bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting fungal secondary metabolite activity from biosynthetic gene cluster data using machine learning
Authors: Riedling Olivia , Walker Allison S. , Rokas Antonis
Published: January 2024

Fungal secondary metabolites (SMs) contribute to the diversity of fungal ecological communities, niches, and lifestyles. Many fungal SMs have one or more medically and industrially important activities (e.g., antifungal, antibacterial, and antitumor). The genes necessary for fungal SM biosynthesis are typically located right next to each other in the genome and are known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, whether fungal SM bioactivity can be predicted from specific attributes of genes in BGCs remains an open question. We adapted machine learning models that predicted SM bioactivity from bacterial BGC data with accuracies as high as 80% to fungal BGC data. We trained our models to predict the antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic/antitumor bioactivity of fungal SMs on two data sets: (i) fungal BGCs (data set comprised of 314 BGCs) and (ii) fungal (314 BGCs) and bacterial BGCs (1,003 BGCs). We found that models trained on fungal BGCs had balanced accuracies between 51% and 68%, whereas training on bacterial and fungal BGCs had balanced accuracies between 56% and 68%. The low prediction accuracy of fungal SM bioactivities likely stems from the small size of the data set; this lack of data, coupled with our finding that including bacterial BGC data in the training data did not substantially change accuracies currently limits the application of machine learning approaches to fungal SM studies. With >15,000 characterized fungal SMs, millions of putative BGCs in fungal genomes, and increased demand for novel drugs, efforts that systematically link fungal SM bioactivity to BGCs are urgently needed.

IMPORTANCE

Fungi are key sources of natural products and iconic drugs, including penicillin and statins. DNA sequencing has revealed that there are likely millions of biosynthetic pathways in fungal genomes, but the chemical structures and bioactivities of >99% of natural products produced by these pathways remain unknown. We used artificial intelligence to predict the bioactivities of diverse fungal biosynthetic pathways. We found that the accuracies of our predictions were generally low, between 51% and 68%, likely because the natural products and bioactivities of only very few fungal pathways are known. With >15,000 characterized fungal natural products, millions of putative biosynthetic pathways present in fungal genomes, and increased demand for novel drugs, our study suggests that there is an urgent need for efforts that systematically identify fungal biosynthetic pathways, their natural products, and their bioactivities.
Iron limitation indirectly reduces the
Escherichia coli torCAD
operon expression by a reduction of molybdenum cofactor availability
Authors: Hasnat Muhammad Abrar , Zupok Arkadiusz , Gorka Michal , Iobbi-Nivol Chantal , Skirycz Aleksandra , Jourlin-Castelli Cécile , Bier Frank , Agarwal Saloni , Irefo Ehizode , Leimkühler Silke
Published: January 2024

The expression of most molybdoenzymes in
Escherichia coli
has so far been revealed to be regulated by anaerobiosis and requires the presence of iron, based on the necessity of the transcription factor FNR to bind one [4Fe-4S] cluster. One exception is trimethylamine-
N
-oxide reductase encoded by the
torCAD
operon, which has been described to be expressed independently from FNR. In contrast to other alternative anaerobic respiratory systems, the expression of the
torCAD
operon was shown not to be completely repressed by the presence of dioxygen. To date, the basis for the O
2
-dependent expression of the
torCAD
operon has been related to the abundance of the transcriptional regulator IscR, which represses the transcription of
torS
and
torT,
and is more abundant under aerobic conditions than under anaerobic conditions. In this study, we reinvestigated the regulation of the
torCAD
operon and its dependence on the presence of iron and identified a novel regulation that depends on the presence of the bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (bis-MGD) molybdenum cofactor . We confirmed that the
torCAD
operon is directly regulated by the heme-containing protein TorC and is indirectly regulated by ArcA and by the availability of iron via active FNR and Fur, both regulatory proteins that influence the synthesis of the molybdenum cofactor. Furthermore, we identified a novel regulation mode of
torCAD
expression that is dependent on cellular levels of bis-MGD and is not used by other bis-MGD-containing enzymes like nitrate reductase.

IMPORTANCE

In bacteria, molybdoenzymes are crucial for anaerobic respiration using alternative electron acceptors. FNR is a very important transcription factor that represents the master switch for the expression of target genes in response to anaerobiosis. Only
Escherichia coli
trimethylamine-
N
-oxide (TMAO) reductase escapes this regulation by FNR. We identified that the expression of TMAO reductase is regulated by the amount of bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (bis-MGD) cofactor synthesized by the cell itself, representing a novel regulation pathway for the expression of an operon coding for a molybdoenzyme. Furthermore, TMAO reductase gene expression is indirectly regulated by the presence of iron, which is required for the production of the bis-MGD cofactor in the cell.
Influence of intellectual disability on exercise regulation: exploring verbal, auditory and visual guidance to contribute to promote inclusive exercise environments
Authors: Sakalidis Kandianos Emmanouil , Menting Stein Gerrit Paul , Hettinga Florentina Johanna
Published: January 2024

Objective

The role of intellectual disability (ID) in exercise regulation has remained largely unexplored, yet recent studies have indicated cognitive-related impaired pacing skills in people with ID. In a well-controlled laboratory environment, this study aims to (1) establish the role of ID in pacing and explore the ability of people with and without ID to maintain a steady pace; (2) to investigate if verbal feedback and/or (3) the presence of a pacer can improve the ability of people with ID to maintain a preplanned submaximal velocity.

