bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research trends and hotspots in gastric carcinoma associated exosome: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Liu Chunqiu , Guo Honglei , Jin Fangzhou
Published: December 2024

Background

Stomach cancer is considered the fifth most common cancer worldwide. This study utilized bibliometric analysis to construct a visualization map of the relationship between stomach cancer and exosomes, aiming to reveal research trends and emerging themes, and provide direction for future research.

Method

Retrieve relevant literature on gastric cancer exosomes in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) over the past 25 years according to search criteria, and conduct bibliometric and visualization analysis using bibliometric software VOSviewer and CiteSpace.

Results

This study included a total of 727 articles, with an overall increasing trend in annual publication output. There were 68 countries involved, with China having the largest number of publications followed by the United States. A total of 957 research institutions were involved, with most of the top 10 institutions in terms of publication output being universities in China. The top 5 journals are Molecular Cancer, Cell death & disease, Cancers, International journal of molecular sciences, and Frontiers in oncology. A total of 4529 authors were involved, with 5 authors having a publication output of no less than 13 articles. A total of 35516 references were cited, with a total number of citations. The top publication is “Exosome-mediated transfer of mRNAs and microRNAs is a novel mechanism of genetic exchange between cells”.

Conclusion

Over the past 25 years, researchers have been dedicated to studying the field of exosomes related to gastric cancer, and research in this area is currently progressing steadily. Based on previous studies, exosomes in gastric adenocarcinoma serve as biomarkers, potential therapeutic targets, and post-resistance treatment, which represents current hotspots and emerging frontiers in research.
Clinical implications of a gain-of-function genetic polymorphism in DPYD (rs4294451) in colorectal cancer patients treated with fluoropyrimidines
Authors: De Mattia Elena , Polesel Jerry , Scarabel Lucia , Cecchin Erika
Published: December 2024

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD, encoded by the DPYD gene) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the detoxification of fluoropyrimidines (FLs). Rs4294451 is a regulatory DPYD polymorphism that has recently been functionally characterized and associated with increased DPD expression in the liver. The aim of the present study was to test the clinical implications of being a carrier of rs4294451 in a cohort of 645 FL-treated colorectal cancer patients. Carriers of at least one DPYD rs4294451-T variant allele had a lower risk of developing NCI-CTC grade 4–5 hematological [odds ratio (OR) = 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–0.98; additive model] and hematological/non-hematological (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.22–0.88; dominant model) FL-related toxicity. Patients with the DPYD rs4294451-T allele also had a longer time to severe toxicity development after starting FL treatment [hematological, Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.09–0.79; Fine–Gray test = 0.1569; hematological/non-hematological: HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17–0.85; Fine–Gray test = 0.0444]. It is worth noting that while being at lower risk of toxicity, DPYD rs4294451-T allele carriers also tend to present a shorter overall survival (HR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.05–1.90; log-rank p = 0.0406). These findings demonstrate a clinical effect of DPYD-rs4294451 polymorphism coherent with the recently described functional effect. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the potential clinical value to the rs4294451 polymorphism as toxicity and especially as an efficacy marker in colorectal cancer.
Silicon regulation of manganese homeostasis in plants: mechanisms and future prospective
Authors: Hailai Yuebu , Liu Yuan , Yang Zhengming , Li Ying , Feng Jingqiu , Li Wenbing , Sheng Huachun
Published: December 2024

Manganese (Mn), a plant micronutrient element, is an important component of metalloprotein involved in multiple metabolic processes, such as photosynthesis and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Its disorder (deficiency or excess) affects the Mn-dependent metabolic processes and subsequent growth and development of plants. The beneficial element of Si has a variety of applications in agricultural fields for plant adaptation to various environmental stresses, including Mn disorder. The probable mechanisms for Si alleviation of Mn toxicity in plants are summarized as follows: (1) Si alters the rhizosphere acidification, root exudates and microorganisms to decrease the bioavailability of Mn in the rhizosphere; (2) Si down-regulates Mn transporter gene and reinforces the apoplastic barriers for inhibiting the Mn uptake and translocation; and (3) Si promotes the Mn deposition onto cell wall and Mn compartmentation into vacuole. Under Mn-deficient conditions, the probable mechanisms for Si promotion of Mn absorption in some plants remain an open question. Moreover, scavenging ROS is a common mechanism for Si alleviating Mn disorder. This minireview highlights the current understanding and future perspectives of Si regulation of manganese homeostasis in plants.
Shade tolerance in wheat is related to photosynthetic limitation and morphological and physiological acclimations
Authors: Li Yong , Zhao Jiarong , Ma Hongliang , Pu Lixia , Zhang Jiarui , Huang Xiulan , Yang Hongkun , Fan Gaoqiong
Published: December 2024

