bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Petty's instruments: the Down Survey, territorial natural history and the birth of statistics
Authors: Komel Svit
Published: January 2024

William Petty's work has usually been regarded as an epistemic break in the history of statistical and politico-economic thought. In this paper, I argue that Petty's statistical notions stemmed from the natural-historical techniques he originally implemented to manage the Down Survey. Following Bacon, who viewed the description of trades as a paramount branch of natural history, Petty approached the art of surveying itself as an object of natural-historical analysis. He partitioned the surveying work into individual tasks and implemented a meticulous division of labour, employing hundreds of disbanded soldiers as surveyors and using questionnaires to calibrate the responses of his ‘instruments’, as he called his specialized workers. By borrowing these methods from natural history to organize surveying work, Petty was able to conceptualize Ireland as a political body defined by tables of aggregate data. I then compare the Down Survey with John Graunt's observations on the bills of mortality to show that both are representative of a particular style of natural history, aimed at describing the natural and political state of a circumscribed territory. I close by considering other manifestations of ‘territorial natural history’, indicating a continuity between this research tradition and the appearance of statistics in the British Isles.
Semperula wallacei (Mollusca, Veronicellidae) um hospedeiro natural recém-descoberto de Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Angiostrongylidae) na Bacia do Pacífico
Authors: Mendonça C.L.F. , Caldeira R.L. , Carvalho O.S. , D’ávila S. , Gomes S.R.
Published: January 2024

Semperula wallacei (Issel, 1874) is a species of terrestrial slug that occurs in southeast China and the Pacific Basin and is the only species of its genus that occurs beyond the Oriental region and to the east of Wallace’s line in the Australian region, where it has probably been introduced. In this study, we report for the first time S. wallacei as an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) based on histological and molecular analyses of slugs from Tuamasaga, Samoa, deposited at the Medical Malacological Collection (Fiocruz-CMM). DNA was obtained from the deparafinized tissues scraped from specimen slides. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeted to the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were carried out using the restriction enzyme Cla I. The RFLP profile observed for our larval specimen of S. wallacei was identical to the profile previously established for A. cantonensis, demonstrating that S. wallacei can be naturally infected with A. cantonensis and is likely to be an intermediate host for this parasitic nematode species in the field. The potential for geographical range expansion of S. wallacei in the Pacific Basin, its small size, and the general role of veronicellids as crop pests and hosts of nematodes, indicate the significance of S. wallacei as an invasive species in the Pacific Basin. Our work also highlights the importance of biological collections for investigating the environmental impact of invasive species on agriculture, public health, and biodiversity conservation.
The Global Shape, Gravity Field, and Libration of Enceladus
Authors: Park R. S. , Mastrodemos N. , Jacobson R. A. , Berne A. , Vaughan A. T. , Hemingway D. J. , Leonard E. J. , Castillo‐Rogez J. C. , Cockell C. S. , Keane J. T. , Konopliv A. S. , Nimmo F. , Riedel J. E. , Simons M. , Vance S.
Published: January 2024

In order to improve our understanding of the interior structure of Saturn's small moon Enceladus, we reanalyze radiometric tracking and onboard imaging data acquired by the Cassini spacecraft during close encounters with the moon. We compute the global shape, gravity field, and rotational parameters of Enceladus in a reference frame consistent with the International Astronomical Union's definition, where the center of the Salih crater is located at −5° East longitude. We recover a quadrupole gravity field with J3 and a forced libration amplitude of 0.091° ± 0.009° (3‐σ). We also compute a global shape model using a stereo‐photoclinometry technique with a global resolution of 500 m, although some local maps have higher resolutions ranging from 25 to 100 m. While our overall results are generally consistent with previous studies, we infer a thicker 27–33 km mean ice shell, a thinner 21–26 km mean ocean thickness, and a mean core density range of 2,270–2,330 kg/m3.
High Salinity Shelf Water production rates in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea from high-resolution salinity observations
Authors: Miller Una Kim , Zappa Christopher J. , Gordon Arnold L. , Yoon Seung-Tae , Stevens Craig , Lee Won Sang
Published: January 2024

High Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW) formed in the Ross Sea of Antarctica is a precursor to Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), a water mass that constitutes the bottom limb of the global overturning circulation. HSSW production rates are poorly constrained, as in-situ observations are scarce. Here, we present high-vertical-and-temporal-resolution salinity time series collected in austral winter 2017 from a mooring in Terra Nova Bay (TNB), one of two major sites of HSSW production in the Ross Sea. We calculate an annual-average HSSW production rate of ~0.4Sv(106m3s−1), which we use to ground truth additional estimates across 2012–2021 made from parametrized net surface heat fluxes. We find sub-seasonal and interannual variability on the order of$$0.1$$0.1$${Sv}$$Sv, with a strong dependence on variability in open-water area that suggests a sensitivity of TNB HSSW production rates to changes in the local wind regime and offshore sea ice pack.
Reprogramming mechanism dissection and trophoblast replacement application in monkey somatic cell nuclear transfer
Authors: Liao Zhaodi , Zhang Jixiang , Sun Shiyu , Li Yuzhuo , Xu Yuting , Li Chunyang , Cao Jing , Nie Yanhong , Niu Zhuoyue , Liu Jingwen , Lu Falong , Liu Zhen , Sun Qiang
Published: January 2024

