bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subfield-specific interneuron circuits govern the hippocampal response to novelty in male mice
Authors: Hainmueller Thomas , Cazala Aurore , Huang Li-Wen , Bartos Marlene
Published: January 2024

The hippocampus is the brain’s center for episodic memories. Its subregions, the dentate gyrus and CA1-3, are differentially involved in memory encoding and recall. Hippocampal principal cells represent episodic features like movement, space, and context, but less is known about GABAergic interneurons. Here, we performed two-photon calcium imaging of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-expressing interneurons in the dentate gyrus and CA1-3 of male mice exploring virtual environments. Parvalbumin-interneurons increased activity with running-speed and reduced it in novel environments. Somatostatin-interneurons in CA1-3 behaved similar to parvalbumin-expressing cells, but their dentate gyrus counterparts increased activity during rest and in novel environments. Congruently, chemogenetic silencing of dentate parvalbumin-interneurons had prominent effects in familiar contexts, while silencing somatostatin-expressing cells increased similarity of granule cell representations between novel and familiar environments. Our data indicate unique roles for parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons in the dentate gyrus that are distinct from those in CA1-3 and may support routing of novel information.
Creating amphiphilic porosity in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks via steric-hindrance-mediated precision hydrophilic-hydrophobic microphase separation
Authors: Jiang Shu-Yan , Zhou Zhi-Bei , Gan Shi-Xian , Lu Ya , Liu Chao , Qi Qiao-Yan , Yao Jin , Zhao Xin
Published: January 2024

Creating different pore environments within a covalent organic framework (COF) will lead to useful multicompartment structure and multiple functions, which however has been scarcely achieved. Herein we report designed synthesis of three two-dimensional COFs with amphiphilic porosity by steric-hindrance-mediated precision hydrophilic-hydrophobic microphase separation. Dictated by the different steric effect of the substituents introduced to a monomer, dual-pore COFs with kgm net, in which all hydroxyls locate in trigonal micropores while hydrophobic sidechains exclusively distribute in hexagonal mesopores, have been constructed to form completely separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanochannels. The unique amphiphilic channels in the COFs enable the formation of Janus membranes via interface growth. This work has realized the creation of two types of channels with opposite properties in one COF, demonstrating the feasibility of introducing different properties/functions into different pores of heteropore COFs, which can be a useful strategy to develop multifunctional materials.
Mechanistic insights into C-C coupling in electrochemical CO reduction using gold superlattices
Authors: Yang Xiaoju , Rong Chao , Zhang Li , Ye Zhenkun , Wei Zhiming , Huang Chengdi , Zhang Qiao , Yuan Qing , Zhai Yueming , Xuan Fu-Zhen , Xu Bingjun , Zhang Bowei , Yang Xuan
Published: January 2024

Developing in situ/operando spectroscopic techniques with high sensitivity and reproducibility is of great importance for mechanistic investigations of surface-mediated electrochemical reactions. Herein, we report the fabrication of highly ordered rhombic gold nanocube superlattices (GNSs) as substrates for surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) with significantly enhanced SEIRA effect, which can be controlled by manipulating the randomness of GNSs. Finite difference time domain simulations reveal that the electromagnetic effect accounts for the significantly improved spectroscopic vibrations on the GNSs. In situ SEIRAS results show that the vibrations of CO on the Cu2O surfaces have been enhanced by 2.4 ± 0.5 and 18.0 ± 1.3 times using GNSs as substrates compared to those on traditional chemically deposited gold films in acidic and neutral electrolytes, respectively. Combined with isotopic labeling experiments, the reaction mechanisms for C-C coupling of CO electroreduction on Cu-based catalysts are revealed using the GNSs substrates.
Low-k nano-dielectrics facilitate electric-field induced phase transition in high-k ferroelectric polymers for sustainable electrocaloric refrigeration
Authors: Li Qiang , Wei Luqi , Zhong Ni , Shi Xiaoming , Han Donglin , Zheng Shanyu , Du Feihong , Shi Junye , Chen Jiangping , Huang Houbing , Duan Chungang , Qian Xiaoshi
Published: January 2024

Ferroelectric polymer-based electrocaloric effect may lead to sustainable heat pumps and refrigeration owing to the large electrocaloric-induced entropy changes, flexible, lightweight and zero-global warming potential. Herein, low-k nanodiamonds are served as extrinsic dielectric fillers to fabricate polymeric nanocomposites for electrocaloric refrigeration. As low-k nanofillers are naturally polar-inactive, hence they have been widely applied for consolidate electrical stability in dielectrics. Interestingly, we observe that the nanodiamonds markedly enhances the electrocaloric effect in relaxor ferroelectrics. Compared with their high-k counterparts that have been extensively studied in the field of electrocaloric nanocomposites, the nanodiamonds introduces the highest volumetric electrocaloric enhancement (~23%/vol%). The resulting polymeric nanocomposite exhibits concurrently improved electrocaloric effect (160%), thermal conductivity (175%) and electrical stability (125%), which allow a fluid-solid coupling-based electrocaloric refrigerator to exhibit an improved coefficient of performance from 0.8 to 5.3 (660%) while maintaining high cooling power (over 240 W) at a temperature span of 10 K.
Giant tunnelling electroresistance in atomic-scale ferroelectric tunnel junctions
Authors: Jia Yueyang , Yang Qianqian , Fang Yue-Wen , Lu Yue , Xie Maosong , Wei Jianyong , Tian Jianjun , Zhang Linxing , Yang Rui
Published: January 2024

