bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Effects of Reverse Osmosis-Treated Water on the Corrosion Rate of Chains in Armoured Face Conveyor for Longwall Mining
Authors: Sul Jung-Hoon , Probyn Benjamin , Donnelly Brendan , Piyathilaka Lasitha , Jeong Sanghyun
Published: October 2023

Premature failure of armoured face conveyor (AFC) chains due to corrosion is a significant proportion of the unplanned downtime experienced on longwall equipment. The AFC chains are constantly in contact with water and wet coal. The premature failure issue of AFC chains has become more prominent since the introduction of longwall top-coal caving with its additional AFC. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a popular water treatment method for reducing salinity and dissolved solids, but its impact on the corrosion of the AFC chains is unclear. This study has been commissioned to investigate the direct effects of RO water on the corrosion of AFC chains. An immersion test was carried out using AFC chain steel submerged in two water samples: untreated dam water and treated water from an RO treatment plant. Elemental analysis was conducted for both water samples, and four corrosion indices were measured for both water samples. The RO water more vigorously dissolves calcium carbonate scales leading to increased corrosion of the AFC chains although the dam water has much higher levels of calcium, chloride, sulphate, sodium, and magnesium. Bicarbonate ions are the main alkaline factor of water that provides the buffering capacity to acids. Decreased alkalinity without balancing other ions in water causes high corrosivity and decreased scaling tendencies.
Clay-based materials for enhanced water treatment: adsorption mechanisms, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Khan Shahab , Ajmal Sanila , Hussain Tanveer , Rahman Mudassir Ur
Published: October 2023

Water treatment is of paramount importance to ensure the availability of clean and safe drinking water. In recent years, clay-based materials have gained significant attention as promising adsorbents for water treatment applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of different clay types and their surface adsorption properties for water treatment. This review begins by introducing the diverse types of clays commonly used in water treatment, including kaolin, montmorillonite, bentonite, and others. Each clay type is examined in terms of its unique mineral composition, surface properties, and structural characteristics. Subsequently, the adsorption mechanisms of clay surfaces are explored, shedding light on the intricate interactions between contaminants and the active sites on clay surfaces. The factors influencing the adsorption process, such as pH, temperature, contact time, and initial concentration of contaminants, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the review highlights the adsorption capacity and efficiency of different clay types for the removal of various contaminants from water. These contaminants encompass heavy metals, organic pollutants, dyes, and emerging contaminants. The role of surface modification techniques, such as cation exchange, functionalization, and composite formation, in enhancing the adsorption performance of clays is also elucidated. Moreover, the review addresses the challenges and limitations associated with clay-based adsorbents, including issues related to regeneration, disposal, and cost-effectiveness. Strategies for overcoming these challenges and potential future directions in the field of clay-based water treatment are presented.
Academic learning hours post-COVID-19 according to online teaching–learning in higher education
Authors: Koren Michal , Zerahia Roei
Published: October 2023

Academic institutions have existed for centuries. In most places in the world, classes begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue into the evening hours, usually ending no later than 10:00 p.m. Although online teaching and learning have existed for over a decade, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was developed and expanded drastically. As a result, new opportunities for innovation in the teaching and learning world were created. One potential opportunity is the exploration of learning hours, which is the topic of this paper. This paper presents a case study of an asynchronous academic course that took place at the end of the pandemic (Spring semester, Q2 of 2022). In this case, the teaching hours were around the clock, as were the learning hours, compared to traditional classes (which are either face-to-face or delivered live online) occurring in the same semester and at the same academic institution. This study aims to raise the question of whether current academic course hours are based on past habits or whether it is necessary to reconsider and adjust the hours to be more suitable for twenty first-century students and according to the need for more flexibility.
Perceptions of barriers to providing good cat care in Malaysian clinical practices
Authors: Zaini Syamira Syazuana , Phillips Claire , MacKay Jill R D , Langford Fritha
Published: October 2023

Many veterinary practices around the world do not meet basic post-operative cat care, thereby compromising cat welfare. Understanding why the appropriate care is not always given is important. The current study used a mixed methods approach of two phases, to investigate the barriers Malaysian veterinarians face in seeking to provide good cat care in practice. Phase 1 involved a survey consisting of 14 questions which were divided into three sections (demographic details, basic management and barriers experienced by practices) and emailed to 143 Malaysian veterinarians. While for phase 2, 20 interviews were undertaken (recruited from the survey sample) to further elaborate on the results. A Thematic Analysis was conducted to extract the main barriers experienced by participants. A total of 49 veterinarians completed the survey. Over half of the respondents were senior veterinarians (i.e. those with two or more years in practice) (53.1%; n = 26) who were aware of the basic environmental provisions that cats need post-surgery such as bedding and toileting facilities (57.1%; n = 28). Cost (47%; n = 23) was the biggest restriction to good care provision. Interview findings showed that participants were aware of comfortable post-surgery environments helping recovery, but barriers were highlighted: workload factors and a lack of understanding of cat pain behaviours and associated stress. This suggested that participants had the knowledge required to provide good cat care but experienced difficulties putting this into practice. Therefore, to improve cat welfare in veterinary practice, instead of focusing purely on education, interventions to increase good cat care could include targeted elements that support behaviour change to overcome the barriers.
NEW INSIGHTS INTO LATE PLEISTOCENE CAVE HYENA CHRONOLOGY AND POPULATION HISTORY—THE CASE OF PERSPEKTYWICZNA CAVE, POLAND
Authors: Krajcarz Maciej T , Baca Mateusz , Baumann Chris , Bocherens Hervé , Goslar Tomasz , Popović Danijela , Sudoł-Procyk Magdalena , Krajcarz Magdalena
Published: October 2023

