bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Allee-based distributed algorithm for microbial whole-cell sensors
Authors: Cravo Fabricio , Függer Matthias , Nowak Thomas
Published: April 2024

Reliable detection of substances present at potentially low concentrations is a problem common to many biomedical applications. Complementary to well-established enzyme-, antibody-antigen-, and sequencing-based approaches, so-called microbial whole-cell sensors, i.e., synthetically engineered microbial cells that sense and report substances, have been proposed as alternatives. Typically these cells operate independently: a cell reports an analyte upon local detection.

In this work, we analyze a distributed algorithm for microbial whole-cell sensors, where cells communicate to coordinate if an analyte has been detected. The algorithm, inspired by the Allee effect in biological populations, causes cells to alternate between a logical 0 and 1 state in response to reacting with the particle of interest. When the cells in the logical 1 state exceed a threshold, the algorithm converts the remaining cells to the logical 1 state, representing an easily-detectable output signal. We validate the algorithm through mathematical analysis and simulations, demonstrating that it works correctly even in noisy cellular environments.
In situ observation of mass ejections caused by magnetic reconnections in the ionosphere of Mars
Authors: Ye Yudong , Xu Xiaojun , Lee Lou-Chuang , Yu Jiang , Wang Jing , Zhu Bei , Chang Qing , Xu Jiaying , Xu Qi , Zhou Zilu
Published: April 2024

Explosive mass ejections triggered by magnetic activities are common on our Sun and other stars in the Universe. However, there is a lack of evidence for such explosive phenomena in magnetized or partially magnetized planets with atmospheres. Here we present direct evidence for explosive mass ejections from the Martian ionosphere, resulting from magnetic reconnections between strong crustal field regions with open magnetic fields. A plasma density cavity with signatures of magnetic reconnection that is directly evident for an eruptive mass ejection caught in the act indicates that a considerable amount of ionospheric mass has been rapidly ejected into space. Although Martian mass loss associated with magnetic reconnection has been reported previously, our results demonstrate that explosive mass ejections can occur even on partially magnetized planets without global magnetic fields. In this scenario, we suggest that strong localized magnetic fields extending above the exobase are needed.
Irreversible entropy transport enhanced by fermionic superfluidity
Authors: Fabritius Philipp , Mohan Jeffrey , Talebi Mohsen , Wili Simon , Zwerger Wilhelm , Huang Meng-Zi , Esslinger Tilman
Published: April 2024

The nature of particle and entropy flow between two superfluids is often understood in terms of reversible flow carried by an entropy-free, macroscopic wavefunction. While this wavefunction is responsible for many intriguing properties of superfluids and superconductors, its interplay with excitations in non-equilibrium situations is less understood. Here we observe large concurrent flows of both particles and entropy through a ballistic channel connecting two strongly interacting fermionic superfluids. Both currents respond nonlinearly to chemical potential and temperature biases. We find that the entropy transported per particle is much larger than the prediction of superfluid hydrodynamics in the linear regime and largely independent of changes in the channel’s geometry. By contrast, the timescales of advective and diffusive entropy transport vary significantly with the channel geometry. In our setting, superfluidity counterintuitively increases the speed of entropy transport. Moreover, we develop a phenomenological model describing the nonlinear dynamics within the framework of generalized gradient dynamics. Our approach for measuring entropy currents may help elucidate mechanisms of heat transfer in superfluids and superconducting devices.
Comprehensive mass spectrometric metabolomic profiling of a chemically diverse collection of plants of the Celastraceae family
Authors: Quiros-Guerrero Luis-Manuel , Allard Pierre-Marie , Nothias Louis-Felix , David Bruno , Grondin Antonio , Wolfender Jean-Luc
Published: April 2024

Natural products exhibit interesting structural features and significant biological activities. The discovery of new bioactive molecules is a complex process that requires high-quality metabolite profiling data to properly target the isolation of compounds of interest and enable their complete structural characterization. The same metabolite profiling data can also be used to better understand chemotaxonomic links between species. This Data Descriptor details a dataset resulting from the untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling of 76 natural extracts of the Celastraceae family. The spectral annotation results and related chemical and taxonomic metadata are shared, along with proposed examples of data reuse. This data can be further studied by researchers exploring the chemical diversity of natural products. This can serve as a reference sample set for deep metabolome investigation of this chemically rich plant family.
A Prolonged Artificial Nighttime-light Dataset of China (1984-2020)
Authors: Zhang Lixian , Ren Zhehao , Chen Bin , Gong Peng , Xu Bing , Fu Haohuan
Published: April 2024

