated degree of isoform variability across multiple axes.
Automated detection and classification of concealed objects using infrared thermography and convolutional neural networks
Authors: Khor WeeLiam , Chen Yichen Kelly , Roberts Michael , Ciampa Francesco
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a study on the effectiveness of a convolutional neural network (CNN) in classifying infrared images for security scanning. Infrared thermography was explored as a non-invasive security scanner for stand-off and walk-through concealed object detection. Heat generated by human subjects radiates off the clothing surface, allowing detection by an infrared camera. However, infrared lacks in penetration capability compared to longer electromagnetic waves, leading to less obvious visuals on the clothing surface. ResNet-50 was used as the CNN model to automate the classification process of thermal images. The ImageNet database was used to pre-train the model, which was further fine-tuned using infrared images obtained from experiments. Four image pre-processing approaches were explored, i.e., raw infrared image, subject cropped region-of-interest (ROI) image, K-means, and Fuzzy-c clustered images. All these approaches were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve on an internal holdout set, with an area-under-the-curve of 0.8923, 0.9256, 0.9485, and 0.9669 for the raw image, ROI cropped, K-means, and Fuzzy-c models, respectively. The CNN models trained using various image pre-processing approaches suggest that the prediction performance can be improved by the removal of non-decision relevant information and the visual highlighting of features.
A 2D-proteomic analysis identifies proteins differentially regulated by two different dengue virus serotypes
Authors: Chumchanchira Chanida , Ramphan Suwipa , Paemanee Atchara , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Lithanatudom Pathrapol , Smith Duncan R.
Published: April 2024

The mosquito transmitted dengue virus (DENV) is a major public health problem in many tropical and sub-tropical countries around the world. Both vaccine development and drug development are complex as the species Dengue virus consist of four distinct viruses (DENV 1 to DENV 4) each of which is composed of multiple lineages and strains. To understand the interaction of DENV with the host cell machinery, several studies have undertaken in vitro proteomic analysis of different cell lines infected with DENV. Invariably, these studies have utilized DENV 2. In this study we sought to define proteins that are differentially regulated by two different DENVs, DENV 2 and DENV 4. A 2-dimensional proteomic analysis identified some 300 protein spots, of which only 11 showed differential expression by both DENVs. Of these, only six were coordinately regulated. One protein, prohibitin 1 (PHB1) was downregulated by infection with both DENVs. Overexpression of PHB1 increased DENV protein expression, level of infection and genome copy number. DENV E protein colocalized with PHB, and there was a direct interaction between DENV 2 E protein and PHB1, but not between DENV 4 E protein and PHB1. The low number of proteins showing coordinate regulation after infection by different DENVs is a cause for concern, particularly in determining new druggable targets, and suggests that studies should routinely investigate multiple DENVs.
Brownian processes in human motor control support descending neural velocity commands
Authors: Tessari Federico , Hermus James , Sugimoto-Dimitrova Rika , Hogan Neville
Published: April 2024

The motor neuroscience literature suggests that the central nervous system may encode some motor commands in terms of velocity. In this work, we tackle the question: what consequences would velocity commands produce at the behavioral level? Considering the ubiquitous presence of noise in the neuromusculoskeletal system, we predict that velocity commands affected by stationary noise would produce “random walks”, also known as Brownian processes, in position. Brownian motions are distinctively characterized by a linearly growing variance and a power spectral density that declines in inverse proportion to frequency. This work first shows that these Brownian processes are indeed observed in unbounded motion tasks e.g., rotating a crank. We further predict that such growing variance would still be present, but bounded, in tasks requiring a constant posture e.g., maintaining a static hand position or quietly standing. This hypothesis was also confirmed by experimental observations. A series of descriptive models are investigated to justify the observed behavior. Interestingly, one of the models capable of accounting for all the experimental results must feature forward-path velocity commands corrupted by stationary noise. The results of this work provide behavioral support for the hypothesis that humans plan the motion components of their actions in terms of velocity.
An easy to use tool for the analysis of subcellular mRNA transcript colocalisation in smFISH data
Authors: Bentley-Abbot Calum , Heslop Rhiannon , Pirillo Chiara , Chandrasegaran Praveena , McConnell Gail , Roberts Ed , Hutchinson Edward , MacLeod Annette
Published: April 2024

