bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal dynamics of traffic bottlenecks yields an early signal of heavy congestions
Authors: Duan Jinxiao , Zeng Guanwen , Serok Nimrod , Li Daqing , Lieberthal Efrat Blumenfeld , Huang Hai-Jun , Havlin Shlomo
Published: December 2023

Heavy traffic jams are difficult to predict due to the complexity of traffic dynamics. Understanding the network dynamics of traffic bottlenecks can help avoid critical large traffic jams and improve overall traffic conditions. Here, we develop a method to forecast heavy congestions based on their early propagation stage. Our framework follows the network propagation and dissipation of the traffic jams originated from a bottleneck emergence, growth, and its recovery and disappearance. Based on large-scale urban traffic-speed data, we find that dissipation duration of jams follows approximately power-law distributions, and typically, traffic jams dissolve nearly twice slower than their growth. Importantly, we find that the growth speed, even at the first 15 minutes of a jam, is highly correlated with the maximal size of the jam. Our methodology can be applied in urban traffic control systems to forecast heavy traffic bottlenecks and prevent them before they propagate to large network congestions.
Unveiling patterns in human dominated landscapes through mapping the mass of US built structures
Authors: Frantz David , Schug Franz , Wiedenhofer Dominik , Baumgart André , Virág Doris , Cooper Sam , Gómez-Medina Camila , Lehmann Fabian , Udelhoven Thomas , van der Linden Sebastian , Hostert Patrick , Haberl Helmut
Published: December 2023

Built structures increasingly dominate the Earth’s landscapes; their surging mass is currently overtaking global biomass. We here assess built structures in the conterminous US by quantifying the mass of 14 stock-building materials in eight building types and nine types of mobility infrastructures. Our high-resolution maps reveal that built structures have become 2.6 times heavier than all plant biomass across the country and that most inhabited areas are mass-dominated by buildings or infrastructure. We analyze determinants of the material intensity and show that densely built settlements have substantially lower per-capita material stocks, while highest intensities are found in sparsely populated regions due to ubiquitous infrastructures. Out-migration aggravates already high intensities in rural areas as people leave while built structures remain – highlighting that quantifying the distribution of built-up mass at high resolution is an essential contribution to understanding the biophysical basis of societies, and to inform strategies to design more resource-efficient settlements and a sustainable circular economy.
Photosensitizer-free visible-light-promoted glycosylation enabled by 2-glycosyloxy tropone donors
Authors: Zhang Jing , Luo Zhao-Xiang , Wu Xia , Gao Chen-Fei , Wang Peng-Yu , Chai Jin-Ze , Liu Miao , Ye Xin-Shan , Xiong De-Cai
Published: December 2023

Photochemical glycosylation has attracted considerable attention in carbohydrate chemistry. However, to the best of our knowledge, visible-light-promoted glycosylation via photoactive glycosyl donor has not been reported. In the study, we report a photosensitizer-free visible-light-mediated glycosylation approach using a photoactive 2-glycosyloxy tropone as the donor. This glycosylation reaction proceeds at ambient temperature to give a wide range of O-glycosides or oligosaccharides with yields up to 99%. This method is further applied in the stereoselective preparation of various functional glycosyl phosphates/phosphosaccharides, the construction of N-glycosides/nucleosides, and the late-stage glycosylation of natural products or pharmaceuticals on gram scales, and the iterative synthesis of hexasaccharide. The protocol features uncomplicated conditions, operational simplicity, wide substrate scope (58 examples), excellent compatibility with functional groups, scalability of products (7 examples), and high yields. It provides an efficient glycosylation method for accessing O/N-glycosides and glycans.
Combinatorial single-cell profiling of major chromatin types with MAbID
Authors: Lochs Silke J. A. , van der Weide Robin H. , de Luca Kim L. , Korthout Tessy , van Beek Ramada E. , Kimura Hiroshi , Kind Jop
Published: December 2023

Gene expression programs result from the collective activity of numerous regulatory factors. Studying their cooperative mode of action is imperative to understand gene regulation, but simultaneously measuring these factors within one sample has been challenging. Here we introduce Multiplexing Antibodies by barcode Identification (MAbID), a method for combinatorial genomic profiling of histone modifications and chromatin-binding proteins. MAbID employs antibody–DNA conjugates to integrate barcodes at the genomic location of the epitope, enabling combined incubation of multiple antibodies to reveal the distributions of many epigenetic markers simultaneously. We used MAbID to profile major chromatin types and multiplexed measurements without loss of individual data quality. Moreover, we obtained joint measurements of six epitopes in single cells of mouse bone marrow and during mouse in vitro differentiation, capturing associated changes in multifactorial chromatin states. Thus, MAbID holds the potential to gain unique insights into the interplay between gene regulatory mechanisms, especially for low-input samples and in single cells.
Uniform quantification of single-nucleus ATAC-seq data with Paired-Insertion Counting (PIC) and a model-based insertion rate estimator
Authors: Miao Zhen , Kim Junhyong
Published: December 2023

