bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct non-oxidative methane decomposition over silica-supported Co/Ni/Mo catalysts
Authors: Parashar Siddharth , Sontakke Sharad M.
Published: January 2025

Typically, the methods for converting methane can be categorized into two primary groups: direct and indirect. Among these, the direct non-oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons has received a lot of interest in recent years due to its distinct advantages over the indirect routes. Several catalysts based on transitional metals such as Ni, Fe, Co, Mo, etc. have been reported for the methane conversion, employing different supports. This study focuses on the direct non-oxidative decomposition of methane using monometallic catalysts based on silica. The catalysts, specifically Co, Ni, and Mo, were impregnated to the pre-synthesized silica support. The synthesized catalysts were characterized for crystallite size, surface area, morphology and thermal stability using X-ray diffraction, porosimeter, scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The effect of reaction temperature, amount of catalyst, methane preheating, flow rate of methane and presence of promotors on the decomposition reaction was investigated.
Suggestions for the decision making in subjective cognitive complaints
Authors: Basagni Benedetta , Navarrete Eduardo
Published: January 2025

In recent years, the increasing life expectancy has underscored the importance of cognitive health alongside physical well-being, particularly because healthy adults may report subjective cognitive complaints (SCC), often related to memory. These complaints may or may not align with objective cognitive impairments, fueling ongoing debates about whether SCC could serve as an early indicator of dementia. While some studies suggest SCC as a potential precursor to dementia, others propose that these complaints may merely co-occur with cognitive decline. Despite the lack of consensus, addressing SCC remains crucial for early intervention, especially as emerging treatments for dementia show promise when applied at early stages. Risk factors associated with dementia, such as age, education, family history, and comorbid conditions like depression and diabetes, have been incorporated into predictive models. However, clinical practice continues to rely heavily on neuropsychological assessments to bridge subjective complaints with objective cognitive performance and may often require additional investigations, such as neuroimaging. Factors such as cognitive reserve, depression, stress, sleep disturbances, and personality traits also play significant roles in the interpretation of SCC. Some of these conditions may potentially mask underlying cognitive decline. A comprehensive clinical evaluation, integrating neuropsychological testing with a thorough anamnesis, can help distinguish between cognitive disorders and other contributing factors. Here, we propose a flowchart to guide clinicians in the management of SCC, integrating key factors to enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform treatment decisions. Despite the challenges involved, a careful and holistic approach remains essential for effective patient care.
Influence of heat treatment on microstructure and magnetic properties of laser powder bed fusion generated NdFeB magnets
Authors: Genç Kübra , Todd Iain , Mumtaz Kamran
Published: January 2025

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) presents a promising technique for producing neodymium–iron–boron (NdFeB) magnets. However, the magnetic properties of L-PBF-generated magnets remain inferior to those of their sintered counterparts. To address this, post-processing techniques, such as heat treatment, could enhance the magnetic properties of L-PBF-fabricated NdFeB magnets. This study examines the effects of post-heat treatment on the density, magnetic properties, and microstructure of samples produced using MQP-S-11-9-20001 powder. Archimedes density measurements indicate an improvement of up to 5% in density following heat treatment, corroborated by optical images showing decreased porosity. Analysis of magnetic properties reveals an increase in remanence (B

r
) alongside a decrease in coercivity (H

ci
). Microstructural analysis indicates variations in grain size and morphology, with more distinct grain boundaries contributing to enhanced coercivity. The study also highlights challenges in analyzing high-temperature treated samples, particularly due to their extreme sensitivity to oxygen and etching difficulties. Despite these challenges, the findings offer valuable insights into how heat treatment affects the microstructure of L-PBF-generated NdFeB magnets and the resultant changes in their magnetic properties.
Nubian Levallois Cores from MIS 5 Alluvial Terraces in the Negev Desert: New Insights into the Middle Paleolithic in the Arid Regions of the Southern Levant
Authors: Oron Maya , Avni Yoav , Wieler Nimrod , Porat Naomi , Sasson Eli Cohen , Barzilai Omry
Published: January 2025

The Negev region is a part of the great desert belt of north Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, a physical and environmental barrier between eastern Africa and southwest Asia. The proximity of the Negev Desert to the Eastern Mediterranean ecological zone to its north, makes it an interesting study area for identifying movements of people and ideas between these areas, in particular during interglacial periods such as Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS 5). Not until recently, the archaeological data associated with this stage in the Negev was quite limited, but new studies point to a complex scenario in which several lithic traditions coexisted. One of them was dominated by the Nubian Levallois technology, that is seen by some as a cultural proxy for population movement from Afro-Arabia into the Levant. A comprehensive geoarchaeological survey conducted during the years 2017–2020 revealed dozens of previously unknown Middle Paleolithic findspots in the central and the southern parts of the Negev. Amongst the new findspots, sites with Nubian Levallois cores were identified. The geomorphological contexts of most of these findspots correspond to MIS 5 terraces, as supported by several luminescence ages. A comparison between surveyed sites and excavated MIS 5 sites from the Negev shows differences in the composition of the lithic assemblages. The surface sites include a combination of Nubian cores, centripetal and bidirectional Levallois knapping modes, while the excavated sites are more homogeneous and dominated by centripetal and bidirectional Levallois, or Nubian Levallois, but not both together. We propose that the Nubian core technology in the Negev is part of a distinct lithic tradition, probably originated in regions to the south and the east, whereas the centripetal and bidirectional Levallois are integral part of the known Middle Paleolithic lithic traditions of the Mediterranean ecological zone to the north and likely represent their expansion south into the Negev Desert.
Modeling the Optimum Deceleration for the Motion of Asymmetric Rigid Body
Authors: Amer T. S. , Abady I. M. , El-Sherbiny Hamed , Abdo H. A. , El-Kafly H. F.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In this study, we investigate the minimum time (MT) for the spatial motion of a free rigid body (RB) under the influence of viscous friction and gyrostatic moments (GMs). Assuming that the body’s center of mass coinciding with the original point of two Cartesian systems of coordinates.

