bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generative artificial intelligence
Authors: Banh Leonardo , Strobel Gero
Published: December 2023

Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled new paradigms of machine processing, shifting from data-driven, discriminative AI tasks toward sophisticated, creative tasks through generative AI. Leveraging deep generative models, generative AI is capable of producing novel and realistic content across a broad spectrum (e.g., texts, images, or programming code) for various domains based on basic user prompts. In this article, we offer a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of generative AI with its underpinning concepts and prospects. We provide a conceptual introduction to relevant terms and techniques, outline the inherent properties that constitute generative AI, and elaborate on the potentials and challenges. We underline the necessity for researchers and practitioners to comprehend the distinctive characteristics of generative artificial intelligence in order to harness its potential while mitigating its risks and to contribute to a principal understanding.
Ultrastructural, Secondary Metabolite, and Antioxidant Modulation in Response to Salt-Affected Habitats Induced Oxidative Stress and Their Accumulation in Malva parviflora L. and Rumex dentatus L.
Authors: Kazamel Amany M. , Haroun Samia A. , Noureldin Alshaymaa A. , El-Sherbiny Ghada A. , El-Shahaby Omer A. , Sofy Mahmoud R. , AlBakry Alaa F. , Gamel Rasha M. E.
Published: December 2023

Salinity stress is a major abiotic factor that affects medicinal plant growth, performance, and secondary compounds. Malva parviflora L. and Rumex dentatus L. plants were collected from three habitats in the northeastern Nile Delta governorates of Damietta and El-Dakahlia. Conductivity (salinity) classified the habitats as mesophytic, moderately saline, and saline. Chemical and physical soil characteristics varied by habitat. Results show that M. parviflora L. and R. dentatus L. had high soluble sugars, total carbohydrates, electrolyte leakage, and proline in the saline habitat. In contrast, mesophytic habitats showed low content. In addition, R. dentatus L. had more antioxidant enzymes and elements in saline habitats than in mesophytic habitats. In saline habitats, M. parviflora L. and R. dentatus L. were characterized by more calcium and sodium increase than mesophytic habitats. Moreover, R. dentatus L. had more phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and tannins under saline conditions than M. parviflora. Meanwhile, in the saline habitat, plant hormones, i.e., indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid, decreased significantly in both M. parviflora and R. dentatus than in the mesophytic habitat. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the tested plants showed the highest stomatal frequency and area on the lower surface of mesophytic plant leaves compared to either its upper surface or both leaf surfaces in saline habitat. Hence, it can be concluded that R. dentatus plant can mitigate the negative effects of salinity by improving the qualitative and quantitative performance under salinity stress more than M. parviflora plant.
Update of the year 2019 modeling emission inventory in China
Authors: Kim Seoyeon , Kim Jinseok , Hu Hyejung , Jang Meongdo , Lee Jae-Bum , Hong Sung Chul , Kim Okgil , Woo Jung-Hun
Published: December 2023

Using updated emission inventories can enhance the accuracy of air quality forecast models. Given China’s rapid economic growth and Korea’s geographical and meteorological position on the windward side of China, updating China’s emission inventory has become particularly crucial for Korea’s air quality modeling. This study aimed to develop an updated version of China’s Emission Inventory in Comprehensive Regional Emissions for Atmospheric Transport Experiments version 3 for the base year of 2019 (CREATEv3 (YR 2019)). To achieve this goal, we utilized the Chinese emission inventory of CREATEv3 for the base year of 2015 (CREATEv3 (YR 2015)) as a framework to incorporate the latest Chinese emission data from the Multi-resolution Emission Inventory Model for Climate and Air Pollution Research for the base year of 2019 (MEIC COVID-19 (YR 2019)) and update the inventory. The updated China’s annual emissions are now reflected in CREATEv3 (YR 2019), and the amounts are as follows: 132 Tg for CO, 21 Tg for NOx, 8 Tg for SO2, 7 Tg for PM2.5, 9 Tg for NH3, and 28 Tg for volatile organic compound (VOC). By comparing previous Chinese emission inventories with the updated inventory developed in this study, it was found that SO2, NOx, VOC, and NH3 emissions were decreased. Therefore, using the updated inventory seemingly reduces the impact of China’s fine dust on Korea. By comparing emissions by pollutant and region in China using CREATEv3 (YR 2019), it was found that regions with high emissions of targeted pollutants strongly correlated with major industries operating in those areas. This study is expected to provide insights into China’s emission changes in 2019 and support air quality forecasting.
Association Between Stroke Severity and Serum Troponin in Acute Stroke
Authors: Kuczynski Andrea M. , Rzyczniak Grace , Cheong Gee Hung Leo , Famiyeh Petra , Vyas Manav V.
Published: December 2023

Serum troponin is often elevated in patients with acute stroke and its mechanism is unknown. In a retrospective single-center cohort study, we evaluated the association between stroke severity and serum troponin in 187 patients with acute stroke using multivariable modified Poisson models. A one-point increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (measure of stroke severity) was associated with a marginally higher serum troponin level in adjusted models (aIRR 1.03; 1.01–1.05, P = 0.001). The modest, yet potentially independent, association between stroke severity and serum troponins could suggest a neurogenic basis for a cardiac injury in patients with acute stroke.
Comparison of one-sided and diffusion-limited evaporation models for thin liquid droplets
Authors: Larsson Christopher , Kumar Satish
Published: December 2023