Existing approaches to scoring single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (snATAC-seq) feature matrices from sequencing reads are inconsistent, affecting downstream analyses and displaying artifacts. We show that, even with sparse single-cell data, quantitative counts are informative for estimating the regulatory state of a cell, which calls for a consistent treatment. We propose Paired-Insertion Counting as a uniform method for snATAC-seq feature characterization and provide a probability model for inferring latent insertion dynamics from snATAC-seq count matrices.
Rational optimization of a transcription factor activation domain inhibitor
Authors: Basu Shaon , Martínez-Cristóbal Paula , Frigolé-Vivas Marta , Pesarrodona Mireia , Lewis Michael , Szulc Elzbieta , Bañuelos C. Adriana , Sánchez-Zarzalejo Carolina , Bielskutė Stasė , Zhu Jiaqi , Pombo-García Karina , Garcia-Cabau Carla , Zodi Levente , Dockx Hannes , Smak Jordann , Kaur Harpreet , Batlle Cristina , Mateos Borja , Biesaga Mateusz , Escobedo Albert , Bardia Lídia , Verdaguer Xavier , Ruffoni Alessandro , Mawji Nasrin R. , Wang Jun , Obst Jon K. , Tam Teresa , Brun-Heath Isabelle , Ventura Salvador , Meierhofer David , García Jesús , Robustelli Paul , Stracker Travis H. , Sadar Marianne D. , Riera Antoni , Hnisz Denes , Salvatella Xavier
Published: December 2023

Transcription factors are among the most attractive therapeutic targets but are considered largely ‘undruggable’ in part due to the intrinsically disordered nature of their activation domains. Here we show that the aromatic character of the activation domain of the androgen receptor, a therapeutic target for castration-resistant prostate cancer, is key for its activity as transcription factor, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus and partition into transcriptional condensates upon activation by androgens. On the basis of our understanding of the interactions stabilizing such condensates and of the structure that the domain adopts upon condensation, we optimized the structure of a small-molecule inhibitor previously identified by phenotypic screening. The optimized compounds had more affinity for their target, inhibited androgen-receptor-dependent transcriptional programs, and had an antitumorigenic effect in models of castration-resistant prostate cancer in cells and in vivo. These results suggest that it is possible to rationally optimize, and potentially even to design, small molecules that target the activation domains of oncogenic transcription factors.
Signature methods for brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Xu Xiaoqi , Lee Darrick , Drougard Nicolas , Roy Raphaëlle N.
Published: December 2023

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow direct communication between one’s central nervous system and a computer without any muscle movement hence by-passing the peripheral nervous system. They can restore disabled people’s ability to interact with their environment, e.g. communication and wheelchair control. However, to this day their performance is still hindered by the non-stationarity of electroencephalography (EEG) signals, as well as their susceptibility to noise from the users’ environment and from their own physiological activity. Moreover, a non-negligible amount of users struggle to use BCI systems based on motor imagery. In this paper, a new method based on the path signature is introduced to tackle this problem by using features which are different from the usual power-based ones. The path signature is a series of iterated integrals computed from a multidimensional path. It is invariant under translation and time reparametrization, which makes it a robust feature for multichannel EEG time series. The performance can be further boosted by combining the path signature with the gold standard Riemannian classifier in the BCI field exploiting the geometric structure of symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrices. The results obtained on publicly available datasets show that the signature method is more robust to inter-user variability than classical ones, especially on noisy and low-quality data. Hence, this study paves the way towards the use of mathematical tools that until now have been neglected, in order to tackle the EEG-based BCI variability issue. It also sheds light on the lead-lag relationship captured by path signature which seems relevant to assess the underlying neural mechanisms.
SSD with multi-scale feature fusion and attention mechanism
Authors: Liu Qiang , Dong Lijun , Zeng Zhigao , Zhu Wenqiu , Zhu Yanhui , Meng Chen
Published: December 2023

In the field of the Internet of Things, image acquisition equipment is the very important equipment, which will generate lots of invalid data during real-time monitoring. Analyzing the data collected directly from the terminal by edge calculation, we can remove invalid frames and improve the accuracy of system detection. SSD algorithm has a relatively light and fast detection speed. However, SSD algorithm do not take full advantage of both shallow and deep information of data. So a multiscale feature fusion attention mechanism structure based on SSD algorithm has been proposed in this paper, which combines multiscale feature fusion and attention mechanism. The adjacent feature layers for each detection layer are fused to improve the feature information expression ability. Then, the attention mechanism is added to increase the attention of the feature map channels. The results of the experiments show that the detection accuracy of the optimized model is improved, and the reliability of edge calculation has been improved.
Racial difference in mortality among COVID-19 hospitalizations in California
Authors: Rubens Muni , Ramamoorthy Venkataraghavan , Saxena Anshul , Zevallos Juan Carlos , Pelaez Juan Gabriel Ruiz , Ahmed Md Ashfaq , Zhang Zhenwei , McGranaghan Peter , Chaparro Sandra , Jimenez Javier
Published: December 2023