Results

The optimal control (OC) law for the slow movements, as a main goal, is established, and the corresponding time and phase pathways are assessed.

Conclusion

The resulting innovative outcomes are achieved and displayed for two new scenarios in various graphs to show the gyrostatic moment’s positive impacts. When comparing the obtained results with the previous one when the gyrostatic moment isn’t present, amazing consistency is observed, and the slight deviations between them are discussed. As a result, the acquired results generalize those that were discovered in earlier investigations.

Applications

The significance of this study arises from its practical implications in everyday existence, that confine themself to applying gyroscopic theory to preserve the stability and balance of vehicles in the design of which gyroscopes are used, in addition to determining the path of aircraft and marine vehicles.
Potential use of the Maroua (Far North, Cameroon) river sand as construction materials and degreasing agent for earthenware ceramics
Authors: Nafissatou Mahamad , Kagonbé Bertin Pagna , Mouthe Arnaud Ghislain Anombogo , Nafissa Bouba , Bakaïné Viviane Djaoyang , Yanné Etienne , Boubakar Likiby , Dongmo Armand Kagou
Published: January 2025

There is an enhnaced accessibility of sand, which may be suitable for concrete and ceramic in different regions of Cameroon and the Far North in particular. Hence, this paper aims at assessing the properties of Maroua river sand and its prospects for use in building and probably in ceramic. Fieldwork and laboratory analyses have been performed to elicit their properties using standard methods of physical-textural analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Gradation parameters have been deduced mathematically.

The results indicate that the grain size distribution varies slightly from one site to another. Organic matter content is relatively poor; it ranges from 0.26 to 0.67%. Sand equivalent (87.00–98.60) and fineness modulus (2.4–2.91) change to very clean and medium sand, respectively. The coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature varies from 2.39 to 3.37 and 0.40 to 0.99, respectively, so it can be classified as a tightly-grained material. The most abundant oxides in the five samples are SiO2, Al2O3, and K2O, while Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, and P2O5 are in small amounts except for CaO and Na2O which are present in high amounts in NS1, and NS2 samples. Globally, the studied sands have given satisfactory results, and they are suitable for use in concrete. Chemically, these sands can be used in the production of terracotta (pottery, bricks, tiles, and stoneware) as degreasers and fluxes, given the high percentage of K2O suitable for this group of ceramics.
A Comprehensive Review on the Thermochemical Treatment of Plastic Waste to Produce High Value Products for Different Applications
Authors: Roychand Rajeev , Zafar Muhammad Adeel , Jacob Mohan , Ngo Tuan
Published: January 2025

Managing plastic waste is challenging due to its non-biodegradable nature, high volume of production, and the varying properties of different types of plastic, making it difficult to recycle effectively and efficiently. This comprehensive review examines thermochemical treatments of plastic waste for producing high-value by-products, focusing on pyrolysis and plasma technologies as promising solutions to these challenges. The review analyses various pyrolysis methods, including conventional, catalytic, and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, detailing their effects on product yield and quality. It explores the production of valuable byproducts such as hydrogen, carbon nanotubes, and graphene from plastic waste, highlighting the influence of process parameters and feedstock composition. Additionally, the review discusses plasma technology as an emerging method for plastic waste treatment, comparing different plasma types (DC/AC arc, RF, and microwave) and their applications. The paper critically evaluates the advantages and challenges of each technology, emphasising their potential for creating a circular economy. Unlike existing reviews, which often focus on individual technologies or specific applications, this work provides an integrated analysis of advanced thermochemical methods and their synergistic potential for high-value product synthesis, while also addressing industrial-scale implementation challenges. Future research directions are identified, including optimizing process conditions, developing more efficient catalysts, and scaling up technologies for commercial applications. Furthermore, the review underscores the broader environmental and socio-economic benefits of these advancements, such as reducing plastic pollution, decreasing reliance on virgin resources, and supporting sustainable development goals. This review provides a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking to advance plastic waste recycling technologies and contribute to sustainable waste management solutions.
JrMYB44 is required for the accumulation of polyphenols and contributes to drought tolerance in Juglans regia
Authors: Gao Xiangqian , Wang Tianyu , Li Dapei , Chen Sisi , Yang Shen , Li Chenhao , Hou Siyu , Xie Muhong , Xu Zhenggang , Yang Guiyan
Published: January 2025