Low solar irradiance reaching the canopy due to fog and heavy haze is a significant yield-limiting factor worldwide. However, how plants adapt to shade stress and the mechanisms underlying the reduction in leaf photosynthetic capacity and grain yield remain unclear. In this study (conducted during 2018–2021), we investigated the impact of light deprivation (60%) at the pre-anthesis and post-anthesis stages on leaf carboxylation efficiency, source-to-sink relationships, sucrose metabolism, and grain yield of wheat cultivars with contrasting shade tolerance. Shade stress decreased stomatal conductance, stomatal limitation value, intrinsic water use efficiency, rubisco activity, and carboxylation efficiency of flag leaves during grain-filling, whereas intercellular CO2 concentration increased. These findings indicate that non-stomatal limitation reduces the net photosynthesis rate in a weak-light environment. Shade-tolerant cultivars (MM-51 and CM-39) adapted to low-light conditions via a higher leaf area of flag leaves, light interception rate, and chlorophyll a and b contents; this increased non-structural carbohydrates and sucrose contents in developing grains, ultimately decreasing yield loss by shade stress. Pre-anthesis shading resulted in a greater yield loss than post-anthesis shading because of decreased plant biomass, grain number per spike and 1,000-kernel weight. This study indicates that Rubisco-mediated non-stomatal limitation reduces PN and sucrose content in plants exposed to low-light stress, contributing to decreased grain yield. Our study provides information on the mechanism underlying shade stress tolerance, which will help design future strategies for reducing yield loss in the context of global dimming.
“Youth are experts in what they need”: experiences and best practice in co-designing and implementing Fast-PrEP, a novel PrEP service for adolescents and youth in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Bennin Fiona , Fynn Lauren , Fuzile Pamela , Yola Ntando , Julies Robin , Sindelo Siyaxolisa , Madubela Ndumiso , Vundhla Prisca , Mpanda Yolanda , Jonas Mbali , Bekker Linda-Gail , Rousseau Elzette
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Defining the prevention needs, motivations, and gender dynamics influencing adolescent and young people’s (AYP’s) healthcare access is a key component to successful PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention) implementation. WHO encourages a strong people-cantered approach to healthcare delivery, and this is particularly emphasized for HIV services. Enhanced youth engagement is needed to ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of youth populations.

Description

Fast-PrEP is an implementation science project providing PrEP (oral, vaginal ring, and injectable) to adolescents and young people (15–29 years old) in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2020, during the planning phase of this project, a Youth Reference Group (YRG) was established to guide, co-create, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of PrEP delivery. From March to October 2023, we conducted four focus group discussions with thirty YRG members, and seven interviews with project implementers (including clinical and research staff). This study aimed to explore real-time experiences of young people and staff members and provide recommendations for best practices when setting up and engaging with YRGs.

Findings

Overall, young people described their experience of being involved in the YRG as empowering. Young people felt that their voices and needs were valued when seeing their input put into action or witnessing their designs in demand creation campaigns. Young people felt that being consulted was not for tokenistic reasons, but their contribution was valuable and considered young people’s sexual health needs. Best practices included involving the YRG in every aspect of the project design and implementation, being flexible around young people’s schedules, and having engagements in spaces that are easily accessible and safe for key populations. Staff recommended upskilling the youth members in knowledge around HIV and certain ‘soft skills’ such as building self-confidence and communication skills. It was also recommended that all research and clinical staff need ongoing training and sensitization on the importance and value of youth engagement.

Conclusion

The involvement of young people in the co-creation of Fast-PrEP services in all phases of service provision, has been effective in assisting to provide youth appropriate PrEP services.
Extraction of rose hydrosol from Yunnan Dark Red Rose by steam distillation: optimization, antioxidant activity, and flavor assessment
Authors: Wan Yilai , Xu Chengjian , Zhu Zhongyan , Liu Wenyu , Wei Changqing , Yi Yuwen , Liu Zhanxia , Wang Ting , Zhu Nan , Xiao Hang
Published: December 2024

The rose hydrosol was extracted from Yunnan Dark Red Rose petals by steam distillation, and the extraction process was optimized by response surface methodology. Besides, volatile compounds in the rose hydrosol were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) and its antioxidant activity was also verified. The results showed that the sensory score of rose hydrosol was the highest when the ratio of flower to liquid was 1:2 (w/v), the reflux time was 5 min, the distillation temperature was 120°C, and the concentration of sodium chloride was 3%. The scavenging rates of rose hydrosol on DPPH, ⋅OH and superoxide anion (⋅O2−) were 26.13, 55.56 and 10.76% respectively, the polyphenol content was 14.9 ± 2.5 GAE mg/g, and the content of flavonoids in pure dew was 19.3 ± 1.3 RE mg/g which indicated that the extracted rose hydrosol had adequate antioxidant activity. Our study provides a theoretical reference for the utilization of rose hydrosol in food and cosmetic fields.
Space Environment Monitoring Unit on Wentian Laboratory Cabin Module of China Space Station
Authors: Zhang Huanxin , Shen Guohong , Hou Donghui , Zhang Shenyi , Wang Chunqin , Sun Ying , Wang Liping , Liao Jiajie
Published: December 2024

