bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic analysis of negative and positive feedback loops for robustness and temperature compensation in circadian rhythms
Authors: Chakravarty Suchana , Hong Christian I. , Csikász-Nagy Attila
Published: February 2023

Temperature compensation and robustness to biological noise are two key characteristics of the circadian clock. These features allow the circadian pacemaker to maintain a steady oscillation in a wide range of environmental conditions. The presence of a time-delayed negative feedback loop in the regulatory network generates autonomous circadian oscillations in eukaryotic systems. In comparison, the circadian clock of cyanobacteria is controlled by a strong positive feedback loop. Positive feedback loops with substrate depletion can also generate oscillations, inspiring other circadian clock models. What makes a circadian oscillatory network robust to extrinsic noise is unclear. We investigated four basic circadian oscillators with negative, positive, and combinations of positive and negative feedback loops to explore network features necessary for circadian clock resilience. We discovered that the negative feedback loop system performs the best in compensating temperature changes. We also show that a positive feedback loop can reduce extrinsic noise in periods of circadian oscillators, while intrinsic noise is reduced by negative feedback loops.
Assessing ternary materials for fluoride-ion batteries
Authors: McTaggart Don H. , Sundberg Jack D. , McRae Lauren M. , Warren Scott C.
Published: February 2023

Although lithium-ion batteries have transformed energy storage, there is a need to develop battery technologies with improved performance. Fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs) may be promising alternatives in part due to their high theoretical energy density and natural elemental abundance. However, electrode materials for FIBs, particularly cathodes, have not been systematically evaluated, limiting rapid progress. Here, we evaluate ternary fluorides from the Materials Project crystal structure database to identify promising cathode materials for FIBs. Structures are further assessed based on stability and whether fluorination/defluorination occurs without unwanted disproportionation reactions. Properties are presented for pairs of fluorinated/defluorinated materials including theoretical energy densities, cost approximations, and bandgaps. We aim to supply a dataset for extracting property and structural trends of ternary fluoride materials that may aid in the discovery of next-generation battery materials.
Soil, leaf and fruit nutrient data for pear orchards located in the Circum-Bohai Bay and Loess Plateau regions
Authors: Sun Mingde , Zhao Yanyan , Liang Zhenxu , Wu Yang , Du Ruirui , Liu Jun , Yu Futong , Liu Songzhong
Published: February 2023

The data described in this paper were collected from the Circum-Bohai Bay and Loess Plateau regions of northern China. Soil, leaf and fruit nutrients from 225 typical pear orchards in these regions were measured. Soil data included pH, organic matter, total N, alkaline hydrolysable N, available P and available K concentrations of 3 different soil layers, 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm, from different orchards. Leaf and fruit data included N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B concentrations of pear trees from different orchards. These data can be used to assess the soil nutrient supply and leaf and fruit nutrient status of pear orchards in two major producing areas, Circum-Bohai Bay and Loess Plateau. Additionally, this dataset provides data to support the development of regionalized and standardized soil nutrient management programs for pear orchards, as well as regionalized layouts of the main varieties in the two producing areas.
Quantum machine learning with differential privacy
Authors: Watkins William M. , Chen Samuel Yen-Chi , Yoo Shinjae
Published: February 2023

Quantum machine learning (QML) can complement the growing trend of using learned models for a myriad of classification tasks, from image recognition to natural speech processing. There exists the potential for a quantum advantage due to the intractability of quantum operations on a classical computer. Many datasets used in machine learning are crowd sourced or contain some private information, but to the best of our knowledge, no current QML models are equipped with privacy-preserving features. This raises concerns as it is paramount that models do not expose sensitive information. Thus, privacy-preserving algorithms need to be implemented with QML. One solution is to make the machine learning algorithm differentially private, meaning the effect of a single data point on the training dataset is minimized. Differentially private machine learning models have been investigated, but differential privacy has not been thoroughly studied in the context of QML. In this study, we develop a hybrid quantum-classical model that is trained to preserve privacy using differentially private optimization algorithm. This marks the first proof-of-principle demonstration of privacy-preserving QML. The experiments demonstrate that differentially private QML can protect user-sensitive information without signficiantly diminishing model accuracy. Although the quantum model is simulated and tested on a classical computer, it demonstrates potential to be efficiently implemented on near-term quantum devices [noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ)]. The approach’s success is illustrated via the classification of spatially classed two-dimensional datasets and a binary MNIST classification. This implementation of privacy-preserving QML will ensure confidentiality and accurate learning on NISQ technology.
Updated meta-analysis on intraoperative inspired fraction of oxygen and the risk of surgical site infection in adults undergoing general and regional anesthesia
Authors: El Maleh Yoann , Fasquel Charlotte , Quesnel Christophe , Garnier Marc
Published: February 2023