Nighttime light remote sensing has been an increasingly important proxy for human activities. Despite an urgent need for long-term products and pilot explorations in synthesizing them, the publicly available long-term products are limited. A Night-Time Light convolutional LSTM network is proposed and applied the network to produce a 1-km annual Prolonged Artificial Nighttime-light DAtaset of China (PANDA-China) from 1984 to 2020. Assessments between modeled and original images show that on average the RMSE reaches 0.73, the coefficient of determination (R2) reaches 0.95, and the linear slope is 0.99 at the pixel level, indicating a high confidence in the quality of generated data products. Quantitative and visual comparisons witness PANDA-China’s superiority against other NTL datasets in its significantly longer NTL dynamics, higher temporal consistency, and better correlations with socioeconomics (built-up areas, gross domestic product, population) characterizing the most relevant indicator in different development phases. The PANDA-China product provides an unprecedented opportunity to trace nighttime light dynamics in the past four decades.
Spatial distribution characteristics of soil heavy metals in Sabao Chaqu watershed of Tuotuo river, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on geographic detector
Authors: Gong Cang , Tan Changhai , Dong Hang , Lu Haichuan , Wang Shunxiang , Liao Zihong , Wangzha Duoji , Zhaxi Wangdui , Tudan Jiancai , Wen Lang
Published: April 2024

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau belongs to the area of extremely fragile environment and sensitive to human activities. In recent years, more and more human interference has been detected in this area. In this study, 128 surface soil samples were collected from the Sabao Chaqu watershed of the Tuotuo river at the source of the Yangtze River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The soil pollution status and spatial distribution characteristics of Cd, Hg, As, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn and Ni were evaluated by soil accumulation index, enrichment factor, pollution index and geographical detector. The results showed that the average contents of As, Cd, Pb and Zn in the study area were 1.2–3.64 times higher than soil background values of Tibet, while the contents of Hg, Cr, Cu and Ni were lower than the background values, while the average content of As was higher than the soil pollution risk screening value (GB15618-2018), and the pollution index showed that As was in a low pollution state, while the other 7 heavy metals were in a safe state. There were significant differences in the spatial distribution of 8 heavy metals and there was a significant correlation with soil properties and distance factors. Factor detection showed that natural factors had the strongest explanatory power to the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni, distance from the lake and soil Sc content had the strongest explanatory power to Hg content, and anthropogenic factors had the strongest explanatory power to Pb content. Interaction detection revealed that the q values of the strongest interaction explanatory power for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 2.81, 4.30, 1.26, 2.47, 2.33, 1.59, 6.37, and 5.08 times higher than their strongest factor detection explanatory power, respectively. The interaction between anthropogenic factors and other factors has an important influence on the spatial differentiation of heavy metals in the study area. Risk detection showed that the average contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were the highest in the subregions of MgO, TS, Sc, X6, X13, MgO, TN and X4, respectively. Comprehensive study shows that the spatial differentiation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn is mainly affected by natural factors, but there are also some anthropogenic factors, the spatial differentiation of Hg is affected by both natural factors and atmospheric deposition, and the spatial distribution characteristics of Pb are mainly affected by anthropogenic factors.
The wide base bipedicled (WIBB) flap in nipple-sparing skin-reducing mastectomy
Authors: Cordova Adriana , Rossi Matteo , Roggio Tiziana , Cammarata Emanuele , Cipolla Calogero , Vieni Salvatore , Toia Francesca
Published: April 2024

In this article, we present a modification of the NS/SRM technique in which the mastopexy design for skin reduction is undertaken with a wide-base bipedicled (WIBB) flap. The WIBB flap can be applied in both autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction. Our reconstructive algorithm is also presented. The clinical data of patients operated on from June 2017 to November 2022 were collected: 51 patients for a total of 71 breasts. Personal data, BMI, type and volume of implants used, and major and minor complications were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The mean age was 48.3 years. BMI ranged between 21.5 and 30.9 kg/m2. Thirty-one patients underwent unilateral mastectomy, while twenty patients underwent bilateral surgery. In 25 breasts, immediate reconstruction was performed with implants and ADM. In 40 breasts, reconstruction was performed with a subpectoral tissue expander, and in 6 breasts, reconstruction was performed with a DIEP flap. We observed only one case (1.4%) of periprosthetic infection requiring implant removal under general anesthesia. Minor complications occurred in 14.1% of patients. The use of both the WIBB flap and our algorithm maintained a low complication rate in our series, ensuring oncological radicality and a good aesthetic result at the same time.
Comparison of early surgical outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection reported by a busy district general hospital in England
Authors: Butnari Valentin , Sultana Momotaz , Mansuri Ahmer , Rao Christopher , Kaul Sandeep , Boulton Richard , Huang Joseph , Rajendran Nirooshun
Published: April 2024