In the US, racial disparities in hospital outcomes are well documented. We explored whether race was associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission among COVID-19 patients in California. This was a retrospective analysis of California State Inpatient Database during 2020. Hospitalizations ≥ 18 years of age for COVID-19 were included. Cox proportional hazards with mixed effects were used for associations between race and in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression was used for the association between race and ICU admission. Among 87,934 COVID-19 hospitalizations, majority were Hispanics (56.5%), followed by White (27.3%), Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American (9.9%), and Black (6.3%). Cox regression showed higher mortality risk among Hispanics, compared to Whites (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI 0.87–0.96), Blacks (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% CI 0.79–0.94), and Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% CI 0.83–0.95). Logistic regression showed that the odds of ICU admission were significantly higher among Hispanics, compared to Whites (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.67–1.74), Blacks (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.64–1.78), and Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American (OR, 1.82; 95% CI 1.76–1.89). We found significant disparities in mortality among COVID-19 hospitalizations in California. Hispanics were the worst affected with the highest mortality and ICU admission rates.
Evaluating the antioxidant potential of resveratrol-gold nanoparticles in preventing oxidative stress in endothelium on a chip
Authors: Fayazbakhsh Farzaneh , Hataminia Fatemeh , Eslam Houra Mobaleghol , Ajoudanian Mohammad , Kharrazi Sharmin , Sharifi Kazem , Ghanbari Hossein
Published: December 2023

Vascular endothelial cells play a vital role in the health and maintenance of vascular homeostasis, but hyperglycemia disrupts their function by increasing cellular oxidative stress. Resveratrol, a plant polyphenol, possesses antioxidant properties that can mitigate oxidative stress. Addressing the challenges of its limited solubility and stability, gold nanoparticles (GNps) were utilized as carriers. A microfluidic chip (MFC) with dynamic flow conditions was designed to simulate body vessels and to investigate the antioxidant properties of resveratrol gold nanoparticles (RGNps), citrate gold nanoparticles (CGNps), and free Resveratrol on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was employed to measure the extracellular antioxidant potential, and cell viability was determined using the Alamar Blue test. For assessing intracellular oxidative stress, the 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay was conducted, and results from both the cell culture plate and MFC were compared. Free Resveratrol demonstrated peak DPPH scavenging activity but had a cell viability of about 24–35%. RGNPs, both 3.0 ± 0.5 nm and 20.2 ± 4.7 nm, consistently showed high cell viability (more than about 90%) across tested concentrations. Notably, RGNPs (20 nm) exhibited antioxidative properties through DPPH scavenging activity (%) in the range of approximately 38–86% which was greater than that of CGNps at about 21–32%. In the MFC,the DCFH-DA analysis indicated that RGNPs (20 nm) reduced cellular oxidative stress by 57–82%, surpassing both CGNps and free Resveratrol. Morphologically, cells in the MFC presented superior structure compared to those in traditional cell culture plates, and the induction of hyperglycemia successfully led to the formation of multinucleated variant endothelial cells (MVECs). The MFC provides a distinct advantage in observing cell morphology and inducing endothelial cell dysfunction. RGNps have demonstrated significant potential in alleviating oxidative stress and preventing endothelial cell disorders.
An investigation on humans’ sensitivity to environmental temperature
Authors: Battistel Laura , Vilardi Andrea , Zampini Massimiliano , Parin Riccardo
Published: December 2023

While earlier investigations into thermal perception focused on measuring the detection of temperature changes across distinct bodily regions, the complex nature of thermal perception throughout the entire body remains a subject of ongoing exploration. To address this, we performed an experiment using four climate chambers with oscillating temperatures between 24 °C ± 1 °C. Our study involved 26 participants who moved between these chambers and had the task of reporting whether the second chamber entered was warmer or colder than the previous one. We collected 3120 temperature judgments, which we analysed via generalised linear mixed-effects models. The results showed surprisingly accurate temperature discrimination abilities and limited variation between individuals. Specifically, the Point of Subjective Equality stood at − 0.13 °C (± 0.02 °C), the Just Noticeable Difference (JND) was 0.38 °C (± 0.02 °C), the JND95 (indicating 95% accuracy) 0.92 °C (± 0.05 °C), the negative ceiling performance level (CPL) was − 0.91 °C (± 0.28 °C) and the positive CPL 0.80 °C (± 0.34 °C). The implications of the JND95 and the CPLs are particularly noteworthy, as they hold potential to significantly contribute to the advancement of intelligent algorithms for temperature control systems within building environments.
SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain is internalized and promotes protein ISGylation in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
Authors: Okuno Shota , Higo Shuichiro , Kondo Takumi , Shiba Mikio , Kameda Satoshi , Inoue Hiroyuki , Tabata Tomoka , Ogawa Shou , Morishita Yu , Sun Congcong , Ishino Saki , Honda Tomoyuki , Miyagawa Shigeru , Sakata Yasushi
Published: December 2023

