bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peran Pustakawan dalam Menghadapi Hoax: Studi Kasus Pustakawan Unsoed Purwokerto
Authors: Rosyidi Fathu Rahman
Published: January 2025

Pendahuluan. Artikel ini mengkaji peran pustakawan dalam menghadapi hoax. Kajian ini menitik beratkan pada peran pustakawan Unsoed dalam menghadapi penyebaran informasi berkategori hoax di kalangan masyarakat yang mereka layani.
Metode Pengumpulan Data. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan studi Pustaka dan survey sebagai metode pengumpulan datanya. Hasil pengumpulan data dianalisa melalui perbandingan antara teori-teori yang ada dengan hasil observasi berupa hal-hal yang telah dilakukan  oleh pustakawan Unsoed. Hasil tersebut kemudian disajikan secara deskriptif untuk menggambarkan peran pustakawan Unsoed dalam menghadapi penyebaran hoax.
Hasil dan Diskusi. Perkembangan teknologi semakin tak terkendali terutama di medis sosial, seperti facebook, instagram, youtube, sehingga semua orang bisa membuat berita dan juga menyebarkan informasi yang mereka dapatkan secara terus menerus. Perkembangan tersebut perlu adanya antisipasi bagi dunia perpustakaan yang notabene merupakan gudangnya informasi yang akurat dan dapat dipertanggung jawabkan. Untuk itu lah peran pustakawan perlu hadir ditengah masyarakat dalam memberikan edukasi pentingnya saring sebelum sharing informasi, agar informasi yang tidak benar atau hoax tidak menyebar.
Simpulan. Peran pustakawan diperlukan untuk membendung informasi hoax yang terjadi dimasyarakat lingkungannya sesuai dengan tugas dan wewenangnya. Peran pustakawan Unsoed dalam menghadapi hoax diwujudkan dalam bentuk pelaksanaan berbagai kegiatan, seperti library tour, bergabung ke dalam IPI, pelatihan pencarian informasi, serta pendampingan masyarakat.
Épistémologie, genre et blanchité : quelle place pour les travaux critiques sur la race et les personnes racisées en science politique ?1
Authors: Taher Saaz
Published: January 2025

Les personnes Noires et racisées produisant des recherches en théorie critique de la race au Québec se retrouvent confrontées à des contextes politiques et universitaires où le concept de « race » pose problème. Ainsi, non seulement cette théorie, constituant une composante des savoirs dits minoritaires, se retrouve discréditée au sein de l’université, mais les chercheur·e·s participant au développement de ces savoirs – d’autant plus si ielles appartiennent à des groupes minoritaires – sont prétendu·e·s illégitimes et incompétent·e·s sur le plan scientifique. Comment comprendre de telles dynamiques dans la production des savoirs collectifs et vis-à-vis de leurs producteur·rice·s au sein des sphères universitaires ? Pour y répondre, cet article propose d’examiner les liens entre l’épistémologie, le genre et la blanchité au sein de la science politique et suggère l’adoption d’une épistémologie de l’humilité à la lumière de ces dynamiques.
The Power of Domestic Violence and Abuse Counter Narratives: Telling Stories in Parliamentary Debates
Authors: Shaw Rebecca
Published: January 2025

This paper sets out to interrogate the use of master and counter narratives in UK Parliamentary Select Committee debates surrounding the passage of the Domestic Abuse Bill (now Domestic Abuse Act 2021) in Parliament. These debates are a site that allow for the telling of counter narratives in order to challenge the narrative of the normative socio-legal position regarding domestic violence and abuse (DVA). With its roots in the patriarchy and stereotypical gender roles that foster violence and abuse, the issue with such a narrative is that it fails to recognise the complex, nuanced nature of domestic violence and abuse. As a result, it maintains the status quo and is disconnected from the realities of DVA. The work of this paper, then, is to consider the dialogue between the masterplot of DVA, the Domestic Abuse Bill, and the attempts of counter narratives to act as discursive resistance. It will consider what is the true power of these anti-hegemonic stories in exposing the problems with the master-narrative. Counter narratives submitted by organisations, activists, academics and survivors of DVA during the Committee Stage of the debates were not uniform, monolithic or pure, and were often plagued with inconsistencies and contradictions with one another. Characterised as the same but different, these counter narratives did not act in strict opposition to the hegemonic master narrative. As a result, this paper will draw on a case study which examines three different reports submitted during the Committee Stage of the Debates to consider the following questions: in what way can counter narratives act as discursive resistance in law reform efforts and why are some more successful than others in dismantling the master narrative through the mechanism of the law? Overall, the argument put forward is that it is the counter narratives with a greater illocutionary force and greater narratological power which can be a successful tool in law reform and effect a shift in the master narrative of domestic violence and abuse.
The cultural universals of Russian society in the context of the intergenerational conflict
Authors: Konstantinov Mikhail Sergeevich , Pupikin Roman Aleksandrovich
Published: January 2025

