bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age-dependent effects of intranasal oxytocin administration were revealed by resting brain entropy (BEN)
Authors: Song Donghui , Wang Ze
Published: November 2024

Brain entropy (BEN) reflects the irregularity, disorderliness, and complexity of brain activity and has gained increased interest in recent years. The demonstrated sensitivity of BEN to caffeine and medicine suggests the existence of neurochemical effects of BEN. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide associated with childbirth and lactation, affects both social behavior and brain activity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether OT affects BEN in young and old adults.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-factor (Age × OT) between-subjects design was used, and a total of seventy-five eligible healthy participants were included in the experiment. In the young adult group (YA), 23 participants received intranasal OT administration, while 18 received a placebo (PL) administration. In the older adult group (OA), 16 participants received intranasal OT administration, and 18 received PL administration.

Using fMRI-based BEN mapping, we found the age-dependent effect of intranasal OT in the left temporal parietal junction (TPJ), where BEN increased in YA and BEN decreased in OA. A whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis with the left TPJ as the seed and we found that FC between the left TPJ and right TPJ increased in both YA and OA. FC of left and right TPJ and plasma OT contribute to left TPJ BEN just found in YA with intranasal OT administration. These results indicate that BEN is sensitive to age-related effects of neurochemical signals and highlight plasma OT on the effects of intranasal OT in young adults.
Social and spatial drivers of the multitiered structure of zebra finch social networks
Authors: Zhang Yixuan , Jiang Xinyi , Aplin Lucy M. , Wang Daiping , Farine Damien R.
Published: November 2024

Social network structure plays a key role in shaping processes in animal populations. These networks often show distinct patterns in humans and other large mammals, with relationship strengths organized into different tiers. Here, we used continuous, fine-scale tracking of four large captive colonies of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), revealing that zebra finches consistently have 1-2 closest contacts, 6-7 close contacts, and 22-24 strong contacts. The identities of these contacts remain stable across days, with strong contacts maintained by spatial affinity while closest and close contacts are maintained by social choice. These results suggest that zebra finches egocentric networks and social structure are made up of consistent, differentiated relationships forming a multitiered social structure.

The similarities in patterns to other species suggest that fundamental principles, such as limitations in time and the ability to move through social space, could drive common structural properties in animal social networks.
An operational framework to map Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs) for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development
Authors: Venter Oscar , Ervin Jamison , Stilger Virnig Anne Lucy , Atkinson Scott , Marigo Marion , Zhang Di , Supples Christina , Paniagua Enrique , Phillips Lea , Schuster Richard , Llano Xavier , Pence Genevieve , Arcese Peter , de Assis Barros Luizmar , Belgubaeva Aray , Borja Daniel , Brumby Steve , Burgess Neil D. , Cardozo Leticia , Cordero Vega Carlos , Cordova Maria Veronica , Corzo Liliana , Delgado-Altamirano Esteban , Fonseca Claudia , Game Edward , Georges Yvio , Grantham Hedley , Guerra Daniel , Hansen Andrew , Hawley Greer , Hout Naborey , Jallah Berexford , Deepak KC , Llactayo Leon William , Leslie James , Lihong Dy , Llosa Casandra , Mahmood Abu Rushed Jamil , Makholela Tsepang , Mathis Mark , Miller Granados Cornelia , McGowan Jennifer , Monge Rafael , Mhene Nokutula , Muñoz-Fuentes Violeta , Neubert Sandra , Panta Neupane Menaka , Nuñez Neyra Fabiola , Olarte Diego , Olatunji Emmanuel T. , Jn Paul Dorine , Recondo Veronica , Pierre Gerty , Possingham Hugh , Rodríguez Buriticá Susana , Samarkhanov Kanat , Singh Vijaya , van Soesbergen Arnout , Taukenov Talgat , Telcy David , Telhado Cristina , Tumbey E. Abraham T. , Visconti Piero , Zambrano Holger , Watson James
Published: November 2024

Almost all countries are making increasingly bold commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, minimise the impacts of climate change, and transition to more sustainable development. The effective achievement of many of these commitments relies on integrated spatial planning frameworks that are adaptable to national circumstances, priorities and capabilities. This need is formally recognized by Target 1 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which specifies that all areas should be under such planning. Here, we describe the development and application of an operational framework for national-level integrated spatial planning: Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs). This framework facilitates the identification of areas that - if protected, restored, or sustainably managed - can support the achievement of national commitments to biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. The process of mapping ELSAs relies heavily on leadership by national experts and stakeholders and the integration of spatial data using systematic conservation planning tools. We showcase the ELSA process carried out for Ecuador, where the use of real-time scenario analyses enabled diverse stakeholder groups to collaborate to assess national priorities for nature, climate, and sustainable development, view trade-offs and synergies, and arrive at a spatial plan to guide national action. ELSA presented an actionable approach for Ecuador, and 12 other pilot countries, to create a spatial plan aimed at fulfilling their national and international commitments to nature, including to the GBF.
The accelerating exposure of European protected areas to climate change
Authors: Cimatti Marta , Mezzanotte Valerio , Heikkinen Risto K. , Hällfors Maria H. , Karger Dirk Nikolaus , Di Marco Moreno
Published: November 2024

1.