Robotic platforms provide a stable tool with high-definition views and improved ergonomics compared to laparoscopic approaches. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the intra- and short-term postoperative results of oncological resections performed robotically (RCR) and laparoscopically (LCR) at a single centre. Between February 2020 and October 2022, retrospective data on RCR were compared to LCR undertaken during the same period. Parameters compared include total operative time, length of stay (LOS), re-admission rates, 30-day morbidity. 100 RCR and 112 LCR satisfied inclusion criteria. There was no difference between the two group’s demographic and tumour characteristics. Overall, median operative time was shorter in LCR group [200 vs. 247.5 min, p < 0.005], but this advantage was not observed with pelvic and muti-quadrant resections. There was no difference in the rate of conversion [5(5%) vs. 5(4.5%), p > 0.95]. With respect to perioperative outcomes, there was no difference in the overall morbidity, or mortality between RCR and LCR, in particular requirement for blood transfusion [3(3%) vs. 5(4.5%), p 0.72], prolonged ileus [9(9%) vs. 15(13.2%), p 0.38], surgical site infections [5(4%) vs. 5(4.4%), p > 0.95], anastomotic leak [7(7%) vs. 5(4.4%), p 0.55], and re-operation rate [9(9%) vs. 7(6.3%), p 0.6]. RCR had shorter LOS by one night, but this did not reach statistical significance. No difference was observed in completeness of resection but there was a statically significant increase in lymph node harvest in the robotic series. Robotic approach to oncological colorectal resections is safe, with comparable intra- and peri-operative morbidity and mortality to laparoscopic surgery.
Effect of fabrication process on contact resistance and channel in graphene field effect transistors
Authors: Khosravi Rad Babak , Mehrfar Amir Hossein , Sadeghi Neisiani Zahra , Khaje Mahdi , Eslami Majd Abdollah
Published: April 2024

Contact resistance, as one of the main parameters that limits the performance of graphene-based transistors, is highly dependent on the metal-graphene contact fabrication processes. These processes are investigated and the corresponding resistances are measured based on the transfer length method (TLM). In fabrication processes, when annealing is done on chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene samples that are transferred onto SiO2/Si substrates, the adhesion of graphene to the substrate is improved, and poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) residues are also reduced. When the metal deposition layer is first applied to the graphene, and then, the photolithography process is performed to define the electrodes and graphene sheet, the graphene-metal contact resistance is better than that in other methods due to the removal of photoresist residues. In fact, by changing the sequence of the fabrication process steps, the direct contact between photoresist and graphene surface can be prevented. Thus, the contact resistance is reduced and conductivity increases, and in this way, the performance of graphene transistor improves. The results show that the fabrication process has a noticeable effect on the transistor properties such as contact resistance, channel sheet resistance, and conductivity.‌ Here, by using the annealing process and changing the order of photolithography processes, a contact resistance of 470 Ω μm is obtained for Ni-graphene contact, which is relatively favorable.
High-performance optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of transparent conductors based on Tl2O3 under pressure
Authors: Rahnamaye Aliabad H. A. , Asadpour Arzefooni A. , Sadati Seyede Zeinab , Özdemir Evren Görkem , Khosrojerdi P.
Published: April 2024

In this work, the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method (FP- LAPW) and the modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) functional with spin–orbit (SO) coupling are used the obtain the structural, optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of Tl2O3 under pressure. The results show that Tl2O3, as transparent conducting oxide (TCO), is a direct bandgap semiconductor with a band gap of 1.23 eV. The band gap value and the effective mass of electrons increases by increasing pressure. Density of state spectra reveal that the nature of electrons in Tl-6s state in the bottom of conduction band, like free electrons in s state, is responsible for the conducting behavior of Tl2O3. A blue shift is observed in optical spectra such as electron energy loss and absorption spectra with an increase in pressure. Obtained dielectric constants under pressure are inversely proportional to the band gap value according to Penn model. The effects of pressure on thermometric properties are also explored. The hydrostatic pressure increases Seebeck coefficient, while it decreases thermal conductivity that is an effective way to the enhancement of the thermoelectric efficiency of TCOs. A figure of merit (ZT) of 0.98 in p-type Tl2O3 is achieved that is desirable for using in thermoelectric devices.
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) driven activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 results in biased intracellular signaling
Authors: Durydivka Oleh , Palivec Petr , Gazdarica Matej , Mackie Ken , Blahos Jaroslav , Kuchar Martin
Published: April 2024

The Cannabis sativa plant has been used for centuries as a recreational drug and more recently in the treatment of patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders. In many instances, treatment goals include relief from posttraumatic disorders, anxiety, or to support treatment of chronic pain. Ligands acting on cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) are also potential targets for the treatment of other health conditions. Using an evidence-based approach, pharmacological investigation of CB1R agonists is timely, with the aim to provide chronically ill patients relief using well-defined and characterized compounds from cannabis. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), currently available over the counter in many countries to adults and even children, is of great interests to policy makers, legal administrators, and healthcare regulators, as well as pharmacologists. Herein, we studied the pharmacodynamics of HHC epimers, which activate CB1R. We compared their key CB1R-mediated signaling pathway activities and compared them to the pathways activated by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). We provide evidence that activation of CB1R by HHC ligands is only broadly comparable to those mediated by Δ9-THC, and that both HHC epimers have unique properties. Together with the greater chemical stability of HHC compared to Δ9-THC, these molecules have a potential to become a part of modern medicine.
Genetic insights into agronomic and morphological traits of drug-type cannabis revealed by genome-wide association studies
Authors: de Ronne Maxime , Lapierre Éliana , Torkamaneh Davoud
Published: April 2024