Evaporating sessile droplets are critical to many industrial applications and are also ubiquitous in nature. Two predominant evaporation models have emerged in the literature, one-sided and diffusion-limited, with differing assumptions on the evaporation process. Both models are used widely, and their predictions can differ greatly from each other, but the physical mechanisms responsible for these differences are not yet well understood. Here, we develop a lubrication-theory-based model of a thin evaporating sessile droplet, and compare predictions from both evaporation models to elucidate the origins of the differences in their predictions. For the one-sided model, we derive expressions for the droplet lifetime, show that in certain parameter regimes the total evaporation rate is proportional to the droplet surface area, and demonstrate that the contact line is always warmer than the bulk of the droplet. Furthermore, we show that differences in the structures of the evaporation models near the contact line lead to qualitatively different behaviour of the apparent contact angles and interface temperature profiles. The fundamental understanding gained from this work is expected to be helpful in determining which evaporation model is most appropriate for describing experimental observations.
Turbulent energy transfers in physical and scale spaces at dissipative length scales
Authors: Larssen H.S. , Vassilicos J.C.
Published: December 2023

In statistically stationary homogeneous incompressible turbulence, the average energy transfer rate balance which exists at diffusion/dissipation-dominated length scales does not reflect what actually happens locally in space and time. We use a highly resolved direct numerical simulation of forced periodic turbulence to shed some light on the actual fluctuating dynamics which occur at these very small scales and which are rubbed off by averaging. Even though the viscous diffusion in physical space averages to zero and fluctuates less intensely than all other terms (except the energy input rate) in the local (in space–time) two-point energy balance, it fundamentally cannot be neglected. The local unsteadiness and the interspace turbulence transport terms cannot be ignored either in the interscale energy dynamics in spite of the fact that they also average to zero.
DIVIDING LINES BETWEEN POSITIVE THEORIES
Authors: DMITRIEVA ANNA , GALLINARO FRANCESCO , KAMSMA MARK
Published: December 2023

We generalise the properties$\mathsf {OP}$,$\mathsf {IP}$,k-$\mathsf {TP}$,$\mathsf {TP}_{1}$,k-$\mathsf {TP}_{2}$,$\mathsf {SOP}_{1}$,$\mathsf {SOP}_{2}$, and$\mathsf {SOP}_{3}$to positive logic, and prove various implications and equivalences between them. We also provide a characterisation of stability in positive logic in analogy with the one in full first-order logic, both on the level of formulas and on the level of theories. For simple theories there are the classically equivalent definitions of not having$\mathsf {TP}$and dividing having local character, which we prove to be equivalent in positive logic as well. Finally, we show that a thick theoryThas$\mathsf {OP}$iff it has$\mathsf {IP}$or$\mathsf {SOP}_{1}$and thatThas$\mathsf {TP}$iff it has$\mathsf {SOP}_{1}$or$\mathsf {TP}_{2}$, analogous to the well-known results in full first-order logic where$\mathsf {SOP}_{1}$is replaced by$\mathsf {SOP}$in the former and by$\mathsf {TP}_{1}$in the latter. Our proofs of these final two theorems are new and make use of Kim-independence.
Beyond the limitations of any imaginable mechanism: Large language models and psycholinguistics
Authors: Houghton Conor , Kazanina Nina , Sukumaran Priyanka
Published: December 2023

Large language models (LLMs) are not detailed models of human linguistic processing. They are, however, extremely successful at their primary task: Providing a model for language. For this reason LLMs are important in psycholinguistics: They are useful as a practical tool, as an illustrative comparative, and philosophically, as a basis for recasting the relationship between language and thought.
The scientific value of explanation and prediction
Authors: Lin Hause
Published: December 2023

Deep neural network models have revived long-standing debates on the value of explanation versus prediction for advancing science. Bowers et al.'s critique will not make these models go away, but it is likely to prompt new work that seeks to reconcile explanatory and predictive models, which could change how we determine what constitutes valuable scientific knowledge.
Psychophysics may be the game-changer for deep neural networks (DNNs) to imitate the human vision
Authors: Chandran Keerthi S. , Paul Amrita Mukherjee , Paul Avijit , Ghosh Kuntal
Published: December 2023

Psychologically faithful deep neural networks (DNNs) could be constructed by training with psychophysics data. Moreover, conventional DNNs are mostly monocular vision based, whereas the human brain relies mainly on binocular vision. DNNs developed as smaller vision agent networks associated with fundamental and less intelligent visual activities, can be combined to simulate more intelligent visual activities done by the biological brain.
OffensEval 2023: Offensive language identification in the age of Large Language Models
Authors: Zampieri Marcos , Rosenthal Sara , Nakov Preslav , Dmonte Alphaeus , Ranasinghe Tharindu
Published: December 2023

