bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Context, Contact, and Misinformation about Socially Marginalized Groups in the United States
Authors: Abrajano Marisa , Lajevardi Nazita , Uribe Laura
Published: January 2024

How does context influence individuals’ misinformation about socially marginalized groups? Scholarship has long found that one’s geographical and social environment are important determinants for one’s political attitudes. But how these contexts shape individuals’ levels of misinformation about stigmatized groups remains an open and pressing question, especially given the swift rise of misinformation in recent years. Using three original surveys, we find that individuals who report more contact with a diverse group of individuals were significantly less likely to be misinformed. These findings are particularly pronounced among white Americans. Moreover, contrary to the popular belief that where one lives is a strong determinant of racial attitudes, we also find that partisan and racial context did not meaningfully shape misinformation. These findings shed light on the factors that helps us to understand the misinformation that exists about this sizable share of U.S. society.
Reproductive populations of the Critically Endangered bat Phyllonycteris aphylla at two new locations in Jamaica
Authors: Oelbaum Phillip J. , Hall Ronald P. , Whyte Damion L. , Stewart Ronald S. , Pauel Jan , Kouwenberg Silvia , Dumont Elizabeth R. , Welch Kenneth C.
Published: January 2024

The Jamaican flower bat Phyllonycteris aphylla is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is endemic to Jamaica and formerly known only from Stony Hill Cave, where there are an estimated c. 500 individuals. Previously declared extinct twice, its rediscovery in 2010 at Stony Hill Cave marked new hope for the conservation of this important species. Although little is known about its ecology, the species is presumed to be a cave-obligate rooster and to rely exclusively on so-called hot caves, which are defined by high ambient temperatures and low air quality. In March–April 2023, we surveyed bats at seven caves throughout Jamaica. At two of these, Green Grotto Caves, St. Ann, and Rock Spring Caverns, St. Mary, we captured both male and pregnant female P. aphylla. At Green Grotto Caves, we captured 24 P. aphylla, and 66 at Rock Spring Caverns. We believe Rock Spring Caverns to be one of the largest known roosts of P. aphylla. Neither of these sites are hot caves as both are moderated by flowing water, although warmer chambers may be more important to this bat than to other species. Further monitoring of these populations and continued exploration of other potential roosts are vital for the protection of this species.
Ethical Shortcomings of QALY: Discrimination Against Minorities in Public Health
Authors: Andrade Gabriel
Published: January 2024

Despite progress, discrimination in public health remains a problem. A significant aspect of this problem relates to how medical resources are allocated. The paradigm of quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY) dictates that medical resources should be allocated on the basis of units measured as length of life and quality of life that are expected after the implementation of a treatment. In this article, I discuss some of the ethical shortcomings of QALY, by focusing on some of its flawed moral aspects, as well as the way it relates to discrimination on the basis of age, race, and disability status. I argue that while this approach seeks to maximize efficiency, it does not place sufficient value on the preservation of life itself. Even more concerning is the fact that the use of QALY disproportionately harms minorities. While QALY is a well-intentioned approach to the allocation of scarce healthcare resources, new alternatives must be sought.
The oxygen uptake efficiency slope in adults with CHD: group validity
Authors: Redfern J. M. , Hawkes S. , Bryan A. , Cullington D. , Ashrafi R.
Published: January 2024

The maximal oxygen uptake (V02 max) is a well-validated measure of cardiorespiratory function that is calculated during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. V02 max enables physicians to objectively assess cardiopulmonary function to aid in decision-making for patients with CHD. A significant proportion of these patients however are unable to achieve a maximal exercise test, and as such, there is a need for reliable submaximal predictors of cardiorespiratory reserve.

The oxygen uptake efficiency slope represents a measure of how effectively oxygen is extracted from the lungs and taken into the body and can be calculated from a submaximal exercise test. Its reliability as a predictor of cardiorespiratory reserve has been validated in various patient populations, but there is limited evidence for its validity in adult patients with CHD.

Retrospective analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise test data in 238 consecutive patients with CHD who completed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test at our tertiary cardiology centre demonstrated a strong correlation between peak V02 and the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (0.936). A strong correlation with peak V02 was also demonstrated when oxygen uptake efficiency slope was calculated at ventilatory anaerobic threshold (OUESVAT), 75% (OUES75), and 90% (OUES90) of the test (0.833, 0.905, 0.927 respectively).

In adult patients with CHD who are unable to complete a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, the oxygen uptake efficiency slope is a reliable indicator of cardiopulmonary fitness which correlates strongly with peak V02 at or beyond the ventilatory anaerobic threshold. Further research is required to validate the findings in patients with less common anatomies and to assess the relationship between the oxygen uptake efficiency slope and mortality.
Preconditioned Stratospheric Modulation on the Occurrence of Stratospheric Final Warmings
Authors: Yang Pengkun , Bao Ming , Ren Xuejuan
Published: January 2024