Juglans regia, an important economic tree species, is planted all over the world, and drought is one of the crucial factors limiting its growth and development. The various polyphenol content in walnut plants constitutes one of the material bases for the differences in stress resistance among various germplasms. However, the molecular mechanism underlying stress response mediated by polyphenol -dependent pathways remains unclear. v-Myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) protein of transcription factors play important regulatory roles in the process of plant stress responses. Previously, we identified JrMYB44 could be involved in osmotic stress response in walnut. In this study, we confirmed that the drought resistance of four walnut cultivars (‘Chandler’, ‘Xiangling’, ‘Xilin2’ and ‘Xifu1’) is positively correlated with the accumulation of polyphenols. The content and component changes of polyphenols in JrMYB44 overexpression (OE) and suppression (SE) lines in both walnut and Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that JrMYB44 positively regulated polyphenols accumulation. The variation of JrMYB44 expression and polyphenol levels under drought treatment indicated significant correlation between JrMYB44-induced drought tolerance and polyphenol accumulation, which was involved in reactive oxidative species (ROS) balance. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OE and WT implied that JrMYB44 could positively activate downstream genes to participate in the drought stress response. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), transient GUS expression assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay (DLR) confirmed that JrMYB44 could recognize downstream JrWRKY7 and JrDREB2A, two transcription factors previously reported to be involved in drought response. Meanwhile, it was confirmed by Y2H, GST-pull down and luciferase complementation imaging assay (LCI) that JrMYB44 could interact with JrMYC2 and JrDof1, another two previously reported potential drought response regulators. Collectively, these results indicated that JrMYB44 could activate JrWRKY7, JrDREB2A and interact with JrMYC2 and JrDof1 to promote walnut polyphenol accumulation and improve drought resistance in a ROS dependent manner.
“What’s Your Problem?”: Building an Evidence-Based System of Regulatory Analysis from the Bottom-Up
Authors: Bull Reeve T.
Published: January 2025

This article is part of a larger series that is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Jerry Ellig, with whom I had the pleasure of working on multiple occasions. It explores the concept of regulatory subsidiarity, which involves pushing regulatory power down from centralized governments to state, local, tribal, and other governments. It explains how this approach both promotes policy tailoring and facilitates regulatory experimentation, allowing policy makers to test which interventions produce the best results. Finally, it considers how regulatory subsidiarity has proven itself outside of the U.S. and can succeed within the U.S. as well.
Neoliberal reforms, Great Recession and political backlash: parties, groups and voters in the new politics of welfare in Italy
Authors: Natili Marcello , Jessoula Matteo
Published: January 2025

When observed in comparative perspective, until the early-1990s the Italian welfare state was clearly an outlier, characterized by an unbalanced allocation of resources among welfare sectors (so-called functional distortion) and towards social groups (distributive distortion). Since then, however, profound transformations have affected both the institutional architecture and the distributive profile of the Italian welfare state. Through an in-depth reconstruction of three decades of welfare reforms in Italy, this article shows how retrenchment and regulatory reforms in pension and labour market policies in an earlier phase (1992–2015), combined with the rather unexpected ‘expansionary turn’ in family and anti-poverty policies in more recent times (2016–2022), have partly reduced the comparative imbalances of the Italian welfare state, making it less of an outlier than in previous decades. To understand such puzzling developments, it relies on an explanatory framework centred on the interplay between socio-political demand and political supply, showing how the emergence of new coalitions, which for the first time mobilized latent social needs, combined with the reshuffling of the party system and the electoral success of parties challenging the austerity paradigm, quite unexpectedly contributed to make the Italian welfare state now look more ‘mainstream’ than in the past.
EFFECTS OF INFLATION EXPECTATIONS ON INFLATION
Authors: Moessner Richhild
Published: January 2025

We study the effects of professionals’ survey-based inflation expectations on inflation for a large number of 36 economies, using dynamic cross-country panel estimation of New-Keynesian Phillips curves. We find that inflation expectations have a significantly positive effect on inflation. We also find that the effect of inflation expectations on inflation is significantly larger when inflation is higher. This suggests that second-round effects via the effects of higher inflation expectations on inflation are more relevant in a high-inflation environment.
Short‐Period Mass Variations and the Next Generation Gravity Mission
Authors: Bender P. L. , Conklin J. W. , Wiese D. N.
Published: January 2025

At the time that the 2017–2027 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space was released, there was a strong emphasis on reducing the possibility of a substantial gap between the GRACE Follow‐On mission and a successor mission. This has led to the subsequent rapid development of a successor mission in partnership between NASA and DLR, GRACE‐Continuity (GRACE‐C), expected to launch in 2028, to continue the timeseries of Earth system mass change established by GRACE and GRACE‐FO. In parallel, ESA continues development of a pair of satellites called Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM), targeted for an inclination between 65° and 75° to complement GRACE‐C, launching in the early 2030s. NGGM offers the possibility for reduced noise in measuring short‐period variations in the satellite separation using an improved accelerometer relative to what is flying on GRACE‐C. One pathway for this is by using a simplified version of the Gravitational Reference Sensors demonstrated on the LISA Pathfinder Mission in 2016. And, if the measurement accuracy is much improved, it appears desirable to fly NGGM with a fixed ground track and an approximately 5‐day orbit repeat period.
Geological Knowledge‐Guided Dual‐Branch Deep Learning Model for Identification of Geochemical Anomalies Related to Mineralization
Authors: Xu Ying , Zuo Renguang , Bai Yang
Published: January 2025