All ecosystems are affected by climate change, but differences in the pace of change will render some areas more exposed than others. Such spatial patterns of risk are important when assessing the continued functionality of protected area (PA) networks or planning for their expansion. Europe is undertaking an expansion of the PA network to cover 30% of its land and sea surface, but this must account for climate risk. Here, we estimate four metrics of future climate risk across Europe – local velocity, distance velocity, magnitude, and residence time – and assess the level of climate exposure of European PAsvsnon-protected control sites. We also evaluate the intensity of climate risks on >1,000 European species of conservation concern, associated with Natura2000 sites. Our results show large spatial differences in climate change exposure across Europe, with faster pace and farther shifts in climate in the Boreal, Steppic, and Pannonian regions but slower changes in the Mediterranean, Alpine, Artic, and Macronesian regions. Climate change magnitude was higher for the Alpine, Mediterranean, and Steppic regions, implying large local differences between present and future climate. These spatial risk patterns were largely consistent across scenarios, but with up to three times higher risk under the most pessimisticvsthe most optimistic scenario. Large variation in climate exposure for species of conservation concern was revealed, including 11 species which are highly dependent on Natura2000 sites and predicted to experience rapid climate change. Our results provide guidance for managing European PAs, and expanding their coverage, by pinpointing areas offering more stable climates. We emphasize the need for connectivity across the network, to support species adaption via range shifting. This is especially the case in areas facing high climate change magnitude but low climate velocity, implying that climate conditions similar to current ones will be found nearby.
Chromosome-scale genome assembly and linkage map forSilene uniflorareveal the recombination landscape in a rapidly evolving plant species
Authors: Osborne Owen G , Wood Daniel P , Dobreva Mariya P , Dunning Luke T. , Tucker Rachel , Coates Sarah ER , Pellicer Jaume , Holmberg Jon , Algar Adam C , Bocedi Greta , Gubry-Rangin Cecile , Herrera-Alsina Leonel , Juliandi Berry , Lancaster Lesley T , Touzet Pascal , Travis Justin MJ , Papadopulos Alexander ST
Published: November 2024

The genusSileneis an important model system for fields as diverse as sex chromosome evolution, speciation and disease ecology. However, genomic resources remain scarce in the genus. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly forS. uniflora, a hermaphroditic/gynodioecious species which is an important model for rapid adaptation to anthropogenic disturbance and the role of phenotypic plasticity in adaptive evolution. Using a combination of long-read and Hi-C sequencing technologies, we generated a 1,268 Mb genome assembly with a scaffold N50 of 40.72 Mb and 682 Mb assembled into 12 chromosomes. We annotated the genome using evidence from transcriptome and protein mapping in combination withab initiogene prediction, resulting in 41,603 protein-coding genes and a BUSCO completeness score of 91%. We also present a linkage map which we used to validate the genome assembly and estimate local recombination rate across the genome. Comparison to the only two otherSilenespecies with chromosome-scale genome assemblies reveals widespread genome rearrangements in the genus, suggestingSilenemay be a promising study system for the role of genome rearrangement in evolution, particularly in the evolution of sex chromosomes and adaptation.

Significance statement

Plant species in the genusSilene(campions) are important study organisms in multiple areas of ecology and evolution. Sea campion (Silene uniflora) is an important model for investigations into rapid adaptation, phenotypic plasticity and parallel evolution. However, only two species have high-quality genome assemblies available, hampering studies of their genetics and evolution. We present a high-quality genome assembly, genetic map and gene annotation for sea campion. These will be important genomic resources for future studies of sea campion, other species in the genusSileneand the family Caryophyllaceae more generally.
AI-driven Classification of Heart Failure Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients Using the Total Protein Approach
Authors: Lenzi Alessio , Carvalho Luis B. , Teigas-Campos Pedro A.D. , Biagini Denise , Ghimenti Silvia , Armenia Silvia , Pugliese Nicola R. , Masi Stefano , Di Francesco Fabio , Lomonaco Tommaso , Lodeiro Carlos , Capelo-Martinez Jose-Luis , Santos Hugo M.
Published: November 2024