This article introduces the design and development of a space environment monitoring unit embedded in the versatile experimental assembly for electronic components outside the China space station’s Wentian laboratory cabin module. A newly designed comprehensive detection system is being used for the first time in this kind of detector. The sensor head of the instrument includes a silicon telescope (composed of two silicon semiconductors) for measuring the LET spectrum and radiation dose rate, a typical chip for monitoring a single-event upset, and a CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector for detecting heavy ion tracks. The two silicon sensors stacked up and down are used for measuring the LET spectrum, which ranges from 0.001 to 100 MeV·cm2/mg. A sensor charge allocation method is adopted to divide the detection range into four cascaded levels, each achieving different detection ranges separately and then concatenated together, while traditional detection methods need multiple sets of probes to achieve the same dynamic range. At the same time, using the two sensors mentioned above, the silicon absorption dose rate under two different shielding thicknesses can be obtained through calculation, ranging from 10−5 to 10−1 rad (Si)/h. Multiple calibration methods are applied on the ground. The preliminary in-orbit detection results are provided and compared with the simulation results obtained using the existing space environment model, and we analyze and discuss their differences.
The Impact of Agricultural Investments on the Economic Efficiency of Production Factors: An Empirical Study of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship
Authors: Czubak Wawrzyniec , Pawłowski Krzysztof Piotr
Published: December 2024

The functioning and development of each economic entity requires the implementation of investments. In the case of farms in Poland, which are characterised by structural problems and a lack of capital, it is essential to undertake investment activities of a modern nature. The main objective of this research was to assess agricultural investments made in farms, considering the example of the Wielkopolska Voivodship in Poland, from the point of view of their impacts on changes in the economic efficiency of production factors. The data source was unpublished individual data from the agricultural accounting “Polish FADN” results for all farms in the Wielkopolska Voivodship who had continuously participated in the data collection system from 2009 to 2021. The project’s complexity was determined by measuring the scale of investments, relating the sum of investment expenditures to the average annual value of fixed assets (reduced by land value). Farmers endowed with a greater asset base had the ability to invest more comprehensively (i.e., in their most desirable scale regarding the value of possessed fixed assets) in a manner primarily concerning the value of fixed assets, especially the agricultural area, as a primary agricultural production factor. In terms of the effects of differentiating the scale of investment outlays (which was the aim of the study), a better initial state allowed farms to increase their area significantly, with an average annual rate of change of 3%. On the other hand, a lack of investment led to the decapitalisation of assets (−6.7% per year), which also concerned land sales (−1.5% per year). These research results indicate that not only does the undertaking of investments, in general, impact the development possibilities of farms—and, therefore, improvements in the resource situation of farms—but also the scale of investment (with respect to the value of possessed fixed assets).
Seed Priming: Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance
Authors: Jatana Bhupinder Singh , Grover Sajjan , Ram Hari , Baath Gurjinder Singh
Published: December 2024

Seed priming is a state-of-the-art, low-cost, and environment-friendly strategy to improve seed germination, seed vigor, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, and the yield of field and horticultural crops. Seed priming involves imbibing the seeds in a priming solution under a desired set of environmental conditions for a period followed by drying before the radicle protrusion. Several seed priming approaches including hydropriming, osmopriming, bio-priming, hormonal priming, nutrient priming, nanoparticle priming, and electropriming can be effectively employed under different environmental conditions to improve crop growth and stress resilience. Seed priming is known to trigger enzymatic, hormonal, physiological, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic regulations in seed embryos during seed germination and plant growth, which leads to faster and synchronized seed germination and higher abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Furthermore, seed priming can induce cross-tolerance between abiotic and biotic stressors and induce stress memory for higher resilience of the next generation to environmental stresses. The present review paper discusses the applications of seed priming in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and the underlying abiotic and biotic stress tolerance physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of seed priming. Furthermore, we discuss the current challenges/bottlenecks in the widespread application of seed priming in crop production.
From Language Models to Medical Diagnoses: Assessing the Potential of GPT-4 and GPT-3.5-Turbo in Digital Health
Authors: Roos Jonas , Wilhelm Theresa Isabelle , Martin Ron , Kaczmarczyk Robert
Published: December 2024