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions are promising towards high-reliability and low-power non-volatile memories and computing devices. Yet it is challenging to maintain a high tunnelling electroresistance when the ferroelectric layer is thinned down towards atomic scale because of the ferroelectric structural instability and large depolarization field. Here we report ferroelectric tunnel junctions based on samarium-substituted layered bismuth oxide, which can maintain tunnelling electroresistance of 7 × 105with the samarium-substituted bismuth oxide film down to one nanometer, three orders of magnitude higher than previous reports with such thickness, owing to efficient barrier modulation by the large ferroelectric polarization. These ferroelectric tunnel junctions demonstrate up to 32 resistance states without any write-verify technique, high endurance (over 5 × 109), high linearity of conductance modulation, and long retention time (10 years). Furthermore, tunnelling electroresistance over 109is achieved in ferroelectric tunnel junctions with 4.6-nanometer samarium-substituted bismuth oxide layer, which is higher than commercial flash memories. The results show high potential towards multi-level and reliable non-volatile memories.
Robust multiferroic in interfacial modulation synthesized wafer-scale one-unit-cell of chromium sulfide
Authors: Song Luying , Zhao Ying , Xu Bingqian , Du Ruofan , Li Hui , Feng Wang , Yang Junbo , Li Xiaohui , Liu Zijia , Wen Xia , Peng Yanan , Wang Yuzhu , Sun Hang , Huang Ling , Jiang Yulin , Cai Yao , Jiang Xue , Shi Jianping , He Jun
Published: January 2024

Multiferroic materials offer a promising avenue for manipulating digital information by leveraging the cross-coupling between ferroelectric and ferromagnetic orders. Despite the ferroelectricity has been uncovered by ion displacement or interlayer-sliding, one-unit-cell of multiferroic materials design and wafer-scale synthesis have yet to be realized. Here we develope an interface modulated strategy to grow 1-inch one-unit-cell of non-layered chromium sulfide with unidirectional orientation on industry-compatible c-plane sapphire. The interfacial interaction between chromium sulfide and substrate induces the intralayer-sliding of self-intercalated chromium atoms and breaks the space reversal symmetry. As a result, robust room-temperature ferroelectricity (retaining more than one month) emerges in one-unit-cell of chromium sulfide with ultrahigh remanent polarization. Besides, long-range ferromagnetic order is discovered with the Curie temperature approaching 200 K, almost two times higher than that of bulk counterpart. In parallel, the magnetoelectric coupling is certified and which makes 1-inch one-unit-cell of chromium sulfide the largest and thinnest multiferroics.
Rapid and visual identification of β-lactamase subtypes for precision antibiotic therapy
Authors: Li Wenshuai , Li Jingqi , Xu Hua , Gao Hongmei , Liu Dingbin
Published: January 2024

The abuse of antibiotics urgently requires rapid identification of drug-resistant bacteria at the point of care (POC). Here we report a visual paper sensor that allows rapid (0.25-3 h) discrimination of the subtypes of β-lactamase (the major cause of bacterial resistance) for precision antibiotic therapy. The sensor exhibits high performance in identifying antibiotic-resistant bacteria with 100 real samples from patients with diverse bacterial infections, demonstrating 100% clinical sensitivity and specificity. Further, this sensor can enhance the accuracy of antibiotic use from 48% empirically to 83%, and further from 50.6% to 97.6% after eliminating fungal infection cases. Our work provides a POC testing platform for guiding effective management of bacterial infections in both hospital and community settings.
Machine learning potential assisted exploration of complex defect potential energy surfaces
Authors: Jiang Chao , Marianetti Chris A. , Khafizov Marat , Hurley David H.
Published: January 2024

Atomic-scale defects generated in materials under both equilibrium and irradiation conditions can significantly impact their physical and mechanical properties. Unraveling the energetically most favorable ground-state configurations of these defects is an important step towards the fundamental understanding of their influence on the performance of materials ranging from photovoltaics to advanced nuclear fuels. Here, using fluorite-structured thorium dioxide (ThO2) as an exemplar, we demonstrate how density functional theory and machine learning interatomic potential can be synergistically combined into a powerful tool that enables exhaustive exploration of the large configuration spaces of small point defect clusters. Our study leads to several unexpected discoveries, including defect polymorphism and ground-state structures that defy our physical intuitions. Possible physical origins of these unexpected findings are elucidated using a local cluster expansion model developed in this work.
Mosquitoes provide a transmission route between possums and humans for Buruli ulcer in southeastern Australia
Authors: Mee Peter T. , Buultjens Andrew H. , Oliver Jane , Brown Karen , Crowder Jodie C. , Porter Jessica L. , Hobbs Emma C. , Judd Louise M. , Taiaroa George , Puttharak Natsuda , Williamson Deborah A. , Blasdell Kim R. , Tay Ee Laine , Feldman Rebecca , Muzari Mutizwa Odwell , Sanders Chris , Larsen Stuart , Crouch Simon R. , Johnson Paul D. R. , Wallace John R. , Price David J. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Gibney Katherine B. , Stinear Timothy P. , Lynch Stacey E.
Published: January 2024

