bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A resilient battery electric bus transit system configuration
Authors: Foda Ahmed , Mohamed Moataz , Farag Hany , El-Saadany Ehab
Published: December 2023

Electric mobility is fundamental to combat climate change and attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-11). However, electric mobility necessitates a seamless integration between power and transportation systems, as the resiliency of both systems is becoming far more interdependent. Here, we focus on disruption to Battery Electric Bus (BEB) transit system charging infrastructure and offer a resilient BEB transit system planning model. The proposed model optimizes the BEB system costs while ensuring the system’s robustness against simultaneous charging station failures. In our case study, a single charging station failure would lead to up to 34.03% service reduction, and two simultaneous failures would reduce the service by up to 58.18%. Our proposed two-stage robust model addresses this issue with a relatively small added cost (3.26% and 8.12% higher than the base model). This cost enables uninterrupted BEB system operation during disruption, ensuring personal mobility, social interaction, and economic productivity.
Quantum transport of high-dimensional spatial information with a nonlinear detector
Authors: Sephton Bereneice , Vallés Adam , Nape Isaac , Cox Mitchell A. , Steinlechner Fabian , Konrad Thomas , Torres Juan P. , Roux Filippus S. , Forbes Andrew
Published: December 2023

Information exchange between two distant parties, where information is shared without physically transporting it, is a crucial resource in future quantum networks. Doing so with high-dimensional states offers the promise of higher information capacity and improved resilience to noise, but progress to date has been limited. Here we demonstrate how a nonlinear parametric process allows for arbitrary high-dimensional state projections in the spatial degree of freedom, where a strong coherent field enhances the probability of the process. This allows us to experimentally realise quantum transport of high-dimensional spatial information facilitated by a quantum channel with a single entangled pair and a nonlinear spatial mode detector. Using sum frequency generation we upconvert one of the photons from an entangled pair resulting in high-dimensional spatial information transported to the other. We realise a d = 15 quantum channel for arbitrary photonic spatial modes which we demonstrate by faithfully transferring information encoded into orbital angular momentum, Hermite-Gaussian and arbitrary spatial mode superpositions, without requiring knowledge of the state to be sent. Our demonstration merges the nascent fields of nonlinear control of structured light with quantum processes, offering a new approach to harnessing high-dimensional quantum states, and may be extended to other degrees of freedom too.
Electroreductive hydroxy fluorosulfonylation of alkenes
Authors: Feng Qingyuan , He Tianyu , Qian Shencheng , Xu Peng , Liao Saihu , Huang Shenlin
Published: December 2023

An electroreductive strategy for radical hydroxyl fluorosulfonylation of alkenes with sulfuryl chlorofluoride and molecular oxygen from air is described. This mild protocol displays excellent functional group compatibility, broad scope, and good scalability, providing convenient access to diverse β-hydroxy sulfonyl fluorides. These β-hydroxy sulfonyl fluoride products can be further converted to valuable aliphatic sulfonyl fluorides, β-keto sulfonyl fluorides, and β-alkenyl sulfonyl fluorides. Further, some of these products showed excellent inhibitory activity against Botrytis cinerea or Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which could be useful for potent agrochemical discovery. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that this transformation is achieved through rapid O2 interception by the alkyl radical and subsequent reduction of the peroxy radical, which outcompete other side reactions such as chlorine atom transfer, hydrogen atom transfer, and Russell fragmentation.
Unraveling the intricate connection between dietary factors and the success in long-term space missions
Authors: Pittia Paola , Blanc Stéphane , Heer Martina
Published: December 2023

In recent decades of spaceflight, inadequate caloric intake has posed significant nutritional challenges, contributing to muscle degradation, weakened immune and cardiovascular systems during and after space missions. This challenge becomes more acute on longer exploration missions, where transporting all food for the entire mission becomes a logistical challenge. This places immense pressure on the food system, requiring energy-dense, varied, stable, and palatable food options. Prolonged storage can lead to nutrient degradation, reducing their bioavailability and bioaccessibility to astronauts. Research is essential not only to improve the quality and stability of space food but also to enhance nutrient bioavailability, thereby reducing weight and volume of food. Muscle and bone loss represent major risks during extended spaceflight, prompting extensive efforts to find exercise countermeasures. However, increased exercise requires additional energy intake, and finding the optimal balance between energy needs and the preservation of muscle and bone mass is challenging. Currently, there is no reliable way to measure total energy expenditure and activity-related energy expenditures in real-time. Systematic research is necessary to develop onboard technology for accurate energy expenditure and body composition monitoring. This research should aim to establish an optimal exercise regimen that balances energy requirements while maintaining astronaut strength and minimizing food transport. In summary, this overview outlines key actions needed for future exploration missions to maintain body mass and physical strength of space travellers. It addresses the requirements for food processing and preservation, considerations for space food formulation and production, and the essential measures to be implemented.
Explainable machine learning identifies multi-omics signatures of muscle response to spaceflight in mice
Authors: Li Kevin , Desai Riya , Scott Ryan T. , Steele Joel Ricky , Machado Meera , Demharter Samuel , Hoarfrost Adrienne , Braun Jessica L. , Fajardo Val A. , Sanders Lauren M. , Costes Sylvain V.
Published: December 2023

