bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and Safety of Recombinant Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (Follitrope™) in Inducing Controlled Ovarian Stimulation in Infertile Women in Real-World Practice: a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Choo Chang-Woo , Ahn Young Sun , Kim Kyu Hyun , Lee Jae Ho , Moon Kyoung Yong , Choi Bum-Chae , Kang Young Je , Kim Hye Young , Sim Chae Hee , Han Ji Eun , Kim Chung-Hoon , Jang Eun Jeong , Lee Yoojin , Moon Jei Won , Park Dong Soo , Won Hyung Jae , Kim An Na , Kim Ju-Young , Kim Kwang Rye , Ahn Ji Hyun , Lee Joong-Yeup , Gwak Heemin , Kim Ji Hyang
Published: April 2023

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH [Follitrope™]) in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). To identify predictors of ovarian response that induce optimal clinical outcomes. This multicenter prospective study enrolled infertile women who were scheduled to undergo IVF after ovarian stimulation with rhFSH (Follitrope™) following the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or GnRH antagonist protocol. Predictive factors for ovarian response were identified in the GnRH antagonist group based on the number of oocytes retrieved. A total of 516 infertile women were enrolled, among whom 136 (except one who withdrew before administration) received rhFSH using the GnRH agonist protocol and 379 using the antagonist protocol. The mean number of oocytes retrieved was 13.4 in the GnRH agonist group and 13.6 in the GnRH antagonist group. The clinical pregnancy rates were 32.3% (30/93) and 39.9% (115/288) in the GnRH agonist and antagonist groups, respectively. The incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was 1.8% and 3.4% in the GnRH agonist and antagonist groups, respectively. No other significant safety risks associated with rhFSH administration were identified. Body mass index, basal serum FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone levels, and antral follicle count were identified as predictors of ovarian response by multiple regression with backward elimination, and the final regression model accounted for 26.5% of the response variability. In real-world practice, rhFSH (Follitrope™) is safe and effective in inducing ovarian stimulation in infertile women. Patient characteristics identified as predictors can be considered to be highly related to optimal clinical outcomes.
Estimation for Human Motion Posture and Health Using Improved Deep Learning and Nano Biosensor
Authors: Xu Wenbo , Zhu Zhiqiang
Published: April 2023

To improve the technical level of human motion posture and health estimation, a human motion posture and health estimation algorithm based on Nano biosensor and improved deep learning is proposed. First, we use Nano biological acceleration sensor and Nano biological angular velocity sensor to obtain human motion posture and health data. Second, after the fusion processing of human motion posture and health data, we use the motion posture coordinate system conversion unit and the physiological information recognition unit to convert the coordinate system of human motion angular velocity and acceleration data and recognize the physiological information of blood pressure and heart rhythm. Finally, the convolution neural networks (CNN) in deep learning is improved to obtain the deformable CNN. The transformed angular velocity, physiological information recognition results and other human posture data are input into the deformable CNN, and the human posture estimation results are output. Experiments show that proposed algorithm can accurately obtain human posture data, can quickly and accurately estimate human posture, and has a good application effect. It has important application value in identity recognition and sports performance analysis.
Omics Views of Mechanisms for Cell Fate Determination in Early Mammalian Development
Authors: Ju Lin-Fang , Xu Heng-Ji , Yang Yun-Gui , Yang Ying
Published: April 2023

During mammalian preimplantation development, a totipotent zygote undergoes several cell cleavages and two rounds of cell fate determination, ultimately forming a mature blastocyst. Along with compaction, the establishment of apicobasal cell polarity breaks the symmetry of an embryo and guides subsequent cell fate choice. Although the lineage segregation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) is the first symbol of cell differentiation, several molecules have been shown to bias the early cell fate through their inter-cellular variations at much earlier stages, including the 2- and 4-cell stages. The underlying mechanisms of early cell fate determination have long been an important research topic. In this review, we summarize the molecular events that occur during early embryogenesis, as well as the current understanding of their regulatory roles in cell fate decisions. Moreover, as powerful tools for early embryogenesis research, single-cell omics techniques have been applied to both mouse and human preimplantation embryos and have contributed to the discovery of cell fate regulators. Here, we summarize their applications in the research of preimplantation embryos, and provide new insights and perspectives on cell fate regulation.
Evaporation of non-circular droplets
Authors: Wray Alexander W. , Moore Madeleine R.
Published: April 2023

The dynamics of thin, non-circular droplets evaporating in the diffusion-limited regime is examined. The challenging non-rectilinear mixed boundary problem this poses is solved using a novel asymptotic approach and an asymptotic expansion for the evaporative flux from the free surface of the droplet is found. While theoretically valid only for droplets that are close to circular, it is demonstrated that the methodology can successfully be applied to droplets with a wide variety of footprint shapes, including polygons and highly non-convex domains. As our solution for the flux fundamentally represents a novel result in potential theory, the applications are numerous, as the mixed boundary value problem arises in fields as diverse as electrostatics and contact mechanics. Here, we demonstrate the practicality of our result by considering the analytically tractable case of deposition of solute from large droplets in detail, including a matched asymptotic analysis to resolve the pressure, streamlines and deposition up to second order.
Listening to Anohni's variously vibrating voice: studying transfeminine vocality in 21st-century popular music culture through the concept of vocal figurations
Authors: Muchitsch Veronika
Published: April 2023