Geochemical survey data are a type of spatial big data that play an increasingly significant role in mineral exploration. One challenge in the era of big data is how to mine geochemical data in support of mineral exploration. In this study, based on a generative adversarial network framework, we proposed an unsupervised spatial–spectrum dual‐branch deep learning method for geochemical anomaly identification, namely dual‐DL, which consists of a spatial branch and a spectrum branch. The spatial branch was constructed using the convolutional neural network and convolutional autoencoder, which can effectively capture spatial geochemical patterns and extract spatial relationships between neighboring pixels. The spectrum branch consists of a recurrent neural network that can study geochemical elemental assemblies within a single pixel. The geological knowledge was added into the model, including selecting the input order of geochemical elements and constructing the loss function of the model. A case study was conducted to recognize geochemical anomalies associated with gold polymetallic mineralization in Hubei Province, China. The results demonstrated that (a) the unsupervised dual‐DL model has superior performance in identifying mineralization related to geochemical anomalies, (b) the geological knowledge‐guided unsupervised dual‐DL model can improve the accuracy and interpretability of geochemical anomaly identification.
GRK5 is required for adipocyte differentiation through ERK activation
Authors: Seramur Mary E. , McDonald Bailey , Davis Matt , Reeves Tony E. , Solberg Woods Leah C. , Chuang Key Chia-Chi
Published: January 2025

Previous studies have identified G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase 5 (GRK5) as a genetic factor contributing to obesity pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We demonstrate here that Grk5 mRNA is more abundant in stromal vascular fractions of mouse white adipose tissue, the fraction that contains adipose progenitor cells, or committed preadipocytes, than in adipocyte fractions. Thus, we generated a GRK5 knockout (KO) 3T3-L1 preadipocyte to further investigate the mechanistic role of GRK5 in regulating adipocyte differentiation. During adipogenic stimulation, GRK5 KO preadipocytes had decreased lipid accumulation and delayed mature adipocyte development compared to wildtype cells coupled with suppressed adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression. Beside GPCR signaling, RNA sequencing and pathway analysis identified insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling to be one of the top 5 significantly dysregulated pathways in GRK5 KO cells. GRK5 KO cells also displayed decreased insulin-stimulated ERK phosphorylation, a downstream target of insulin-stimulated IGF-1 receptor activation, suggesting that GRK5 acts through this critical pathway to impact 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. To find a more translational approach, we identified a new small molecule GRK5 inhibitor that was able to reduce 3T3-L1 adipogenesis. These data suggest that GRK5 is required for adipocyte differentiation through IGF-1 receptor/ERK activation and may be a promising translational target for obesity.
Finite element-based nonlinear dynamic optimization of nanomechanical resonators
Authors: Li Zichao , Alijani Farbod , Sarafraz Ali , Xu Minxing , Norte Richard A. , Aragón Alejandro M. , Steeneken Peter G.
Published: January 2025

Nonlinear dynamic simulations of mechanical resonators have been facilitated by the advent of computational techniques that generate nonlinear reduced order models (ROMs) using the finite element (FE) method. However, designing devices with specific nonlinear characteristics remains inefficient since it requires manual adjustment of the design parameters and can result in suboptimal designs. Here, we integrate an FE-based nonlinear ROM technique with a derivative-free optimization algorithm to enable the design of nonlinear mechanical resonators. The resulting methodology is used to optimize the support design of high-stress nanomechanical Si3N4 string resonators, in the presence of conflicting objectives such as simultaneous enhancement of Q-factor and nonlinear Duffing constant. To that end, we generate Pareto frontiers that highlight the trade-offs between optimization objectives and validate the results both numerically and experimentally. To further demonstrate the capability of multi-objective optimization for practical design challenges, we simultaneously optimize the design of nanoresonators for three key figure-of-merits in resonant sensing: power consumption, sensitivity and response time. The presented methodology can facilitate and accelerate designing (nano) mechanical resonators with optimized performance for a wide variety of applications.
PCDH17 induces colorectal cancer metastasis by destroying the vascular endothelial barrier
Authors: Dong Fengyun , Zhou Pinghui , Kong Feifei , Cao Sijie , Pan Xiaozao , Cai Shujing , Chen Xinke , Wang Sen , Li Na , He Baoyu , Zhao Rou , Zhang Bin , Bie Qingli
Published: January 2025