Stratospheric Final Warmings (SFWs) are considered to have a distinct impact on the surface weather and stratospheric ozone. Most SFWs are predominantly wave‐driven, while previous studies generally focused on the effects of tropospheric anomalous wave forcing on stratospheric wave amplification. This study demonstrates the crucial role of preconditioned stratospheric modulation on the occurrence of wave‐driven SFWs in the Northern Hemisphere, using ERA5 reanalysis. In most cases, the preconditioned stratospheric state is the key factor in determining the occurrence of both early and late SFWs. The tropospheric anomalous wave forcing cannot independently trigger most SFWs without stratospheric modulation. The proportion of anomalous stratospheric signals followed by SFWs is much higher than that of anomalous tropospheric forcing, even if the proportions of SFWs preceded by anomalous stratospheric signals and tropospheric wave forcing are similar. Additionally, about 25% of SFWs are only preceded by stratospheric modulation without anomalously strong tropospheric wave amplification.
Scientists “Astonished” at 2023 Temperature Record
Authors: van Deelen Grace
Published: January 2024

Global temperatures in 2023 smashed records by a wide margin, surprising climate scientists and highlighting the need for more research.
Regulation of ciliary homeostasis by intraflagellar transport-independent kinesins
Authors: Li Lin , Ran Jie
Published: January 2024

Cilia are highly conserved eukaryotic organelles that protrude from the cell surface and are involved in sensory perception, motility, and signaling. Their proper assembly and function rely on the bidirectional intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, which involves motor proteins, including antegrade kinesins and retrograde dynein. Although the role of IFT-mediated transport in cilia has been extensively studied, recent research has highlighted the contribution of IFT-independent kinesins in ciliary processes. The coordinated activities and interplay between IFT kinesins and IFT-independent kinesins are crucial for maintaining ciliary homeostasis. In this comprehensive review, we aim to delve into the specific contributions and mechanisms of action of the IFT-independent kinesins in cilia. By shedding light on their involvement, we hope to gain a more holistic perspective on ciliogenesis and ciliopathies.
Transmembrane serine protease 6, a novel target for inhibition of neuronal tumor growth
Authors: Zuo Yong , Bai Jiawei , Bai Huiyuan , Tian Siyu , Sun Hongtao , Shi Zhenhua , Yu Peng , Gao Guofen , Li Yuan , Chang Yan-Zhong
Published: January 2024

Transmembrane serine protease 6 (Tmprss6) has been correlated with the occurrence and progression of tumors, but any specific molecular mechanism linking the enzyme to oncogenesis has remained elusive thus far. In the present study, we found that Tmprss6 markedly inhibited mouse neuroblastoma N2a (neuro-2a) cell proliferation and tumor growth in nude mice. Tmprss6 inhibits Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation by cleaving the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) co-receptor, hemojuvelin (HJV). Ordinarily, phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 binds to Smad4 for nuclear translocation, which stimulates the expression of hepcidin, ultimately decreasing the export of iron through ferroportin 1 (FPN1). The decrease in cellular iron levels in neuro-2a cells with elevated Tmprss6 expression limited the availability of the metal forribo nucleotide reductase activity, thereby arresting the cell cycle prior to S phase. Interestingly, Smad4 promoted nuclear translocation of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) to activate the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway by binding to ATF3, inducing apoptosis of neuro-2a cells and inhibiting tumor growth. Disruption of ATF3 expression significantly decreased apoptosis in Tmprss6 overexpressed neuro-2a cells. Our study describes a mechanism whereby Tmprss6 regulates the cell cycle and apoptosis. Thus, we propose Tmprss6 as a candidate target for inhibiting neuronal tumor growth.
USP43 stabilizes c-Myc to promote glycolysis and metastasis in bladder cancer
Authors: Li Mingxing , Yu Jingtian , Ju Lingao , Wang Yejinpeng , Jin Wan , Zhang Renjie , Xiang Wan , Ji Meng , Du Wenzhi , Wang Gang , Qian Kaiyu , Zhang Yi , Xiao Yu , Wang Xinghuan
Published: January 2024

A hallmark of tumor cells, including bladder cancer (BLCA) cells, is metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect). The classical oncogene MYC, which is crucial in regulating glycolysis, is amplified and activated in BLCA. However, direct targeting of the c-Myc oncoprotein, which regulates glycolytic metabolism, presents great challenges and necessitates the discovery of a more clarified regulatory mechanism to develop selective targeted therapy. In this study, a siRNA library targeting deubiquitinases identified a candidate enzyme named USP43, which may regulate glycolytic metabolism and c-Myc transcriptional activity. Further investigation using functional assays and molecular studies revealed a USP43/c-Myc positive feedback loop that contributes to the progression of BLCA. Moreover, USP43 stabilizes c-Myc by deubiquitinating c-Myc at K148 and K289 primarily through deubiquitinase activity. Additionally, upregulation of USP43 protein in BLCA increased the chance of interaction with c-Myc and interfered with FBXW7 access and degradation of c-Myc. These findings suggest that USP43 is a potential therapeutic target for indirectly targeting glycolytic metabolism and the c-Myc oncoprotein consequently enhancing the efficacy of bladder cancer treatment.
Clearance of apoptotic cells by neutrophils in inflammation and cancer
Authors: Ramos Cristiano , Oehler Rudolf
Published: January 2024