The paper focuses on the Pleistocene deposits in Perspektywiczna Cave, southern Poland, related to cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta). We used direct radiocarbon dating of hyena fossils supported by genetic and stable isotope analyses to infer the paleobiology of this population. Radiocarbon dating of 19 hyena remains suggests long inhabitation of the region during early MIS 3, around 50–34 ky cal BP. The youngest among our dates, 34,355–33,725 cal BP (1σ, combined of two dates for the same specimen) points out the latest appearance of a cave hyena north to Carpathians. Beside this long period of occupation, the Perspektywiczna Cave hyenas stayed ecologically stable, but their genetic structure changed. Two mtDNA haplogroups were present, one typical for other Late Pleistocene European populations and the other one known so far only from recent African populations.
Turnout Turnaround: Ethnic Minority Victories Mobilize White Voters
Authors: ZONSZEIN STEPHANIE , GROSSMAN GUY
Published: October 2023

In Western democracies, like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, the number of ethnic minority representatives has been steadily increasing. How is this trend shaping electoral behavior? Past work has focused on the effects of minority representation on ethnic minorities’ political engagement, with less attention to the electoral behavior of majority-group members. We argue that increased minorities’ representation can be experienced as a threat to a historically white-dominant political context. This, in turn, politically activates white constituents. Using data from four U.K. general elections and a regression discontinuity design, we find that the next election’s turnout in constituencies narrowly won by an ethnic minority candidate is 4.3 percentage points larger than in constituencies narrowly won by a white candidate. Consistent with our argument, this turnout difference is driven by majority-white constituencies. Our findings have implications for intergroup relations and party politics and help explain recent political dynamics.
Less Human Than Human: Threat, Language, and Relative Dehumanization
Authors: Singh Shane P. , Tir Jaroslav
Published: October 2023

A government's decision to communicate in a native tongue rather than a commonly used and understood but non-native language can prompt perception through an ethnically-tinted lens. While native-language communication is commonplace and typically benign, we argue that conveying a threat posed by an outgroup in a native tongue can trigger dehumanizing attitudes. We conducted a pre-registered survey experiment focusing on attitudes toward Muslim and Chinese people in India to test our expectations. In our two-stage design, we randomly assigned respondents to a survey language (Hindi or English) and, after that, to threat-provoking or control conditions. While Muslims and China are associated with recent violence against India, the government has routinely portrayed only the former as threatening. Likely due to this divergence, Hindi language assignment alone triggers Muslim dehumanization. Indians' more innocuous views of Chinese are responsive to exogenously-induced threat, particularly when conveyed in Hindi.
Credit Provision and Stock Trading: Evidence from the South Sea Bubble
Authors: Braggion Fabio , Frehen Rik , Jerphanion Emiel
Published: October 2023

This article studies the relationship between credit provision and stock trading behavior. We collect every stock transaction of the three major British companies during the 1720 South Sea Bubble and link stock trading to margin loan positions with the Bank of England. We give insights in the selection of traders into the loan facility by comparing the trading behavior and realized returns of borrowers to other traders. We find that loan holders are more likely to buy following high returns and document strong underperformance of borrowers.
Ethical and legal considerations in social media research for health technology assessment: conclusions from a scoping review
Authors: Holtorf Anke-Peggy , Danyliv Andriy , Krause Annekatrin , Hanna Alissa , Venable Yvette , Mattingly T. Joseph , Huang Li-Ying , Pierre Miranda , Silveira Silva Aline , Walsh Donna
Published: October 2023

Objectives

The objective was to identify and describe the published guidance and current academic discourse of ethical issues and standards related to the use of Social Media Research for generating patient insights for the use by health technology assessment (HTA) or health policy decisions.

Methods

A scoping review of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Embase and identified 935 potential references published between January 2017 and June 2021. After title and abstract screening by three reviewers, 40 publications were included, the relevant information was extracted and data were collected in a mind map, which was then used to structure the output of the review.

Results

Social Media Research may reveal new insights of relevance to HTA or health policies into patient needs, patient experiences, or patient behaviors. However, the research approaches, methods, data use, interpretation, and communication may expose those who post the data in social media channels to risks and potential harms relating to privacy, anonymity/confidentiality, authenticity, context, and rapidly changing technologies.