The OffensEval shared tasks organized as part of SemEval-2019–2020 were very popular, attracting over 1300 participating teams. The two editions of the shared task helped advance the state of the art in offensive language identification by providing the community with benchmark datasets in Arabic, Danish, English, Greek, and Turkish. The datasets were annotated using the OLID hierarchical taxonomy, which since then has become the de facto standard in general offensive language identification research and was widely used beyond OffensEval. We present a survey of OffensEval and related competitions, and we discuss the main lessons learned. We further evaluate the performance of Large Language Models (LLMs), which have recently revolutionalized the field of Natural Language Processing. We use zero-shot prompting with six popular LLMs and zero-shot learning with two task-specific fine-tuned BERT models, and we compare the results against those of the top-performing teams at the OffensEval competitions. Our results show that while some LMMs such as Flan-T5 achieve competitive performance, in general LLMs lag behind the best OffensEval systems.
The Onset of Recrystallization in Polar Firn
Authors: Ogunmolasuyi Ayobami , Murdza Andrii , Baker Ian
Published: December 2023

Constraining the onset of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and its effects on the mechanical properties of firn is crucial for firn densification modeling. To that end, samples from a depth of 13 m in a Summit, Greenland (72°35′N, 38°25′W) firn core were subjected to creep tests at −14°C and 0.21 MPa compressive stress to strains of 7%, 12%, 18%, and 29%. Microstructural analyses using thin‐section imaging and microcomputed x‐ray tomography (micro‐CT) revealed smaller grain sizes, reduced specific surface area and connectivity, and increased density in relation to reduced porosity as the strain increases. These results show that DRX occurs in firn under creep, with strain‐induced boundary migration (SIBM) and nucleation and growth starting at ∼7%. DRX leads to elongated grains, reduced grain size, and the development of a preferred crystallographic orientation, indicating that DRX occurs by both SIBM and nucleation and growth.
Modification of Along‐Ridge Topography and Crustal Thickness by Mantle Plume and Oceanic Transform Fault at Ultra‐Slow Spreading Mohns Ridge
Authors: Zhang Yinuo , Zhang Fan , Zhang Xubo , Zhang Tao , Lin Jian , Zhou Zhiyuan , Zhang Jiangyang
Published: December 2023

The mantle plumes modify geophysical and geochemical features along and across mid‐ocean ridges. Despite abundant studies of plume‐ridge interaction, few geodynamic studies focus on the Arctic Ocean. The Jan Mayen Hotspot is located at the southern end of the Mohns Ridge and offset by the Jan Mayen Transform Fault, which creates an ideal area to study plume‐ridge‐transform fault interaction at the ultra‐slow spreading ridge. Through analyzing geophysical observations, we revealed that the M factor and crustal thickness decrease and the axial relief increases northeastward along the Mohns Ridge within a distance of ∼370 km to the Jan Mayen Hotspot. Combined with modeling results, the properties of the Jan Mayen plume were estimated, which has a diameter of 75 km, a temperature anomaly of 100°C, and a buoyancy flux of 0.22 Mg/s. Additionally, our model results indicate that the along‐ridge dispersion of plume is slightly enhanced by the transform fault.
Comparison of Cloud/Rain Band Structures of Typhoon Muifa (2022) Revealed in FY‐3E MWHS‐2 Observations With All‐Sky Simulations
Authors: Bi Mingming , Zou Xiaolei
Published: December 2023

All‐sky simulations of brightness temperature (TB) at Microwave Humidity Sounder‐2 (MWHS‐2) channel 15 from Fengyun‐3E (FY‐3E) are generated based on the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis version 5 (ERA5) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS) analysis for four typhoon cases. For Typhoon Muifa (2022), the MWHS‐2 TB observations have a strongest symmetric component within about 210‐km radial distances. Although much weaker, the symmetric component in the GFS all‐sky simulations compares more favorably with that of observations than the ERA5 all‐sky simulations. Due to ice scattering effects at 183.31 ± 7 GHz, spatial distribution patterns of TB observations and all‐sky simulations are quite similar to those of ice water path. The more cloud ice, the lower the TB. Deep convective systems within Muifa are captured by TB observations but not by simulations. Using an objective azimuthal‐spectral‐analysis based center‐fixing algorithm, the center positions of Typhoon Muifa can be well determined from both MWHS‐2 observations and GFS all‐sky simulations, but not from the ERA5 all‐sky TB simulations. Compared with the best track, the average center position errors for Muifa are 16.2, 24.9 and 74.4 km based on FY‐3E MWHS‐2 TB observations, the GFS all‐sky TB simulations, and the ERA5 all‐sky simulations, respectively. The conclusions of TC cloud/rain band structures and center positions of all‐sky simulations using the NCEP‐GFS analysis being better matching with those of FY‐3E MWHS‐2 observations than the ERA5 all‐sky simulations for Typhoon Muifa also hold true for three other typhoons.
Human milk oligosaccharide composition following supplementation with folic acid vs (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid during pregnancy and mediation by human milk folate forms
Authors: Cochrane Kelsey M. , Bone Jeffrey N. , Karakochuk Crystal D. , Bode Lars
Published: December 2023