Buruli ulcer, a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is increasing in prevalence in southeastern Australia. Possums are a local wildlife reservoir for M. ulcerans and, although mosquitoes have been implicated in transmission, it remains unclear how humans acquire infection. We conducted extensive field survey analyses of M. ulcerans prevalence among mosquitoes in the Mornington Peninsula region of southeastern Australia. PCR screening of trapped mosquitoes revealed a significant association between M. ulcerans and Aedes notoscriptus. Spatial scanning statistics revealed overlap between clusters of M. ulcerans-positive Ae. notoscriptus, M. ulcerans-positive possum excreta and Buruli ulcer cases, and metabarcoding analyses showed individual mosquitoes had fed on humans and possums. Bacterial genomic analysis confirmed shared single-nucleotide-polymorphism profiles for M. ulcerans detected in mosquitoes, possum excreta and humans. These findings indicate Ae. notoscriptus probably transmit M. ulcerans in southeastern Australia and highlight mosquito control as a Buruli ulcer prevention measure.
High frequency Lunar Penetrating Radar quality control, editing and processing of Chang’E-4 lunar mission
Authors: Roncoroni G. , Forte E. , Santin I. , Černok A. , Rajšić A. , Frigeri A. , Pipan M.
Published: January 2024

Chinese lunar landing mission Chang’E-4 reached the far side of the Moon in January 2019 and has been providing unprecedented Lunar Penetrating Radar data able to explore the lunar subsurface down to more than 40 m (with its more resolutive high frequency band). Data are periodically released to the scientific community in raw PDS4 format. Here we provide different versions of the radar dataset after editing (i.e. pre-processing), partial, and full processing in order to provide a complete ready-to-use dataset to end-users (data collected since 4th January 2019 until 27th March 2023) which can be directly exploited for analysis, interpretation, inversion, as well as integration with imagery or other information. In particular, we implemented an efficient and objective way to remove duplicated traces representing more than 90% of original data, as well as a processing flow able to retain all the original data information, while avoiding redundancies. The provided datasets can be implemented with future data releases and straightforwardly exploited for any future analysis.
Chromosome-level genome assembly of the giant ladybug Megalocaria dilatata
Authors: Pu De-Qiang , Wu Xing-Long , Chen Zhi-Teng , Wei Shu-Jun , Cai Peng , Liu Hong-Ling
Published: January 2024

The giant ladybugMegalocaria dilatata(Fabricius) is a potential biocontrol agent and a valuable model for coccinellid genomics and evolutionary biology. However, the lack of a reference genome forM. dilatatahas impeded further explorations into its evolution and constrained its use in pest management. Here, we assembled and annotated a high-quality, chromosome-level genome ofM. dilatata. The resulting assembly spans 772.3 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 72.48 Mb and a GC content of 34.23%. The Hi-C data aided in anchoring the assembly onto 10 chromosomes ranging from 43.35 to 108.16 Mb. We identified 493.33 Mb of repeat sequences, accounting for 63.88% of the assembled genome. Our gene prediction identified 25,346 genes, with 81.89% annotated in public protein databases. The genome data will provide a valuable resource for studying the biology and evolution of Coccinellidae, aiding in pest control strategies and advancing research in the field.
A meta-analysis of sutureless scleral-fixated intraocular lens versus retropupillary iris claw intraocular lens for the management of aphakia
Authors: Chang Yu-Min , Weng Tzu-Heng , Tai Ming-Cheng , Chen Yi-Hao , Lee Cho-Hao , Chang Wei-Cheng , Hsieh Meng-Wei , Chien Ke-Hung
Published: January 2024

This study compared the visual outcomes and complications between sutureless scleral-fixated intraocular lens and iris claw intraocular lens implantation in aphakia without adequate capsule and/or zonule support. Studies comparing the clinical outcomes of scleral-fixated intraocular lens and iris claw intraocular lens implantation published until April 2022 were retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. The outcomes included postoperative final visual acuity, surgical time, surgery-induced astigmatism, and complications. The weighted mean difference and odds ratio were calculated. Two randomized controlled trials and five cohort studies, including 244 and 290 eyes in the scleral-fixated intraocular lens group and iris claw group, respectively, were included. Scleral-fixated intraocular lens implantation results in a better postoperative final corrected distance visual acuity compared with iris claw intraocular lens implantation; however, it is more time-consuming. Scleral-fixated intraocular lens implantation seems to have lesser incidences of surgery-induced astigmatism. Furthermore, both procedures have a similar complication rate. Therefore, based on current best evidence, these two procedures should be considered according to patient’s conditions.
The prognostic value of radiological and pathological lymph node status in patients with cervical cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and followed hysterectomy
Authors: Lou Jianghua , Zhang Xiaoxian , Liu Jinjin , Dong Linxiao , Wu Qingxia , Yan LiangLiang , Xu Chunmiao , Wu Qingxia , Wang Meiyun
Published: January 2024