The adverse effects of microgravity exposure on mammalian physiology during spaceflight necessitate a deep understanding of the underlying mechanisms to develop effective countermeasures. One such concern is muscle atrophy, which is partly attributed to the dysregulation of calcium levels due to abnormalities in SERCA pump functioning. To identify potential biomarkers for this condition, multi-omics data and physiological data available on the NASA Open Science Data Repository (osdr.nasa.gov) were used, and machine learning methods were employed. Specifically, we used multi-omics (transcriptomic, proteomic, and DNA methylation) data and calcium reuptake data collected from C57BL/6 J mouse soleus and tibialis anterior tissues during several 30+ day-long missions on the international space station. The QLattice symbolic regression algorithm was introduced to generate highly explainable models that predict either experimental conditions or calcium reuptake levels based on multi-omics features. The list of candidate models established by QLattice was used to identify key features contributing to the predictive capability of these models, with Acyp1 and Rps7 proteins found to be the most predictive biomarkers related to the resilience of the tibialis anterior muscle in space. These findings could serve as targets for future interventions aiming to reduce the extent of muscle atrophy during space travel.
Mendelian randomization reveals association between retinal thickness and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhou Hang , Shen Bibiao , Huang Zifeng , Zhu Shuzhen , Yang Wanlin , Xie Fen , Luo Yuqi , Yuan Feilan , Zhu Zhaohua , Deng Chao , Zheng Wenhua , Yang Chengwu , Lin Chin-Hsien , Xiao Bin , Tan Eng-King , Wang Qing
Published: December 2023

Retinal thickness is related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), but its association with the severity of PD is still unclear. We conducted a Mendelian randomized (MR) study to explore the association between retinal thickness and PD. For the two-sample MR analysis, the summary statistics obtained from genome-wide association studies on the thickness of Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) were employed as exposure, while the summary statistics associated with PD were used as the outcome. The primary approach utilized was inverse variance weighted. To correct for multiple testing, the false discovery rate (FDR) was employed. For sensitivity analysis, an array of robust MR methods was utilized. We found genetically predicted significant association between reduced RNFL thickness and a reduced risk of constipation in PD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.854, 95% confidence interval [CI] (0.782, 0.933), P < 0.001, FDR-corrected P = 0.018). Genetically predicted reduced RNFL thickness was associated with a reduced Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale total score (β = −0.042, 95% CI (−0.079, 0.005), P = 0.025), and reduced GCIPL thickness was associated with a lower risk of constipation (OR = 0.901, 95% CI (0.821, 0.988), P = 0.027) but a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.103, 95% CI (1.016, 1.198), P = 0.020), insomnia (OR = 1.090, 95% CI (1.013, 1.172), P = 0.021), and rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) (OR = 1.198, 95% CI (1.061, 1.352), P = 0.003). In conclusion, we identify an association between retinal thickness and non-motor symptoms (constipation, depression, insomnia and RBD) in PD, highlighting the potential of retinal thickness as a biomarker for PD nonmotor symptoms.
A vertebrate-wide catalogue of T1R receptors reveals diversity in taste perception
Authors: Nishihara Hidenori , Toda Yasuka , Kuramoto Tae , Kamohara Kota , Goto Azusa , Hoshino Kyoko , Okada Shinji , Kuraku Shigehiro , Okabe Masataka , Ishimaru Yoshiro
Published: December 2023

Taste is a vital chemical sense for feeding behaviour. In mammals, the umami and sweet taste receptors comprise three members of the taste receptor type 1 (T1R/TAS1R) family: T1R1, T1R2 and T1R3. Because their functional homologues exist in teleosts, only three TAS1R genes generated by gene duplication are believed to have been inherited from the common ancestor of bony vertebrates. Here, we report five previously uncharacterized TAS1R members in vertebrates, TAS1R4, TAS1R5, TAS1R6, TAS1R7 and TAS1R8, based on genome-wide survey of diverse taxa. We show that mammalian and teleost fish TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes are paralogues. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the bony vertebrate ancestor had nine TAS1Rs resulting from multiple gene duplications. Some TAS1Rs were lost independently in descendent lineages resulting in retention of only three TAS1Rs in mammals and teleosts. Combining functional assays and expression analysis of non-teleost fishes we show that the novel T1Rs form heterodimers in taste-receptor cells and recognize a broad range of ligands such as essential amino acids, including branched-chain amino acids, which have not been previously considered as T1R ligands. This study reveals diversity of taste sensations in both modern vertebrates and their ancestors, which might have enabled vertebrates to adapt to diverse habitats on Earth.
A comprehensive multimodal dataset for contactless lip reading and acoustic analysis
Authors: Ge Yao , Tang Chong , Li Haobo , Chen Zikang , Wang Jingyan , Li Wenda , Cooper Jonathan , Chetty Kevin , Faccio Daniele , Imran Muhammad , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: December 2023