Methods

Participants with (n=10) and without ID (n=10) were recruited and performed 7 min submaximal trials on a cycle ergometer (Velotron). Participants with ID also performed a cycling trial with a pacer (virtual avatar).

Results

The non-parametric tests for repeated measures data (p≤0.05) showed that (1) people with ID deviated more from the targeted pace compared with people without ID, (2) the verbal feedback did not influence their ability to keep a steady pace and (3) they deviated less from the targeted pace when a visual pacer was introduced.

Conclusion

The results revealed the difficulties of people with ID in planning and monitoring their exercise and the difficulties in appropriately responding to auditory and verbal feedback. Coaches and stakeholders who want to offer inclusive exercise pathways should consider that people with ID perform and pace themselves better when supported by intuitive, visual and personally meaningful stimuli such as other cyclists (avatars).
Gait asymmetry in spatiotemporal and kinetic variables does not increase running-related injury risk in lower limbs: a secondary analysis of a randomised trial including 800+ recreational runners
Authors: Malisoux Laurent , Gette Paul , Delattre Nicolas , Urhausen Axel , Theisen Daniel
Published: January 2024

Objective

To investigate asymmetry in spatiotemporal and kinetic variables in 800+ recreational runners, identify determinants of asymmetry, investigate if asymmetry is related to greater running injury risk and compare spatiotemporal and kinetic variables between the involved and uninvolved limb at baseline in runners having sustained an injury during follow-up.

Methods

836 healthy recreational runners (38.6% women) were tested on an instrumented treadmill at their preferred running speed at baseline and followed up for 6 months. From ground reaction force recordings, spatiotemporal and kinetic variables were derived for each lower limb. The Symmetry Index was computed for each variable. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify potential determinants of asymmetry. Cox regression analyses investigated the association between asymmetry and injury risk. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to compare the involved and uninvolved limbs in runners who had sustained injuries during follow-up.

Results

107 participants reported at least one running-related injury. Leg length discrepancy and fat mass were the most common determinants of asymmetry, but all correlation coefficients were negligible (0.01–0.13) and explained variance was very low (multivariable-adjusted R2<0.01–0.03). Greater asymmetry for flight time and peak breaking force was associated with lower injury risk (HR (95% CI): 0.80 (0.64 to 0.99) and 0.96 (0.93 to 0.98), respectively). No between-limb differences were observed in runners having sustained an injury.

Conclusion

Gait asymmetry was not associated with higher injury risk for investigated spatiotemporal and kinetic variables.

Trial registration number

NCT03115437.
Isolating semi-leptonic $$H\rightarrow WW^{*}$$decays for Bell inequality tests
Authors: Fabbri Federica , Howarth James , Maurin Théo
Published: January 2024

We present a method for identifying $$H\rightarrow WW^* \rightarrow \ell \nu j j$$

H
→
W

W
∗

→
ℓ
ν
j
j

events in the presence of large Standard Model backgrounds and illustrate how this decay mode may be applied to the study of Bell-type Inequalities. Our findings reveal the feasibility of complete reconstruction of such Higgs decays and the efficacy of our suggested combination of selection criteria in effectively mitigating the otherwise overwhelming backgrounds. Our approach is based on a combination of bottom and charm tagging, alongside innovative reconstruction techniques. A realistic simulation based on publicly available object identification, reconstruction, and tagging efficiencies from the ATLAS experiment is used to explore the potential sensitivity to violations of the Collins-Gisin-Linden-Massar-Popescu (CGLMP) inequality in existing and expected future data collected at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is found that, the proposed method provides a powerful means of distinguishing the Higgs decay mode from the background, allowing us to achieve an expectation of approximately 3$$\sigma $$
σ
significance in detecting violations of these inequalities with 300 $$\hbox {fb}^{-1}$$

fb

-
1

of data, soon-to-be collected by the LHC.
Bright soliton of the perturbed Schrödinger–Hirota equation with cubic–quintic–septic law of self-phase modulation in the presence of spatiotemporal dispersion
Authors: Ozdemir Neslihan , Altun Selvi , Secer Aydin , Ozisik Muslum , Bayram Mustafa
Published: January 2024

For the first time, we intend to scrutinize both the bright optical soliton solutions of the perturbed Schrödinger–Hirota equation with cubic–quintic–septic law having the spatiotemporal dispersion and the influences of the considered equation parameters on the soliton structure. The simple version of the new extended auxiliary equation method is utilized to carry out the aims. Taking the suitable complex wave transformation, the investigated equation becomes a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Then, a system consisting of equations in polynomial structure utilizing the technique was able to produce. The bright optical solution is generated by utilizing the presented method. Finally, numerous projections of the bright soliton are indicated to explain the propagation of optical pulses in optic fibers. Furthermore, some depictions describing the effect of the model parameter were added.
Benchmarking regularisation methods for quantum process tomography on NISQ devices
Authors: David I. J. , Sinayskiy I. , Petruccione F.
Published: January 2024