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) successfully clones cynomolgus monkeys, but the efficiency remains low due to a limited understanding of the reprogramming mechanism. Notably, no rhesus monkey has been cloned through SCNT so far. Our study conducts a comparative analysis of multi-omics datasets, comparing embryos resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with those from SCNT. Our findings reveal a widespread decrease in DNA methylation and the loss of imprinting in maternally imprinted genes within SCNT monkey blastocysts. This loss of imprinting persists in SCNT embryos cultured in-vitro until E17 and in full-term SCNT placentas. Additionally, histological examination of SCNT placentas shows noticeable hyperplasia and calcification. To address these defects, we develop a trophoblast replacement method, ultimately leading to the successful cloning of a healthy male rhesus monkey. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the reprogramming mechanism of monkey SCNT and introduce a promising strategy for primate cloning.
Meta-analysis shows no consistent evidence for senescence in ejaculate traits across animals
Authors: Sanghvi Krish , Vega-Trejo Regina , Nakagawa Shinichi , Gascoigne Samuel J. L. , Johnson Sheri L. , Salguero-Gómez Roberto , Pizzari Tommaso , Sepil Irem
Published: January 2024

Male reproductive traits such as ejaculate size and quality, are expected to decline with advancing age due to senescence. It is however unclear whether this expectation is upheld across taxa. We perform a meta-analysis on 379 studies, to quantify the effects of advancing male age on ejaculate traits across 157 species of non-human animals. Contrary to predictions, we find no consistent pattern of age-dependent changes in ejaculate traits. This result partly reflects methodological limitations, such as studies sampling a low proportion of adult lifespan, or the inability of meta-analytical approaches to document non-linear ageing trajectories of ejaculate traits; which could potentially lead to an underestimation of senescence. Yet, we find taxon-specific differences in patterns of ejaculate senescence. For instance, older males produce less motile and slower sperm in ray-finned fishes, but larger ejaculates in insects, compared to younger males. Notably, lab rodents show senescence in most ejaculate traits measured. Our study challenges the notion of universal reproductive senescence, highlighting the need for controlled methodologies and a more nuanced understanding of reproductive senescence, cognisant of taxon-specific biology, experimental design, selection pressures, and life-history.
How solute atoms control aqueous corrosion of Al-alloys
Authors: Zhao Huan , Yin Yue , Wu Yuxiang , Zhang Siyuan , Mingers Andrea M. , Ponge Dirk , Gault Baptiste , Rohwerder Michael , Raabe Dierk
Published: January 2024

Aluminum alloys play an important role in circular metallurgy due to their good recyclability and 95% energy gain when made from scrap. Their low density and high strength translate linearly to lower greenhouse gas emissions in transportation, and their excellent corrosion resistance enhances product longevity. The durability of Al alloys stems from the dense barrier oxide film strongly bonded to the surface, preventing further degradation. However, despite decades of research, the individual elemental reactions and their influence on the nanoscale characteristics of the oxide film during corrosion in multicomponent Al alloys remain unresolved questions. Here, we build up a direct correlation between the near-atomistic picture of the corrosion oxide film and the solute reactivity in the aqueous corrosion of a high-strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy. We reveal the formation of nanocrystalline Al oxide and highlight the solute partitioning between the oxide and the matrix and segregation to the internal interface. The sharp decrease in partitioning content of Mg in the peak-aged alloy emphasizes the impact of heat treatment on the oxide stability and corrosion kinetics. Through H isotopic labelling with deuterium, we provide direct evidence that the oxide acts as a trap for this element, pointing at the essential role of the Al oxide might act as a kinetic barrier in preventing H embrittlement. Our findings advance the mechanistic understanding of further improving the stability of Al oxide, guiding the design of corrosion-resistant alloys for potential applications.
Host- plasmid network structure in wastewater is linked to antimicrobial resistance genes
Authors: Risely Alice , Newbury Arthur , Stalder Thibault , Simmons Benno I. , Top Eva M. , Buckling Angus , Sanders Dirk
Published: January 2024

As mobile genetic elements, plasmids are central for our understanding of antimicrobial resistance spread in microbial communities. Plasmids can have varying fitness effects on their host bacteria, which will markedly impact their role as antimicrobial resistance vectors. Using a plasmid population model, we first show that beneficial plasmids interact with a higher number of hosts than costly plasmids when embedded in a community with multiple hosts and plasmids. We then analyse the network of a natural host-plasmid wastewater community from a Hi-C metagenomics dataset. As predicted by the model, we find that antimicrobial resistance encoding plasmids, which are likely to have positive fitness effects on their hosts in wastewater, interact with more bacterial taxa than non-antimicrobial resistance plasmids and are disproportionally important for connecting the entire network compared to non- antimicrobial resistance plasmids. This highlights the role of antimicrobials in restructuring host-plasmid networks by increasing the benefits of antimicrobial resistance carrying plasmids, which can have consequences for the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes through microbial networks. Furthermore, that antimicrobial resistance encoding plasmids are associated with a broader range of hosts implies that they will be more robust to turnover of bacterial strains.
Connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst versus repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Morriss Richard , Briley Paul M. , Webster Lucy , Abdelghani Mohamed , Barber Shaun , Bates Peter , Brookes Cassandra , Hall Beth , Ingram Luke , Kurkar Micheal , Lankappa Sudheer , Liddle Peter F. , McAllister-Williams R. Hamish , O’Neil-Kerr Alexander , Pszczolkowski Stefan , Suazo Di Paola Ana , Walters Yvette , Auer Dorothee P.
Published: January 2024