Small-scale motion detection using non-invasive remote sensing techniques has recently garnered significant interest in the field of speech recognition. Our dataset paper aims to facilitate the enhancement and restoration of speech information from diverse data sources for speakers. In this paper, we introduce a novel multimodal dataset based on Radio Frequency, visual, text, audio, laser and lip landmark information, also called RVTALL. Specifically, the dataset consists of 7.5 GHz Channel Impulse Response (CIR) data from ultra-wideband (UWB) radars, 77 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) data from millimeter wave (mmWave) radar, visual and audio information, lip landmarks and laser data, offering a unique multimodal approach to speech recognition research. Meanwhile, a depth camera is adopted to record the landmarks of the subject’s lip and voice. Approximately 400 minutes of annotated speech profiles are provided, which are collected from 20 participants speaking 5 vowels, 15 words, and 16 sentences. The dataset has been validated and has potential for the investigation of lip reading and multimodal speech recognition.
Chromatic dispersion and thermal coefficients of hygroscopic liquids: 5 glycols and glycerol
Authors: Jakubczyk Daniel , Derkachov Gennadiy , Nyandey Kwasi , Alikhanzadeh-Arani Sima , Derkachova Anastasiya
Published: December 2023

Chromatic dispersion and thermal coefficients of 6 hygroscopic liquids: ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol (propane-1, 2-diol), and glycerol were measured in the range from 390 to 1070 nm for temperatures from 1 to 45 °C. A modified Abbe refractometer was utilised. Special care was taken to avoid contaminating the liquids under the test with water and solid particles. The measurement uncertainties were analysed. It was noticed that (in the given range and within the available measurement accuracy) the dependence of the refractive indices on the wavelength and temperature could be considered independently. Thus, thermal coefficients were found for each wavelength used, and their weak dependence on the wavelength was recognised. Then the Sellmeier equation was fitted to the experimental results for each temperature.
Classifying stages in the gonotrophic cycle of mosquitoes from images using computer vision techniques
Authors: Azam Farhat Binte , Carney Ryan M. , Kariev Sherzod , Nallan Krishnamoorthy , Subramanian Muthukumaravel , Sampath Gopalakrishnan , Kumar Ashwani , Chellappan Sriram
Published: December 2023

The ability to distinguish between the abdominal conditions of adult female mosquitoes has important utility for the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases. However, doing so requires entomological training and time-consuming manual effort. Here, we design computer vision techniques to determine stages in the gonotrophic cycle of female mosquitoes from images. Our dataset was collected from 139 adult female mosquitoes across three medically important species—Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus—and all four gonotrophic stages of the cycle (unfed, fully fed, semi-gravid, and gravid). From these mosquitoes and stages, a total of 1959 images were captured on a plain background via multiple smartphones. Subsequently, we trained four distinct AI model architectures (ResNet50, MobileNetV2, EfficientNet-B0, and ConvNeXtTiny), validated them using unseen data, and compared their overall classification accuracies. Additionally, we analyzed t-SNE plots to visualize the formation of decision boundaries in a lower-dimensional space. Notably, ResNet50 and EfficientNet-B0 demonstrated outstanding performance with an overall accuracy of 97.44% and 93.59%, respectively. EfficientNet-B0 demonstrated the best overall performance considering computational efficiency, model size, training speed, and t-SNE decision boundaries. We also assessed the explainability of this EfficientNet-B0 model, by implementing Grad-CAMs—a technique that highlights pixels in an image that were prioritized for classification. We observed that the highest weight was for those pixels representing the mosquito abdomen, demonstrating that our AI model has indeed learned correctly. Our work has significant practical impact. First, image datasets for gonotrophic stages of mosquitoes are not yet available. Second, our algorithms can be integrated with existing citizen science platforms that enable the public to record and upload biological observations. With such integration, our algorithms will enable the public to contribute to mosquito surveillance and gonotrophic stage identification. Finally, we are aware of work today that uses computer vision techniques for automated mosquito species identification, and our algorithms in this paper can augment these efforts by enabling the automated detection of gonotrophic stages of mosquitoes as well.
Analyzing aberrant DNA methylation in colorectal cancer uncovered intangible heterogeneity of gene effects in the survival time of patients
Authors: Hajebi Khaniki Saeedeh , Shokoohi Farhad , Esmaily Habibollah , Kerachian Mohammad Amin
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) involves epigenetic alterations. Irregular gene-methylation alteration causes and advances CRC tumor growth. Detecting differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in CRC and patient survival time paves the way to early cancer detection and prognosis. However, CRC data including survival times are heterogeneous. Almost all studies tend to ignore the heterogeneity of DMG effects on survival. To this end, we utilized a sparse estimation method in the finite mixture of accelerated failure time (AFT) regression models to capture such heterogeneity. We analyzed a dataset of CRC and normal colon tissues and identified 3406 DMGs. Analysis of overlapped DMGs with several Gene Expression Omnibus datasets led to 917 hypo- and 654 hyper-methylated DMGs. CRC pathways were revealed via gene ontology enrichment. Hub genes were selected based on Protein–Protein-Interaction network including SEMA7A, GATA4, LHX2, SOST, and CTLA4, regulating the Wnt signaling pathway. The relationship between identified DMGs/hub genes and patient survival time uncovered a two-component mixture of AFT regression model. The genes NMNAT2, ZFP42, NPAS2, MYLK3, NUDT13, KIRREL3, and FKBP6 and hub genes SOST, NFATC1, and TLE4 were associated with survival time in the most aggressive form of the disease that can serve as potential diagnostic targets for early CRC detection.
Biosynthesis of JC-La2CoO4 magnetic nanoparticles explored in catalytic and SMMs properties
Authors: Satpute Nilesh , Ghosh Mithun Kumar , Kesharwani Aparna , Ghorai Tanmay Kumar
Published: December 2023

