bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demonstration of an Integrated terahertz band-stop filter using an apodized Bragg grating
Authors: Dehghanian Ali , Gomaa Walid , Haghighat Mohsen , Darcie Thomas , Smith Levi
Published: September 2023

This paper presents the demonstration of an on-chip integrated terahertz (THz) apodized Bragg grating (TABG) which functions as band-stop filter with a center frequency of 0.8 THz and a bandwidth of 200 GHz. For experimentation, we integrate the TABG into our THz system-on-chip to enable wideband (DC - 1.5 THz) device characterization. Using this methodology, we measure the signal transmission through the TABG and find the experimental results align with simulation and theory provides a rejection of approximately 20 dB across the stop-band.
Printable and low-cost perfect terahertz absorber realized by a laser-induced graphene metasurface
Authors: Dong Yan , Wang Zongyuan , Xiong Chenjie , Deng Bowen , Hu Bin
Published: September 2023

Terahertz (THz) absorbers are highly desired with the rapid development of THz technology. Although metasurface-based absorbers can realize perfect absorption, their fabrication often requires complicated micro-nano-processing with a high cost. In this paper, fast printable and low-cost metasurface absorbers based on a laser-induced graphene (LIG) technique are proposed. Experimental results demonstrate that these two metasurfaces can achieve maximum absorptions of 99.3% and 99.9% at their resonant frequencies in an incident angle range of ±55°. Fabrication of a metasurface with a size of 1 × 1 cm costs only 11 s. The absorbers may be applied in THz dichroism and communications.
Decoupling and one-time elimination of the timing skew in a time-demultiplexing photonic analog-to-digital converter for high-resolution wideband signal acquisition
Authors: Qin Ruiheng , Qian Na , Zhou Defu , Ma Bowen , Zou Weiwen
Published: September 2023

Temporal alignment between the demultiplexing signal and sampled signal for complex wideband signals greatly increases the difficulty of designing high-speed and high-resolution photonic analog-to-digital converters (PADCs). We present a vector description to decouple the timing skew from the phase frequency response in time-demultiplexing PADC. We demonstrate that the calibration can be optically implemented with true time delay effects and the broadband input can be one-time calibrated through several single-frequency signals. For verification, we configure out a 40 GSa/s PADC with eight-interleaved sub-channels. The timing skew-induced spurs across the whole Nyquist band are effectively suppressed, making the PADC acquire a wideband signal with 16 GHz instantaneous bandwidth. The spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) is enhanced to ∼55 dB, and the effective number of bits (ENOB) is improved from ∼5.5 bits to ∼8 bits within 20 GHz. It is nearly 1 bit better than the recently reported time-demultiplexing PADC under the comparable input frequencies.
Resonant nonlinear nanostructured grating in an unstructured lithium niobate on insulator platform
Authors: Hu Yuanzhi , Huang Zhijin , Zeng Xianzhi , Li Yang , Luo Kaiwen , Guan Heyuan , Cao Yaoyu , Lu Huihui
Published: September 2023

Lithium niobate (LN) is a versatile material for applications in integrated nonlinear optics; however, due to its stable physical and chemical properties, efficient nonlinear conversion with nanostructured LN is not easy to implement. Here, we propose a resonant nanostructure composed of a SiO2 grating and a lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) layer, which has been proven to support bound states in the continuum (BIC) modes through simulations. By experimentally measuring the angle-resolved transmittance spectra of the fabricated sample, we confirm that our proposed nanostructure exhibits quasi-BIC modes transitioning from BIC modes, resulting in strong localized field confinement. In the nonlinear experiment, our results show the significant potential of the nanostructure in enhancing second harmonic generation (SHG). By pumping at the resonant wavelength, we achieve a SHG enhancement factor of 6400, compared to a flat LNOI thin film under a fundamental wave (FW) peak intensity of 460 MW/cm2. The SHG conversion efficiency reaches up to 1.741 × 10−7, leading to a normalized conversion efficiency of 3.785 × 10−7 cm2/GW. Although the experimental results are two orders of magnitude lower than the theoretical maximum SHG conversion efficiency of approximately 10−5, we believe that our proposed etchless LNOI nanostructure highlights the tremendous potential for applications in nonlinear resonant nanophotonics.
On the interpretation of transcriptome-wide association studies
Authors: de Leeuw Christiaan , Werme Josefin , Savage Jeanne E. , Peyrot Wouter J. , Posthuma Danielle
Published: September 2023

