bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between daytime napping and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cai Zixin , Yang Yan , Zhang Jingjing , Liu Yu
Published: July 2023

Daytime napping, a habit widely adopted globally, has an unclear association with obesity. In this study, we executed a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between daytime napping and obesity. We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for pertinent articles published up to April 2023. Random-effects models were utilized to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and we assessed the heterogeneity of the included studies using the I2 statistic. To explore potential sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were performed. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and funnel plots were employed to detect any publication bias. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by sequentially omitting each study. We conducted a meta-analysis of twelve studies that included one each from the UK and Spain, five from the USA, and five from China, totalling 170,134 participants, to probe the association between napping and obesity. The pooled analysis suggested a higher risk of obesity in individuals who nap (OR: 1.22 [1.10–1.35], p < 0.001, I2 = 87%) compared to non-nappers. The meta-analysis results revealed variations in the summary ORs for studies conducted in China, Spain, the USA, and the UK. The ORs for China, Spain, the USA, and the UK were 1.05 (95% CI 0.90–1.23), 9.36 (95% CI 4.74–18.45), 1.27 (95% CI 1.10–1.47), and 1.39 (95% CI 1.32–1.47), respectively. A subgroup analysis based on age within the American population disclosed that napping in both adults and children heightened obesity incidence. A subgroup analysis based on nap duration found a significant rise in obesity occurrence when nap duration exceeded one hour, but no clear relationship emerged when nap duration was less than 1 h. In a subgroup analysis based on the definition of obesity, napping did not demonstrate a significant relationship with obesity when diagnostic criteria set obesity at a BMI of 25 or above. However, when the criteria were set at a BMI of 28 or 30 or more, napping significantly increased obesity risk. Our meta-analysis indicates a positive association between daytime napping and the risk of obesity. However, given the limited number of included studies, potential confounding factors might not have been fully addressed. Future well-designed prospective studies are required to further investigate this relationship. Large-scale studies are necessary to confirm our findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms that drive these associations and causation.
Lifestyle habits and obesity indices among male adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhowikan Abdulrahman Mohammed , Alsharqawy Nagwa Ebrahim , Alazmaa Nouf Nawaf , Saeed Abdullah Ibrahim , Alhazzani Yasser Abdullah , Alhowaish Nasser Yousef , Yahya Abdulaziz Fahad Bin , Alhozaimi Zeyad Ahmed , Aleid Naif Eid , Alhussain Maha H.
Published: July 2023

Obesity among adolescents is a global health apprehension which requires early prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the association between lifestyle habits including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating habits with obesity indices of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among male adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We randomly selected 471 secondary school male adolescents aged 14–18 years. A pre-validated self-reported questionnaire was used to record the data on physical activity level, sedentary behaviors, sleep duration and eating habits. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff values for adolescents under 18 years of age were used to define overweight and obesity. Total energy expenditure was calculated using metabolic equivalent-minutes per week. Anthropometry including weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), were assessed. 53.7% and 48.4% of the adolescents were overweight/obese and had abdominal obesity; respectively. Those with overweight and obesity or above 50% of WHtR were much less active in terms of METs-min/week from vigorous-intensity sports, sum of all METs-min/week from all vigorous-intensity physical activity, total METs-min/week from all physical activity compared with non-obese adolescents and below 50% of WHtR. The present study identified the lifestyle habits that were associated with obesity and may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Knowledge of the factors that contribute to obesity could be used in preventive programs for the control of obesity among adolescents.
Regional discrepancies in the microphysical attributes of summer season rainfall over Taiwan using GPM DPR
Authors: Janapati Jayalakshmi , Seela Balaji Kumar , Lin Pay-Liam
Published: July 2023

Taiwan, an island located in the northwest Pacific region, is influenced by heavy rainfall events during warm seasons, particularly from June to August. Interaction of precipitating clouds with the complex topography results in inhomogeneous and intense rainfall over Taiwan. Hence, the present study investigates the regional discrepancies in the microphysical characteristics of summer season rainfall over (north, south, east, and central) Taiwan using 9 years (2014–2022) of GPM DPR measurements. The results showed clear distinctions in the precipitation and raindrop size distributions over the north, south, east, and central Taiwan. The contoured frequency by altitude diagrams (CFADs) of radar reflectivity, rainfall rate, drop diameter, and concentration clearly infer the dominance of large-size super cooled liquid and ice particles above the melting layer and rain particles below the melting layers in the south and central Taiwan. Central (north) Taiwan is dominated by large-size (small) drops among four regions. Higher concentrations of large drops over central Taiwan (principally from convective precipitation) and south Taiwan (primarily from stratiform precipitation) is attributed to higher rainfall amounts over these two regions than the north and east Taiwan. Furthermore, irrespective of precipitation type and geographic region, summer monsoon rainfall over Taiwan is dominated by coalescence and breakup processes. The microphysical characteristics of summer season rainfall addressed in this study could assist in refining the cloud modeling simulations over complex topography in Taiwan.
Molecular basis of GDF15 induction and suppression by drugs in cardiomyocytes and cancer cells toward precision medicine
Authors: Winter Lisa-Maria , Reinhardt Diana , Schatter Ariane , Tissen Vivien , Wiora Heike , Gerlach Daniel , Tontsch-Grunt Ulrike , Colbatzky Florian , Stierstorfer Birgit , Yun Seong-Wook
Published: July 2023