The article presents some results of two all-Russian sociological studies aimed at identifying the specifics and ideological foundations of intergenerational relations in modern Russian society. The object of the study is the consciousness of Russians, and the subject is cultural universals in the context of intergenerational ideological differences. J. Turner's theory of self-categorization was used as a theoretical basis, which is based on the idea of cognitive self-categorization of individuals as members of various communities - local, professional, generational, etc. The key cognitive mechanism of self-categorization is the principle of meta-contrast, the essence of which lies in the effect of a distinctive feature that determines either belonging to a group or not falling into it. These principles formed the basis of the questionnaire of the sociological survey. During the study, questionnaires (N = 1600) in 2023 and 2024 were preceded by a series of focus groups, as well as an analysis of social networks. As a result, ideological fault lines between generations were identified. The following meta-contrasts were identified among those specifying generations: projection of negative characteristics onto younger generation opposed to the older generation' positive qualities; impact of historical events: the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, perestroika of 1985-1991, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the conquest of space and the Great October Revolution of 1917. General cultural constants included the values of efficiency, responsibility, faith in one's own strength, etc. The anti-values of irresponsibility, impulsiveness, etc., as well as specific attitudes toward two historical events: the Great Patriotic War and the collapse of the USSR were also identified.
Genetic diversity investigation of some Darjeeling Himalayan Rhododendron species based on RAPD method
Authors: Mondal Animesh , De Kalyan Kumar
Published: January 2025

Ten rare, threatened, and endangered Rhododendron species were collected from different places of altitudinal ranges starting from 2,247 to 3,580 masl. Of Darjeeling Hill. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used to measure the degree of the Genetic variation and the interconnection within the species. Out of 19, 6 oligonucleotide primers were chosen based on their performance, for the study. Genetic Similarity Coefficient ranged from 0.45455 to 0.93827 with an average of 79.43% polymorphism. This present study shows a low average level of genetic diversity [Ho = 0.986, Hs = 0.979, Ht = 0.985, I = 3.973, polymorphic information content = 0.2096] in the population of Rhododendron. As well as, a negative value of inbreeding coefficients. The mean inbreeding coefficient (Fst) within subpopulations is 0.006. A RAPD-based dendrogram constructed from Jaccard’s estimates in Free Tree, through the use of neighbor-joining cluster analysis, divided nine (out of ten) Rhododendron species into two main sister groups. The study found that Rhododendron species are at risk of out-crossing depression and require conservation.
Synthesis of a new peptide and evaluation of its cytotoxicity and regenerative properties by prediction and in vitro experiment
Authors: Tikhonov Sergey , Babich Olga , Sukhikh Stanislav , Tikhonova Natalia , Chernukha Irina
Published: January 2025

Identifying compounds that can accelerate or enhance the natural healing process of fractures, skin wounds, tendons, and skeletal muscle tears is a significant challenge in medical practice, as there are few pharmaceutical products specifically designed to promote healing. Designing and creating effective peptides for wound healing remains difficult because not all new peptides are bioavailable, bioactive, resistant to proteolysis, and non-toxic. To overcome this problem, the properties of a designed peptide are predicted prior to its synthesis. This study aimed to predict the toxicity and biological activity of a peptide with regenerative properties at its design stage, followed by synthesis and confirmation of the results in an in vitro experiment. The result of the molecular peptide transplantation process was the creation of a new cyclic peptide with the amino acid sequence CTKSICTKKTLRTCPPIC. The synthesized peptide exhibited complete consistency with the predicted characteristics. The absence of toxicity of the peptide was confirmed in a cell line experiment. The regenerative properties of the peptide were demonstrated in an in vitro experiment. However, before the developed and synthesized regenerative peptide can be used in practice, it must be proven effective in preclinical and clinical studies.
Fiesta de picó champeta, espacio y cuerpo en Cartagena, Colombia
Authors: Sanz Giraldo María Alejandra
Published: January 2025

El trabajo aborda el tema de los picós y la champeta en Cartagena resaltando su centralidad en las fiestas y su trascendencia en la vida cotidiana de los habitantes de los barrios populares de la ciudad. Describe y analiza las distintas interacciones de esta música con la fiesta, el cuerpo y el baile, elementos consustanciales de la champeta, música que además se constituye en expresión identitaria de estos barrios. Así mismo la monografía contienen un amplio trabajo de campo que describe detalladamente los actores del universo picotero y los ciclos de producción musical de los diferentes tipos de picó que existen en Cartagena. En el primer capítulo se aborda una geografía musical del fenómeno. El segundo se adentra a describir la estructura de la fiesta picotera, para en el tercero dar paso al lugar que ocupa el cuerpo y el baile dentro de este contexto. El cuarto capítulo expone una serie de tensiones que se desprenden de esta estética, para finalmente concluir que la fiesta de picó es un medio de sustento no sólo económico sino simbólico de una cultura históricamente marginada. Desde la antropología se abordan nociones como, territorio, espacio, lugar, paisaje sonoro, música y musicar, música y poder, fiesta, raza, comunidad, hibridación, resistencia, cuerpo, baile, producción, escena, estética y sus relaciones y tensiones en el campo de lo simbólico. De esta manera se plantea cómo el sonido picotero crea una espacialidad sonora alterna y un contraste entre la Cartagena marginal y la turística, situación que es expresión contemporánea de las relaciones de exclusión y de poder creadas en la ciudad desde la Colonia.
An investigation of rare earth elements in sewage sludge generated in Poland
Authors: Kostrz-Sikora Paulina
Published: January 2025