Heart failure (HF) presents two major subtypes: HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), each one with distinct metabolic characteristics. This study utilized artificial intelligence, high-resolution mass spectrometry and the Total Protein Approach (TPA) to identify key features differentiating these subtypes. Aldolase A (ALDOA), a glycolytic enzyme, was found upregulated in HFrEF patients, reflecting an increased glycolysis pathway, while Arginase 1 (ARG1), a key enzyme in the urea cycle, was also elevated, indicating an increased urea pathway. In contrast, HFpEF patients showed TPA ALDOA and ARG1 levels similar to healthy controls. The combined use of ALDOA and ARG1 TPA values successfully classified 82% of patients (14 out of 17). Additionally, most HFpEF patients were over 80 years old, suggesting an age-related metabolic shift. The combination of ALDOA and ARG1 are promising biomarkers for distinguishing HFpEF and HFrEF using the TPA approach, with potential implications for targeted therapies.
A Double-Blind Replication Attempt of Offline 5Hz-rTUS-Induced Corticospinal Excitability
Authors: Fong Po-Yu , Kop Benjamin R. , Evans Carys , Wijaya Vidya Gani , Lin Yongling , Cappotto Drew , Lee Jenny S. A. , Latorre Anna , Song Joy , Treeby Bradley , Martin Eleanor , Rothwell John , Verhagen Lennart , Bestmann Sven
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising new form of non-invasive neuromodulation. As a nascent technique, replication of its effects on brain function is important. Of particular interest is offline 5Hz repetitive TUS (5Hz-rTUS), originally reported by Zeng and colleagues [1] to elicit lasting corticospinal excitability increases, with large effect sizes.

Material and method

Here, we conducted a pre-registered (https://osf.io/p5n4q) replication of this protocol that benefitted from three additional features: double-blind application of TUS, neuronavigation for consistent TMS positioning, and acoustic simulations to assess M1 target exposure to TUS. Changes in resting motor thresholds (rMT), motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) in response to TUS (5Hz-rTUS vs. sham) were measured in the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI), abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles, with unbiased selection of participants. Transducer location was determined by the TMS-hotspot for motor representations of the right FDI, as in the original work.

Results

No significant effects of 5Hz-TUS (vs sham) were observed. Post-hoc simulations showed considerable variability of the acoustic focus, which was outside the anatomical M1-hand area in 67% of participants – in line with the known poor correspondence of TMS-hotspot location and M1-hand area.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the effect sizes of the neuromodulatory effects of 5Hz-rTUS on M1 may be more variable than previously appreciated. We suggest that double-blinding, neuronavigated TMS, individualised acoustic simulations for TUS targeting and pre-registration will aid reproducibility across studies.
CRISPRa-mediated disentanglement of the Dux-MERVL axis in the 2C-like state, totipotency and cell death
Authors: Chammas Paul , Xie Sheila Q , Sepulveda-Rincon Lessly P , Leeke Bryony J , Dore Marian H , Dormann Dirk , Wagner Ryan T , McManus Michael T , Karimi Mohammad M , Young George , Percharde Michelle
Published: November 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) provide sequences that are powerful cis-regulatory drivers of gene expression programmes. This is particularly apparent during early development when many TEs become de-repressed. MERVL elements are highly yet transiently upregulated in mouse totipotent 2-cell (2C) embryos during major zygotic genome activation (ZGA), and in 2C-like cells in vitro. One of the most powerful activators of MERVL is the pioneer transcription factor, Dux. However, apparent differences lie in the requirement for Dux versus MERVL activation in embryos, for unclear reasons. Moreover, sustained Dux activation causes cell toxicity in multiple cell types, which may or may not be linked to MERVL activation. Using a CRISPR-activation, 2C-GFP reporter system, we have unpicked the relative role of Dux and MERVL in ZGA, totipotent-like characteristics and cell toxicity. We find that direct MERVL activation comprises only a portion of the Dux-dependent transcriptome, and which is sufficient for expanded fate potential, but not other totipotency features. Conversely, Dux-induced pathology is independent of MERVL activation and involves induction of the pro-apoptotic factor, Noxa. Our study highlights the complexity of the Dux-MERVL transcriptional network and uncovers a new player in Dux-driven pathology.
H- and m-channel overexpression promotes seizure-like events by impairing the ability of inhibitory neurons to process correlated inputs
Authors: Rich Scott , Valiante Taufik A. , Lefebvre Jeremie
Published: November 2024