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) aim to detect relationships between gene expression and a phenotype, and are commonly used for secondary analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) results. Results from TWAS analyses are often interpreted as indicating a genetic relationship between gene expression and a phenotype, but this interpretation is not consistent with the null hypothesis that is evaluated in the traditional TWAS framework. In this study we provide a mathematical outline of this TWAS framework, and elucidate what interpretations are warranted given the null hypothesis it actually tests. We then use both simulations and real data analysis to assess the implications of misinterpreting TWAS results as indicative of a genetic relationship between gene expression and the phenotype. Our simulation results show considerably inflated type 1 error rates for TWAS when interpreted this way, with 41% of significant TWAS associations detected in the real data analysis found to have insufficient statistical evidence to infer such a relationship. This demonstrates that in current implementations, TWAS cannot reliably be used to investigate genetic relationships between gene expression and a phenotype, but that local genetic correlation analysis can serve as a potential alternative.
Evolutionary conserved circular MEF2A RNAs regulate myogenic differentiation and skeletal muscle development
Authors: Shen Xiaoxu , Zhao Xiyu , He Haorong , Zhao Jing , Wei Yuanhang , Chen Yuqi , Han Shunshun , Zhu Yifeng , Zhang Yao , Zhu Qing , Yin Huadong
Published: September 2023

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as critical regulators of skeletal muscle development. Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) is an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional factor that regulates myogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether MEF2A produces functional circRNAs. In this study, we identified two evolutionarily conserved circular MEF2A RNAs (circMEF2As), namely circMEF2A1 and circMEF2A2, in chicken and mouse muscle stem cells. Our findings revealed that circMEF2A1 promotes myogenesis by regulating the miR-30a-3p/PPP3CA/NFATC1 axis, whereas circMEF2A2 facilitates myogenic differentiation by targeting the miR-148a-5p/SLIT3/ROBO2/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that circMEF2As both promote skeletal muscle growth. We also discovered that the linear MEF2A mRNA-derived MEF2A protein binds to its own promoter region, accelerating the transcription of MEF2A and upregulating the expression of both linear MEF2A and circMEF2As, forming a MEF2A autoregulated positive feedback loop. Moreover, circMEF2As positively regulate the expression of linear MEF2A by adsorbing miR-30a-3p and miR-148a-5p, which directly contribute to the MEF2A autoregulated feedback loop. Importantly, we found that mouse circMEF2As are essential for the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Collectively, our results demonstrated the evolution, function, and underlying mechanisms of circMEF2As in animal myogenesis, which may provide novel insight for both the farm animal meat industry and human medicine.
Steroid receptor coactivator TAIMAN is a new modulator of insect circadian clock
Authors: Smykal Vlastimil , Chodakova Lenka , Hejnikova Marketa , Briedikova Kristina , Wu Bulah Chia-Hsiang , Vaneckova Hana , Chen Ping , Janovska Anna , Kyjakova Pavlina , Vacha Martin , Dolezel David
Published: September 2023

TAIMAN (TAI), the only insect ortholog of mammalian Steroid Receptor Coactivators (SRCs), is a critical modulator of ecdysone and juvenile hormone (JH) signaling pathways, which govern insect development and reproduction. The modulatory effect is mediated by JH-dependent TAI’s heterodimerization with JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant and association with the Ecdysone Receptor complex. Insect hormones regulate insect physiology and development in concert with abiotic cues, such as photo- and thermoperiod. Here we tested the effects of JH and ecdysone signaling on the circadian clock by a combination of microsurgical operations, application of hormones and hormone mimics, and gene knockdowns in the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus males. Silencing taiman by each of three non-overlapping double-strand RNA fragments dramatically slowed the free-running period (FRP) to 27–29 hours, contrasting to 24 hours in controls. To further corroborate TAIMAN’s clock modulatory function in the insect circadian clock, we performed taiman knockdown in the cockroach Blattella germanica. Although Blattella and Pyrrhocoris lineages separated ~380 mya, B. germanica taiman silencing slowed the FRP by more than 2 hours, suggesting a conserved TAI clock function in (at least) some insect groups. Interestingly, the pace of the linden bug circadian clock was neither changed by blocking JH and ecdysone synthesis, by application of the hormones or their mimics nor by the knockdown of corresponding hormone receptors. Our results promote TAI as a new circadian clock modulator, a role described for the first time in insects. We speculate that TAI participation in the clock is congruent with the mammalian SRC-2 role in orchestrating metabolism and circadian rhythms, and that TAI/SRCs might be conserved components of the circadian clock in animals.
Modeling of African population history using f-statistics is biased when applying all previously proposed SNP ascertainment schemes
Authors: Flegontov Pavel , Işıldak Ulaş , Maier Robert , Yüncü Eren , Changmai Piya , Reich David
Published: September 2023