GDF15 has recently emerged as a key driver of the development of various disease conditions including cancer cachexia. Not only the tumor itself but also adverse effects of chemotherapy have been reported to contribute to increased GDF15. Although regulation of GDF15 transcription by BET domain has recently been reported, the molecular mechanisms of GDF15 gene regulation by drugs are still unknown, leaving uncertainty about the safe and effective therapeutic strategies targeting GDF15. We screened various cardiotoxic drugs and BET inhibitors for their effects on GDF15 regulation in human cardiomyocytes and cancer cell lines and analyzed in-house and public gene signature databases. We found that DNA damaging drugs induce GDF15 in cardiomyocytes more strongly than drugs with other modes of action. In cancer cells, GDF15 induction varied depending on drug- and cell type-specific gene signatures including mutations in PI3KCA, TP53, BRAF and MUC16. GDF15 suppression by BET inhibition is particularly effective in cancer cells with low activity of the PI3K/Akt axis and high extracellular concentrations of pantothenate. Our findings provide insights that the risk for GDF15 overexpression and concomitant cachexia can be reduced by a personalized selection of anticancer drugs and patients for precision medicine.
Vaginal and vestibular electrical resistance as an alternative marker for optimum timing of artificial insemination with liquid-stored and frozen-thawed spermatozoa in sows
Authors: Glencorse Dannielle , Grupen Christopher G. , Bathgate Roslyn
Published: July 2023

Development of a pen-side test to objectively determine the ideal time for artificial insemination (AI) in the sow would save producers time and money. Current processes rely on identification of oestrus via subjective behavioural and physiological markers that are indicative of high blood oestrogen concentrations. This study attempted to use measurements of electrical resistance (ER) in the cervical mucus to pinpoint timing of AI accurately enough to lead to equivalent pregnancy rates as a natural mating. Thirty-six sows were divided into 3 groups and observed for signs of oestrus. Seven sows did not show any oestrus behaviour and were excluded from the study. The remaining 29 sows were inseminated via natural mating and conventional oestrus detection (n = 14), or inseminated artificially with either liquid-stored semen (n = 8) or frozen-thawed semen (n = 7) according to timing indicated from electrical resistance measurements in the vagina and vestibule. Sows that were artificially inseminated on the basis of the electrical resistance readings had a lower pregnancy rate (P = 0.034) and less piglets born alive per litter (P < 0.05) than those that were naturally mated according to a conventional oestrus detection regime. However, the pregnancy rate and total piglets born alive did not differ between the two groups that underwent artificial insemination. Change in electrical resistance in the vagina has the potential to accurately predict ovulation timing, but more work is required to refine the timing of AI in relation to the readings before the technique can be adopted by industry.
Phytoplankton diversity explained by connectivity across a mesoscale frontal system in the open ocean
Authors: Bendtsen Jørgen , Sørensen Lykke Laura , Daugbjerg Niels , Lundholm Nina , Richardson Katherine
Published: July 2023

Phytoplankton community composition is important in establishing ecosystem structure and function. Intuitively, we recognize that water movements must be important for modifying spatial gradients and plankton diversity. However, identifying boundaries and exchange between habitats in the open ocean is not straightforward. Here, we use the abundance of nine phytoplankton species closely sampled in a mesoscale frontal system in the northeastern North Sea as a proxy for community composition and explore the relationship between phytoplankton biogeography and transport patterns. Subsurface community distributions could be related to modeled patterns in water movement. A methodology for analyzing pelagic diversity that includes a representation of plankton community composition and an Eulerian connectivity tracer was developed, and the relative importance of connectivity and geographical distance for phytoplankton species composition analyzed. The connectivity tracer identifies timescales and dispersal barriers in the open ocean. Connectivity was found to be superior in explaining pelagic plankton diversity and found to be a prerequisite for understanding the pelagic phytoplankton composition. This approach is a valuable tool for establishing the link between ocean transports, ecosystem structure and biodiversity and for informing the placement of marine protected areas.
A numerical study of spatio-temporal COVID-19 vaccine model via finite-difference operator-splitting and meshless techniques
Authors: Khan Arshad A. , Ullah Saif , Altanji Mohamed , Amin Rohul , Haider Nadeem , Alshehri Ahmed , Riaz Muhammad Bilal
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a new spatio-temporal model is formulated to study the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in a spatially heterogeneous environment with the impact of vaccination. Initially, a detailed qualitative analysis of the spatio-temporal model is presented. The existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of the model solution are investigated. Local asymptotical stability of the diffusive COVID-19 model at steady state is carried out using well-known criteria. Moreover, a suitable nonlinear Lyapunov functional is constructed for the global asymptotical stability of the spatio-temporal model. Further, the model is solved numerically based on uniform and non-uniform initial conditions. Two different numerical schemes named: finite difference operator-splitting and mesh-free operator-splitting based on multi-quadratic radial basis functions are implemented in the numerical study. The impact of diffusion as well as some pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical control measures, i.e., reducing an effective contact causing infection transmission, vaccination rate and vaccine waning rate on the disease dynamics is presented in a spatially heterogeneous environment. Furthermore, the impact of the  aforementioned interventions is investigated with and without diffusion on the incidence of disease. The simulation results conclude that the random motion of individuals has a significant impact on the disease dynamics and helps in setting a better control strategy for disease eradication.
Precise irrigation water and nitrogen management improve water and nitrogen use efficiencies under conservation agriculture in the maize-wheat systems
Authors: Gupta Naveen , Singh Yadvinder , Jat Hanuman S. , Singh Love K. , Choudhary Kajod M. , Sidhu Harminder S. , Gathala Mahesh K. , Jat Mangi L.
Published: July 2023