Background: Large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5-Turbo and GPT-4 show potential to transform medical diagnostics through their linguistic and analytical capabilities. This study evaluates their diagnostic proficiency using English and German medical examination datasets. Methods: We analyzed 452 English and 637 German medical examination questions using GPT models. Performance metrics included broad and exact accuracy rates for primary and three-model generated guesses, with an analysis of performance against varying question difficulties based on student accuracy rates. Results: GPT-4 demonstrated superior performance, achieving up to 95.4% accuracy when considering approximate similarity in English datasets. While GPT-3.5-Turbo showed better results in English, GPT-4 maintained consistent performance across both languages. Question difficulty was correlated with diagnostic accuracy, particularly in German datasets. Conclusions: The study demonstrates GPT-4’s significant diagnostic capabilities and cross-linguistic flexibility, suggesting potential for clinical applications. However, further validation and ethical consideration are necessary before widespread implementation.
SevPredict: Exploring the Potential of Large Language Models in Software Maintenance
Authors: Arshad Muhammad Ali , Riaz Adnan , Fatima Rubia , Yasin Affan
Published: December 2024

The prioritization of bug reports based on severity is a crucial aspect of bug triaging, enabling a focus on more critical issues. Traditional methods for assessing bug severity range from manual inspection to the application of machine and deep learning techniques. However, manual evaluation tends to be resource-intensive and inefficient, while conventional learning models often lack contextual understanding. This study explores the effectiveness of large language models (LLMs) in predicting bug report severity. We propose a novel approach called SevPredict using GPT-2, an advanced LLM, and compare it against state-of-the-art models. The comparative analysis between the proposed approach and state-of-the-art approaches suggests that the proposed approach outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches in terms of performance evaluation metrics. SevPredict shows improvements over the best-performing state-of-the-art approach (BERT-SBR) with 1.72% higher accuracy, 2.18% higher precision, and 4.94% higher MCC. The improvements are even more substantial when compared to the approach by Ramay et al., with SevPredict demonstrating 10.66% higher accuracy, 10.39% higher precision, 3.29% higher recall, 7.19% higher F1-score, and a remarkable 41.27% higher MCC. These findings not only demonstrate the superiority of our GPT-2-based approach in predicting the severity of bug reports but also highlight its potential to significantly advance automated bug triaging and software maintenance. This research introduces a severity prediction tool named SevPredict.
Impact of Antipseudomonal Antibiotics in Patients with Bronchiectasis Who Experienced Exacerbation or Developed Pneumonia: A Nationwide Study in Japan
Authors: Hagiwara Akihiko , Shuto Hisayuki , Kudoh Ryohei , Omori Shota , Hiramatsu Kazufumi , Kadota Jun-ichi , Fushimi Kiyohide , Komiya Kosaku
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Although chronic infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa among patients with bronchiectasis is associated with poor prognosis, the impact of antibiotics with P. aeruginosa coverage in patients with bronchiectasis who experienced bacterial pneumonia or exacerbation of bronchiectasis has not been fully investigated. Methods: This study targeted patients with bronchiectasis who were admitted to hospitals because of bacterial pneumonia or exacerbation of bronchiectasis between April 2018 and March 2020 using a national inpatient database in Japan. The association of antipseudomonal antibiotic treatment with in-hospital mortality was assessed after propensity score matching to adjust the patients’ backgrounds. Results: In total, 4943 patients with bacterial pneumonia and 1914 patients with exacerbation of bronchiectasis were included in this study. The in-hospital mortality rate did not differ between patients who did and did not receive antipseudomonal agents among patients with bacterial pneumonia (9.0% [185/2045] vs. 7.4% [151/2045]; p = 0.053) and those with exacerbation of bronchiectasis (5.2% [42/803] vs. 4.1% [33/803] group; p = 0.287). Conclusions: The use of antibiotics covering P. aeruginosa does not apparently improve prognosis in patients with bacterial pneumonia or exacerbation of bronchiectasis. A prospective study focusing on the impact of antibiotics covering P. aeruginosa among patients with bronchiectasis in whom P. aeruginosa is isolated is required.
Tracking Multidrug Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria in Alexandria, Egypt (2020–2023): An Integrated Analysis of Patient Data and Diagnostic Tools
Authors: Braun Sascha D. , Rezk Shahinda , Brandt Christian , Reinicke Martin , Diezel Celia , Müller Elke , Frankenfeld Katrin , Krähmer Domenique , Monecke Stefan , Ehricht Ralf
Published: December 2024