f-statistics have emerged as a first line of analysis for making inferences about demographic history from genome-wide data. Not only are they guaranteed to allow robust tests of the fits of proposed models of population history to data when analyzing full genome sequencing data—that is, all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the individuals being analyzed—but they are also guaranteed to allow robust tests of models for SNPs ascertained as polymorphic in a population that is an outgroup in a phylogenetic sense to all groups being analyzed. True “outgroup ascertainment” is in practice impossible in humans because our species has arisen from a substructured ancestral population that does not descend from a homogeneous ancestral population going back many hundreds of thousands of years into the past. However, initial studies suggested that non-outgroup-ascertainment schemes might produce robust enough results using f-statistics, and that motivated widespread fitting of models to data using non-outgroup-ascertained SNP panels such as the “Affymetrix Human Origins array” which has been genotyped on thousands of modern individuals from hundreds of populations, or the “1240k” in-solution enrichment reagent which has been the source of about 70% of published genome-wide data for ancient humans. In this study, we show that while analyses of population history using such panels work well for studies of relationships among non-African populations and one African outgroup, when co-modeling more than one sub-Saharan African and/or archaic human groups (Neanderthals and Denisovans), fitting of f-statistics to such SNP sets is expected to frequently lead to false rejection of true demographic histories, and failure to reject incorrect models. Analyzing panels of SNPs polymorphic in archaic humans, which has been suggested as a solution for the ascertainment problem, has limited statistical power and retains important biases. However, by carrying out simulations of diverse demographic histories, we show that bias in inferences based on f-statistics can be minimized by ascertaining on variants common in a union of diverse African groups; such ascertainment retains high statistical power while allowing co-analysis of archaic and modern groups.
How loan descriptions affect the likelihood that borrowers obtain loans in P2P networks? -An empirical analysis based on the "Renrendai" platform
Authors: Sun Qiao , Wang Jigan , Zhang Hao , Wen Ting
Published: September 2023

Information asymmetry is widespread in the P2P online lending market, creating an imbalance in the position of lenders and borrowers. This paper aims to expand the process of information exchange between lenders and borrowers by analyzing the link between soft information such as borrowers’ loan descriptions and lending outcomes. Based on the transaction data of the ‘Renrendai’ platform, this paper analyzed the linguistic features and extracted the content of loan descriptions using a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) theme model. To further explore the value of loan descriptions in predicting lending success, this paper conducts a prediction study based on a support vector machine model. It is found that: lenders focus on effective information in the loan descriptions, the linguistic complexity affects the transaction, with simple and direct statements being more favorable; the content for building a good personal image of the borrower will significantly contribute to the lending success. In the prediction study section, it is demonstrated that loan descriptions’ language feature indicators can improve prediction accuracy. This paper uncovers the importance of loan descriptions in online lending transactions, which has implications in assisting lenders’ investment judgments, as well as in platform information system improvements.
A versatile nuclei extraction protocol for single nucleus sequencing in non-model species–Optimization in various Atlantic salmon tissues
Authors: Ruiz Daniels Rose , Taylor Richard S. , Dobie Ross , Salisbury Sarah , Furniss James J. , Clark Emily , Macqueen Daniel J. , Robledo Diego
Published: September 2023

The use of single cell sequencing technologies has exploded over recent years, and is now commonly used in many non-model species. Sequencing nuclei instead of whole cells has become increasingly popular, as it does not require the processing of samples immediately after collection. Here we present a highly effective nucleus isolation protocol that outperforms previously available method in challenging samples in a non-model specie. This protocol can be successfully applied to extract nuclei from a variety of tissues and species.
Towards substitution of invasive telemetry: An integrated home cage concept for unobtrusive monitoring of objective physiological parameters in rodents
Authors: Mösch Lucas , Kunczik Janosch , Breuer Lukas , Merhof Dorit , Gass Peter , Potschka Heidrun , Zechner Dietmar , Vollmar Brigitte , Tolba René , Häger Christine , Bleich André , Czaplik Michael , Pereira Carina Barbosa
Published: September 2023

This study presents a novel concept for a smart home cage design, tools, and software used to monitor the physiological parameters of mice and rats in animal-based experiments. The proposed system focuses on monitoring key clinical parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature, and can also assess activity and circadian rhythm. As the basis of the smart home cage system, an in-depth analysis of the requirements was performed, including camera positioning, imaging system types, resolution, frame rates, external illumination, video acquisition, data storage, and synchronization. Two different camera perspectives were considered, and specific camera models, including two near-infrared and two thermal cameras, were selected to meet the requirements. The developed specifications, hardware models, and software are freely available via GitHub. During the first testing phase, the system demonstrated the potential of extracting vital parameters such as respiratory and heart rate. This technology has the potential to reduce the need for implantable sensors while providing reliable and accurate physiological data, leading to refinement and improvement in laboratory animal care.
An examination of force maps targeted at orientation interactions in moving groups
Authors: Mudaliar Rajnesh K. , Schaerf Timothy M.
Published: September 2023