Although an increased risk of myocarditis has been observed after vaccination with mRNA encoding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein, its underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. This study investigated the direct effects of spike receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) on human cardiomyocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs). Immunostaining experiments using ACE2 wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) iPSC-CMs treated with purified S-RBD demonstrated that S-RBD was bound to ACE2 and internalized into the subcellular space in the iPSC-CMs, depending on ACE2. Immunostaining combined with live cell imaging using a recombinant S-RBD fused to the superfolder GFP (S-RBD-sfGFP) demonstrated that S-RBD was bound to the cell membrane, co-localized with RAB5A, and then delivered from the endosomes to the lysosomes in iPSC-CMs. Quantitative PCR array analysis followed by single cell RNA sequence analysis clarified that S-RBD-sfGFP treatment significantly upregulated the NF-kβ pathway-related gene (CXCL1) in the differentiated non-cardiomyocytes, while upregulated interferon (IFN)-responsive genes (IFI6, ISG15, and IFITM3) in the matured cardiomyocytes. S-RBD-sfGFP treatment promoted protein ISGylation, an ISG15-mediated post-translational modification in ACE2-WT-iPSC-CMs, which was suppressed in ACE2-KO-iPSC-CMs. Our experimental study demonstrates that S-RBD is internalized through the endolysosomal pathway, which upregulates IFN-responsive genes and promotes ISGylation in the iPSC-CMs.
Bioelectric device for effective biofilm inflammation management of dental implants
Authors: Lee Jihyun , Kim Young Wook
Published: December 2023

Dental implant inflammation is primarily caused by oral biofilms, which form within 8 h, particularly at 37 °C, thereby requiring diligent cleaning. Considering the complex management of dental implants, a novel technology based on the bioelectric effect (BE) to combat inflammation has emerged. A BE-integrated toothbrush was developed and clinically tested on patients with dental implants (N = 36). Our findings revealed a significant average plaque index reduction of 67% with BE technology compared with that at baseline (P < 0.05), whereas non-BE did not yield statistical significance even after 4 weeks of use (P > 0.05). The bleeding index demonstrated a 59% average reduction in all surfaces with BE technology (P < 0.05), whereas the non-BE group exhibited no significant change. Substantial reductions in total plaque and bleeding indices suggest that using BE toothbrushes can help effectively remove oral biofilms and treat bleeding symptoms.
Enhanced antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory activities of Praeparatum mungo and three of its derivatives
Authors: Chang Tzu-Chin , Cao Jie-Ling , Lin Yung-Sheng , Huang Shu-Ling
Published: December 2023

The main objective of this study is to explore the functions of Praeparatum mungo (PM) and three of its derivatives, Praeparatum mungo/turmeric (PM/T), Praeparatum mungo/bromelain (PM/B), and Praeparatum mungo/inorganic elements (PM/IE). The results indicated that additives included in the fermentation process of PM enhanced PM’s antioxidant properties. PM/B exhibited the highest total phenolic content (19.18 ± 0.46 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing power. PM/IE exhibited the highest ABTS free radical scavenging activity and chelating ferrous ion activity. PM/T exhibited the best inhibitory tyrosinase activity. The 625 μg/mL PM extract can extensively reduce nitric oxide production of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by 1 μg/mL LPS and exhibited no cytotoxicity for anti-inflammatory applications. Additives in PM natural fermentation process can enhance antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory properties of PM for future applications.
A case study on new high-strength temporary support technology of extremely soft coal seam roadway
Authors: Xu Zhijun , Li Chong , Cao Yue , Tai Lianhai , Han Jun
Published: December 2023

One of the main challenges in excavating roadways is implementing temporary supports that are powered by hydraulics and have high strength. The current temporary support system lacks active support and often causes separation between the top plate and the layer below. It is crucial to control the initial separation of the roadway roof for the stability of the surrounding rock, especially on roadways with loose and soft rock. This research focuses on the A4027 return airway in Sail Six Mine. The issues with the temporary support system in this airway have been identified. The concept and principle of using hydraulically driven, high-strength temporary support technology are proposed. A mechanical analysis model is created to study the stacked roof in the temporary support region, and the critical conditions for delamination of the top plate are determined. The relationship between the delamination difficulty parameter Q, the distance between temporary supports L, and the strength of the temporary supports q is quantified. Numerical simulation using Flac3d is used to model the relationship between the strength of the temporary supports and the deformation and stress of the rock on the roof. The overall strength of the temporary supports for the A4027 return airway is determined to be 10 kN/m2, with a distance of 2 m between the temporary supports. Hydraulically driven, high-strength temporary support devices are developed and tested for their strength. Field trials are conducted as well. The results show that the initial separation of the top plate is improved and that the support effect in the temporary support region is significant. The maximum separation of the top plate during excavation is only 34 mm, and the sinking of the top plate does not exceed 68 mm. This effectively limits the deformation of the surrounding rocks in the very soft coal seam, providing valuable insights for other roadways with similar conditions.
The impact of community nucleic acid testing on infection in residential compounds during a city-wide lockdown
Authors: Jia Zhenzhen , Hu Jianqiang , Lian Teng , Qian Lixian , Yu Wen , Zhang Cheng
Published: December 2023