This article examines the work and reception of singer-songwriter Anohni to investigate sonic and discursive negotiations of transfeminine vocality in 21st-century popular music culture. Developing Haraway's concept of feminist figurations, it introduces the concept of vocal figurations, which articulates a performative, relational and multiply mediated understanding of voice, wherein gendered voice takes shape through processes of voicing and listening. I initially examine Anohni's reception to analyse how biologist, trans-exclusionary and othering discourses surrounding voice and gender inform emergent discourses of transfeminine voices in the first decades of the 21st century. Subsequently, I build on trans and queer theorisations of voice and listening to engage Anohni's variably vibrating voice as a vocal figuration that may challenge biologist and marginalising constructions of transfeminine vocality. I suggest that it may attune us to recognise all gendered voices as thoroughly situated yet changeable configurations of sounding voices, bodies, and subjects.
A unified modeling and trajectory planning method based on system manipulability for the operation process of the legged locomotion manipulation system
Authors: Kang Peng , Meng Haibin , Xu Wenfu
Published: April 2023

Flexibility is one of the most significant advantages of legged robots in unstructured environments. However, quadruped robots cannot interact with environments to complete some manipulation tasks. One effective way is to load a manipulation arm. In this paper, we exhibit a quadruped locomotion manipulation system (LMS) named HITPhanT. This system comprises a quadruped locomotion platform and a six-degree-of-freedom manipulation arm. Besides, when the LMS moves to a designated position for operation, it is necessary to constrain the foot contact points to avoid sliding. Therefore, the foot contact point is regarded as a spherical hinge. So the locomotion platform can be considered as a parallel mechanism. A hybrid kinematics model is established by considering the serial robotic arms connecting this parallel mechanism. Besides, the trajectory planning method, which improves the system’s manipulability in evaluating the system balance, is also proposed. Finally, corresponding experiments verify the overall system’s stabilization and algorithm’s effectiveness.
Gait optimization and energy-based stability for biped locomotion using large-scale programming
Authors: Xie Ye , Gao Chengzhi , Zhu Shiqiang , Yan Xufei , Kong Lingyu , Xie Anhuan , Gu Jason , Zhang Dan
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a gait optimization method to generate the locomotion pattern for biped and discuss its stability. The main contribution of this paper is a newly proposed energy-based stability criterion, which permits the dynamic stable walking and could be straight-forwardly generalized to different locomotion scenarios and biped robots. The gait optimization problem is formulated subject to the constraints of the whole-body dynamics and kinematics. The constraints are established based on the modelling of bipedal hybrid dynamical systems. Following the whole-body modelling, the system energy is acquired and then applied to create the stability criterion. The optimization objective is also established on the system energy. The gait optimization is solved by being converted to a large-scale programming problem, where the transcription accuracy is improved via the spectral method. To further reduce the dimensionality of the large-scale problem, the whole-body dynamics is re-constructed. The generalization of the optimized gait is improved by the design of feedback control. The optimization examples demonstrate that the stability criterion naturally leads to a cyclic biped locomotion, though the periodicity was not previously imposed. Two simulation cases, level ground walking and slope walking, verify the generalization of the stability criterion and feedback control. The stability analyses are carried out by investigating the motions of centre of gravity and centre of pressure. It is revealed that if the tracked speed is above 0.3 m/s or the biped accelerates/climbs the slope, the stability criterion accomplishes the dynamic stable walking, where zero moment point criterion is not strictly complied.
Aspirations and limitations: the state of world music education in secondary schools in multicultural Manchester
Authors: Nissen James
Published: April 2023

This article examines the state of world music education in secondary schools in Manchester, analysing school curricula and exam specifications alongside interviews conducted with teachers. World music occupies a significant position in music education at Key Stage 3, but its scope becomes progressively limited at higher levels. While teachers recognise the benefits of world music education for promoting cultural understanding and social inclusion, they struggle to maintain it throughout their programmes because of barriers related to examinations, teaching materials and school resources. This creates a dysfunctional learning trajectory that discourages students from studying music, particularly disadvantaging those from weaker socio-economic backgrounds. Nevertheless, teachers’ perspectives, often overshadowed by government policy, evidence strong aspirations to implement multicultural music education in practice.
Relatively hyperbolic groups with strongly shortcut parabolics are strongly shortcut
Authors: HODA NIMA , KRISHNA M S SURAJ
Published: April 2023

We show that a group that is hyperbolic relative to strongly shortcut groups is itself strongly shortcut, thus obtaining new examples of strongly shortcut groups. The proof relies on a result of independent interest: we show that every relatively hyperbolic group acts properly and cocompactly on a graph in which the parabolic subgroups act properly and cocompactly on convex subgraphs.
Assessment of cell-free DNA and apoptosis in an oocyte microenvironment: promising biomarkers to predict intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes
Authors: Debbarh Hasnae , Jamil Malak , Jelloul Hasnae , Zakaria Achraf , Louanjli Noureddine , Cadi Rachida
Published: April 2023

Cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) is defined as DNA fragments that are released into the body fluids from apoptosis or necrosis cells, including follicular fluid (FF), which can affect the microenvironment of the oocyte associated with infertility. We aimed to investigate a relationship between apoptosis of cumulus cells (CCs) and cf-DNA levels in FF and clinical outcomes of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Therefore, 82 FF samples were collected, and the corresponding CCs were isolated for ICSI procedures. FF cf-DNA concentration was quantified using ALU-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and CCs DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method. We found that cf-DNA and DFI levels were significantly higher in FF and CCs samples related to the age of women ≥37 years compared with the age of women < 37 years. Moreover, in older and younger women, FF cf-DNA and CCs DFI levels were significantly lower when the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level was > 1.1 ng/ml compared with when AMH ≤ 1.1 ng/ml. In addition, patients with a low number of retrieved oocytes ≤ 6 had significantly higher levels of CCs DFI and FF cf-DNA than women with a higher number of retrieved oocytes > 6. Additionally, we observed that higher levels of cf-DNA and DFI were associated with poor oocyte maturity and poor embryo quality. Finally, cf-DNA and DFI levels were significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant ones. We conclude that DFI and cf-DNA levels in the oocyte microenvironment could have potential use in evaluating oocyte and embryo developmental competence.
Electroacoustic Improvisation and the Metaphysical Imaginary
Authors: Noone Matthew James
Published: April 2023

In a previous edition of Organised Sound, I discussed the potential for using the North Indian sarode in electroacoustic music. In that article, I explored how electroacoustic music artists manage to integrate multiple cultural frameworks, while also acknowledging the importance of personal artistic agency. The primary question that emerged from that research is extended in this article: how does an electroacoustic performer of a non-Western instrument improvise outside the idiom of their tradition? In order to address this question, I draw on Tomlinson’s concept of the metaphysical imaginary. In my own performance practice, I employ the metaphysical imaginary as a framework to explore a transcultural, transcendent, perhaps even spiritual potential of electroacoustic improvisation. The metaphysical imaginary will be explored in two dimensions: the synchronic and the diachronic. The synchronic dimension looks horizontally across cultures, while the diachronic dimension looks in a temporal verticality, looking inwards and downwards, to a time before modern culture. In the article, I discuss the performance practice of other musicians working across different cultural frames who explore the metaphysical in their improvisations. The article also looks backwards in cultural historical time and investigates how improvisers draw inspiration from a pre-modern cultural world, combining these imaginaries with modern sound techniques. I will situate my own work within this mosaic of practices, concluding with a discussion of electroacoustic improvisations using the sarode, extended technique and the re-imagining of pre-historic sonic rituals.
Solving Rehabilitation Scheduling Problems via a Two-Phase ASP Approach
Authors: CARDELLINI MATTEO , DE NARDI PAOLO , DODARO CARMINE , GALATÀ GIUSEPPE , GIARDINI ANNA , MARATEA MARCO , PORRO IVAN
Published: April 2023

A core part of the rehabilitation scheduling process consists of planning rehabilitation physiotherapy sessions for patients, by assigning proper operators to them in a certain time slot of a given day, taking into account several legal, medical, and ethical requirements and optimizations, for example, patient’s preferences and operator’s work balancing. Being able to efficiently solve such problem is of upmost importance, in particular after the COVID-19 pandemic that significantly increased rehabilitation’s needs. In this paper, we present a two-phase solution to rehabilitation scheduling based on Answer Set Programming, which proved to be an effective tool for solving practical scheduling problems. We first present a general encoding and then add domain-specific optimizations. Results of experiments performed on both synthetic and real benchmarks, the latter provided by ICS Maugeri, show the effectiveness of our solution as well as the impact of our domain-specific optimizations.
Characterization of Western Himalayan small-seeded red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for yield, quality and resilience
Authors: Sofi Parvaze A , Shafi Sadiah , Fatima Samreen , Rani Sujeela , Ahmad Rayees , Banoo Aqleema , Gani Saima , Zargar Sajad Majeed , Padder B. A. , Zaffar Aaqif , Nabi Asha , Jha Prakash
Published: April 2023

Western Himalayan region is a rich repository of common bean genetic resources evolved over generations of farmer selection. The bean variability encompasses various use categories such as dry, snap and shelled beans. The present study aimed to characterize 40 small-seeded red common bean genotypes collected from different districts of Kashmir valley as well as Poonch, Rajouri and Bhaderwah areas of Jammu which are world famous for their beans. Based on 5-year evaluation, there was substantial variability for various qualitative traits as well as quantitative traits. Among variability parameters, higher PCV and GCV values were recorded for plant height, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant and low for days to maturity, seed length and pod length. High heritability was recorded for all the traits ranging from 78.72 to 94.87%. There was substantial variability in root traits scored in laboratory and greenhouse as well as canopy temperature depression and relative water content. Various genotypes were found resistant to bean common mosaic virus (WB-N-1, WB-N-11, WB-1318, WB-401, WB-451, WB-1634); anthracnose (WB-1634 WB-83, WB-258, WB-1282, WB-1304); angular leaf spot (WB-6, WB-1634, WB-258, WB-451, N-1 and N-10); Fusarium wilt (WB-341, WB-451, WB-N-1 and WB-1587) and Ascochyta blight (WB-6). Similarly WB-92 was highly resistant to shattering. The genotypes WB-341, WB-1634, WB-N-1 performed better under water stress, WB-N-1 and WB-1634 were resistant to multiple diseases and WB-1634 had better cooking quality. The genotypes identified can be used in bean improvement programmes and have also been submitted to NBPGR for long-term storage.
Producers marketing a novel crop: a field-level view of hemp market channels
Authors: Hill Rebecca , Jablonski Becca B.R. , Van Laney , Wang Ming , Patalee Buddhika , Shepherd Jonathan , LeRoux Matt , Mark Tyler , Mooney Daniel F. , Thilmany Dawn
Published: April 2023