According to Statistics Poland, an average of around 1 million tonnes DM of sewage sludge has been generated in Poland annually over the past several years, of which approximately 30% has been used in nature, e.g. in agriculture, to grow plants for compost production, or for land reclamation (Statistics Poland 2004–2022). Most research on sewage sludge has focused on investigating its fertilizing value (nitrogen, phosphorus), identifying the composition of organic matter and determining the total content of heavy metals (including primarily cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury and chromium) and the forms of their occurrence that determine their mobility and bioavailability. The occurrence of rare earth elements (REEs) in sewage sludge has hardly been addressed in research, even though their presence in production processes and everyday objects is increasingly common. The results presented in this article of studies of the concentrations of individual REEs in sewage sludge from selected industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants located in Poland indicate that they are significantly lower than the average lanthanide level in the Earth’s crust. This may suggest that anthropogenic sources of REEs do not affect the composition of the wastewater and sludge studied. The calculated median concentration of ΣREE in sludge from industrial wastewater treatment plants is 9.47 mg/kg, whereas in municipal sewage sludge, the midpoint value for REE concentration is 13.5 mg/kg. Normalization of the obtained results with respect to Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) and to topsoil and subsoil from Poland shows that the sludge is generally depleted in REE relative to the standards used. An assessment of the contamination of sewage sludge with rare earth elements, based on the calculated values of the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) for these elements, also shows that the content of lanthanides in the studied sewage sludge is lower than in the soils of Poland.
Structure recognition and fluid flow potential based on well data and geological field investigations. A case study of the Istebna Beds, Silesian Unit, Carpathians
Authors: Krakowska-Madejska Paulina , Puskarczyk Edyta , Starzec Krzysztof , Jarzyna Jadwiga , Stadtműller Marek
Published: January 2025

Facies were recognized based on the results of well logging data, using these measurements and conducting a comprehensive interpretation. This was done by first using shaliness (volume of shale) as the main parameter for a geological profile division into petrophysical lithofacies before secondly calculating the Flow Zone Index (FZI), utilizing porosity and permeability estimated from well logging interpretation and defining Rock Types on the basis of FZI frequency distributions. FZIs were also determined according to porosity and permeability from laboratory measurements whenever the results were available. Descriptions of cores and cuttings together with the results of geological field investigations were the basis for lithofacies determination. Maps of average porosity, permeability, and FZI values were constructed for the study area. Three types of facies data and maps of reservoir parameters were used to support the recognition of geological structures and their assessment of the potential for fluid movement in the rock formation. The facies analyses were performed on the example of the Istebna Beds of the Silesian Unit in the Carpathians.
Serotonin modulates infraslow oscillation in the dentate gyrus during Non-REM sleep
Authors: Turi Gergely F , Teng Sasa , Chen Xinyue , Lim Emily CY , Dias Carla , Hu Ruining , Wang Ruizhi , Zhen Fenghua , Peng Yueqing
Published: January 2025

Synchronous neuronal activity is organized into neuronal oscillations with various frequency and time domains across different brain areas and brain states. For example, hippocampal theta, gamma and sharp wave oscillations are critical for memory formation and communication between hippocampal subareas and the cortex. In this study, we investigated the neuronal activity of the dentate gyrus (DG) with optical imaging tools during sleep-wake cycles. We found that the activity of major glutamatergic cell populations in the DG is organized into infraslow oscillations (0.01 – 0.03 Hz) during NREM sleep. Although the DG is considered a sparsely active network during wakefulness, we found that 50% of granule cells and about 25% of mossy cells exhibit increased activity during NREM sleep. Further experiments revealed that the infraslow oscillation in the DG was correlated with rhythmic serotonin release during sleep, which oscillates at the same frequency but in an opposite phase. Genetic manipulation of 5-HT receptors revealed that this neuromodulatory regulation is mediated by 5-HT1a receptors and the knockdown of these receptors leads to memory impairment. Together, our results provide novel mechanistic insights into how the 5-HT system can influence hippocampal activity patterns during sleep.
Auditory perception and neural representation of temporal fine structure are impaired by age but not by cochlear synaptopathy
Authors: Steenken Friederike , Beutelmann Rainer , Oetjen Henning , Köppl Christine , Klump Georg M
Published: January 2025