When a cell dies of apoptosis, it is eliminated either by neighbouring cells or by attracted professional phagocytes. Although it was generally believed that neutrophils also have the ability to perform efferocytosis, their contribution to the clearance of apoptotic cells was considered less important compared with macrophages. Therefore, this ability of neutrophils remained unexplored for a long time. Over the past decade, it has been shown that during inflammation, neutrophils contribute significantly to the clearance of apoptotic neutrophils that accumulate in large numbers at the site of tissue damage. This “neutrophil cannibalism” is accompanied by inhibition of pro-inflammatory activities of these cells, such as respiratory burst and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Furthermore, efferocytosing neutrophils secrete anti-inflammatory mediators and mitogens including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ). Thus, efferocytosis by neutrophils is involved in resolution of inflammation. Recent research indicates that it plays also a role in cancer. Many different solid tumours contain aggregates of dead tumour cells that have undergone spontaneous apoptosis. Their extent correlates with poor clinical outcome in most cancer types. These clusters of apoptotic tumour cells are strongly infiltrated by tumour-associated neutrophils (TANs) that acquired an anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving polarization state. This review summarizes the potential consequences discussed in the current literature. Although the picture of the role of efferocytosis by neutrophils in inflammation and cancer is becoming clearer, many questions are still unexplored.
Photonic Stochastic Emergent Storage for deep classification by scattering-intrinsic patterns
Authors: Leonetti Marco , Gosti Giorgio , Ruocco Giancarlo
Published: January 2024

Disorder is a pervasive characteristic of natural systems, offering a wealth of non-repeating patterns. In this study, we present a novel storage method that harnesses naturally-occurring random structures to store an arbitrary pattern in a memory device. This method, the Stochastic Emergent Storage (SES), builds upon the concept of emergent archetypes, where a training set of imperfect examples (prototypes) is employed to instantiate an archetype in a Hopfield-like network through emergent processes. We demonstrate this non-Hebbian paradigm in the photonic domain by utilizing random transmission matrices, which govern light scattering in a white-paint turbid medium, as prototypes. Through the implementation of programmable hardware, we successfully realize and experimentally validate the capability to store an arbitrary archetype and perform classification at the speed of light. Leveraging the vast number of modes excited by mesoscopic diffusion, our approach enables the simultaneous storage of thousands of memories without requiring any additional fabrication efforts. Similar to a content addressable memory, all stored memories can be collectively assessed against a given pattern to identify the matching element. Furthermore, by organizing memories spatially into distinct classes, they become features within a higher-level categorical (deeper) optical classification layer.
A self-powered intracardiac pacemaker in swine model
Authors: Liu Zhuo , Hu Yiran , Qu Xuecheng , Liu Ying , Cheng Sijing , Zhang Zhengmin , Shan Yizhu , Luo Ruizeng , Weng Sixian , Li Hui , Niu Hongxia , Gu Min , Yao Yan , Shi Bojing , Wang Ningning , Hua Wei , Li Zhou , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: January 2024

Harvesting biomechanical energy from cardiac motion is an attractive power source for implantable bioelectronic devices. Here, we report a battery-free, transcatheter, self-powered intracardiac pacemaker based on the coupled effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction for the treatment of arrhythmia in large animal models. We show that the capsule-shaped device (1.75 g, 1.52 cc) can be integrated with a delivery catheter for implanting in the right ventricle of a swine through the intravenous route, which effectively converts cardiac motion energy to electricity and maintains endocardial pacing function during the three-week follow-up period. We measure in vivo open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the self-powered intracardiac pacemaker of about 6.0 V and 0.2 μA, respectively. This approach exhibits up-to-date progress in self-powered medical devices and it may overcome the inherent energy shortcomings of implantable pacemakers and other bioelectronic devices for therapy and sensing.
BIDCell: Biologically-informed self-supervised learning for segmentation of subcellular spatial transcriptomics data
Authors: Fu Xiaohang , Lin Yingxin , Lin David M. , Mechtersheimer Daniel , Wang Chuhan , Ameen Farhan , Ghazanfar Shila , Patrick Ellis , Kim Jinman , Yang Jean Y. H.
Published: January 2024

Recent advances in subcellular imaging transcriptomics platforms have enabled high-resolution spatial mapping of gene expression, while also introducing significant analytical challenges in accurately identifying cells and assigning transcripts. Existing methods grapple with cell segmentation, frequently leading to fragmented cells or oversized cells that capture contaminated expression. To this end, we present BIDCell, a self-supervised deep learning-based framework with biologically-informed loss functions that learn relationships between spatially resolved gene expression and cell morphology. BIDCell incorporates cell-type data, including single-cell transcriptomics data from public repositories, with cell morphology information. Using a comprehensive evaluation framework consisting of metrics in five complementary categories for cell segmentation performance, we demonstrate that BIDCell outperforms other state-of-the-art methods according to many metrics across a variety of tissue types and technology platforms. Our findings underscore the potential of BIDCell to significantly enhance single-cell spatial expression analyses, enabling great potential in biological discovery.
Accurate nowcasting of cloud cover at solar photovoltaic plants using geostationary satellite images
Authors: Xia Pan , Zhang Lu , Min Min , Li Jun , Wang Yun , Yu Yu , Jia Shengjie
Published: January 2024