Quantum process tomography (QPT) is a crucial tool for characterizing and validating quantum devices and quantum algorithms. However, the problem of finite sampling leads to an estimated process matrix which is non-positive semi-definite (non-PSD), which can yield a reconstructed quantum channel that is non-physical. To address this problem, various methods have been proposed to correct the issue of finite sampling in the estimation of the process matrix. In this work, we perform a comparison of regularisation methods that will be used to tackle the problem of finite sampling in QPT. For this comparison we simulate some common single qubit quantum channels. We use two metrics, the minimum eigenvalue of the Choi matrix and the fidelity, to compare the effectiveness of these methods. Our results show that the spectral transformations perform the best overall in dealing with finite sampling present in reconstructing the quantum channel in the NISQ era.
Investigation of Sn-doped WO3 thin films: One-step deposition by hydrothermal technique, characterization, and photoluminescence study
Authors: Buzhabadi Hamid , Rahmani Mohammad Bagher , Damghani Mina
Published: January 2024

Thin film technology is significant in technological progress and modern research because it allows for the production of optoelectronic devices with improved characteristics. Because of its superior chromatic efficiency, tungsten oxide (WO3) is one of the best candidates for energy-saving applications. In this study, undoped and tin (Sn)-doped WO3 films were grown on top of WO3 seed layers directly by a facile hydrothermal route at a temperature as low as 110∘C for 24[Formula: see text]h. The seed layers were also deposited on top of glass substrates using spray pyrolysis. The results of tin doping on the structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of the WO3:Sn films were studied. X-ray diffraction patterns show that peak intensities increase significantly by adding Sn and the films’ crystallinity was improved by rising Sn content. In the visible region, the average optical transmittance is around 13% and the optical bandgap changes from 2.61[Formula: see text]eV to 2.81[Formula: see text]eV, by increasing the dopant amount. Finally, the room temperature photoluminescence of samples shows intense green light emissions. The results of this research can be beneficial for the fabrication and performance optimization of electrical and optical devices such as gas sensors, electrochromic devices, and photosensors.
Optimizing the sintering process parameters for simultaneous improvement of the compression strength, impact strength, hardness and corrosion resistance of W–Cu nanocomposite
Authors: Samadi Mohammad Reza , Zeynali Ebrahim , Allahyari Fatemeh , Salahshorrad Ehsan , Zangeneh-Madar Karim , Afshari Mahmoud
Published: January 2024

The main purpose of this work is to optimize the mechanical properties of tungsten–copper (W–Cu) nanocomposite fabricated by the sintering process. For this purpose, the parameters of sintering temperature, sintering time and weight percentage of copper were selected to optimize the compression strength, impact strength, hardness and corrosion resistance of the W–Cu nanocomposite using the desirability function procedure and response surface method. The analyses of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were also performed to examine the microstructure of W–Cu nanocomposite. The results exhibited that a rise in the sintering temperature from 1000∘C to 1150∘C significantly enhanced the impact strength of W–Cu nanocomposite, while a rise in the sintering temperature from 1150∘C to 1300∘C deteriorated the impact strength. Moreover, the compression strength and hardness of the W–Cu nanocomposite continuously improved by elevation of sintering temperature from 1000∘C to 1300∘C. A rise in the amount of Cu from 20[Formula: see text]wt.% to 40[Formula: see text]wt.% led to a reduction in the hardness of the W–Cu nanocomposite, while a rise of Cu content improved the impact and compression strengths. The results also indicated that the mechanical properties of W–Cu nanocomposite enhanced simultaneously by using 27[Formula: see text]wt.% Cu at sintering temperature of 1197∘C and sintering time of 2.7[Formula: see text]h. The samples sintered at the optimal conditions indicated a higher corrosion resistance than that sintered at the initial conditions.
The manipulation of polarized terahertz generation by incommensurate two-color laser pulses with circular polarization
Authors: Zhuang Longzhen , Ni Ming , Chen Xi , Wang Zhaoqiang , Lu Chenhui
Published: January 2024

We theoretically investigate the polarized terahertz (THz) generation in laser–gas interaction using circularly polarized (CP) two-color laser pulses with uncommon frequencies. We show that these laser pulses can be applied to generate polarized THz radiation, and the polarization of THz radiation, which ranges from linear to circular, can be controlled in a flexible manner by manipulating the laser parameters, such as the relative phase and phase angle. Furthermore, in contrast to traditional harmonic frequency combinations, the polarization states of the incommensurate lasers undergo complex evolution with the phase angle, resulting in a noteworthy influence on the THz yield. The obtained results could deepen our understanding of polarized THz radiation generation.
Positivity certificates for P-recursive sequences
Authors: Ibrahim Alaa , Salvy Bruno
Published: January 2024