Channelopathies affecting h- and m-channels present a paradox in epilepsy research: while both over- and underexpression of these channels can be epileptogenic, channel overexpression does not appear to increase the excitatory-inhibitory (E-I) balance as caused by channel underexpression. We here derive a viable mechanism for ictogenesis driven by h- and m-channel overexpression from analysis of anin silicospiking neuronal microcircuit exhibiting spontaneous seizure-like events (SLEs). Such SLEs are dependent upon sufficiently strong gain in two adaptation terms phenomenologically modeling these channels’ effects: voltage homeostasis (h-current) and spike-frequency adaptation (m-current). Excessive gain of these adaptation terms interferes with the circuit’s processing of highly correlated input, promoting a sequence of network-level events that collectively provoke an SLE. Importantly, these changes do not cause increased excitability in isolated neurons, nor does this cascade require a change in the amplitude of external input to the circuit, suggesting an ictogenic pathway independent of classical changes to the E-I balance. The viability of this mechanism for SLE onset is strengthened by the host of experimentally-characterized features of seizure produced in this model reliant upon the presence of these adaptation terms, including the irregular initiation and termination of seizure-like events and time-varying peak frequency of oscillations during such events (i.e., chirps). Moreover, the cell-type dependent effects of changes in these adaptation terms, as delineated in our analyses, represent experimentally-testable predictions for future study of h- and m-channelopathies. These computational results provide vital new insights into the epileptogenic nature of h- and m-channel overexpression currently absent in the experimental literature.
Effective metabarcoding of endophytic fungi through host-exclusive primer design for nanopore long-read sequencing
Authors: He Ting , Jansonius Koert , Li Xiao , Reilly Alison M. , Sevgin Bahar , Setroikromo Rita , Hackl Thomas , Haslinger Kristina
Published: November 2024

Metabarcoding is a powerful tool to simultaneously identify multiple taxa within a DNA sample. However, despite its power, metabarcoding poses challenges when applied to host-associated microbiomes, primarily due to the substantial co-amplification of host DNA.

Here we developed a host-exclusive primer design workflow, to selectively generate amplicons from target taxa while excluding the host. This workflow is centered around a new computational tool, mbc-prime, that can generate a list of discriminative candidate primers and score them. We showcase the use of this tool in the process of designing primers for the long-read metabarcoding of endophytic fungi inVinca minor.

Four new forward and two new reverse primers reliably amplify large regions of the fungal rDNA of a fungal mock community and the extracted holobiont genomic DNA. Primers exhibit high specificity for fungal rDNA and robust amplification across a diverse range of fungal taxa: with the best primer pairs, we produced fungal amplicons free of plant DNA.

Our workflow can be used to study the composition of complex host-associated microbiomes. This workflow should furthermore be universally applicable for the design of discriminative primers in a user-friendly and practical manner and thus be of use for various researchers in?microbiome research.
Ultra-high-throughput screening of antimicrobial combination therapies using a two-stage transparent machine learning model
Authors: Reuter Margaret M. , Lev Katherine L. , Albo Jon , Arora Harkirat Singh , Liu Nemo , Tan Shenghao , Shay Madeline R. , Sarkar Debmalya , Robida Aaron , Sherman David H. , Richardson Rudy J. , Cira Nate J. , Chandrasekaran Sriram
Published: November 2024

Here, we present M2D2, a two-stage machine learning (ML) pipeline that identifies promising antimicrobial drug combinations, which are crucial for combating drug resistance. M2D2 addresses key challenges in drug combination discovery by predicting drug synergies using computationally generated drug-protein interaction data, thereby circumventing the need for expensive omics data. The model improves the accuracy of drug target identification using high-throughput experimental and computational methods via feedback between ML stages. M2D2’s transparent framework provides mechanistic insights into drug interactions and was benchmarked against chemogenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics datasets. We experimentally validated M2D2 using high-throughput screening of 946 combinations of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved drugs and antibiotics againstEscherichia coli. We discovered synergy between a cerebrovascular drug and a widely used penicillin antibiotic and validated predicted mechanisms of action using genome-wide CRISPR inhibition screens. M2D2 offers a transparent ML tool for rapidly designing combination therapies and guides repurposing efforts while providing mechanistic insights.
Energetics of cholesterol perception and translocation in the human Smoothened receptor
Authors: Bansal Prateek D , Kinnebrew Maia , Rohatgi Rajat , Shukla Diwakar
Published: November 2024

Smoothened (SMO), a member of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor superfamily, mediates Hedgehog signaling and is linked to cancer and birth defects. SMO responds to accessible cholesterol in the ciliary membrane, translocating it via a longitudinal tunnel to its extracellular domain. Reaching a complete mechanistic understanding of the cholesterol translocation process would help in the development of cancer therapies. Competing hypotheses based on available structures support entry of cholesterol from outer and inner membrane leaflets, but the exact mechanism of translocation remains unclear. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations (∼2 millisecond simulations) and biochemical assays of SMO mutants, we assess the energetic feasibilities of proposed hypotheses. We show that the energetic barriers for cholesterol translocation from either leaflets are comparable. Mutagenesis experiments and complementary simulations of SMO mutants validate the role of critical amino acid residues along the translocation pathways. Our data suggests that cholesterol can take either pathway to enter SMO, thus explaining contradictory experimental observations in literature. Thus, our results illuminate the energetics and provide a first molecular description of cholesterol translocation in SMO.
Engaging cancer patients on their attitudes towards microbiome engineering technologies
Authors: Owen Kimberley A. , Rutter Jack W. , Holland Claire , Le HB Trung , Shapira Philip , Lewis Clare , Kinross James M. , Barnes Chris P.
Published: November 2024