Accurate nowcasting for cloud fraction is still intractable challenge for stable solar photovoltaic electricity generation. By combining continuous radiance images measured by geostationary satellite and an advanced recurrent neural network, we develop a nowcasting algorithm for predicting cloud fraction at the leading time of 0–4 h at photovoltaic plants. Based on this algorithm, a cyclically updated prediction system is also established and tested at five photovoltaic plants and several stations with cloud fraction observations in China. The results demonstrate that the cloud fraction nowcasting is efficient, high quality and adaptable. Particularly, it shows an excellent forecast performance within the first 2-hour leading time, with an average correlation coefficient close to 0.8 between the predicted clear sky ratio and actual power generation at photovoltaic plants. Our findings highlight the benefits and potential of this technique to improve the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic energy in electricity market.
Global transboundary synergies and trade-offs among Sustainable Development Goals from an integrated sustainability perspective
Authors: Xiao Huijuan , Bao Sheng , Ren Jingzheng , Xu Zhenci , Xue Song , Liu Jianguo
Published: January 2024

Domestic attempts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a country can have synergistic and/or trade-off effects on the advancement of SDGs in other countries. Transboundary SDG interactions can be delivered through various transmission channels (e.g., trade, river flow, ocean currents, and air flow). This study quantified the transboundary interactions through these channels between 768 pairs of SDG indicators. The results showed that although high income countries only comprised 14.18% of the global population, they contributed considerably to total SDG interactions worldwide (60.60%). Transboundary synergistic effects via international trade were 14.94% more pronounced with trade partners outside their immediate geographic vicinity than with neighbouring ones. Conversely, nature-caused flows (including river flow, ocean currents, and air flow) resulted in 39.29% stronger transboundary synergistic effects among neighboring countries compared to non-neighboring ones. To facilitate the achievement of SDGs worldwide, it is essential to enhance collaboration among countries and leverage transboundary synergies.
Regio- and enantioselective synthesis of acyclic quaternary carbons via organocatalytic addition of organoborates to (Z)-Enediketones
Authors: Peng Po-Kai , Isho Andrew , May Jeremy A.
Published: January 2024

The chemical synthesis of molecules with closely packed atoms having their bond coordination saturated is a challenge to synthetic chemists, especially when three-dimensional control is required. The organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of acyclic alkenylated, alkynylated and heteroarylated quaternary carbon stereocenters via 1,4-conjugate addition is here catalyzed by 3,3´-bisperfluorotoluyl-BINOL. The highly useful products (31 examples) are produced in up to 99% yield and 97:3 er using enediketone substrates and potassium trifluoroorganoborate nucleophiles. In addition, mechanistic experiments show that the (Z)–isomer is the reactive form, ketone rotation at the site of bond formation is needed for enantioselectivity, and quaternary carbon formation is favored over tertiary. Density functional theory-based calculations show that reactivity and selectivity depend on a key n→π* donation by the unbound ketone’s oxygen lone pair to the boronate-coordinated ketone in a 5-exo-trig cyclic ouroboros transition state. Transformations of the conjugate addition products to key quaternary carbon-bearing synthetic building blocks proceed in good yield.
A ferroelectric fin diode for robust non-volatile memory
Authors: Feng Guangdi , Zhu Qiuxiang , Liu Xuefeng , Chen Luqiu , Zhao Xiaoming , Liu Jianquan , Xiong Shaobing , Shan Kexiang , Yang Zhenzhong , Bao Qinye , Yue Fangyu , Peng Hui , Huang Rong , Tang Xiaodong , Jiang Jie , Tang Wei , Guo Xiaojun , Wang Jianlu , Jiang Anquan , Dkhil Brahim , Tian Bobo , Chu Junhao , Duan Chungang
Published: January 2024

Among today’s nonvolatile memories, ferroelectric-based capacitors, tunnel junctions and field-effect transistors (FET) are already industrially integrated and/or intensively investigated to improve their performances. Concurrently, because of the tremendous development of artificial intelligence and big-data issues, there is an urgent need to realize high-density crossbar arrays, a prerequisite for the future of memories and emerging computing algorithms. Here, a two-terminal ferroelectric fin diode (FFD) in which a ferroelectric capacitor and a fin-like semiconductor channel are combined to share both top and bottom electrodes is designed. Such a device not only shows both digital and analog memory functionalities but is also robust and universal as it works using two very different ferroelectric materials. When compared to all current nonvolatile memories, it cumulatively demonstrates an endurance up to 1010 cycles, an ON/OFF ratio of ~102, a feature size of 30 nm, an operating energy of ~20 fJ and an operation speed of 100 ns. Beyond these superior performances, the simple two-terminal structure and their self-rectifying ratio of ~ 104 permit to consider them as new electronic building blocks for designing passive crossbar arrays which are crucial for the future in-memory computing.
CO2 hydrogenation over Fe-Co bimetallic catalysts with tunable selectivity through a graphene fencing approach
Authors: Liang Jiaming , Liu Jiangtao , Guo Lisheng , Wang Wenhang , Wang Chengwei , Gao Weizhe , Guo Xiaoyu , He Yingluo , Yang Guohui , Yasuda Shuhei , Liang Bing , Tsubaki Noritatsu
Published: January 2024