This updated meta-analysis aims at exploring whether the use of systematic high vs low intraoperative oxygen fraction (FiO2) may decrease the incidence of postoperative surgical site infection during general (GA) or regional anesthesia (RA). PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from January 1st, 1999 and July, 1st 2022, for randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials that included patients in a high and low FiO2 groups and reported the incidence of SSI. The meta-analysis was conducted with a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Thirty studies (24 for GA and 6 for RA) totaling 18,055 patients (15,871 for GA and 2184 for RA) were included. We have low-to-moderate-quality evidence that high FiO2 (mainly 80%) was not associated with a reduction of SSI incidence compared to low FiO2 (mainly 30%) in all patients (RR 0.90, 95%CI 0.79–1.03). Moderate inconsistency existed between studies (I2 = 38%). Subgroup analyses showed a moderate protective effect in patients undergoing GA (RR 0.86, 95%CI 0.75–0.99) (low level of evidence), while high FiO2 was not associated with a reduction of SSI in patients undergoing RA (RR 1.17, 95%CI 0.90–1.52) (moderate level of evidence). Sensitivity analyses restricted to patients ventilated without nitrous oxide (n = 20 studies), to patients operated from abdominal surgeries (n = 21 studies), and to patients suffering from deep SSI (n = 13 studies), all showed the absence of any significant effect of high FiO2. As a conclusion there is no compelling evidence that high FiO2 can improve postoperative patient’s outcome on its own when good SSI prevention practices are properly applied. Recent well-designed and adequately powered randomized controlled trials add further weight to these results.
Separate lifetime signatures of macaque S cones, M/L cones, and rods observed with adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Huynh Khang T. , Walters Sarah , Foley Emma K. , Hunter Jennifer J.
Published: February 2023

In the retina, several molecules involved in metabolism, the visual cycle, and other roles exhibit intrinsic fluorescence. The overall properties of retinal fluorescence depend on changes to the composition of these molecules and their environmental interactions due to transient functional shifts, especially in disease. This behooves the understanding of the origins and deviations of these properties within the multilayered retina at high lateral and axial resolution. Of particular interest is the fluorescence lifetime, a potential biomarker of function and disease independent of fluorescence intensity that can be measured in the retina with adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO). This work demonstrates the utility of the phasor method of analysis, an alternate approach to traditional multiexponential fitting, to evaluate photoreceptor two-photon excited AOFLIO data and separate them based on functional differences. Phasor analysis on fluorescence lifetime decay data allowed the repeatable segregation of S from M/L cones, likely from differences in functional or metabolic demands. Furthermore, it is possible to track the lifetime changes in S cones after photodamage. Phasor analysis increases the sensitivity of AOFLIO to functional differences between cells and has the potential to improve our understanding of pathways involved in normal and diseased conditions at the cellular scale throughout the retina.
In-situ atomic level observation of the strain response of graphene lattice
Authors: Juo Jz-Yuan , Shin Bong Gyu , Stiepany Wolfgang , Memmler Marko , Kern Klaus , Jung Soon Jung
Published: February 2023

Strain is inevitable in two-dimensional (2D) materials, regardless of whether the film is suspended or supported. However, the direct measurement of strain response at the atomic scale is challenging due to the difficulties of maintaining both flexibility and mechanical stability at low temperature under UHV conditions. In this work, we have implemented a compact nanoindentation system with a size of $$\sim $$
∼
160 mm$$^2$$

2

$$\times $$
×
5.2 mm in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) sample holder, which enables the reversible control of strain and gate electric field. A combination of gearbox and piezoelectric actuator allowed us to modulate the depth of the indentation continuously with nanometer precision. The 2D materials were transferred onto the polyimide film. Pd clamp was used to enhance the strain transfer from the polyimide from to the 2D layers. Using this unique technique, strain response of graphene lattice were observed at atomic precision. In the relaxed graphene, strain is induced mainly by local curvature. However, in the strained graphene with tented structure, the lattice parameters become more sensitive to the indentor height change and stretching strain is increased additionally. Moreover, the gate controllability is confirmed by measuring the dependence of the STM tip height on gate voltage.
The MyoPulser field stimulator, a do it yourself programmable electronic pacemaker for contracting cells and tissues
Authors: Ott Christiane , Jung Tobias
Published: February 2023