Disruption in reciprocal connectivity between the right anterior insula and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with depression and may be a target for neuromodulation. In a five-center, parallel, double-blind, randomized controlled trial we personalized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging neuronavigated connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst stimulation (cgiTBS) at a site based on effective connectivity from the right anterior insula to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. We tested its efficacy in reducing the primary outcome depression symptoms measured by the GRID Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item over 8, 16 and 26 weeks, compared with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered at the standard stimulation site (F3) in patients with ‘treatment-resistant depression’. Participants were randomly assigned to 20 sessions over 4–6 weeks of either cgiTBS (n = 128) or rTMS (n = 127) with resting-state functional MRI at baseline and 16 weeks. Persistent decreases in depressive symptoms were seen over 26 weeks, with no differences between arms on the primary outcome GRID Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item score (intention-to-treat adjusted mean, −0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.87, 1.24, P = 0.689). Two serious adverse events were possibly related to TMS (mania and psychosis). MRI-neuronavigated cgiTBS and rTMS were equally effective in patients with treatment-resistant depression over 26 weeks (trial registration no. ISRCTN19674644).
RailFOD23: A dataset for foreign object detection on railroad transmission lines
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Yang Jie , Feng Zhicheng , Zhu Hao
Published: January 2024

Artificial intelligence models play a crucial role in monitoring and maintaining railroad infrastructure by analyzing image data of foreign objects on power transmission lines. However, the availability of publicly accessible datasets for railroad foreign objects is limited, and the rarity of anomalies in railroad image data, combined with restricted data sharing, poses challenges for training effective foreign object detection models. In this paper, the aim is to present a new dataset of foreign objects on railroad transmission lines, and evaluating the overall performance of mainstream detection models in this context. Taking a unique approach and leveraging large-scale models such as ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) and text-to-image generation models, we synthesize a series of foreign object data. The dataset includes 14,615 images with 40,541 annotated objects, covering four common foreign objects on railroad power transmission lines. Through empirical research on this dataset, we validate the performance of various baseline models in foreign object detection, providing valuable insights for the monitoring and maintenance of railroad facilities.
Pollutant accumulation and microbial community evolution in rain gardens with different drainage types at field scale
Authors: Zhang Zhaoxin , Zhang Yang , Li Jiake , Sun Yingying , Liu Zhe
Published: January 2024

Rain gardens play a key role in urban non-point source pollution control. The drainage type affects the infiltration processes of runoff pollutants. The soil properties and microbial community structures were studied to reveal the stability of the ecosystem in rain gardens with different drainage types under long-term operation. The results showed that the soil water content and total organic carbon in the drained rain gardens were always higher than that of the infiltrated ones. With the increase in running time, the contents of heavy metals in rain gardens showed significant accumulation phenomena, especially the contents of Zn and Pb in drained rain gardens were higher than that in infiltrated ones. The accumulation of pollutants resulted in lower microbial diversity in drained rain gardens than in infiltrated rain gardens, but the microbial community structures were the same in all rain gardens. The effects of drainage type on microbial community evolution were not significant, only the accumulation of heavy metals led to changes in the abundance of dominant microorganisms. There were differences in the soil environment of rain gardens with different drainage types. The long-term operation of rain gardens led to fluctuations in the soil ecosystem, while the internal micro-ecosystems of the drained rain gardens were in unstable states.
Public health-focused use of COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR tests
Authors: Woodbridge Yonatan , Goldberg Yair , Amit Sharon , Kopelman Naama M. , Mandel Micha , Huppert Amit
Published: January 2024

During the Covid-19 pandemic, accurate PCR tests were augmented by the cheap, rapid, and logistically convenient, yet less sensitive antigen tests. In Israel, a testing policy shift was implemented due to limited availability of PCR tests during the Omicron surge. Thus, both PCR and antigen tests were used, as this was the only alternative for mass testing and surveillance at the time. Yet, evidence-based surveillance requires a robust understanding of the expected consequences of changing the testing policy. Using 41,065 paired tests performed by trained staff between January and April 2022 in Israel, we estimate how the sensitivity of antigen tests changes as a function of Ct value and other key covariates. The results reveal a logarithmic relationship between antigen detection probability and viral load, as quantified by Ct-values of the PCR tests. Further analysis shows a statistically significant association with an odds ratio of approximately 0.76 with each unit of Ct-value. The analysis suggests that in spite of their compromised sensitivity, antigen tests are a natural solution for routine use, while PCR tests should be considered in situations where a false negative result could have serious consequences. These findings are the foundations of policies that will utilize the strengths of the different tests, and achieve enhanced hybrid surveillance.
Golgi-targeting viscosity probe for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wu Wenjing , Zhao Lingyu , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wei Jinchao , Han Juanjuan , Zhang Yangyang , Zhao Zhenwen
Published: January 2024