Conclusions

An actively engaged approach to ensuring ethical innocuousness is recommended that carefully follows best practices throughout planning, conduct, and communication of the research. Throughout the process and as a follow-up, there should be a discourse with the ethical experts to maximally protect the current and future users of social media, to support their trust in the research, and to advance the knowledge in parallel to the advancement of the media themselves, the technologies, and the research tools.
Therapist guided, parent-led cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for pre-adolescent children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): a non-concurrent multiple baseline case series
Authors: Chessell Chloe , Halldorsson Brynjar , Walters Sasha , Farrington Alice , Harvey Kate , Creswell Cathy
Published: October 2023

Background:

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) including exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an effective treatment for preadolescent children with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); however, there is a need to increase access to this treatment for affected children.

Aims:

This study is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and acceptability of a brief therapist-guided, parent-led CBT intervention for pre-adolescent children (5–12 years old) with OCD using a non-concurrent multiple baseline approach.

Method:

Parents of 10 children with OCD were randomly allocated to no-treatment baselines of 3, 4 or 5 weeks before receiving six to eight individual treatment sessions with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. Diagnostic measures were completed prior to the baseline, 1-week post-treatment, and at a 1-month follow-up, and parents completed weekly measures of children’s OCD symptoms/impairment.

Results:

Seventy percent of children were ‘responders’ and/or ‘remitters’ on diagnostic measures at post-treatment, and 60% at the 1-month follow-up. At least 50% of children showed reliable improvements on parent-reported OCD symptoms/impairment from pre- to post-treatment, and from pre-treatment to 1-month follow-up. Crucially, the intervention was acceptable to parents.

Conclusions:

Brief therapist-guided, parent-led CBT has the potential to be an effective, acceptable and accessible first-line treatment for pre-adolescent children with OCD, subject to the findings of further evaluations.
Outcomes of endovascular treatment for popliteal artery	disease
Authors: Müller Arne M. , Löhn-Kannengießer Leoni , Bradaric Christian , Dirschinger Ralf , Koppara Tobias , Bergmann Katharina , Kehl Victoria , Cassese Salvatore , Xhepa Erion , Kastrati Adnan , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Ibrahim Tareq
Published: October 2023

Summary: Background: Finding the appropriate endovascular revascularization strategy for patients with peripheral artery disease and a popliteal artery lesion remains particulary challenging. Data regarding predictors for a beneficial outcome are scarce. Patients and methods: All endovascular procedures of popliteal artery lesions (n=227) performed in 197 patients between February 2009 and May 2018 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Hemodynamically relevant restenosis represented the primary endpoint. Results: The overall technical success rate was 98% and yielded 99% for stenoses (n=145) and 97% for occlusions (n=82). In a median follow-up of 10 months, the overall rate of restenosis was 23%. After 1 and 2 years, the primary patency rates were 76% and 55% and the secondary patency rate was 100%, respectively. The estimated probability of restenosis was significantly higher in stented lesions (stent vs. no stent; 36.0% vs. 19.1%; p=0.030). Multivariate analysis identified stent implantation (hazard ratio: 2.4; overall P=0.010) and diabetes (hazard ratio 2.0; P=0.023) as significant predictors for the development of restenosis. Conclusions: Endovascular therapy for popliteal artery disease was associated with high technical success rates and accompanied with a promising mid-term outcome, particularly in lesions treated with balloon angioplasty alone.
Organosulfur Aerosols Likely Carried Sulfur MIF Signatures in the Early Earth’s Atmosphere
Authors: Oduro Harry , Ono Shuhei , Alrasheed Faisal , Eldridge Daniel L.
Published: October 2023

Signatures of mass‐independent fractionation (MIF) of sulfur in Archean sulfide and sulfate minerals are widely thought to record an anoxic early Earth’s atmosphere. While experiments of ultraviolet irradiation of SO2 produce significant sulfur mass‐independent fractionation (S‐MIF) in reaction products (elemental sulfur and residual sulfur dioxide), they have not been able to reproduce the isotope patterns, in particular Δ36S/Δ33S ratios, observed in the geologic rock record. Studies that focused on organic sulfur gases and hazes in Archean did not report organosulfur aerosol photoproducts as major contributors to Archean S‐MIF chemistry. Here we show, for the first time, that photochemical reactions of SO2 in the presence of gaseous hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, and C2H4) produce haze‐like organosulfur aerosols bearing S‐MIF with variable Δ36S/Δ33S ratios. The isotope trends for the organosulfur photoproducts produced in our experiments suggest that in addition to elemental sulfur, organosulfur compounds—in particular methanesulfonic acid—are a key component of S‐MIF signals from the atmosphere to the ocean and sediments with possible links to Archean atmosphere warmed by a methane greenhouse.
The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors
Authors: Johaneman T. M. , Lininger K. B. , Schook D. M. , Pitlick J. , Martin M.
Published: October 2023

