bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross‐entropy‐based adaptive fuzzy control for visual tracking of road cracks with unmanned mobile robot
Authors: Zhang Jianqi , Yang Xu , Wang Wei , Guan Jinchao , Liu Wenbo , Wang Hainian , Ding Ling , Lee Vincent C. S.
Published: October 2023

Visual tracking of road cracks in unstructured road environment was, is, and remains a crucial and challenging task, which plays a vital role in accurate crack sealing for automated road cracks repair. However, many problems have not been well solved in existing automated road cracks repair, such as the low automation due to partial dependence on manual and the interrupted traffic flow caused by the heavy equipment used. In this article, a cross‐entropy‐based adaptive fuzzy control (CEAFC) method is proposed, which reaches visual tracking with unmanned mobile robot (VT‐UMbot) for road cracks. Specifically, the CEAFC method uses cross‐entropy optimization iteration to tune parameters for the tracking controller, and fuzzy logic is constructed to explore robustness improvement. Moreover, a framework of VT‐UMbot based on a four‐wheel independent differential drive is established, and visual servo and tracking control are integrated into the system. Our experiment shows that the proposed method is extensively evaluated on three road cracks scenarios and achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance with high efficiency.
Does spaced practice have the same effects on different second language vocabulary learning activities? Fill‐in‐the‐blanks versus flashcards
Authors: Kim Su Kyung , Webb Stuart
Published: October 2023

This study examined the effects of spaced practice on second language (L2) vocabulary learning under different learning conditions. One hundred fifty Korean learners of L2 English were divided into five groups: one control (no treatment) and four experimental groups based on learning condition (fill‐in‐the‐blanks vs. flashcards) and spacing type (massed [no spacing interval] vs. spaced [1‐day interval]). The participants studied 48 low‐frequency English words. Results showed that the effects of spaced practice were greater for fill‐in‐the‐blanks than flashcards on an immediate posttest and that spaced practice was more effective than massed practice for both activities on a 2‐week delayed posttest with no overall significant difference between the learning gains from the two activities. Feedback timing (immediate, delayed) did not affect vocabulary learning in either activity.
Memory making in critical care: A qualitative thematic synthesis
Authors: MacEachen Doreen , Johnston Bridget , McGuire Margaret
Published: October 2023

Background

Caring for bereaved families is an important aspect of the nursing role in critical care. Memory making practices are one way in which dying, death and bereavement can be acknowledged and supported within critical care. Memory making was introduced into the care of stillborn babies and neonatal deaths to improve parents' experiences of bereavement, and has since become common practice in adult critical care.

Aims

The aim of this qualitative thematic synthesis was to explore families' experiences of memory making in critical care, with a view of gaining greater understanding of the ways in which memory making impacts bereaved families.

Methods

A systematic search strategy was developed, and five databases were searched (Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase and ASSIA). Seven qualitative studies were included: four were conducted in adult and three in paediatric critical care settings in which memory making was initiated between 2014 and 2020. Memory making practices included, patient diaries, general keepsakes, word clouds and photography.

Results

The thematic synthesis generated four main themes to describe families' experience of memory making in critical care: ‘connection’, ‘compassion’, ‘engagement and creation’ and ‘continuation’.

Conclusions

Memory making is a meaningful activity for families whose loved one dies in critical care; it brings focus and meaning during a devastating process in a highly technical environment. Families rely heavily on nursing staff for support and guidance. The creation of memories and/or keepsakes can have a positive impact on the bereavement experience for families and can facilitate a continuing bond with their loved one.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Memory making is a worthwhile practice to support and guide family bereavement within critical care. It can provide structure and purpose during an emotionally challenging transition, by supporting families to focus on a meaningful activity during a devasting time.
Taxonomic evidences supporting the establishment of ‘sibujing', a traditional condiment crop from the Philippines, as Allium chinense G.Don
Authors: Vera Cruz Juan Rodrigo A. , Gentallan Renerio P. , Bartolome Michael Cedric B. , Calimpang Ison A. , Quiñones Kristine Joyce O. , Michael Manting Muhmin , Madayag Roselle E. , Lalusin Antonio G. , Hernandez Jose E. , Manuel Ma. Carmina C. , Endonela Leah E. , Borromeo Teresita H.
Published: October 2023

‘Sibujing' is an emerging crop species in the Philippines with recorded traditional use as condiment in localized areas in Mindanao. However, its taxonomic identity is confused as it has been attributed to various taxa of Allium. We characterized the morphological, phytochemical and molecular characteristics of a ‘sibujing' accession to establish the taxonomic belonging and correct species name of the crop and elucidate its baseline characteristics for its continued utilization. Through next‐generation sequencing, we assembled the quadripartite genome of a ‘sibujing' accession from Zamboanga del Norte. The generated chloroplast genome revealed 100% similarity to the earlier established 152 525‐bp‐long A. chinense G.Don. plastome from China. Morphological characteristics also support this identification as both bears leaves with hollow 3–5‐angled cross‐sections, scapes that are terete and solid, and distinctly toothed filament base. Saponins were also detected from its methanolic extract. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the sequenced ITS region, a nuclear barcode, suggested that the species was closest to taxa belonging to Allium sect. Sacculiferum subg. Cepa, further supporting its potential identity with A. chinense. Using a separate accession from a different locality in the Philippines, these findings were validated as the chloroplast genome assembled, phytochemical and morphological characteristics recorded were similarly established as close to A. chinense. This is the first definitive record of an Allium species from sect. Sacculiferum in the Philippines.
Crotolaria nicobarica (Fabaceae): a new species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Authors: Saleem Fouziya , Singh Lal Ji , Subramaniam Shweta , Pandey Arun K.
Published: October 2023