Age-related hearing loss is a complex phenomenon. The earliest-onset degenerative event is the gradual loss of neural connections between cochlea and auditory brainstem. To probe for perceptual deficits that might arise from this loss, cochlear synaptopathy was induced pharmacologically in young-adult gerbils which were then tested in a challenging listening task for the perception of temporal fine structure. Treated gerbils behaved no differently than normal-hearing, young-adult animals. In contrast, old gerbils, which typically express many cochlear and central-neural pathologies, showed impaired perception. To probe for the underlying mechanisms, single-unit responses were obtained from the auditory nerve to the same test stimuli. Responses from old gerbils showed no impairment in temporal locking to the stimulus fine structure. However, responses were significantly more driven by slower temporal fluctuations of the stimulus envelope, suggesting that the central auditory system may be unable to extract the relevant information for discrimination from such altered inputs.
Evolution of lateralized gustation in nematodes
Authors: Mackie Marisa , Le Vivian Vy , Carstensen Heather R , Kushnir Nicole R , Castro Dylan L , Dimov Ivan M , Quach Kathleen T , Cook Steven J , Hobert Oliver , Chalasani Sreekanth H , Hong Ray L
Published: January 2025

Animals with small nervous systems have a limited number of sensory neurons that must encode information from a changing environment. This problem is particularly exacerbated in nematodes that populate a wide variety of distinct ecological niches but only have a few sensory neurons available to encode multiple modalities. How does sensory diversity prevail within this neuronal constraint? To identify the genetic basis for patterning different nervous systems, we demonstrate that sensory neurons in the
Pristionchus pacificus
respond to various salt sensory cues in a manner that is partially distinct from that of the distantly related nematode
C. elegans
. By visualizing neuronal activity patterns, we show that contrary to previous expectations based on its genome sequence, the salt responses of
P. pacificus
are encoded in a left/right asymmetric manner in the bilateral ASE neuron pair. Our study illustrates patterns of evolutionary stability and change in the gustatory system of nematodes.
TET2-mediated epigenetic modification promotes stress senescence of pancreatic β cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Cai Weijuan , Song Qingqing , Mo Xiaoqing , Li Huaqian , Song Yuling , Yin Liang
Published: January 2025

Epigenetic modification plays a key role in β cell senescence. In the regulation of gene expression, there is a complex and close relationship between DNA methylation and histone modification. In order to explore its specific mechanism in T2DM β cell senescence, we used postbisulfite aptamer labeling of genome-wide bisulfite-SEQ, chromatin immunocoprecipitation-SEQ, RNA-SEQ, CRISPR/Cas9 TETs knockout, RNA interference, TET2 inhibitors, lentiviral overexpression, and gene knockout mouse models. Our study found that demethylase TET2 was localized in the islets of mice, and the expression level increased with age. TET2 knockout in pancreatic β cells can hypermethylate PTEN, up-regulate MOF and enrich H4K16ac, and reduce the level of aging markers. This study confirmed that TET2-mediated PTEN DNA methylation can promote a new mechanism of β cell senescence by regulating H4K16ac, providing a new molecular mechanism and therapeutic target for T2DM β cell senescence therapy.
Numb provides a fail-safe mechanism for intestinal stem cell self-renewal in adult Drosophila midgut
Authors: Li Mengjie , Tian Aiguo , Jiang Jin
Published: January 2025

Stem cell self-renewal often relies on asymmetric fate determination governed by niche signals and/or cell-intrinsic factors but how these regulatory mechanisms cooperate to promote asymmetric fate decision remains poorly understood. In adult
Drosophila
midgut, asymmetric Notch (N) signaling inhibits intestinal stem cell (ISC) self-renewal by promoting ISC differentiation into enteroblast (EB). We have previously showed that epithelium-derived BMP promotes ISC self-renewal by antagonizing N pathway activity (Tian and Jiang, 2014). Here we provide evidence that BMP signaling blocks ligand-independent N activity to maintain ISC fate, and that the N inhibitor Numb acts in parallel with BMP signaling to ensure a robust ISC self-renewal program. Although Numb is asymmetrically segregated in about 80% of dividing ISCs, its activity is largely dispensable for ISC fate determination under normal homeostasis. However, Numb becomes crucial for ISC self-renewal when BMP signaling is compromised. Whereas neither Mad RNAi nor its hypomorphic mutation led to ISC loss, inactivation of Numb in these backgrounds resulted in stem cell loss due to precocious ISC-to-EB differentiation. Furthermore, we find that
numb
mutations resulted in stem cell loss during midgut regeneration in response to epithelial damage that causes fluctuation in BMP pathway activity, suggesting that the asymmetrical segregation of Numb into the future ISC may provide a fail-save mechanism for ISC self-renewal by offsetting BMP pathway fluctuation, which is essential for ISC maintenance in regenerative guts.
AACDB: Antigen-Antibody Complex Database — a Comprehensive Database Unlocking Insights into Interaction Interface
Authors: Zhou Yuwei , Liu Wenwen , Huang Ziru , Gou Yushu , Liu Siqi , Jiang Lixu , Yang Yue , Huang Jian
Published: January 2025