Force mapping is an established method for inferring the underlying interaction rules thought to govern collective motion from trajectory data. Here we examine the ability of force maps to reconstruct interactions that govern individual’s tendency to orient, or align, their heading within a moving group, one of the primary factors thought to drive collective motion, using data from three established general collective motion models. Specifically, our force maps extract how individuals adjust their direction of motion on average as a function of the distance to neighbours and relative alignment in heading with these neighbours, or in more detail as a function of the relative coordinates and relative headings of neighbours. We also examine the association between plots of local alignment and underlying alignment rules. We find that the simpler force maps that examined changes in heading as a function of neighbour distances and differences in heading can qualitatively reconstruct the form of orientation interactions, but also overestimate the spatial range over which these interactions apply. More complex force maps that examine heading changes as a function of the relative coordinates of neighbours (in two spatial dimensions), can also reveal underlying orientation interactions in some cases, but are relatively harder to interpret. Responses to neighbours in both the simpler and more complex force maps are affected by group-level patterns of motion. We also find a correlation between the sizes of regions of high alignment in local alignment plots and the size of the region over which alignment rules apply when only an alignment interaction rule is in action. However, when data derived from more complex models is analysed, the shapes of regions of high alignment are clearly influenced by emergent patterns of motion, and these regions of high alignment can appear even when there is no explicit direct mechanism that governs alignment.
Mental stress objective screening for workers using urinary neurotransmitters
Authors: Tanabe Kazuhiro , Yokota Asaka
Published: September 2023

Background

Almost 10% of the population develop depression or anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Considering that people who are exposed to high stress are more likely to develop mental disorders, it is important to detect and remove mental stress before depression or anxiety disorder develops. We aimed to develop an objective screening test that quantifies mental stress in workers so that they can recognize and remove it before the disorder develops.

Methods

We obtained urine specimens from 100 healthy volunteers (49 men and 51 women; age = 48.2 ± 10.8 years) after they received medical checks and answered the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ). Participants were divided into high- and low- stress groups according to their total BJSQ scores. We further analyzed six urinary neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, 5-hydoroxyindoleacetic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, homovanillic acid, and vanillylmandelic acid) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to compare their levels between the two groups.

Results

We obtained the concentrations of the six analytes from 100 examinees and revealed that the levels of urinary dopamine (p = 0.0042) and homovanillic acid (p = 0.020) were significantly lower in the high-stress group than those in the low-stress group. No biases were observed between the two groups in 36 laboratory items. The stress index generated from the six neurotransmitter concentrations recognized high-stress group significantly. Moreover, we discovered that the level of each urinary neurotransmitter changed depending on various stress factors, such as dissatisfaction, physical fatigue, stomach and intestine problems, poor appetite, poor working environments, sleep disturbance, isolation, worry, or insecurity.

Conclusion

We revealed that urinary neurotransmitters could be a promising indicator to determine underlying mental stress. This study provides clues for scientists to develop a screening test not only for workers but also for patients with depression.
The application of unmanned aerial vehicle oblique photography technology in online tourism design
Authors: Lin Mengyi , Meng Zhaoyang , Luo Caisheng , Chen Yingjiao
Published: September 2023

Tilt photography of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is widely used in urban management, cadastral mapping, disaster monitoring and other fields, but there are few innovative applications in online tourism. In this study, empirical design and usability testing methods were adopted, advanced positioning technology and Cesium engine were used to build a 3D real online travel application based on tilt photography, and the interactive function was realized through JavaScript language dynamic interactive function script. Meanwhile, combined with the questionnaire survey, the mobile application Rating Scale (MARS) was used to evaluate the function and quality of the application. The results show that engagement, functionality and aesthetics have no significant influence on user perception. Information quality and subjective quality of application have significant positive influence on user perception, and the influence of information quality is more significant. This study extends the application of oblique photography in tourism and provides experience for the development of tourism digitization.
Learned-SBL-GAMP based hybrid precoders/combiners in millimeter wave massive MIMO systems
Authors: Ali K. Shoukath , Khan Arfat Ahmad , T Perarasi , Ur Rehman Ateeq , Ouahada Khmaies
Published: September 2023

In Millimeter-Wave (mm-Wave) massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, hybrid precoders/combiners must be designed to improve antenna gain and reduce hardware complexity. Sparse Bayesian learning via Expectation Maximization (SBL-EM) algorithm is not practically feasible for high signal dimensions because estimating sparse signals and designing optimal hybrid precoders/combiners using SBL-EM still provide high computational complexity for higher signal dimensions. To overcome the issues of high computational complexity along with making it suitable for larger data sets, in this paper, we propose Learned-Sparse Bayesian Learning with Generalized Approximate Message Passing algorithm (L-SBL-GAMP) algorithm for designing optimal hybrid precoders/combiners suitable for mmWave Massive MIMO systems. The L-SBL-GAMP algorithm is an extension of the SBL-GAMP algorithm that incorporates a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to improve the system performance. Based on the nature of the training data, the L-SBL-GAMP can design the optimal Hybrid precoders/combiners, which enhances the spectral efficiency of mmWave massive MIMO systems. The proposed L-SBL-GAMP algorithm reduces the iterations, training overhead, and computational complexity compared to the SBL-EM algorithm. The simulation results unveil that the proposed L-SBL-GAMP provides higher achievable rates, better accuracy, and low computational complexity compared to the existing algorithm, such as Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP), Simultaneous Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (SOMP), SBL-EM and SBL-GAMP for mmWave massive MIMO architectures.
Predictors of missed HIV screening opportunities among newly diagnosed individuals at an urban medical center in New York City, 2018–2022
Authors: Paer Jeffrey , Ratcliffe Judy , Chang Michelle , Carnevale Caroline , Quigee Daniela , Gordon Peter , Olender Susan , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E. , Zucker Jason
Published: September 2023