Crotalaria nicobarica, a new species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India is described and illustrated along with conservation status. This new species closely resembles C. lunulata Heyne ex Wight and Arn., C. paniculata Willd. and C. ramosissima Roxb. which occurs in western and eastern peninsular India and occupies forest edges and cut‐slopes of hillocks, but the new species is distinct in morphology of vegetative and reproductive characters from all previously known species. Based on its hairyness, persistent bracts and bracteoles, silky pubescence of vexillum and style, and oblong stalked pods, the species is referred to C. sect. Crotalaria.
The ancestral chromatin landscape of land plants
Authors: Hisanaga Tetsuya , Wu Shuangyang , Schafran Peter , Axelsson Elin , Akimcheva Svetlana , Dolan Liam , Li Fay‐Wei , Berger Frédéric
Published: October 2023

Recent studies have shown that correlations between chromatin modifications and transcription vary among eukaryotes. This is the case for marked differences between the chromatin of the moss Physcomitrium patens and the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. Mosses and liverworts diverged from hornworts, altogether forming the lineage of bryophytes that shared a common ancestor with land plants. We aimed to describe chromatin in hornworts to establish synapomorphies across bryophytes and approach a definition of the ancestral chromatin organization of land plants.

We used genomic methods to define the 3D organization of chromatin and map the chromatin landscape of the model hornwort Anthoceros agrestis.

We report that nearly half of the hornwort transposons were associated with facultative heterochromatin and euchromatin and formed the center of topologically associated domains delimited by protein coding genes. Transposons were scattered across autosomes, which contrasted with the dense compartments of constitutive heterochromatin surrounding the centromeres in flowering plants.

Most of the features observed in hornworts are also present in liverworts or in mosses but are distinct from flowering plants. Hence, the ancestral genome of bryophytes was likely a patchwork of units of euchromatin interspersed within facultative and constitutive heterochromatin. We propose this genome organization was ancestral to land plants.
Phytochrome B phosphorylation expanded: site‐specific kinases are identified
Authors: Viczián András , Nagy Ferenc
Published: October 2023

The phytochrome B (phyB) photoreceptor is a key participant in red and far‐red light sensing, playing a dominant role in many developmental and growth responses throughout the whole life of plants. Accordingly, phyB governs diverse signaling pathways, and although our knowledge about these pathways is constantly expanding, our view about their fine‐tuning is still rudimentary. Phosphorylation of phyB is one of the relevant regulatory mechanisms, and – despite the expansion of the available methodology – it is still not easy to examine. Phosphorylated phytochromes have been detected using various techniques for decades, but the first phosphorylated phyB residues were only identified in 2013. Since then, concentrated attention has been turned toward the functional role of post‐translational modifications in phyB signaling. Very recently in 2023, the first kinases that phosphorylate phyB were identified. These discoveries opened up new research avenues, especially by connecting diverse environmental impacts to light signaling and helping to explain some long‐term unsolved problems such as the co‐action of Ca2+ and phyB signaling. This review summarizes our recent views about the roles of the identified phosphorylated phyB residues, what we know about the enzymes that modulate the phospho‐state of phyB, and how these recent discoveries impact future investigations.
Disparity in organ distribution in Gauteng province in South Africa: Challenges and solutions
Authors: Walabh Priya , Palweni Sechaba T. , Hajinicolaou Christina , Meyer Anja
Published: October 2023

Background

Despite South Africa's rich heritage as pioneers in organ transplantation, access to organs remains a major issue in the Gauteng province. This is secondary to an array of socioeconomic and political factors that have implications for organ distribution. Our aim was to assess the contribution of the public sector to solid organ transplantation in Gauteng province and compare the distribution of solid organs between the recipient groups.

Methods

This was a retrospective registry review of consented brain‐dead donors from the public sector within Gauteng from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2021, coordinated at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, a tertiary academic hospital.

Results

Records of 49 deceased donors were analyzed. Mean donor age was 31.5 years with the age group 30–39 years constituting the majority of deceased donors at 15/49 (30.6%); 10/49 (16%) were from pediatric donors. There was a significant discrepancy in allocation between public and private sector in cardiac (p = .012) and liver allocation (p < .001) and adult and pediatric recipients for all solid organs (p < .001). There was a significant increase in the rate and number (p = .0026) of pediatric kidney transplants occurring after March 1, 2020, when there was a transition to a public sector‐mandated kidney transplant waitlist.