Antibodies play a crucial role in the vertebrate immune system and have diverse biomedical applications. Understanding the intricate interactions between antibodies and antigens is an important step in drug development. However, the complex and vast nature of the data presents significant challenges in accurately identifying and comprehending these interactions. To address these challenges and enhance our understanding of the antibody-antigen interface, the Antigen-Antibody Complex Database (AACDB) has been established. The current version provides a comprehensive collection of 7,498 manually processed antigen-antibody complexes, ensuring accuracy and detail. This database not only provides rich metadata but also corrects annotation errors observed in the PDB database. Furthermore, it integrates data on antibody developability and antigen-drug target relationships, making it valuable for assisting new antibody therapies development. Notably, the database includes comprehensive paratope and epitope annotation information, thereby serving as a valuable benchmark for immunoinformatics research. The AACDB interface is designed to be user-friendly, providing researchers with powerful search and visualization tools that enable effortless querying, manipulation, and visualization of complex data. Researchers can access AACDB completely online at http://i.uestc.edu.cn/AACDB. Regular updates are promised to ensure the timely provision of scientific and valuable information.
Multi-study fMRI outlooks on subcortical BOLD responses in the stop-signal paradigm
Authors: Isherwood Scott , Kemp Sarah A , Miletić Steven , Stevenson Niek , Bazin Pierre-Louis , Forstmann Birte
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the functional network underlying response inhibition in the human brain, particularly the role of the basal ganglia in successful action cancellation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approaches have frequently used the stop-signal task to examine this network. We merge five such datasets, using a novel aggregatory method allowing the unification of raw fMRI data across sites. This meta-analysis, along with other recent aggregatory fMRI studies, does not find evidence for the innervation of the hyperdirect or indirect cortico-basal-ganglia pathways in successful response inhibition. What we do find, is large subcortical activity profiles for failed stop trials. We discuss possible explanations for the mismatch of findings between the fMRI results presented here and results from other research modalities that have implicated nodes of the basal ganglia in successful inhibition. We also highlight the substantial effect smoothing can have on the conclusions drawn from task-specific general linear models. First and foremost, this study presents a proof of concept for meta-analytical methods that enable the merging of extensive, unprocessed, or unreduced datasets. It demonstrates the significant potential that open-access data sharing can offer to the research community. With an increasing number of datasets being shared publicly, researchers will have the ability to conduct meta-analyses on more than just summary data.
Multisensory integration operates on correlated input from unimodal transient channels
Authors: Parise Cesare V , Ernst Marc O
Published: January 2025

Audiovisual information reaches the brain via both sustained and transient input channels, representing signals’ intensity over time or changes thereof, respectively. To date, it is unclear to what extent transient and sustained input channels contribute to the combined percept obtained through multisensory integration. Based on the results of two novel psychophysical experiments, here we demonstrate the importance of the transient (instead of the sustained) channel for the integration of audiovisual signals. To account for the present results, we developed a biologically inspired, general-purpose model for multisensory integration, the multisensory correlation detectors, which combines correlated input from unimodal transient channels. Besides accounting for the results of our psychophysical experiments, this model could quantitatively replicate several recent findings in multisensory research, as tested against a large collection of published datasets. In particular, the model could simultaneously account for the perceived timing of audiovisual events, multisensory facilitation in detection tasks, causality judgments, and optimal integration. This study demonstrates that several phenomena in multisensory research that were previously considered unrelated, all stem from the integration of correlated input from unimodal transient channels.
Deficiency of orexin receptor type 1 in dopaminergic neurons increases novelty-induced locomotion and exploration
Authors: Xiao Xing , Yeghiazaryan Gagik , Eggersmann Fynn , Cremer Anna Lena , Backes Heiko , Kloppenburg Peter , Hausen Anne Christine
Published: January 2025