Compromised vascular integrity facilitates the cancer cells extravasation and metastasis. However, the mechanisms leading to a disruption in vascular integrity in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. In this study, PCDH17 expression was higher in the vascular endothelial cells of colon cancer with distant metastasis, and the rates of PCDH17+ endothelial cells (ECs) was associated with the M stage in clinical pathological characteristics analysis and correlated with a poor survival prognosis. The liver and lung metastatic dissemination of MC-38 was significantly decreased in PCDH17–/–mice. The ubiquitination and degradation of VEGFR2 was prevented by the interaction between PCDH17 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH5, which causing the separation of internalized VE-cadherin, and increased the vascular permeability and metastasis of CRC. These results highlight the importance of PCDH17 in maintaining vascular integrity, which has emphasis for endothelial barrier function in metastatic cancer. PCDH17 has the potential to be a marker for predicting tumor metastasis as well as a viable treatment target for CRC.
Apaf-1 is an evolutionarily conserved DNA sensor that switches the cell fate between apoptosis and inflammation
Authors: Ruan Jie , Wei Xuxia , Li Suizhi , Ye Zijian , Hu Linyi , Zhuang Ru , Cao Yange , Wang Shaozhou , Wu Shengpeng , Peng Dezhi , Chen Shangwu , Yuan Shaochun , Xu Anlong
Published: January 2025

Apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) was traditionally defined as a scaffold protein in mammalian cells for assembling a caspase activation platform known as the ‘apoptosome’ after its binding to cytochrome c. Although Apaf-1 structurally resembles animal NOD-like receptor (NLR) and plant resistance (R) proteins, whether it is directly involved in innate immunity is still largely unknown. Here, we found that Apaf-1-like molecules from lancelets, fruit flies, mice, and humans have conserved DNA sensing functionality. Mechanistically, mammalian Apaf-1 recruits receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2, also known as RIPK2) via its WD40 repeat domain and promotes RIP2 oligomerization to initiate NF-κB-driven inflammation upon cytoplasmic DNA recognition. Furthermore, DNA binding of Apaf-1 determines cell fate by switching the cellular processes between intrinsic stimuli-activated apoptosis and inflammation. These findings suggest that Apaf-1 is an evolutionarily conserved DNA sensor and may serve as a cell fate checkpoint, which determines whether cells initiate inflammation or undergo apoptosis by distinct ligand binding.
Generation of live mice from haploid ESCs with germline-DMR deletions or switch
Authors: Ma Yongjian , Yan Meng , Xie Zhenfei , Zhang Hongling , Li Zhoujie , Li Yuanyuan , Yang Suming , Zhang Meiling , Li Wen , Li Jinsong
Published: January 2025

Genomic imprinting is required for sexual reproduction and embryonic development of mammals, in which, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) regulate the parent-specific monoallelic expression of imprinted genes. Numerous studies on imprinted genes have highlighted their critical roles in development. However, what imprinting network is essential for development is still unclear. Here, we establish a stepwise system to reconstruct a development-related imprinting network, in which diploid embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived by fusing between parthenogenetic (PG)- and androgenetic (AG)-haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) with different DMR deletions (termed Ha-Ha-fusion system), followed by tetraploid complementation to produce all-haESC fetuses. Diploid ESCs fused between PG-haESCs carrying 8 maternally-derived DMR deletions and AG-haESCs with 2 paternally-derived DMR deletions give rise to live pups efficiently, among which, one lives to weaning. Strikingly, diploid ESCs derived from the fusion of PG-haESCs with 7 maternal DMR deletions and AG-haESCs with 2 paternal DMR deletions and maternal Snrpn-DMR deletion also support full-term embryonic development. Moreover, embryos reconstructed by injection of AG-haESCs with hypomethylated H19-DMR into oocytes with H19-DMR deletion develop into live mice sustaining inverted allelic gene expression. Together, our findings indicate that restoration of monoallelic expression of 10 imprinted regions is adequate for the full-term development of all-haESC pups, and it works irrespective of their parental origins. Meanwhile, Ha-Ha-fusion system provides a useful tool for deciphering imprinting regulation networks during embryonic development.
Differences between the normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes of discretionary foods
Authors: Liu Qingzhou , Allman-Farinelli Margaret , Rangan Anna
Published: January 2025

Background

There are limited data on the amount of discretionary foods that people normally consume and consider as appropriate at one eating occasion. This study aimed to provide an overview of the range and assess differences of the ‘normal portion size’ and ‘perceived appropriate portion size’ of energy-dense nutrient-poor discretionary foods among consumers aged 18–65 years.

Methods

To measure normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes, a validated online image-series questionnaire consisting of eight successive portion size options for 15 discretionary foods was completed at two timepoints. Quantile regression models were used to estimate the ranges (lower boundary at 17th percentile, upper boundary at 83rd percentile) of normal and perceived appropriate portion sizes selected by two thirds of the study population. Models were adjusted for the effects of potential influencing factors including biological sex, age, usual physical activity level, cooking confidence, socio-economic status, body mass index, and baseline hunger levels.

Results

A final sample of 295 participants were included in the analysis (51% females, mean age 39.5 ± 14.1 years). The normal portion sizes were significantly higher than the perceived appropriate portion sizes across all test foods, with the effects of sex, age, and BMI being significant for some foods.