We assess emerging relationships between production decisions and market channel selection among a small sample of hemp growers (22) in Colorado and Kentucky using qualitative interviews. We found producers differences by market channel, product and state. For instance, producers who relied on intermediated marketing strategies cultivated more acres on average and used fewer distinct market channels and strategies than those relying on direct markets. Product differences were found regarding processing, storage and perishability. Respondents identified four factors critical to their choice of market channels for their hemp products: research, profitability, trust and knowledge. The findings can help inform public and private decision-making regarding best hemp marketing practices and future needs of the hemp industry.
The Dutch Translation of the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales
Authors: Bastiaens Tim , Smits Dirk , Beerden Antje , de Beauvesier Watson Sally Elaine , Claes Laurence
Published: April 2023

Abstract: The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales is a self-report measure that assesses neurobiologically defined, primary emotional system activation in a clinically feasible way. The current study introduces the Dutch translation of the Brief Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (BANPS) and investigates its relation with lexical–statistical Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits. A Flemish community sample of 339 participants (76.7% female, 23.3% male, 18–65 years) completed the BANPS, of which 255 (73.7% female, 26.3% male) also completed the NEO-PI-3. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the BANPS six-factor structure. Alpha coefficients were indicative of adequate subscale internal consistencies. Congruence coefficients with the original factor solution were high. Hierarchical regression analyses related primary emotional systems to lexical–statistical personality traits. The Dutch version of the BANPS appears to be a reliable scale exhibiting meaningful relations to the FFM.
Interseismic Coupling, Asperity Distribution, and Earthquake Potential on Major Faults in Southeastern Tibet
Authors: Li Yanchuan , Shan Xinjian , Gao Zhiyu , Huang Xing
Published: April 2023

Southeastern (SE) Tibet is one of the most seismically active regions in mainland China, but the spatial distribution of interseismic coupling that quantifies seismic hazard is unknown along most major faults. In this study, we constructed an elastic block model to invert Global Positioning System data for slip rates and locking coefficients along 20 major faults in SE Tibet. Our results identify 27 strongly coupled fault segments with locking coefficients >0.5, defined as potential seismogenic asperities, extending laterally for 36–330 km. Quantitative calculations of seismic moment budgets on these seismogenic asperities indicate that they are capable of generating Mw 6.4–7.7 earthquakes in the next few decades, of which the Anninghe, Daliangshan and Red River faults have the potential for Mw ≥ 7.5 earthquakes. The interseismic coupling model provides a component for probabilistic analysis of future seismic hazards in densely populated Southwest China.
The Distribution of Small‐Scale Irregularities in the E‐Region, and Its Tendency to Match the Spectrum of Field‐Aligned Current Structures in the F‐Region
Authors: Ivarsen Magnus F. , Lozinsky Adam , St‐Maurice Jean‐Pierre , Spicher Andres , Huyghebaert Devin , Hussey Glenn C. , Galeschuk Draven , Pitzel Brian , Vierinen Juha
Published: April 2023

We associate new data from icebear, a coherent scatter radar located in Saskatchewan, Canada, with scale‐dependent physics in the ionosphere. We subject the large‐scale icebear 3D echo patterns (treated as 2D point clouds) to a data analysis technique hitherto never applied to the ionosphere, a technique that is widely applied in cosmological red‐shift surveys to characterize the spatial clustering of galaxies. The technique results in a novel method to calculate the spatial power spectral density of the greater ionospheric irregularity field. We compare results from this method to in‐situ plasma density and magnetic field observations from the Swarm mission. We show that there is a remarkable similarity between echo clustering spectra in the E‐region and the field‐aligned current structuring spectrum observed in the F‐region: a clear and characteristic preferred scale (5 km) both in the E‐ and F‐region spectra. We discuss the possibility that this represents evidence of an energy injection into the ionospheric irregularity field via energetic particle precipitation, but offer alternative interpretations with wider connotations for the ionosphere‐magnetosphere system. These findings open new and promising avenues of research for the study of the location of ionospheric scatter echoes with 3D information. It constitutes a novel way to consider the pattern of ionospheric irregularities over wide fields of view when there is an abundance of radar echoes, which allows for the analysis of radar data as point clouds.
A 0.82 μVrms ultralow 1/f noise bandgap reference for a MEMS gyroscope
Authors: Zou Junjun , Wei Qi , Ju Chunge , Liao Hua , Gu Haoyu , Xing Bowen , Zhou Bin , Zhang Rong
Published: April 2023