To investigate the prognostic value of lymph node status in patients with cervical cancer (CC) patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and followed hysterectomy. Patients in two referral centers were retrospectively analyzed. The baseline tumor size and radiological lymph node status (LNr) were evaluated on pre-NACT MRI. Tumor histology, differentiation and pathological lymph node status (LNp) were obtained from post-operative specimen. The log-rank test was used to compare survival between patient groups. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of various factors with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 266 patients were included. Patients with 2018 FIGO IIIC showed worse PFS compared to those with FIGO IB-IIB (p < 0.001). The response rate in patients with LNp(−) was 64.1% (134/209), significantly higher than that of 45.6% (26/57) in patients with LNp( +) (p = 0.011). Multivariate Cox analysis identified the main independent predictors of PFS as LNp( +) (HR = 3.777; 95% CI 1.715–8.319), non-SCC (HR = 2.956; 95% CI 1.297–6.736), poor differentiation (HR = 2.370; 95% CI 1.130–4.970) and adjuvant radiation (HR = 3.266; 95% CI 1.183–9.019). The interaction between LNr and LNp regarding PFS were significant both for univariate and multivariate (P = 0.000171 and 1.5357e−7 respectively). In patients with LNr( +), a significant difference in PFS was observed between patients with LNp(−) and LNp( +) (p = 0.0027). CC patients with FIGO 2018 stage IIIC who underwent NACT and followed hysterectomy had worse PFS compared to those with IB-IIB. LNp( +), non-SCC, poor differentiation and adjuvant radiation were independent risk factors for PFS. The adverse prognostic value of LNp( +) was more significant in patients with LNr( +).
Green technology advancement, energy input share and carbon emission trend studies
Authors: Liu YuXin , Lei Ping , Shen BingYang , He Dayi
Published: January 2024

In order to study the theoretical mechanism of the impact of green technology progress on carbon emissions, this article constructs a theoretical mechanism of the impact of green technology progress on carbon emission growth. Explore the conditions for achieving carbon peak and carbon reduction. Based on the Cobb Douglas production function, construct a three sector model that includes capital, labor, and energy. Empirical methods were used to analyze the quantitative impact of green technology progress on carbon emission growth and the moderating effect of energy input share. This study mainly used provincial panel data from 1995 to 2020. Calculate carbon dioxide emissions based on energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission coefficients of various energy sources in different regions. Using the perpetual inventory method to calculate capital growth rate, green computing progress rate, etc., to provide data support for the green technology carbon reduction model. Empirical analysis of the impact of green technology progress on carbon emissions using the FGLS panel model. Theoretical and empirical analyses show that green technological progress promotes an increase in the carbon emission growth rate through the scale effect, with an impact coefficient of 0.607; it promotes a decrease in the carbon emission growth rate through the technological effect, with an impact coefficient of − 0.667; the combined effect promotes a decrease in growth rate of carbon emissions, with an impact coefficient of − 0.06. The share of energy inputs has a positive regulating effect on the scale effect.
Identifying top ten predictors of type 2 diabetes through machine learning analysis of UK Biobank data
Authors: Lugner Moa , Rawshani Araz , Helleryd Edvin , Eliasson Björn
Published: January 2024

The study aimed to identify the most predictive factors for the development of type 2 diabetes. Using an XGboost classification model, we projected type 2 diabetes incidence over a 10-year horizon. We deliberately minimized the selection of baseline factors to fully exploit the rich dataset from the UK Biobank. The predictive value of features was assessed using shap values, with model performance evaluated via Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve, sensitivity, and specificity. Data from the UK Biobank, encompassing a vast population with comprehensive demographic and health data, was employed. The study enrolled 450,000 participants aged 40–69, excluding those with pre-existing diabetes. Among 448,277 participants, 12,148 developed type 2 diabetes within a decade. HbA1c emerged as the foremost predictor, followed by BMI, waist circumference, blood glucose, family history of diabetes, gamma-glutamyl transferase, waist-hip ratio, HDL cholesterol, age, and urate. Our XGboost model achieved a Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve of 0.9 for 10-year type 2 diabetes prediction, with a reduced 10-feature model achieving 0.88. Easily measurable biological factors surpassed traditional risk factors like diet, physical activity, and socioeconomic status in predicting type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, high prediction accuracy could be maintained using just the top 10 biological factors, with additional ones offering marginal improvements. These findings underscore the significance of biological markers in type 2 diabetes prediction.
Impact of metformin on cardiovascular and kidney outcome based on kidney function status in type 2 diabetic patients: a multicentric, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yi Yongjin , Kwon Eun-Jeong , Yun Giae , Park Seokwoo , Jeong Jong Cheol , Na Ki Young , Chin Ho Jun , Yoo Sooyoung , Kim Seok , Oh Tae Jung , Kim Sejoong , Jung Chang Hee , Lee Hajeong
Published: January 2024