Early diagnosis and intervention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are particularly important to delay the pathological progression. Although fluorescent probes have been widely employed for investigating and diagnosing AD, their biological applications are significantly restricted due to the low penetration ability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vivo. In this study, we reported the first Golgi-targeted two-photon (TP) fluorescent probe, DCM-DH, for detecting viscosity in the Golgi apparatus. The probe was rationally designed to exhibit superior analytical performance including high sensitivity, specific Golgi-targeting, efficient BBB penetration ability, and deep tissue penetration (247 μm) in the brains of AD model mice. Using the probe, we demonstrated that the fluorescence intensity in the human liver cancer cell (HepG2 cells) was higher than that of human normal liver cell (LO2 cells), and the brain viscosity of AD model mice increased significantly. We anticipate that this competent tool could be easily extended to other AD biomarkers for fundamental research on this detrimental disease.
Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure and risk for cognitive delays in infants born very premature
Authors: Mahabee-Gittens E. Melinda , Harun Nusrat , Glover Meredith , Folger Alonzo T. , Parikh Nehal A. ,   Cincinnati Infant Neurodevelopment Early Prediction Study (CINEPS) Investigators, Altaye Mekibib , Arnsperger Anita , Beiersdorfer Traci , Bridgewater Kaley , Cahill Tanya , Cecil Kim , Dietrich Kent , Distler Christen , Dudley Juanita , Georg Brianne , Grisby Cathy , Haas Lacey , He Lili , Holland Scott K. , Illapani V. S. Priyanka , Kirker Kristin , Kline‐Fath Beth M. , Li Hailong , Lanier Matt , Merhar Stephanie L. , Muthig Greg , Poindexter Brenda B. , Russell David , Tepe Kari , Tamm Leanne , Thompson Julia , Wang Hui , Wang Jinghua , Williams Brynne , Wineland Kelsey , Wuertz Sandra , Wuest Donna , Yuan Weihong
Published: January 2024

Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and prematurity are independent risk factors for abnormal neurodevelopment. The objectives were to compare differences in Bayley-III cognitive, language, and motor scores at 2 years corrected age (CA) in 395 infants born very preterm (≤ 32 weeks gestation) with and without prenatal TSE. We performed multivariable linear regression analyses to examine associations between prenatal TSE and neurodevelopmental outcomes and a mediation analysis to estimate direct effects of prenatal TSE on outcomes and indirect effects through preterm birth. In total, 50 (12.6%) infants had prenatal TSE. Infants with prenatal TSE had lower mean [95% CI] Cognitive score (82.8 [78.6, 87.1]) vs. nonexposed infants (91.7 [90.1, 93.4]). In children with and without prenatal TSE, there were significant differences in mean [95% CI] Language scores (81.7 [76.0, 87.4] vs. 92.4 [90.2, 94.6], respectively) and mean [95% CI] Motor scores (86.5 [82.2, 90.7] vs. 93.4 [91.8, 95.0], respectively); scores remained significant after controlling for confounders. Preterm birth indirectly mediated 9.0% of the total effect of prenatal TSE on Cognitive score (P = NS). However, 91% of the remaining total effect was significant and attributable to TSE’s direct harmful effects on cognitive development (β = − 5.17 [95% CI − 9.97, − 0.38]). The significant association is largely due to TSE’s direct effect on cognitive development and not primarily due to TSE’s indirect effect on preterm birth.
Ion-retention properties of graphene oxide/zinc oxide nanocomposite membranes at various pH and temperature conditions
Authors: Hassanpour Amir , Gauthier Marc A. , Sun Shuhui
Published: January 2024

Laminar graphene oxide (GO) is a promising candidate material for next-generation highly water-permeable membranes. Despite extensive research, there is little information known concerning GO's ion-sieving properties at high acidic/basic pH and temperatures. In this study, the ion-blockage properties of the pristine GO and GO/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite membranes were tested using a non-pressure-driven filtration setup over a wide range of pH and temperatures. The ZnO nanoparticles within the composite membranes were synthesized via the room-temperature oxidation of zinc acetate and zinc acrylate precursors and were uniformly distributed across the composite membrane. It is observed that partially replacing the zinc acetate precursor with zinc acrylate improves the blockage performance of the composite membranes under extreme basic conditions by 42%. Moreover, photocatalytically-reduced composite membranes blocked copper sulfate ions 28% more than as-prepared composite membranes. Further, it was discovered that the composition of the membrane plays a vital role in its ion blockage performance at higher temperatures.
GPU-accelerated lung CT segmentation based on level sets and texture analysis
Authors: Reska Daniel , Kretowski Marek
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a novel semi-automatic method for lung segmentation in thoracic CT datasets. The fully three-dimensional algorithm is based on a level set representation of an active surface and integrates texture features to improve its robustness. The method’s performance is enhanced by the graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration. The segmentation process starts with a manual initialisation of 2D contours on a few representative slices of the analysed volume. Next, the starting regions for the active surface are generated according to the probability maps of texture features. The active surface is then evolved to give the final segmentation result. The recent implementation employs features based on grey-level co-occurrence matrices and Gabor filters. The algorithm was evaluated on real medical imaging data from the LCTCS 2017 challenge. The results were also compared with the outcomes of other segmentation methods. The proposed approach provided high segmentation accuracy while offering very competitive performance.
A hybrid cloud load balancing and host utilization prediction method using deep learning and optimization techniques
Authors: Simaiya Sarita , Lilhore Umesh Kumar , Sharma Yogesh Kumar , Rao K. B. V. Brahma , Maheswara Rao V. V. R. , Baliyan Anupam , Bijalwan Anchit , Alroobaea Roobaea
Published: January 2024