Background: The rise in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Egypt, particularly in hospital settings, poses a significant public health challenge. This study aims to develop a combined epidemiological surveillance tool utilizing the Microreact online platform (version 269) and molecular microarray technology to track and analyze carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli strains in Egypt. The objective is to integrate molecular diagnostics and real-time data visualization to better understand the spread and evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Methods: The study analyzed 43 E. coli isolates collected from Egyptian hospitals between 2020 and 2023. Nanopore sequencing and microarray analysis were used to identify carbapenemase genes and other resistance markers, whereas the VITEK2 system was employed for phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing. Microreact was used to visualize epidemiological data, mapping the geographic and temporal distribution of resistant strains. Results: We found that 72.09% of the isolates, predominantly from pediatric patients, carried the blaNDM-5 gene, while other carbapenemase genes, including blaOXA-48 and blaVIM, were also detected. The microarray method demonstrated 92.9% diagnostic sensitivity and 87.7% diagnostic specificity compared to whole-genome sequencing. Phenotypic resistance correlated strongly with next-generation sequencing (NGS) genotypic data, achieving 95.6% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity. Conclusions: This method establishes the utility of combining microarray technology, NGS and real-time data visualization for the surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, especially E. coli. The high concordance between genotypic and phenotypic data underscores the potential of DNA microarrays as a cost-effective alternative to whole-genome sequencing, especially in resource-limited settings. This integrated approach can enhance public health responses to MDR bacteria in Egypt.
Targeting Insulin Resistance, Reactive Oxygen Species, Inflammation, Programmed Cell Death, ER Stress, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction for the Therapeutic Prevention of Free Fatty Acid-Induced Vascular Endothelial Lipotoxicity
Authors: Khoi Chong-Sun , Lin Tzu-Yu , Chiang Chih-Kang
Published: December 2024

Excessive intake of free fatty acids (FFAs), especially saturated fatty acids, can lead to atherosclerosis and increase the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. FFAs also contribute to obesity, hyperlipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Palmitic acid (PA) is human plasma’s most abundant saturated fatty acid. It is often used to study the toxicity caused by free fatty acids in different organs, including vascular lipotoxicity. Fatty acid overload induces endothelial dysfunction through various molecular mechanisms. Endothelial dysfunction alters vascular homeostasis by reducing vasodilation and increasing proinflammatory and prothrombotic states. It is also linked to atherosclerosis, which leads to coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke. In this review, we summarize the latest studies, revealing the molecular mechanism of free fatty acid-induced vascular dysfunction, targeting insulin resistance, reactive oxygen species, inflammation, programmed cell death, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Meanwhile, this review provides new strategies and perspectives for preventing and reducing the impact of cardiovascular diseases on human health through the relevant targeting molecular mechanism.
Effect of the Nucleosome-Depleted Region in the Transcribed Regions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Genes on Exogenous Gene Expression
Authors: Wang Shuyan , Li Hong , Li Xiaolong
Published: December 2024

Nucleosome sequence composition is closely associated with gene expression. The nucleosome-depleted region (NDR) within the transcriptional regulatory region of S. cerevisiae genes plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression. To investigate the effect of NDR length on transgene expression, we conducted an experiment to regulate exogenous gene expression by manipulating the NDR in the transcriptional regulatory region of S. cerevisiae genes. We selected the ±1 nucleosome and NDR sequences between them of six S. cerevisiae genes as transcriptional regulatory elements to drive GFP gene expression. Our findings revealed that under the regulation of long NDR, both the mRNA and protein expression levels of the GFP gene were significantly increased compared to those under short NDR. Furthermore, reducing the long NDR by 80 bp (NDR−) resulted in a significant reduction in the level of GFP gene expression. However, lengthening the short NDR length by 80 bp (NDR+) significantly increased the expression level of the GFP gene. This is attributed to the fact that longer NDR facilitates transcription factor (TF) binding without energy expenditure, thereby enhancing transcription efficiency. In contrast, shorter NDR necessitates the disassembly or sliding of the −1 nucleosome to accommodate TF binding, which consumes energy and reduces the transcription efficiency. These results demonstrate that the expression system constructed using the ±1 nucleosome and NDR sequences can effectively modulate exogenous gene expression, offering a novel design approach for transgene expression control.
Hybrid LSTM–Attention and CNN Model for Enhanced Speech Emotion Recognition
Authors: Makhmudov Fazliddin , Kutlimuratov Alpamis , Cho Young-Im
Published: December 2024

Emotion recognition is crucial for enhancing human–machine interactions by establishing a foundation for AI systems that integrate cognitive and emotional understanding, bridging the gap between machine functions and human emotions. Even though deep learning algorithms are actively used in this field, the study of sequence modeling that accounts for the shifts in emotions over time has not been thoroughly explored. In this research, we present a comprehensive speech emotion-recognition framework that amalgamates the ZCR, RMS, and MFCC feature sets. Our approach employs both CNN and LSTM networks, complemented by an attention model, for enhanced emotion prediction. Specifically, the LSTM model addresses the challenges of long-term dependencies, enabling the system to factor in historical emotional experiences alongside current ones. We also incorporate the psychological “peak–end rule”, suggesting that preceding emotional states significantly influence the present emotion. The CNN plays a pivotal role in restructuring input dimensions, facilitating nuanced feature processing. We rigorously evaluated the proposed model utilizing two distinct datasets, namely TESS and RAVDESS. The empirical outcomes highlighted the model’s superior performance, with accuracy rates reaching 99.8% for TESS and 95.7% for RAVDESS. These results are a notable advancement, showcasing our system’s precision and innovative contributions to emotion recognition.
Microbes in Health and Disease: Human Gut Microbiota
Authors: Hu Chenlin , Shen Hong
Published: December 2024