Objective

To identify demographic and clinical factors predictive of having a missed opportunity (MO) for HIV screening.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Electronic medical records were queried for individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in different sites within a large urban academic medical center in New York City between 2018 and 2022. The primary outcome was having one or more MO for HIV screening within the institution, defined as any encounter at which screening was not performed in the 365 days preceding the HIV diagnosis.

Results

Over one third of new diagnoses had at least one MO in the preceding year. Older individuals, cisgender women and those assigned female sex at birth, and heterosexual individuals were more likely to have at least one MO. An initial CD4 < 200 cells/ul was more likely among men who have sex with women specifically. Most MOs occurred in the emergency department and outpatient settings, with minimal HIV prevention discussions documented during each MO.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that populations perceived to be at lower risk for HIV are more likely to have MOs and possibly late diagnoses, and that universal HIV screening must be implemented into the workflows of emergency department and outpatient settings to facilitate early diagnosis and reduce the incidence of HIV.
Relationships of internet gaming engagement, history, and maladaptive cognitions and adolescent internet gaming disorder: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Xin , Liu Yishen , Chu Harry Kwan-ching , Wong Samuel Yeung-shan , Yang Xue
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study tested the mediation effect of maladaptive cognition of internet gaming and moderation effect of internet gaming history in the relationship between internet gaming engagement and internet gaming disorder in adolescents.

Method

A total of 2,902 secondary school students were surveyed in Hong Kong from February 2021 to December 2021. The proposed moderated mediation model was tested by PROCESS.

Results

Internet gaming engagement, internet gaming history and maladaptive cognition were positively associated with internet gaming disorder symptoms. Maladaptive cognition significantly mediated the association between internet gaming engagement and internet gaming disorder symptoms in both males and females. In addition, a significant interaction between internet gaming engagement and internet gaming history was detected among females but not for males, namely, the positive relationships of internet gaming engagement with maladaptive cognition and internet gaming disorder symptoms were weaker with the increased years of internet gaming.

Conclusions

Our study provides a better understanding of the underlying mechanism and boundary condition in the association between internet gaming engagement and internet gaming disorder among adolescents. Preventing interventions should aim to reduce maladaptive cognition and internet gaming engagement. Interventions targeting internet gaming engagement maybe more effective among female gamers who are beginners and all male gamers.
The association between depression and addictive social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of sense of control
Authors: Vally Zahir , Helmy Mai , Fourie Louis
Published: September 2023

Background

COVID-19 precipitated a plethora of mental health difficulties, particularly for those with pre-existing mental health concerns such as depression or addictive tendencies. For some, the distress that emanated from the experience of the pandemic prompted excessive engagement in the safety of online interactions on social media. The present study examined whether variation in individuals’ sense of control explained the association between depression and addictive social media use.

Method

A sample of 1322 participants from two Middle Eastern nations provided data collected during the peak of the pandemic from February to May 2021. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit and collect data from college-aged students enrolled at two universities in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, respectively. This study adopted a cross-sectional design in which participants completed a self-administered survey that consisted of measures that assessed depressive affect, sense of control, and addictive social media use.

Results

Depression was significantly and positively associated with addictive SMU. Sense of control was negatively related to both depression and SMU and significantly mediated the association between these two variables (β = .62, SE = .03, 95%CI .56, .68).

Conclusion

This study identified a potential protective variable that could be targeted by psychological treatment to ameliorate the potential onset of addictive SMU in individuals with depressive symptoms under conditions of immense psychological distress such as a worldwide pandemic.
Added sugar intake among the saudi population
Authors: Alhusseini Noara , Ramadan Majed , Aljarayhi Salwa , Arnous Waad , Abdelaal Mohamed , Dababo Hala , Dalati Bana , Doumani Ola Al , AlNasser Sara , Saleem Rimah
Published: September 2023