A 3-year field experiment was setup to address the threat of underground water depletion and sustainability of agrifood systems. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system combined with nitrogen management under conservation agriculture-based (CA) maize-wheat system (MWS) effects on crop yields, irrigation water productivity (WPi), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and profitability. Grain yields of maize, wheat, and MWS in the SDI with 100% recommended N were significantly higher by 15.8%, 5.2% and 11.2%, respectively, than conventional furrow/flood irrigation (CT-FI) system. System irrigation water savings (~ 55%) and the mean WPiwere higher in maize, wheat, and MWS under the SDI than CT-FI system. There was saving of 25% of fertilizer N in maize and MWS whereas no saving of N was observed in wheat. Net returns from MWS were significantly higher (USD 265) under SDI with 100% N (with no subsidy) than CT-FI system despite with higher cost of production. The net returns were increased by 47% when considering a subsidy of 80% on laying SDI system. Our results showed a great potential of complementing CA with SDI and N management to maximize productivity, NUE, and WPi, which may be economically beneficial and environmentally sound in MWS in Trans-IGP of South Asia.
Biomarkers of ulcerative colitis disease activity CXCL1, CYP2R1, LPCAT1, and NEU4 and their relationship to immune infiltrates
Authors: Huo Aijing , Wang Fengmei
Published: July 2023

The diagnosis and assessment of ulcerative colitis (UC) poses significant challenges, which may result in inadequate treatment and a poor prognosis for patients. This study aims to identify potential activity biomarkers for UC and investigate the role of infiltrating immune cells in the disease. To perform gene set enrichment analysis, we utilized the cluster profiler and ggplot2 packages. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes was used to analyze degenerate enrichment genes. Significant gene set enrichment was determined using the cluster profiler and ggplot2 packages. Additionally, quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to validate the expression of each marker in the ulcerative colitis model. We identified 651 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and further investigated potential UC activity biomarkers. Our analysis revealed that CXCL1 (AUC = 0.710), CYP2R1 (AUC = 0.863), LPCAT1 (AUC = 0.783), and NEU4 (AUC = 0.833) were promising activity markers for the diagnosis of UC. Using rat DSS model, we validated these markers through qRT-PCR, which showed statistically significant differences between UC and normal colon mucosa. Infiltrating immune cell analysis indicated that M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages, activated dendritic cells (DCs), and neutrophils played crucial roles in the occurrence and progression of UC. Moreover, the activity markers exhibited varying degrees of correlation with activated memory CD4 T cells, M0 macrophages, T follicular helper cells, memory B cells, and activated DCs. The potential diagnostic genes for UC activity, such as CXCL1, CYP2R1, LPCAT1, and NEU4, as well as the infiltration of immune cells, may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of UC.
Hybrid convolution neural network with channel attention mechanism for sensor-based human activity recognition
Authors: Mekruksavanich Sakorn , Jitpattanakul Anuchit
Published: July 2023

In the field of machine intelligence and ubiquitous computing, there has been a growing interest in human activity recognition using wearable sensors. Over the past few decades, researchers have extensively explored learning-based methods to develop effective models for identifying human behaviors. Deep learning algorithms, known for their powerful feature extraction capabilities, have played a prominent role in this area. These algorithms can conveniently extract features that enable excellent recognition performance. However, many successful deep learning approaches have been built upon complex models with multiple hyperparameters. This paper examines the current research on human activity recognition using deep learning techniques and discusses appropriate recognition strategies. Initially, we employed multiple convolutional neural networks to determine an effective architecture for human activity recognition. Subsequently, we developed a hybrid convolutional neural network that incorporates a channel attention mechanism. This mechanism enables the network to capture deep spatio-temporal characteristics in a hierarchical manner and distinguish between different human movements in everyday life. Our investigations, using the UCI-HAR, WISDM, and IM-WSHA datasets, demonstrated that our proposed model, which includes cross-channel multi-size convolution transformations, outperformed previous deep learning architectures with accuracy rates of 98.92%, 98.80%, and 98.45% respectively. These results indicate that the suggested model surpasses state-of-the-art approaches in terms of overall accuracy, as supported by the research findings.
Effect of drilling process parameters on bearing strength of glass fiber/aluminum mesh reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Seif Amr , Fathy A. , Megahed A. A.
Published: July 2023