Metformin is the primary treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to its effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes in patients with preserved renal function, however, the evidence on the effectiveness of metformin in various renal functions is lacking. We performed a retrospective, multicenter, observational study used data of patients with T2DM obtained from three tertiary hospitals’ databases. Patients given metformin within run-in periods and with at least one additional prescription formed the metformin cohort. A control cohort comprised those prescribed oral hypoglycemic agents other than metformin and never subsequently received a metformin prescription within observation period. For patients without diabetic nephropathy (DN), the outcomes included events of DN, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and major adverse kidney events (MAKE). After 1:1 propensity matching, 1994 individuals each were selected for the metformin and control cohorts among T2DM patients without baseline DN. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) for DN, MACEs, and MAKEs between cohorts were 1.06 (95% CI 0.96–1.17), 0.76 (0.64–0.92), and 0.45 (0.33–0.62), respectively. In cohorts with renal function of CKD 3A, 3B, and 4, summarized IRRs of MACEs and MAKEs were 0.70 (0.57–0.87) and 0.39 (0.35–0.43) in CKD 3A, 0.83 (0.74–0.93) and 0.44 (0.40–0.48) in CKD 3B, and 0.71 (0.60–0.85) and 0.45 (0.39–0.51) in CKD 4. Our research indicates that metformin use in T2DM patients across various renal functions consistently correlates with a decreased risk of overt DN, MACE, and MAKE.
Carbon quantum dots with honeycomb structure: a novel synthesis approach utilizing cigarette smoke precursors
Authors: Setianto Setianto , Men Liu Kin , Bahtiar Ayi , Panatarani Camellia , Joni I Made
Published: January 2024

This study presents a novel approach to synthesizing honeycomb carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from cigarette smoke by a hydrothermal process. A comprehensive characterization of these CQDs, conducted through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), showcases their unique honeycomb structure, with an average particle size of 6.3 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) in CQDs is a captivating phenomenon where these nanoscale carbon structures emit strong blue luminescence at 461 nm upon exposure to ultraviolet light, with their excitation peak occurring at 380 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis also identifies specific functional groups within the CQDs, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms governing their photoluminescence. Analysis of excitation spectra indicates the presence of both aromatic C=C bonds at 254 nm and C–O bonds from 280 to 420 nm.
Annual and geographical variations in the specific composition of jassids and their damage on cotton in Ivory Coast
Authors: Kouadio Houphouet , Kouakou Malanno , Bini Kouadio Kra Norbert , Koffi Kouakou Jean Innocent , Ossey Christian Landry , Kone Pitou Woklin Euloge , Adepo-Gourene Abouo Béatrice , Ochou Ochou Germain
Published: January 2024

In recent years, jassids have become a real problem for cotton growing in Ivory Coast. It is important to investigate the causes of this problem. The aim of this study was to highlight the diversity of jassid species and their impact on cotton growing in Ivory Coast. The collections carried out in 2021 identified three species. Jacobiasca lybica (Bergevin & Zanon, 1922) is the most abundant, with proportions ranging from 73.3 to 93.3% depending on the site. The other two species are Empoasca papayae (Oman, 1937) (8.3%) and Empoasca facialis (Jacobi, 1912) (5%). In 2022, collections revealed the invasion of a new species, Amrasca biguttula (Shiraki, 1913), which became dominant with proportions of 90 to 100% depending on the site. Two other species, Jacobiasca lybica (Bergevin & Zanon, 1922) (2.7%) and Empoasca facialis (Jacobi, 1912) (1.3%), cohabit with Amrasca biguttula (Shiraki, 1913). Thus, while the damage noted in 2021 was attributable to Jacobiasca lybica (Bergevin & Zanon, 1922), that observed in 2022 is essentially due to Amrasca biguttula (Shiraki, 1913), with incidences exceeding the economic impact threshold. The North-East of the cotton basin was the area most affected by attacks by these two species. The results of the study reveal significant changes in jassid species composition and climatic conditions in the cotton-growing areas of Ivory Coast, from 1 year to the next. This situation also explains the variations in damage levels.
A collaborative privacy-preserving approach for passenger demand forecasting of autonomous taxis empowered by federated learning in smart cities
Authors: Munawar Adeel , Piantanakulchai Mongkut
Published: January 2024