Tuning CO2 hydrogenation product distribution to obtain high-selectivity target products is of great significance. However, due to the imprecise regulation of chain propagation and hydrogenation reactions, the oriented synthesis of a single product is challenging. Herein, we report an approach to controlling multiple sites with graphene fence engineering that enables direct conversion of CO2/H2 mixtures into different types of hydrocarbons. Fe-Co active sites on the graphene fence surface present 50.1% light olefin selectivity, while the spatial Fe-Co nanoparticles separated by graphene fences achieve liquefied petroleum gas of 43.6%. With the assistance of graphene fences, iron carbides and metallic cobalt can efficiently regulate C-C coupling and olefin secondary hydrogenation reactions to achieve product-selective switching between light olefins and liquefied petroleum gas. Furthermore, it also creates a precedent for CO2 direct hydrogenation to liquefied petroleum gas via a Fischer-Tropsch pathway with the highest space-time yields compared to other reported composite catalysts.
DiffDomain enables identification of structurally reorganized topologically associating domains
Authors: Hua Dunming , Gu Ming , Zhang Xiao , Du Yanyi , Xie Hangcheng , Qi Li , Du Xiangjun , Bai Zhidong , Zhu Xiaopeng , Tian Dechao
Published: January 2024

Topologically associating domains (TADs) are critical structural units in three-dimensional genome organization of mammalian genome. Dynamic reorganizations of TADs between health and disease states are associated with essential genome functions. However, computational methods for identifying reorganized TADs are still in the early stages of development. Here, we present DiffDomain, an algorithm leveraging high-dimensional random matrix theory to identify structurally reorganized TADs using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi–C) contact maps. Method comparison using multiple real Hi–C datasets reveals that DiffDomain outperforms alternative methods for false positive rates, true positive rates, and identifying a new subtype of reorganized TADs. Applying DiffDomain to Hi–C data from different cell types and disease states demonstrates its biological relevance. Identified reorganized TADs are associated with structural variations and epigenomic changes such as changes in CTCF binding sites. By applying to a single-cell Hi–C data from mouse neuronal development, DiffDomain can identify reorganized TADs between cell types with reasonable reproducibility using pseudo-bulk Hi–C data from as few as 100 cells per condition. Moreover, DiffDomain reveals differential cell-to-population variability and heterogeneous cell-to-cell variability in TADs. Therefore, DiffDomain is a statistically sound method for better comparative analysis of TADs using both Hi–C and single-cell Hi–C data.
Identifying the distinct roles of dual dopants in stabilizing the platinum-nickel nanowire catalyst for durable fuel cell
Authors: Gao Lei , Sun Tulai , Chen Xuli , Yang Zhilong , Li Mengfan , Lai Wenchuan , Zhang Wenhua , Yuan Quan , Huang Hongwen
Published: January 2024

Stabilizing active PtNi alloy catalyst toward oxygen reduction reaction is essential for fuel cell. Doping of specific metals is an empirical strategy, however, the atomistic insight into how dopant boosts the stability of PtNi catalyst still remains elusive. Here, with typical examples of Mo and Au dopants, we identify the distinct roles of Mo and Au in stabilizing PtNi nanowires catalysts. Specifically, due to the stronger interaction between atomic orbital for Ni-Mo and Pt-Au, the Mo dopant mainly suppresses the outward diffusion of Ni atoms while the Au dopant contributes to the stabilization of surface Pt overlayer. Inspired by this atomistic understanding, we rationally construct the PtNiMoAu nanowires by integrating the different functions of Mo and Au into one entity. Such catalyst assembled in fuel cell cathode thus presents both remarkable activity and durability, even surpassing the United States Department of Energy technical targets for 2025.
Wheat Pm55 alleles exhibit distinct interactions with an inhibitor to cause different powdery mildew resistance
Authors: Lu Chuntian , Du Jie , Chen Heyu , Gong Shuangjun , Jin Yinyu , Meng Xiangru , Zhang Ting , Fu Bisheng , Molnár István , Holušová Kateřina , Said Mahmoud , Xing Liping , Kong Lingna , Doležel Jaroslav , Li Genying , Wu Jizhong , Chen Peidu , Cao Aizhong , Zhang Ruiqi
Published: January 2024

Powdery mildew poses a significant threat to wheat crops worldwide, emphasizing the need for durable disease control strategies. The wheat-Dasypyrum villosum T5AL·5 V#4 S and T5DL·5 V#4 S translocation lines carrying powdery mildew resistant gene Pm55 shows developmental-stage and tissue-specific resistance, whereas T5DL·5 V#5 S line carrying Pm5V confers resistance at all stages. Here, we clone Pm55 and Pm5V, and reveal that they are allelic and renamed as Pm55a and Pm55b, respectively. The two Pm55 alleles encode coiled-coil, nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (CNL) proteins, conferring broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew. However, they interact differently with a linked inhibitor gene, SuPm55 to cause different resistance to wheat powdery mildew. Notably, Pm55 and SuPm55 encode unrelated CNL proteins, and the inactivation of SuPm55 significantly reduces plant fitness. Combining SuPm55/Pm55a and Pm55b in wheat does not result in allele suppression or yield penalty. Our results provide not only insights into the suppression of resistance in wheat, but also a strategy for breeding durable resistance.
Attain insensitivity to chlorine ions in magnesium alloys by impeding the diffusion process
Authors: Chen Yuyang , Fan Guodong , Xu Xinchen , Chen Yiwen , Ying Tao , Li Yangxin , Zhu Hong , Sun Wanting , Gao Yang , Yang Zongyang , Song Weiwei , Zeng Xiaoqin
Published: January 2024