Humans and microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and microalgae) have coexisted and coevolved toward reciprocal adaptation. As omics technologies have rapidly advanced, the relevance of microbes to human health and disease as well as other fields has been progressively unraveled. This review focuses on the human gut microbiota, which is an emerging focus of microbiological research. This review synthesizes recent advances in exploring the fundamentals and multiple functions of the human gut microbiota and its associations with human health and diseases as well as microbiota-targeted therapies.
Model Test of Dynamic Response of Living Poles Slope Under Train Loads
Authors: Jiang Xueliang , Wang Zihao , Yang Hui , Wang Haodong
Published: December 2024

Live stump-supported slopes are an environmentally friendly form of support that utilizes the powerful anchoring and reinforcing effects of deep-rooted plants to enhance slope stability. In order to ensure the safety and stability of embankment slopes during their service life, it is necessary to carry out research on the dynamic characteristics and stability of live stump slopes under train vibration loading. In this study, a large-scale indoor dynamic loading model test with a geometry of 1:7 was carried out on the live stump slope of a ballasted passenger railroad track to explore the attenuation characteristics of additional dynamic stresses, the dynamic displacement response law of the slope surface and the stress response characteristics of the live stumps, and to further investigate the influence of the live stumps on the stability of the slope under the dynamic loading. The results are as follows. (i) Additional dynamic stresses decayed at the bed surface and bed floor at a greater rate than the embankment body, and were significantly affected by dynamic loading when the vertical depth was less than 0.89 m. (ii) The dynamic displacement of the foundation bed is larger than that of the embankment body. The displacement response of the slope near the top and about 1/4 of the elevation of slope is the largest. (iii) The taproot of the living poles has many reverse bending points, and the bending moment of the taproot between the lateral roots shows the law of being larger on the top and smaller on the bottom. (iv) The slope facing has an amplifying effect on the vibration load of the train, and the farther away from the track, the smaller the amplifying effect. The research results have reference significance for the theoretical research and engineering application of living poles.
Analysis of the Cultured Microbiome of Fertilization-Stage Maize Silks (Styles) Reveals Taxonomic Relationships Across North American Maize Genotypes and Heterotic Groups
Authors: Thompson Michelle E. H. , Shrestha Anuja , Khalaf Eman M. , Rinne Jeffrey , Limay-Rios Victor , Reid Lana M. , Raizada Manish N.
Published: December 2024

The style is the female reproductive channel in flowers, receiving pollen and transmitting male gametes through elongating pollen tubes to the ovules during fertilization. In maize/corn, the styles are known as silks. Fertilization-stage silks contain diverse bacteria, possibly originating from pollen. Bacteria were cultured and individually sequenced from the tip and base portions of healthy, fertilization-stage silks of 14 North American maize genotypes, resulting in 350 isolates, spanning 48 genera and 221 OTUs. The objective of this study was to taxonomically analyze these bacteria in the context of the maize host tissue and genotype, taking advantage of long-read (V1–V9) 16S Sanger sequencing. The results suggest that the maize genotype and heterotic breeding group may impact the bacterial diversity of healthy, fertilization-stage silks. Some taxa were relatively conserved across maize genotypes and silk tip/base locations, including Pantoea, which may represent part of the core microbiome or form stable, symbiotic relationships with healthy, pollinated silks. We also observed similarities between the silk microbiomes of maize genotypes that were related by plant pedigree; these preliminary results suggest inheritance or the ability of related genotypes to recruit common bacterial taxa. Overall, this study demonstrates that healthy maize silks represent a valuable resource for learning about relationships between plant reproductive microbiomes.
Sex-Dependent Differences in the Elemental Composition of Internal Organs Determined via Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Authors: Wilk Aleksandra , Setkowicz Zuzanna , Matusiak Katarzyna , Margui Grabulosa Eva , Rugiel Marzena , Kasprzyk Paula , Drozdz Agnieszka , Chwiej Joanna
Published: December 2024

Background: Research on elemental changes in tissues and organs provides valuable information enabling better understanding of the physiological processes occurring in a living organism, as well as the pathogenesis and course of various diseases. They may also contribute to the development of new, more effective, and safer therapeutic strategies. So far, they have been carried out mainly on male individuals because of the easier planning and conducting of experiments as well as the lower variability of the results in comparison with studies involving females. Methods: The significance of incorporating both sexes in research concerning elemental alterations of tissues may be unveiled by data concerning the influence of sex on the physiological levels of selected elements in various rat organs. Therefore, here we determined and compared the levels of P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in brains, hearts, kidneys, livers, and spleens taken from male and female rats. To measure the concentrations of the elements in digested tissue samples, ICP-OES and TXRF methods were utilized. Results: Significant differences between male and female rats were found for all the organs examined, and the concentrations of most of the tested elements were higher in males than females. The exception was Fe, the level of which in the kidneys and liver was higher in female rats. Sex influenced the elemental composition of spleen the most. For the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver, differences were sparse and were found mainly for the heavier elements.
Does Diversity Climate Matter? The More Respected I Feel, the Better I Can Do: Unravelling the Mechanisms Enabling Employees’ Extra-Role Performance
Authors: Ayele Belachew Kassahun , Wu Wenbing , Chen Chong
Published: December 2024