Conclusion

Current disparities in organ distribution have a significant impact on public sector recipients, especially pediatric patients. This is likely secondary to paucity of legislation and resource limitations which would benefit from improved governmental policies and explicit pediatric prioritization policies in transplant units.
Linear integration of multisensory signals in the pupil
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Cheng Yuhui , Yuan Xiangyong , Jiang Yi
Published: October 2023

The pupil of the eye responds to various salient signals from different modalities, but there is no consensus on how these pupillary responses are integrated when multiple signals appear simultaneously. Both linear and nonlinear integration have been found previously. The current study aimed to reexamine the nature of pupillary integration, and specifically focused on the early, transient pupillary responses due to its close relationship with orienting. To separate the early pupillary responses out of the pupil time series, we adopted a pupil oscillation paradigm in which sensory stimuli were periodically presented. The simulation analysis confirmed that the amplitude of the pupil oscillation, induced by stimuli repeatedly presented at relatively high rates, can precisely reflect the early, transient pupillary responses without involving the late and sustained pupillary responses. The experimental results then showed that the amplitude of pupil oscillation induced by a series of simultaneous audiovisual stimuli equaled to a linear summation of the oscillatory amplitudes when unisensory stimuli were presented alone. Moreover, the tonic arousal levels, indicated by the baseline pupil size, cannot shift the summation from linear to nonlinear. These findings together support the additive nature of multisensory pupillary integration for the early, orienting‐related pupillary responses. The additive nature of pupillary integration further implies that multiple pupillary responses may be independent of each other, irrespective of their potential cognitive and neural drivers.
Blood metabolic pattern and somatic cells dynamic in Achai and Holstein Friesian cows during transition period
Authors: Ullah Nasib , Khan Muhammad Tahir , Naz Shabana , Alhidary Ibrahim A. , Khan Rifat Ullah , Losacco Caterina , Pugliese Gianluca , Tufarelli Vincenzo
Published: October 2023

This study focused on assessing blood metabolites and somatic cell count (SCC) during the transition period in Achai and Holstein Friesian cows. Blood samples were collected from cows of both breeds on days −21, −14, −7 (pre‐partum period), on day 0 (parturition day) and then on days 7, 14 and 21 (post‐partum period). Additionally, milk samples were obtained on the day of parturition and on days 7, 14 and 21 post‐partum for SCC assessment. Among Holstein cows, blood glucose levels showed a significant increase on day −21 before calving, and a decrease on the 14th and 21st days post‐partum. Similarly, the blood triglycerides concentration exhibited a significant rise in Holstein cows 21 days before calving, while Achai cows experienced a significant decline in blood triglycerides on the day of parturition and throughout the entire post‐partum period. Comparing Holstein and Achai cows, blood cholesterol was significantly higher in Holstein cows on day −21 before calving, whereas Achai cows had significantly lower blood cholesterol levels on the day of parturition. Regarding blood protein, Holstein cows exhibited significantly higher levels on day 14 post‐partum, while Achai cows had lower protein levels 7 days before calving. The results further demonstrated that SCC was significantly elevated in Holstein cows on day 21 of parturition and lower on the day of parturition in Achai cows. Overall, the metabolic profile trend and SCC were comparable, yet the studied parameters were more pronounced in Holstein Friesian compared to Achai cows.
Fish and aquatic salamander responses to the creation of riparian canopy gaps along forested headwater streams
Authors: Swartz Allison , Warren Dana
Published: October 2023

Many headwaters across temperate North America have uniform mid‐succession riparian forests recovering from historic land clearing. These young riparian stands contrast with late‐succession forests, which have complex structural characteristics including canopy gaps. Canopy gaps provide structural diversity that can be important for terrestrial species, and they are also hypothesized to be important features for aquatic environments. The light patches below gaps create productivity hotspots in streams and therefore create potential for increased stream apex predator abundances through bottom‐up food web drivers. However, increasing light may also affect stream temperature, a consideration for coldwater fish (salmonids). We established an experimental before‐after control‐impact study to explicitly assess how creating canopy gaps in the riparian forest affects the abundance and biomass of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) and Pacific giant salamanders (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) in paired reference and treatment reaches at five replicate streams. Gaps were designed to resemble those in old‐growth forests in the treatment reach of each system although wood was explicitly left out of the stream. At four of five sites, we found small and generally consistent positive responses in adult cutthroat trout and total vertebrate biomass to localized increases in light but only 2 years after treatment. Results suggest that opening riparian canopies adjacent to streams via gaps is a viable tool to enhance structural complexity of riparian forests without negatively impacting stream vertebrates; however, a single gap alone had small effects on aquatic vertebrates. More or larger gaps would likely be needed to notably enhance aquatic apex predators.
Searching for a brighter future—Lived experiences of ongoing recovery processes following COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Andersen Ingrid C. , Nissen Nina , Agerskov Hanne , Beck Malene , Bodtger Uffe , Tang Lars , Skou Søren T. , Simonÿ Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Background

Research in Denmark indicates that approximately 30% of people with confirmed COVID‐19 infection experience at least one physical symptom 6–12 months after the acute infection. The lived experiences of undergoing prolonged recovery processes and how these processes unfold need further attention.