The current study attempted to evaluate the impact of drilling parameters and delamination on the bearing strength of both neat GFRP (NG) and hybrid GFRP/aluminum (Al)-wire mesh with two various configurations, first with Al-mesh in the outer surface of specimen (AG) and the other with Al-mesh in the core of specimen (GA). Drilling procedure is carried out using $$\varnothing$$
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6 mm carbide twist drill with three different tip angles (90°, 120° and 135°), as well as Three different speeds and feeds (1000, 2000, and 3000 rpm) and (20, 40, and 60 mm/min), respectively. Taguchi and ANOVA analyses are used to analyze the influence of processing parameters. The findings showed that AG specimen experienced the least delamination damage. The maximum bearing strength refers to NG specimen, which is 9.6% and 8.7% more than AG and GA specimens, respectively. Drill point angle has the major effect on bearing strength for both AG and GA specimens, while for NG feed rate is of the major effect. The developed regression model displayed a high level of fitness with an average prediction error of less than 3%.
High throughput human genotyping for variants associated with malarial disease outcomes using custom targeted amplicon sequencing
Authors: Osborne Ashley , Phelan Jody E. , Vanheer Leen N. , Manjurano Alphaxard , Gitaka Jesse , Drakeley Christopher J. , Kaneko Akira , Kita Kiyoshi , Campino Susana , Clark Taane G.
Published: July 2023

Malaria has exhibited the strongest known selective pressure on the human genome in recent history and is the evolutionary driving force behind genetic conditions, such as sickle-cell disease, glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency, and some other erythrocyte defects. Genomic studies (e.g., The 1000 Genomes project) have provided an invaluable baseline for human genetics, but with an estimated two thousand ethno-linguistic groups thought to exist across the African continent, our understanding of the genetic differences between indigenous populations and their implications on disease is still limited. Low-cost sequencing-based approaches make it possible to target specific molecular markers and genes of interest, leading to potential insights into genetic diversity. Here we demonstrate the versatility of custom dual-indexing technology and Illumina next generation sequencing to generate a genetic profile of human polymorphisms associated with malaria pathology. For 100 individuals diagnosed with severe malaria in Northeast Tanzania, variants were successfully characterised on the haemoglobin subunit beta (HBB), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1) genes, and the intergenic Dantu genetic blood variant, then validated using pre-existing genotyping data. High sequencing coverage was observed across all amplicon targets in HBB, G6PD, ACKR1, and the Dantu blood group, with variants identified at frequencies previously observed within this region of Tanzania. Sequencing data exhibited high concordance rates to pre-existing genotyping data (> 99.5%). Our work demonstrates the potential utility of amplicon sequencing for applications in human genetics, including to personalise medicine and understand the genetic diversity of loci linked to important host phenotypes, such as malaria susceptibility.
Immune cell identifier and classifier (ImmunIC) for single cell transcriptomic readouts
Authors: Park Sung Yong , Ter-Saakyan Sonia , Faraci Gina , Lee Ha Youn
Published: July 2023

Single cell RNA sequencing has a central role in immune profiling, identifying specific immune cells as disease markers and suggesting therapeutic target genes of immune cells. Immune cell-type annotation from single cell transcriptomics is in high demand for dissecting complex immune signatures from multicellular blood and organ samples. However, accurate cell type assignment from single-cell RNA sequencing data alone is complicated by a high level of gene expression heterogeneity. Many computational methods have been developed to respond to this challenge, but immune cell annotation accuracy is not highly desirable. We present ImmunIC, a simple and robust tool for immune cell identification and classification by combining marker genes with a machine learning method. With over two million immune cells and half-million non-immune cells from 66 single cell RNA sequencing studies, ImmunIC shows 98% accuracy in the identification of immune cells. ImmunIC outperforms existing immune cell classifiers, categorizing into ten immune cell types with 92% accuracy. We determine peripheral blood mononuclear cell compositions of severe COVID-19 cases and healthy controls using previously published single cell transcriptomic data, permitting the identification of immune cell-type specific differential pathways. Our publicly available tool can maximize the utility of single cell RNA profiling by functioning as a stand-alone bioinformatic cell sorter, advancing cell-type specific immune profiling for the discovery of disease-specific immune signatures and therapeutic targets.
High-resolution three-dimensional structural determination of unstained double-gyroid block copolymers through scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Chen Ying , Yang Jhih-Heng , Chang Ya-Ting , Lin I-Ming , Hsiao Chien-Nan , Chiang Yeo-Wan , Chen Chien-Chun
Published: July 2023

Block copolymer-based multicomponent materials have garnered considerable attention because of tunable properties due to their various constituents. The use of electron tomography through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the three-dimensional (3D) imaging of stained block copolymers is an established approach for investigating structure-property relationships. Recently, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with an annular dark-field (ADF) detector has emerged as a method for the 3D structural analysis of unstained block copolymers. However, because of a lack of electron contrast, only a few low-resolution 3D reconstructions were reported for light elements. Herein, we report the first 3D structural analysis of a 200-nm-thick film composed of unstained double-gyroid block copolymers-polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-P2VP)-at a resolution of 8.6 nm through spherical aberration Cs-corrected STEM. At this resolution, P2VP molecules can be distinguished from PS molecules in z-contrast 3D reconstructions obtained both experimentally and theoretically. The 3D reconstructions revealed structural differences between stained and unstained specimens.
Influence of extruded injector nozzle on fuel mixing and mass diffusion of multi fuel jets in the supersonic cross flow: computational study
Authors: Abdollahi Seyyed Amirreza , Rajabikhorasani Ghazal , Alizadeh As’ad
Published: July 2023