To serve in a more aggressive chlorine (Cl−) ions-containing environment, a chlorine ions insensitivity Mg-Nd-Zr alloys is fabricated, exhibiting a stable corrosion resistance in either 3.5wt.% or 10 wt.% NaCl solution. Unlike pure Mg who exhibit a negligible protection of the matrix, a distinct “hindering effect” of Cl− diffusion caused by doping elements within the corrosion film was observed. Its underlying mechanism is demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Density functional theory (DFT) analysis. The introducing with Nd and Zr elements can effectively passivate vacancies and alter diffusion energy of chlorine ions.
Experimental graybox quantum system identification and control
Authors: Youssry Akram , Yang Yang , Chapman Robert J. , Haylock Ben , Lenzini Francesco , Lobino Mirko , Peruzzo Alberto
Published: January 2024

Understanding and controlling engineered quantum systems is key to developing practical quantum technology. However, given the current technological limitations, such as fabrication imperfections and environmental noise, this is not always possible. To address these issues, a great deal of theoretical and numerical methods for quantum system identification and control have been developed. These methods range from traditional curve fittings, which are limited by the accuracy of the model that describes the system, to machine learning (ML) methods, which provide efficient control solutions but no control beyond the output of the model, nor insights into the underlying physical process. Here we experimentally demonstrate a ‘graybox’ approach to construct a physical model of a quantum system and use it to design optimal control. We report superior performance over model fitting, while generating unitaries and Hamiltonians, which are quantities not available from the structure of standard supervised ML models. Our approach combines physics principles with high-accuracy ML and is effective with any problem where the required controlled quantities cannot be directly measured in experiments. This method naturally extends to time-dependent and open quantum systems, with applications in quantum noise spectroscopy and cancellation.
Engineered extracellular vesicle-encapsulated CHIP as novel nanotherapeutics for treatment of renal fibrosis
Authors: Ji Cheng , Zhang Jiahui , Shi Linru , Shi Hui , Xu Wenrong , Jin Jianhua , Qian Hui
Published: January 2024

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a fundamental pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, toxicity and poor renal enrichment of fibrosis inhibitors limit their further applications. In this study, a platform for CKD therapy is developed using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) decorated mesenchymal stem cells derived extracellular vesicles with carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) high expression (SPION-EVs) to achieve higher renal-targeting antifibrotic therapeutic effect. SPION-EVs selectively accumulate at the injury renal sites under an external magnetic field. Moreover, SPION-EVs deliver CHIP to induce Smad2/3 degradation in renal tubular cells which alleviates Smad2/3 activation-mediated fibrosis-like changes and collagen deposition. The extracellular vesicle engineering technology provides a potential nanoplatform for RIF therapy through CHIP-mediated Smad2/3 degradation.
The potential use of supercritical carbon dioxide in sugarcane juice processing
Authors: Pimenta Fernanda Cristina , Moraes Talita Cristiane Krice , Dacanal Gustavo Cesar , Oliveira Alessandra Lopes de , Petrus Rodrigo Rodrigues
Published: January 2024

Sugarcane juice is a nutritious and energetic drink. For its processing, the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) technology as an intervention potentially capable of rendering a high quality product can be considered. This study evaluated the combined effect of SC-CO2 and mild temperatures, primarily aiming for the reduction of endogenous microorganisms and enzymes in sugarcane juice (pH~5.5). Pressures (P) ranging from 74 to 351 bar, temperatures (T) between 33 and 67 °C, and holding times (t) between 20 and 70 min were tested in a central composite rotational design. Seventeen trials were performed, comprising three replicates at the central points. Counts of aerobic mesophiles, molds and yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and coliforms at 45 °C, determination of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities, and measurement of color parameters in freshly extracted and processed juice’s samples were carried out. The pH of fresh and processed juice varied between 4.6 and 6.0, and between 4.6 and 6.3, respectively. The number of decimal reductions achieved in mesophiles, molds and yeasts, lactic acid bacteria and coliforms varied between 0.1 and 3.9, 2.1 and 4.1, 0.0 and 2.1, and 0.3 to 2.5, respectively. The percentages of PPO reduction ranged from 3.51% to 64.18%. Regarding the POD, reductions between 0.27% and 41.42% were obtained. Color variations between fresh and processed samples varied between 2.0 and 12.3. As for mesophiles, molds and yeasts reduction, and soluble solids variation, none of the variables or their interactions were significant. In terms of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) reduction, only t was significant; however, T, t, and the interaction between them significantly affected the peroxidase (POD) reduction. In regards to pH variation, P, and the interaction between T and t were significant. P, T, t, and the interaction between T and t played a significant effect on color. The combination of mild temperatures and SC-CO2 can be potentially used for cane juice preservation.
Emerging challenges and opportunities in innovating food science technology and engineering education
Authors: Saguy I. S. , Silva C. L. M. , Cohen E.
Published: January 2024