The current study examined how a diversity climate promotes employees’ extra-role performance and how the roles of workplace belongingness and thriving at work mediate this effect. Furthermore, this study investigated the sequential mediation effect of workplace belongingness and thriving at work in the aforesaid relationship. This study also tested the leaders’ positive affective presence as a moderator in the effect of diversity climate on extra-role performance. This study incorporated the self-determination theory to forge theoretical connections. As a result, a three-wave survey consisting of 349 employees revealed support that a diversity climate has a positive impact on employees’ extra-role performance, both directly and indirectly, through workplace belongingness and thriving at work. Meanwhile, leaders’ positive affective presence strengthens the diversity climate’s influence on workplace belongingness. Our findings supported all proposed hypotheses. Finally, this study discusses the theoretical and practical contributions of the results.
The Moderating Role of Gender and Mediating Role of Hope in the Performance of Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Cakiroglu Demet , Isıkhan Selen Yılmaz , Coskun Hamit
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience and the hope levels of healthcare workers who have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of resilience and gender on individual performance, the effects of hope levels on individual performance, and aimed to determine whether hope mediated the effect of resilience on individual performance. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The psychological resilience, hope, and individual performance of healthcare workers affiliated with the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate were obtained from online questionnaires completed by participants between April 2021 and August 2021. This purpose was served by the Brief Resilience Scale, the continuous hope scale, and the Individual Performance Scales. A hierarchical regression analysis, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis were performed on 412 healthcare workers to test the hypotheses. There was a significant relationship between resilience and hope levels among healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals’ levels of resilience and hope also had significant effects on their individual performance. The indirect effect of healthcare professionals’ psychological resilience levels on their individual performance through hope was not significant. Gender also had a significant effect on resilience, hope, and agency thinking. Men’s mean scores for resilience, hope, and agency thinking are higher than women’s. The findings show that employees with high hope and resilience are more likely to recover from stressful situations and display better individual performance. This study has significant implications for the advancement of the field of psychosocial assessment of healthcare workers in times of health crisis. It offers both a practical and a theoretical perspective on the effects of hope and resilience on employee performance as psychological capital that can help all healthcare managers and employees, especially in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be said that hope is more important than resilience in terms of its propensity to enhance individuals’ performance. Our findings suggest that employees with high levels of hope and resilience are more likely to recover from stressful situations and achieve better personal performance. Organizations should focus more on hope and resilience by promoting positive attitudes among employees and managers to improve their ability to cope with crises.
Emotional Evaluations from Partners and Opponents Differentially Influence the Perception of Ambiguous Faces
Authors: Ran Danyang , Zhang Yihan , Hao Bin , Li Shuaixia
Published: December 2024

The influence of contextual valence and interpersonal distance on facial expression perception remains unclear despite their significant role in shaping social perceptions. In this event-related potential (ERP) study, we investigated the temporal dynamics underlying the processing of surprised faces across different interpersonal distances (partner, opponent, or stranger) and contextual valence (positive, neutral, or negative) contexts. Thirty-five participants rated the valence of surprised faces. An advanced mass univariate statistical approach was utilized to analyze the ERP data. Behaviorally, surprised faces in partner-related negative contexts were rated more negatively than those in opponent- and stranger-related contexts. The ERP results revealed an increased P1 amplitude for surprised faces in negative relative to neutral contexts. Both the early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potentials (LPP) were also modulated by contextual valence, with larger amplitudes for faces in positive relative to neutral and negative contexts. Additionally, when compared to stranger-related contexts, faces in partner-related contexts exhibited enhanced P1 and EPN responses, while those in opponent-related contexts showed amplified LPP responses. Taken together, these findings elucidate the modulation of intricate social contexts on the perception and interpretation of ambiguous facial expressions, thereby enhancing our understanding of nonverbal communication and emotional cognition.
The Sustainable Use of Waste Glass Powder in Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes: A Mechanical and Economic Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yi , Meng Bin , Yin Xiaosan , Bao Yijie
Published: December 2024