Hydrogeomorphic processes strongly influence riparian vegetation, but few studies have determined the influence of knickpoint development on these processes. We investigate the influence of knickpoint development and channel incision on flood inundation, channel morphology, and riparian vegetation on the Fremont River in Utah. We conducted topographic surveys (n = 30 transects) and plot‐based vegetation surveys (n = 336) in three 1 km‐long reaches with varying proximities to a human‐created knickpoint. We also developed 1D hydraulic models to assess flood inundation patterns. Our data indicate that knickpoint development affects riparian vegetation composition and abundance through its influence on geomorphic and hydrologic processes. The study reach located just upstream of the knickpoint (R2) had a deeper channel, flooded less frequently, and required higher flows to inundate the floodplain compared to the study reach located 5 km upstream of the knickpoint (R1). Overall mean vegetation abundance (percent cover) was higher in R1 (55.7%) than in R2 (30.1%), and R1 had more occurrences of wet‐adapted (facultative wetland and obligate) species than R2 (198 and 79, respectively). Vegetation in the human‐created abandoned meander reach near the knickpoint (R4) was predominantly dry‐adapted (upland) species. Cross‐reach comparisons and more than 3 m of incision in the knickzone since knickpoint creation indicate that knickpoint development has resulted in channel incision in R2, shifting its vegetation toward more dry‐adapted species reminiscent of the surrounding uplands. This work informs natural resource management practices for habitat in riparian ecosystems and can be applied to rivers in drier regions.
Dynamic response of the cell traction force to osmotic shock
Authors: Liu Yongman , Wu Wenjie , Feng Shuo , Chen Ye , Wu Xiaoping , Zhang Qingchuan , Wu Shangquan
Published: October 2023

Osmotic pressure is vital to many physiological activities, such as cell proliferation, wound healing and disease treatment. However, how cells interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) when subjected to osmotic shock remains unclear. Here, we visualize the mechanical interactions between cells and the ECM during osmotic shock by quantifying the dynamic evolution of the cell traction force. We show that both hypertonic and hypotonic shocks induce continuous and large changes in cell traction force. Moreover, the traction force varies with cell volume: the traction force increases as cells shrink and decreases as cells swell. However, the direction of the traction force is independent of cell volume changes and is always toward the center of the cell-substrate interface. Furthermore, we reveal a mechanical mechanism in which the change in cortical tension caused by osmotic shock leads to the variation in traction force, which suggests a simple method for measuring changes in cell cortical tension. These findings provide new insights into the mechanical force response of cells to the external environment and may provide a deeper understanding of how the ECM regulates cell structure and function.
Sleep spindles are reduced in children with Down syndrome and sleep-disordered breathing
Authors: Shetty Marisha , Davey Margot J. , Nixon Gillian M. , Walter Lisa M. , Horne Rosemary S. C.
Published: October 2023

Background

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). We investigated sleep spindle activity, as a marker of sleep quality, and its relationship with daytime functioning in children with DS compared to typically developing (TD) children.

Methods

Children with DS and SDB (n = 44) and TD children matched for age, sex and SDB severity underwent overnight polysomnography. Fast or Slow sleep spindles were identified manually during N2/N3 sleep. Spindle activity was characterized as spindle number, density (number of spindles/h) and intensity (density × average duration) on central (C) and frontal (F) electrodes. Parents completed the Child Behavior Check List and OSA-18 questionnaires.

Results

In children with DS, spindle activity was lower compared to TD children for F Slow and F Slow&Fast spindles combined (p < 0.001 for all). Furthermore, there were no correlations between spindle activity and CBCL subscales; however, spindle activity for C Fast and C Slow&Fast was negatively correlated with OSA-18 emotional symptoms and caregiver concerns and C Fast activity was also negatively correlated with daytime function and total problems.

Conclusions

Reduced spindle activity in children with DS may underpin the increased sleep disruption and negative effects of SDB on quality of life and behavior.

Impact

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which is associated with sleep disruption affecting daytime functioning.

Sleep spindles are a sensitive marker of sleep quality.

We identified for the first time that children with DS had reduced sleep spindle activity compared to typically developing children matched for SDB severity.

The reduced spindle activity likely underpins the more disrupted sleep and may be associated with reduced daytime functioning and quality of life and may also be an early biomarker for an increased risk of developing dementia later in life in children with DS.
Unexpected gender differences in progressive supranuclear palsy reveal efficacy for davunetide in women
Authors: Gozes Illana , Shapira Guy , Lobyntseva Alexandra , Shomron Noam
Published: October 2023