Cannabis sativa L., previously concealed by prohibition, is now a versatile and promising plant, thanks to recent legalization, opening doors for medical research and industry growth. However, years of prohibition have left the Cannabis research community lagging behind in understanding Cannabis genetics and trait inheritance compared to other major crops. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) of nine key agronomic and morphological traits, using a panel of 176 drug-type Cannabis accessions from the Canadian legal market. Utilizing high-density genotyping-by-sequencing (HD-GBS), we successfully generated dense genotyping data in Cannabis, resulting in a catalog of 800 K genetic variants, of which 282 K common variants were retained for GWAS analysis. Through GWAS analysis, we identified 18 markers significantly associated with agronomic and morphological traits. Several identified markers exert a substantial phenotypic impact, guided us to putative candidate genes that reside in high linkage-disequilibrium (LD) with the markers. These findings lay a solid foundation for an innovative cannabis research, leveraging genetic markers to inform breeding programs aimed at meeting diverse needs in the industry.
Efficacy evaluation of hydrogen peroxide disinfectant based zinc oxide nanoparticles against diarrhea causing Escherichia coli in ruminant animals and broiler chickens
Authors: Ahmed Walaa I. , Mohammed Asmaa N. , Sleim AL-Shimaa A.
Published: April 2024

Different strains of Escherichia coli that exhibit genetic characteristics linked to diarrhea pose a major threat to both human and animal health. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli), the genetic linkages and routes of transmission between E. coli isolates from different animal species. The efficiency of disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Virkon®S, TH4+, nano zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), and H2O2-based zinc oxide nanoparticles (H2O2/ZnO NPs) against isolated strains of E. coli was evaluated. Using 100 fecal samples from different diarrheal species (cow n = 30, sheep n = 40, and broiler chicken n = 30) for E. coli isolation and identification using the entero-bacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC–PCR) fingerprinting technique. The E. coli properties isolated from several diarrheal species were examined for their pathogenicity in vitro. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, and particle size distribution were used for the synthesis and characterization of ZnO NPs and H2O2/ZnO NPs. The broth macro-dilution method was used to assess the effectiveness of disinfectants and disinfectant-based nanoparticles against E. coli strains. Regarding the results, the hemolytic activity and Congo red binding assays of pathogenic E. coli isolates were 55.3 and 44.7%, respectively. Eleven virulent E. coli isolates were typed into five ERIC-types (A1, A2, B1, B2, and B3) using the ERIC-PCR method. These types clustered into two main clusters (A and B) with 75% similarity. In conclusion, there was 90% similarity between the sheep samples' ERIC types A1 and A2. On the other hand, 89% of the ERIC types B1, B2, and B3 of cows and poultry samples were comparable. The H2O2/ZnO NPs composite exhibits potential antibacterial action against E. coli isolates at 0.04 mg/ml after 120 min of exposure.
The evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in hospital air, their antibiotic resistance and sensitivity of S. aureus to cefoxitin
Authors: Leili Mostafa , Afrasiabi Sedighe , Rostami Roohollah , Khazaei Mohammad , Roshani Mahdaneh , Tarin Zahra
Published: April 2024

Staphylococci as a nosocomial infection agent, increases the possibility of contracting diseases such as wound infection, sepsis and skin infections in humans. It was shown that Staphylococcus aureus considered as a commensal organism causing various both endemic and epidemic hospital-acquired infections. Air samples were collected from Sina Hospital, Hamadan city, which dedicated to various respiratory diseases and analysed by biochemical tests. The resistance and sensitivity of bacterial strains to the cefoxitin antibiotic were also determined. Staphylococcus aureus density (CFU/m3) were measured in the air of various wards as follows: infectious 13.35 ± 7.57, poisoning 29.84 ± 33.43, emergency 8.64 ± 2.72, eye operation room 0, recovery room 6.28 ± 4.90, skin outpatient operation room 4.71 ± 2.36, respiratory isolation 0, ICU 0.79 ± 1.36, and the administrative room 6.28 ± 5.93; while the Staphylococcus epidermidis were as follows: infectious 1.57 ± 2.35, poisoning 2.35 ± 4.08, emergency 2.35 ± 2.35, eye operation room 0, recovery room 0.78 ± 1.36, skin outpatient operation room 2.35 ± 2.35, respiratory isolation 0, ICU 2.35 ± 4.08, and the administrative room 1.57 ± 1.36. The positive and negative control samples showed a concentration of 0. Moreover, among the S. aureus isolates, 33.3% were found to be resistant to cefoxitin, while 40.6% showed to be sensitive. Based on the results, the number of active people and the type and quality of ventilation are very effective in the air quality of various wards of hospital. The poisoning section showed the most contaminated air and the highest resistance and sensitivity to the cefoxitin antibiotic.
Streamlining neuroradiology workflow with AI for improved cerebrovascular structure monitoring
Authors: Banerjee Subhashis , Nysjö Fredrik , Toumpanakis Dimitrios , Dhara Ashis Kumar , Wikström Johan , Strand Robin
Published: April 2024