We extend the decidability of the positivity problem for P-recursive sequences of Poincaré type having one simple dominant eigenvalue and generic initial conditions. We give an algorithm that produces a certificate of positivity that is a data-structure for a proof by induction. The main ingredient of our approach is the existence of a positive cone which is stable by the iteration of the recurrence.
Self-Governing Hybrid Societies and Deception
Authors: Sarkadi Ştefan
Published: January 2024

Self-governing hybrid societies are multi-agent systems where humans and machines interact by adapting to each other’s behaviour. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have brought an increasing hybridisation of our societies, where one particular type of behaviour has become more and more prevalent, namely deception. Deceptive behaviour as the propagation of disinformation can have negative effects on a society’s ability to govern itself. However, self-governing societies have the ability to respond to various phenomena. In this article, we explore how they respond to the phenomenon of deception from an evolutionary perspective considering that agents have limited adaptation skills. Will hybrid societies fail to govern deceptive behaviour and reach a Tragedy of The Digital Commons? Or will they manage to avoid it through cooperation? How resilient are they against large-scale deceptive attacks? We provide a tentative answer to some of these questions through the lens of evolutionary agent-based modelling, based on the scientific literature on deceptive AI and public goods games.
Cross-Modal Attention Preservation with Self-Contrastive Learning for Composed Query-Based Image Retrieval
Authors: Li Shenshen , Xu Xing , Jiang Xun , Shen Fumin , Sun Zhe , Cichocki Andrzej
Published: January 2024

In this article, we study the challenging cross-modal image retrieval task,Composed Query-Based Image Retrieval (CQBIR), in which the query is not a single text query but a composed query, i.e., a reference image, and a modification text. Compared with the conventional cross-modal image-text retrieval task, the CQBIR is more challenging as it requires properly preserving and modifying the specific image region according to the multi-level semantic information learned from the multi-modal query. Most recent works focus on extracting preserved and modified information and compositing it into a unified representation. However, we observe that the preserved regions learned by the existing methods contain redundant modified information, inevitably degrading the overall retrieval performance. To this end, we propose a novel method termedCross-ModalAttentionPreservation (CMAP). Specifically, we first leverage the cross-level interaction to fully account for multi-granular semantic information, which aims to supplement the high-level semantics for effective image retrieval. Furthermore, different from conventional contrastive learning, our method introduces self-contrastive learning into learning preserved information, to prevent the model from confusing the attention for the preserved part with the modified part. Extensive experiments on three widely used CQBIR datasets, i.e., FashionIQ, Shoes, and Fashion200k, demonstrate that our proposed CMAP method significantly outperforms the current state-of-the-art methods on all the datasets. The anonymous implementation code of our CMAP method is available at https://github.com/CFM-MSG/Code_CMAP.
Exploiting Satellite Doppler for Reliable and Faster Data Download in IoT Satellite Networks
Authors: Singh Vaibhav , Chakraborty Tusher , Jog Suraj , Chabra Om , Vasisht Deepak , Chandra Ranveer
Published: January 2024

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are enhancing IoT device connectivity with cost-effective, easily deployable picosatellites. These IoT satellite constellations bypass the need for Earth-based gateways, offering global coverage. This article delves into communication challenges encountered when deploying an IoT satellite network. Shifting the classic perspective on Doppler from a hindrance to an advantage, we present novel techniques leveraging Doppler shift for reliable packet detection and decoding, particularly in noisy environments. Integrated into our system, Spectrumize [1], these techniques offer a substantial performance boost compared to conventional methods.
Microstructure-Assisted Vision: Adding New Senses to Low-Power Devices
Authors: Bai Yang , Garg Nakul , Roy Nirupam
Published: January 2024

Miniature mobile robots are emerging with new capabilities and skills. Insect-sized and soft robots are just a few inches in size but capable of a range of tasks. They can act as first responders to search for survivors in disaster debris, perform mining or agricultural foraging, and even move heavy objects to organize. When paired with autonomous navigation capabilities, they can enable a wide range of applications, including surveillance, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture and beyond.
Hydrogen Termination Effect on SiO2/Si Interface State Density in CH3O-Molecular-Ion-Implanted Silicon Epitaxial Wafer for CMOS Image Sensors
Authors: Okuyama Ryosuke , Kadono Takeshi , Onaka-Masada Ayumi , Suzuki Akihiro , Kobayashi Koji , Shigematsu Satoshi , Hirose Ryo , Koga Yoshihiro , Kurita Kazunari
Published: January 2024