We have reported the synthesis of JC-La2CoO4 magnetic nanoparticles from Jatropha Curcas L. leaf extract in aqueous medium and potential application study in catalytic & Single Molecule Magnets (SMMs). Several techniques were used to investigate the structural, morphological, and elemental composition, particle size, optical properties, catalytic and magnetic properties by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDAX, XPS, UV–visible and squid magnetic measurement. It was found that the crystallite sizes and grain sizes of JC-La2CoO4 NPs were 11.3 ± 1 and 24.1 ± 1 nm respectively and surface morphology of the nanoparticles looks spherical shape with good surface area. The band gap of JC-La2CoO4 was found to be 4.95 eV indicates good semiconductor in nature. XPS studies shows that La and Co present in + 3 and + 2 oxidation state respectively and suggest the composition formula is La2CoO4 with satisfied all the valency of metal ions. The photocatalytic efficiency of La2CoO4 shows good result against methylene blue (MB) compared to other dyes like MO, NO, RhB in presence of sunlight with rate constant 56.73 × 10–3 min-1 and completely degraded within 115 mints. The importance of JC-La2CoO4 has magnetic properties with antiferromagnetic coupling and SMMs properties with nature.
Higher dietary acid load is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Seifi Najmeh , Rahimi Hamidreza , Koochakpoor Glareh , Zarei Amin , Assaran Darban Reza , Ferns Gordon A. , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid
Published: December 2023

There have been inconsistent reports regarding the association between dietary acid load and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). We aimed to investigate the association between dietary acid load and MetS in an Iranian adult population. In this cross-sectional study, 1945 participants aged 35–65 years were recruited from MASHAD cohort study. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. Diet-based acidity was assessed as the net endogenous acid production (NEAP), potential renal acid load (PRAL), and dietary acid load (DAL). To define MetS, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were used. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to determine the association between diet-based acid load scores and MetS. Participants' mean age and BMI were 47.13 ± 7.78 years and 27.57 ± 4.48 kg/m2, respectively. Around 57% of the population was female. Overall, 31.9% had MetS. According to the full-adjusted model, there was a significant association between higher quartiles of PRAL, NEAP, and DAL and MetS (Q4 PRAL; OR (95%CI) 1.42(1.05–1.91), Q4 NEAP; OR (95%CI) 1.48(1.11–1.98), Q4 DAL; OR (95%CI) 1.44(1.05–1.91)). This study showed a significant positive association between different dietary acid load indicators (PRAL, NEAP, and DAL) and odds of MetS among Iranian adults.
Effect of ocean outfall discharge volume and dissolved inorganic nitrogen load on urban eutrophication outcomes in the Southern California Bight
Authors: Ho Minna , Kessouri Fayçal , Frieder Christina A. , Sutula Martha , Bianchi Daniele , McWilliams James C.
Published: December 2023

Climate change is increasing drought severity worldwide. Ocean discharges of municipal wastewater are a target for potable water recycling. Potable water recycling would reduce wastewater volume; however, the effect on mass nitrogen loading is dependent on treatment. In cases where nitrogen mass loading is not altered or altered minimally, this practice has the potential to influence spatial patterns in coastal eutrophication. We apply a physical-biogeochemical numerical ocean model to understand the influence of nitrogen management and potable wastewater recycling on net primary productivity (NPP), pH, and oxygen. We model several theoretical management scenarios by combining dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) reductions from 50 to 85% and recycling from 0 to 90%, applied to 19 generalized wastewater outfalls in the Southern California Bight. Under no recycling, NPP, acidification, and oxygen loss decline with DIN reductions, which simulated habitat volume expansion for pelagic calcifiers and aerobic taxa. Recycling scenarios under intermediate DIN reduction show patchier areas of pH and oxygen loss with steeper vertical declines relative to a “no recycling” scenario. These patches are diminished under 85% DIN reduction across all recycling levels, suggesting nitrogen management lowers eutrophication risk even with concentrated discharges. These findings represent a novel application of ocean numerical models to investigate the regional effects of idealized outfall management on eutrophication. Additional work is needed to investigate more realistic outfall-specific water recycling and nutrient management scenarios and to contextualize the benefit of these management actions, given accelerating acidification and hypoxia from climate change.
Quantification of collagen fiber properties in alcoholic liver fibrosis using polarization-resolved second harmonic generation microscopy
Authors: Matsuzaki Saya , Hase Eiji , Takanari Hiroki , Hayashi Yuri , Hayashi Yusaku , Oshikata Haruto , Minamikawa Takeo , Kimura Satoko , Ichimura-Shimizu Mayuko , Yasui Takeshi , Harada Masafumi , Tsuneyama Koichi
Published: December 2023