The concept of Autonomous Taxis (ATs) has witnessed a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, paving the way toward future smart cities. However, accurately forecasting passenger demand for ATs remains a significant challenge. Traditional approaches for passenger demand forecasting often rely on centralized data collection and analysis, which can raise privacy concerns and incur high communication costs. To address these challenges, We propose a collaborative model using Federated Learning (FL) for passenger demand forecasting in smart city transportation systems. Our proposed approach enables ATs in different regions of the smart city to collaboratively learn and improve their demand forecasting models through FL while preserving the privacy of passenger data. We use several backpropagation neural networks as local models for collaborating to train the global model without directly sharing their data. The local model shares only the model updates with a global model that aggregates them, which is then sent back to local models to improve them. Our collaborative approach reduces privacy concerns and communication costs by facilitating learning from each other’s data without direct data sharing. We evaluate our approach using a real-world dataset of over 4500 taxis in Bangkok, Thailand. By utilizing MATLAB2022b, the proposed approach is compared with popular baseline methods and existing research on taxi demand forecasting systems. Results demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms in passenger demand forecasting, surpassing existing methods in terms of model accuracy, privacy preservation, and performance metrics such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and R-squared ($$R^2$$

R
2

). Furthermore, our approach exhibits improved performance over time through the collaborative learning process as more data becomes available.
Impact of CD 28, CD86, CTLA-4 and PD-1 genes polymorphisms on acute renal allograft rejection and graft survival among Egyptian recipients
Authors: Ghoneim Moatasem Elsayed , Sheashaa Hussein , Wafa Ehab , Awadalla Amira , Ahmed Asmaa E. , Sobh Mohamed , Shokeir Ahmed Abdulrahman
Published: January 2024

To study the impact of four gene polymorphisms on acute renal allograft rejection (AR) and graft survival among Egyptian population. These 4 gene polymorphisms include: (1) CD 28 (rs3116496), (2) CD86 (rs1129055), (3) CTLA-4 (rs3087243), (4) PD-1 (rs2227982). This is a non-concurrent cohort study including 50 kidney transplant recipients diagnosed histopathologically as (AR) [study group] and another 50 matched allograft recipients without AR [control group]. Blood samples were taken from both groups and subjected to genotyping for the selected four genetic polymorphisms by TaqMan genotyping assay. The difference in genotypic distribution of CD 28: rs3116496 and CD86: rs1129055 wasn't statistically significant between the study and control groups (P = 0.22 and 0.33 respectively) and also both polymorphisms had no effect on graft survival (P = 0.36 and 0.74 respectively) while the addition of C allele to IVS3 +17T/C polymorphism in CD28 gene showed a protective effect against AR (P = 0.03). CTLA-4: rs3087243 AG genotype showed a protective effect against AR as it was more frequent in no rejection group compared to those with AR (P = 0.001) with a statistically significant impact on graft survival (P < 0.001), while PD-1: rs2227982 AG genotype was equally distributed between both groups (variant of unknown significance). There was no detected association between CD86 polymorphism: rs1129055 and CD 28 polymorphism: rs3116496 with the development of AR. However, C allele of CD 28 IVS3 +17T/C polymorphism and CTLA-4 polymorphism: rs3087243AG genotype both demonstrated a protective effect against AR.
Achalasia alters physiological networks depending on sex
Authors: Furuzawa-Carballeda Janette , Barajas-Martínez Antonio , Olguín-Rodríguez Paola V. , Ibarra-Coronado Elizabeth , Fossion Ruben , Coss-Adame Enrique , Valdovinos Miguel A. , Torres-Villalobos Gonzalo , Rivera Ana Leonor
Published: January 2024

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder for which the etiology is not fully understood. Evidence suggests that autoimmune inflammatory infiltrates, possibly triggered by a viral infection, may lead to a degeneration of neurons within the myenteric plexus. While the infection is eventually resolved, genetically susceptible individuals may still be at risk of developing achalasia. This study aimed to determine whether immunological and physiological networks differ between male and female patients with achalasia. This cross-sectional study included 189 preoperative achalasia patients and 500 healthy blood donor volunteers. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, immunological, and tissue biomarkers were collected. Male and female participants were evaluated separately to determine the role of sex. Correlation matrices were constructed using bivariate relationships to generate complex inferential networks. These matrices were filtered based on their statistical significance to identify the most relevant relationships between variables. Network topology and node centrality were calculated using tools available in the R programming language. Previous occurrences of chickenpox, measles, and mumps infections have been proposed as potential risk factors for achalasia, with a stronger association observed in females. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified IL-22, Th2, and regulatory B lymphocytes as key variables contributing to the disease. The physiological network topology has the potential to inform whether a localized injury or illness is likely to produce systemic consequences and the resulting clinical presentation. Here we show that immunological involvement in achalasia appears localized in men because of their highly modular physiological network. In contrast, in women the disease becomes systemic because of their robust network with a larger number of inter-cluster linkages.
Identification of phenomic data in the pathogenesis of cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the UK biobank
Authors: Tan Shirin Hui , Guan Catherina Anak , Bujang Mohamad Adam , Lai Wei Hong , Voon Pei Jye , Sim Edmund Ui Hang
Published: January 2024