Radiological imaging to examine intracranial blood vessels is critical for preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up. Automated segmentation of cerebrovascular anatomy from Time-Of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography (TOF-MRA) can provide radiologists with a more detailed and precise view of these vessels. This paper introduces a domain generalized artificial intelligence (AI) solution for volumetric monitoring of cerebrovascular structures from multi-center MRAs. Our approach utilizes a multi-task deep convolutional neural network (CNN) with a topology-aware loss function to learn voxel-wise segmentation of the cerebrovascular tree. We use Decorrelation Loss to achieve domain regularization for the encoder network and auxiliary tasks to provide additional regularization and enable the encoder to learn higher-level intermediate representations for improved performance. We compare our method to six state-of-the-art 3D vessel segmentation methods using retrospective TOF-MRA datasets from multiple private and public data sources scanned at six hospitals, with and without vascular pathologies. The proposed model achieved the best scores in all the qualitative performance measures. Furthermore, we have developed an AI-assisted Graphical User Interface (GUI) based on our research to assist radiologists in their daily work and establish a more efficient work process that saves time.
Microbiomic association between the saliva and salivary stone in patients with sialolithiasis
Authors: Park Jiwon , Jung Soo Yeon , Kim Ha Yeong , Lee Kyeong Eun , Go Yu Jin , Kim Han Su , Yoon Seo-yoon , Kwon Cheol-O , Park Yoon Shin
Published: April 2024

Salivary stones, known as sialoliths, form within the salivary ducts due to abnormal salivary composition and cause painful symptoms, for which surgical removal is the primary treatment. This study explored the role of the salivary microbial communities in the formation of sialoliths. We conducted a comparative analysis of microbial communities present in the saliva and salivary stones, and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene in samples obtained from patients with sialoliths and from healthy individuals. Although the diversity in the saliva was high, the essential features of the microbial environment in sialoliths were low diversity and evenness. The association of microbial abundance between stones and saliva revealed a positive correlation betweenPeptostreptococcusandPorphyromonas, and a negative correlation forPseudomonasin saliva. The functional potential differences between saliva and stones Bacterial chemotaxis and the citrate cycle were negatively correlated with most genera found in salivary stone samples. However, the functions required for organic compound degradation did not differ between the saliva samples. Although some microbes were shared between the sialoliths and saliva, their compositions differed significantly. Our study presents a novel comparison between salivary stones and salivary microbiomes, suggesting potential preventive strategies against sialolithiasis.
External evaluation of a deep learning-based approach for automated brain volumetry in patients with huntington’s disease
Authors: Haase Robert , Lehnen Nils Christian , Schmeel Frederic Carsten , Deike Katerina , Rüber Theodor , Radbruch Alexander , Paech Daniel
Published: April 2024

A crucial step in the clinical adaptation of an AI-based tool is an external, independent validation. The aim of this study was to investigate brain atrophy in patients with confirmed, progressed Huntington's disease using a certified software for automated volumetry and to compare the results with the manual measurement methods used in clinical practice as well as volume calculations of the caudate nuclei based on manual segmentations. Twenty-two patients were included retrospectively, consisting of eleven patients with Huntington's disease and caudate nucleus atrophy and an age- and sex-matched control group. To quantify caudate head atrophy, the frontal horn width to intercaudate distance ratio and the intercaudate distance to inner table width ratio were obtained. The software mdbrain was used for automated volumetry. Manually measured ratios and automatically measured volumes of the groups were compared using two-sample t-tests. Pearson correlation analyses were performed. The relative difference between automatically and manually determined volumes of the caudate nuclei was calculated. Both ratios were significantly different between the groups. The automatically and manually determined volumes of the caudate nuclei showed a high level of agreement with a mean relative discrepancy of − 2.3 ± 5.5%. The Huntington's disease group showed significantly lower volumes in a variety of supratentorial brain structures. The highest degree of atrophy was shown for the caudate nucleus, putamen, and pallidum (all p < .0001). The caudate nucleus volume and the ratios were found to be strongly correlated in both groups. In conclusion, in patients with progressed Huntington's disease, it was shown that the automatically determined caudate nucleus volume correlates strongly with measured ratios commonly used in clinical practice. Both methods allowed clear differentiation between groups in this collective. The software additionally allows radiologists to more objectively assess the involvement of a variety of brain structures that are less accessible to standard semiquantitative methods.
A comparative analysis of pairwise image stitching techniques for microscopy images
Authors: Mohammadi Fatemeh Sadat , Mohammadi Seyyed Erfan , Mojarad Adi Parsa , Mirkarimi Seyed Mohammad Ali , Shabani Hasti
Published: April 2024