Supplementation with folic acid versus (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF) results in different folate forms in human milk, with folic acid increasing unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) at the expense of reduced folate forms. It is unknown whether folate forms present in human milk have further effects on human milk composition, such as human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) concentrations. We randomized 60 pregnant women in Canada to 0.6 mg/day folic acid or (6S)-5-MTHF. Human milk folate forms (LC-MS/MS) and nineteen HMOs (HPLC) were quantified at 1 week postpartum. Linear regression and causal mediation analysis were used to evaluate the effect of folate supplementation on HMO concentrations, and possible mediation by concentrations of UMFA and reduced folate forms in human milk (controlling for secretor status and parity). HMO concentrations were not different between groups, with no evidence of mediation by reduced folate forms; however, increased UMFA was associated with reduced concentrations of total HMOs and 3’-sialyllactose.
Evolution and neutralization escape of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 subvariant
Authors: Khan Khadija , Lustig Gila , Römer Cornelius , Reedoy Kajal , Jule Zesuliwe , Karim Farina , Ganga Yashica , Bernstein Mallory , Baig Zainab , Jackson Laurelle , Mahlangu Boitshoko , Mnguni Anele , Nzimande Ayanda , Stock Nadine , Kekana Dikeledi , Ntozini Buhle , van Deventer Cindy , Marshall Terry , Manickchund Nithendra , Gosnell Bernadett I. , Lessells Richard J. , Karim Quarraisha Abdool , Abdool Karim Salim S. , Moosa Mahomed-Yunus S. , de Oliveira Tulio , von Gottberg Anne , Wolter Nicole , Neher Richard A. , Sigal Alex
Published: December 2023

Omicron BA.2.86 subvariant differs from Omicron BA.2 as well as recently circulating variants by over 30 mutations in the spike protein alone. Here we report on the isolation of the live BA.2.86 subvariant from a diagnostic swab collected in South Africa which we tested for escape from neutralizing antibodies and viral replication properties in cell culture. We found that BA.2.86 does not have significantly more escape relative to Omicron XBB.1.5 from neutralizing immunity elicited by either Omicron XBB-family subvariant infection or from residual neutralizing immunity of recently collected sera from the South African population. BA.2.86 does have extensive escape relative to ancestral virus with the D614G substitution (B.1 lineage) when neutralized by sera from pre-Omicron vaccinated individuals and relative to Omicron BA.1 when neutralized by sera from Omicron BA.1 infected individuals. BA.2.86 and XBB.1.5 show similar viral infection dynamics in the VeroE6-TMPRSS2 and H1299-ACE2 cell lines. We also investigate the relationship of BA.2.86 to BA.2 sequences. The closest BA.2 sequences are BA.2 samples from Southern Africa circulating in early 2022. Similarly, many basal BA.2.86 sequences were sampled in Southern Africa. This suggests that BA.2.86 potentially evolved in this region, and that unobserved evolution led to escape from neutralizing antibodies similar in scale to recently circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2.
Myeloid cells interact with a subset of thyrocytes to promote their migration and follicle formation through NF-κB
Authors: Yang Rui-Meng , Song Shi-Yang , Wu Feng-Yao , Yang Rui-Feng , Shen Yan-Ting , Tu Ping-Hui , Wang Zheng , Zhang Jun-Xiu , Cheng Feng , Gao Guan-Qi , Liang Jun , Guo Miao-Miao , Yang Liu , Zhou Yi , Zhao Shuang-Xia , Zhan Ming , Song Huai-Dong
Published: December 2023

The pathogenesis of thyroid dysgenesis (TD) is not well understood. Here, using a combination of single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome sequencing, we identify a subgroup of NF-κB-activated thyrocytes located at the center of thyroid tissues in postnatal mice, which maintained a partially mesenchymal phenotype. These cells actively protruded out of the thyroid primordium and generated new follicles in zebrafish embryos through continuous tracing. Suppressing NF-κB signaling affected thyrocyte migration and follicle formation, leading to a TD-like phenotype in both mice and zebrafish. Interestingly, during thyroid folliculogenesis, myeloid cells played a crucial role in promoting thyrocyte migration by maintaining close contact and secreting TNF-α. We found that cebpa mutant zebrafish, in which all myeloid cells were depleted, exhibited thyrocyte migration defects. Taken together, our results suggest that myeloid-derived TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation plays a critical role in promoting the migration of vertebrate thyrocytes for follicle generation.
Dictionary of immune responses to cytokines at single-cell resolution
Authors: Cui Ang , Huang Teddy , Li Shuqiang , Ma Aileen , Pérez Jorge L. , Sander Chris , Keskin Derin B. , Wu Catherine J. , Fraenkel Ernest , Hacohen Nir
Published: December 2023

Cytokines mediate cell–cell communication in the immune system and represent important therapeutic targets1–3. A myriad of studies have highlighted their central role in immune function4–13, yet we lack a global view of the cellular responses of each immune cell type to each cytokine. To address this gap, we created the Immune Dictionary, a compendium of single-cell transcriptomic profiles of more than 17 immune cell types in response to each of 86 cytokines (>1,400 cytokine–cell type combinations) in mouse lymph nodes in vivo. A cytokine-centric view of the dictionary revealed that most cytokines induce highly cell-type-specific responses. For example, the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β induces distinct gene programmes in almost every cell type. A cell-type-centric view of the dictionary identified more than 66 cytokine-driven cellular polarization states across immune cell types, including previously uncharacterized states such as an interleukin-18-induced polyfunctional natural killer cell state. Based on this dictionary, we developed companion software, Immune Response Enrichment Analysis, for assessing cytokine activities and immune cell polarization from gene expression data, and applied it to reveal cytokine networks in tumours following immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our dictionary generates new hypotheses for cytokine functions, illuminates pleiotropic effects of cytokines, expands our knowledge of activation states of each immune cell type, and provides a framework to deduce the roles of specific cytokines and cell–cell communication networks in any immune response.
Embryo mechanics cartography: inference of 3D force atlases from fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Ichbiah Sacha , Delbary Fabrice , McDougall Alex , Dumollard Rémi , Turlier Hervé
Published: December 2023