Virtual machine (VM) integration methods have effectively proven an optimized load balancing in cloud data centers. The main challenge with VM integration methods is the trade-off among cost effectiveness, quality of service, performance, optimal resource utilization and compliance with service level agreement violations. Deep Learning methods are widely used in existing research on cloud load balancing. However, there is still a problem with acquiring noisy multilayered fluctuations in workload due to the limited resource-level provisioning. The long short-term memory (LSTM) model plays a vital role in the prediction of server load and workload provisioning. This research presents a hybrid model using deep learning with Particle Swarm Intelligence and Genetic Algorithm (“DPSO-GA”) for dynamic workload provisioning in cloud computing. The proposed model works in two phases. The first phase utilizes a hybrid PSO-GA approach to address the prediction challenge by combining the benefits of these two methods in fine-tuning the Hyperparameters. In the second phase, CNN-LSTM is utilized. Before using the CNN-LSTM approach to forecast the consumption of resources, a hybrid approach, PSO-GA, is used for training it. In the proposed framework, a one-dimensional CNN and LSTM are used to forecast the cloud resource utilization at various subsequent time steps. The LSTM module simulates temporal information that predicts the upcoming VM workload, while a CNN module extracts complicated distinguishing features gathered from VM workload statistics. The proposed model simultaneously integrates the resource utilization in a multi-resource utilization, which helps overcome the load balancing and over-provisioning issues. Comprehensive simulations are carried out utilizing the Google cluster traces benchmarks dataset to verify the efficiency of the proposed DPSO-GA technique in enhancing the distribution of resources and load balancing for the cloud. The proposed model achieves outstanding results in terms of better precision, accuracy and load allocation.
Chemical basis of microbiome preference in the nematode C. elegans
Authors: Chai Victor Z. , Farajzadeh Tiam , Meng Yufei , Lo Sokhna B. , Asaed Tymmaa A. , Taylor Charles J. , Glater Elizabeth E.
Published: January 2024

Animals are exposed to many microbes in their environment, some of which have been shown to colonize various tissues including the intestine. The composition of the intestinal microbiota affects many aspects of the host’s physiology and health. Despite this, very little is known about whether host behavior contributes to the colonization. We approach this question in the nematode C. elegans, which feeds on bacteria and also harbors an intestinal microbiome. We examined the behavior of C. elegans towards CeMbio, a simplified microbiome consisting of twelve strains that represent the bacteria found in the animal’s natural environment. We observed that C. elegans raised on E. coli shows a strong preference for three members of CeMbio (Lelliottia amnigena JUb66, Enterobacter hormaechei CEent1, and Pantoea nemavictus BIGb0393) compared to E. coli. Previously, these three bacterial strains have been shown to support faster C. elegans development time than E. coli OP50 and are low colonizers compared to eight other members of CeMbio. We then used gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry to identify that these three bacteria release isoamyl alcohol, a previously described C. elegans chemoattractant. We suggest that C. elegans seeks bacteria that release isoamyl alcohol and support faster growth.
A genome-wide association study of social trust in 33,882 Danish blood donors
Authors: Sequeros Celia Burgos , Hansen Thomas Folkmann , Westergaard David , Louloudis Ioannis , Kalamajski Sebastian , Röder Timo , Rohde Palle Duun , Schwinn Michael , Clemmensen Line Harder , Didriksen Maria , Nyegaard Mette , Hjalgrim Henrik , Nielsen Kaspar René , Bruun Mie Topholm , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Erikstrup Christian , Mikkelsen Susan , Sørensen Erik ,   DBDS Genomic Consortium, Banasik Karina , Bay Jakob , Boldsen Jens Kjærgaard , Brodersen Thorsten , Brunak Søren , Burgdorf Kristoffer , Chalmer Mona Ameri , Didriksen Maria , Dinh Khoa Manh , Dowsett Joseph , Erikstrup Christian , Feenstra Bjarke , Geller Frank , Gudbjartsson Daniel , Hansen Thomas Folkmann , Hindhede Lotte , Hjalgrim Henrik , Jacobsen Rikke Louise , Jemec Gregor , Jensen Bitten Aagaard , Kaspersen Katrine , Kjerulff Bertram Dalskov , Kogelman Lisette , Larsen Margit Anita Hørup , Louloudis Ioannis , Lundgaard Agnete , Mikkelsen Susan , Mikkelsen Christina , Nissen Ioanna , Nyegaard Mette , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Pedersen Ole Birger Vestager , Pil Henriksen Alexander , Rohde Palle Duun , Rostgaard Klaus , Schwinn Michael , Stefansson Kari , Stefánsson Hreinn , Sørensen Erik , Thorsteinsdóttir Unnur , Thørner Lise Wegner , Topholm Bruun Mie , Ullum Henrik , Werge Thomas , Westergaard David , Pedersen Ole Birger Vestager , Brunak Søren , Banasik Karina , Giordano Giuseppe Nicola
Published: January 2024