Conclusion

The finding suggests that consumers would normally consume a portion size that was larger than what they perceive to be appropriate for discretionary foods. The estimated lower and upper boundaries would be valuable for the development of pragmatic public health messages to empower consumers towards better portion control.
Scaffold-enabled high-resolution cryo-EM structure determination of RNA
Authors: Haack Daniel B. , Rudolfs Boris , Jin Shouhong , Khitun Alexandra , Weeks Kevin M. , Toor Navtej
Published: January 2025

Cryo-EM structure determination of protein-free RNAs has remained difficult with most attempts yielding low to moderate resolution and lacking nucleotide-level detail. These difficulties are compounded for small RNAs as cryo-EM is inherently more difficult for lower molecular weight macromolecules. Here we present a strategy for fusing small RNAs to a group II intron that yields high resolution structures of the appended RNA. We demonstrate this technology by determining the structures of the 86-nucleotide (nt) thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) riboswitch aptamer domain and the recently described 210-nt raiA bacterial non-coding RNA involved in sporulation and biofilm formation. In the case of the TPP riboswitch aptamer domain, the scaffolding approach allowed visualization of the riboswitch ligand binding pocket at 2.5 Å resolution. We also determined the structure of the ligand-free apo state and observe that the aptamer domain of the riboswitch adopts an open Y-shaped conformation in the absence of ligand. Using this scaffold approach, we determined the structure of raiA at 2.5 Å in the core. Our versatile scaffolding strategy enables efficient RNA structure determination for a broad range of small to moderate-sized RNAs, which were previously intractable for high-resolution cryo-EM studies.
Memristor-based feature learning for pattern classification
Authors: Shi Tuo , Gao Lili , Tian Yang , Tang Shuangzhu , Liu Jinchang , Li Yiqi , Zhou Ruixi , Cui Shiyu , Zhang Hui , Li Yu , Wu Zuheng , Zhang Xumeng , Li Taihao , Yan Xiaobing , Liu Qi
Published: January 2025

Inspired by biological processes, feature learning techniques, such as deep learning, have achieved great success in various fields. However, since biological organs may operate differently from semiconductor devices, deep models usually require dedicated hardware and are computation-complex. High energy consumption has made deep model growth unsustainable. We present an approach that directly implements feature learning using semiconductor physics to minimize disparity between model and hardware. Following this approach, a feature learning technique based on memristor drift-diffusion kinetics is proposed by leveraging the dynamic response of a single memristor to learn features. The model parameters and computational operations of the kinetics-based network are reduced by up to 2 and 4 orders of magnitude, respectively, compared with deep models. We experimentally implement the proposed network on 180 nm memristor chips for various dimensional pattern classification tasks. Compared with memristor-based deep learning hardware, the memristor kinetics-based hardware can further reduce energy and area consumption significantly. We propose that innovations in hardware physics could create an intriguing solution for intelligent models by balancing model complexity and performance.
Measurements of groundwater, hydrodynamics, and sand characteristics at a dissipative sea turtle nesting beach
Authors: Christiaanse Jakob C. , Antolínez José A. A. , van der Grinten Meye J. , Taal Falco , Figlus Jens , Dellapenna Timothy M. , Ritt Benjamin , Marshall Christopher D. , Tereszkiewicz Peter A. , Cohn Nicholas , Majzlik Edward J. , Reniers Ad J. H. M.
Published: January 2025

Beach groundwater and nearshore hydrodynamic data were collected during a field experiment along two dissipative beach transects on Galveston Island, Texas, in the fall of 2023. The monitored beaches serve as nesting habitat for the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Conditions ranged from calm to stormy, with two storms occurring during the experiment, inundating the entire beach up to the dune toe. Collected hydrodynamic data include readings from pressure loggers submerged in the foreshore and mounted in groundwater wells in the backshore, data from two wave buoys about 1.5 km offshore, and GoPro timestacks of the instantaneous waterline (wave runup). Other collected data include bathymetry and topography surveys, subsurface temperature and moisture content readings, and sediment characteristics. This comprehensive dataset can be used to (1) study relevant beach inundation and groundwater processes, including their effect on the local ecosystem (e.g., repeated flooding of sea turtle nests), (2) study the propagation of nearshore hydrodynamic processes into the beach matrix and groundwater table, and (3) validate existing beach groundwater models.
Developmental defects in ectodermal appendages caused by missense mutation in edaradd gene in the nfr mangrove killifish kryptolebias marmoratus
Authors: Saud Hussein A. , O’Neill Paul A. , Ring Brian C. , Kudoh Tetsuhiro
Published: January 2025

The mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, can reproduce with self-fertilisation, offering a unique and useful genetic tool for generation of genetic mutants and quick identification of mutated genes. From an ENU-mutated mangrove killifish line R228, we have isolated a novel mutant line, no-fin-ray/nfr in which homozygous mutant of adult fish fin ray development is largely reduced. Illumina RNAseq with 3 embryos each from mutants, siblings and the parental WT strain Hon9 (only 9 embryos as total) identified a mutation in the edaradd in a highly conserved C-terminal death domain. Edaradd is known as a cytoplasmic accessory protein for the Ectodysplasin A (EDA) signalling pathway. To confirm the crucial role of edaradd during fin development, CRISPR RNAs were designed to suppress the gene in another killifish species, Arabian killifish. Indeed, Arabian killifish edaradd crispants showed a potent reduction of the fin development with 100% frequency. Furthermore, EDA crispants also showed identical phenotypes to that of edaradd crispants, confirming the fin defect in the mutants/crispants is caused by the signalling pathway of the EDA in the killifish species. These data demonstrate a powerful genetic approach using isogenic self-fertilising mangrove killifish as a tool for identifying mutants and their mutations, and revealed the crucial role of edaradd for the first time in the fish fin development.
Experimental study of different oxides in B2O3–ZnO–BaO glass system for gamma-ray shielding
Authors: Elsafi Mohamed , Sayyed M. I. , Hanafy Taha A.
Published: January 2025