Tissue morphogenesis results from a tight interplay between gene expression, biochemical signaling and mechanics. Although sequencing methods allow the generation of cell-resolved spatiotemporal maps of gene expression, creating similar maps of cell mechanics in three-dimensional (3D) developing tissues has remained a real challenge. Exploiting the foam-like arrangement of cells, we propose a robust end-to-end computational method called ‘foambryo’ to infer spatiotemporal atlases of cellular forces from fluorescence microscopy images of cell membranes. Our method generates precise 3D meshes of cells’ geometry and successively predicts relative cell surface tensions and pressures. We validate it with 3D foam simulations, study its noise sensitivity and prove its biological relevance in mouse, ascidian and worm embryos. 3D force inference allows us to recover mechanical features identified previously, but also predicts new ones, unveiling potential new insights on the spatiotemporal regulation of cell mechanics in developing embryos. Our code is freely available and paves the way for unraveling the unknown mechanochemical feedbacks that control embryo and tissue morphogenesis.
Transport and inhibition mechanism of the human SGLT2–MAP17 glucose transporter
Authors: Hiraizumi Masahiro , Akashi Tomoya , Murasaki Kouta , Kishida Hiroyuki , Kumanomidou Taichi , Torimoto Nao , Nureki Osamu , Miyaguchi Ikuko
Published: December 2023

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) is imporant in glucose reabsorption. SGLT2 inhibitors suppress renal glucose reabsorption, therefore reducing blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. We and others have developed several SGLT2 inhibitors starting from phlorizin, a natural product. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we present the structures of human (h)SGLT2–MAP17 complexed with five natural or synthetic inhibitors. The four synthetic inhibitors (including canagliflozin) bind the transporter in the outward conformations, while phlorizin binds it in the inward conformation. The phlorizin–hSGLT2 interaction exhibits biphasic kinetics, suggesting that phlorizin alternately binds to the extracellular and intracellular sides. The Na+-bound outward-facing and unbound inward-open structures of hSGLT2–MAP17 suggest that the MAP17-associated bundle domain functions as a scaffold, with the hash domain rotating around the Na+-binding site. Thus, Na+ binding stabilizes the outward-facing conformation, and its release promotes state transition to inward-open conformation, exhibiting a role of Na+ in symport mechanism. These results provide structural evidence for the Na+-coupled alternating-access mechanism proposed for the transporter family.
Usefulness of barium sulfate and iohexol as contrast agents for VFSS in visualizing components of swallowing predictable of poor outcomes
Authors: Kang Min Soo , Chang Min Cheol , Kwak Soyoung
Published: December 2023

Barium sulfate and iohexol are commonly used as contrast agents for videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). This study compared their usefulness as contrast agents in visualizing components of swallowing predictable of subsequent pneumonia and unintentional weight loss after VFSS. This was a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. The two contrast agents were alternately used in the same participants, and the order in which the contrast agent was tested first was randomly assigned. After VFSS, we followed the participants for 3 months and the association between VFSS findings of each contrast agent and the subsequent pneumonia and unintentional weight loss were analyzed. A total of 30 participants were included in the analysis. We recorded 11 cases of subsequent pneumonia and 13 of unintentional weight loss. Regarding the risk of subsequent pneumonia after VFSS, only the oral transit time and number of swallows tested with barium sulfate indicated significant differences between participants with and without subsequent pneumonia. For unintentional weight loss, oral transit time and pharyngeal wall coating after swallowing tested with barium sulfate, as well as oral transit time, nasal penetration, residue in the valleculae, PAS scores, and number of swallows when testing with iohexol demonstrated significant differences between those with and without unintentional weight loss.
Ecophysiological and behavioural response of juveniles of the Chilean cold-water coral Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis to increasing sediment loads
Authors: Fähse Melanie , Orejas Covadonga , Titschack Jürgen , Försterra Günter , Richter Claudio , Laudien Jürgen
Published: December 2023