Liver fibrosis is assessed mainly by conventional staining or second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, which can only provide collagen content in fibrotic area. We propose to use polarization-resolved SHG (PR-SHG) microscopy to quantify liver fibrosis in terms of collagen fiber orientation and crystallization. Liver samples obtained from autopsy cases with fibrosis stage of F0–F4 were evaluated with an SHG microscope, and 12 consecutive PR-SHG images were acquired while changing the polarization azimuth angle of the irradiated laser from 0° to 165° in 15° increments using polarizer. The fiber orientation angle (φ) and degree (ρ) of collagen were estimated from the images. The SHG-positive area increased as the fibrosis stage progressed, which was well consistent with Sirius Red staining. The value of φ was random regardless of fibrosis stage. The mean value of ρ (ρ-mean), which represents collagen fiber crystallinity, varied more as fibrosis progressed to stage F3, and converged to a significantly higher value in F4 than in other stages. Spatial dispersion of ρ (ρ-entropy) also showed increased variation in the stage F3 and decreased variation in the stage F4. It was shown that PR-SHG could provide new information on the properties of collagen fibers in human liver fibrosis.
Identification of hub genes and their expression profiling for predicting buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen quality and fertility
Authors: Swathi Divakar , Ramya Laxman , Archana Santhanahalli Siddalingappa , Krishnappa Balaganur , Binsila Bala Krishnan , Selvaraju Sellappan
Published: December 2023

Sperm transcriptomics provide insights into subtle differences in sperm fertilization competence. For predicting the success of complex traits like male fertility, identification of hub genes involved in various sperm functions are essential. The bulls from the transcriptome profiled samples (n = 21), were grouped into good and poor progressive motility (PM), acrosome integrity (AI), functional membrane integrity (FMI) and fertility rate (FR) groups. The up-regulated genes identified in each group were 87, 470, 1715 and 36, respectively. Gene networks were constructed using up- and down-regulated genes from each group. The top clusters from the upregulated gene networks of the PM, AI, FMI and FR groups were involved in tyrosine kinase (FDR = 1.61E−11), apoptosis (FDR = 1.65E−8), translation (FDR = 2.2E−16) and ribosomal pathway (FDR = 1.98E−21), respectively. From the clusters, the hub genes were identified and validated in a fresh set of semen samples (n = 12) using RT-qPCR. Importantly, the genes (fold change) RPL36AL (14.99) in AI, EIF5A (54.32) in FMI, and RPLP0 (8.55) and RPS28 (13.42) in FR were significantly (p < 0.05) up-regulated. The study suggests that the expression levels of MAPK3 (PM), RPL36AL + RPS27A or RPL36AL + EXT2 (AI), RPL36AL or RPS27A (FMI) and RPS18 + RPS28 (FR) are potential markers for diagnosing the semen quality and fertility status of bulls which can be used for the breeding program.
Network dynamical stability analysis reveals key “mallostatic” natural variables that erode homeostasis and drive age-related decline of health
Authors: Pridham Glen , Rutenberg Andrew D.
Published: December 2023

Using longitudinal study data, we dynamically model how aging affects homeostasis in both mice and humans. We operationalize homeostasis as a multivariate mean-reverting stochastic process. We hypothesize that biomarkers have stable equilibrium values, but that deviations from equilibrium of each biomarker affects other biomarkers through an interaction network—this precludes univariate analysis. We therefore looked for age-related changes to homeostasis using dynamic network stability analysis, which transforms observed biomarker data into independent “natural” variables and determines their associated recovery rates. Most natural variables remained near equilibrium and were essentially constant in time. A small number of natural variables were unable to equilibrate due to a gradual drift with age in their homeostatic equilibrium, i.e. allostasis. This drift caused them to accumulate over the lifespan course and makes them natural aging variables. Their rate of accumulation was correlated with risk of adverse outcomes: death or dementia onset. We call this tendency for aging organisms to drift towards an equilibrium position of ever-worsening health “mallostasis”. We demonstrate that the effects of mallostasis on observed biomarkers are spread out through the interaction network. This could provide a redundancy mechanism to preserve functioning until multi-system dysfunction emerges at advanced ages.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry modelling of Cr+ implanted copper oxide thin films
Authors: Ungeheuer K. , Marszalek K. W. , Mitura-Nowak M. , Rydosz A.
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we present modelling of spectroscopic ellipsometry data. The measured samples are thin films of copper oxides modified with the ion implantation method. The samples were prepared using reactive magnetron sputtering. Thin films of CuO and Cu4O3 were deposited and subjected to Cr ion implantation with an energy of 15 keV and a dose of 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. The decrease in crystallinity of the thin film as a result of the implantation was inspected with X-ray diffraction measurements. The implantation of Cr+ ions was simulated using the Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter software by Ziegler and Biersack. Ion beam energy of 15 keV was simulated to estimate the distribution of Cr ions in the copper oxides thin films. Optical parameters, such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, and absorption coefficient of the thin films, were investigated with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Multilayered models based on Tauc–Lorentz oscillators were developed for both oxides. Analysis of the optical properties showed that the ion implantation with Cr decreased the absorption of copper oxides thin films and the modelling proved that the material properties of top layers changed the most.
Evaluation of viscosities of typical drainage fluids to promote more evidence-based catheter size selection
Authors: Celik Erkan , Goertz Lukas , Henze Joern , Schütz Markus , Mink Ben , Brinkmann Sebastian , Laasch Hans-Ulrich , Schmidt Annette M. , Grüll Holger , Maintz David , Kloeckner Roman , Lorenz Florian , Pinto dos Santos Daniel , Chon Seung-Hun
Published: December 2023