The efficient injection system has a great role on the overall enactment of air breathing propulsion systems at supersonic flow. In this work, the usage of extruded multi-injectors in the fuel distribution and mixing through the combustor is fully investigated. The usage of the extruded nozzles considerably intensifies the formation of the vortices nearby the injectors and this research has tried to visualize the role of these vortices on the diffusion of the fuel jet through the combustor of the scramjet. The influences of the jet space on the strength of produced circulations are fully discussed. The simulation of the high-speed air stream moving the combustion chamber with extruded nozzles is done via Computational Fluid dynamics. Based on our computational data, the use of extruded multi-jets enhances the penetration and diffusion of the hydrogen cross jet in supersonic airflow. Increasing the gap between injectors improves fuel mixing performance by up to 27% downstream of the jets, primarily by enhancing the lateral penetration of the fuel jet.
High performance microservice communication technology based on modified remote procedure call
Authors: Zhang Lei , Pang Ke , Xu Jiangtao , Niu Bingxin
Published: July 2023

Microservice architecture is a programming method that decomposes a single application into various smaller services and then executes them. However, this approach introduces new challenges in communication between services because of the different data structures and technology types among the multiple services. Therefore, interprocess communication (IPC) between services has become one of the important challenges facing microservice architecture. Additionally, the choice of IPC technology is an important decision that can affect the nonfunctional requirements of the entire architecture. To address this problem, this study proposes a microservice communication technology based on remote procedure calls (RPC) called RPCX to improve the communication performance between services. The RPCX communication mechanism based on RPC uses the nonblocking IO communication model and Protobuf data serialization standard method. It identifies RPC communication at the client and server ends using dynamic proxy and annotation configuration technology. We use RPCX and two traditional service communication technologies to conduct performance stress benchmarking and evaluate the performance of RPCX through the time consumed to process the requests and transactions per second (TPS) performance stress indicators. The results show that the performance of RPCX is better than that of the other two technologies under different threads and requests. In this study, we show that RPCX has overall better performance than the other two service communication techniques under different threads and requests.
Early noninvasive prenatal paternity testing by targeted fetal DNA analysis
Authors: Damour Géraldine , Baumer Karine , Legardeur Hélène , Hall Diana
Published: July 2023

Today the challenge in paternity testing is to provide an accurate noninvasive assay that can be performed early during pregnancy. This requires the use of novel analytical methods capable of detecting the low fraction of circulating fetal DNA in maternal blood. We previously showed that forensic compound markers such as deletion/insertion polymorphisms-short tandem repeats (DIP-STR) can efficiently resolve complex mixed biological evidence including the target analysis of paternally inherited fetal alleles. In this study, we describe for the first time the validation of this type of markers in the first trimester of pregnancies, in addition to defining the statistical framework to evaluate paternity. To do so, we studied 47 DIP-STRs in 87 cases, with blood samples collected throughout gestation starting from the seven weeks of amenorrhea. Fetal DNA detection in the first trimester shows a false negative rate as low as 6%. The combined paternity index (CPI) results indicate that seven markers with fully informative genotypes are sufficient to determine the paternity. This study demonstrates that DIP-STR markers can be used from early pregnancy and that a small set of markers (about 40) is sufficient to address the question of paternity. The novel method offers substantial improvements over similar approaches in terms of reduced number of markers, lower costs and increased accuracy.
Genetic diversity in Sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris) and using stepwise regression to identify marker associated with traits
Authors: Rahimi Mehdi , AhmadiAfzadi Masoud , Kordrostami Mojtaba
Published: July 2023

One of the well-known medicinal plants in the Falcaria genus is Sickleweed. Falcaria species exhibit a high degree of genetic variability, posing challenges in the examination of genetic diversity due to the significant potential for hybridization and introgression among them. Utilizing morphological traits and molecular markers may prove to be a valuable approach in evaluating and harnessing germplasm, considering the current obstacles faced in breeding this medicinal herb. In 2021, fifteen Sickleweed populations were cultivated in pots under field conditions, employing a randomized complete block design with three replications. This aimed to assess genetic diversity and conduct marker-trait association analyses utilizing morpho-physiological characteristics and SSR markers. The Sickleweed populations displayed considerable genetic diversity across all traits. Through cluster analysis of traits and the utilization of the UPGMA method based on the Gower distance matrix, the population was classified into three distinct clusters. Upon examining all genotypes, 52 polymorphic bands were detected, with an average of 8.68 bands per primer. The average expected heterozygosity across all loci was 0.864, while the average PIC was 0.855. Molecular data analysis employing the Jaccard similarity index and UPGMA method revealed the division of Sickleweed populations into two major groups. Furthermore, the results of molecular variance analysis indicated that variation within the population exceeded that between populations. Thirty-two SSR fragments were found to be significantly associated with genomic regions controlling the studied traits, determined through the application of stepwise regression. Selection based on molecular markers offers a rapid method for breeding programs, with the genetic information obtained from these markers playing a crucial role. Therefore, alongside traits, selecting superior genotypes and populations of high value in breeding programs becomes feasible. The findings highlight that certain markers are linked to multiple traits, emphasizing the critical importance of this characteristic in plant breeding for the simultaneous improvement of numerous traits. The study’s insights regarding markers hold potential for application in Sickleweed breeding programs.
5-HT2AR and NMDAR psychedelics induce similar hyper-synchronous states in the rat cognitive-limbic cortex-basal ganglia system
Authors: Brys Ivani , Barrientos Sebastian A. , Ward Jon Ezra , Wallander Jonathan , Petersson Per , Halje Pär
Published: July 2023