The reduction in SiO2/Si interface state density (Dit) at the SiO2/Si interface region is important to improve the performance of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. The CH3O-ion-implanted region stores hydrogen and releases the stored hydrogen during the subsequent heat treatment. This study demonstrates that a CH3O-ion-implanted epitaxial silicon wafer can reduce the Dit and Pb0 center density in SiO2/Si interface regions, as analyzed by quasi-static capacitance–voltage and electron spin resonance measurements, respectively. Both Dit and Pb0 center density in the CH3O-implanted wafer decreased with increasing heat treatment temperature. Moreover, the activation energy is estimated to be 1.57 eV for the hydrogen termination reactions induced by the CH3O-ion-implanted wafer. The activation energy is close to those of hydrogen molecules and Si dangling bonds at the SiO2/Si interface. This result means that Dit can be reduced by hydrogen from inside the silicon wafer, regardless of the heat treatment atmosphere. It has unique characteristics not found in conventional silicon wafers. The termination effect of the CH3O-molecular-ion-implanted epitaxial silicon wafers can contribute to the high electrical performance of CMOS image sensors.
Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Influence of Fatty Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether on the Surface Roughness of Silicon in Alkaline Solutions
Authors: Yang Xueyan , Fang Qi , Sun Ming , Qi Meiling
Published: January 2024

In the final polishing process of silicon, it is susceptible to alkaline anisotropic chemical etch and may have residual silicon sol on the surface, leading to an increase in surface roughness of the wafer. To address this issue, this study investigates the mechanisms of how fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether AEO-9 and O-20 affect the surface roughness of silicon through systematic experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. The research results demonstrate that both AEO-9 and O-20 exhibit strong molecular activity and can adsorb on the silicon surface in a parallel manner, forming a protective film that effectively shields against corrosive particle erosion. Additionally, AEO-9 and O-20 can enhance the wetting of etching solutions on the silicon surface, resulting in more uniform chemical etch and reduced formation of etching pits. Furthermore, AEO-9 and O-20 can reduce the residual silicon sol on the silicon surface, thereby decreasing surface roughness. These findings shed new light on how AEO-9 and O-20 affect surface roughness on silicon, and suggest their potential use in the final polishing of silicon wafers.
PVA/CdS-Ag Nanocomposites: Effect of Composition and UV Radiation on Optical, Electrical and Structural Properties
Authors: Nain Aditi , Dhanda Ekta , Chahal Rishi Pal , Dahiya Sanjay
Published: January 2024

PVA incorporated with different content of CdS-Ag nanostructures are prepared using chemical reduction technique. Along with this these nanocomposites are exposed to UV radiated for different times. The X-ray spectraof PVA /CdS-Ag nanocomposites indicatethe formation of CdS and Ag nanostructures within PVA.Changes in the band structure of nanocomposites with and without UV exposure are studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy. Absorbance and refractive index are noticed to show increment with the concentration of nanostructures and time of exposure. Along with this, the behaviour of different optical parameters such as E0 and Ed is investigated. FE-SEM and EDX analysis exhibit microstructural modification occurring in nanocomposites due to changes in the concentration of incorporated nanostructures and UV radiation. Influence of concentration and UV exposure on conductivity and dielectric parameters on PVA/CdS-Ag nanocomposites are studied.
Unveiling the Versatile Realm of CdSnO3 Nanoparticles for Advanced Sensing Applications
Authors: Usha P. , Ramesh Somoju , Jayamurugan P. , Mariappan R.
Published: January 2024

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of CdSnO3 thin films at different deposition temperatures 400, 500 and 600 °C. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDAX, TEM, optical and ammonia gas sensing properties respectively. X-ray diffraction confirms the orthorhombic crystal structure, with prominent peaks corresponding to the (111), (112), (103), (130), and (133) planes. The mean crystallite size is determined to be 84 nm. Scanning electron microscopy reveals morphological changes with varying substrate temperatures. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows elemental composition variations, highlighting non-stoichiometric CdSnO3 thin films. Transmission electron microscopy images depict larger spherical thin films with clear lattice fringes. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirm the presence of Cd-O and Sn-O bonds. Optical properties yield a calculated band gap was decreased with increase in temperature. Gas sensing tests demonstrate significant sensitivity to ammonia gas concentrations, with responses affected by ammonia concentrations. Overall, CdSnO3 thin films show promise for applications in diverse fields due to their tunable properties and potential for tailored performance.
Electrical Transport Properties and Hopping Mechanism of ZrCuSiAs Type Compound GdFeAsO
Authors: Mishra Gyanendra Kumar , Pradhan Prafulla Kumar , Mohanty N. K.
Published: January 2024

The iron-based ceramic GdFeAsO has been prepared using the solid-state reaction method. This material exhibits unique properties, showing superconductivity at extremely low temperatures and behaving as a semiconductor at high temperatures. Raman spectroscopy revealed various Raman active modes in the sample. UV-visible spectroscopy was employed to study the optical properties of the material in the wavelength range of 200 nm–800 nm. Using Tauc’s plot, the optical band energy value of the sample wasestimated to be approximately 2.78 eV. The electrical characterizations have been performed through an impedance analyzer. Additionally, the sample displayed negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior and positive temperature coefficient resistance (PTCR). The thermistor parameters are evaluated using the bulk resistance at various temperatures. This opens up potential uses for thermistors in devices like fuses and temperature sensors. The ac conductivity spectrum of the sample followed both Jonscher’s universal power law and the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy was calculated for different temperature regions. The correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model is used to analyze the electrical conduction mechanism in the sample. This study provides insights into the unique electrical and optical properties of the GdFeAsO ceramic and sheds light on its potential applications in various fields.
The therapeutic potential of ketones in cardiometabolic disease: impact on heart and skeletal muscle
Authors: Soni Shubham , Tabatabaei Dakhili Seyed Amirhossein , Ussher John R. , Dyck Jason R. B.
Published: January 2024