Aim

To contribute in‐depth knowledge about recovery, as experienced over time by people living with the post COVID‐19 condition.

Methods

Within a qualitative research design, nine women and six men were interviewed. Ten of them gave a follow‐up interview. Prompt cards and participant‐generated photographs were included. A phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur's theory of interpretation guided the data analysis.

Findings

Living with long‐term health problems associated with the post COVID‐19 condition involved recovery processes where participants struggled with reduced capacity, new unpredictability and uncertainty in everyday life. Participants continuously searched for improvement and aimed for regaining former health and well‐being. Lack of knowledge, acknowledgement and support made it difficult to find clear directions for improvement. Participants created a protective shield and struggled, often jointly with family and friends, to cope with bodily, cognitive, emotional, existential and social challenges. Over time, some participants realised that they might not be able to fully return to their earlier habitus. However, some of them gained a new foothold and sense of hope for the future.

Conclusion

This study provides in‐depth insight into the experience of changing and open‐ended recovery processes while living with the post COVID‐19 condition. Over time, some participants learned to rebuild their lives, adapting to their reduced capacities. Future care and rehabilitation models for these patients must address the complex and challenging nature of recovery processes associated with living with post‐COVID‐19 condition.
Oil or State? The Role of the Oil in the Recognition of Kurdish Statehood in Iraqi Kurdistan
Authors: Mirhanoglu Fidan
Published: October 2023

Oil reserves hold importance not just in the realm of economic profit, but also wield significant influence in political matters throughout contemporary history (Yergin, 2011). There are numerous connections between domestic oil production and international policy actions (Ashford, 2022). In fragile states, entities resembling state organizations can participate in local oil extraction through the exercise of their territorial rights. Additionally, these structures can have an impact on political dynamics at both the regional and global levels. This article delves into the link between oil and the acknowledgment of statehood in Iraqi Kurdistan. It contends that the presence of oil has significantly contributed to the recognition of Kurdish statehood by providing a source of income and augmenting its economic and political prowess. The study analyzes the history of the oil industry in Iraqi Kurdistan and its impact on the region's political and economic development. It also explores the political dynamics between Iraqi Kurdistan and the central government in Baghdad, along with the role of international actors in the recognition of Kurdish statehood. This paper concentrates on the positive outcomes of having rich natural resources and being recognized as a de facto state. Additionally, the article explains how Iraqi Kurdistan legitimizes its recognition as a de facto state by signing agreements with large oil companies since 2005 on its own territory. The study employs Caspersen's “unrecognized state” definition and Krasner's concept of sovereignty, along with Pegg's definition of de facto states, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Iraqi Kurdistan's international position. For this study, it used the interviews that were conducted in 2017 in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
From Nazism to Pro‐Kurdish Activism: The International Society Kurdistan, Silvio van Rooy and the struggle against communism in the 1960s and 1970s
Authors: Çelik Adnan , Jongerden Joost
Published: October 2023

Kurdish studies was born as a field of study in imperial Russia, and for much of the twentieth century, the Soviet Union remained the centre of ‘Kurdology’. With the foundation of the International Society Kurdistan (ISK) in Amsterdam in 1960, however, this centre started to move westwards. Officially established as a non‐party democratic action group helping the Kurdish nation in its struggle for democratic independence, the ISK’s unwritten aim was to support national struggles as a means to prevent communism, particularly the Soviet Union, from expanding its sphere of influence. Silvio van Rooy, who had been an active collaborator with the Nazi occupying forces in the Netherlands, devoted a decade of his life to what he considered an experiment in psychological warfare to influence the Kurdish intelligentsia, and for this he made every effort to establish a centre for Kurdish studies in the West that could develop a political programme around anti‐communist ethno‐nationalism. Yet Van Rooy’s involvement with the Kurds was intense, but also passing. In the second half of the 1970s his loyalty to anti‐communism took a new turn as he drew close to the Iraqi nationalist Ba’ath regime. The research data employed here has primarily been obtained through archival work. Based on an analysis of these primary documents and augmented by personal recollections, this study thus contextualises the work of the ISK through the political trajectory and views of Silvio van Rooy, the society’s founder and president.
Envelopes for multivariate linear regression with linearly constrained coefficients
Authors: Cook R. Dennis , Forzani Liliana , Liu Lan
Published: October 2023