Orexin signaling in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra promotes locomotion and reward processing, but it is not clear whether dopaminergic neurons directly mediate these effects. We show that dopaminergic neurons in these areas mainly express orexin receptor subtype 1 (Ox1R). In contrast, only a minor population in the medial ventral tegmental area express orexin receptor subtype 2 (Ox2R). To analyze the functional role of Ox1R signaling in dopaminergic neurons, we deleted Ox1R specifically in dopamine transporter-expressing neurons of mice and investigated the functional consequences. Deletion of Ox1R increased locomotor activity and exploration during exposure to novel environments or when intracerebroventricularely injected with orexin A. Spontaneous activity in home cages, anxiety, reward processing, and energy metabolism did not change. Positron emission tomography imaging revealed that Ox1R signaling in dopaminergic neurons affected distinct neural circuits depending on the stimulation mode. In line with an increase of neural activity in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) of Ox1RΔDAT mice, we found that dopaminergic projections innervate the LPGi in regions where the inhibitory dopamine receptor subtype D2 but not the excitatory D1 subtype resides. These data suggest a crucial regulatory role of Ox1R signaling in dopaminergic neurons in novelty-induced locomotion and exploration.
Investigating working memory updating processes of the human subcortex using 7T MRI
Authors: Trutti Anne C , Sjoerds Zsuzsika , Boag Russell J , Walstra Solenn LY , Miletić Steven , Isherwood Scott SJ , Bazin Pierre-Louis , Hommel Bernhard , Habli Sarah , Tse Desmond HY , Håberg Asta K , Forstmann Birte
Published: January 2025

A growing body of research suggests that dopamine is involved in working memory updating and that the striatum takes up a critical role in the subprocess of working memory gating (Braver & Cohen, 2000; Cools & D’Esposito, 2011; D’Ardenne et al., 2012; Jongkees, 2020). In this study, we investigated subcortical–in particular, possible dopaminergic–involvement in working memory updating subprocesses using the reference-back task and ultra-high field 7 Tesla fMRI. Using a scanning protocol optimized for BOLD-sensitivity in the subcortex, we found no evidence of subcortical activation during working memory gate opening, predominantly activations in frontoparietal network regions, which challenges the idea of a striatal gating mechanism. However, during gate closing, subcortical activation was observed. Furthermore, a ready-to-update mode demonstrated large-spread subcortical activation, including basal ganglia nuclei, suggesting that the basal ganglia are engaged in general updating processes rather than specifically controlling the working memory gate. Moreover, substituting new information into working memory elicited activation in dopamine-producing midbrain regions along with the striatum, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex, indicating engagement of the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop possibly driven by (potential) dopaminergic activity. These findings expand our understanding of subcortical regions involved in working memory updating, shifting the focus from gate opening to substitution as a midbrain-driven updating process.
Ultrastructural sublaminar-specific diversity of excitatory synaptic boutons in layer 1 of the adult human temporal lobe neocortex
Authors: Rollenhagen Astrid , Sadeghi Akram , Walkenfort Bernd , Hilgetag Claus C , Sätzler Kurt , Lübke Joachim HR
Published: January 2025

Layer (L)1, beside receiving massive cortico-cortical, commissural and associational projections, is the termination zone of tufted dendrites of pyramidal neurons and the area of Ca
2+
spike initiation. However, its synaptic organization in humans is not known. Quantitative 3D-models of synaptic boutons (SBs) in L1 of the human temporal lobe neocortex were generated from non-epileptic neocortical biopsy tissue using transmission electron microscopy, 3D-volume reconstructions and TEM tomography. Particularly, the size of active zones (AZs) and the readily releasable, recycling and resting pool of synaptic vesicles (SVs) were quantified.The majority of SBs contained numerous mitochondria comprising ∼7% of the total volume of SBs, had a large macular, non-perforated AZs (∼0.20 µm
2
) and were predominantly located on dendritic spines. SBs had a total pool of ∼3500 SVs, a comparably large readily releasable (∼4 SVs), recycling (∼470 SVs) and resting (∼2900 SVs) pool. Astrocytic coverage of SBs suggests both synaptic cross talk or removal of spilled glutamate by astrocytic processes at synaptic complexes.The structural composition of SBs in L1 may underlie the function of L1 networks that mediate, integrate and synchronize contextual and cross-modal information, enabling flexible and state-dependent processing of feedforward sensory inputs from other layers of the cortical column.
Reevaluating the Neural Noise Hypothesis in Dyslexia: Insights from EEG and 7T MRS Biomarkers
Authors: Glica Agnieszka , Wasilewska Katarzyna , Jurkowska Julia , Żygierewicz Jarosław , Kossowski Bartosz , Jednoróg Katarzyna
Published: January 2025

The neural noise hypothesis of dyslexia posits an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) brain activity as an underlying mechanism of reading difficulties. This study provides the first direct test of this hypothesis using both EEG power spectrum measures in 120 Polish adolescents and young adults (60 with dyslexia, 60 controls) and glutamate (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations from magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 7T MRI scanner in half of the sample. Our results, supported by Bayesian statistics, show no evidence of E/I balance differences between groups, challenging the hypothesis that cortical hyperexcitability underlies dyslexia. These findings suggest alternative mechanisms must be explored and highlight the need for further research into the E/I balance and its role in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Zero-shot reranking with dense encoder models for news background linking
Authors: Essam Marwa , Elsayed Tamer
Published: January 2025