Glass system of 45B2O3–20ZnO–30BaO–5X, (where X represents CaO, MgO, Al2O3, TiO2, CuO and Fe2O3) in mole percentage was investigated for gamma ray radiation shielding experimentally. Six glass composites were fabricated and the density was measured experimentally and the BZBCa glass sample has the least density with a value of 3.932 g cm−3 and this is due to the presence of CaO in it, and the sample BZBFe has the highest density with a value of 4.031 g cm−3. Through comparing the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) data (experimental and Phy-X) for the BZBX glass samples, the LAC values for glass samples obtained experimentally and using Phy-X are in a very close range. All the glass samples have the greatest LAC values at 0.0595 MeV, the lowest energy value. Sample BZBCu has a LAC value of 16.203 1/cm, which is also the highest LAC value among all the studied glasses, this is as a result of the high density of this glass and due to the high atomic number of Cu. The glasses’ transmission factor (TF) at 1 cm thickness against energy was determined. The TF values of all the glasses were almost zero. The TF values increased significantly for all the glasses when the energy was increased to 0.662 MeV, and for sample BZBCa its TF value increases 74.08%, which was the highest TF value increase. The half-value layer and other shielding parameters have been determined experimentally.
Evaluation of hesperidin as a potential larvicide against Culex pipiens with computational prediction of its mode of action via molecular docking
Authors: Haikal Abdullah , Kamal Mahmoud , Hosni Eslam M. , Amen Yhiya
Published: January 2025

Hesperidin, a natural flavanone glycoside predominantly found in citrus fruits, has gained attention for its wide-ranging biological activities, including potential insecticidal properties. Culex pipiens, commonly known as the northern house mosquito, is a major vector of several human pathogens, such as the West Nile virus and filariasis, making it a key target in the fight against vector-borne diseases. In this study, we evaluated the larvicidal activity of Hesperidin against Culex pipiens larvae, assessing its potential as an alternative to chemical insecticides. Hesperidin demonstrated potent larvicidal effects, with a lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of 570.3 ± 0.04 µg/mL, outperforming the conventional insecticide Chlorpyrifos 588.3 ± 0.28 µg/mL in efficacy. Molecular docking simulations revealed a strong binding affinity between Hesperidin and crucial neuroreceptors in Culex pipiens, particularly acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme involved in nerve signal transmission. The interaction between Hesperidin’s hydroxyl groups and the AChE enzyme’s active site suggests that AChE inhibition is the primary mechanism driving Hesperidin’s insecticidal action. These findings position Hesperidin as a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides. However, further research is needed to assess its toxicity to non-target organisms and optimize its formulation for broader application in mosquito control.
Impact of 17-alpha ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) exposure on microRNAs expression and their target genes in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Graziosi Agnese , Corrieri Camilla , Sita Giulia , Ghelli Luca , Angelini Sabrina , di Villa Bianca Roberta d’Emmanuele , Mitidieri Emma , Sorrentino Raffaella , Hrelia Patrizia , Morroni Fabiana
Published: January 2025

Environmental endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) have raised significant concerns due to their potential adverse effects on human health, particularly on the central nervous system (CNS). This study provides a comparative analysis of the effects of 17-alpha ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) on neuronal cell proliferation and neurotoxicity. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells, we evaluated cell viability, microRNA (miRNA) regulation, and RNA expression following exposure to subtoxic concentrations of EE2 and DEP. Our results show that both EDCs downregulated specific miRNAs—miR-18b-5p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-653-5p—affecting key processes such as cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. Gene expression analysis revealed the upregulation of EGFR, IGF1R, BTG2, and SH3BP4, implicating these miRNAs in the regulation of the Ras and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Our findings highlight distinct cellular responses: DEP disrupts PTEN activity, while EE2 enhances phosphorylation within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, promoting pro-survival and anti-apoptotic signals. This study emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of EDCs and offers valuable insights into their molecular impacts on brain health.
Engineering of acyl ligase domain in non-ribosomal peptide synthetases to change fatty acid moieties of lipopeptides
Authors: Aoki Rina , Kumagawa Eri , Kamata Kazuaki , Ago Hideo , Sakai Naoki , Hasunuma Tomohisa , Taoka Naoaki , Ohta Yukari , Kobayashi Shingo
Published: January 2025

Cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) produced by the genus Bacillus are amphiphiles composed of hydrophilic amino acid and hydrophobic fatty acid moieties and are biosynthesised by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). CLPs are produced as a mixture of homologues with different fatty acid moieties, whose length affects CLP activity. Iturin family lipopeptides are a family of CLPs comprising cyclic heptapeptides and β-amino fatty acids and have antimicrobial activity. There is little research on how the length of the fatty acid moiety of iturin family lipopeptides is determined. Here, we demonstrated that the acyl ligase (AL) domain determines the length of the fatty acid moiety in vivo. In addition, enzyme assays revealed how mutations in the substrate-binding pocket of the AL domain affected substrate specificity in vitro. Our findings have implications for the design of fatty acyl moieties for CLP synthesis using NRPS.
Modeling of magnetic vestibular stimulation experienced during high-field clinical MRI
Authors: Arán-Tapia Ismael , Pérez-Muñuzuri Vicente , Muñuzuri Alberto P. , Soto-Varela Andrés , Otero-Millan Jorge , Roberts Dale C. , Ward Bryan K.
Published: January 2025