A constrained multivariate linear model is a multivariate linear model with the columns of its coefficient matrix constrained to lie in a known subspace. This class of models includes those typically used to study growth curves and longitudinal data. Envelope methods have been proposed to improve the estimation efficiency in unconstrained multivariate linear models, but have not yet been developed for constrained models. We pursue that development in this article. We first compare the standard envelope estimator with the standard estimator arising from a constrained multivariate model in terms of bias and efficiency. To further improve efficiency, we propose a novel envelope estimator based on a constrained multivariate model. We show the advantage of our proposals by simulations and by studying the probiotic capacity to reduced Salmonella infection.
Estimation of the adjusted standard‐deviatile for extreme risks
Authors: Chen Haoyu , Mao Tiantian , Yang Fan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we modify the Bayes risk for the expectile, the so‐called variantile risk measure, to better capture extreme risks. The modified risk measure is called the adjusted standard‐deviatile. First, we derive the asymptotic expansions of the adjusted standard‐deviatile. Next, based on the first‐order asymptotic expansion, we propose two efficient estimation methods for the adjusted standard‐deviatile at intermediate and extreme levels. By using techniques from extreme value theory, the asymptotic normality is proved for both estimators for independent and identically distributed observations and for ‐mixing time series, respectively. Simulations and real data applications are conducted to examine the performance of the proposed estimators.
Chloroplast ATP synthase biogenesis requires peripheral stalk subunits AtpF and ATPG and stabilization of atpE mRNA by OPR protein MDE1
Authors: Chaux Frédéric , Jarrige Domitille , Rodrigues‐Azevedo Marcio , Bujaldon Sandrine , Caspari Oliver D. , Ozawa Shin‐Ichiro , Drapier Dominique , Vallon Olivier , Choquet Yves , de Vitry Catherine
Published: October 2023

Chloroplast ATP synthase contains subunits of plastid and nuclear genetic origin. To investigate the coordinated biogenesis of this complex, we isolated novel ATP synthase mutants in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by screening for high light sensitivity. We report here the characterization of mutants affecting the two peripheral stalk subunits b and b′, encoded respectively by the atpF and ATPG genes, and of three independent mutants which identify the nuclear factor MDE1, required to stabilize the chloroplast‐encoded atpE mRNA. Whole‐genome sequencing revealed a transposon insertion in the 3′UTR of ATPG while mass spectrometry shows a small accumulation of functional ATP synthase in this knock‐down ATPG mutant. In contrast, knock‐out ATPG mutants, obtained by CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing, fully prevent ATP synthase function and accumulation, as also observed in an atpF frame‐shift mutant. Crossing ATP synthase mutants with the ftsh1‐1 mutant of the major thylakoid protease identifies AtpH as an FTSH substrate, and shows that FTSH significantly contributes to the concerted accumulation of ATP synthase subunits. In mde1 mutants, the absence of atpE transcript fully prevents ATP synthase biogenesis and photosynthesis. Using chimeric atpE genes to rescue atpE transcript accumulation, we demonstrate that MDE1, a novel octotricopeptide repeat (OPR) protein, genetically targets the atpE 5′UTR. In the perspective of the primary endosymbiosis (~1.5 Gy), the recruitment of MDE1 to its atpE target exemplifies a nucleus/chloroplast interplay that evolved rather recently, in the ancestor of the CS clade of Chlorophyceae, ~300 My ago.
Archaeological approaches to RNA virus evolution
Authors: Ariza‐Mateos Ascensión , Briones Carlos , Perales Celia , Sobrino Francisco , Domingo Esteban , Gómez Jordi
Published: October 2023

Studies with RNA enzymes (ribozymes) and protein enzymes have identified certain structural elements that are present in some cellular mRNAs and viral RNAs. These elements do not share a primary structure and, thus, are not phylogenetically related. However, they have common (secondary/tertiary) structural folds that, according to some lines of evidence, may have an ancient and common origin. The term ‘mRNA archaeology’ has been coined to refer to the search for such structural/functional relics that may be informative of early evolutionary developments in the cellular and viral worlds and have lasted to the present day. Such identified RNA elements may have developed as biological signals with structural and functional relevance (as if they were buried objects with archaeological value), and coexist with the standard linear information of nucleic acid molecules that is translated into proteins. However, there is a key difference between the methods that extract information from either the primary structure of mRNA or the signals provided by secondary and tertiary structures. The former (sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis) requires strict continuity of the material vehicle of information during evolution, whereas the archaeological method does not require such continuity. The tools of RNA archaeology (including the use of ribozymes and enzymes to investigate the reactivity of the RNA elements) establish links between the concepts of communication and language theories that have not been incorporated into knowledge of virology, as well as experimental studies on the search for functionally relevant RNA structures.

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Analysis of Collaborative Assembly in Multi-User Computer-Aided Design
Authors: Cheng Kathy , Olechowski Alison
Published: October 2023

Cloud-based multi-user computer-aided design (MUCAD) tools have the potential to revolutionize design team collaboration. Previous research focusing on parametric part modeling suggests that teams collaborating through MUCAD are more efficient at producing a CAD model than individual designers. While these studies are enlightening, there is a significant gap in understanding the impact of MUCAD on assembly modeling, despite assembly’s crucial role in the design process. Part and assembly models are both defined by parametric relationships, but assembly models lack hierarchical feature dependency; we propose that by modularizing tasks and executing them in parallel, teams can optimize the assembly process in ways not possible with part modeling. Our study aims to examine and compare CAD assembly performance between individuals and virtual collaborative teams using the same cloud MUCAD platform. Through analyzing team communication, workflow, task allocation, and collaboration challenges of teams comprising 1–4 members, we identify factors that contribute to or hinder the success of multi-user CAD teams. Our results show that teams can complete an assembly in less calendar time than a single user, but single users are more efficient on a per-person basis, due to communication and coordination overheads. Notably, pairs exhibit an assembly bonus effect. These findings provide initial insights into the realm of collaborative CAD assembly work, highlighting the potential of MUCAD to enhance the capabilities of modern product design teams.
Bistable Stopper Design and Force Prediction for Precision and Power Grasps of Soft Robotic Fingers for Industrial Manipulation
Authors: Shan Xiaowei , Birglen Lionel
Published: October 2023