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for a significant incidence and mortality rates of cancers globally. Utilization of a phenomic data approach allows researchers to reveal the mechanisms and molecular pathogenesis of these conditions. We aimed to investigate the association between the phenomic features and GI cancers in a large cohort study. We included 502,369 subjects aged 37–73 years in the UK Biobank recruited since 2006, followed until the date of the first cancer diagnosis, date of death, or the end of follow-up on December 31st, 2016, whichever occurred first. Socio-demographic factors, blood chemistry, anthropometric measurements and lifestyle factors of participants collected at baseline assessment were analysed. Unvariable and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to determine the significant risk factors for the outcomes of interest, based on the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The analysis included a total of 441,141 participants, of which 7952 (1.8%) were incident GI cancer cases and 433,189 were healthy controls. A marker, cystatin C was associated with total and each gastrointestinal cancer (adjusted OR 2.43; 95% CI 2.23–2.64). In this cohort, compared to Asians, the Whites appeared to have a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers. Several other factors were associated with distinct GI cancers. Cystatin C and race appear to be important features in GI cancers, suggesting some overlap in the molecular pathogenesis of GI cancers. Given the small proportion of Asians within the UK Biobank, the association between race and GI cancers requires further confirmation.
Music recommendation algorithms based on knowledge graph and multi-task feature learning
Authors: Liu Xinqiao , Yang Zhisheng , Cheng Jinyong
Published: January 2024

During music recommendation scenarios, sparsity and cold start problems are inevitable. Auxiliary information has been utilized in music recommendation algorithms to provide users with more accurate music recommendation results. This study proposes an end-to-end framework, MMSS_MKR, that uses a knowledge graph as a source of auxiliary information to serve the information obtained from it to the recommendation module. The framework exploits Cross & Compression Units to bridge the knowledge graph embedding task with recommendation task modules. We can obtain more realistic triple information and exclude false triple information as much as possible, because our model obtains triple information through the music knowledge graph, and the information obtained through the recommendation module is used to determine the truth of the triple information; thus, the knowledge graph embedding task is used to perform the recommendation task. In the recommendation module, multiple predictions are adopted to predict the recommendation accuracy. In the knowledge graph embedding module, multiple calculations are used to calculate the score. Finally, the loss function of the model is improved to help us to obtain more useful information for music recommendations. The MMSS_MKR model achieved significant improvements in music recommendations compared with many existing recommendation models.
Simulation of the emergence of cell-like morphologies with evolutionary potential based on virtual molecular interactions
Authors: Ishida Takeshi
Published: January 2024

This study explored the emergence of life using a simulation model approach. The “multiset chemical lattice model” allows the placement of virtual molecules of multiple types in each lattice cell in a two-dimensional space. This model was capable of describing a wide variety of states and interactions, such as the diffusion, chemical reaction, and polymerization of virtual molecules, in a limited number of lattice cell spaces. Moreover, this model was capable of describing a wide variety of states and interactions, even in the limited lattice cell space of 100 × 100 cells. In this study, I assumed 18 types of virtual molecules, i.e., 18 virtual numbers that do not correspond to real molecules with chemical reactions represented by transformation of the numbers that occur with a specified reaction rate probability. Furthermore, it considered the energy metabolism and energy resources in the environment, and was able to reproduce “evolution,” in which a certain cell-like shape that adapted to the environment survived under conditions of decreasing amounts of energy resources in the environment. This enabled the simulation of the emergence of cell-like shapes with the four minimum cellular requirements, i.e., boundary, metabolism, replication, and evolution, based solely on the interaction of virtual molecules.
A deep multi-stream model for robust prediction of left ventricular ejection fraction in 2D echocardiography
Authors: Alvén Jennifer , Hagberg Eva , Hagerman David , Petersen Richard , Hjelmgren Ola
Published: January 2024

We propose a deep multi-stream model for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) prediction in 2D echocardiographic (2DE) examinations. We use four standard 2DE views as model input, which are automatically selected from the full 2DE examination. The LVEF prediction model processes eight streams of data (images + optical flow) and consists of convolutional neural networks terminated with transformer layers. The model is made robust to missing, misclassified and duplicate views via pre-training, sampling strategies and parameter sharing. The model is trained and evaluated on an existing clinical dataset (12,648 unique examinations) with varying properties in terms of quality, examining physician, and ultrasound system. We report $$R^2 = 0.84$$

R
2

=
0.84

and mean absolute error = 4.0% points for the test set. When evaluated on two public benchmarks, the model performs on par or better than all previous attempts on fully automatic LVEF prediction. Code and trained models are available on a public project repository.
Silicon via fertigation with and without potassium application, improve physiological aspects of common beans cultivated under three water regimes in field
Authors: Gonzalez-Porras Carlos Vital , Teixeira Gelza Carliane Marques , Prado Renato de Mello , Ferreira Patrícia Messias , Palaretti Luiz Fabiano , Oliveira Kamilla Silva
Published: January 2024