Diet is a contributor to the pathogenesis of many non-communicable diseases. Among contributors to poor diet is high added sugar consumption, which is unfortunately on the rise nowadays. The recommended sugar intake by The American Heart Association (AHA) is 24g/day and 36g/day for women and men, respectively. The study’s aim is to assess added sugar intake among adults in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study design was used via an online survey among adults in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, and social media platforms were used to collect the data. The authors conducted descriptive statistics to present demographic variables using Chi-square χ2 tests for categorical and t-tests for continuous variables. All statistical tests used a 95% confidence interval with a two-sided P-value <0.05 as significance level. A total of 1163 respondents were included in the study. The study has shown an overall added sugar intake average of 73 g/day. There was a significant difference in means of overall added sugar intake across genders for the age group 18–30 and the age group >60. Equivalently, there was a statistically significant difference in means of added sugar intake food across gender (P-value 0.008). Females tended to consume more added sugar in their food than males. The highest consumption was in the Northern region (123.71 g/day), followed by the Southern region (98.52 g/day), the Western region (86.14 g/day), and lastly, the Central and Eastern regions (66.95 and 62.02 g/day, respectively). The total added sugar intake of added sugar is extremely high in Saudi Arabia. Poor dietary habits lead to many adverse health consequences, including obesity and diabetes. Healthcare providers and public health officials are highly encouraged to shed light on added sugar consumption and create opportunities to promote healthy dietary patterns. The Saudi population is recommended to abide by the added sugar dietary recommendations to avoid future chronic medical conditions.
Pre-analytical handling conditions and protein marker recovery from urine extracellular vesicles for bladder cancer diagnosis
Authors: Lee Jisu , Kim Eunha , Park Joohee , Choi Seokjoo , Lee Myung-Shin , Park Jinsung
Published: September 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain a variety of biomolecules and provide information about the cells that produce them. EVs from cancer cells found in urine can be used as biomarkers to detect cancer, enabling early diagnosis and treatment. The potential of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and clusterin (CLU) as novel diagnostic urinary EV (uEV) biomarkers for bladder cancer (BC) was demonstrated previously. To validate the diagnostic value of these proteins in uEVs in a large BC cohort, urine handling conditions before uEV isolation should be optimized during sample transportation from medical centers. In this study, we analyzed the uEV protein quantity, EV particle number, and uEV-A2M/CLU after urine storage at 20°C and 4°C for 0–6 days, each. A2M and CLU levels in uEVs were relatively stable when stored at 4°C for a maximum of three days and at 20°C for up to 24 h, with minimal impact on analysis results. Interestingly, pre-processing to remove debris and cells by centrifugation and filtration of urine did not show any beneficial effects on the preservation of protein biomarkers of uEVs during storage. Here, the importance of optimizing shipping conditions to minimize the impact of pre-analytical handling on the uEVs protein biomarkers was emphasized. These findings provide insights for the development of clinical protocols that use uEVs for diagnostic purposes.
Genetic analysis of the rice jasmonate receptors reveals specialized functions for OsCOI2
Authors: Nguyen Hieu Trang , Cheaib Mohamad , Fournel Marie , Rios Maelle , Gantet Pascal , Laplaze Laurent , Guyomarc’h Soazig , Riemann Michael , Heitz Thierry , Petitot Anne-Sophie , Champion Antony
Published: September 2023

COI1-mediated perception of jasmonate is critical for plant development and responses to environmental stresses. Monocots such as rice have two groups of COI genes due to gene duplication: OsCOI1a and OsCOI1b that are functionally equivalent to the dicotyledons COI1 and OsCOI2 whose function remains unclear. In order to assess the function of OsCOI2 and its functional redundancy with COI1 genes, we developed a series of rice mutants in the 3 genes OsCOI1a, OsCOI1b and OsCOI2 by CRISPR Cas9-mediated editing and characterized their phenotype and responses to jasmonate. Characterization of OsCOI2 uncovered its important roles in root, leaf and flower development. In particular, we show that crown root growth inhibition by jasmonate relies on OsCOI2 and not on OsCOI1a nor on OsCOI1b, revealing a major function for the non-canonical OsCOI2 in jasmonate-dependent control of rice root growth. Collectively, these results point to a specialized function of OsCOI2 in the regulation of plant development in rice and indicate that sub-functionalisation of jasmonate receptors has occurred in the monocot phylum.
Browning of Scottish surface water sources exposed to climate change
Authors: Haaland Ståle , Eikebrokk Bjørnar , Riise Gunnhild , Vogt Rolf D.
Published: September 2023

Levels of dissolved natural organic matter (DNOM) are increasing in our boreal watercourses. This is manifested by an apparent increase in its yellow to brown colour of the water, i.e., browning. Sound predictions of future changes in colour of our freshwaters is a prerequisite for predicting effects on aquatic fauna and a sustainable operation of drinking water facilities using surface waters as raw water sources. A model for the effect of climate on colour (mg Pt L-1) has been developed for two surface raw water sources in Scotland, i.e., at Bracadale and Port Charlotte. Both sites are situated far out on the Scottish west coast, without major impact of acid rain, with limited amounts of frost, and with limited recent land-use changes. The model was fitted to 15 years long data-series on colour measurements, provided by Scottish Water, at the two sites. Meteorological data were provided by UK Met. The models perform well for both sites in simulating the variation in monthly measured colour, explaining 89 and 90% of the variation at Bracadale and Port Charlotte, respectively. These well fitted models were used to predict future changes in colour due to changes in temperature and precipitation based on median climate data from a high emission climate RCP8.5 scenario from the HadCM3 climate model (UKCP18). The model predicted an increase in monthly average colour during growing season at both sites from about 150 mg Pt L-1 to about 200 mg Pt L-1 in 2050–2079. Temperature is found to be the most important positively driver for colour development at both sites.
Understanding journalism impact: A multi-dimensional taxonomy for professional, organizational and societal change
Authors: Schiffrin Anya , Corrêa d’Almeida André , Green-Barber Lindsay , Yankova Adelina , Groves Dylan W.
Published: September 2023