Social trust is a heritable trait that has been linked with physical health and longevity. In this study, we performed genome-wide association studies of self-reported social trust in n = 33,882 Danish blood donors. We observed genome-wide and local evidence of genetic similarity with other brain-related phenotypes and estimated the single nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability of trust to be 6% (95% confidence interval = (2.1, 9.9)). In our discovery cohort (n = 25,819), we identified one significantly associated locus (lead variant: rs12776883) in an intronic enhancer region ofPLPP4, a gene highly expressed in brain, kidneys, and testes. However, we could not replicate the signal in an independent set of donors who were phenotyped a year later (n = 8063). In the subsequent meta-analysis, we found a second significantly associated variant (rs71543507) in an intergenic enhancer region. Overall, our work confirms that social trust is heritable, and provides an initial look into the genetic factors that influence it.
Development and validation of a risk model for intracardiac thrombosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Yuan , Li Long-Chang , Li Yu-Xin , Gui Chun , Yang Li-Hua
Published: January 2024

Intracardiac thrombosis is a severe complication in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study aims to develop and validate an individualized nomogram to evaluate the risk of intracardiac thrombosis in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at first admission. Clinical baseline characteristics were acquired from electronic medical record systems. Multiple methods were applied to screen the key variables and generate multiple different variable combinations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to build the models, and the optimal model was chosen by comparing the discrimination. Then we checked the performance of the model in different thrombus subgroups. Finally, the model was presented using a nomogram and evaluated from the perspectives of discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Internal validation was performed by extracting different proportions of data for Bootstrapping. Ultimately, 564 eligible patients were enrolled, 67 of whom developed an intracardiac thrombosis. Risk factors included d-dimer, white blood cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pulse pressure, history of stroke, hematocrit, and NT-proBNP in the optimal model. The model had good discrimination and calibration, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.833 (0.782–0.884), and the model’s performance in each subgroup was stable. Clinical decision curve analysis showed that the model had clinical application value when the high-risk threshold was between 2% and 78%. The AUC of interval validation (30% and 70% data resampling) was 0.844 (0.765–0.924) and 0.833 (0.775–0.891), respectively. This novel intracardiac thrombosis nomogram could be conveniently applied to facilitate the individual intracardiac thrombosis risk assessment in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Investigation of the last two centuries sedimentation dynamics in high-altitude lakes of Southern Carpathians, Romania
Authors: Begy Robert-Cs. , Savin Codrin-F. , Korponai János , Magyari Enikő , Kovács Tibor
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the last two centuries sedimentation dynamics in four high-altitude lakes located in Southern Carpathians, Romania. Furthermore, a novel approach is proposed for identifying the anthropic or natural underlying causes, by comparison of the acceleration of the change in sedimentation rate with a baseline growth rate trend provided by an isolated peat bog. The high-resolution chronologies were developed using the 210Pb dating technique and the CRS model. 137Cs alternative time-marker validated the age-depth models and reassured the quality of the results. The results indicated several short-interval high sedimentation events within the lake cores, yielding up to five times the average rate for the investigated period. The cause of the high sedimentation episodes was generally attributed to anthropic activities (primarily road construction) and extreme natural events. A first-order derivative equation was employed to plot the acceleration in the sedimentation rate of the lakes with the peat bog baseline. The discrepancies between the acceleration trends highlighted significant deviations from the natural variation tendencies and provided preliminary data regarding the underlying causes of the intense sedimentation periods.
Superconducting and charge-ordered states in the anisotropic t–J–U model
Authors: Feng Yifan , Lou Jie , Chen Yan
Published: January 2024

Motivated by the effect of symmetry breaking in cuprates superconductors YBa$$_2$$

2

Cu$$_3$$

3

O$$_{7-\delta }$$

7
-
δ

, we employ the renormalized mean-field theory to study the presence of uniform superconducting and charge-ordered states in two anisotropic t–J–U models, either with hopping strength anisotropy or antiferromagnetic interaction anisotropy. In the case of uniform superconducting state, compared with the isotropic t–J–U model with only $$d_{x^2-y^2}$$

d

x
2

-

y
2

-wave superconducting state, there is an additional s-wave superconducting state in the model with hopping strength anisotropy. Meanwhile, the hopping anisotropy may enhance the critical Coulomb interaction $$U_c$$