Single molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation (smFISH) has become a valuable tool to investigate the mRNA expression of single cells. However, it requires a considerable amount of programming expertise to use currently available open-source analytical software packages to extract and analyse quantitative data about transcript expression. Here, we present FISHtoFigure, a new software tool developed specifically for the analysis of mRNA abundance and co-expression in QuPath-quantified, multi-labelled smFISH data. FISHtoFigure facilitates the automated spatial analysis of transcripts of interest, allowing users to analyse populations of cells positive for specific combinations of mRNA targets without the need for computational image analysis expertise. As a proof of concept and to demonstrate the capabilities of this new research tool, we have validated FISHtoFigure in multiple biological systems. We used FISHtoFigure to identify an upregulation in the expression of Cd4 by T-cells in the spleens of mice infected with influenza A virus, before analysing more complex data showing crosstalk between microglia and regulatory B-cells in the brains of mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. These analyses demonstrate the ease of analysing cell expression profiles using FISHtoFigure and the value of this new tool in the field of smFISH data analysis.
Photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green and 4-nitrophenol using Ni-doped Gd(OH)3 nanorods
Authors: Matussin Shaidatul Najihah , Khan Fazlurrahman , Harunsani Mohammad Hilni , Kim Young-Mog , Khan Mohammad Mansoob
Published: April 2024

Gadolinium hydroxide (Gd(OH)3) was synthesized via a microwave-assisted synthesis method. Nickel ion (Ni2+) was doped into Gd(OH)3, in which 4–12% Ni-Gd(OH)3 was synthesized, to study the effect of doping. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesized materials were analyzed. The crystallite sizes of the hexagonal structure of Gd(OH)3 and Ni-Gd(OH)3, which were 17–30 nm, were obtained from x-ray diffraction analysis. The vibrational modes of Gd(OH)3 and Ni-Gd(OH)3 were confirmed using Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies. The band gap energy was greatly influenced by Ni-doping, in which a reduction of the band gap energy from 5.00 to 3.03 eV was observed. Transmission electron microscopy images showed nanorods of Gd(OH)3 and Ni-Gd(OH)3 and the particle size increased upon doping with Ni2+. Photocatalytic degradations of brilliant green (BG) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) under UV light irradiation were carried out. In both experiments, 12% Ni-Gd(OH)3 showed the highest photocatalytic response in degrading BG and 4-NP, which is about 92% and 69%, respectively. Therefore, this study shows that Ni-Gd(OH)3 has the potential to degrade organic pollutants.
Biomarker profiling to determine clinical impact of microRNAs in cognitive disorders
Authors: Zhai Weijie , Zhao Meng , Wei Chunxiao , Zhang Guimei , Qi Yiming , Zhao Anguo , Sun Li
Published: April 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) are the leading causes of progressive dementia related to neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular injuries in elderly populations. Despite decades of research, patients with these conditions still lack minimally invasive, low-cost, and effective diagnostic and treatment methods. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in AD and PSCI pathology. As they are easily obtained from patients, miRNAs are promising candidates for the diagnosis and treatment of these two disorders. In this study, we performed complete sequencing analysis of miRNAs from 24 participants, split evenly into the PSCI, post-stroke non-cognitive impairment (PSNCI), AD, and normal control (NC) groups. To screen for differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in patients, we predicted their target genes using bioinformatics analysis. Our analyses identified miRNAs that can distinguish between the investigated disorders; several of them were novel and never previously reported. Their target genes play key roles in multiple signaling pathways that have potential to be modified as a clinical treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential of miRNAs and their key target genes in disease management. Further in-depth investigations with larger sample sizes will contribute to the development of precise treatments for AD and PSCI.
Synergistic effects of organic carbon and silica in preserving structural stability of drying soils
Authors: Barbosa Luis Alfredo Pires , Stein Mathias , Gerke Horst H. , Schaller Jörg
Published: April 2024

Predicted climate warming and prolonged droughts pose a threat to the soil structure as organic carbon losses weaken the stability of soil aggregates. Well-structured soils are important for storage and movement of water, solutes, and air, the development of plant roots, as habitat for soil organisms, and the microbial activity. Structural stability is measured in terms of hydro-mechanical properties. This study compares effects of amorphous silica with those of organic carbon on stability parameters during drying of aggregates from relatively finer- and coarser-textured soils. Silica amendment enhanced the positive effect of organic carbon on structural stability in terms of the tensile strength. Synergistic effects between silica and organic carbon in soil colloids appear to dynamically alter aggregate density and friability (i.e., ability to crumble) during drying. Silica together with organic carbon could help soil management to reduce negative effects of predicted prolonged droughts on soil structure and stability.
Development and validation of a deep learning-based microsatellite instability predictor from prostate cancer whole-slide images
Authors: Hu Qiyuan , Rizvi Abbas A. , Schau Geoffery , Ingale Kshitij , Muller Yoni , Baits Rachel , Pretzer Sebastian , BenTaieb Aïcha , Gordhamer Abigail , Nussenzveig Roberto , Cole Adam , Leavitt Matthew O. , Jones Ryan D. , Joshi Rohan P. , Beaubier Nike , Stumpe Martin C. , Nagpal Kunal
Published: April 2024