Microbiome engineering aims to develop engineered live biotherapeutic products to diagnose and treat human disease. One of the most active areas is in the engineering of modified bacteria that act as cancer therapeutics, with many products currently in clinical trials. With the emergence of any novel technologies, it is important to consult the public and end users throughout their development to address any concerns that may arise from their use. This is particularly true for therapeutics, for which it is vital that both clinicians and patients have confidence in the treatments that are available to them. Here, we surveyed a cohort of cancer patients and their relatives to gauge their knowledge of modern microbiome engineering techniques. We focus predominately on the use of bacterial eLBPs to treat cancer. Overall, most participants indicated that they would be comfortable taking cancer treatment options based on microbiome engineering technologies.
Microbial virulome and resistome in deep-sea cold seeps pose minimal public health risks
Authors: Zhang Tianxueyu , Han Yingchun , Peng Yongyi , Deng Zhaochao , Shi Wenqing , Xu Xuewei , Wu Yuehong , Dong Xiyang
Published: November 2024

Deep-sea cold seeps host high microbial biomass and biodiversity that thrive on hydrocarbon and inorganic compound seepage, exhibiting diverse ecological functions and unique genetic resources. However, potential health risks from pathogenic or antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in these environments remain largely overlooked, especially during resource exploitation and laboratory research. Here, we analyzed 165 metagenomes and 33 metatranscriptomes from 16 global cold seep sites to investigate the diversity and distribution of virulence factors (VFs), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). A total of 2,353 VFs are retrieved in 689 MAGs, primarily associated with non-pathogenic functions like adherence. Additionally, cold seeps harbor nearly 100,000 ARGs, as important reservoirs, with high-risk ARGs presenting at low abundance. Compared to other environments, microorganisms in cold seeps exhibit substantial differences in VF and ARG counts, with potential horizontal gene transfer facilitating their spread. These virulome and resistome profiles provide valuable insights into the evolutionary and ecological implications of pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance in extreme deep-sea ecosystems. Collectively, these results indicate that cold seep sediments pose minimal public health risks, shedding lights on environmental safety in deep-sea resource exploitation and research.

Importance

Understanding pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance in environmental reservoirs like deep-sea cold seeps is critical for assessing public health risks, particularly with increasing human activities such as deep-sea mining. This study offers the first comprehensive analysis of virulome, resistome, and mobilome profiles in cold seep microbial communities. While cold seeps act as reservoirs for diverse ARGs, high-risk ARGs are rare, and most VFs contribute to non-pathogenic ecological functions. These results highlight the minimal threat to public health posed by cold seeps, providing a reference for monitoring the spread of pathogenicity and resistance in extreme ecosystems and informing environmental safety assessments during deep-sea resource exploitation.
Temperature, but not plant cultivar, influence the efficacy of insecticidal dsRNA in Colorado potato beetle
Authors: Darrington Mike , Solocinski Jason , Zhou Sophia K. , Lecheta Melise C. , Palli Subba Reddy , Chen Yolanda H. , Teets Nicholas M.
Published: November 2024

Environmental RNAi (eRNAi) is a recent innovation in insect pest control, and comprehensive risk assessment is needed to ensure the environmental safety and longevity of this technology. As eRNAi relies on the insect’s cellular machinery for its mode of action, environmentally mediated plasticity in the activity of cellular processes required for RNAi could influence efficacy and the development of resistance. Here, we investigated the extent to which plant cultivar and temperature influence the efficacy of insecticidal double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting actin in larvae of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB;Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Potato cultivar did not significantly affect survival or gene silencing in dsRNA-treated larvae, indicating that efficacy is consistent across potato varieties, at least under laboratory conditions. However, the amount of leaf tissue consumed by larvae varied across cultivars, with consumption being inversely proportional to protein content. Thus, the ingested dose of dsRNA may vary across crop varieties. Temperature did influence RNAi efficacy, with both gene silencing and mortality being reduced when dsRNA treatment occurred at lower temperatures. After three days of feeding with dsRNA, gene silencing occurred at all temperatures, but knockdown efficiency was 62% at 30°C and 35% at 18°C. Beetles consumed significantly less leaf tissue (and thus dsRNA) at 18°C, but the observed temperature-dependent effects could not be fully explained by the quantity of dsRNA ingested. Further, efficacy at different temperatures was not related to transcript levels of core RNAi genes, indicating that other mechanisms are responsible for the observed effects. Overall, these results indicate that environmental conditions can influence the efficacy of insecticidal eRNAi and may affect the rate at which insects develop resistance to these technologies.
Changes in urinary proteins of unaffected individuals with a family history of frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Su Yan , Chu Min , Wang Haitong , Wu Liyong , Gao Youhe
Published: November 2024