U
c

at the Mott insulator to the Gossamer superconductor transition point, and strong hopping anisotropy may weaken the superconducting state. In the case of a charge-ordered state, hopping anisotropy may suppress the amplitude of the charge density waves and pair density waves, which originate from local Coulomb interactions. These results indicate that the effects of hopping anisotropy and local Coulomb interactions are competitive. Moreover, the antiferromagnetic interaction anisotropy only weakly suppresses the superconducting gap and density wave amplitude. Our results show that the t–J–U model with hopping anisotropy is qualitatively consistent with experimental superconducting pair symmetry and charge density waves in the YBa$$_2$$

2

Cu$$_3$$

3

O$$_{7-\delta }$$

7
-
δ

system.
Improving tumor treatment through intratumoral injection of drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles and low-intensity ultrasound
Authors: Hosseinpour Asma , Soltani Madjid , Souri Mohammad
Published: January 2024

The intratumoral injection of therapeutic agents responsive to external stimuli has gained considerable interest in treating accessible tumors due to its biocompatibility and capacity to reduce side effects. For the first time, a novel approach is explored to investigate the feasibility of utilizing low-intensity ultrasound in combination with intratumoral injection of drug-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to thermal necrosis and chemotherapy with the objective of maximizing tumor damage while avoiding harm to surrounding healthy tissue. In this study, a mathematical framework is proposed based on a multi-compartment model to evaluate the effects of ultrasound transducer’s specifications, MNPs size and distribution, and drug release in response to the tumor microenvironment characteristics. The results indicate that while a higher injection rate may increase interstitial fluid pressure, it also simultaneously enhances the concentration of the therapeutic agent. Moreover, by increasing the power and frequency of the transducer, the acoustic pressure and intensity can be enhanced. This, in turn, increases the impact on accumulated MNPs, resulting in a rise in temperature and localized heat generation. Results have demonstrated that smaller MNPs have a lower capacity to generate heat compared to larger MNPs, primarily due to the impact of sound waves on them. It is worth noting that smaller MNPs have been observed to have enhanced diffusion, allowing them to effectively spread within the tumor. However, their smaller size also leads to rapid elimination from the extracellular space into the bloodstream. To summarize, this study demonstrated that the local injection of MNPs carrying drugs not only enables localized chemotherapy but also enhances the effectiveness of low-intensity ultrasound in inducing tissue thermal necrosis. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable and reliable resource for future research in this field and contribute to the development of personalized medicine.
Reductions in sustained prescription opioid use within the US between 2017 and 2021
Authors: Schoenfeld Andrew J. , Munigala Satish , Gong Jonathan , Schoenfeld Roman J. , Banaag Amanda , Coles Christian , Koehlmoos Tracey P.
Published: January 2024

Over the last decade, various efforts have been made to curtail the opioid crisis. The impact of these efforts, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been well characterized. We sought to develop national estimates of the prevalence of sustained prescription opioid use for a time period spanning the COVID-19 pandemic (2017–2021). We used TRICARE claims data (fiscal year 2017–2021) to identify patients who were prescription opioid non-users prior to receipt of a new opioid medication. We evaluated eligible patients for subsequent sustained prescription opioid use. The prevalence of sustained prescription opioid use during 2020–2021 was compared to 2017–2019. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to adjust for confounding. We performed secondary analyses that accounted for interactions between the time period and age, as well as a proxy for socioeconomic status. We determined there was a 68% reduction in the odds of sustained prescription opioid use (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.27, 0.38; p < 0.001) in 2020–2021 as compared to 2017–2019. Significant reductions were identified across all US census divisions and all patient age groups. In both time periods, the plurality of encounters associated with initial receipt of an opioid that culminated in sustained prescription opioid use were associated with non-specific primary diagnoses. We found significant reductions in sustained prescription opioid use in 2020–2021 as compared to 2017–2019. The persistence of prescribing behaviors that result in issue of opioids for poorly characterized conditions remains an area of concern.
A novel smartphone application for early detection of habanero disease
Authors: Babatunde Ronke Seyi , Babatunde Akinbowale Nathaniel , Ogundokun Roseline Oluwaseun , Yusuf Obiwusi Kolawole , Sadiku Peter O. , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: January 2024

Habanero plant diseases can significantly reduce crop yield and quality, making early detection and treatment crucial for farmers. In this study, we discuss the creation of a modified VGG16 (MVGG16) Deep Transfer Learning (DTL) model-based smartphone app for identifying habanero plant diseases. With the help of the smartphone application, growers can quickly diagnose the health of a habanero plant by taking a photo of one of its leaves. We trained the DTL model on a dataset of labelled images of healthy and infected habanero plants and evaluated its performance on a separate test dataset. The MVGG16 DTL algorithm had an accuracy, precision, f1-score, recall and AUC of 98.79%, 97.93%, 98.44%, 98.95 and 98.63%, respectively, on the testing dataset. The MVGG16 DTL model was then integrated into a smartphone app that enables users to upload photographs, get diagnosed, and explore a history of earlier diagnoses. We tested the software on a collection of photos of habanero plant leaves and discovered that it was highly accurate at spotting infected plants. The smartphone software can boost early identification and treatment of habanero plant diseases, resulting in higher crop output and higher-quality harvests.
Autistic traits and speech perception in social and non-social noises
Authors: Tsuji Yurika , Imaizumi Shu
Published: January 2024