Percutaneous drainage is a first-line therapy for abscesses and other fluid collections. However, experimental data on the viscosity of body fluids are scarce. This study analyses the apparent viscosity of serous, purulent and biliary fluids to provide reference data for the evaluation of drainage catheters. Serous, purulent and biliary fluid samples were collected during routine drainage procedures. In a first setup, the apparent kinematic viscosity of 50 fluid samples was measured using an Ubbelohde viscometer. In a second setup, the apparent dynamic viscosity of 20 fluid samples obtained during CT-guided percutaneous drainage was measured using an in-house designed capillary extrusion experiment. The median apparent kinematic viscosity was 0.96 mm2/s (IQR 0.90–1.15 mm2/s) for serous samples, 0.98 mm2/s (IQR 0.97–0.99 mm2/s) for purulent samples and 2.77 mm2/s (IQR 1.75–3.70 mm2/s) for biliary samples. The median apparent dynamic viscosity was 1.63 mPa*s (IQR 1.27–2.09 mPa*s) for serous samples, 2.45 mPa*s (IQR 1.69–3.22 mPa*s) for purulent samples and 3.50 mPa*s (IQR 2.81–3.90 mPa*s) for biliary samples (all differences p < 0.01). Relative to water, dynamic viscosities were increased by a factor of 1.36 for serous fluids, 2.26 for purulent fluids, and 4.03 for biliary fluids. Serous fluids have apparent viscosities similar to water, but biliary and purulent fluids are more viscous. These data can be used as a reference when selecting the drainage catheter size, with 8F catheters being appropriate for most percutaneous drainage cases.
White matter-based brain network topological properties associated with individual impulsivity
Authors: Jung Wi Hoon , Kim Euitae
Published: December 2023

Delay discounting (DD), a parameter derived from the intertemporal choice task, is a representative behavioral indicator of choice impulsivity. Previous research reported not only an association between DD and impulsive control disorders and negative health outcomes but also the neural correlates of DD. However, to date, there are few studies investigating the structural brain network topologies associated with individual differences in DD and whether self-reported measures (BIS-11) of impulsivity associated with DD share the same or distinct neural mechanisms is still unclear. To address these issues, here, we combined graph theoretical analysis with diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the associations between DD and the topological properties of the structural connectivity network and BIS-11 scores. Results revealed that people with a steep DD (greater impatience) had decreased small-worldness (a shift toward weaker small-worldnization) and increased degree centrality in the medial superior prefrontal cortex, associated with subjective value in the task. Though DD was associated with the BIS-11 motor impulsiveness subscale, this subscale was linked to topological properties different from DD; that is, high motor impulsiveness was associated with decreased local efficiency (less segregation) and decreased degree centrality in the precentral gyrus, involved in motor control. These findings provide insights into the systemic brain characteristics underlying individual differences in impulsivity and potential neural markers which could predict susceptibility to impulsive behaviors.
Insights into the shape-dependent effects of polyethylene microplastics on interactions with organisms, environmental aging, and adsorption properties
Authors: Rozman Ula , Klun Barbara , Kuljanin Aleksandra , Skalar Tina , Kalčíková Gabriela
Published: December 2023

The shape-dependent effects of microplastics have been studied in the context of ingestion but have not been considered in other environmental processes. Therefore, we investigated how the shape of polyethylene microplastics (spheres, fragments, and films) affects interactions with plants, aging, and their adsorption properties. The shape had no effect on the growth rate and chlorophyll content of duckweed Lemna minor, but the fragments strongly adhered to the plant biomass and reduced the root length. The adsorption process of the model organic compound (methylene blue dye) was described by the same kinetic model for all shapes—the experimental data best fit the pseudo-second order model. However, twice as much methylene blue was adsorbed on films as on fragments and spheres. During environmental aging, most biofilm developed on films. The biofilm on spheres contained significantly less photosynthetic microorganisms, but twice as much extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) as on fragments and films. This suggests that the attachment of microorganisms to spherical particles is limited and therefore more intensive production of EPS is required for stable biofilm formation. From the results of this study, it is evident that the shape of microplastics significantly affects not only ecotoxicity but also other environmentally relevant processes.
Multidimensional assessment of time perception along the continuum of Alzheimer’s Disease and evidence of alterations in subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Teghil Alice , Boccia Maddalena , Di Vita Antonella , Zazzaro Giulia , Sepe Monti Micaela , Trebbastoni Alessandro , Talarico Giuseppina , Campanelli Alessandra , Bruno Giuseppe , Guariglia Cecilia , de Lena Carlo , D’Antonio Fabrizia
Published: December 2023

Timing alterations occur in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), even in early stages (mild cognitive impairment, MCI). Moreover, a stage named subjective cognitive decline (SCD), in which individuals perceive a change in cognitive performance not revealed by neuropsychological tests, has been identified as a preclinical phase of AD. However, no study to date has investigated different dimensions of time processing along the continuum from physiological to pathological aging, and whether timing alterations occur in SCD. Here a sample of participants with SCD, MCI, AD and healthy controls (HC) performed tasks assessing prospective duration estimation, production, reproduction, implicit temporal learning in conditions dependent from external cues (externally-cued learning, ECL) or independent from external cues (internally-based learning, IBL), retrospective duration estimation, the subjective experience of time and the temporal collocation of events. AD patients performed worse than HC and SCD in prospective timing, and in collocating events in time. The subjective experience of time did not differ between groups. Concerning temporal learning, AD performed worse in ECL than in IBL, whereas SCD performed worse in IBL than in ECL. SCD, MCI and AD patients all showed errors greater than HC in retrospective duration estimation. Results point to implicit temporal learning in externally-cued conditions and retrospective time estimation as possible early markers of cognitive decline.
A comprehensive study on the fire resistance properties of ultra-fine ceramic waste-filled high alkaline white cement paste composites for progressing towards sustainability
Authors: Abdelzaher M. A. , Hamouda Asmaa S. , El-Kattan Ibrahim M.
Published: December 2023