The question of whether community nucleic acid testing contributes to an increase in infections within residential compounds has not been definitively answered. Shanghai, one of the largest cities in China, conducted city-wide community testing during its lockdown from late March to May 2022. This situation provided a unique opportunity to examine the effect of community testing on infection rates, as the lockdown largely eliminated confounding factors such as citizen mobility. In our study, based on a survey of 208 residential compounds in Shanghai and the daily infection data during the lockdown period, we found a significant correlation between community testing and infection risk in these compounds. However, after addressing potential issues of reverse causality and sampling bias, we found no significant causal link between community testing and infection risk. Furthermore, we discovered that increased awareness of mask-wearing correlated with a decrease in infections within the residential compounds during community testing. This suggests that the perceived correlation between community testing and infection risk may be confounded by residents’ adherence to mask-wearing practices. Our findings emphasize the need for public health decision-makers to reinforce the importance of mask-wearing during community testing, as a means to prevent infections among citizens.
Chemokine- and chemokine receptor-based signature predicts immunotherapy response in female colorectal adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Zhu Wenjie , Wu Changlei , Hu Shiqi , Liu Sicheng , Zhao Shimin , Zhang Dongdong , Qiu Guisheng , Cheng Xiufeng , Huang Jun
Published: December 2023

The clinical significance and comprehensive characteristics of chemokines and chemokine receptors in female patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma have not ever been reported. Our study explored the expression profiles of chemokines and chemokine receptors and constructed a chemokine- and chemokine receptor-based signature in female patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma. Four independent cohorts containing 1335 patients were enrolled in our study. Univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were performed to construct the signature. CIBERSORT was used to evaluate the landscape of immune cell infiltration. Thirty-two pairs of tissue specimens of female advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and two CRC cell lines were used to validate the signature in vitro. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to validate the mRNA and protein expression levels of signature genes. EdU and colony formation assays were performed to examine proliferative ability. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate cell invasion and migration capacity. During the signature construction and validation process, we found that the signature was more applicable to female patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma. Hence, the subsequent study mainly focused on the particular subgroup. Enrichment analyses revealed that the signature was closely related to immunity. The landscape of immune cell infiltration presented that the signature was significantly associated with T cells CD8 and neutrophils. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) confirmed that the high-risk group was chiefly enriched in the tumor-promoting related pathways and biological processes, whereas the low-risk group was mainly enriched in anti-tumor immune response pathways and biological processes. The signature was closely correlated with CTLA4, PDL1, PDL2, TMB, MSI, and TIDE, indicating that our signature could serve as a robust biomarker for immunotherapy and chemotherapy response. ROC curves verified that our signature had more robust prognostic power than all immune checkpoints and immunotherapy-related biomarkers. Finally, we used 32 pairs of tissue specimens and 2 CRC cell lines to validate our signature in vitro. We first provided a robust prognostic chemokine- and chemokine receptor-based signature, which could serve as a novel biomarker for immunotherapy and chemotherapy response to guide individualized treatment for female patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma.
The influence of variations in actual evapotranspiration on drought in China's Southeast River basin
Authors: Hong Sheng , Deng Haijun , Zheng Zhouyao , Deng Yu , Chen Xingwei , Gao Lu , Chen Ying , Liu Meibing
Published: December 2023

Revealing changes in actual evapotranspiration is essential to understanding regional extreme hydrological events (e.g., droughts). This study utilized the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM) to analyse the spatial and temporal characteristics of actual evapotranspiration over 40 years in the Southeast River basin of China. The relationship between changes in actual evapotranspiration and the drought index was quantified. The results indicated a significant increase in actual evapotranspiration in the Southeast River basin from 1981 to 2020 (2.51 mm/year, p < 0.01). The actual evapotranspiration components were dominated by vegetation transpiration (73.45%) and canopy interception (18.26%). The actual evapotranspiration was closely related to the normalised difference vegetation index (r = 0.78, p < 0.01), and vegetation changes could explain 10.66% of the increase of actual evapotranspiration in the Southeast River basin since 2000. Meanwhile, actual evapotranspiration and standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) showed a highly significant negative spatial correlation, with a Moran's I index of − 0.513. The rise in actual evapotranspiration is an important trigger factor for seasonal droughts in the region. Therefore, these results help deepen the understanding of hydro-climatic process changes in the southeastern coastal region of China.
The stridulatory organ in Opetiidae and Phoridae (Diptera) and phylogenetic implications for the evolution of higher flies
Authors: Brown Brian V. , de Souza Amorim Dalton
Published: December 2023

Stridulatory sound-making organs evolved in a group of flies—the family Phoridae—by modifications of the microstructure of foreleg segments present in the shared ancestor of the clade (Phoridae + Opetiidae). The opetiids are the only group amongst the lower Cyclorrhapha in which plausible homologous structures could be found, though in a less derived condition. On the forefemur of Opetia there are numerous elongate, flattened microtrichia that in basal phorids are organized into a curved linear group (the scraper) which are scraped against a curved, ridged carina on the forecoxa (the file). The file was possibly derived from an extremely unusual set of three setae that have transverse sculpturing and sockets that limit lateral motion, and which are distributed across the opetiid forecoxa. In some phorid lineages, these setae seem to be fused into the forecoxa forming the linear ridged surface against which the scraper on the forefemur could be moved. The relationship between opetiids and phorids dates back to the Cretaceous, and this pattern of file and scraper can be clearly seen in some 100 mya Myanmar amber phorid fly fossils. These structures shared between opetiids and phorids suggest that these two families may be sister groups amongst the Platypezoidea. Different modifications of the forelegs of other higher flies may have similar roles.
Establishment and study of a rat internal haemorrhoid model
Authors: Ke Minhui , Huang Shuyan , Lin Haorong , Xu Zhenguo , Li Xueyu , Li Zuanfang , Chen Feng , Wu Huasong
Published: December 2023