The profound changes in perception and cognition induced by psychedelic drugs are thought to act on several levels, including increased glutamatergic activity, altered functional connectivity and an aberrant increase in high-frequency oscillations. To bridge these different levels of observation, we have here performed large-scale multi-structure recordings in freely behaving rats treated with 5-HT2AR psychedelics (LSD, DOI) and NMDAR psychedelics (ketamine, PCP). While interneurons and principal cells showed disparate firing rate modulations for the two classes of psychedelics, the local field potentials revealed a shared pattern of synchronized high-frequency oscillations in the ventral striatum and several cortical areas. Remarkably, the phase differences between structures were close to zero, corresponding to <1 ms delays. Likely, this hypersynchrony has major effects on the integration of information across neuronal systems and we propose that it is a key contributor to changes in perception and cognition during psychedelic drug use. Potentially, similar mechanisms could induce hallucinations and delusions in psychotic disorders and would constitute promising targets for new antipsychotic treatments.
Evolutionary modeling suggests that addictions may be driven by competition-induced microbiome dysbiosis
Authors: Lewin-Epstein Ohad , Jaques Yanabah , Feldman Marcus W. , Kaufer Daniela , Hadany Lilach
Published: July 2023

Recent studies revealed mechanisms by which the microbiome affects its host’s brain, behavior and wellbeing, and that dysbiosis – persistent microbiome-imbalance – is associated with the onset and progress of various chronic diseases, including addictive behaviors. Yet, understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape the host-microbiome ecosystem and affect the host state, is still limited. Here we propose that competition dynamics within the microbiome, associated with host-microbiome mutual regulation, may promote dysbiosis and aggravate addictive behaviors. We construct a mathematical framework, modeling the dynamics of the host-microbiome ecosystem in response to alterations. We find that when this ecosystem is exposed to substantial perturbations, the microbiome may shift towards a composition that reinforces the new host state. Such a positive feedback loop augments post-perturbation imbalances, hindering attempts to return to the initial equilibrium, promoting relapse episodes and prolonging addictions. We show that the initial microbiome composition is a key factor: a diverse microbiome enhances the ecosystem’s resilience, whereas lower microbiome diversity is more prone to lead to dysbiosis, exacerbating addictions. This framework provides evolutionary and ecological perspectives on host-microbiome interactions and their implications for host behavior and health, while offering verifiable predictions with potential relevance to clinical treatments.
Hodological organization of spoken language production and singing in the human brain
Authors: Pitkäniemi Anni , Särkämö Teppo , Siponkoski Sini-Tuuli , Brownsett Sonia L. E. , Copland David A. , Sairanen Viljami , Sihvonen Aleksi J.
Published: July 2023

Theories expounding the neural relationship between speech and singing range from sharing neural circuitry, to relying on opposite hemispheres. Yet, hodological studies exploring their shared and distinct neural networks remain scarce. In this study, we combine a white matter connectometry approach together with comprehensive and naturalistic appraisal of verbal expression during spoken language production and singing in a sample of individuals with post-stroke aphasia. Our results reveal that both spoken language production and singing are mainly supported by the left hemisphere language network and projection pathways. However, while spoken language production mostly engaged dorsal and ventral streams of speech processing, singing was associated primarily with the left ventral stream. These findings provide evidence that speech and singing share core neuronal circuitry within the left hemisphere, while distinct ventral stream contributions explain frequently observed dissociations in aphasia. Moreover, the results suggest prerequisite biomarkers for successful singing-based therapeutic interventions.
Development of a portable optical device with a multi-channel spectrometer sensor for quantification of glycerol in wine: a maker approach for on-site analysis
Authors: Cadeado Alegre N. S. , Silva Sidnei G.
Published: July 2023

Development of a DIY-based portable optical device for glycerol quantification in wine samples: cost-effective and IoT-enabled analysis.
Intense absorption of azulene realized by molecular orbital inversion
Authors: Tsuchiya Takahiro , Hamano Tomohiro , Inoue Masahiro , Nakamura Tomoya , Wakamiya Atsushi , Mazaki Yasuhiro
Published: July 2023

The introduction of diarylamino groups at the 2- and 6-positions of azulene was found to invert the order of the orbital energy levels and allowed the HOMO−LUMO transition, resulting in a substantial increase in absorbance in the visible region.
A squaramide cage capable of binding and extracting H2PO4− and HP2O73− in highly polar protic media
Authors: Yang Ju Ho , Kim Sung Kuk
Published: July 2023