β-Hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) is the major ketone in the body, and it is recognized as a metabolic energy source and an important signaling molecule. While ketone oxidation is essential in the brain during prolonged fasting/starvation, other organs such as skeletal muscle and the heart also use ketones as metabolic substrates. Additionally, βOHB-mediated molecular signaling events occur in heart and skeletal muscle cells, and via metabolism and/or signaling, ketones may contribute to optimal skeletal muscle health and cardiac function. Of importance, when the use of ketones for ATP production and/or as signaling molecules becomes disturbed in the presence of underlying obesity, type 2 diabetes, and/or cardiovascular diseases, these changes may contribute to cardiometabolic disease. As a result of these disturbances in cardiometabolic disease, multiple approaches have been used to elevate circulating ketones with the goal of optimizing either ketone metabolism or ketone-mediated signaling. These approaches have produced significant improvements in heart and skeletal muscle during cardiometabolic disease with a wide range of benefits that include improved metabolism, weight loss, better glycemic control, improved cardiac and vascular function, as well as reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Herein, we present the evidence that indicates that ketone therapy could be used as an approach to help treat cardiometabolic diseases by targeting cardiac and skeletal muscles.
Comparison of etiological and physiological characteristics of fecal incontinence in men and women
Authors: Margalit-Yehuda Reuma , Maradey-Romero Carla , Davidov Yana , Ram Edward , Carter Dan
Published: January 2024

Fecal incontinence (FI) in men has different etiological factors when compared with women. The prevalence of internal anal sphincter defect among men with FI was similar to women. Different manometric measurements were found among men with FI: decreased anal pressures were less common among men, whereas rectal hyposensitivity and anorectal dyssynergia were more common among men.
Dynamic Topology Optimization of Constrained Damping Plates considering Frequency and Temperature Characteristics Based on an Efficient Strategy
Authors: Wu Fan , Xue Pu
Published: January 2024

The frequency‐ and temperature‐dependent characteristics of viscoelastic materials significantly affect the vibration response of the damped composite structures. In this paper, an efficient strategy of hybrid expansion combined with dynamic reduction is developed to solve the steady‐state response of the frequency‐ and temperature‐dependent viscoelastic structure characterized by nonproportional system, and the sensitivity analysis is carried out based on the adjoint variable method. The similarity index is defined to distinguish the correlation among different design layouts. Two instances demonstrated the validity of the proposed approach. The findings indicated that a positive compromise between accuracy and efficiency can be achieved, and the computational time can be significantly reduced while ensuring the accuracy of the results. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the excitation frequency and temperature significantly impact the optimal configuration of damping material. The effects of layer thicknesses and volume fractions on optimization designs are also further investigated.
Surface Performance of Titanium Alloy Brake Shell Polished by Industrial Robot Based on Digital Twin
Authors: Zhang Haijun , Chen Shengwei , Wang Hui , Qin Yan
Published: January 2024

The titanium alloy brake shell is an important component used in aviation, but its surface polishing is mostly done manually, making it difficult to ensure surface quality and consistency. As a result, an industrial robot polishing system based on digital twin is proposed, which can realize the interaction between physical and virtual platforms by using digital twin technology, acquire various parameters in real time, and monitor the polishing process. Based on this system, a removal depth model was established, and the polishing parameters to be analyzed were determined by combining the removal depth model. On this basis, the influence law of polishing parameters on surface roughness is analyzed through physical tests, and orthogonal experiments are used to optimize the polishing parameters. The results show that the surface roughness is reduced to 0.171 μm after optimization. Finally, the reliability of the polishing system is verified through the polishing machining test, and the surface quality of titanium alloy brake shell is significantly improved.
Identification and Expression Analysis of Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling from Spotted Seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus)
Authors: Cai Chuanguo , Xie Jiasong , Gao Jiaqi , Qi Zhitao , Fan Ke , Sun Zhaosheng , Lei Lina , Gao Qian
Published: January 2024