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a pure tauopathy, implicating davunetide, enhancing Tau-microtubule interaction, as an ideal drug candidate. However, pooling patient data irrespective of sex concluded no efficacy. Here, analyzing sex-dependency in a 52 week-long- PSP clinical trial (involving over 200 patients) demonstrated clear baseline differences in brain ventricular volumes, a secondary endpoint. Dramatic baseline ventricular volume-dependent/volume increase correlations were observed in 52-week-placebo-treated females (r = 0.74, P = 2.36–9), whereas davunetide-treated females (like males) revealed no such effects. Assessment of primary endpoints, by the PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) and markedly more so by the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (SEADL) scale, showed significantly faster deterioration in females, starting at trial week 13 (P = 0.01, and correlating with most other endpoints by week 52). Twice daily davunetide treatments slowed female disease progression and revealed significant protection according to the SEADL scale as early as at 39 weeks (P = 0.008), as well as protection of the bulbar and limb motor domains considered by the PSPRS, including speaking and swallowing difficulties caused by brain damage, and deterioration of fine motor skills, respectably (P = 0.01), at 52 weeks. Furthermore, at 52 weeks of trial, the exploratory Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) significantly correlated with the SEADL scale deterioration in the female placebo group and demonstrated davunetide-mediated protection of females. Female-specific davunetide-mediated protection of ventricular volume corresponded to clinical efficacy. Together with the significantly slower disease progression seen in men, the results reveal sex-based drug efficacy differences, demonstrating the neuroprotective and disease-modifying impact of davunetide treatment for female PSP patients.
Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 reprograms proline metabolism to drive breast cancer stemness under psychological stress
Authors: Cui Bai , He Bin , Huang Yanping , Wang Cenxin , Luo Huandong , Lu Jinxin , Su Keyu , Zhang Xiaoyu , Luo Yuanyuan , Zhao Zhuoran , Yang Yuqing , Zhang Yunkun , An Fan , Wang Hong , Lam Eric W.-F. , Kelley Keith W. , Wang Ling , Liu Quentin , Peng Fei
Published: October 2023

Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) contribute to cancer metastasis, drug resistance and tumor relapse, yet how amino acid metabolism promotes CSC maintenance remains exclusive. Here, we identify that proline synthetase PYCR1 is critical for breast cancer stemness and tumor growth. Mechanistically, PYCR1-synthesized proline activates cGMP-PKG signaling to enhance cancer stem-like traits. Importantly, cGMP-PKG signaling mediates psychological stress-induced cancer stem-like phenotypes and tumorigenesis. Ablation of PYCR1 markedly reverses psychological stress-induced proline synthesis, cGMP-PKG signaling activation and cancer progression. Clinically, PYCR1 and cGMP-PKG signaling components are highly expressed in breast tumor specimens, conferring poor survival in breast cancer patients. Targeting proline metabolism or cGMP-PKG signaling pathway provides a potential therapeutic strategy for breast patients undergoing psychological stress. Collectively, our findings unveil that PYCR1-enhanced proline synthesis displays a critical role in maintaining breast cancer stemness.
Charge injection engineering at organic/inorganic heterointerfaces for high-efficiency and fast-response perovskite light-emitting diodes
Authors: Li Zhenchao , Chen Ziming , Shi Zhangsheng , Zou Guangruixing , Chu Linghao , Chen Xian-Kai , Zhang Chujun , So Shu Kong , Yip Hin-Lap
Published: October 2023

The development of advanced perovskite emitters has considerably improved the performance of perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the further development of perovskite LEDs requires ideal device electrical properties, which strongly depend on its interfaces. In perovskite LEDs with conventional p-i-n structures, hole injection is generally less efficient than electron injection, causing charge imbalance. Furthermore, the popular hole injection structure of NiOx/poly(9-vinylcarbazole) suffers from several issues, such as weak interfacial adhesion, high interfacial trap density and mismatched energy levels. In this work, we insert a self-assembled monolayer of [2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid between the NiOx and poly(9-vinylcarbazole) layers to overcome these challenges at the organic/inorganic heterointerfaces by establishing a robust interface, passivating interfacial trap states and aligning the energy levels. We successfully demonstrate blue (emission at 493 nm) and green (emission at 515 nm) devices with external quantum efficiencies of 14.5% and 26.0%, respectively. More importantly, the self-assembled monolayer also gives rise to devices with much faster response speeds by reducing interfacial capacitance and resistance. Our results pave the way for developing more efficient and brighter perovskite LEDs with quick response, widening their potential application scope.
Design, structure and plasma binding of ancestral β-CoV scaffold antigens
Authors: Hueting David , Schriever Karen , Sun Rui , Vlachiotis Stelios , Zuo Fanglei , Du Likun , Persson Helena , Hofström Camilla , Ohlin Mats , Walldén Karin , Buggert Marcus , Hammarström Lennart , Marcotte Harold , Pan-Hammarström Qiang , Andréll Juni , Syrén Per-Olof
Published: October 2023

We report the application of ancestral sequence reconstruction on coronavirus spike protein, resulting in stable and highly soluble ancestral scaffold antigens (AnSAs). The AnSAs interact with plasma of patients recovered from COVID-19 but do not bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Cryo-EM analysis of the AnSAs yield high resolution structures (2.6–2.8 Å) indicating a closed pre-fusion conformation in which all three receptor-binding domains (RBDs) are facing downwards. The structures reveal an intricate hydrogen-bonding network mediated by well-resolved loops, both within and across monomers, tethering the N-terminal domain and RBD together. We show that AnSA-5 can induce and boost a broad-spectrum immune response against the wild-type RBD as well as circulating variants of concern in an immune organoid model derived from tonsils. Finally, we highlight how AnSAs are potent scaffolds by replacing the ancestral RBD with the wild-type sequence, which restores ACE2 binding and increases the interaction with convalescent plasma.
Descending GABAergic pathway links brain sugar-sensing to peripheral nociceptive gating in Drosophila
Authors: Nakamizo-Dojo Mami , Ishii Kenichi , Yoshino Jiro , Tsuji Masato , Emoto Kazuo
Published: October 2023