Stitching of microscopic images is a technique used to combine multiple overlapping images (tiles) from biological samples with a limited field of view and high resolution to create a whole slide image. Image stitching involves two main steps: pairwise registration and global alignment. Most of the computational load and the accuracy of the stitching algorithm depend on the pairwise registration method. Therefore, choosing an efficient, accurate, robust, and fast pairwise registration method is crucial in the whole slide imaging technique. This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of different pairwise registration techniques in terms of execution time and quality. These techniques included feature-based methods such as Harris, Shi-Thomasi, FAST, ORB, BRISK, SURF, SIFT, KAZE, MSER, and deep learning-based SuperPoint features. Additionally, region-based methods were analyzed, which were based on the normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and the combination of phase correlation and NCC. Investigations have been conducted on microscopy images from different modalities such as bright-field, phase-contrast, and fluorescence. The feature-based methods were highly robust to uneven illumination in tiles. Moreover, some features were found to be more accurate and faster than region-based methods, with the SURF features identified as the most effective technique. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of the most efficient and accurate pairwise registration method for creating whole slide images, which is essential for the advancement of computational pathology and biology.
Application and comparative analysis of Intelligent Monitoring Technology for Grouted Pile Construction based on abaqus
Authors: Wu Rong , Jiang Yangyang , Zhao Shunzhi , Chen Min , Shang Shiqiang , Lang Xuedong
Published: April 2024

In order to realize the intelligent monitoring of the high-precision positioning of the hole position and the real-time control of the verticality of the pile, an intelligent monitoring system was developed based on the combination positioning technology of BDS and UWB and the biaxial tilt sensor, and the numerical simulation and comparative analysis of the verticality of the pile were carried out by abaqus. The deviation of pile foundation in different directions and the deviation of pile body are controlled by the monitoring system, and abnormal warning is made when the deviation exceeds the permissible range.Through the application of intelligent monitoring system in the pile foundation engineering area of Changshui Airport, it is found that the plane offset and perpendicularity of all piles meet the standard requirements and the construction error is controlled at a small value. The results show that the application of intelligent inspection system can not only ensure the construction quality of pile foundation, but also meet and improve the level of digitization and information technology of smart construction site.
Evaluating the effect of unidirectional loading on the piezoresistive characteristics of carbon nanoparticles
Authors: Alderete Bruno , Mücklich Frank , Suarez Sebastian
Published: April 2024

The piezoresistive effect of materials can be adopted for a plethora of sensing applications, including force sensors, structural health monitoring, motion detection in fabrics and wearable, etc. Although metals are the most widely adopted material for sensors due to their reliability and affordability, they are significantly affected by temperature. This work examines the piezoresistive performance of carbon nanoparticle (CNP) bulk powders and discusses their potential applications based on strain-induced changes in their resistance and displacement. The experimental results are correlated with the characteristics of the nanoparticles, namely, dimensionality and structure. This report comprehensively characterizes the piezoresistive behavior of carbon black (CB), onion-like carbon (OLC), carbon nanohorns (CNH), carbon nanotubes (CNT), dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNT-D), graphite flakes (GF), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The characterization includes assessment of the ohmic range, load-dependent electrical resistance and displacement tracking, a modified gauge factor for bulk powders, and morphological evaluation of the CNP. Two-dimensional nanostructures exhibit promising results for low loads due to their constant compression-to-displacement relationship. Additionally, GF could also be used for high load applications. OLC’s compression-to-displacement relationship fluctuates, however, for high load it tends to stabilize. CNH could be applicable for both low and high loading conditions since its compression-to-displacement relationship fluctuates in the mid-load range. CB and CNT show the most promising results, as demonstrated by their linear load-resistance curves (logarithmic scale) and constant compression-to-displacement relationship. The dispersion process for CNT is unnecessary, as smaller agglomerates cause fluctuations in their compression-to-displacement relationship with negligible influence on its electrical performance.
Effects of different treatments on pain, functional disability, position sense and range of motion in elite bodybuilders with chronic low back pain
Authors: Papoli Amirmohammad Faal , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad , Mirkarimpour Seyed Hossein
Published: April 2024