Chilean Patagonia is a hotspot of biodiversity, harbouring cold-water corals (CWCs) that populate steep walls and overhangs of fjords and channels. Through anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, roadworks, aquafarming and increased landslide frequency, sediment input increases in the fjord region. While the absence of CWCs on moderately steep slopes has been suggested to reflect high vulnerability to sedimentation, experimental evidence has been lacking. Here, we investigated the sensitivity of CWCs to sediment stress, using juvenile Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis as a model. A 12-week aquarium experiment was conducted with three sediment loads: the average natural sediment concentration in Comau Fjord, 100- and 1000-fold higher sediment levels, expected from gravel road use and coastal erosion. Changes in coral mass and calyx dimensions, polyp expansion, tissue retraction and respiration were measured. For CWCs exposed to two and three order of magnitude higher sediment concentrations, 32% and 80% of the animals experienced a decrease in tissue cover, respectively, along with a decrease in respiration rate of 34% and 66%. Under the highest concentration corals showed reduced polyp expansion and a significantly reduced growth of ~ 95% compared to corals at natural concentration. The results show that C.huinayensis is affected by high sediment loads. As human activities that increase sedimentation steadily intensify, coastal planners need to consider detrimental effects on CWCs.
Cu2O, ZnO, and Ag/ Cu2O nanoparticles synthesized by biogenic and chemical route and their effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans
Authors: Rojas-Jaimes J. , Asmat-Campos David
Published: December 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans are two important pathogens in public health due to the infections they cause in immunocompromised patients and with hospital stay, increasing morbimortality rates. Three groups of Cu2O, ZnO, and Ag/Cu2O nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized physicochemically and confronted to P. aeruginosa and C. albicans to determine their antibacterial effect. Statistical analyses were performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.001). The structures of Cu2O, ZnO, and Ag/Cu2O nanoparticles were spherical, sized 6 nm, 10 nm, and 50 nm for Ag, Cu2, and Zn metals, respectively. Furthermore, a 100% antibacterial and antifungal effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans was observed for Cu2O, ZnO, and Ag/Cu2O nanoparticles respectively. It is concluded from these findings that the nanoparticles synthesized by biogenic and chemical route had a good size between 6 and 50 nm and that Cu2O, ZnO, and Ag/Cu2O nanoparticles presented an excellent antibacterial (100% growth inhibition) effect against P. aeruginosa and C. albicans (p < 0.001) compared to the control.
Muscle-driven simulations and experimental data of cycling
Authors: Clancy Caitlin E. , Gatti Anthony A. , Ong Carmichael F. , Maly Monica R. , Delp Scott L.
Published: December 2023

Muscle-driven simulations have provided valuable insights in studies of walking and running, but a set of freely available simulations and corresponding experimental data for cycling do not exist. The aim of this work was to develop a set of muscle-driven simulations of cycling and to validate them by comparison with experimental data. We used direct collocation to generate simulations of 16 participants cycling over a range of powers (40–216 W) and cadences (75–99 RPM) using two optimization objectives: a baseline objective that minimized muscle effort and a second objective that additionally minimized tibiofemoral joint forces. We tested the accuracy of the simulations by comparing the timing of active muscle forces in our baseline simulation to timing in experimental electromyography data. Adding a term in the objective function to minimize tibiofemoral forces preserved cycling power and kinematics, improved similarity between active muscle force timing and experimental electromyography, and decreased tibiofemoral joint reaction forces, which better matched previously reported in vivo measurements. The musculoskeletal models, muscle-driven simulations, simulation software, and experimental data are freely shared at https://simtk.org/projects/cycling_sim for others to reproduce these results and build upon this research.
Incidence and burden of long COVID in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Frallonardo Luisa , Segala Francesco Vladimiro , Chhaganlal Kajal D. , Yelshazly Mohmaoud , Novara Roberta , Cotugno Sergio , Guido Giacomo , Papagni Roberta , Colpani Agnese , De Vito Andrea , Barbagallo Mario , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio , Lochoro Peter , Ictho Jerry , Putoto Giovanni , Veronese Nicola , Saracino Annalisa , Di Gennaro Francesco
Published: December 2023

Long COVID, also known as “post-acute sequelae of COVID-19,” affects at least 65 million individuals worldwide with a wide spectrum of symptoms that may last weeks, months, or permanently. Its epidemiology and burden in Africa are unclear. This meta-analysis examines long-term COVID-19 effects in the WHO African Region. A systematic search in several databases was carried out up to 12 February 2023 including observational studies from African countries reporting the cumulative incidence of long COVID signs and symptoms. Only studies conducted in African countries were included. Several sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed. Among 1547 papers initially screened, 25 were included, consisting of 29,213 participants. The incidence of any long COVID symptomatology was 48.6% (95% CI 37.4–59.8) as psychiatric conditions were the most frequent, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder reaching a cumulative incidence of 25% (95% CI 21.1–30.4). Higher age (p = 0.027) and hospitalization (p = 0.05) were associated with a higher frequency of long COVID. Long COVID poses a significant burden in Africa, particularly concerning psychiatric conditions. The study recommends identifying at-risk people and defining treatment strategies and recommendations for African long-COVID patients. High-quality studies addressing this condition in African setting are urgently needed.
Effects of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes and pregnancy complications in the U.S. state of Kansas (2000–2015)
Authors: Hao Hua , Yoo Sodahm R. , Strickland Matthew J. , Darrow Lyndsey A. , D’Souza Rohan R. , Warren Joshua L. , Moss Shannon , Wang Huaqing , Zhang Haisu , Chang Howard H.
Published: December 2023