After providing the free software MYOCYTER that analyzes a large amount of data from videos of contracting cells, tissues or organs, we now present an “Arduino”-based programmable, customizable and cost-effective electronic pacemaker (“MyoPulser”) that triggers contraction by electric stimulation of the sample at arbitrary frequencies. In this work, construction, functions and application of the MyoPulser are explained in detail, the electronic pacemaker is also tested on isolated cardiomyocytes and HT22-cells to quantify biological effects of pacing. The device enables the user to select between different pulse types (monophasic, alternating, bi- and polyphasic) adjust the length of an applied pulse (1–200 ms), the gap between two consecutive pulses (20–2000 ms), application of irregular pulses with random length and gaps (simulation of arrhythmia) in a user-defined range, as well as manual pulsing, while extensive data are recorded for every single pulse during the experiment. Electrostimulation of isolated B6 cardiomyocytes showed very little deviation of the observed cellular contraction from the applied pulse settings of the device, while the carbon electrodes used proved to be biologically inert in long-term experiments. Due to the open source code and the expandable setup, the MyoPulser can be easily adapted to even highly specific requirements and together with the software MYOCYTER it represents a complete cardiomyophysiological measuring station.
Spatial and deep learning analyses of urban recovery from the impacts of COVID-19
Authors: Ma Shuang , Li Shuangjin , Zhang Junyi
Published: February 2023

This study investigates urban recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on three main types of working, commercial, and night-life activities and associating them with land use and inherent socio-economic patterns as well as points of interests (POIs). Massive multi-source and multi-scale data include mobile phone signaling data (500 m × 500 m), aerial images (0.49 m × 0.49 m), night light satellite data (500 m × 500 m), land use data (street-block), and POIs data. Methods of convolutional neural network, guided gradient-weighted class activation mapping, bivariate local indicator of spatial association, Elbow and K-means are jointly applied. It is found that the recovery in central areas was slower than in suburbs, especially in terms of working and night-life activities, showing a donut-shaped spatial pattern. Residential areas with mixed land uses seem more resilient to the pandemic shock. More than 60% of open spaces are highly associated with recovery in areas with high-level pre-pandemic social-economic activities. POIs of sports and recreation are crucial to the recovery in all areas, while POIs of transportation and science/culture are also important to the recovery in many areas. Policy implications are discussed from perspectives of open spaces, public facilities, neighborhood units, spatial structures, and anchoring roles of POIs.
Effect of DFIG control parameters on small signal stability in power systems
Authors: Qi Liu , jiahui Wu , Haiyun Wang , Hua Zhang , Jian Yang
Published: February 2023

The doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) with virtual inertia control and reactive damping control gives a renewable energy generation system inertia and damping characteristics similar to those of a thermal power plant, and the parameters of the control strategy have a direct impact on the small-signal stability of the system. This paper firstly introduces the operating characteristics and control strategies of DFIG-based damping control and virtual inertia control, establishes a small-signal model of the control-based DFIG integrated interconnected system, and investigates the effects of virtual inertia and reactive damping values on the small-signal stability of the system; then, the maximum damping ratio of the interval oscillation mode in small disturbance analysis is taken as the optimization objective, and the control parameters are the optimization variables. An optimization method of inertia and damping parameters is established for improving the small disturbance stability of the system. The results show that the optimization procedure could improve the damping ratio of the interval oscillation mode while ensuring the system frequency. The effects of virtual inertia and reactive damping values on the small signal stability of the system are investigated, and an optimal allocation model and method for virtual inertia used to improve the small disturbance stability of the system is proposed.
STR-based feature extraction and selection for genetic feature discovery in neurological disease genes
Authors: Dhaliwal Jasbir , Wagner John
Published: February 2023

Gene expression, often determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms, short repeated sequences known as short tandem repeats (STRs), structural variants, and environmental factors, provides means for an organism to produce gene products necessary to live. Variation in expression levels, sometimes known as enrichment patterns, has been associated with disease progression. Thus, the STR enrichment patterns have recently gained interest as potential genetic markers for disease progression. However, to the best of our knowledge, we are unaware of any study that evaluates and explores STRs, particularly trinucleotide sequences, as machine learning features for classifying neurological disease genes for the purpose of discovering genetic features. Thus, in this paper, we proposed a new metric and a novel feature extraction and selection algorithm based on statistically significant STR-based features and their respective enrichment patterns to create a statistically significant feature set. The proposed new metric has shown that the neurological disease family genes have a non-random AA, AT, TA, TG, and TT enrichment pattern. This is an important result, as it supports prior research that has established that certain trinucleotides, such as AAT, ATA, ATT, TAT, and TTA, are favored during protein misfolding. In contrast, trinucleotides, such as TAA, TAG, and TGA, are favored during premature termination codon mutations as they are stop codons. This suggests that the metric has the potential to identify patterns that may be genetic features in a sample of neurological genes. Moreover, the practical performance and high prediction results of the statistically significant STR-based feature set indicate that variations in STR enrichment patterns can distinguish neurological disease genes. In conclusion, the proposed approach may have the potential to discover differential genetic features for other diseases.
Numerical simulation of pneumatic throttle check valve using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Authors: Żyłka Marta , Marszałek Natalia , Żyłka Wojciech
Published: February 2023