To establish a relatively stable internal haemorrhoid model in rats. A total of 48 SPF SD rats were selected and randomly divided into a blank group of 16 and a model group of 32. The model was created by croton oil-mixed liquid stimulation combined with standing and swimming experiments, and the modelling times were 1 week and 2 weeks, respectively. By observing the symptoms and signs of rats, pathological morphology and immunohistochemical staining of anorectal tissue, anorectal laser speckle blood-flow imaging and defecation contrast, etc., the effect of different modelling times was evaluated. The stability of the model was evaluated after feeding for 2 weeks. Both model-formation times caused rats to produce local symptoms of tissue bulging in the haemorrhoid area. Microscopy showed that the rectal submucosal interstitial blood vessels were dilated, and inflammatory cell infiltration and other manifestations were observed. Laser speckle blood-flow imaging revealed increased anorectal blood perfusion and capillary dilatation, and defecography showed a longitudinal and continuous rectal mucosa. After 2 weeks of normal feeding, lifting of the haemorrhoidal tissue was still present. The effect of modelling for 1 week was most in line with the clinical manifestations of internal haemorrhoids. The 1-week modelling scheme in this study can effectively establish a rat internal haemorrhoid model that closely approximates clinical internal haemorrhoid symptoms and pathological manifestations. The operation is simple, the success rate is high, and the model has certain stability. This model can be used as an important basis for studying various treatment methods for internal haemorrhoids.
Self-paced graph memory for learner GPA prediction and it’s application in learner multiple evaluation
Authors: Yun Yue , Cao Ruoqi , Dai Huan , Zhang Yupei , Shang Xuequn
Published: December 2023

A scientific and rational evaluation of teaching is essential for personalized learning. In the current teaching assessment model that solely relies on Grade Point Average (GPA), learners with different learning abilities may be classified as the same type of student. It is challenging to uncover the underlying logic behind different learning patterns when GPA scores are the same. To address the limitations of pure GPA evaluation, we propose a data-driven assessment strategy as a supplement to the current methodology. Firstly, we integrate self-paced learning and graph memory neural networks to develop a learning performance prediction model called the self-paced graph memory network. Secondly, inspired by outliers in linear regression, we use a t-test approach to identify those student samples whose loss values significantly differ from normal samples, indicating that these students have different inherent learning patterns/logic compared to the majority. We find that these learners’ GPA levels are distributed across different levels. Through analyzing the learning process data of learners with the same GPA level, we find that our data-driven strategy effectively addresses the shortcomings of the GPA evaluation model. Furthermore, we validate the rationality of our method for student data modeling through protein classification experiments and student performance prediction experiments, it ensuring the rationality and effectiveness of our method.
First-passage-time statistics of growing microbial populations carry an imprint of initial conditions
Authors: Jones Eric W. , Derrick Joshua , Nisbet Roger M. , Ludington William B. , Sivak David A.
Published: December 2023

In exponential population growth, variability in the timing of individual division events and environmental factors (including stochastic inoculation) compound to produce variable growth trajectories. In several stochastic models of exponential growth we show power-law relationships that relate variability in the time required to reach a threshold population size to growth rate and inoculum size. Population-growth experiments inE. coliandS. aureuswith inoculum sizes ranging between 1 and 100 are consistent with these relationships. We quantify how noise accumulates over time, finding that it encodes—and can be used to deduce—information about the early growth rate of a population.
Friction taper stitch welding of a duplex stainless steel
Authors: Rapaka Ram , de Lima Lessa Cleber Rodrigo , Vieira Braga Lemos Guilherme , Pacheco Figueiredo Arlan , Vicharapu Buchibabu , Clarke Thomas , De Amitava
Published: December 2023

Friction taper stitch welding (FTSW) is a novel technique that uses multiple inserts to conceal surface crack in a given substrate. The inserts are rotated and forced to fill the crack as plasticized material, and forge with the substrate in solid-state. The process is well suited for alloys such as duplex stainless steel, which suffers degradation of properties during fusion welding. A detailed experimental and theoretical investigation is presented here on FTSW of a duplex stainless steel (DSS). The experimental results show the presence of a ferrite-rich phase along the interface. The results computed by the numerical process model reveal a direct influence of thermal cycle in the amount of ferrite along the joint interface. The welded joint shows near homogeneous structure and properties similar to those of the substrate.
Countenance and implication of Β-sitosterol, Β-amyrin and epiafzelechin in nickel exposed Rat: in-silico and in-vivo approach
Authors: Zahid Sara , Malik Arif , Waqar Suleyman , Zahid Fatima , Tariq Nusrat , Khawaja Ali Imran , Safir Waqas , Gulzar Faisal , Iqbal Javeid , Ali Qurban
Published: December 2023