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) plays a negative role in the cytokine signaling pathway, preventing excessive signaling from interfering with the metabolic homeostasis of the body. By regulating the Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway through negative feedback, SOCS have a significant impact on the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity against pathogens, thus playing a crucial role in the immune response, growth, and development of the body. In this study, the cDNA sequences of SOCS1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5b, 6, 7, 8, 9, and CISH genes of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus), an important marine economic fish in China, were cloned using RT‐PCR, nested PCR, and RACE techniques. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the SOCS family members shared highly conserved functional structural domains, including the SRC homology 2 domain (SH2 domain) and the SOCS‐box domain. The phylogenetic analysis showed that SOCS1, 2, 3a, 3b, 8, and CISH belonged to the type II subfamily of SOCS genes, while SOCS4, 5b, 6, 7, and SOCS9 belonged to the type I subfamily. Furthermore, gene organization and syntenic analysis confirmed the phylogenetic analysis and protein annotation of the SOCS gene family in spotted seabass. Constitutive expression of spotted seabass SOCS genes was observed in various tissues of healthy fish, with varying expression levels. Following the lipopolysaccharide and Edwardsiella tarda challenge, the expression profiles of spotted seabass SOCS genes were differently regulated in the gill, head kidney, intestine, and spleen. These findings provide a basis for future research on the functional properties of SOCS genes in spotted seabass.
Unmasking the Hidden Culprit: A Coma Mimicry in a Child Bitten by Cobra
Authors: Mekmangkonthong Aphirak , Khusiwilai Khanittha , Paticheep Sudathip , Tiacharoen Duangtip
Published: January 2024

Snake bite is a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical regions. Individuals who are bitten by neurotoxin snake commonly present with ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, muscle weakness, and diminished or absent of deep tendon reflexes. However, accurately determining the occurrence of a snakebite can sometimes be challenging, potentially leading to misdiagnosis. We present the case of a 2‐year‐old boy with sudden cardiac arrest. Following a brief resuscitation, he had return of spontaneous circulation. Despite normal electroencephalography results, the patient continued to have absence of brainstem reflexes, spontaneous breathing, and movement. Cobra antivenom was promptly initiated based on suspicions of a neurotoxic snakebite, resulting in a rapid recovery of the patient’s condition. We proposed that neurotoxin snake envenomation should be considered in patients with sudden cardiac arrest with uncertain cause, particularly in snake endemic areas.
The Relationship between Eating Styles and the Severity of Psoriasis: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Thailand
Authors: Roongpisuthipong Wanjarus , Klangjareonchai Theerawut
Published: January 2024

Background. Psoriasis, a persistent inflammatory condition, is linked to several concurrent health issues. Among these, obesity stands out as a significant contributing factor, significantly influencing the development and seriousness of psoriasis. Furthermore, behavioral elements such as eating styles could potentially contribute to the activity of the disease. Objective. To investigate the relationships between eating styles and the clinical severity of psoriasis. Materials and Methods. A cross‐sectional study among 158 chronic plaque psoriasis patients was conducted. Sociodemographic data and clinical presentation of psoriasis including risk factors and treatment, eating, stress, and sleep data were obtained from questionnaires. Psoriasis disease severity, weight, and height measurements, including bioelectrical impedance analysis were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to assess eating patterns and identify notable factors linked to the severity of the disease. Results. After adjusting for the potential confounder, the emotional eating style was significantly associated with an increase in risk of psoriasis severity when compared to the restrained eating style (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–9.81). Body mass index, body fat mass, eating attitude, alcohol consumption, nail involvement, psoriasis treatment, smoking status, duration of sleep, and stress status were not significant risk factors for disease severity. Conclusions. There is a significant correlation between emotional eating style and the severity of chronic plaque‐type psoriasis in Asian patients. Further exploration into utilizing cognitive‐behavioral therapy to address emotional eating styles as part of psoriasis management is warranted.
Damage Identification Method of Tied‐Arch Bridges Based on the Equivalent Thrust‐Influenced Line
Authors: Zhou Yu , Li Meng , Shi Yingdi , Di Shengkui , Shi Xianzeng
Published: January 2024

Early tied‐arch bridges cannot satisfy the current traffic load demand due to their load grades and maintenance levels. Also, these tied‐arch bridges have accumulated structural damage with increasingly prominent safety risks. In order to accurately evaluate the characteristics of tied‐arch bridges’ structural‐influenced lines and identify damage of their arch ribs and suspenders, two analytical solutions are derived and established in this paper for the thrust‐influenced lines of parabola and catenary two‐hinged arches with a tie beam. A new method and an index for identifying damage of arch ribs and suspenders of tied‐arch bridges are proposed. The results of numerical simulation in this paper verified that the proposed analytical solution has good analytical accuracy in practice on those two‐hinged nonflat arches. With the use of equivalent thrust‐influenced line difference curvature, the effectiveness of damage identification and the verification method were verified on the tie beam, suspender, and arch rib of plane tie arch structure as well as the suspender and arch rib of tied‐arch bridges in this research. Furthermore, combining with grey relation analysis, the noise immunity of the proposed index method can be verified. Also, thrust‐influenced line recognition based on VMD (variational mode decomposition) is introduced, and a practical process of bridge health assessment based on the quasistatic‐influenced line loading of three‐axle heavy vehicles is established. Theoretical analysis and numerical verification show that the calculated error of the analytic solution of two‐hinged arches with a rise‐span ratio greater than 1/8 is less than 9.57%, and the error decreases with the increase of the rise‐span ratio. Therefore, it can be applied to the calculation and analysis of tied‐arch bridges with a rise‐span ratio range between 1/4 and 1/5. With the equivalent thrust‐influenced line index proposed in this paper, the damage of suspenders and arch ribs of tied‐arch bridges can be accurately located. It has been found that the proposed method is more effective to identify the damage of suspenders than the damage of arch ribs does, showing good noise immunity. In summary, this research has provided theoretical support for arch bridge design and evaluation. Combining with existing bridge‐monitoring methods, the new bridge damage identification method proposed in this paper has the prospect of realizing the normal health status assessment of existing tied‐arch bridges.
Occurrence and Pathogenicity of Indigenous Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolates to Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) in Western Amhara, Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Mequanint Andualem , Emirie Gebremariam Asaye , Mitiku Solomon Yilma , Hailemariam Bogale Nigir , Mekonnen Melkamu Birhanie , Mengistu Anteneh Ademe
Published: January 2024