By incorporating waste glass into concrete-filled steel tube columns, this study aims to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with the production of cement and concrete while simultaneously reducing costs. This research investigates the effects of replacing the cement in concrete with an equal mass of waste glass powder (WGP) at five different replacement rates—0%, 5%, 15%, 30%, and 60%—and focuses on the mechanical behaviors and value coefficients of concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs), which are evaluated through axial compression tests and value engineering methods. The results indicate that the loading process for waste glass powder CFST (WGPCFST) short columns closely resembles that of ordinary CFST short columns. While the bearing capacity of WGPCFST short columns decreased with an increasing WGP content, no significant reduction was observed compared to ordinary CFST short columns. Notably, at replacement rates of 5% to 15%, WGPCFST short columns exhibited an enhanced deformational capacity—at least 14% greater—compared to their ordinary counterparts, suggesting that WGPCFSTs are a promising alternative to CFSTs. Additionally, value engineering results revealed that the highest integrated value was achieved at a WGP replacement rate of 5%. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between the value coefficient and the WGP replacement rate.
Photocatalytic Purification of Orange-II-Dye-Polluted Wastewater Using TiO2-Modified g-C3N4 Composite
Authors: Guo Bin , Uzzaman Monir , Furukawa Mai , Tateishi Ikki , Katsumata Hideyuki , Kaneco Satoshi
Published: December 2024

Textile dyes are considered to be one of the major sources of water pollution due to their complex chemical structures. Photocatalytic dye degradation is an eco-friendly method that uses light-activated catalysts to break down complex dye molecules in wastewater into harmless byproducts. In the present study, pure and N-doped g-C3N4 were synthesized using one-pot calcination. The fabrication of g-C3N4/TiO2 and TC-g-C3N4/TiO2 was accomplished by physical mixing. The prepared photocatalysts were used to treat the Orange-II-polluted wastewater. The structural properties, surface morphology, light-harvesting capability, and electrochemical properties were assessed using XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, BET, DRS, PL, EIS, Mott–Schottky, and transient photocurrent response (TPCR) analyses. The improved charge separation and migration properties of g-C3N4/TiO2 were confirmed by the PL, EIS, and TPCR results. TEM and XPS data confirmed the formation of a g-C3N4/TiO2 composite. Enhanced photocatalytic decolorization was achieved for g-C3N4/TiO2 compared with pure g-C3N4 or TiO2. The 1 wt% g-C3N4/TiO2 composite exhibited the highest (92.1%) decolorization efficiency during 60 min of UV irradiation. Furthermore, the pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant (k) of 1 wt% g-C3N4/TiO2 was calculated to be 0.0213 min−1, which was 2.5 times better than that obtained with bare TiO2. Finally, for a better understanding of the g-C3N4/TiO2 decolorization process, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of La-MoS2 and Its Catalytic Activity for Improved Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Chaudhary Archana , Khan Rais Ahmad , Almadhhi Sultan Saad , Alsulmi Ali , Ahmad Khursheed , Oh Tae Hwan
Published: December 2024

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of lanthanum-doped MoS2 (La-MoS2) via a hydrothermal route. The synthesized La-MoS2 was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The band gap of La-MoS2 was observed to be 1.68 eV, compared to 1.80 eV for synthesized MoS2. In the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, a decrease in the intensity was observed for La-MoS2 compared to MoS2, which suggests that due to doping with charged La3+, separation increases. The as-synthesized MoS2 and La-MoS2 were used for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs), exhibiting 928 µmol·g−1 evolution of H2 in five hours for a 10 mg dose of La-MoS2, compared to 612 µmol·g−1 for MoS2. A 50 mg mass of the catalyst (La-MoS2) exhibited enhanced H2 production of 1670 µmol·g−1 after five hours. The higher rate of the HER for La-MoS2 is because of doping with La3+. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of La-MoS2 was also evaluated for different doses of La-MoS2 exhibiting reusability up to the fourth cycle, showing potential applications of La-MoS2 in hydrogen evolution reactions. Mechanistic aspects of the HER on the surface of La-MoS2 have also been discussed.
A New Hydrotalcite-Like Absorbent OSA-LDH and Its Adsorption Capacity for Pb2+ Ions in Water
Authors: Liu Zong-Lai , Yu Hao , Chen Ya-Nan , Feng Wei
Published: December 2024

Hydrotalcite-like materials (OSA-LDH) were prepared used oil shale ash (OSA), which came from a thermal power plant area, as the main raw material. The characterization results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) showed that the prepared samples were mesoporous materials in a crystal state and were layered and contained lattice oxygen and a large number of surface hydroxyl groups. The adsorption property of the prepared samples was confirmed and evaluated by adsorption experiments with Pb2+ as the target pollutant. The adsorption process was in accord with the Langmuir isothermal adsorption equation, and the adsorption data fitted perfectly with the pseudo-second kinetic equation. The saturated adsorption capacity for Pb2+ was 120.92 mg·g−1 at a temperature of 298 K and initial concentration of 300 mg·L−1. The main adsorption mechanisms of OSA-LDH for Pb2+ were chemical bond cooperation and electrostatic bond cooperation. This paper aimed to not only prepare an economical and effective adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from the solution but also provide a new path for the treatment and utilization of OSA so as to realize efficient waste resource utilization.