Progress in science, technology, innovation, and digital capabilities call for reassessing food science, technology, and engineering (FST&E) education and research programs. This survey targeted global professionals and students across food disciplines and nutrition. Its main objectives included assessing the status of FST&E higher education, identifying challenges and opportunities, and furnishing recommendations. Seven topics affecting the future of the FST&E curricula were evaluated by the panel as ‘High’ to ‘Very high’, namely: ‘Critical thinking’, followed by ‘Problem-solving projects’, ‘Teamwork/collaboration’, ‘Innovation/Open innovation’ and ‘Multidisciplinary’. The importance of academic partnership/collaboration with the Food Industry and Nutrition Sciences was demonstrated. Significant positive roles of the food industry in collaboration and partnerships were found. Other essential food industry attributes were related to internships, education, strategy, and vision. Collaboration between FST&E and nutrition sciences indicated the high standing of this direction. The need to integrate or converge nutrition sciences and FST&E is emphasized, especially with the growing consumer awareness of health and wellness. The study provides insights into new education and learning opportunities and new topics for future curricula.
GINv2.0: a comprehensive topological network integrating molecular interactions from multiple knowledge bases
Authors: Chang Xiao , Yan Shen , Zhang Yizheng , Zhang Yingchun , Li Luyang , Gao Zhanyu , Lin Xuefei , Chi Xu
Published: January 2024

Knowledge bases have been instrumental in advancing biological research, facilitating pathway analysis and data visualization, which are now widely employed in the scientific community. Despite the establishment of several prominent knowledge bases focusing on signaling, metabolic networks, or both, integrating these networks into a unified topological network has proven to be challenging. The intricacy of molecular interactions and the diverse formats employed to store and display them contribute to the complexity of this task. In a prior study, we addressed this challenge by introducing a “meta-pathway” structure that integrated the advantages of the Simple Interaction Format (SIF) while accommodating reaction information. Nevertheless, the earlier Global Integrative Network (GIN) was limited to reliance on KEGG alone. Here, we present GIN version 2.0, which incorporates human molecular interaction data from ten distinct knowledge bases, including KEGG, Reactome, and HumanCyc, among others. We standardized the data structure, gene IDs, and chemical IDs, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of the consistency among the ten knowledge bases before combining all unified interactions into GINv2.0. Utilizing GINv2.0, we investigated the glycolysis process and its regulatory proteins, revealing coordinated regulations on glycolysis and autophagy, particularly under glucose starvation. The expanded scope and enhanced capabilities of GINv2.0 provide a valuable resource for comprehensive systems-level analyses in the field of biological research. GINv2.0 can be accessed at: https://github.com/BIGchix/GINv2.0.
High-resolution temporal gravity field data products: Monthly mass grids and spherical harmonics from 1994 to 2021
Authors: Uz Metehan , Akyılmaz Orhan , Shum C. K. , Atman Kazım Gökhan , Olgun Sevda , Güneş Özge
Published: January 2024

Since April 2002, Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE-FO (FollowOn) satellite gravimetry missions have provided precious data for monitoring mass variations within the hydrosphere, cryosphere, and oceans with unprecedented accuracy and resolution. However, the long-term products of mass variations prior to GRACE-era may allow for a better understanding of spatio-temporal changes in climate-induced geophysical phenomena, e.g., terrestrial water cycle, ice sheet and glacier mass balance, sea level change and ocean bottom pressure (OBP). Here, climate-driven mass anomalies are simulated globally at 1.0° × 1.0° spatial and monthly temporal resolutions from January 1994 to January 2021 using an in-house developed hybrid Deep Learning architecture considering GRACE/-FO mascon and SLR-inferred gravimetry, ECMWF Reanalysis-5 data, and normalized time tag information as training datasets. Internally, we consider mathematical metrics such as RMSE, NSE and comparisons to previous studies, and externally, we compare our simulations to GRACE-independent datasets such as El-Nino and La-Nina indexes, Global Mean Sea Level, Earth Orientation Parameters-derived low-degree spherical harmonic coefficients, and in-situ OBP measurements for validation.
Chromosome-level assembly and gene annotation of Decapterus maruadsi genome using Nanopore and Hi-C technologies
Authors: Chen Longyu , Zhou Zhixiong , Zhou Zhiyin , Yang Junyi , Deng Yacheng , Bai Yulin , Pu Fei , Zhou Tao , Xu Peng
Published: January 2024

Decapterus maruadsi is one of the representative offshore fish in the Western Pacific. Since the last century, it has become a commercially valuable marine fishery species in the Western Pacific region. Despite its high economic value, there is still a lack of high-quality reference genome of D. maruadsi in germplasm resource evaluation research. Here we report a chromosome-level reference genome of D. maruadsi based on Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technologies. The whole genome was assembled through 169 contigs with a total length of 723.69 Mb and a contig N50 length of 24.67 Mb. By chromosome scaffolding, 23 chromosomes with a total length of 713.58 Mb were constructed. In addition, a total of 199.49 Mb repetitive elements, 33,515 protein-coding genes, and 6,431 ncRNAs were annotated in the reference genome. This reference genome of D. maruadsi will provide a solid theoretical basis not only for the subsequent development of genomic resources of D. maruadsi but also for the formulation of policies related to the protection of D. maruadsi.
Varus placement of the tibial component reduces the potential risk of fracture with adequate bony coverage in the Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Authors: Kamenaga Tomoyuki , Hiranaka Takafumi , Suda Yoshihito , Fujishiro Takaaki , Okamoto Koji , Kuroda Ryosuke , Matsumoto Tomoyuki
Published: January 2024