Individuals with the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties in perceiving speech in background noises with temporal dips; they also lack social orienting. We tested two hypotheses: (1) the higher the autistic traits, the lower the performance in the speech-in-noise test, and (2) individuals with high autistic traits experience greater difficulty in perceiving speech, especially in the non-vocal noise, because of their attentional bias toward non-vocal sounds. Thirty-eight female Japanese university students participated in an experiment measuring their ability to perceive speech in the presence of noise. Participants were asked to detect Japanese words embedded in vocal and non-vocal background noises with temporal dips. We found a marginally significant effect of autistic traits on speech perception performance, suggesting a trend that favors the first hypothesis. However, caution is needed in this interpretation because the null hypothesis is not rejected. No significant interaction was found between the types of background noise and autistic traits, indicating that the second hypothesis was not supported. This might be because individuals with high autistic traits in the general population have a weaker attentional bias toward non-vocal sounds than those with ASD or to the explicit instruction given to attend to the target speech.
Assessment of aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis by ultrasound Doppler derived pulse wave velocity
Authors: Yang Yong , Liang Xiao , Luo Hu , Cheng Yu-xin , Guo Yan , Wu Peng , Huang Yan-li , Zhang Jin-peng , Wang Zhen
Published: January 2024

Information regarding regional arterial stiffness assessment in osteoarthritis (OA) was scarce and sometimes contradictory. We aimed to investigate the aortic, lower limb peripheral arterial stiffness and their associations with knee OA. Patients with primary knee OA and matched non-OA controls were prospectively enrolled from two medical centers in China. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and femoral-ankle pulse wave velocity (faPWV) were measured using a novel ultrasound technique. A total of 238 participants (including 128 patients with knee OA and 110 controls) were included. In OA patients, cfPWV was significantly higher than that of non-OA controls (9.40 ± 1.92 vs 8.25 ± 1.26 m/s, P < 0.0001). However, faPWV measurements in OA patients (12.10 ± 2.09 m/s) showed no significant difference compared with that of the controls (11.67 ± 2.52 m/s, P = 0.130). Multiple regression analysis revealed that cfPWV was independently associated with knee OA (P < 0.0001) after adjusting for the confounding factors including age, gender, smoking, mean blood pressure, body mass index, heart rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipids profiles. In contrast, faPWV did not show independent association with knee OA (P = 0.372) when after adjusting for confounding factors. In addition, Spearman’s correlation analysis showed cfPWV had a significant correlation with Kellgren-Lawrence score (rs = 0.2333, P = 0.008), but no correlation was founded between faPWV with Kellgren-Lawrence score (rs = 0.1624, P = 0.067) in OA patients. This study demonstrated that stiffening of aorta, but not lower limb arteries, was independently associated with knee OA. Our findings may call for further implementation of routine aortic stiffness assessments so as to evaluate cardiovascular risk in patients with OA.
Self Fourier shell correlation: properties and application to cryo-ET
Authors: Verbeke Eric J. , Gilles Marc Aurèle , Bendory Tamir , Singer Amit
Published: January 2024

The Fourier shell correlation (FSC) is a measure of the similarity between two signals computed over corresponding shells in the frequency domain and has broad applications in microscopy. In structural biology, the FSC is ubiquitous in methods for validation, resolution determination, and signal enhancement. Computing the FSC usually requires two independent measurements of the same underlying signal, which can be limiting for some applications. Here, we analyze and extend on an approach to estimate the FSC from a single measurement. In particular, we derive the necessary conditions required to estimate the FSC from downsampled versions of a single noisy measurement. These conditions reveal additional corrections which we implement to increase the applicability of the method. We then illustrate two applications of our approach, first as an estimate of the global resolution from a single 3-D structure and second as a data-driven method for denoising tomographic reconstructions in electron cryo-tomography. These results provide general guidelines for computing the FSC from a single measurement and suggest new applications of the FSC in microscopy.
The adhesion GPCR GPR116/ADGRF5 has a dual function in pancreatic islets regulating somatostatin release and islet development
Authors: Röthe Juliane , Kraft Robert , Ricken Albert , Kaczmarek Isabell , Matz-Soja Madlen , Winter Karsten , Dietzsch André Nguyen , Buchold Julia , Ludwig Marie-Gabrielle , Liebscher Ines , Schöneberg Torsten , Thor Doreen
Published: January 2024

Glucose homeostasis is maintained by hormones secreted from different cell types of the pancreatic islets and controlled by manifold input including signals mediated through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). RNA-seq analyses revealed expression of numerous GPCRs in mouse and human pancreatic islets, among themGpr116/Adgrf5. GPR116 is an adhesion GPCR mainly found in lung and required for surfactant secretion. Here, we demonstrate that GPR116 is involved in the somatostatin release from pancreatic delta cells using a whole-body as well as a cell-specific knock-out mouse model. Interestingly, the whole-body GPR116 deficiency causes further changes such as decreased beta-cell mass, lower number of small islets, and reduced pancreatic insulin content. Glucose homeostasis in global GPR116-deficient mice is maintained by counter-acting mechanisms modulating insulin degradation. Our data highlight an important function of GPR116 in controlling glucose homeostasis.