This article aims at presenting a detailed and practical comparison between three designs of robotic soft fingers for industrial grippers. While the soft finger based on the fin ray effect (FRE) shown here has been proposed long ago, few works in the literature have studied its reliance on the presence of the crossbeams or its precision grasp performance compared to its power grasps. Aiming at addressing these gaps, two novel designs are proposed and compared to FRE fingers in this article. First, the three designs are presented. One of these fingers, named PacomeFlex, embeds changeable grasping modes by relying on two sets of kinematic structures with a bistable stopper design. Then, finite element analyses (FEA) are conducted to simulate power and precision grasps of the three fingers followed by the estimation of the grasp forces produced. These FEA are then used to train neural networks capable of predicting these grasp forces. Finally, the grasp strength and pullout resistance of the fingers are experimentally measured, and experimental results are shown to be in good accordance with the FEA and neural network models. As will also be shown, the PacomeFlex finger introduced in this work provides a noticeably higher performance level than all other fingers with respect to typical metrics in soft grasping.
Tribological behavior and wear mechanism of nanomultilayer AlCrN/AlTiSiN coatings at elevated temperatures
Authors: Xiao Baijun , Zhang Teng Fei
Published: October 2023

Wear resistance is a critical property of tool coatings for high-speed machining, which depends on mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of the coatings. Many works have demonstrated that AlTiSiN coating has good mechanical properties. Additionally, AlCrN coating exhibits excellent oxidation resistance. The multilayered structure has proved to improve comprehensive properties of the coatings. Therefore, AlCrN/AlTiSiN multilayer coating has a high potential to be used in machining applications. This paper focuses on the high-temperature tribological behavior of AlCrN/AlTiSiN multilayer coating. The results show that AlCrN/AlTiSiN coating exhibits good to acceptable wear resistance up to 800 °C. Meanwhile, AlCrN/AlTiSiN coating also displays the lowest friction coefficient of ∼0.5 and a wear rate of 1.8 × 10−6 mm3/N m at 800 °C, which is about 58.13% and 64.0% lower than that of AlCrN and AlTiSiN coatings, respectively. The imaging and composition analysis of the high-temperature wear tracks allowed for explaining the differences in wear mechanisms. At 800 °C, a dense thin tribofilm is formed on the surface of AlCrN/AlTiSiN coating, which acts as a glaze layer to impede wear. It provides a strategy for enhancing the wear resistance of monolayer coating in high temperatures, which combines the advantages of both high oxidation resistance of one layer and high hardness of the other layer.
Explainable machine learning reveals the relationship between hearing thresholds and speech-in-noise recognition in listeners with normal audiograms
Authors: Balan Jithin Raj , Rodrigo Hansapani , Saxena Udit , Mishra Srikanta K.
Published: October 2023

Some individuals complain of listening-in-noise difficulty despite having a normal audiogram. In this study, machine learning is applied to examine the extent to which hearing thresholds can predict speech-in-noise recognition among normal-hearing individuals. The specific goals were to (1) compare the performance of one standard (GAM, generalized additive model) and four machine learning models (ANN, artificial neural network; DNN, deep neural network; RF, random forest; XGBoost; eXtreme gradient boosting), and (2) examine the relative contribution of individual audiometric frequencies and demographic variables in predicting speech-in-noise recognition. Archival data included thresholds (0.25–16 kHz) and speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) from listeners with clinically normal audiograms (n = 764 participants or 1528 ears; age, 4–38 years old). Among the machine learning models, XGBoost performed significantly better than other methods (mean absolute error; MAE = 1.62 dB). ANN and RF yielded similar performances (MAE = 1.68 and 1.67 dB, respectively), whereas, surprisingly, DNN showed relatively poorer performance (MAE = 1.94 dB). The MAE for GAM was 1.61 dB. SHapley Additive exPlanations revealed that age, thresholds at 16 kHz, 12.5 kHz, etc., on the order of importance, contributed to SRT. These results suggest the importance of hearing in the extended high frequencies for predicting speech-in-noise recognition in listeners with normal audiograms.
Multi-omic profiling of the developing human cerebral cortex at the single-cell level
Authors: Zhu Kaiyi , Bendl Jaroslav , Rahman Samir , Vicari James M. , Coleman Claire , Clarence Tereza , Latouche Ovaun , Tsankova Nadejda M. , Li Aiqun , Brennand Kristen J. , Lee Donghoon , Yuan Guo-Cheng , Fullard John F. , Roussos Panos
Published: October 2023