High-precision microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes are significant in many applications. Bias instability (BI) is an important parameter that indicates the performance of a MEMS gyroscope and is affected by the 1/f noise of the MEMS resonator and readout circuit. Since the bandgap reference (BGR) is an important block in the readout circuit, reducing its 1/f noise is key to improving a gyroscope’s BI. In a traditional BGR, the error amplifier is applied to provide a virtual short-circuit point, but it introduces the main low-frequency noise sources. This paper proposes an ultralow 1/f noise BGR by removing the error amplifier and applying an optimized circuit topology. In addition, a simplified but accurate noise model of the proposed BGR is obtained to optimize the BGR’s output noise performance. To verify this design, the proposed BGR has been implemented in a 180 nm CMOS process with a chip area of 545 × 423 μm. The experimental results show that the BGR’s output integrated noise from 0.1 to 10 Hz is 0.82 μV and the thermal noise is 35 nV/√Hz. Furthermore, bias stability tests of the MEMS gyroscope fabricated in our laboratory with the proposed BGR and some commercial BGRs are carried out. Statistical results show that reducing the BGR’s 1/f noise can nearly linearly improve the gyroscope’s BI.
Normal range and predictors of serum erythroferrone in infants
Authors: Bäckström Fredrik , Chmielewska Anna , Domellöf Magnus , Berglund Staffan K.
Published: April 2023

Background

Erythroferrone (ERFE) has been identified as a hepcidin-regulating hormone synthetized by erythroblasts correlating to the erythropoietic activity and the needs for iron substrate in bone marrow of adults. The present study aimed to assess the ERFE serum concentrations and its predictors in infants.

Methods

ERFE was explored at 4 time points during the first year of life in 45 healthy, breastfed, normal birth weight (NBW) infants, and 136 marginally low birth weight infants (LBW, 2000–2500 g) receiving iron (N = 58) or placebo (N = 78) between 6 weeks and 6 months of age.

Results

ERFE concentrations were low at birth, increasing gradually during the first year of life. In NBW infants, reference ranges (5th to 95th percentile) were at 6 weeks <0.005–0.99 ng/mL and at 12 months <0.005–33.7 ng/mL. ERFE was higher in LBW infants at 6 weeks but lower at 12 months compared to NBW and minimally affected by iron supplementation among LBW infants. Correlations of ERFE with erythropoietic and iron status markers were weak and inconsistent.

Conclusions

The role of ERFE in the crosstalk of erythropoiesis and iron homeostasis remains unclear in infants and further studies on ERFE in infants and older children are warranted within the framework of the erythropoietin–ERFE–hepcidin axis.

Impact

Normal range of erythroferrone in healthy infants is described for the first time.

Erythroferrone in infants lacks correlation to iron status and markers of erythropoiesis.

The findings indicate differences in infant regulation of iron homeostasis as compared to adults.

The findings point to a need to study infant erythropoiesis separately from its adult counterpart.

The findings may have clinical impact on management strategies of iron-loading anemia in infancy.
Unexplored diversity and ecological functions of transposable phages
Authors: Zhang Mujie , Hao Yali , Yi Yi , Liu Shunzhang , Sun Qingyang , Tan Xiaoli , Tang Shan , Xiao Xiang , Jian Huahua
Published: April 2023

Phages are prevalent in diverse environments and play major ecological roles attributed to their tremendous diversity and abundance. Among these viruses, transposable phages (TBPs) are exceptional in terms of their unique lifestyle, especially their replicative transposition. Although several TBPs have been isolated and the life cycle of the representative phage Mu has been extensively studied, the diversity distribution and ecological functions of TBPs on the global scale remain unknown. Here, by mining TBPs from enormous microbial genomes and viromes, we established a TBP genome dataset (TBPGD), that expands the number of accessible TBP genomes 384-fold. TBPs are prevalent in diverse biomes and show great genetic diversity. Based on taxonomic evaluations, we propose the categorization of TBPs into four viral groups, including 11 candidate subfamilies. TBPs infect multiple bacterial phyla, and seem to infect a wider range of hosts than non-TBPs. Diverse auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) are identified in the TBP genomes, and genes related to glycoside hydrolases and pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis are highly enriched. Finally, the influences of TBPs on their hosts are experimentally examined by using the marine bacterium Shewanella psychrophila WP2 and its infecting transposable phage SP2. Collectively, our findings greatly expand the genetic diversity of TBPs, and comprehensively reveal their potential influences in various ecosystems.
Ex vivo prime editing of patient haematopoietic stem cells rescues sickle-cell disease phenotypes after engraftment in mice
Authors: Everette Kelcee A. , Newby Gregory A. , Levine Rachel M. , Mayberry Kalin , Jang Yoonjeong , Mayuranathan Thiyagaraj , Nimmagadda Nikitha , Dempsey Erin , Li Yichao , Bhoopalan Senthil Velan , Liu Xiong , Davis Jessie R. , Nelson Andrew T. , Chen Peter J. , Sousa Alexander A. , Cheng Yong , Tisdale John F. , Weiss Mitchell J. , Yen Jonathan S. , Liu David R.
Published: April 2023