Although painful stimuli elicit defensive responses including escape behavior for survival, starved animals often prioritize feeding over escape even in a noxious environment. This behavioral priority is typically mediated by suppression of noxious inputs through descending control in the brain, yet underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we identify a cluster of GABAergic neurons in Drosophila larval brain, designated as SEZ-localized Descending GABAergic neurons (SDGs), that project descending axons onto the axon terminals of the peripheral nociceptive neurons and prevent presynaptic activity through GABAB receptors. Remarkably, glucose feeding to starved larvae causes sustained activation of SDGs through glucose-sensing neurons and subsequent insulin signaling in SDGs, which attenuates nociception and thereby suppresses escape behavior in response to multiple noxious stimuli. These findings illustrate a neural mechanism by which sugar sensing neurons in the brain engages descending GABAergic neurons in nociceptive gating to achieve hierarchical interaction between feeding and escape behavior.
Assessing the global risk of typhoid outbreaks caused by extensively drug resistant Salmonella Typhi
Authors: Walker Joseph , Chaguza Chrispin , Grubaugh Nathan D. , Carey Megan , Baker Stephen , Khan Kamran , Bogoch Isaac I. , Pitzer Virginia E.
Published: October 2023

Since its emergence in 2016, extensively drug resistant (XDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) has become the dominant cause of typhoid fever in Pakistan. The establishment of sustained XDR S. Typhi transmission in other countries represents a major public health threat. We show that the annual volume of air travel from Pakistan strongly discriminates between countries that have and have not imported XDR S. Typhi in the past, and identify a significant association between air travel volume and the rate of between-country movement of the H58 haplotype of S. Typhi from fitted phylogeographic models. Applying these insights, we analyze flight itinerary data cross-referenced with model-based estimates of typhoid fever incidence to identify the countries at highest risk of importation and sustained onward transmission of XDR S. Typhi. Future outbreaks of XDR typhoid are most likely to occur in countries that can support efficient local S. Typhi transmission and have strong travel links to regions with ongoing XDR typhoid outbreaks (currently Pakistan). Public health activities to track and mitigate the spread of XDR S. Typhi should be prioritized in these countries.
Primitive to conventional geometry projection for efficient phonon transport calculations
Authors: Li Xun , Thébaud Simon , Lindsay Lucas
Published: October 2023

The primitive Wigner-Seitz cell and corresponding first Brillouin zone (FBZ) are typically used in calculations of lattice vibrational and transport properties as they contain the smallest number of degrees of freedom and thus have the cheapest computational cost. However, in complex materials, the FBZ can take on irregular shapes where lattice symmetries are not apparent. Thus, conventional cells (with more atoms and regular shapes) are often used to describe materials, though dynamical and transport calculations are more expensive. Here we discuss an efficient anharmonic lattice dynamic method that maps conventional cell dynamics to primitive cell dynamics based on translational symmetries. Such symmetries have not been utilized in typical lattice dynamical calculations. This leads to phase interference conditions that act like conserved quantum numbers and a conservation rule for phonon scattering that is hidden in conventional dynamics which significantly reduces the computational cost. We demonstrate this method for phonon transport in a variety of materials with inputs from first-principles calculations and attribute its efficiency to reduced scattering phase space and fewer summations in scattering matrix element calculations.
A high-speed current source for magnetorheological applications
Authors: Xie Lei , Lu Chuan , Yin Jianfei , Wei Bo , Wang Yuhao , Wang Pengsai , Yang Zhipeng , Liao Changrong
Published: October 2023

Current source is an indispensable component of magnetorheological (MR) systems. Though MR fluid has a phase change as fast as in 1 ms, the response of MR damper (MRD) to generate the damping force may be two orders of magnitude longer. Therefore, the rapid response of current source is a key to realize the real-time semi-active control of MR devices. This study proposes a programmable high-speed, low-cost current source exclusively for MR devices based on the synergy between supercapacitor and Buck converter (i.e., SSBC current source). SSBC current source features a strategy consisting of a lifting phase of supercapacitor and a following maintaining phase of Buck converter. Specifically, the high power density of supercapacitor contributes to rapidly lifting/raising the initial current, and then, like a “relay race”, the expected output is maintained through a Buck converter. Theoretical modeling and experiments are performed systematically. The response times (@ 95% of expected outputs) measured are 0.44, 0.84 and 1.88 ms for the outputs of 3, 6 and 9 A, respectively; these values are highlighted as the fastest level in this field. Besides, the response can be up to 24.6 and 43.7 times faster than the cases using supercapacitor and Buck converter to directly drive the MRD, respectively. SSBC current source is employed to generate a sequence of currents/magnetic inductions, only four variables of which need to be controlled programmatically: the order of lifting and maintaining phases, switching time of lifting phase, PWM duty cycle of Buck converter and duration of maintaining phase. The response time stability is verified by 100 cycles of on/off tests, showing a fluctuation of only 1.1%, which indicates a very reliable high-speed response. This study provides an exclusive power supply with a novel strategy for MR devices, which is believed to be an important promotion for MR technologies.
Computed tomographic imaging features to differentiate gastric schwannomas from gastrointestinal stromal tumours: a matched case–control study
Authors: Wang Lijia , Wang Qi , Yang Li , Ma Chongfei , Shi Gaofeng
Published: October 2023