The article presents a numerical CFD simulation of a throttle-check valve used in an innovative control system for two pneumatic drives. This type of control is used in an innovative rehabilitation device for lower limbs. In order to determine the boundary conditions, experimental tests were carried out. The throttle valves on the test stand were scaled and the air flow rate values were read for different valve opening heights. The purpose of this article is to present a CFD simulation of a pre-adjusted check valve throttle. Numerical simulation (CFD) makes it possible to study the flow phenomena inside a pneumatic throttle-check valve, with different sizes of flow gaps. The obtained results made it possible to determine the distribution of physical quantities of static pressure, the velocity of the medium flowing through the valve, or the vector velocity distribution. The throttle valve assembly has been scaled for a suitable degree of synchronization of the movement of the piston actuators independently of the different external loads acting on each of them. The authors investigated airflow phenomena for different valve opening heights. The simulation provided information on the occurrence of supersonic and subsonic flow velocities at specific valve opening heights.
Epigenetic alterations impede epithelial-mesenchymal transition by modulating centrosome amplification and Myc/RAS axis in triple negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Das Laxmidhar
Published: February 2023

Alterations in centrosome proteins may result in centrosome abnormalities such as disorganized spindles and centrosome amplification, leading to aneuploidy and genomic instability. Centrosomes exhibit unique epigenetic properties in which structural or positional information is propagated through somatic lineage by non-genetic pathways. Excessive centrosome amplification in breast cancer is accompanied by efficient clustering and loss of E-cadherin, indicating an important adaptive mechanism of cancer. This study sought to elucidate the effect of epigenetic alterations on centrosome amplification, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and apoptosis in triple negative human breast adenocarcinoma derived MDA-MB-231 cell line. The results obtained here show that siRNA mediated silencing of DNMT1 and specific inhibition of HDAC1 & HDAC2 by Tricostatin A (TSA) synergistically inhibit cell proliferation through modulation of centrosome proteins γ-tubulin, TUBGCP2 and pericentrin. In addition, induction of apoptosis was observed by downregulation of Bcl2, upregulation of Bax and activation of PARP cleavage. Inhibition of EMT was confirmed through upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin. Similarly, downregulation of Myc, RAS and CDK2, which plays important roles in proliferation and survival, was observed. Nuclear protein analysis revealed downregulation in the nuclear translocation of E2F1, which regulates centrosome amplification and metastasis in breast cancer. In conclusion, this study confirmed the role of epigenetic regulators in centrosome amplification and suggests that inhibition of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation-mediated chromatin remodelling synergistically disrupt EMT through modulation of centrosome amplification and Myc/RAS axis to potentiate apoptosis and attenuate cell proliferation in triple negative breast cancer cells.
Examining associations between MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelic use and impairments in social functioning in a U.S. adult sample
Authors: Jones Grant , Lipson Joshua , Wang Erica
Published: February 2023

Impairment in social functioning is a common source of morbidity across many mental health disorders, yet there is a dearth of effective and easily implemented interventions to support social functioning. MDMA/ecstasy and classic psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, peyote, mescaline) represent two potential treatments for impairments in social functioning, as evidence suggests these compounds may be supportive for alleviating social difficulties. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015–2019) (N = 214,505), we used survey-weighted multivariable ordinal and logistic regression to examine the associations between lifetime use of the aforementioned compounds and impairments in social functioning in the past year. Lifetime MDMA/ecstasy use was associated with lowered odds of three of our four social impairment outcomes: difficulty dealing with strangers (aOR 0.92), difficulty participating in social activities (aOR 0.90), and being prevented from participating in social activities (aOR 0.84). Lifetime mescaline use was also associated with lowered odds of difficulty dealing with strangers (aOR 0.85). All other substances either shared no relationship with impairments in social functioning or conferred increased odds of our outcomes. Future experimental studies can assess whether these relationships are causal.
Drilling and blasting designs for parallel hole cut and V-cut method in excavation of underground coal mine galleries
Authors: Yilmaz Ozgur
Published: February 2023

The Karadon mine, where field studies were carried out, is located in the north west of Turkey and is considered to be a highly gaseous coal mine. Explosives and ignition systems used in underground coal mines are determined by laws, statutes, regulations and strict rules. Restrictions arising from legal requirements, such as restrictions on charging and stemming lengths and blasting agents to be used, make the use of well-known tunnel blasting techniques difficult or sometimes not possible. In such cases, the designs made with the equations given in the literature must be revised and rearranged. The objective of this study is to recommend solutions to the blasting difficulties that are encountered in gaseous underground coal mines in which there are limitations arising from legal requirements. This study summarizes and analyses the blasting practices currently employed at Karadon mine along with their disadvantages. New blasting designs were then made using the methods suggested in the literature, and these designs were revised according to legal requirements. By keeping the charge concentration constant relative to its original value, the burden and spacing distances were adjusted. As a result of this study, it has been seen that rearrangement by keeping the charge concentration constant compared to its original value is an appropriate engineering solution.
Non-buoyant microplastic settling velocity varies with biofilm growth and ambient water salinity
Authors: Mendrik Freija , Fernández Roberto , Hackney Christopher R. , Waller Catherine , Parsons Daniel R.
Published: February 2023