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is caused by an A·T-to-T·A transversion mutation in the β-globin gene (HBB). Here we show that prime editing can correct the SCD allele (HBBS) to wild type (HBBA) at frequencies of 15%–41% in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from patients with SCD. Seventeen weeks after transplantation into immunodeficient mice, prime-edited SCD HSPCs maintained HBBA levels and displayed engraftment frequencies, haematopoietic differentiation and lineage maturation similar to those of unedited HSPCs from healthy donors. An average of 42% of human erythroblasts and reticulocytes isolated 17 weeks after transplantation of prime-edited HSPCs from four SCD patient donors expressed HBBA, exceeding the levels predicted for therapeutic benefit. HSPC-derived erythrocytes carried less sickle haemoglobin, contained HBBA-derived adult haemoglobin at 28%–43% of normal levels and resisted hypoxia-induced sickling. Minimal off-target editing was detected at over 100 sites nominated experimentally via unbiased genome-wide analysis. Our findings support the feasibility of a one-time prime editing SCD treatment that corrects HBBS to HBBA, does not require any viral or non-viral DNA template and minimizes undesired consequences of DNA double-strand breaks.
The gut microbiota contributes to the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa in humans and mice
Authors: Fan Yong , Støving René Klinkby , Berreira Ibraim Samar , Hyötyläinen Tuulia , Thirion Florence , Arora Tulika , Lyu Liwei , Stankevic Evelina , Hansen Tue Haldor , Déchelotte Pierre , Sinioja Tim , Ragnarsdottir Oddny , Pons Nicolas , Galleron Nathalie , Quinquis Benoît , Levenez Florence , Roume Hugo , Falony Gwen , Vieira-Silva Sara , Raes Jeroen , Clausen Loa , Telléus Gry Kjaersdam , Bäckhed Fredrik , Oresic Matej , Ehrlich S. Dusko , Pedersen Oluf
Published: April 2023

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder with a high mortality. About 95% of cases are women and it has a population prevalence of about 1%, but evidence-based treatment is lacking. The pathogenesis of AN probably involves genetics and various environmental factors, and an altered gut microbiota has been observed in individuals with AN using amplicon sequencing and relatively small cohorts. Here we investigated whether a disrupted gut microbiota contributes to AN pathogenesis. Shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics were performed on faecal and serum samples, respectively, from a cohort of 77 females with AN and 70 healthy females. Multiple bacterial taxa (for example,Clostridiumspecies) were altered in AN and correlated with estimates of eating behaviour and mental health. The gut virome was also altered in AN including a reduction in viral–bacterial interactions. Bacterial functional modules associated with the degradation of neurotransmitters were enriched in AN and various structural variants in bacteria were linked to metabolic features of AN. Serum metabolomics revealed an increase in metabolites associated with reduced food intake (for example, indole-3-propionic acid). Causal inference analyses implied that serum bacterial metabolites are potentially mediating the impact of an altered gut microbiota on AN behaviour. Further, we performed faecal microbiota transplantation from AN cases to germ-free mice under energy-restricted feeding to mirror AN eating behaviour. We found that the reduced weight gain and induced hypothalamic and adipose tissue gene expression were related to aberrant energy metabolism and eating behaviour. Our ‘omics’ and mechanistic studies imply that a disruptive gut microbiome may contribute to AN pathogenesis.
Neurocognitive bases of self-monitoring of inner speech in hallucination prone individuals
Authors: Stephan-Otto Christian , Núñez Christian , Lombardini Federica , Cambra-Martí Maria Rosa , Ochoa Susana , Senior Carl , Brébion Gildas
Published: April 2023

Verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia patients might be seen as internal verbal productions mistaken for perceptions as a result of over-salient inner speech and/or defective self-monitoring processes. Similar cognitive mechanisms might underpin verbal hallucination proneness in the general population. We investigated, in a non-clinical sample, the cerebral activity associated with verbal hallucinatory predisposition during false recognition of familiar words —assumed to stem from poor monitoring of inner speech—vs. uncommon words. Thirty-seven healthy participants underwent a verbal recognition task. High- and low-frequency words were presented outside the scanner. In the scanner, the participants were then required to recognize the target words among equivalent distractors. Results showed that verbal hallucination proneness was associated with higher rates of false recognition of high-frequency words. It was further associated with activation of language and decisional brain areas during false recognitions of low-, but not high-, frequency words, and with activation of a recollective brain area during correct recognitions of low-, but not high-, frequency words. The increased tendency to report familiar words as targets, along with a lack of activation of the language, recollective, and decisional brain areas necessary for their judgement, suggests failure in the self-monitoring of inner speech in verbal hallucination-prone individuals.
On the controllability of a singular nonregular methaniser system
Authors: Tmar Zied , Wafi Taieb , Besbes Mongi
Published: April 2023

The control and command of singular systems of non-regular type pose very complex problems for automation engineers. The classic concepts of controllability are not applicable because of the non-regularity of the response of such systems whose internal states are no longer controllable in the temporal or frequency plane. New concepts are rather considered such as R-Controllability and Imp-Controllability combined with $$H_2/H_\infty $$

H
2

/

H
∞

type stabilization approaches. This paper proposes a new synthesis of a $$H_2/H_\infty $$

H
2

/

H
∞

controller, written in terms of LMI-like matrix inequalities, dedicated to this type of system. The simulation results, of the controller synthesized on methanation plant are encouraging and have led to better performance compared to other scientific publications in the field.
Full-order adaptive sliding mode control with extended state observer for high-speed PMSM speed regulation
Authors: Luo Meng , Yu Zhichun , Xiao Yang , Xiong Liyong , Xu Qiang , Ma Li , Wu Zhihong
Published: April 2023