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a very common type of neurodegenerative dementia and is the main cause of dementia in people under 65 years old. It has strong heritability. To explore whether there are urinary proteins and biological pathways that are different between those who have not been identified with FTD under existing diagnostic methods and healthy people, this study conducts urinary proteomics analysis on people without disease with a family history of FTD and healthy people. The results show that there are 387 significantly different proteins (P<0.01; FC≥2.0 or ≤0.5) between the two groups. Among them, many proteins have been reported to play a role in FTD or the nervous system. In particular, Progranulin (PGRN) is considered an effective biomarker for FTD. Among the 139 biological pathways enriched by differential proteins (P<0.01), there are many pathways directly related to neurons and the nervous system, including glial cells and microglia. The differences in urinary proteomes between people without disease with a family history of FTD and healthy people make urinary proteomics have the potential to provide clues in exploring potential FTD patient populations and exploring the mechanisms related to the early occurrence and development of FTD, opening up a new perspective for FTD prevention and early diagnosis.
Lateral entorhinal cortex neurons that project to nucleus accumbens mediate contextual associative memory
Authors: Kuhn Hayley M. , Serrano Luis Colon , Stys Grace A. , Smith Brianna L. , Speckmaier Julia , Dawson Brenique D. , Murray Brooklynn R. , He Jin , Robison Alfred J. , Eagle Andrew L.
Published: November 2024

The lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) contains glutamatergic projections that innervate the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and may be involved in the encoding of contextual associations with both positive and negative valences, such as those encountered in drug cues or fear conditioning. To determine whether LEC-NAc neurons are activated by the encoding and recall of contexts associated with cocaine or footshock, we measured c-fos expression in these neurons and found that LEC-NAc neurons are activated in both contexts. Specifically, activation patterns of the LEC-NAc were observed in a novel context and reexposure to the same context, highlighting the specific role for LEC-NAc neurons in encoding rather than the valence of a specific event-related memory. Using a combination of circuit-specific chemogenetic tools and behavioral assays, we selectively inactivated LEC-NAc neurons in mice during the encoding and retrieval of memories of contexts associated with cocaine or footshock. Chemogenetic inactivation of LEC-NAc neurons impaired the formation of both positive and negative context-associated memories without affecting the retrieval of an established memory. This finding suggests a critical role for this circuit in the initial encoding of contextual associations. In summary, LEC-NAc neurons facilitate the encoding of contextual information, guiding motivational behaviors without directly mediating the hedonic or aversive properties of these associations.
Twin echo-enabled harmonic generation for enhanced coherent bunching at short wavelengths
Authors: Ferrari Eugenio
Published: November 2024

Harmonic up-conversion schemes represent the most successful approach in externally seeded free-electron lasers (FELs) for obtaining radiation with laserlike properties at short wavelengths. They are, however, limited in the shortest achievable wavelengths, as the harmonic conversion efficiency decreases with increasing harmonic number, even for echo-enabled harmonic generation (EEHG). In the following, we introduce a novel externally seeded cascaded FEL scheme based on two EEHG stages, capable of obtaining unprecedented bunching fraction that is independent on the final FEL wavelength. The second stage can be operated both in conventional harmonic up-conversion but also in down-conversion, i.e., going toward (slightly) longer wavelengths. Higher bunching enables emission of laserlike radiation in the soft x-rays with large output power in a compact scheme. Its performance at 4 nm and shorter is investigated, demonstrating the ability to achieve multi-GW level, fully coherent pulses with laserlike properties and paving the way for externally seeded radiation at 1 nm and beyond.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Truncated Coulomb potential for planar channeling
Authors: Bondarenco M. V. , Moskvitin N. S.
Published: November 2024

It is shown that if the atomic screening function is described in the Thomas-Fermi approximation, the corresponding continuous potential for planar channeling to a good accuracy reduces to a truncated Coulomb potential. The sum of two displaced Coulomb potentials also accurately approximates interplanar static continuous potentials for Si, Ge, W crystals in orientation (110), as well as the thermal potential of a Ge crystal in orientation (111), not too close to atomic planes. Such a possibility can be used to facilitate the description of channeled and quasichanneled particle motions. We illustrate this by calculating classical particle channeling periods, quantum energy levels, and the probability of tunneling of a negatively charged particle through a single atomic plane. Simple scaling laws in dependencies of those quantities on the atomic number Z result this case.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
NLO corrections to
J/ψ+c+c¯
photoproduction
Authors: Feng Qi-Ming , Qiao Cong-Feng
Published: November 2024

Based on the factorization framework of nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics, we study the associated J/ψ+c+c¯ photoproduction process at next-to-leading order (NLO) in αs and leading order (LO) in the velocity expansion. The NLO (LO) total cross section for HERA is σtotHERA=0.118(0.074)  nb and for EIC is σtotEIC=0.046(0.027)  nb. The differential cross sections in pT2, W, and z are presented. The results indicate that the next-to-leading order corrections are substantial, and testable in experiment.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Tetraquark nature of the
a0(980)
meson in hadronic
D
decays
Authors: Cheng Hai-Yang , Chiang Cheng-Wei , Xu Fanrong
Published: November 2024