Rivers are the major conveyor of plastics to the marine environment, but the mechanisms that impact microplastic (<5 mm) aquatic transport, and thus govern fate are largely unknown. This prevents progress in understanding microplastic dynamics and identifying zones of high accumulation, along with taking representative environmental samples and developing effective mitigation measures. Using a suite of settling experiments we show that non-buoyant microplastic settling is influenced by a combination of biofilm growth, water salinity and suspended clay concentrations typically seen across fluvial to marine environments. Results indicate that biofilms significantly increased settling velocity of three different polymer types of non-buoyant microplastics (fragments and fibres, size range 0.02–4.94 mm) by up to 130% and significant increases in settling velocity were observable within hours. Impacts were both polymer and shape specific and settling regimes differed according to both salinity and sediment concentrations. Our results further validate previous statements that existing transport formula are inadequate to capture microplastic settling and highlight the importance of considering the combination of these processes within the next generation of predictive frameworks. This will allow more robust predictions of transport, fate and impact of microplastic pollution within aquatic environments.
Synthesis of mono-fluorinated heterocycles with a ring-junction nitrogen atom via Rh(iii)-catalyzed CF3-carbenoid C–H functionalization and defluorinative annulation
Authors: Li Haosheng , Mei Mingjing , Wang Duozhi , Zhou Lei
Published: February 2023

A Rh-catalyzed two-fold C–F bond cleavage enabled [4 + 2] annulation reaction via CF3-carbenoid C–H functionalization of arenes with indoles or various classes of azoles as the directing groups was developed.
An Fe(iii)-catalyzed reduction radical tandem strategy to access poly-substituted β-alkenyl valerolactones
Authors: Li Fu-Yu , Wang Bei , Xu Hong , Xiao Yao , Huang Dong-Wei , Wang Ji-Yu
Published: February 2023

The convenient synthesis of structurally diverse and complex poly-substituted β-alkenyl valerolactones is first reported via the reduction radical tandem strategy of 2,3-dienoates and allyl alcohols by Fe(iii)-catalysis.
A conjugated polymer coupled with graphitic carbon nitride for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light
Authors: Zhu Xiaoyi , Guan Meili , Gong Rongcai , Gong Xuezhong , Dai Chunhui , Tang Jianguo
Published: February 2023

A polymeric heterojunction hybrid composed of a C6-FDTP conjugated polymer and graphitic carbon nitrideviaπ–π interactions exhibits superior photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation.
The cooperative role of nitrogen defects and cyano-group functionalization in carbon nitride towards enhancing its CO2photoreduction activity
Authors: Singh Shreya , Tiwari Pankaj , Venkanna Guguloth , Pant Kamal K. , Biswas Pratim
Published: February 2023

Solar-driven CO2conversion to produce valuable fuels is an emerging approach that has the potential to shift our reliance away from rapidly depleting fossil fuels in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
Recent advancements of metal–organic frameworks in sensing platforms: relevance in the welfare of the environment and the medical sciences with regard to cancer and SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Das Arindam , Bej Sourav , Pandit Nithun Ranjan , Banerjee Priyabrata , Biswas Biplab
Published: February 2023

The present review covers metal–organic frameworks with its interesting chemical and photophysical properties that have been explored towards environmental as well as human health protection.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer between luminol and MnO2 nanosheets decorated with Cu2O nanoparticles for sensitive detection of RNase H
Authors: Shi Yahao , Chen Chunting , Zhang Yahui , Dong Yongping , Wang Shangbing
Published: February 2023

ECL-RET can occur between luminol ECL and Cu2O@MnO2 nanocomposites. RNase H can specifically hydrolyze RNA in DNA/RNA strands, and based on this, an “off–on” mode ECL sensor for sensitive RNase H assay was fabricated.
Surface-dominated potassium storage enabled by single-atomic sulfur for high-performance K-ion battery anodes
Authors: Yang Guo-Zhan , Chen Yan-Fei , Feng Bao-Qi , Ye Chen-Xin , Ye Xue-Bin , Jin Hongchang , Zhou En , Zeng Xian , Zheng Ze-Lin , Chen Xue-Ling , Bin De-Shan , Cao An-Min
Published: February 2023

A single-atomic sulfur anode, constructed by ∼32 wt% single-atomic sulfur uniformly incorporated into the carbon lattice of hollow carbon nanospheres, demonstrates an outstanding combination of capacity, cyclability, and rate for potassium storage.
2D TaSe2 as a zero-strain and high-performance anode material for Li+ storage
Authors: Wang Fei , Mao Jian
Published: February 2023