A short keel-cortex distance (KCD), especially to the posterior cortex, is a potential risk factor for tibial plateau fracture after Oxford mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (OUKA). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tibial component alignment in the coronal plane and tibial proximal morphology on the KCD. Included in this study were 51 patients scheduled for primary Oxford medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The anterior and posterior KCD were preoperatively assessed using 3D simulation software with the component set perpendicular to the tibial mechanical axis (neutral), 3° valgus, 3° varus, and 6° varus, relative to neutral alignment. We evaluated the existence of overhanging medial tibial condyle where the medial eminence line, the line including the medial tibial eminence parallel to the tibial axis, passes outside of the tibial shaft. In all component alignments, patients with a medial overhanging condyle had significantly shorter posterior KCD than those without. In patients with a medial overhanging condyle, the posterior KCD significantly increased when the tibial component was placed in 3° varus (4.6 ± 1.5 mm, P = 0.003 vs neutral, P < 0.001 vs 3° valgus) and 6° varus (5.0 ± 1.4 mm, P < 0.001 vs neutral, P < 0.001 vs 3° valgus) compared with in neutral (3.5 ± 1.9 mm) or 3° valgus (2.8 ± 1.8 mm). In OUKA, varus implantation increased the KCD. This could potentially decrease the risk of fracture, even in knees with the overhanging medial condyle. Conversely, valgus implantation of the tibial component shortened the KCD, and should therefore be avoided.
Predicting memorability of face photographs with deep neural networks
Authors: Younesi Mohammad , Mohsenzadeh Yalda
Published: January 2024

With the advent of social media in our daily life, we are exposed to a plethora of images, particularly face photographs, every day. Recent behavioural studies have shown that some of these photographs stick in the mind better than others. Previous research have shown that memorability is an intrinsic property of an image, hence the memorability of an image can be computed from that image. Moreover, various works found that the memorability of an image is highly consistent across people and also over time. Recently, researchers employed deep neural networks to predict image memorability. Here, we show although those models perform well on scene and object images, they perform poorly on photographs of human faces. We demonstrate and explain why generic memorability models do not result in an acceptable performance on face photographs and propose seven different models to estimate the memorability of face images. In addition, we show that these models outperform the previous classical methods, which were used for predicting face memorability.
Open set classification of sound event
Authors: You Jie , Wu Wenqin , Lee Joonwhoan
Published: January 2024

Sound is one of the primary forms of sensory information that we use to perceive our surroundings. Usually, a sound event is a sequence of an audio clip obtained from an action. The action can be rhythm patterns, music genre, people speaking for a few seconds, etc. The sound event classification address distinguishes what kind of audio clip it is from the given audio sequence. Nowadays, it is a common issue to solve in the following pipeline: audio pre-processing→perceptual feature extraction→classification algorithm. In this paper, we improve the traditional sound event classification algorithm to identify unknown sound events by using the deep learning method. The compact cluster structure in the feature space for known classes helps recognize unknown classes by allowing large room to locate unknown samples in the embedded feature space. Based on this concept, we applied center loss and supervised contrastive loss to optimize the model. The center loss tries to minimize the intra- class distance by pulling the embedded feature into the cluster center, while the contrastive loss disperses the inter-class features from one another. In addition, we explored the performance of self-supervised learning in detecting unknown sound events. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed open-set sound event classification algorithm and self-supervised learning approach achieve sustained performance improvements in various datasets.
Patterned immobilization of polyoxometalate-loaded mesoporous silica particles via amine-ene Michael additions on alkene functionalized surfaces
Authors: Yang Bingquan , Picchetti Pierre , Wang Yangxin , Wang Wenjing , Seeger Christoph , Bozov Kliment , Malik Sharali , Mallach Dennis , Schäfer Andreas H. , Ibrahim Masooma , Hirtz Michael , Powell Annie K.
Published: January 2024

Polyoxometalates (POM) are anionic oxoclusters of early transition metals that are of great interest for a variety of applications, including the development of sensors and catalysts. A crucial step in the use of POM in functional materials is the production of composites that can be further processed into complex materials, e.g. by printing on different substrates. In this work, we present an immobilization approach for POMs that involves two key processes: first, the stable encapsulation of POMs in the pores of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) and, second, the formation of microstructured arrays with these POM-loaded nanoparticles. Specifically, we have developed a strategy that leads to water-stable, POM-loaded mesoporous silica that can be covalently linked to alkene-bearing surfaces by amine-Michael addition and patterned into microarrays by scanning probe lithography (SPL). The immobilization strategy presented facilitates the printing of hybrid POM-loaded nanomaterials onto different surfaces and provides a versatile method for the fabrication of POM-based composites. Importantly, POM-loaded MSPs are useful in applications such as microfluidic systems and sensors that require frequent washing. Overall, this method is a promising way to produce surface-printed POM arrays that can be used for a wide range of applications.