In order to achieve speed control of high-speed permanent magnet synchronous motor with high precision, the sliding mode control (SMC) is usually adopted. However, the inherent chattering phenomenon affects the speed control performance. In order to solve this problem, a composite speed regulator is proposed in this paper, which is made up of two parts: the adaptive full-order SMC and extended state observer (ESO). Switching gain adaption law is proposed for minimizing chattering as much as possible while ensuring the robustness of sliding mode control. The total disturbance is estimated by the ESO and through feedforward, thus improving the system anti-disturbance ability. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed speed regulator has been validated in the test bench.
A new method for estimating ore grade based on sample length weighting
Authors: Liu Zhan-Ning , Deng Yang-Yang , Tian Rui , Liu Zhan-Hui , Zhang Peng-Wei
Published: April 2023

Estimation of ore grade is very important for the value evaluation of ore deposits, and it directly affects the development of mineral resources. To improve the accuracy of the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method in ore grade estimation and reduce the smoothing effect of the IDW method in grade estimation, the weight calculation method involved in the IDW method was improved. The length parameter of the ore sample was used to calculate the weight of the IDW method. The length of the ore samples was used as a new factor of the weighting calculation. A new method of IDW integrated with sample length weighting (IDWW) was proposed. The grade estimation of Li, Al, and Fe in porcelain clay ore was used as a case study. A comparative protocol for grade estimation via the IDWW method was designed and implemented. The number of samples involved in the estimation, sample combination, sample grade distribution, and other factors affecting the grade estimation were considered in the experimental scheme. The grade estimation results of the IDWW and the IDW methods were used for comparative analysis of grades of the original and combined samples. The estimated results of the IDWW method were also compared with those of the IDW method. The deviation analysis of the estimated grade mainly included the minimum, maximum, mean, and coefficient of variation of the ore grade. The estimation effect of IDWW method was verified. The minimum deviations of the estimated grade of Li, Al, and Fe were between 9.129% and 59.554%. The maximum deviations were between 4.210 and 22.375%. The mean deviations were between − 1.068 and 7.187%. The deviations in the coefficient of variation were between 3.076 and 36.186%. The deviations in the maximum, minimum, mean, and coefficients of variation of the IDWW were consistent with those of the IDW, demonstrating the accuracy and stability of the IDWW method. The more the samples involved in the estimation, the greater the estimation deviations of IDW and IDWW methods. The estimated deviations of Li, Al, and Fe were affected by the shape of the grade distribution, when the same estimation parameters were used. The grade distribution pattern of the samples significantly influenced the grade estimation results. The IDWW method offers significant theoretical advantages and addresses the adverse effects of uneven sample lengths on the estimates. The IDWW method can effectively reduce the smoothing effect and improves the utilization efficiency of the original samples.
Accuracy of a smartphone application for blood pressure estimation in Bangladesh, South Africa, and Tanzania
Authors: Festo Charles , Vannevel Valerie , Ali Hasmot , Tamrat Tigest , Mollel Getrud J. , Hlongwane Tsakane , Fahmida Kaniz A. , Alland Kelsey , Barreix María , Mehrtash Hedieh , Silva Ronaldo , Thwin Soe Soe , Mehl Garrett , Labrique Alain B. , Masanja Honorati , Tunçalp Ӧzge
Published: April 2023

Undetected and unmonitored hypertension carries substantial mortality and morbidity, especially during pregnancy. We assessed the accuracy of OptiBPTM, a smartphone application for estimating blood pressure (BP), across diverse settings. The study was conducted in community settings: Gaibandha, Bangladesh and Ifakara, Tanzania for general populations, and Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, South Africa for pregnant populations. Based on guidance from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 81,060–2:2018 for non-invasive BP devices and global consensus statement, we compared BP measurements taken by two independent trained nurses on a standard auscultatory cuff to the BP measurements taken by a research version of OptiBPTM called CamBP. For ISO criterion 1, the mean error was 0.5 ± 5.8 mm Hg for the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 0.1 ± 3.9 mmHg for the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in South Africa; 0.8 ± 7.0 mmHg for the SBP and −0.4 ± 4.0 mmHg for the DBP in Tanzania; 3.3 ± 7.4 mmHg for the SBP and −0.4 ± 4.3 mmHg for the DBP in Bangladesh. For ISO criterion 2, the average standard deviation of the mean error per subject was 4.9 mmHg for the SBP and 3.4 mmHg for the DBP in South Africa; 6.3 mmHg for the SBP and 3.6 mmHg for the DBP in Tanzania; 6.4 mmHg for the SBP and 3.8 mmHg for the DBP in Bangladesh. OptiBPTM demonstrated accuracy against ISO standards in study populations, including pregnant populations, except in Bangladesh for SBP (criterion 2). Further research is needed to improve performance across different populations and integration within health systems.
Microbubble cavitation restores Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic susceptibility in vitro and in a septic arthritis model
Authors: Zhao Neil , Curry Dylan , Evans Rachel E. , Isguven Selin , Freeman Theresa , Eisenbrey John R. , Forsberg Flemming , Gilbertie Jessica M. , Boorman Sophie , Hilliard Rachel , Dastgheyb Sana S. , Machado Priscilla , Stanczak Maria , Harwood Marc , Chen Antonia F. , Parvizi Javad , Shapiro Irving M. , Hickok Noreen J. , Schaer Thomas P.
Published: April 2023