Neonatal mortality and morbidity are often caused by preterm birth and lower birth weight. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational hypertension (GH) are the most prevalent maternal medical complications during pregnancy. However, evidence on effects of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes and pregnancy complications is mixed. Singleton live births conceived between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2015, and reached at least 27 weeks of pregnancy in Kansas were included in the study. Trimester-specific and total pregnancy exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) were estimated using spatiotemporal ensemble models and assigned to maternal residential census tracts. Logistic regression, discrete-time survival, and linear models were applied to assess the associations. After adjustment for demographics and socio-economic status (SES) factors, we found increases in the second and third trimesters and total pregnancy O3 exposures were significantly linked to preterm birth. Exposure to the second and third trimesters O3 was significantly associated with lower birth weight, and exposure to NO2 during the first trimester was linked to an increased risk of GDM. O3 exposures in the first trimester were connected to an elevated risk of GH. We didn’t observe consistent associations between adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes with PM2.5 exposure. Our findings indicate there is a positive link between increased O3 exposure during pregnancy and a higher risk of preterm birth, GH, and decreased birth weight. Our work supports limiting population exposure to air pollution, which may lower the likelihood of adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes.
A new human-based metaheuristic algorithm for solving optimization problems based on preschool education
Authors: Trojovský Pavel
Published: December 2023

In this paper, with motivation from the No Free Lunch theorem, a new human-based metaheuristic algorithm named Preschool Education Optimization Algorithm (PEOA) is introduced for solving optimization problems. Human activities in the preschool education process are the fundamental inspiration in the design of PEOA. Hence, PEOA is mathematically modeled in three phases: (i) the gradual growth of the preschool teacher's educational influence, (ii) individual knowledge development guided by the teacher, and (iii) individual increase of knowledge and self-awareness. The PEOA's performance in optimization is evaluated using fifty-two standard benchmark functions encompassing unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, and fixed-dimensional multimodal types, as well as the CEC 2017 test suite. The optimization results show that PEOA has a high ability in exploration–exploitation and can balance them during the search process. To provide a comprehensive analysis, the performance of PEOA is compared against ten well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that the proposed PEOA approach performs better than competing algorithms by providing effective solutions for the benchmark functions and overall ranking as the first-best optimizer. Presenting a statistical analysis of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test shows that PEOA has significant statistical superiority in competition with compared algorithms. Furthermore, the implementation of PEOA in solving twenty-two optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems illustrates its efficacy in real-world optimization applications.
The inside out model of emotion recognition: how the shape of one’s internal emotional landscape influences the recognition of others’ emotions
Authors: Keating Connor Tom , Cook Jennifer Louise
Published: December 2023

Some people are exceptional at reading emotional expressions, while others struggle. Here we ask whether the way we experience emotion “on the inside” influences the way we expect emotions to be expressed in the “outside world” and subsequently our ability to read others’ emotional expressions. Across multiple experiments, incorporating discovery and replication samples, we develop EmoMap (N = 20; N = 271) and ExpressionMap (N = 98; replication N = 193) to map adults’ experiences of emotions and visual representations of others’ emotions. Some individuals have modular maps, wherein emotional experiences and visual representations are consistent and distinct—anger looks and feels different from happiness, which looks and feels different from sadness. In contrast, others have experiences and representations that are variable and overlapping—anger, happiness, and sadness look and feel similar and are easily confused for one another. Here we illustrate an association between these maps: those with consistent and distinct experiences of emotion also have consistent and distinct visual representations of emotion. Finally (N = 193), we construct the Inside Out Model of Emotion Recognition, which explains 60.8% of the variance in emotion recognition and illuminates multiple pathways to emotion recognition difficulties. These findings have important implications for understanding the emotion recognition difficulties documented in numerous clinical populations.
Spatial distribution and determinants of barriers of health care access among female youths in Ethiopia, a mixed effect and spatial analysis
Authors: Fentie Elsa Awoke , Asmamaw Desale Bihonegn , Negash Wubshet Debebe , Belachew Tadele Biresaw , Amare Baykeda Tsegaw , Addis Banchlay , Tamir Tadesse Tarik , Wubante Sisay Maru , Endawkie Abel , Zegeye Alebachew Ferede , Kidie Atitegeb Abera , Fetene Samrawit Mihret
Published: December 2023