The internal structure of the light scalar meson a0(980) is explored in the three-body D decays of D→a0(980)P→P1P2P through the intermediate state a0(980), where P denotes a pseudoscalar meson. The quasi-two-body D→a0(980)+P decays are governed by the external W-emission diagram in which a0(980)+ is emitted. The predicted branching fractions in the qq¯ model of a0(980) are too small by one to two orders of magnitude compared to the experiment as the amplitude is suppressed by the smallness of the a0(980)+ decay constant, while those for D+→a0(980)0P and D0→a0(980)−P are usually too large. These discrepancies can be resolved, provided that a0(980) is a tetraquark state. In this case, there exist two additional T-like topological amplitudes, denoted by T¯ and T˜, which readily account for the discrepancies. An important implication of the tetraquark model is that the Ds+→a0(980)+π0+a0(980)0π+ decay is not a purely W-annihilation process as in the qq¯ model of a0(980); it receives dominant contributions from T¯ newly noticed in this work. Therefore, measurements of (D,Ds+)→a0(980)P decays lend strong support to the tetraquark picture of a0(980).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gauging staggered fermion shift symmetries
Authors: Catterall Simon , Pradhan Arnab
Published: November 2024

Staggered fermion shift symmetries correspond to translations of the fermion field within the unit cell of a hypercubic lattice. They satisfy an algebra and in four Euclidean dimensions can be related to a discrete subgroup of an SU(4) flavor symmetry which plays a crucial role in showing that staggered fermions lead to a theory of four degenerate Dirac fermions in the continuum limit. They are associated with the appearance of certain Z2 valued global parameters. We propose a strategy to try to partially gauge these translation symmetries by allowing these parameters to vary locally in the lattice. To maintain invariance of the action requires the addition of Z2 valued higher form lattice gauge fields. An analogous procedure can be carried out for reduced staggered fermions where the shifts correspond to a discrete subgroup of an SO(4) flavor symmetry.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Investigating Lorentz invariance violation effects on
CP
violation and mass hierarchy sensitivity at DUNE
Authors: Shukla Saurabh , Mishra Shashank , Singh Lakhwinder , Singh Venktesh
Published: November 2024

One of the current goals of neutrino experiments is to precisely determine standard unknown oscillation parameters such as the leptonic CP phase and mass hierarchy. Lorentz invariance violation represents a potential physics factor that could influence the experiment’s ability to achieve these precise determinations. This study investigates the influence of Lorentz invariance violation on oscillation dynamics, particularly through nonisotropic CPT-violating (aeμX, aeτX, aμτX) and CPT-conserving (ceμXY, ceτXY, cμτXY) parameters within the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. We analyze the impact of these parameters on the mass hierarchy (MH) and Dirac CP phase sensitivity measurements. Our findings indicate that while MH sensitivity remains relatively unaffected, only the presence of cμτXY significantly deteriorates MH sensitivity, albeit remaining above the 5σ threshold. Additionally, we observe a substantial compromise in CP sensitivity due to the ceμXY and ceτXY parameters.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Equivariant neural networks for robust
CP
observables
Authors: Sánchez Cruz Sergio , Kolosova Marina , Ramón Álvarez Clara , Petrucciani Giovanni , Vischia Pietro
Published: November 2024

We introduce the usage of equivariant neural networks in the search for violations of the charge-parity (CP) symmetry in particle interactions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We design neural networks that take as inputs kinematic information of recorded events and that transform equivariantly under a symmetry group related to the CP transformation. We show that this algorithm allows one to define observables reflecting the properties of the CP symmetry, showcasing its performance in several reference processes in top quark and electroweak physics. Imposing equivariance as an inductive bias in the algorithm improves the numerical convergence properties with respect to other methods that do not rely on equivariance and allows one to construct optimal observables that significantly improve the state-of-the-art methodology in the searches considered.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Chimera states in pulse-coupled oscillator systems
Authors: Vogell Arke , Schilcher Udo , Schmidt Jorge F. , Bettstetter Christian
Published: November 2024

Coupled oscillator systems can lead to states in which synchrony and chaos coexist. These states are called “chimera states.” The mechanism that explains the occurrence of chimera states is not well understood, especially in pulse-coupled oscillators. We study a variation of a pulse-coupled oscillator model that has been shown to produce chimera states, demonstrate that it reproduces several of the expected chimera properties, like the formation of multiple heads and the ability to control the natural drift that Kuramoto's chimera states experience in a ring, and explain how chimera states emerge. Our contribution is defining the model, analyzing the mechanism leading to chimera states, and comparing it with examples from the field of Kuramoto oscillators.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Fast Flavor Conversions at the Edge of Instability in a Two-Beam Model
Authors: Fiorillo Damiano F. G. , Raffelt Georg G.
Published: November 2024