The most practical sustainable development options to safeguard the local ecology involve reducing the use of raw materials and guaranteeing proper recycling of the principal destroyed solid wastes. Preventing the creation of hazardous waste and the subsequent pollution that results from improper disposal is a top priority. Based on this, the study's authors recommend reusing the ultra-fine ceramic shards (CW). High-alkaline white cement (WC) has been partially replaced by ultra-fine CW because it is a cheaper, more abundant, and more lasting environmental material used in the production of trendy blended white cement pastes composites. In this context, we look at ultra-fine CW, a material that has been suggested for use as a hydraulic filler due to its high performance, physicomechanical qualities, and durability. XRF, XRD, FTIR, and SEM measurements are used to characterize the microstructure, thermal characteristics, and thermodynamics. Because of the effect of ultra-fine ceramic waste, the firing test reduces the mechanical strength by default, but with active filler, decreases slowly and increase its physicomechanical features and compressive strength compared to the control sample (WC), setting a new benchmark. The maximum amount of crystallization formed in the presence of ultra-fine ceramic waste in WC-matrix, resulting in a decrease in total porosity and early cracking. Together, the improved workability and energy-saving features of cement blends with ultra-fine ceramic waste, reflect their economic and environmental benefits, which may reduce building costs and boost the durability of the raw materials used in the mix.
WOx channel engineering of Cu-ion-driven synaptic transistor array for low-power neuromorphic computing
Authors: Jeon Seonuk , Kang Heebum , Kwak Hyunjeong , Noh Kyungmi , Kim Seungkun , Kim Nayeon , Kim Hyun Wook , Hong Eunryeong , Kim Seyoung , Woo Jiyong
Published: December 2023

The multilevel current states of synaptic devices in artificial neural networks enable next-generation computing to perform cognitive functions in an energy-efficient manner. Moreover, considering large-scale synaptic arrays, multiple states programmed in a low-current regime may be required to achieve low energy consumption, as demonstrated by simple numerical calculations. Thus, we propose a three-terminal Cu-ion-actuated CuOx/HfOx/WO3 synaptic transistor array that exhibits analogously modulated channel current states in the range of tens of nanoamperes, enabled by WO3 channel engineering. The introduction of an amorphous stoichiometric WO3 channel formed by reactive sputtering with O gas significantly lowered the channel current but left it almost unchanged with respect to consecutive gate voltage pulses. An additional annealing process at 450 °C crystallized the WO3, allowing analog switching in the range of tens of nanoamperes. The incorporation of N gas during annealing induced a highly conductive channel, making the channel current modulation negligible as a function of the gate pulse. Using this optimized gate stack, Poole–Frenkel conduction was identified as a major transport characteristic in a temperature-dependent study. In addition, we found that the channel current modulation is a function of the gate current response, which is related to the degree of progressive movement of the Cu ions. Finally, the synaptic characteristics were updated using fully parallel programming and demonstrated in a 7 × 7 array. Using the CuOx/HfOx/WO3 synaptic transistors as weight elements in multilayer neural networks, we achieved a 90% recognition accuracy on the Fashion-MNIST dataset.
Eco-friendly mixed metal (Mg–Ni) ferrite nanosheets for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Malima Nyemaga M. , Khan Malik Dilshad , Masikane Siphamandla C. , de Souza Felipe M. , Choi Jonghyun , Gupta Ram K. , Revaprasadu Neerish
Published: December 2023

Eco-friendly and cost-effective catalysts with multiple active sites, large surface area, high stability and catalytic activity are highly desired for efficient water splitting as a sustainable green energy source. Within this line, a facile synthetic approach based on solventless thermolysis was employed for the simple and tunable synthesis of Ni1−xMgxFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanosheets. The characterization of nanosheets (via p-XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED) revealed that the pristine ferrites (NiFe2O4 and MgFe2O4), and their solid solutions maintain the same cubic symmetry throughout the composition regulation. Elucidation of the electrochemical performance of the nanoferrite solid solutions showed that by tuning the local chemical environment of Ni in NiFe2O4 via Mg substitution, the intrinsic catalytic activity was enhanced. Evidently, the optimized Ni0.4Mg0.6Fe2O4 catalyst showed drastically enhanced HER activity with a much lower overpotential of 121 mV compared to the pristine NiFe2O4 catalyst. Moreover, Ni0.2Mg0.8Fe2O4 catalyst exhibited the best OER performance with a low overpotential of 284 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in 1 M KOH. This enhanced electrocatalytic activity could be due to improved electronic conductivity caused by the partial substitution of Ni2+ by Mg2+ in the NiFe2O4 matrix as well as the synergistic effect in the Mg-substituted NiFe2O4. Our results suggest a feasible route for developing earth-abundant metal oxide-based electrocatalysts for future water electrolysis applications.
Low levels of free triiodothyronine are associated with risk of cognitive impairment in older euthyroid adults
Authors: Chen Hao , Hu Jin , Yang Xing , Zhou Quanxiang , Hu Yuxin , Tang Xiaoyan , Tang Ji , Zeng Li , Yang Jingyuan
Published: December 2023