How should we measure the impact of investigative journalism? Media scholars and practitioners have turned their attention towards understanding the causal effect of media reports on a range of social, political and economic outcomes. Their interest has been spurred by the increased availability of data, by the emergence of new tools for rigorously assessing causal effects and by pressure from donors interested in understanding the returns on their investments in media and journalism programmes. Drawing on literature from multiple disciplines, we propose a multi-faceted metric which future researchers, journalists and news agencies will be able to use when analysing media impact.
Combined Polar Codes and 2-12 QAM Applied to 5G Communications
Authors:   University of Pernambuco, Morais de Oliveira Flavia Camila , Melo Guedes Alcoforado Maria de Lourdes ,   University of Pernambuco, Markarian Gareguin ,   RINICOM LT, Lancaster, UK., Cardoso da Rocha Jr Valdemar ,   Federal University of Pernambuco, Araújo Lopes Waslon Terllizzie ,   Federal University of Pernambuco
Published: September 2023

The 5th generation of cellular communications systems (5G), standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), uses polar codes in both physical download control channel (PDCCH) and physical download shared channel (PDSCH), combined with some low order modulations, such as QPSK and 16-QAM. Recently, 2-12-QAM modulation was proposed as an energy-efficient scheme when compared to 16-QAM. This article investigates the performance of a communication system using polar codes combined with a 2-12-QAM modulation scheme over channels disturbed by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) as well as over channels disturbed simultaneously by Rayleigh fading and AWGN. The 2-12-QAM modulation is compatible with legacy 16-QAM still widely used, and when combined with appropriate error correcting codes produces results that approach the Shannon limit.
Making a Reality: Inclusive Wedding Vendors and Extramarket Morality
Authors: Parkins Ilya , Findlay Rosie
Published: September 2023

This article analyses a series of interviews with queer-positive wedding apparel and style providers. Vendors’ descriptions of their relationships with clients reveal a prioritization of embodied intersubjectivity. We explore vendors’ construction of themselves as providing respite, in the wedding apparel production process, from clients’ repertoire of experiences of exclusion in a hetero- and cisnormative fashion industry. The intercorporeal ethics at work in the relationships between vendors and clients suggests the persistence of what Wendy Brown has called “extramarket morality” inside the wedding attire marketplace.
The Variation of Water Parameters along the Bandawaya Valley, Northern Iraq
Authors:   University of Mosul, Sulaiman Ali M. , Al-Youzbakey Kotayba T. ,   University of Mosul, Ismael Daad A. ,   University of Mosul
Published: September 2023

Wadi Bandawaya, which is 40 km north of Mosul in Iraq, pierces Mount Dahqan and creates a small valley that is ideal for the construction of a dam for harvesting rainwater. Water quality is evaluated for domestic and agricultural uses using chemical analyses of the main cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), anions (HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-, NO3-), as well as measurements of the acidity function (pH), electrical conductivity (Ec), concentration of total dissolved salts (TDS), and total hardness (TH). The valley water is considered to be within the limits permitted for drinking by the World Health Organization. If held inside the water harvesting project of the Bandawaya dam, the water of Bandawaya Valley is freshwater, suitable for drinking and domestic applications, according to the water quality index (WQI). It is also suitable for irrigation of agricultural lands adjacent to the valley in accordance with standards of the percentage of sodium (SSP), the rate of sodium adsorption (Sodium Adsorption Ratio, SAR), the quantity of residual sodium carbonate (Residual Sodium Bicarbonate, RSBC), and the percentage of magnesium (MAR). When there is little rain, the harvested water will be used for irrigation, as well as for supplemental irrigation techniques.
The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationship Between University Students' Perfectionism and Career Stress
Authors: BİLGİZ ÖZTÜRK Şeyma , DOĞANÜLKÜ Hacı Arif
Published: September 2023