To investigate clinical data and computed tomographic (CT) imaging features in differentiating gastric schwannomas (GSs) from gastric stromal tumours (GISTs) in matched patients, 31 patients with GSs were matched with 62 patients with GISTs (1:2) in sex, age, and tumour site. The clinical and imaging data were analysed. A significant (P < 0.05) difference was found in the tumour margin, enhancement pattern, growth pattern, and LD values between the 31 patients with GSs and 62 matched patients with GISTs. The GS lesions were mostly (93.5%) well defined while only 61.3% GIST lesions were well defined.The GS lesions were significantly (P = 0.036) smaller than the GIST lesions, with the LD ranging 1.5–7.4 (mean 3.67 cm) cm for the GSs and 1.0–15.30 (mean 5.09) cm for GIST lesions. The GS lesions were more significantly (P = 0.001) homogeneously enhanced (83.9% vs. 41.9%) than the GIST lesions. The GS lesions were mainly of the mixed growth pattern both within and outside the gastric wall (74.2% vs. 22.6%, P < 0.05) compared with that of GISTs. No metastasis or invasion of adjacent organs was present in any of the GS lesions, however, 1.6% of GISTs experienced metastasis and 3.2% of GISTs presented with invasion of adjacent organs. Heterogeneous enhancement and mixed growth pattern were two significant (P < 0.05) independent factors for distinguishing GS from GIST lesions. In conclusion: GS and GIST lesions may have significantly different features for differentiation in lesion margin, heterogeneous enhancement, mixed growth pattern, and longest lesion diameter, especially heterogeneous enhancement and mixed growth pattern.
Periostin deficiency attenuates kidney fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by improving pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and reducing kidney EMT
Authors: Cho Ara , Jin Wencheng , Lee Jeonghwan , Shin Nayeon , Lee Myoung Seok , Li Lilin , Yang Seung Hee , Park Kyong Soo , Yang Chul Woo , Kim Dong Ki , Oh Yun Kyu , Lim Chun Soo , Lee Jung Pyo
Published: October 2023

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is associated with kidney fibrosis. A previous study revealed that periostin (POSTN) contributes to kidney fibrosis. This study examined the role of POSTN in DN. The urinary concentrations of POSTN and TNC increased according to the severity of DN in human samples. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered after unilateral nephrectomy (UNXSTZ) to induce DN in wild-type and Postn-null mice. Four experimental groups were generated: wild-typeham (WT Sham), wild-type UNXSTZ (WT STZ), Postn-null Sham (KO Sham), and Postn-null UNXSTZ (KO STZ). After 20 weeks, the KO STZ group had lower levels of urine albumin excretion, glomerular sclerosis, and interstitial fibrosis than those of the WT STZ group. Additionally, the KO STZ group had lower expression of fibrosis markers, including TNC. The KO STZ group showed better glucose regulation than the WT STZ model. Furthermore, the KO STZ group exhibited significantly preserved pancreatic islet integrity and insulin expression. HK-2 cells were used to observe the aggravation of fibrosis caused by POSTN under TGF-β conditions. We stimulated INS-1 cells with streptozotocin and evaluated the viability of these cells. The anti-POSTN antibody treatment of INS-1 cells with streptozotocin resulted in higher cell viability than that with treatment with streptozotocin alone. The absence of POSTN in DN contributes to renal fibrosis alleviation by improving pancreatic β-cell function. Additionally, there is an association between POSTN and TNC.
On-body non-invasive glucose monitoring sensor based on high figure of merit (FoM) surface plasmonic microwave resonator
Authors: Soltanian Farzad , Nosrati Mehdi , Mobayen Saleh , Li Chuan-Chun , Pan Telung , Ke Ming-Ta , Skruch Paweł
Published: October 2023

High-figure of merit (FoM) plasmonic microwave resonator is researched as a non-invasive on-body sensor to monitor the human body's blood glucose variation rate in adults for biomedical applications, e.g., diabetic patients. The resonance frequencies of the proposed sensor are measured to be around$${f}_{01}=3.25$$f01=3.25GHz and$${f}_{01}=4.67$$f01=4.67GHz over the frequency band of DC to 6GHz which are suitable for monitoring interstitial fluid (ISF) changing rate. The$$40\times 40 {\mathrm{mm}}^{2}$$40×40mm2sensor is experimentally wrapped on the human body arm to monitor the blood glucose changing rate via amplitude and frequency variations of the sensor. Amplitude variation and frequency shift are measured to be around 7 dB and 30 MHz, respectively. The measured results demonstrate the high precision of the proposed approach to depict a valid diagram for glucose changing rate due to good impedance matching of the designed microwave sensor and human body. The sensor is shown to enhance the sensitivity by a factor of 5 compared to the conventional ones.
h-Analysis and data-parallel physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Escapil-Inchauspé Paul , Ruz Gonzalo A.
Published: October 2023