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) is a tumor-agnostic biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. However, MSI status is not routinely tested in prostate cancer, in part due to low prevalence and assay cost. As such, prediction of MSI status from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained whole-slide images (WSIs) could identify prostate cancer patients most likely to benefit from confirmatory testing to evaluate their eligibility for immunotherapy and need for Lynch syndrome testing. Prostate biopsies and surgical resections from prostate cancer patients referred to our institution were analyzed. MSI status was determined by next-generation sequencing. Patients sequenced before a cutoff date formed an algorithm development set (n = 4015, MSI-H 1.8%) and a paired validation set (n = 173, MSI-H 19.7%) that consisted of two serial sections from each sample, one stained and scanned internally and the other at an external site. Patients sequenced after the cutoff date formed a temporally independent validation set (n = 1350, MSI-H 2.3%). Attention-based multiple instance learning models were trained to predict MSI-H from H&E WSIs. The predictor achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.78 (95% CI [0.69–0.86]), 0.72 (95% CI [0.63–0.81]), and 0.72 (95% CI [0.62–0.82]) on the internally prepared, externally prepared, and temporal validation sets, respectively, showing effective predictability and generalization to both external staining/scanning processes and temporally independent samples. While MSI-H status is significantly correlated with Gleason score, the model remained predictive within each Gleason score subgroup.
Paired photoelectrochemical conversion of CO2/H2O and glycerol at high rate
Authors: Balog Ádám , Kecsenovity Egon , Samu Gergely F. , He Jie , Fekete Dávid , Janáky Csaba
Published: April 2024

Photoelectrochemistry holds the promise of directly converting sunlight to valuable chemical products. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) methods, however, lag behind their electrochemical counterparts in terms of current density. In this work, we demonstrate that, by using concentrated sunlight, we can achieve current densities similar to electrochemical methods, but with lower energy input. Specifically, we combined the direct PEC oxidation of glycerol with the dark hydrogen evolution or CO2 reduction in a membrane-separated continuous-flow PEC cell. We achieved over 110 mA cm−2 photocurrent density, which is at least an order of magnitude larger than those typically reported in the literature. We demonstrated that the product distribution of glycerol oxidation is notably different in PEC and electrochemical scenarios at the same current density, and the parasitic oxygen evolution reaction can be suppressed in the PEC case. This approach raises opportunities to drive complex electrochemical reactions in a more selective manner.
Hot springs viruses at Yellowstone National Park have ancient origins and are adapted to thermophilic hosts
Authors: Felipe Benites L. , Stephens Timothy G. , Van Etten Julia , James Timeeka , Christian William C. , Barry Kerrie , Grigoriev Igor V. , McDermott Timothy R. , Bhattacharya Debashish
Published: April 2024

Geothermal springs house unicellular red algae in the class Cyanidiophyceae that dominate the microbial biomass at these sites. Little is known about host-virus interactions in these environments. We analyzed the virus community associated with red algal mats in three neighboring habitats (creek, endolithic, soil) at Lemonade Creek, Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA. We find that despite proximity, each habitat houses a unique collection of viruses, with the giant viruses, Megaviricetes, dominant in all three. The early branching phylogenetic position of genes encoded on metagenome assembled virus genomes (vMAGs) suggests that the YNP lineages are of ancient origin and not due to multiple invasions from mesophilic habitats. The existence of genomic footprints of adaptation to thermophily in the vMAGs is consistent with this idea. The Cyanidiophyceae at geothermal sites originated ca. 1.5 Bya and are therefore relevant to understanding biotic interactions on the early Earth.
PPARγ alleviates preeclampsia development by regulating lipid metabolism and ferroptosis
Authors: Lai Weisi , Yu Ling , Deng Yali
Published: April 2024

The study aims to explore the effect of PPARγ signaling on ferroptosis and preeclampsia (PE) development. Serum and placental tissue are collected from healthy subjects and PE patients. The PPARγ and Nrf2 decreases in the PE. Rosiglitazone intervention reverses hypoxia-induced trophoblast ferroptosis and decreases lipid synthesis by regulating Nfr2 and SREBP1. Compared to the Hypoxia group, the migratory and invasive abilities enhance after rosiglitazone and ferr1 treatment. Rosiglitazone reduces the effect of hypoxia and erastin. The si-Nrf2 treatment attenuats the effects of rosiglitazone on proliferation, migration, and invasion. The si-Nrf2 does not affect SREBP1 expression. PPARγ agonists alleviates ferroptosis in the placenta of the PE rats. The study confirms that PPARγ signaling and ferroptosis-related indicators were dysregulated in PE. PPARγ/Nrf2 signaling affects ferroptosis by regulating lipid oxidation rather than SREBP1-mediated lipid synthesis. In conclusion, our study find that PPARγ can alleviate PE development by regulating lipid oxidation and ferroptosis.