Conductive 2D TaSe2 is proposed for the first time as a high-performance zero-strain anode material.
Free form deformation and symmetry constraint‐based multi‐modal brain image registration using generative adversarial nets
Authors: Zhu Xingxing , Ding Mingyue , Zhang Xuming
Published: February 2023

Multi‐modal brain image registration has been widely applied to functional localisation, neurosurgery and computational anatomy. The existing registration methods based on the dense deformation fields involve too many parameters, which is not conducive to the exploration of correct spatial correspondence between the float and reference images. Meanwhile, the unidirectional registration may involve the deformation folding, which will result in the change of topology during registration. To address these issues, this work has presented an unsupervised image registration method using the free form deformation (FFD) and the symmetry constraint‐based generative adversarial networks (FSGAN). The FSGAN utilises the principle component analysis network‐based structural representations of the reference and float images as the inputs and uses the generator to learn the FFD model parameters, thereby producing two deformation fields. Meanwhile, the FSGAN uses two discriminators to decide whether the bilateral registration have been realised simultaneously. Besides, the symmetry constraint is utilised to construct the loss function, thereby avoiding the deformation folding. Experiments on BrainWeb, high grade gliomas, IXI and LPBA40 show that compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods, the FSGAN provides superior performance in terms of visual comparisons and such quantitative indexes as dice value, target registration error and computational efficiency.
Traveling solutions for a multi-anticipative car-following traffic model
Authors: El Khatib N. , Ghorbel A. , Joumaa A. , Zaydan M.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we consider a steady state multi-anticipative traffic model and we provide necessarily and sufficient conditions for the existence of traveling solutions. In our work, the word “traveling” means that the distance between two consecutive vehicles travels continuously between two different states. As application to our result, we show that taking a strictly concave optimal velocity, we can construct a traveling solution such that the distance between two vehicles decreases. The existence, uniqueness and the study of the asymptotic behavior of such solutions is done at the level of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation.
Clival and Paraclival Lesions: A Pictorial Review
Authors: Palsetia Delnaz R. , Vijan Antariksh V. , Gala Foram B. , Sahu Amit C. , Patkar Deepak P. , A. Arpita Sahu
Published: February 2023

The clivus is a midline anatomical structure in the central skull base. It is affected by a wide range of non-neoplastic, benign and malignant pathologies, some of which typically affect the clivus because of its strategic location and embryological origins. Clival lesions may often be asymptomatic with occasional complaints like headache or cranial neuropathy in few. Cross-sectional imaging techniques, namely, computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging, thus, play a key role in approximating to the final diagnosis and estimating the disease extent. In this article, we highlight the important imaging features of various clival and paraclival pathologies to facilitate effective diagnosis, therapeutic planning, and management.
Ballet diplomacy: Political agency in the Japanese adaptation ofThe White-Haired Girl
Authors: Qi Lintao
Published: February 2023

This article presents a sociological study of the various agents involved in the production, circulation and reception of a 1955 Japanese ballet adapted from the Chinese Communist opera The White-Haired Girl (1945). The ballet served as an effective means of unofficial diplomacy between China and Japan, even prior to normalisation of bilateral relations between the two countries. Apart from the expected agents, such as translators and theatre practitioners, this case study also reveals the role of some extraordinary agents, including Chinese Communist leaders, such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, and senior Japanese political figures and institutions. Saturation with political agency renders the Japanese adaptation into a text consumed mostly by audiences from the source culture. The artistic life of the ballet, which was sustained by political needs, demonstrates how fundamental political factors are to research on translation in authoritarian contexts and amid geopolitical tensions.
Identification of metal ion-binding sites in RNA structures using deep learning method
Authors: Zhao Yanpeng , Wang Jingjing , Chang Fubin , Gong Weikang , Liu Yang , Li Chunhua
Published: February 2023

Metal ion is an indispensable factor for the proper folding, structural stability and functioning of RNA molecules. However, it is very difficult for experimental methods to detect them in RNAs. With the increase of experimentally resolved RNA structures, it becomes possible to identify the metal ion-binding sites in RNA structures through in-silico methods. Here, we propose an approach called Metal3DRNA to identify the binding sites of the most common metal ions (Mg2+, Na+ and K+) in RNA structures by using a three-dimensional convolutional neural network model. The negative samples, screened out based on the analysis for binding surroundings of metal ions, are more like positive ones than the randomly selected ones, which are beneficial to a powerful predictor construction. The microenvironments of the spatial distributions of C, O, N and P atoms around a sample are extracted as features. Metal3DRNA shows a promising prediction power, generally surpassing the state-of-the-art methods FEATURE and MetalionRNA. Finally, utilizing the visualization method, we inspect the contributions of nucleotide atoms to the classification in several cases, which provides a visualization that helps to comprehend the model. The method will be helpful for RNA structure prediction and dynamics simulation study.