We explore the data-parallel acceleration of physics-informed machine learning (PIML) schemes, with a focus on physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) architectures. In order to develop scale-robust and high-throughput PIML models for sophisticated applications which may require a large number of training points (e.g., involving complex and high-dimensional domains, non-linear operators or multi-physics), we detail a novel protocol based on h-analysis and data-parallel acceleration through the Horovod training framework. The protocol is backed by new convergence bounds for the generalization error and the train-test gap. We show that the acceleration is straightforward to implement, does not compromise training, and proves to be highly efficient and controllable, paving the way towards generic scale-robust PIML. Extensive numerical experiments with increasing complexity illustrate its robustness and consistency, offering a wide range of possibilities for real-world simulations.
Quality control prediction of electrolytic copper using novel hybrid nonlinear analysis algorithm
Authors: Su Yuzhen , Ye Weichuan , Yang Kai , Li Meng , He Zhaohui , Xiao Qingtai
Published: October 2023

Traditional linear regression and neural network models demonstrate suboptimal fit and lower predictive accuracy while the quality of electrolytic copper is estimated. A more dependable and accurate model is essential for these challenges. Notably, the maximum information coefficient was employed initially to discern the non-linear correlation between the nineteen factors influencing electrolytic copper quality and the five quality control indicators. Additionally, the random forest algorithm elucidated the primary factors governing electrolytic copper quality. A hybrid model, integrating particle swarm optimization with least square support vector machine, was devised to predict electrolytic copper quality based on the nineteen factors. Concurrently, a hybrid model combining random forest and relevance vector machine was developed, focusing on primary control factors. The outcomes indicate that the random forest algorithm identified five principal factors governing electrolytic copper quality, corroborated by the non-linear correlation analysis via the maximum information coefficient. The predictive accuracy of the relevance vector machine model, when accounting for all nineteen factors, was comparable to the particle swarm optimization—least square support vector machine model, and surpassed both the conventional linear regression and neural network models. The predictive error for the random forest-relevance vector machine hybrid model was notably less than the sole relevance vector machine model, with the error index being under 5%. The intricate non-linear variation pattern of electrolytic copper quality, influenced by numerous factors, was unveiled. The advanced random forest-relevance vector machine hybrid model circumvents the deficiencies seen in conventional models. The findings furnish valuable insights for electrolytic copper quality management.
Bifurcation analysis of a tuberculosis progression model for drug target identification
Authors: Flores-Garza Eliezer , Hernández-Pando Rogelio , García-Zárate Ibrahim , Aguirre Pablo , Domínguez-Hüttinger Elisa
Published: October 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The emergence and rapid spread of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains urge us to develop novel treatments. Experimental trials are constrained by laboratory capacity, insufficient funds, low number of laboratory animals and obsolete technology. Systems-level approaches to quantitatively study TB can overcome these limitations. Previously, we proposed a mathematical model describing the key regulatory mechanisms underlying the pathological progression of TB. Here, we systematically explore the effect of parameter variations on disease outcome. We find five bifurcation parameters that steer the clinical outcome of TB: number of bacteria phagocytosed per macrophage, macrophages death, macrophage killing by bacteria, macrophage recruitment, and phagocytosis of bacteria. The corresponding bifurcation diagrams show all-or-nothing dose–response curves with parameter regions mapping onto bacterial clearance, persistent infection, or history-dependent clearance or infection. Importantly, the pathogenic stage strongly affects the sensitivity of the host to these parameter variations. We identify parameter values corresponding to a latent-infection model of TB, where disease progression occurs significantly slower than in progressive TB. Two-dimensional bifurcation analyses uncovered synergistic parameter pairs that could act as efficient compound therapeutic approaches. Through bifurcation analysis, we reveal how modulation of specific regulatory mechanisms could steer the clinical outcome of TB.
Few-shot learning for joint model in underwater acoustic target recognition
Authors: Tian Shengzhao , Bai Di , Zhou Junlin , Fu Yan , Chen Duanbing
Published: October 2023

In underwater acoustic target recognition, there is a lack of massive high-quality labeled samples to train robust deep neural networks, and it is difficult to collect and annotate a large amount of base class data in advance unlike the image recognition field. Therefore, conventional few-shot learning methods are difficult to apply in underwater acoustic target recognition. In this report, following advanced self-supervised learning frameworks, a learning framework for underwater acoustic target recognition model with few samples is proposed. Meanwhile, a semi-supervised fine-tuning method is proposed to improve the fine-tuning performance by mining and labeling partial unlabeled samples based on the similarity of deep features. A set of small sample datasets with different amounts of labeled data are constructed, and the performance baselines of four underwater acoustic target recognition models are established based on these datasets. Compared with the baselines, using the proposed framework effectively improves the recognition effect of four models. Especially for the joint model, the recognition accuracy has increased by 2.04% to 12.14% compared with the baselines. The model performance on only 10 percent of the labeled data can exceed that on the full dataset, effectively reducing the dependence of model on the number of labeled samples. The problem of lack of labeled samples in underwater acoustic target recognition is alleviated.