The cellular complexity of the human brain is established via dynamic changes in gene expression throughout development that is mediated, in part, by the spatiotemporal activity of cis-regulatory elements (CREs). We simultaneously profiled gene expression and chromatin accessibility in 45,549 cortical nuclei across six broad developmental time points from fetus to adult. We identified cell type–specific domains in which chromatin accessibility is highly correlated with gene expression. Differentiation pseudotime trajectory analysis indicates that chromatin accessibility at CREs precedes transcription and that dynamic changes in chromatin structure play a critical role in neuronal lineage commitment. In addition, we mapped cell type–specific and temporally specific genetic loci implicated in neuropsychiatric traits, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Together, our results describe the complex regulation of cell composition at critical stages in lineage determination and shed light on the impact of spatiotemporal alterations in gene expression on neuropsychiatric disease.
A single-cell multi-omic atlas spanning the adult rhesus macaque brain
Authors: Chiou Kenneth L. , Huang Xingfan , Bohlen Martin O. , Tremblay Sébastien , DeCasien Alex R. , O’Day Diana R. , Spurrell Cailyn H. , Gogate Aishwarya A. , Zintel Trisha M. ,   Cayo Biobank Research Unit, Andrews Madeline G. , Martínez Melween I. , Starita Lea M. , Montague Michael J. , Platt Michael L. , Shendure Jay , Snyder-Mackler Noah
Published: October 2023

Cataloging the diverse cellular architecture of the primate brain is crucial for understanding cognition, behavior, and disease in humans. Here, we generated a brain-wide single-cell multimodal molecular atlas of the rhesus macaque brain. Together, we profiled 2.58 M transcriptomes and 1.59 M epigenomes from single nuclei sampled from 30 regions across the adult brain. Cell composition differed extensively across the brain, revealing cellular signatures of region-specific functions. We also identified 1.19 M candidate regulatory elements, many previously unidentified, allowing us to explore the landscape of cis-regulatory grammar and neurological disease risk in a cell type–specific manner. Altogether, this multi-omic atlas provides an open resource for investigating the evolution of the human brain and identifying novel targets for disease interventions.
Single-cell DNA methylation and 3D genome architecture in the human brain
Authors: Tian Wei , Zhou Jingtian , Bartlett Anna , Zeng Qiurui , Liu Hanqing , Castanon Rosa G. , Kenworthy Mia , Altshul Jordan , Valadon Cynthia , Aldridge Andrew , Nery Joseph R. , Chen Huaming , Xu Jiaying , Johnson Nicholas D. , Lucero Jacinta , Osteen Julia K. , Emerson Nora , Rink Jon , Lee Jasper , Li Yang E. , Siletti Kimberly , Liem Michelle , Claffey Naomi , O’Connor Carolyn , Yanny Anna Marie , Nyhus Julie , Dee Nick , Casper Tamara , Shapovalova Nadiya , Hirschstein Daniel , Ding Song-Lin , Hodge Rebecca , Levi Boaz P. , Keene C. Dirk , Linnarsson Sten , Lein Ed , Ren Bing , Behrens M. Margarita , Ecker Joseph R.
Published: October 2023

Delineating the gene-regulatory programs underlying complex cell types is fundamental for understanding brain function in health and disease. Here, we comprehensively examined human brain cell epigenomes by probing DNA methylation and chromatin conformation at single-cell resolution in 517 thousand cells (399 thousand neurons and 118 thousand non-neurons) from 46 regions of three adult male brains. We identified 188 cell types and characterized their molecular signatures. Integrative analyses revealed concordant changes in DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, chromatin organization, and gene expression across cell types, cortical areas, and basal ganglia structures. We further developed single-cell methylation barcodes that reliably predict brain cell types using the methylation status of select genomic sites. This multimodal epigenomic brain cell atlas provides new insights into the complexity of cell-type–specific gene regulation in adult human brains.
Direct observation of chirality-induced spin selectivity in electron donor–acceptor molecules
Authors: Eckvahl Hannah J. , Tcyrulnikov Nikolai A. , Chiesa Alessandro , Bradley Jillian M. , Young Ryan M. , Carretta Stefano , Krzyaniak Matthew D. , Wasielewski Michael R.
Published: October 2023

The role of chirality in determining the spin dynamics of photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor molecules remains an open question. Although chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) has been demonstrated in molecules bound to substrates, experimental information about whether this process influences spin dynamics in the molecules themselves is lacking. Here we used time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that CISS strongly influences the spin dynamics of isolated covalent donor–chiral bridge–acceptor (D-Bχ-A) molecules in which selective photoexcitation of D is followed by two rapid, sequential electron-transfer events to yield D
•+
-Bχ-A
•–
. Exploiting this phenomenon affords the possibility of using chiral molecular building blocks to control electron spin states in quantum information applications.
Damaging diamond with shock waves
Authors: Knudson Marcus D. , Seagle Christopher T.
Published: October 2023

Deformations inflicted in diamond could help design stronger materials
A signaling lipid drives synapse formation
Authors: Rivero-Ríos Pilar , Weisman Lois S.
Published: October 2023

Phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate enables transport of proteins to synaptic sites
Chiral molecules to transmit electron spin
Authors: Subotnik Joseph E.
Published: October 2023

Electron transfer through chiral molecules displays a strong spin preference
Engineered bacteria guide T cells to tumors
Authors: Bressler Eric M. , Wong Wilson W.
Published: October 2023

T cells and bacteria are engineered to work together to find and destroy tumor cells
Family ties
Authors: Curry Andrew
Published: October 2023

Giant family trees based on ancient DNA from thousands of people are revealing prehistoric politics and social structure
Monarch butterfly is not endangered, new review finds
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: October 2023

IUCN shifts status to “vulnerable” after analysis challenged
Astronomers may have spied second Kuiper belt
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: October 2023

New objects found beyond Neptune during hunt for targets for NASA spacecraft
New Novavax vaccine OK’d; studies size it up against mRNA
Authors: Couzin-Frankel Jennifer
Published: October 2023

Limited data and lack of head-to-head studies make comparisons between shots tricky
Hepatitis E virus neutralization by porcine serum antibodies
Authors: Gremmel Nele , Keuling Oliver , Eiden Martin , Groschup Martin H. , Johne Reimar , Becher Paul , Baechlein Christine
Published: October 2023

The consumption of raw or undercooked meat products poses a serious risk for human hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. In many high-income countries, domestic pigs and wild boars represent the main animal reservoirs for HEV and are usually identified by reverse transcription-PCR and antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to characterize the humoral immune response in more detail, a cell culture-based serum neutralization assay using a culture-adapted HEV strain was established here. Measurement of neutralizing antibodies was only possible after removing the viral quasi-envelope by detergent treatment. Serum samples of 343 wild boars from Northern Germany were first analyzed for anti-HEV IgG using an in-house ELISA, resulting in 19% positive samples. Subsequently, a subset of 41 representative samples was tested with the neutralization assay, and the results correlated well with those obtained by ELISA. Not only the human HEV strain 47832c but also two porcine HEV strains were shown to be neutralized by porcine serum antibodies. Neutralizing activity was also found in samples containing both HEV-specific antibodies and HEV RNA. Testing of serum samples derived from two experimentally infected domestic pigs showed a steep increase in neutralizing activity at 24 or 51 days post infection, dependent on the used infectious dose. The developed assay can be useful for characterization of the humoral immune response after HEV infection and for assessing the efficiency of HEV vaccine candidates.
Efficient clathrin-mediated entry of enteric adenoviruses in human duodenal cells
Authors: Becker Miriam , Conca Dario Valter , Dorma Noemi , Mistry Nitesh , Hahlin Elin , Frängsmyr Lars , Bally Marta , Arnberg Niklas , Gerold Gisa
Published: October 2023

Enteric adenovirus types F40 and 41 (EAdVs) are a leading cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated death in young children and have recently been proposed to cause acute hepatitis in children. EAdVs have a unique capsid architecture and exhibit — unlike other human adenoviruses — a relatively strict tropism for gastrointestinal tissues with, to date, understudied infection mechanism and unknown target cells. In this study, we turn to potentially limiting host factors by comparing EAdV entry in cell lines with respiratory and intestinal origin by cellular perturbation, virus particle tracking, and transmission electron microscopy. Our analyses highlight kinetic advantages for EAdVs in duodenal HuTu80 cell infection and reveal a larger fraction of mobile particles, faster virus uptake, and infectious particle entry in intestinal cells. Moreover, EAdVs display a dependence on clathrin- and dynamin-dependent pathways in intestinal cells. Detailed knowledge of virus entry routes and host factor requirements is essential to understanding pathogenesis and developing new countermeasures. Hence, this study provides novel insights into the entry mechanisms of a medically important virus with emerging tropism in a cell line originating from a relevant tissue.

IMPORTANCE

Enteric adenoviruses have historically been difficult to grow in cell culture, which has resulted in lack of knowledge of host factors and pathways required for infection of these medically relevant viruses. Previous studies in non-intestinal cell lines showed slow infection kinetics and generated comparatively low virus yields compared to other adenovirus types. We suggest duodenum-derived HuTu80 cells as a superior cell line for studies to complement efforts using complex intestinal tissue models. We show that viral host cell factors required for virus entry differ between cell lines from distinct origins and demonstrate the importance of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Genome sequence of equine influenza virus isolated from horses in southeast Kazakhstan in 2020
Authors: Khan Yelizaveta , Kassymbekov Yermukhammet , Suleimenova Symbat , Karamendin Kobey , Sabyrzhan Temirlan , Nuralibekov Sardоr , Daulbayeva Klara , Abishov Abdikalyk , Akhmetzhanova Moldir , Akhmetsadykov Nurlan , Batanova Zhanat , Kydyrmanov Aidyn
Published: October 2023

An influenza virus strain, A/equine/Almaty/268/2020, was isolated from horses in southeast Kazakhstan in 2020. Here, we present the nearly complete genome sequence of this epidemic strain. This study was aimed at obtaining the complete genome sequence of the isolate.