Access to healthcare services is a fundamental human right for every citizen, and it is the responsibility of the nation to guarantee that these services are acceptable, easily accessible, and timely. Barriers to accessing health services may have a detrimental effect on an individual’s physical, and mental health, and overall quality of life. However, access to health care services is a common problem in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate spatial distribution and determinants of barriers to healthcare access among female youths in Ethiopia. Secondary data analysis was conducted based on the Demographic and Health Surveys data conducted in Ethiopia. A total weighted sample of 6143 female youths aged 15–24 years old was included in this study. A mixed-effect analysis was employed to identify factors contributing to barriers to healthcare access among youths in Ethiopia. Adjusted Odds Ratio with 95% CI was used to declare the strength and significance of the association. The concentration index was used to assess wealth-related inequalities, while spatial analysis was used to explore the spatial distribution and significant windows of barriers to healthcare access. This study revealed that the magnitude of barriers to healthcare access among female youth was 61.3% with 95%CI (60.1 to 62.5) to at least one or more of the four reasons. Age 15–19 years old (AOR = 0.80, 95%CI 0.68 to 0.95), no formal education (AOR = 2.26, CI 1.61, 3.18), primary education (AOR = 2.21, CI 1.66, 2.95), marital status (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.21, 1.70), poor household wealth (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.31, 2.05), no Media exposure (AOR = 1.67, 95%CI 1.41–1.98), reside in rural areas (AOR = 1.63, 95%CI 1.05 to 2.54), and low community media exposure (AOR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.01–2.08) were significantly associated with barriers of health care service. Barriers to healthcare access were significantly and disproportionately concentrated in poor households. A non-random Barrier to healthcare access was observed in Ethiopia. Among the 9 regions, primary clusters were identified in only 4 regions (North Ormiya, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, and South Nation Nationality and Peoples regions. A significant proportion of female youths faced barriers to health care access Age, educational status, marital status, rural residency, low economic status, and media exposure were factors associated with barriers to health care access. Therefore, program planners and decision-makers should work on improving the country’s economy to a higher economic level to improve the wealth status of the population, promote media exposure, and increase access to education.
Variation in presepsin and thrombomodulin levels for predicting COVID-19 mortality
Authors: Yamazaki Azusa , Nukui Yoko , Kameda Takahiro , Saito Ryoichi , Koda Yuki , Ichimura Naoya , Tohda Shuji , Ohkawa Ryunosuke
Published: December 2023

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused extensive mortality globally; therefore, biomarkers predicting the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the application of presepsin (P-SEP) and thrombomodulin (TM), which are biomarkers of sepsis and endothelial dysfunction, respectively, in the prognosis of COVID-19. Serum P-SEP and TM levels from COVID-19 patients (n = 183) were measured. Disease severity was classified as mild, moderate I, moderate II, or severe based on hemoglobin oxygen saturation and the history of intensive care unit transfer or use of ventilation at admission. Patients in the severe group were further divided into survivors and non-survivors. P-SEP and TM levels were significantly higher in the severe group than those in the mild group, even after adjusting for creatinine values. In addition, TM levels were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. Changes in the P-SEP levels at two time points with an interval of 4.1 ± 2.2 days were significantly different between the survivors and non-survivors. In conclusion, TM and continuous P-SEP measurements may be useful for predicting mortality in patients with COVID-19. Moreover, our data indicate that P-SEP and TM values after creatinine adjustment could be independent predictive markers, apart from renal function.
AI-assisted quantification of hypothalamic atrophy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by convolutional neural network-based automatic segmentation
Authors: Vernikouskaya Ina , Müller Hans-Peter , Roselli Francesco , Ludolph Albert C. , Kassubek Jan , Rasche Volker
Published: December 2023

The hypothalamus is a small structure of the brain with an essential role in metabolic homeostasis, sleep regulation, and body temperature control. Some neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia syndromes are reported to be related to hypothalamic volume alterations. Despite its crucial role in human body regulation, neuroimaging studies of this structure are rather scarce due to work-intensive operator-dependent manual delineations from MRI and lack of automated segmentation tools. In this study we present a fully automatic approach based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) for hypothalamic segmentation and volume quantification. We applied CNN of U-Net architecture with EfficientNetB0 backbone to allow for accurate automatic hypothalamic segmentation in seconds on a GPU. We further applied our approach for the quantification of the normalized hypothalamic volumes to a large neuroimaging dataset of 432 ALS patients and 112 healthy controls (without the ground truth labels). Using the automated volumetric analysis, we could reproduce hypothalamic atrophy findings associated with ALS by detecting significant volume differences between ALS patients and controls at the group level. In conclusion, a fast and unbiased AI-assisted hypothalamic quantification method is introduced in this study (whose acceptance rate based on the outlier removal strategy was estimated to be above 95%) and made publicly available for researchers interested in the conduction of hypothalamus studies at a large scale.
Cross-sectional analysis of the correlation between serum uric acid and trabecular bone score: NHANES 2005–2008
Authors: Li Yanlei , Tan Jinxin , Tian Jinlong , Xu Jiongnan , Shao Haiyu , Zhang Jun , Zhao Tingxiao , Huang Yazeng
Published: December 2023

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been discovered to be associated with bone mineral density (BMD), but its relationship with trabecular bone score (TBS) remains unclear. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the association between SUA levels and TBS. Our study included 5895 individuals over 20 years old (3061 men and 2834 women) from NHANES 2005–2008. To analyze the association between SUA and TBS, multivariate linear regression models with covariate adjustments were applied. Furthermore, population description, stratified analysis, single factor analysis, smooth curve fitting, interaction analysis, and threshold effect and saturation effect analysis were also conducted. After adjusting for covariates, SUA showed a strong negative relationship with total TBS (β = 0.319; 95% CI 0.145–0.494; P < 0.001). The relationship between SUA levels and total TBS was found to be nonlinear, with inflection points at 4.8 mg/dL for the overall population, 4.2 mg/dL for women, and 5.7 mg/dL for non-Hispanic whites, indicating a saturation effect. Additionally, no interactions were found in any of the subgroups. Our study found a negative association between SUA and total TBS in adults. Maintaining SUA at a saturated level can benefit in preventing osteoporosis and fractures.