News background linking is the problem of finding useful links to resources that provide contextual background information for a given news article. Many systems were proposed to address this problem. Yet, the most effective and reproducible method, to date, used the entire input article as a search query to retrieve the background links by sparse retrieval. While being effective, that method is still far from being optimal. Furthermore, it only leverages the lexical matching signal between the input article and the candidate background links. Nevertheless, intuitively, there may exist resources with useful background information that do not lexically overlap with the input article’s vocabulary. While many studies proposed systems that adopt semantic matching for addressing news background linking, none were able to outperform the simple lexical-based matching method. In this paper, we investigate multiple methods to integrate both the lexical and semantic relevance signals for better reranking of candidate background links. To represent news articles in the semantic space, we compare multiple Transformer-based encoder models in a zero-shot setting without the need for any labeled data. Our results show that using a hierarchical aggregation of sentence-level representations generates a good semantic representation of news articles, which is then integrated with lexical matching to achieve a new state-of-the-art solution for the problem. We further show that a significant performance improvement is potentially attainable if the degree by which a semantic relevance signal is needed is accurately predicted per input article.
Secure software development: leveraging application call graphs to detect security vulnerabilities
Authors: Yan Lei , Zhao Guanghuai , Li Xiaohui , Sun Pengxuan
Published: January 2025

The inconsistency in software development standards frequently leads to vulnerabilities that can jeopardize an application’s cryptographic integrity. This situation can result in incomplete or flawed encryption processes. Vulnerabilities may manifest as missing, bypassed, or improperly executed encryption functions or the absence of critical cryptographic mechanisms, which eventually weaken security goals. This article introduces a thorough method for detecting vulnerabilities using dynamic and static analysis, focusing on a cryptographic function dominance tree. This strategy systematically minimizes the likelihood of integrity breaches in cryptographic applications. A layered and modular model is developed to maintain integrity by mapping the entire flow of cryptographic function calls across various components. The cryptographic function call graph and dominance tree are extracted and subsequently analyzed using an integrated dynamic and static technique. The extracted information undergoes strict evaluation against the anticipated function call sequence in the relevant cryptographic module to identify and localize potential security issues. Experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed method considerably enhances the accuracy and comprehensiveness of vulnerability detection in cryptographic applications, improving implementation security and resilience against misuse vulnerabilities.
Ensemble graph auto-encoders for clustering and link prediction
Authors: Xie Chengxin , Huang Jingui , Shi Yongjiang , Pang Hui , Gao Liting , Wen Xiumei
Published: January 2025

Graph auto-encoders are a crucial research area within graph neural networks, commonly employed for generating graph embeddings while minimizing errors in unsupervised learning. Traditional graph auto-encoders focus on reconstructing minimal graph data loss to encode neighborhood information for each node, yielding node embedding representations. However, existing graph auto-encoder models often overlook node representations and fail to capture contextual node information within the graph data, resulting in poor embedding effects. Accordingly, this study proposes the ensemble graph auto-encoders (E-GAE) model. It utilizes the ensemble random walk graph auto-encoder, the random walk graph auto-encoder of the ensemble network, and the graph attention auto-encoder to generate three node embedding matrices Z. Then, these techniques are combined using adaptive weights to reconstruct a new node embedding matrix. This method addresses the problem of low-quality embeddings. The model’s performance is evaluated using three publicly available datasets (Cora, Citeseer, and PubMed), indicating its effectiveness through multiple experiments. It achieves up to a 2.0% improvement in the link prediction task and a 9.4% enhancement in the clustering task. Our code for this work can be found at https://github.com/xcgydfjjjderg/graphautoencoder.
UPLC-MS metabolite profiling and antioxidant activity of Sanghuangporus sanghuang extract
Authors: Wang Weike , Lu Na , Jiang Cheng , Chen Guanping
Published: January 2025

Background

The objective of the present study is to examine the total phenolic and flavonoid content of an ethanol extract of Sanghuangporus sanghuang and to evaluate its phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and capacity to protect DNA from damage. This pharmaceutical/food resource mushroom may serve as a novel substitute functional food for health-conscious consumers, given its promising source of phenolics and flavonoids.

Methods

S. sanghuang ethanol extract (SEE) was evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, while UPLC-MS analysis was used for terpenoids, phenylpropanoid, flavonoids, steroidal, phenols identification, and function prediction. Antioxidant and anti-DNA damage activities were tested in vitro using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzotiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and DNA damage protection assay.