Background

High-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful diagnostic tool but can induce unintended physiological effects, such as nystagmus and dizziness, potentially compromising the comfort and safety of individuals undergoing imaging. These effects likely result from the Lorentz force, which arises from the interaction between the MRI's static magnetic field and electrical currents in the inner ear. Yet, the Lorentz force hypothesis fails to explain observed eye movement patterns in healthy adults fully. This study explores these effects and tests whether the Lorentz force hypothesis adequately explains magnetic vestibular stimulation.

Methods

We developed a mathematical model integrating computational fluid dynamics, fluid-structure interaction solvers, and magnetohydrodynamic equations to simulate the biomechanical response of the cristae ampullares. Using high-resolution micro-CT data of the human membranous labyrinth, we ensured anatomical accuracy. Experimental validation involved measuring horizontal, vertical, and torsional slow-phase eye movements in healthy subjects exposed to varying magnetic field intensities and head positions.

Results

Our model accurately replicates observed nystagmus patterns, predicting slow-phase eye velocities that match experimental data. Results indicate that Lorentz force-induced stimulation of individual cupulae explains variability in eye movements across different magnetic field intensities and head orientations.

Conclusions

This study empirically supports the Lorentz force hypothesis as a valid explanation for magnetic vestibular stimulation, offering new insights into the effects of high-field MRI on the vestibular system. These findings provide a foundation for future research and improved clinical practices.
Ephrin A1 functions as a ligand of EGFR to promote EMT and metastasis in gastric cancer
Authors: Li Shuang , Sun Meng , Cui Yun , Guo Dongyang , Yang Feng , Sun Qiang , Ding Yinuo , Li Mengjie , Liu Yiman , Ou Guangshuo , Zhuo Wei , Zhou Tianhua
Published: January 2025

Distant metastasis is the major cause of gastric cancer mortality, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation plays critical roles in gastric cancer dissemination. However, EGFR targeting therapies in gastric cancer show only marginal effects, and the molecular mechanisms of oncogenic EGFR signaling remain poorly defined. Here, we report Ephrin A1 as a novel ligand of EGFR in gastric cancer. Ephrin A1 facilitates colonization and metastasis of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Ephrin A1 directly interacts with EGFR and induces EGFR dimerization, phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling. Ephrin A1-induced EMT can be rescued by EGFR signaling inhibitors or knockout of EGFR, but not depletion of its classical receptor EphA2. Moreover, Ephrin A1 protein level correlates with EGFR phosphorylation levels in gastric cancer patients. Collectively, our work uncovers Ephrin A1 as a functional ligand of EGFR and highlights the potential role of the Ephrin A1/EGFR/EMT regulatory axis in cancer metastasis.
Luminescent lanthanide-doped calcium phosphate from oyster shell waste: an example of bright recycling
Authors: Puentedura-Navarro Paula , Fernández-Penas Raquel , Acebedo-Martínez Francisco Javier , Triunfo Carla , Fernández-Sánchez Jorge F. , Follenzi Antonia , Oltolina Francesca , Falini Giuseppe , Gómez-Morales Jaime
Published: January 2025

This research explores the transformation of biogenic CaCO3 microparticles (Ø < 45 μm) from oyster shell waste into luminescent Eu- or Tb-doped calcium phosphate (apatites), using a sustainable “one-step” and eco-friendly method.
Pressure-dependent optoelectronic properties of antiperovskite derivatives X3AsCl3 (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba): a first-principles study
Authors: Hu Tao , Wu Changhe , Li Mingjun , Qu Hao , Luo Xin , Hou Yihao , Li Shichang , Duan Shengnan , Li Dengfeng , Tang Gang , Feng Chunbao
Published: January 2025

This paper explores the pressure effects on antiperovskite derivatives X3AsCl3 (X = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), revealing that Ba3AsCl3 achieves a high spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency above 30%.
An emerging frontier of battery innovation: tackling lattice rotation in single-crystalline cathodes
Authors: Liang Tian , Zhu Xiaoming , Zeng Xiaojun
Published: January 2025

An MCRC technique (combining X-ray and electron microscopies to capture both statistical and individual lattice distortions) reveals that irrecoverable lattice rotation during cycling accelerates electrochemical decay in single-crystalline cathodes.
Li+ crosstalk-driven calendar aging in Si/C composite anodes
Authors: Sun Kai , Li Xueyan , Fu Kang , Zhang Zhuojun , Wang Anmin , He Xingmin , Gong Lili , Tan Peng
Published: January 2025

The calendar aging of Si-containing batteries is accompanied by prominent Li+ crosstalk, in which graphite was forced to compensate for the Li loss caused by Si. As a result, the self-discharge was inhibited by adjusting the Li+ crosstalk effect.