Back pain is one of the major global challenges and is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders occurring in 80% of people at least once in their lifetime. Therefore, the need to find appropriate treatment methods for this issue is very important. The objective is to examine the short-term and acute effects of a treatment session with dry needling, massage therapy, stretching exercises and Kinesio tape on pain, functional disability, position sense and range of motion in elite bodybuilders with non-specific chronic low back pain. The sample of this quasi-experimental study consisted of 48 bodybuilders with non-specific chronic low back pain (all male, mean age = 25.96 ± 2.18 years; mean weight = 74.45 ± 4.51 kg; mean height = 173.88 ± 3.74 cm; mean BMI = 24.60 ± 0.74 kg/m2) who randomly were placed in 4 dry needling, massage therapy, stretching exercises and Kinesio tape groups. The duration of each intervention was 30 min. The dependent variables in this study included the massage range of motion, position sense tests and visual pain scale that were taken separately from each subject in pretest, posttest (acute effect) and follow-up test (72 h after posttest; short-term effect). The results of a 4 (groups) × 3 (time) the mixed ANOVAs showed that pain in the short-term phase was significantly lower in the dry needling group than in the stretching and massage groups (P < 0.05). Also in the acute effect phase, the flexion range of motion was significantly lower in the dry needling group than in the massage group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the two groups of stretching and massage exercises showed significantly greater range of motion (P < 0.05). Other comparisons were not significant (P > 0.05). The findings of the study showed that both massage and stretching treatment have higher acute effects, while dry needling treatment was more effective in follow up. On the other hand, these findings show that these treatment methods can have immediate and lasting positive effects in improving the performance in elite bodybuilders with non-specific chronic low back pain.
Design of three-component essential oil extract mixture from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus with enhanced antioxidant activity
Authors: Assaggaf Hamza , Jeddi Mohamed , Mrabti Hanae Naceiri , Ez-zoubi Amine , Qasem Ahmed , Attar Ammar , Goh Bey Hing , Tan Sang Loon , Bouyahya Abdelhakim , Goh Khang Wen , Hachlafi Naoufal El
Published: April 2024

The development of novel antioxidant compounds with high efficacy and low toxicity is of utmost importance in the medicine and food industries. Moreover, with increasing concerns about the safety of synthetic components, scientists are beginning to search for natural sources of antioxidants, especially essential oils (EOs). The combination of EOs may produce a higher scavenging profile than a single oil due to better chemical diversity in the mixture. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to assess the antioxidant activity of three EOs extracted from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus in individual and combined forms using the augmented-simplex design methodology. The in vitro antioxidant assays were performed using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging approaches. The results of the Chromatography Gas-Mass spectrometry (CG-MS) characterization showed that citral (29.62%) and niral (27.32%) are the main components for C. flexuosus, while d-carvone (62.09%) and d-limonene (29.58%) are the most dominant substances in C. carvi. By contrast, β-asarone (69.11%) was identified as the principal component of A. calamus (30.2%). The individual EO exhibits variable scavenging activities against ABTS and DPPH radicals. These effects were enhanced through the mixture of the three EOs. The optimal antioxidant formulation consisted of 20% C. flexuosus, 53% C. carvi, and 27% A. calamus for DPPHIC50. Whereas 17% C. flexuosus, 43% C. carvi, and 40% A. calamus is the best combination leading to the highest scavenging activity against ABTS radical. These findings suggest a new research avenue for EOs combinations to be developed as novel natural formulations useful in food and biopharmaceutical products.
Optimization and establishment of laboratory rearing conditions for Cimex lectularius L. against variable temperature and relative humidity
Authors: Banerjee Amartya , Saha Achintya , Das Parikshit , Kakati Ajay , Saha Buddhadeb , Goyary Danswrang , Bhutia Yangchen D. , Karmakar Sanjeev , Kishor Sumit , Rahaman Saidur , Chattopadhyay Pronobesh
Published: April 2024

Emerging infestations of bed bugs are affecting normal human lifestyle globally. This study has been designed to optimize the rearing conditions for Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera), to support the scientific research on them. Bed bugs have been projected onto three different temperature (20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C) and relative humidity (50%, 70%, and 90%) conditions to check their overall growth and survival rate. Adult mortality, weight loss, egg laying, percentage hatching, hatching initiation and completion, nymph mortality, and molting have been evaluated to optimize the best conditions. The temperature at 25 °C with 90% RH showed minimum mortality for adults (female 13.33 ± 3.33% and male 6.67 ± 3.33%) and nymphs (13.33 ± 3.33%), while maximum egg laying (40.33 ± 1.86), with highest percentage hatching (98.23 ± 0.58%). At 30 °C with 90% RH, hatching initiation and completion (5.19 ± 0.12 days and 7.23 ± 0.16 days) as well as molting initiation and completion (3.73 ± 0.12 days and 7.00 ± 0.24 days) were found to be fastest. Thus, it can be concluded that 25 °C with 90% RH is ideal for rearing of adults and 30 °C with 90% RH is appropriate for rapid growth of nymphs.
Molecular dynamics simulations suggest the potential toxicity of fluorinated graphene to HP35 protein via unfolding the α-helix structure
Authors: Zou Fangrong , Gu Zonglin , Perez-Aguilar Jose Manuel , Luo Yuqi
Published: April 2024