The detrimental impact of reactive oxygen species on D.N.A. repair processes is one of the contributing factors to colon cancer. The idea that oxidative stress may be a significant etiological element for carcinogenesis is currently receiving more and more support. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity of three powerful phytocompounds—sitosterol, amyrin, and epiafzelechin—alone and in various therapeutic combinations against colon cancer to identify the critical mechanisms that mitigate nickel's carcinogenic effect. To evaluate the ligand–protein interaction of four selected components against Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) inhibitor and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) molecular docking approach was applied using PyRx bioinformatics tool. For in vivo analysis, hundred albino rats were included, divided into ten groups, each containing ten rats of weight 160–200 g. All the groups were injected with 1 ml/kg nickel intraperitoneally per week for three months, excluding the negative control group. Three of the ten groups were treated with β-sitosterol (100 mg/kg b wt), β-amyrin (100 mg/kg b wt), and epiafzelechin (200 mg/kg b wt), respectively, for one month. The later four groups were fed with combinatorial treatments of the three phyto compounds for one month. The last group was administered with commercial drug Nalgin (500 mg/kg b wt). The biochemical parameters Creatinine, Protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), VEGF, MMP-9 Inhibitor, and IL-10 were estimated using ELISA kits and Glutathione (G.S.H.), Superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.), Catalase (C.A.T.) and Nitric Oxide (NO) were analyzed manually. The correlation was analyzed through Pearson’s correlation matrix. All the parameters were significantly raised in the positive control group, indicating significant inflammation. At the same time, the levels of the foresaid biomarkers were decreased in the serum in all the other groups treated with the three phytocompounds in different dose patterns. However, the best recovery was observed in the group where the three active compounds were administered concomitantly. The correlation matrix indicated a significant positive correlation of IL-10 vs VEGF (r = 0.749**, p = 0.009), MMP-9 inhibitor vs SOD (r = 0.748**, p = 0.0 21). The study concluded that the three phytocompounds β-sitosterol, β-amyrin, and epiafzelechin are important anticancer agents which can target the cancerous biomarkers and might be used as a better therapeutic approach against colon cancer soon.
Comparative assessment of direct absorption solar collector performance in different climates
Authors: Heyhat Mohammad Mahdi , Abbood Mohammed Qasim Jawad , Ahbabi Saray Jabraeil , Mokhtari Ardekani Abolghasem
Published: December 2023

Energy supply and environmental protection by reducing pollutants are among the main challenges these days. As a clean and sustainable source, solar energy is capable of generating thermal and electrical power. In this regard, Iraq is one of the regions with high solar energy harvesting potential. A numerical model was developed and validated by experimental findings in MATLAB software. This model, which also included geometrical and optical characteristics, was developed using information from four cities representative of different climates in Iraq: Baghdad, Samawa, Mosul, and Al-Qa'im. This study examined the effects of climate on the performance of direct absorption parabolic solar collectors used for energy production in Iraq. According to the results, solar collectors in Samaveh provide the highest thermal energy efficiency (up to 66.5%). Even thoth, the highest exergy efficiency is found in Al-Qa'im (36.21%). From an environmental point of view, the collector in Al-Qa'im has the highest CO2 mitigation (2.73 kg per m2 of collector) every year. As compared to other cities, Al-Qa'im and Samawah have a high thermal efficiency and solar intensity, which can lead to more water and energy savings.
Moderation effects of health behaviors on stress and suicidal ideation in adolescents: a cross-sectional survey during COVID-19
Authors: O’Rourke Teresa , Humer Elke , Plener Paul L. , Pieh Christoph , Probst Thomas
Published: December 2023

This cross-sectional online survey study investigated whether certain health behaviors moderated the relationship between perceived stress and suicidal ideation in Austrian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1505 14–20-year-old (median age = 16) high school students (77.9% female) filled out an online survey from September to November 2021. Perceived stress was measured with the PSS10, suicidal ideation with item 9 of the PHQ-9. The following health behaviors were assessed: Physical activity (days/week), phone use (hours/day), problematic drinking behavior (CAGE). All three health behaviors significantly moderated the relationship between perceived stress and suicidal ideation (all p < .05), but effects were small. The moderation analyses revealed that higher physical activity and less time spent on the phone were associated with less suicidal ideation at higher stress levels. Showing signs of problematic drinking behavior was associated with higher suicidal ideation at higher stress levels. In conclusion, these results suggest that some health behaviors may be able to act as a buffer between perceived stress and suicidal ideation. However, more research is needed to confirm these potentially buffering effects.
Organ-specific characteristics govern the relationship between histone code dynamics and transcriptional reprogramming during nitrogen response in tomato
Authors: Julian Russell , Patrick Ryan M. , Li Ying
Published: December 2023