Frequent droughts have led to an expansion of irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation areas. An effective strategy to enhance water use efficiency and optimize crop growth is the application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K). However, the interaction between Si dosage, water regimes, and plant potassium status, as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms, remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the effects of Si doses applied via fertigation under various water regimes, in the presence and absence of potassium fertilization, on gas exchange, water use efficiency, and growth of Common beans in field conditions. Two experiments were conducted, one with and one without K supply, considering that the potassium content in the soil was 6.4 mmolc dm-3 in both experiments and a replacement dose of 50 kg ha was applied in the with K treatment, with the same treatments evaluated in both potassium conditions. The treatments comprised a 3 × 4 factorial design, encompassing three water regimes: 80% (no deficit), 60% (moderate water deficit), and 40% (severe water deficit) of soil water retention capacity, and four doses of Si supplied via fertigation: 0, 4, 8, and 12 kg ha−1. Where it was evaluated, content of photosynthetic pigments, fluorescence of photosynthesis, relative water content, leaf water potential and electrolyte extravasation, dry mass of leaves, stems and total. The optimal doses of Si for fertigation application, leading to increased Si absorption in plants, varied with decreasing soil water content. The respective values were 6.6, 7.0, and 7.1 kg ha−1 for the water regimes without deficit, with moderate water deficit, and with severe water deficit. Fertigation application of Si improved plant performance, particularly under severe water deficit, regardless of potassium status. This improvement was evident in relative water content, leaf water potential, and membrane resistance, directly impacting pigment content and gas exchange rates. The physiological effects resulted in enhanced photosynthesis in water-deficient plants, mitigating dry mass production losses. This research demonstrates, for the first time in common bean, the potential of Si to enhance irrigation efficiency in areas limited by low precipitation and water scarcity.
Natal factors affecting developmental defects of enamel in preterm infants: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Park Shang-yon , Jeong Su Jin , Han Jung Ho , Shin Jeong Eun , Lee Jae-Ho , Kang Chung-Min
Published: January 2024

This study investigated natal factors influencing developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in premature infants using a newly refined preterm developmental defects of enamel (PDDE) index. Dental examinations were conducted on a cohort of 118 preterm infants (average age 3.5 ± 1.4 years) to record PDDE scores, while reviewing their medical records to examine natal factors. According to the logistic regression analysis, factors related to DDE prevalence were advanced maternal age, gestational age < 28 weeks, birth weight < 1000 g, 1 min APGAR score < 7, and hospitalization period > 2 months, which were significantly higher by 2.91, 5.53, 7.63, 10.02, and 4.0 times, respectively. According to regression analysis with generalized linear models, the PDDE scores were approximately 7.65, 4.96, and 15.0 points higher in premature children diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis, respectively. When endotracheal intubation was performed, the PDDE score was 5.06 points higher. The prevalence of PDDE was primarily observed bilaterally in the maxillary anterior teeth. Extremely preterm infants showed significantly delayed tooth eruption, suggesting that the influence of gestational age on dental development rates. Identifying the factors related to DDE in premature children can inform early dental interventions to support the oral health of high-risk children.
Plasmonic slanted slit gratings for efficient through-substrate light-plasmon coupling and sensing
Authors: Mahani Fatemeh Fouladi , Astorga Luis Angel Mayoral , Choi Hyung Woo , Mokhtari Arash , Berini Pierre
Published: January 2024

We present an experimental study of plasmonic slanted slit gratings (PSSGs) designed to achieve directional coupling between an incident light beam and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating along the surface of the structure. We also investigate mirrored PSSG pairs interconnected by a plasmonic slab waveguide. The structures are fabricated using direct milling by a gallium focused ion beam (FIB). In a mirrored pair arrangement, the first PSSG couples a perpendicularly-incident light beam to SPPs propagating in one direction along the waveguide, while the second PSSG decouples SPPs to perpendicularly-emerging light. This configuration shows promise for sensing applications due to the high sensitivity of the excited SPPs to changes in the refractive index of the bounding medium, and the separation of the optics from the fluidics by the substrate. The design also exhibits robustness to fabrication tolerances. The optical characteristics and sensing potential are investigated theoretically and experimentally, highlighting its potential for a wide range of applications.
Variation of floristic diversity, community composition, endemism, and conservation status of tree species in tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka across a wide altitudinal gradient
Authors: Sanjeewani Nimalka , Samarasinghe Dilum , Jayasinghe Himesh , Ukuwela Kanishka , Wijetunga Asanga , Wahala Sampath , De Costa Janendra
Published: January 2024

Tropical rainforests in Sri Lanka are biodiversity hotspots, which are sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance and long-term climate change. We assessed the diversity, endemism and conservation status of these rainforests across a wide altitudinal range (100–2200 m above sea level) via a complete census of all trees having ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height in ten one-hectare permanent sampling plots. The numbers of tree families, genera and species and community-scale tree diversity decreased with increasing altitude. Tree diversity, species richness and total basal area per ha across the altitudinal range were positively associated with long-term means of maximum temperature, annual rainfall and solar irradiance. Percentage of endangered species increased with increasing altitude and was positively associated with cumulative maximum soil water deficit, day-night temperature difference and high anthropogenic disturbance. Percentage of endemic species was greater in the lowland rainforests than in high-altitude montane forests. Nearly 85% of the species were recorded in three or less plots, which indicated substantial altitudinal differentiation in their distributions. Less than 10 individuals were recorded in 41% of the endemic species and 45% of the native species, which underlined the need for urgent conservation efforts across the whole altitudinal range.