A squaramide-based cage molecule binds and extracts the phosphate anions in water-containing media.
N-Chlorosulfonyl carbamate-enabled, photoinduced amidation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones
Authors: Yuan Chu-Ping , Xie Zhen-Zhen , Zheng Yu , He Jun-Tao , Guan Jian-Ping , Chen Hong-Bin , Xiang Hao-Yue , Chen Kai , Yang Hua
Published: July 2023

A new photoinduced amidation protocol was developed by utilizing the readily available N-chlorosulfonyl carbamate as an effective amidyl radical precursor, which was well exemplified by direct amidation of various quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones.
Wet-chemical intercalation of Bi4TaO8Br with self-adaptive structural deformation for enhanced photocatalytic performance
Authors: Sa Ke , Zhang Xiaorui , Zeng Zikang , Liang Yujun , Han Chuang
Published: July 2023

In this work, we report a novel wet-chemical intercalation strategy for in situ intercalation-assisted expansion and surface/interface reconstruction of Bi4TaO8Br.
Ring expansion vs. addition – reactivity of a cyclo-P4 complex towards pnictogenium cations
Authors: Riesinger Christoph , Erhard Alexander , Scheer Manfred
Published: July 2023

Exploration of the distinct ring expansion or addition reactivity of pnictogenium cations ([ER2]+, E = P, As, Sb) grants access to unprecedented cationic interpnictogen compounds.
Fluorine-free organic electrolytes for the stable electrodeposition of neodymium metal
Authors: Geysens Pieter , Tie Da , Vlad Alexandru , Fransaer Jan , Binnemans Koen
Published: July 2023

Electrodeposition of neodymium metal-containing layers has been achieved from fluorine-free organic electrolytes at room temperature.
Enhancement for phonon-mediated superconductivity up to 37 K in few-hydrogen metal-bonded layered magnesium hydride under atmospheric pressure
Authors: He Yong , Du Juan , Liu Shi-ming , Tian Chong , Zhang Min , Zhu Yao-hui , Zhong Hongxia , Wang Xinqiang , Shi Jun-jie
Published: July 2023

Theoretical calculations have predicted that the few-hydrogen metal-bonded layered compound (Mg4)2H1, with a stable structure, is a phonon-mediated superconductor with a critical temperature of 37 K under ambient pressure.
Computational modelling in catalytic science
Authors: Catlow C. Richard A. , Chutia Arunabhiram , Quesne Matthew G.
Published: July 2023

This themed collection includes a collection of articles on computational modelling in catalytic science.
Engineered aldolases catalyzing stereoselective aldol reactions between aryl-substituted ketones and aldehydes
Authors: Cornelius Eugenia Chukwu , Bartl Michael , Persson Louise J. , Xiong Ruisheng , Cederfelt Daniela , Rad Farshid Mashayekhy , Norberg Thomas , Engel Sarah , Marklund Erik G. , Dobritzsch Doreen , Widersten Mikael
Published: July 2023

An A129G/R134V/S166G triple mutant of fructose 6-phosphate aldolase (FSA) from Escherichia coli was further engineered with the goal to generate new enzyme variants capable of catalyzing aldol reactions between aryl substituted ketones and aldehydes.
Metal–organic framework based drug delivery systems as smart carriers for release of poorly soluble drugs hydrochlorothiazide and dapsone
Authors: Yadav Preety , Bhardwaj Priya , Maruthi Mulaka , Chakraborty Anindita , Kanoo Prakash
Published: July 2023

Drug delivery systems based on porous metal–organic frameworks for sustained release of poorly soluble drugs hydrochlorothiazide and dapsone under simulated biological conditions.
Microstructural iterative reconstruction toward excellent thermoelectric performance in MnTe
Authors: Luo Yiyuan , Wang Jinghan , Yang Jianmin , Mao Dasha , Cui Juan , Jia Baohai , Liu Xusheng , Nielsch Kornelius , Xu Xiao , He Jiaqing
Published: July 2023

A pioneering structural optimization is offered to boost the carrier concentration and mobility in a MnTe-based specimen for excellent thermoelectric performance.
Association between maternal erythrocyte PUFAs during pregnancy and neurodevelopment in children at 2 years of age: a birth cohort study
Authors: Liu Nan , He Yannan , Zhao Feng , Li Xiaoxu , Chen Yujing , Jiang Bibo , Wei Min , Li Duo , Cai Li
Published: July 2023

In the study, maternal EPA during pregnancy was beneficial for neurodevelopment, while AA and the ratio of AA/EPA had negative associations with neurodevelopment of children.
Elucidating the mechanism of densifying lignocellulosic biomass with acidic chemicals (DLC) for lignocellulosic biorefinery
Authors: Yuan Xinchuan , Shen Guannan , Chen Sitong , Shen Wenyuan , Chen Xiangxue , Liu Shuangmei , Jin Mingjie
Published: July 2023

The proposed mechanism for high-efficiency DLC pretreatment.
Coexistence mechanisms of negative differential resistance and resistive switching effects in a WOx-based memristor
Authors: Wang Yucheng , Chen Xiaochuan , Shang Yueyang , Wang Hexin , Guo Dingyun , Zheng Jiawei , An Zeyang , Huang Ruixi , Wang Shaoxi
Published: July 2023