Environmental stimuli trigger rapid transcriptional reprogramming of gene networks. These responses occur in the context of the local chromatin landscape, but the contribution of organ-specific dynamic chromatin modifications in responses to external signals remains largely unexplored. We treated tomato seedlings with a supply of nitrate and measured the genome-wide changes of four histone marks, the permissive marks H3K27ac, H3K4me3, and H3K36me3 and repressive mark H3K27me3, in shoots and roots separately, as well as H3K9me2 in shoots. Dynamic and organ-specific histone acetylation and methylation were observed at functionally relevant gene loci. Integration of transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets generated from the same organ revealed largely syngenetic relations between changes in transcript levels and histone modifications, with the exception of H3K27me3 in shoots, where an increased level of this repressive mark is observed at genes activated by nitrate. Application of a machine learning approach revealed organ-specific rules regarding the importance of individual histone marks, as H3K36me3 is the most successful mark in predicting gene regulation events in shoots, while H3K4me3 is the strongest individual predictor in roots. Our integrated study substantiates a view that during plant environmental responses, the relationships between histone code dynamics and gene regulation are highly dependent on organ-specific contexts.
Method validation for (ultra)-trace element concentrations in urine for small sample volumes in large epidemiological studies: application to the population-based epidemiological multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)
Authors: Schilling Kathrin , Glabonjat Ronald A. , Balac Olgica , Gálvez-Fernández Marta , Domingo-Relloso Arce , Slavkovich Vesna , Goldsmith Jeff , Jones Miranda R. , Sanchez Tiffany R. , Navas-Acien Ana
Published: December 2023

Analysis of essential and non-essential trace elements in urine has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing occupational and environmental exposures, diagnosing nutritional status and guiding public health and health care intervention.
Development of a split G-quadruplex and DAPI-based fluorescent probe for Hg(ii) and Pb(ii) ions detection
Authors: Xu Youyang , Liu Yuxin , Li Xiangxiang , Cai Yule , Gao Zihan , Qiu Jieqiong
Published: December 2023

Schematic illustration of the designed nucleic acid fluorescent probes (ODN-7) for the detection of Hg(ii) and Pb(ii) using T–Hg(ii)–T, G-quadruplex, and DAPI.
Heteroelements in polyoxometalates: a study on the influence of different group 15 elements on polyoxometalate formation
Authors: Raabe Jan-Christian , Jameel Froze , Stein Matthias , Albert Jakob , Poller Maximilian J.
Published: December 2023

This study explores the influence of group 15 elements on polyoxometalate structures by combining DFT calculations with experimental results.
Effects of unfolding treatment assisted glycation on the IgE/IgG binding capacity and antioxidant activity of ovomucoid
Authors: Xia Xian , Li Jiangdong , Liang Rui , Li Yi , Ma Xiaojuan , Yang Ying , Lozano-Ojalvo Daniel
Published: December 2023

The IgE binding ability of ovomucoid was sharply reduced by unfolding assisted glycation.
Colorectal anticancer activity of a novel class of triazolic triarylmethane derivatives
Authors: Hadj Mohamed Ameni , Pinon Aline , Lagarde Nathalie , Ricco Christophe , Goya-Jorge Elizabeth , Mouhsine Hadley , Msaddek Moncef , Liagre Bertrand , Veitía Maité Sylla-Iyarreta
Published: December 2023

Triazolic TAM 9b, with its pronounced anticancer activity, highlight its potential as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Development of a protocol of isolation of nanoparticles from patients' broncho-alveolar lavages for their in vitro toxicity assessment
Authors: Bernal Kévin , Kose Ozge , Leclerc Lara , Vergnon Jean-Michel , Pourchez Jérémie , Forest Valérie
Published: December 2023

Objective: assessment of the toxicity of particles contained in broncho-alveolar lavages (BAL) from patients. Issue: BAL are conditioned in sodium hypochlorites solution ⇒ cannot be directly incubated with cells. Solution: 2 proposed approaches.
Recent advances of pure/independent covalent organic framework membrane materials: preparation, properties and separation applications
Authors: Cai Yahui , Yu Yang , Wu Jianfei , Qu Jiafu , Hu Jundie , Tian Dan , Li Jianzhang
Published: December 2023

Covalent organic frameworks (COF) are porous crystalline polymers connected by covalent bonds.
A simple design of a vitrimer network with various fractions of bond exchangeable units for revisiting the Arrhenius dependence of relaxation properties
Authors: Isogai Taketo , Hayashi Mikihiro
Published: December 2023

A simple design of a vitrimer with a different fraction of bond exchangeable units is demonstrated for understanding the dominating terms of the Arrhenius dependence of relaxation properties.
Characterization of three different benzimidazolium ligands and their organo-selenium complexes by using density functional theory and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Younas Sobia , Riaz Aqdas , Nawaz Haq , Majeed Muhammad Irfan , Iqbal Muhammad Adnan , Rashid Nosheen , Altaf Areeba , Shoukat Umar Sohail , Jamil Faisal , Sehar Aafia , Munir Sania , Javed Mahrosh , Imran Muhammad
Published: December 2023

In this study, Raman spectroscopy along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed for characterization of three different selenium-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes synthesized from their respective salts.
Five and six membered heterocyclic rings endowed with azobenzene as dual EGFRT790M and VEGFR-2 inhibitors: design, synthesis, in silico ADMET profile, molecular docking, dynamic simulation and anticancer evaluations
Authors: Anwer Kurls E. , El-Hddad Sanadelaslam S. A. , Abd El-Sattar Nour E. A. , El-morsy Ahmed , Khedr Fathalla , Mohamady Samy , Keshek Doaa E. , Salama Samir A. , El-Adl Khaled , Hanafy Noura S.
Published: December 2023

Novel azobenzene scaffold-joined heterocyclic isoxazole, pyrazole, triazole, and/or triazine moieties have been developed and synthesized utilizing microwave and traditional methods.