A dense neutrino gas exhibiting angular crossings in the electron lepton number is unstable and develops fast flavor conversions. Instead of assuming an unstable configuration from the onset, we imagine that the system is externally driven toward instability. We use the simplest model of two neutrino beams initially of different flavor that either suddenly appear or one or both slowly build up. Flavor conversions commence well before the putative unstable state is fully attained, and the final outcome depends on how the system is driven. The system generally sticks to the closest state that is linearly stable, a conclusion that we prove for the first time using quasilinear theory. Our results suggest that in an astrophysical setting, one should focus less on flavor instabilities in the neutrino radiation field and more on the external dynamics that leads to the formation of the unstable state.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Design of parameters for running-in cylinder liner piston rings based on running-in attractor
Authors: Lang Shihui , Zhu Hua , Wang Yao
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study aims to shorten the running-in time and improve the running-in quality of cylinder liner piston rings (CLPRs), the running-in tests were carried out and running-in parameters of CLPRs were designed based on running-in attractor theory, which can guide the choice of optimal working conditions for other friction pairs.

Design/methodology/approach

The running-in state and time under different working conditions are identified by the evolution law of the running-in attractor phase trajectory and fractal and chaotic characteristic quantities. The CLPRs running-in tests under different conditions were conducted and the friction signals were collected. The constructed phase trajectories and calculated chaotic parameters of the running-in attractor are obtained and the running-in state and time are identified by the evolution law of phase trajectories and chaotic characteristic quantities. The running-in quality is obtained by the surface morphology fractal dimension and characteristic roughness parameters.

Findings

The running-in parameters for short running-in time and good running-in quality are designed based on the fractal and chaotic theory and the optimal solution method are used to verify the results through the single objective or multi-objective optimization, and the corresponding optimal running-in parameters are obtained.

Originality/value

The optimal working condition parameters obtained from the design have guiding significance for the selection of CLPR running-in parameters, and this work can provide ideas for the other friction pairs.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0179/
Balancing collaborative investment with opportunity costs in a carbon complementary supply chain
Authors: Zhang Shiyuan , Zheng Xiaoxue , Jia Fu
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The carbon complementary supply chain (CCSC) is a collaborative framework that facilitates internal carbon credit trading agreements among supply chain agents in compliance with prevailing carbon regulations. Such agreements are highly beneficial, prompting agents to consider joint investment in emission reduction initiatives. However, capital investments come with inevitable opportunity costs, compelling agents to weigh the potential revenue from collaborative investments against these costs. Thus, this paper mainly explores carbon abatement strategies and operational decisions of the CCSC members and the influence of opportunity costs on the strategic choice of cooperative and noncooperative investment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a novel biform game-based theoretical framework that captures the interplay of pricing competition and investment cooperation among CCSC agents and assesses the impact of opportunity costs on CCSC profits and social welfare. Besides, the authors also compare the biform game-based collaborative scenario (Model B) to the noncooperative investment scenario (Model N) to investigate the conditions under which collaborative investment is most effective.

Findings

The biform game-based collaborative investment strategy enhances the economic performance of the traditional energy manufacturer, who bears the risk of opportunity costs, as well as the retailer. Additionally, it incentivizes the renewable energy manufacturer to improve environmental performance through renewable projects.

Originality/value

This research contributes significantly by establishing a theoretical framework that integrates the concepts of opportunity costs and biform game theory, offering new insights into the strategic management of carbon emissions within supply chains.
Talent retention in Asian emerging markets: evidence from China and Malaysia
Authors: Sean Kuan-Thye , Ozer Muammer
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study talent retention, which has long been an important area of inquiry across many industries. Consistently, both academicians and practitioners have recommended several “posthire” solutions to retain employees, such as allowing employees to work from home, providing them with flexible work schedules, promoting a work–life balance and rewarding good performance. In this study, the authors focus on how the “prehire” career-related characteristics of call center agents and their personality traits relate to their turnover intentions. This is important because selecting the right person at the employee selection stage can prevent firms from trying to retain someone who is likely to quit his/her job.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 442 employees working in the call centers of a major multinational logistics company across China and Malaysia and used covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to test the model.

Findings

The results showed that call center agents who reapplied for a job in the current company had lower turnover intentions than first-time applicants. Similarly, call center agents who provided supplementary information during their application had lower turnover intentions than the ones who did not provide any such information. As for the personality traits, the results indicated that while the call center agents’ agreeableness and openness to experience were positively associated with their turnover intentions, their consciousness and emotional stability were negatively associated with them.

Originality/value

This study shows the uniqueness of Asian emerging markets and the call center industry by presenting several interesting patterns that are different from those that have been found in other industries.