Metal oxide memristors are highly desirable for bionic synaptic applications.
A Ce-MOF@polydopamine composite nanozyme as an efficient scavenger for reactive oxygen species and iron in thalassemia disease therapy
Authors: Duan Yan , Liang Ling , Ye Fanggui , Zhao Shulin
Published: July 2023

A Ce-MOF@PDA composite material with both iron-eliminating and antioxidant properties was developed.
Mechanochemical arylative detrifluoromethylation of trifluoromethylarenes
Authors: Mkrtchyan Satenik , Shkoor Mohanad , Sarfaraz Sehrish , Ayub Khurshid , Iaroshenko Viktor O.
Published: July 2023

A mechanochemically induced, nickel-catalyzed one-pot multicomponent protocol for a direct arylative detrifluoromethylation of ArCF3is described. This reaction represents the first example of C–C coupling with CF3as a leaving group.
Salt-stabilized alkylzinc pivalates: versatile reagents for cobalt-catalyzed selective 1,2-dialkylation
Authors: Lin Jie , Chen Kaixin , Wang Jixin , Guo Jiawei , Dai Siheng , Hu Ying , Li Jie
Published: July 2023

A new type of salt-stabilized alkylzinc pivalate with enhanced stability has been prepared. The dramatic OPiv-tuning effect led to superior reactivity in cobalt-catalyzed modular installation of CF2- and/or Csp3-groups across double bonds.
Room temperature synthesis and pressure-induced optical properties of lead-free 2D Cs3Bi2I6Cl3 perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Mingxing , Wang Dehua , Chu Binhua , Zhang Shufang , Xu Qinfeng , Wang Kai
Published: July 2023

High pressure is performed to investigate the optical response and the structure evolution of 2D Cs3Bi2I6Cl3 nanocrystals.
Correction: Low-energy interlayer phonon assisted carrier recombination in Z-scheme van der Waals heterostructures for photocatalysis
Authors: Yan Hejin , Guan Qiye , Chen Hongfei , Cui Xiangyue , Shu Zheng , Liang Dan , Wang Bowen , Cai Yongqing
Published: July 2023

Correction for ‘Low-energy interlayer phonon assisted carrier recombination in Z-scheme van der Waals heterostructures for photocatalysis’ by Hejin Yan et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 23744–23750, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TA04935J.
Plasmonic alloys for quantitative determination and reaction monitoring of biothiols
Authors: Zhou Yan , Li Xvelian , Zhao Yuewei , Yang Shouzhi , Huang Lin
Published: July 2023

Plasmonic alloys were designed to assist the laser desorption/ionization process in mass spectrometry, for quantitative determination and reaction monitoring of biothiols.
Dual enzyme-mimicking carbon dots for enhanced antibacterial activity
Authors: Niu Guiming , Gao Fucheng , Li Can , Wang Yandong , Li Hui , Jiang Yanyan
Published: July 2023

Carbon dot (CD)-based nanozymes have great potential in antibacterial applications through the design of the structure.
Rational design of the synergistic effect with lead iodide as the link for improving the efficiency of carbon-based perovskite solar cells
Authors: Ran Hongbing , Ouyang Tao , Wang Shiyu , Zhao Yue , Wang Yulin , Chen Xiangjie , Tang Yiwen
Published: July 2023

An innovative synergistic passivation strategy was designed which effectively utilized residual PbI2 generated during Ostwald ripening as a raw material for dimensional engineering, achieving deep passivation for defects of perovskite devices.
Effect of Healthy Aging and Gender on Syntactic Input Processing: A P600 Event-Related Potential Study
Authors: Dorme Annelien , Van Oudenhove Bram , Criel Yana , Depuydt Emma , De Groote Evelien , Stalpaert Jara , Huysman Eline , van Mierlo Pieter , De Letter Miet
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate the effect of healthy aging and gender, as well as the interaction, thereof, on syntactic input processing during sentence comprehension. This was achieved through the recording of the P600 event-related potential.

Method:

Sixty Flemish (native speakers of Dutch) participants (30 men and 30 women), equally distributed into three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older adults), were subjected to a visually presented word order violation task under simultaneous electro-encephalography recording. The task contained 60 sentences, of which half were grammatical and half contained a word order violation. P600 responses were analyzed for amplitude, latency, topographical distribution, and source localization.

Results:

Regarding the effect of healthy aging, no age-related differences were found for the amplitude, onset latency, and topographical distribution of the P600 effect (difference wave). Although aging effects on the P600 effect amplitude were absent, a reduced P600 amplitude in response to both the grammatical and ungrammatical sentences was found, next to a reduced overall degree of source activation in linguistic regions of interest. Also, a reduced behavioral accuracy in response to the word order violation was observed in the older adults group. Regarding the effect of gender, females exhibited a larger P600 effect amplitude and a reduced behavioral accuracy compared to males. No gender-related differences were found for P600 effect onset latency, topographical distribution, and source activation.

Conclusions:

While this study demonstrates no effect of aging on the P600 effect, the lower behavioral response and absence of any activation shift argues against functional compensation. Moreover, although increased neural activation in women combined with their reduced behavioral accuracy may indicate the use of different cognitive strategies in men and women, source localization analysis could not objectify this hypothesis.