Availability and implementation: The source code is available at https://github.com/ChunhuaLiLab/Metal3DRNA.
LAVAA: a lightweight association viewer across ailments
Authors: Fauman Eric B , Keppo Stella , Cerioli Nicola , Vyas Rupesh , Kurki Mitja , Daly Mark , Reeve Mary Pat
Published: February 2023

Motivation

Biobank scale genetic associations results over thousands of traits can be difficult to visualize and navigate.

Results

We have created LAVAA, a visualization web-application to generate genetic volcano plots for simultaneously considering the P-value, effect size, case counts, trait class and fine-mapping posterior probability at a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) across a range of traits from a large set of genome-wide association study. We find that user interaction with association results in LAVAA can enrich and enhance the biological interpretation of individual loci.

Availability and implementation

LAVAA is available as a stand-alone web service (https://geneviz.aalto.fi/LAVAA/) and will be available in future releases of the finngen.fi website starting with release 10 in late 2023.
Urinary matrix metalloproteinase-7 is a sensitive biomarker to evaluate renal tubular injury in patients with minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Yin Dan-yang , Hou Gai-ling , Yang Xiao-qing , Bi Liang-liang , Mei Xiao-feng , Bai Meng-ke , Zhou Li , Zhu Shan , Huang Yan-jie
Published: February 2023

Objective

To explore the advantages of urinary matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in evaluating renal tubular injury in minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) patients compared with urinary cystatin C (CysC) and retinol-binding protein (RBP).

Methods

Serum and urine samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers, and 40 MCD and 20 FSGS patients. Serum and urinary MMP-7 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urinary total protein, CysC and RBP levels were measured by automatic specific protein analyzer and compared with urinary creatinine level for calibration. The renal tissue serial sections were stained by MMP-7 immunohistochemistry and periodic acid–Schiff.

Results

Under light microscopy, MMP-7 granular weak positive expression was showed sporadically in the cytoplasm of a few renal tubular epithelial cells without obvious morphological changes in MCD patients, and MMP-7-positive expression was observed in the cytoplasm of some renal tubular epithelial cells in FSGS patients. There was no significant difference in serum MMP-7 level among the three groups. Compared with the control group, the urinary MMP-7 level in MCD patients was higher, but urinary CysC and RBP levels were not increased significantly. Compared with the control group and MCD patients, urinary MMP-7, CysC and RBP levels in FSGS patients were upregulated significantly.

Conclusions

Urinary MMP-7 could not only evaluate the mild renal tubular epithelial cells injury in MCD patients with massive proteinuria, but also evaluate the continuous renal tubular epithelial cells injury in FSGS patients.
Biological basis and proposed mechanism of action of CSL112 (apolipoprotein A-I [human]) for prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction
Authors: Korjian Serge , Kazmi Syed Hassan A , Chi Gerald , Kalayci Arzu , Lee Jane J , Talib Usama , Wright Samuel D , Duffy Danielle , Kingwell Bronwyn A , Mehran Roxana , Ridker Paul M , Gibson C Michael
Published: February 2023

Despite current standard of care treatment, the period shortly after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high residual cardiovascular (CV) risk, with high rates of recurrent AMI and CV death in the first 90 days following the index event. This represents an area of high unmet need that may be potentially addressed by novel therapeutic agents that optimize high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) function rather than increase HDL-C concentrations. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) is the major constituent of HDL and a key mediator of cholesterol efflux from macrophages within atherosclerotic plaque, a property especially relevant during the high-risk period immediately following an AMI when cholesterol efflux capacity is found to be reduced. CSL112 is a novel formulation of human plasma-derived apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial (AEGIS-II) for the reduction of major adverse CV events in the 90-day high-risk period post-AMI. In this review, we provide an overview of the biological properties of CSL112 that contribute to its proposed mechanism of action for potential therapeutic benefit. These properties include rapid and robust promotion of cholesterol efflux from cells abundant in atherosclerotic plaque, in addition to anti-inflammatory effects, which together, may have a stabilizing effect on atherosclerotic plaque. We provide a detailed overview of these mechanisms, in addition to information on the composition of CSL112 and how it is manufactured.
Outcomes with intracoronary vs. intravenous epinephrine in cardiac arrest
Authors: Tantawy Mahmoud , Selim Ghada , Saad Marwan , Tamara Marwan , Mosaad Sameh
Published: February 2023

Background

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) guidelines recommend intravenous (IV) and intraosseous (IO) epinephrine as a basic cornerstone in the resuscitation process. Data about the efficacy and safety of intracoronary (IC) epinephrine during cardiac arrest in the catheterization laboratory are lacking.

Objective

To examine the efficacy and safety of IC vs. IV epinephrine for resuscitation during cardiac arrest in the catheterization laboratory.