Accumulated evidence showed that thyroid diseases induced cognitive decline. However, the relationship between thyroid hormones (THs) and cognition in older euthyroid people is still unclear. Our study aimed to estimate the association between THs within the euthyroid range and cognition in community-dwelling older adults in China. Data were extracted from a cohort study on the health status of rural older adults from the Guizhou province in China (HSRO). Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Linear regression and a binary logistic regression model were used to explore the relationship between THs and cognition in euthyroidism (TSH level of 0.27 ~ 4.20mIU/L). A total of 957 euthyroidism individuals were included in this study, with a mean (SD) age of 71.34 (6.35) years. In individuals with euthyroidism, serum TSH and FT3 levels were positively associated with cognition (TSH:β = 0.06, 95% CI  0.01 ~ 0.11, P = 0.03; FT3:β = 0.07, 95% CI  0.01 ~ 0.12, P = 0.01); and serum FT3 and TSH levels were significantly associated with cognitive domains (P < 0.05). Further, euthyroid individuals in the lowest serum FT3(OR = 1.96; 95% CI 1.27 ~ 3.03) quartile had a twofold increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those in the highest quartile after adjusting for potential confounding factors. These findings suggested that low levels of FT3 could be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in older euthyroid adults. Additionally, a positive linear association exists between serum FT3 levels and cognitive domains (such as immediate memory, language, and attention). Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms and the community significance of these findings.
Oral and dermal exposure to natural radionuclides and heavy metals in water and sediments of Nile River, Qena, southern Egypt
Authors: Salahel Din Khaled , Mahmoud Faten
Published: December 2023

This study assessed the levels of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) and heavy metals (Hg, Fe, Cr, As, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) in surface water and sediment samples from the Nile River in Qena Governorate, southern Egypt, using a gamma-ray spectrometer, 3ʺ NaI (Tl) scintillation detector coupled with 1024 multi-channel analyzer, and an atomic absorption spectrometer. In surface water and sediments, the average activity concentrations of natural radionuclides were 40K (4.73 Bq L−1; 395.76 Bq kg−1) > 226Ra (0.41 Bq L−1; 18.14 Bq kg−1) > 232Th (0.30 Bq L−1; 17.98 Bq kg−1). The average heavy metal concentrations in surface water in µg L−1 were Fe (121.0) > Zn (33.80) > Cr (28.0) > Cu (8.62) > Pb (8.35) > As (1.19) > Hg (0.81) > Cd (0.12). In Nile sediments the concentrations in mg kg−1 were Fe (1670.0) > Zn (207.0) > Cr (29.40) > Cu (16.20) > Pb (4.32) > Hg (0.41) > Cd (0.31) > As (0.14). The heavy metal evaluation index (HMEI) calculations for water samples revealed that 31% of the samples were suitable for domestic use, while 69% were not. The geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, and ecological risk factor for sediments were estimated, showing extreme enrichment for Hg and Zn with high ecological risk for Hg. Health risks for adults were evaluated due to oral and dermal exposure to Nile surface water and sediments from the study area, indicating minimal radiological risks and potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from the metals.
Sensitivity of Legionella pneumophila to phthalates and their substitutes
Authors: Crépin Alexandre , Thiroux Audrey , Alafaci Aurélien , Boukerb Amine M. , Dufour Izelenn , Chrysanthou Eirini , Bertaux Joanne , Tahrioui Ali , Bazire Alexis , Rodrigues Sophie , Taupin Laure , Feuilloley Marc , Dufour Alain , Caillon Jocelyne , Lesouhaitier Olivier , Chevalier Sylvie , Berjeaud Jean-Marc , Verdon Julien
Published: December 2023

Phthalates constitute a family of anthropogenic chemicals developed to be used in the manufacture of plastics, solvents, and personal care products. Their dispersion and accumulation in many environments can occur at all stages of their use (from synthesis to recycling). However, many phthalates together with other accumulated engineered chemicals have been shown to interfere with hormone activities. These compounds are also in close contact with microorganisms that are free-living, in biofilms or in microbiota, within multicellular organisms. Herein, the activity of several phthalates and their substitutes were investigated on the opportunistic pathogen Legionella pneumophila, an aquatic microbe that can infect humans. Beside showing the toxicity of some phthalates, data suggested that Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) and DBP (Di-n-butyl phthalate) at environmental doses (i.e. 10–6 M and 10–8 M) can modulate Legionella behavior in terms of motility, biofilm formation and response to antibiotics. A dose of 10–6 M mostly induced adverse effects for the bacteria, in contrast to a dose of 10–8 M. No perturbation of virulence towards Acanthamoeba castellanii was recorded. These behavioral alterations suggest that L. pneumophila is able to sense ATBC and DBP, in a cross-talk that either mimics the response to a native ligand, or dysregulates its physiology.