Fluorinated graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial composed of three atomic layers, a central carbon layer sandwiched between two layers of fluorine atoms, has attracted considerable attention across various fields, particularly for its potential use in biomedical applications. Nonetheless, scant effort has been devoted to assessing the potential toxicological implications of this nanomaterial. In this study, we scrutinize the potential impact of fluorinated graphene on a protein model, HP35 by utilizing extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation methods. Our MD results elucidate that upon adsorption to the nanomaterial, HP35 undergoes a denaturation process initiated by the unraveling of the second helix of the protein and the loss of the proteins hydrophobic core. In detail, substantial alterations in various structural features of HP35 ensue, including alterations in hydrogen bonding, Q value, and RMSD. Subsequent analyses underscore that hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions (predominant), alongside electrostatic energy (subordinate), exert influence over the adsorption of HP35 on the fluorinated graphene surface. Mechanistic scrutiny attests that the unrestrained lateral mobility of HP35 on the fluorinated graphene nanomaterial primarily causes the exposure of HP35's hydrophobic core, resulting in the eventual structural denaturation of HP35. A trend in the features of 2D nanostructures is proposed that may facilitate the denaturation process. Our findings not only substantiate the potential toxicity of fluorinated graphene but also unveil the underlying molecular mechanism, which thereby holds significance for the prospective utilization of such nanomaterials in the field of biomedicine.
Enhanced high β-carotene yeast cell production by Rhodotorula paludigena CM33 and in vitro digestibility in aquatic animals
Authors: Thumkasem Namphet , On-mee Thapanut , Kongsinkaew Chatchol , Chittapun Supenya , Pornpukdeewattana Soisuda , Ketudat-Cairns Mariena , Thongprajukaew Karun , Antimanon Sompot , Charoenrat Theppanya
Published: April 2024

This study assessed Rhodotorula paludigena CM33's growth and β-carotene production in a 22-L bioreactor for potential use as an aquatic animal feed supplement. Optimizing the feed medium's micronutrient concentration for high-cell-density fed-batch cultivation using glucose as the carbon source yielded biomass of 89.84 g/L and β-carotene concentration of 251.64 mg/L. Notably, using sucrose as the carbon source in feed medium outperforms glucose feeds, resulting in a β-carotene concentration of 285.00 mg/L with a similar biomass of 87.78 g/L. In the fed-batch fermentation using Sucrose Feed Medium, R. paludigena CM33 exhibited high biomass production rates (Qx) of 0.91 g/L.h and remarkable β-carotene production rates (Qp) of 2.97 mg/L.h. In vitro digestibility assays showed that R. paludigena CM33, especially when cultivated using sucrose, enhances protein digestibility affirming its suitability as an aquatic feed supplement. Furthermore, R. paludigena CM33's nutrient-rich profile and probiotic potential make it an attractive option for aquatic nutrition. This research highlights the importance of cost-effective carbon sources in large-scale β-carotene production for aquatic animal nutrition.
Development of grey wolf optimization based modified fast terminal sliding mode controller for three phase interleaved boost converter fed PV system
Authors: Krishnaram K. , Suresh Padmanabhan T. , Alsaif Faisal , Senthilkumar S.
Published: April 2024

The conventional MPPT method has drawbacks, such as that under partial shading conditions, several peaks occur and identifying the global peak is difficult. It may converge to a local peak and lead to poor conversion efficiency and tracking efficiency. Implementation of a hybrid algorithm by integrating P&O and metaheuristic algorithms can perform better under partial shading conditions. But the tracking speed is low and the response time is longer. To mitigate the issues mentioned above, a new hybrid algorithm has been suggested that integrates GWO and a modified fast terminal sliding mode controller (MFTSMC). The suggested method with three phase ILBC is incorporated into the PV system. The MATLAB tool is employed to experiment with this study. The performance of GWO-MFTSMC is analysed through MATLAB/ SIMULINK and compared with the performance of ANN-FTSMC and PSO-FTSMC algorithm based MPPT techniques. A hardware prototype is developed and tested for 5 × 200 W solar PV modules with the GWO-MFTSMC algorithm. The proposed method conversion efficiency is 99.72% and 96.15% under simulation and hardware realisation, respectively, which is higher than the ANN-FTSMC and PSO-FTSMC methods.
Inducing perceived group variability triggers the incorporation of counter-stereotypic information into a generalized stereotype change
Authors: Santos Ana Sofia , Garcia-Marques L. , Palma T. A. , Reese J.
Published: April 2024

Perceived variability is the extent to which individuals perceive group members as being similar to one another. Previous research has focused on how: group variability is perceived (and measured); information indicative of group heterogeneity can lead to reductions in stereotypicality; or how stereotype-inconsistent information can result into increased perceived variability. The present combines the three lines of research into a single research venue. In previous studies the stereotypicality of a group representation was influenced by priming stereotype-unrelated traits in an unrelated-context, prior to stereotype measurement; but priming counter-stereotypic traits had no effect on stereotypicality, although it boosted perceptions of group's variability. The present study examines whether highlighting dissimilarities among members of the same professional groups results in subsequent changes in the reported stereotype for a, not yet mentioned, group. The more the dissimilarity among group members, the more likely individuals were to incorporate counter-stereotypic information into the targeted-group, described as less stereotypic, even in central tendency measures. Importantly, the generating mechanism may involve a modification of participants' overall perception of variability. When members within professional groups are perceived as dissimilar, the well-known resistance of stereotypes to counter-stereotypic information is lessened making the group representations more flexible and less biased.