Methods and results

This is a prospective observational study that included all patients who experienced cardiac arrest in the cath lab at two tertiary centres in Egypt from January 2015 to July 2022. Patients were divided into two groups according to the route of epinephrine given; IC vs. IV. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), time-to-ROSC, and favourable neurological outcome at discharge defined as modified Rankin Scale (MRS) <3. A total of 162 patients met our inclusion criteria, mean age (60.69 ± 9.61), 34.6% women. Of them, 52 patients received IC epinephrine, and 110 patients received IV epinephrine as part of the resuscitation. Survival to hospital discharge was significantly higher in the IC epinephrine group (84.62% vs. 53.64%, P < 0.001) compared with the IV epinephrine group. The rate of ROSC was higher in the IC epinephrine group (94.23% vs. 70%, P < 0.001) and achieved in a shorter time (2.6 ± 1.97 min vs. 6.8 ± 2.11 min, P < 0.0001) compared with the IV group. Similarly, favourable neurological outcomes were more common in the IC epinephrine group (76.92% vs. 47.27%, P < 0.001) compared with the IV epinephrine group.

Conclusion

In this observational study, IC epinephrine during cardiac arrest in the cath lab appeared to be safe and may be associated with improved outcomes compared with the IV route. Larger randomized studies are encouraged to confirm these results.
How does alendronate affect orthodontic tooth movement in osteogenesis imperfecta: an in vivo study on a mice model
Authors: Mehta Shivam , Wang Ke , Chen Po-Jung , Fan Zhichao , Ahmida Ahmad , Kalajzic Zana , Yadav Sumit
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alendronate on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) and bone modelling/remodelling in an osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) mice model.

Materials and methods

Ten-week-old male and female OI mice (Col1a2oim, n = 32) were divided into four groups: 1. Alendronate male (AM, n = 8), 2. Alendronate female (AF, n = 8), 3. saline male (SM, n = 8), and 4. saline female (SF, n = 8). The mice in all four groups received either Alendronate (0.05 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline 0.05 mg/kg) subcutaneously for 2 weeks prior to the placement of orthodontic spring. A nickel-titanium spring applying 3–5 cN of force was used to perform the OTM for 1 week. After 7 days of OTM, the OI mice were euthanized with CO2 inhalation and microfocus computed tomography and histological analyses were performed.

Results

AM and AF mice showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the rate of OTM compared with SM and SF mice, respectively. In addition, AM and AF mice showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the bone volume fraction (BVF) and tissue density (TD) compared with SM and SF mice. Histological analysis of haematoxylin–eosin staining revealed a hyalinization zone in AM and AF mice compared with SM and SF mice. Furthermore, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining indicated decreased number of osteoclasts in AM and AF mice compared with SM and SF mice. Picrosirius red staining showed, Alendronate treatment led to thick uniform and smooth morphology of collagen fibres as compared with saline group. Similarly, second harmony generation images also revealed thicker collagen fibres at the periodontal ligament (PDL)-cementum entheses and PDL-alveolar bone entheses in AM and AF mice compared with SM and SF mice.

Conclusions

Alendronate led to a decrease in the rate of OTM, increase in BVF and TD, decrease in the number of osteoclasts, and smooth and thick collagen fibres compared with saline in both male and female OI mice.
The German art market during WW II
Authors: Euwe Jeroen , Oosterlinck Kim
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates quantitatively the evolution of the German art market between 1937 and 1944. During the war, the boom observed in occupied countries offers a sharp contrast with the price evolution in the United Kingdom. Did the German art market show more similarities with the countries it was occupying or was its evolution closer to the British one? Our results show that the German art market underwent a boom during the war. Beyond the historical interest in the art market, this analysis also speaks to the larger debates on wartime economies and of artworks as wartime investments.
‘Community is the One True Capital’: Ideologies of Urban Self-Build Groups in Anke Stelling’s Berlin Novels
Authors: Henryson Hanna
Published: February 2023

Privately organized collective housing is currently included in agendas for sustainable urban development in a range of European cities as a resource-efficient form of housing that prevents isolation and contributes to social cohesion within urban communities. However, research has shown that the recent surge of different forms of private-collective housing in Berlin could be a driver of gentrification and segregation. This article aims to uncover potential causes of the discrepancies between the ideological, and at times utopian, motivations underpinning self-build housing projects in the former East Berlin district Prenzlauer Berg, and their actual outcomes. I do so by analysing the literary (counter) discourse on self-build groups developed in Anke Stelling’s novels Bodentiefe Fenster [Floor-Length Windows] (2015) and Schäfchen im Trockenen (2018, published in English translation as Higher Ground in 2021). I show that the realization of socially progressive, or even utopian, plans for urban private-collective housing prove difficult, and sometimes impossible, for the characters in the novels, due to the influence of other societal structures such as gender and class inequalities, urban segregation and gentrification, discrimination and the neoliberal logic of individual competition and consumption.