Career stress is one of the current issues that university students have to deal with. Although there are many reasons, it is stated that perfectionism can be one of the main reasons for the formation of stress. On the other hand, it is supported by the literature that the perception of social support can be a source that can reduce this effect. For such reasons, this study aims to examine the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between university students' perfectionism and career stress. A total of 433 university students, 311 (71.8%) female and 122 (28.2%) male, participated in the sample of this study. The measurement tools used to collect data in the study are the ‘Big Three Perfectionism Scale-16'', 'Career Stress Scale' and 'Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support'. The research findings explain that the perfectionist personality traits of the students have a positive and significant effect on career stress. It is also explained that perceived multidimensional social support has a partial mediating role between perfectionism and career stress. The findings of the research were discussed in relation to the literature.
The Effect of Learning Strategies on Piano Performance Self-Efficacy Levels and Performance Success
Authors: KANDEMİR Özlem , YOKUŞ Tuba
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to determine the effect of using learning strategies on piano performance self-efficacy levels and performance success among piano students. The study group comprised first year students (n = 20) receiving piano course in the fall semester of the 2019–2020 academic year in the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts, Program of Education Music Education. The study used an experimental research design and data were collected using the Self-Efficacy Scale of Piano Performance and an observation form. The study results indicated that there were significant differences in favor of the experimental group regarding piano performance success, comparing the post-test scores of the experimental group, in which activities were performed for the use of learning strategies in piano course, and the control group, which received education in a regular process. However, no statistically significant difference was found between piano performance self-efficacy levels of the experimental and control groups. The study revealed that the use of learning strategies in piano education did not play a role in the piano performance self-efficacy level, but that it was much more effective in increasing students’ piano performance success than the existing process-based education.
Communication and academic burnout: The effects of social support and participation in decision-making
Authors: Ivančević Sonja , Maričić Milica , Vlastelica Tamara
Published: September 2023

Just as burnout is manifested through changes in behavioural and communication patterns, it is important to examine whether certain aspects of communication can affect student burnout development. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between communication and academic burnout. To achieve this, the study proposes an integrated model examining the effects of three communication dimensions – support from academic staff, support from colleagues, and participation in decision-making – on four different dimensions of academic burnout, as well as students’ overall burnout. The model is tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis. High coefficients of determination regarding particular burnout dimensions validate the strength of the proposed model. The results show that support from academic staff and support from fellow students significantly and negatively influence academic burnout, and might be instrumental in its reduction. Unexpectedly, participation in decision-making is shown to be positively related to academic burnout.
Reciprocal Teaching as a Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategy in Promoting Saudi University Students’ Reading Comprehension
Authors: Abdelmoati Mohamed Rafik Ahmed
Published: September 2023

Reciprocal teaching (RT) involves collaborative dialogue between the teacher and students, with the aim of jointly constructing the meaning from a shared text. This study employs RT as a cognitive and metacognitive set of strategies for enhancing students’ reading comprehension and monitoring skills. Thirty-four students were assigned to the RT group for reading instruction, whereas 30 students were assigned to the control group for regular reading instruction. The four RT strategies (predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing) empowered the students to engage in a non-linear approach to comprehend texts and monitor their reading comprehension. They afforded the students the chance to engage in pre-, during-, and post-reading cognitive and metacognitive processes, collaborate with their peers, read with intentionality and focus, and assume shared responsibility for monitoring their advancement in reading comprehension. The students engaged in the scaffolded activities of read-aloud, dialogue, structured comprehension, and peer teaching to develop their reading comprehension and monitoring skills. The results showed that the RT group outperformed the control group on the post-test in both total score of reading comprehension and individual reading skills. Therefore, language instructors are recommended to use an array of effective RT strategies to enhance their students’ reading comprehension and monitoring skills.
The Zika virus infection remodels the expression of the synaptotagmin-9 secretory protein
Authors: Leiva Santiago , Cantoia Alejo , Fabbri Cintia , Bugnon Valdano Marina , Luppo Victoria , Morales María Alejandra , Rosano Germán , Gardiol Daniela
Published: September 2023

The exact mechanisms involved in flaviviruses virions’ release and the specific secretion of viral proteins, such as the Non Structural protein-1 (NS1), are still unclear. While these processes might involve vesicular transport to the cell membrane, NS1 from some flaviviruses was shown to participate in viral assembly and release. Here, we assessed the effect of the Zika virus (ZIKV) NS1 expression on the cellular proteome to identify trafficking-related targets that may be altered in the presence of the viral protein. We detected an increase in the synaptotagmin-9 (SYT9) secretory protein, which participates in the intracellular transport of protein-laden vesicles. We confirmed the effect of NS1 on SYT9 levels by transfection models while also detecting a significant subcellular redistribution of SYT9. We found that ZIKV prM-Env proteins, required for the viral particle release, also increased SYT9 levels and changed its localization. Finally, we demonstrated that ZIKV cellular infection raises SYT9 levels and promotes changes in its subcellular localization, together with a co-distribution with both Env and NS1. Altogether, the data suggest SYT9’s implication in the vesicular transport of viral proteins or virions during ZIKV infection, showing for the first time the association of synaptotagmins with the flavivirus’ life cycle.