Treatment failure in joint infections is associated with fibrinous, antibiotic-resistant, floating and tissue-associated Staphylococcus aureus aggregates formed in synovial fluid (SynF). We explore whether antibiotic activity could be increased against Staphylococcus aureus aggregates using ultrasound-triggered microbubble destruction (UTMD), in vitro and in a porcine model of septic arthritis. In vitro, when bacterially laden SynF is diluted, akin to the dilution achieved clinically with lavage and local injection of antibiotics, amikacin and ultrasound application result in increased bacterial metabolism, aggregate permeabilization, and a 4-5 log decrease in colony forming units, independent of microbubble destruction. Without SynF dilution, amikacin + UTMD does not increase antibiotic activity. Importantly, in the porcine model of septic arthritis, no bacteria are recovered from the SynF after treatment with amikacin and UTMD—ultrasound without UTMD is insufficient. Our data suggest that UTMD + antibiotics may serve as an important adjunct for the treatment of septic arthritis.
Phonon transmission through a nonlocal metamaterial slab
Authors: Chen Yi , Wang Ke , Kadic Muamer , Guenneau Sebastien , Wang Changguo , Wegener Martin
Published: April 2023

Previous theory and experiment has shown that introducing strong (nonlocal) beyond-nearest-neighbor interactions in addition to (local) nearest-neighbor interactions into rationally designed periodic lattices called metamaterials can lead to unusual wave dispersion relations of the lowest band. For roton-like dispersions, this especially includes the possibility of multiple solutions for the wavenumber at a given frequency. Here, we study the one-dimensional frequency-dependent acoustical phonon transmission of a slab of such nonlocal metamaterial in a local surrounding. In addition to the usual Fabry-Perot resonances, we find a series of bound states in the continuum. In their vicinity, sharp Fano-type transmission resonances occur, with sharp zero-transmission minima next to sharp transmission maxima. Our theoretical discussion starts with a discrete mass-and-spring model. We compare these results with solutions of a generalized wave equation for heterogeneous nonlocal effective media. We validate our findings by numerical calculations on three-dimensional metamaterial microstructures for one-dimensional acoustical wave propagation.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of DNA nanocage uptake in zebrafish embryos for targeted tissue bioimaging applications
Authors: Kansara Krupa , Mansuri Abdulkhalik , Rajwar Anjali , Vaswani Payal , Singh Ramesh , Kumar Ashutosh , Bhatia Dhiraj
Published: April 2023

Three-dimensional DNA nanocages have attracted significant attention for various biomedical applications including targeted bioimaging in vivo.
Fluorinated linkers enable the synthesis of flexible MOFs with 1D alkaline earth SBUs and a temperature-induced phase transition
Authors: Sebastian Sean S. , Dicke Finn P. , Ruschewitz Uwe
Published: April 2023

The use of fluorinated BTB leads to the formation of UoC-9 with an unprecedented framework topology, crystalline sponge behaviour and a low-temperature phase transition. Hirshfeld analysis reveals the underlying host–guest interactions in this MOF.
Solution plasma synthesis of perovskite hydroxide CoSn(OH)6 nanocube electrocatalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Narahara Masaki , Lee So Yoon , Sasaki Kodai , Fukushima Kaito , Tanaka Kenichi , Chae Sangwoo , Hu Xiulan , Panomsuwan Gasidit , Ishizaki Takahiro
Published: April 2023

Perovskite-type CoSn(OH)6 (CSO) with sizes of 100 to 300 nm synthesized by solution plasma process showed superior electrocatalytic properties for oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
Hemicellulolytic enzymes in lignocellulose processing
Authors: Østby Heidi , Várnai Anikó
Published: April 2023

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant source of carbon-based material on a global basis, serving as a raw material for cellulosic fibers, hemicellulosic polymers, platform sugars, and lignin resins or monomers. In nature, the various components of lignocellulose (primarily cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) are decomposed by saprophytic fungi and bacteria utilizing specialized enzymes. Enzymes are specific catalysts and can, in many cases, be produced on-site at lignocellulose biorefineries. In addition to reducing the use of often less environmentally friendly chemical processes, the application of such enzymes in lignocellulose processing to obtain a range of specialty products can maximize the use of the feedstock and valorize many of the traditionally underutilized components of lignocellulose, while increasing the economic viability of the biorefinery. While cellulose has a rich history of use in the pulp and paper industries, the hemicellulosic fraction of lignocellulose remains relatively underutilized in modern biorefineries, among other reasons due to the heterogeneous chemical structure of hemicellulose polysaccharides, the composition of which varies significantly according to the feedstock and the choice of pretreatment method and extraction solvent. This paper reviews the potential of hemicellulose in lignocellulose processing with focus on what can be achieved using enzymatic means. In particular, we discuss the various enzyme activities required for complete depolymerization of the primary hemicellulose types found in plant cell walls and for the upgrading of hemicellulosic polymers, oligosaccharides, and pentose sugars derived from hemicellulose depolymerization into a broad spectrum of value-added products.