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) is widely recognized as an invasive lepidopteran pest in Africa. Adoption of synthetic pesticides remains an option for emergency control of the FAW, but their large-scale use by small-scale farmers is costly and environmentally unsafe. Management options based on entomopathogenic fungi could minimize risks for health and the environment. In our study, the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in different habitats along with their pathogenicity to fall armyworm was examined. A total of 56 soil samples were collected from three locations. A standard isolation method, baited with the wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella), was used for the isolation of entomopathogenic fungi from soil. Twelve entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from the total soil samples collected. It was observed that Metarhizium spp. was more frequent and widespread than Beauveria spp. and their occurrence was high in the forest habitat. Pathogenicity of indigenous entomopathogenic fungi isolates on fall armyworm larvae was tested by applying conidial suspension containing 1 × 108 spores/ml. All of the isolates tested were pathogenic to larvae of fall armyworm, with mortalities varying from 30 to 80% at 10 days posttreatment. Our results suggest that native entomopathogenic fungi could be integrated for the management of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae.
A Mid-Density Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Panel for Molecular Applications in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)
Authors: Ongom Patrick Obia , Fatokun Christian , Togola Abou , Garcia-Oliveira Ana Luisa , Ng Eng Hwa , Kilian Andrzej , Lonardi Stefano , Close Timothy J. , Boukar Ousmane
Published: January 2024

Molecular markers are increasingly being deployed to accelerate genetic gain in crop plants. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of a mid-density genotyping panel for molecular applications in cowpea breeding. A core set of 2,602 targeted diversity array technology (DArTag) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was designed from an existing 51,128 Cowpea iSelect Consortium Array. The panel’s usefulness was assessed using 376 genotypes from different populations of known genetic backgrounds. The panel was informative, with over 78% of SNPs exceeding a minor allele frequency of 0.20. The panel decoded three stratifications in the constituted population, as was expected. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay was correctly depicted as slower in a biparental subset than in other populations. A known flower and seed coat color gene region was located on chromosome Vu07, suggesting that the mid-density panel may be used to hypothesize genomic regions underlying target traits in cowpea. Unexpected heterozygosity was detected in some lines and highly among F1 progenies, divulging the panel’s potential application in germplasm purity and hybridity verification. The study unveils the potential of an excellent genomic resource that can be tapped to enhance the development of improved cowpea cultivars.
Data from PALB2 Functionally Connects the Breast Cancer Susceptibility Proteins BRCA1 and BRCA2
Authors: Zhang Fan , Fan Qiang , Ren Keqin , Andreassen Paul R.
Published: January 2024

Abstract
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are prominently associated with inherited breast and ovarian cancer. The encoded proteins function in DNA damage responses, but no functional link between BRCA1 and BRCA2 has been established. We show here that PALB2 physically and functionally connects BRCA1 and BRCA2 into a DNA damage response network that also includes the RAD51 recombinase. PALB2 directly binds BRCA1, as determined with bacterially expressed fragments of each protein. Furthermore, PALB2 independently interacts with BRCA1 and BRCA2 through its NH2 and COOH termini, respectively. Critically, two point mutants (L21P and L24P) of the PALB2 coiled-coil domain or an NH2-terminal deletion (Δ1-70) disrupt its interaction with BRCA1. We have reconstituted PALB2-deficient cells with PALB2Δ1-70, PALB2-L21P, or PALB2-L24P, or with COOH-terminally truncated PALB2 that is deficient for interaction with BRCA2. Using extracts from these cells, we find that PALB2 mediates the physical interaction of BRCA2 with a COOH-terminal fragment of BRCA1. Analysis of the assembly of foci in these cells by BRCA1, PALB2, BRCA2, and RAD51 suggests that BRCA1 recruits PALB2, which in turn organizes BRCA2 and RAD51. Resistance to mitomycin C and the repair of DNA double-strand breaks by homologous recombination require the interaction of PALB2 with both BRCA1 and BRCA2. These results suggest that BRCA1 and BRCA2 cooperate in DNA damage responses in a PALB2-dependent manner, and have important implications for the genesis of breast/ovarian cancer and for chemotherapy with DNA interstrand cross-linking agents. (Mol Cancer Res 2009;7(7):1110–8)