Results and Conclusion

Total phenolic content (TPC) in SEE was 385.38 ± 1.36 mg GA/g extract, while total flavonoid content (TFC) was 298.22 ± 2.38 mg QE/g extract. The extracts exhibited high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities with relatively stronger free radical scavenging activity. A total of 491 metabolites were investigated by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Most of the top 20 compounds were predicted to have various functions like antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. This study highlighted S. sanghuang was a beneficial source of phenolics and flavonoids. It contains potential natural antioxidant that could be used as a lead contender in the development of antioxidant medicines for the treatment of a wide range of oxidative stress-related illnesses.
A nomogram for predicting bladder dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study
Authors: Hu Yingjie , Hao Fengming , Wang Ying , Chen Ling , Wen Lihua , Li Jue , Ren Wei , Cai Wenzhi
Published: January 2025

Background

Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is a common urinary complication in diabetic patients, significantly affecting their overall well-being and quality of life, and placing a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Early prevention is crucial; however, the absence of a simple and effective tool to predict DBD onset remains a significant challenge. This study aims to identify risk factors for DBD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to develop a predictive nomogram for clinical application.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with T2DM treated at two hospitals. Data from patients treated at one hospital between January 2020 and August 2023 were used to create the training set, while data from patients treated at another hospital between March 2022 and October 2023 were used to create the validation set. Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of DBD: the DBD group and the non-DBD group. Significant factors identified via bivariate analysis (P < 0.05) were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression to construct a predictive model, and a corresponding nomogram was developed. The model’s performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact plots (CIC), with validation performed through 1,000 bootstrap resamplings.

Results

A total of 1,010 participants were included in this study, with a DBD incidence rate of 38.81% (392/1,010). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified HbA1c, PCP-2h, DPN, TCO2, PAB, T-Bil, I-Bil, IgE, URBC, UI and UR as independent risk factors for DBD. A nomogram was constructed based on these factors. Both internal and external validations demonstrated the good predictive performance of the nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) for the training and validation datasets was 0.897 and 0.862, respectively. The calibration curve showed a high degree of consistency. Results from DCA and CIC indicated that the prediction model had high clinical utility.

Conclusions

A predictive model and nomogram for DBD in T2DM patients were developed, demonstrating strong accuracy and clinical utility, aiding in early DBD risk assessment and intervention.
Anaesthetic Management of a Neonate with Ebstein’s Anomaly Undergoing a Meningomyelocele Surgery: A Case Report
Authors: . Prakriti , Yadav Monika , Gupta Vaishali , Yadav Komal , Garg Shikha
Published: January 2025

Ebstein’s Anomaly (EA) is a congenital heart defect characterised by the downward displacement of the posterior and septal leaflets of the tricuspid valve toward the right ventricular apex. Hereby the authors discuss a 16-day-old female neonate with EA who underwent surgery for a ruptured meningocele. The baby, born at full term, had an Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration (APGAR) score of 7 at one minute and 9 at five minutes. Upon further observation, she showed multiple episodes of breath-holding and cyanosis. On examination, an enlarged head and swelling on the lumbar spine led to an ultrasound that confirmed hydrocephalus and meningocele. An Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed supraventricular tachycardia, and a chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly. The diagnosis of EA was confirmed by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. General anaesthesia with inhalational induction was planned. Perioperative considerations for this patient included right-to-left shunting with the possibility of paradoxical emboli, prolonged onset time for intravenous drugs due to pooling and recirculation of blood in the right atrium, increased Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR), perioperative pulmonary hypertension, right and left ventricular dysfunction, and arrhythmias. Key cardiovascular goals for this patient included maintaining normal sinus rhythm, ensuring adequate preload while avoiding significant changes in Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) or PVR, avoiding medications and factors that depress myocardial function, and promptly identifying haemodynamic instability or inadequate tissue perfusion with appropriate corrections. The surgery for excision and repair of the meningocele was uneventful, and the neonate was sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further monitoring.
Visitor Satisfaction of Agritourism on the Island of Lombok, Indonesia
Authors: Prasony Ilham Akbar Nur , Sukardi L. , Sjah Taslim
Published: January 2025

This research aims to analyze the level of visitor satisfaction, the factors that affect visitor satisfaction, and the visitor satisfaction index, and design a strategy for developing agritourism attractions on the island of Lombok. The method used in this research is quantitative, supported by a qualitative approach. The respondents were 150, and the sampling technique used convenience sampling. Data analysis used included Structural Equation Modeling - Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS), Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA). The results showed visitor satisfaction, with the highest percentage in the manager's friendliness indicator and the lowest percentage in the information media facilities indicator. Factors directly influencing visitor satisfaction include price, manager services, and the agritourism environment. In contrast, agritourism products, tourism experiences, and agritourism facilities have no direct influence on visitor satisfaction. Tourism experience factors and agritourism products contribute to increasing satisfaction, and agritourism facilities contribute to decreasing visitor satisfaction. The visitor satisfaction index is at the satisfied level. The strategy for developing agritourism attractions on the island of Lombok is to improve the performance of indicators in quadrant I as the main priority for development, maintain the performance of indicators in quadrant II, which are the strengths of agritourism attractions and consider improving performance in quadrant III and Quadrant IV, indicators in this quadrant can be ignored.