bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A low cost neuromorphic learning engine based on a high performance supervised SNN learning algorithm
Authors: Siddique Ali , Vai Mang I. , Pun Sio Hang
Published: April 2023

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are more energy- and resource-efficient than artificial neural networks (ANNs). However, supervised SNN learning is a challenging task due to non-differentiability of spikes and computation of complex terms. Moreover, the design of SNN learning engines is not an easy task due to limited hardware resources and tight energy constraints. In this article, a novel hardware-efficient SNN back-propagation scheme that offers fast convergence is proposed. The learning scheme does not require any complex operation such as error normalization and weight-threshold balancing, and can achieve an accuracy of around 97.5% on MNIST dataset using only 158,800 synapses. The multiplier-less inference engine trained using the proposed hard sigmoid SNN training (HaSiST) scheme can operate at a frequency of 135 MHz and consumes only 1.03 slice registers per synapse, 2.8 slice look-up tables, and can infer about 0.03$$\times {\varvec{10}}^{\varvec{9}}$$

×

10

9

features in a second, equivalent to 9.44 giga synaptic operations per second (GSOPS). The article also presents a high-speed, cost-efficient SNN training engine that consumes only 2.63 slice registers per synapse, 37.84 slice look-up tables per synapse, and can operate at a maximum computational frequency of around 50 MHz on a Virtex 6 FPGA.
How weather triggers the emergence of bats from their subterranean hibernacula
Authors: Koch Martin , Manecke Julia , Burgard Jan Pablo , Münnich Ralf , Kugelschafter Karl , Kiefer Andreas , Veith Michael
Published: April 2023

Hibernation is one of the most important behaviours of bats of the temperate zone. During winter, when little food or liquid water is available, hibernation in torpor lowers metabolic costs. However, the timing of emergence from hibernation is crucial for the resumption of the reproductive process in spring. Here, we investigate the spring emergence of six bat species or pairs of bat species of the genera Myotis and Plecotus at five hibernation sites in Central Europe over 5 years. Using generalized additive Poisson models (GAPMs), we analyze the influence of weather conditions (air and soil temperature, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric pressure trend, rain, wind, and cloud cover) as predictors of bat activity and separate these extrinsic triggers from residual motivation to emerge from hibernation (extrinsic factors not studied; intrinsic motivation). Although bats in a subterranean hibernaculum are more or less cut off from the outside world, all species showed weather dependence, albeit to varying degrees, with air temperature outside the hibernaculum having a significant positive effect in all species. The residual, potentially intrinsic motivation of species to emerge from their hibernacula corresponds to their general ecological adaptation, such as trophic specialization and roosting preferences. It allows the definition of three functional groups (high, medium and low residual activity groups) according to the degree of weather dependence of spring activity. A better knowledge of the interplay of extrinsic triggers and residual motivation (e.g., internal zeitgebers) for spring emergence will help to understand the flexibility of a species to adapt to a changing world.
High-precision plant height measurement by drone with RTK-GNSS and single camera for real-time processing
Authors: Matsuura Yuta , Heming Zhang , Nakao Kousuke , Qiong Chang , Firmansyah Iman , Kawai Shin , Yamaguchi Yoshiki , Maruyama Tsutomu , Hayashi Hisayoshi , Nobuhara Hajime
Published: April 2023

Conventional crop height measurements performed using aerial drone images require 3D reconstruction results of several aerial images obtained through structure from motion. Therefore, they require extensive computation time and their measurement accuracy is not high; if the 3D reconstruction result fails, several aerial photos must be captured again. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes a high-precision measurement method that uses a drone equipped with a monocular camera and real-time kinematic global navigation satellite system (RTK-GNSS) for real-time processing. This method performs high-precision stereo matching based on long-baseline lengths (approximately 1 m) during the flight by linking the RTK-GNSS and aerial image capture points. As the baseline length of a typical stereo camera is fixed, once the camera is calibrated on the ground, it does not need to be calibrated again during the flight. However, the proposed system requires quick calibration in flight because the baseline length is not fixed. A new calibration method that is based on zero-mean normalized cross-correlation and two stages least square method, is proposed to further improve the accuracy and stereo matching speed. The proposed method was compared with two conventional methods in natural world environments. It was observed that error rates reduced by 62.2% and 69.4%, for flight altitudes between 10 and 20 m respectively. Moreover, a depth resolution of 1.6 mm and reduction of 44.4% and 63.0% in the error rates were achieved at an altitude of 4.1 m, and the execution time was 88 ms for images with a size of 5472 × 3468 pixels, which is sufficiently fast for real-time measurement.
On whole-genome demography of world’s ethnic groups and individual genomic identity
Authors: Kim Byung-Ju , Choi JaeJin , Kim Sung-Hou
Published: April 2023

All current categorizations of human population, such as ethnicity, ancestry and race, are based on various selections and combinations of complex and dynamic common characteristics, that are mostly societal and cultural in nature, perceived by the members within or from outside of the categorized group. During the last decade, a massive amount of a new type of characteristics, that are exclusively genomic in nature, became available that allows us to analyze the inherited whole-genome demographics of extant human, especially in the fields such as human genetics, health sciences and medical practices (e.g., 1,2,3), where such health-related characteristics can be related to whole-genome-based categorization. Here we show the feasibility of deriving such whole-genome-based categorization. We observe that, within the available genomic data at present, (a) the study populations form about 14 genomic groups, each consisting of multiple ethnic groups; and (b), at an individual level, approximately 99.8%, on average, of the whole autosomal-genome contents are identical between any two individuals regardless of their genomic or ethnic groups.
Pulse wave and vector flow Imaging for atherosclerotic disease progression in hypercholesterolemic swine
Authors: Kemper Paul , Karageorgos Grigorios M. , Fodera Daniella , Lee Nicole , Meshram Nirvedh , Weber Rachel A. , Nauleau Pierre , Mobadersany Nima , Kwon Nancy , Myers Kristin , Konofagou Elisa E.
Published: April 2023

Non-invasive monitoring of atherosclerosis remains challenging. Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) is a non-invasive technique to measure the local stiffness at diastolic and end-systolic pressures and quantify the hemodynamics. The objective of this study is twofold, namely (1) to investigate the capability of (adaptive) PWI to assess progressive change in local stiffness and homogeneity of the carotid in a high-cholesterol swine model and (2) to assess the ability of PWI to monitor the change in hemodynamics and a corresponding change in stiffness. Nine (n=9) hypercholesterolemic swine were included in this study and followed for up to 9 months. A ligation in the left carotid was used to cause a hemodynamic disturbance. The carotids with detectable hemodynamic disturbance showed a reduction in wall shear stress immediately after ligation (2.12 ± 0.49 to 0.98 ± 0.47 Pa for 40–90% ligation (Group B) and 1.82 ± 0.25 to 0.49 ± 0.46 Pa for >90% ligation (Group C)). Histology revealed subsequent lesion formation after 8–9 months, and the type of lesion formation was dependent on the type of the induced ligation, with more complex plaques observed in the carotids with a more significant ligation (C: >90%). The compliance progression appears differed for groups B and C, with an increase in compliance to 2.09 ± 2.90×10−10 m2 Pa−1 for group C whereas the compliance of group B remained low at 8 months (0.95 ± 0.94×10−10 m2 Pa−1). In summary, PWI appeared capable of monitoring a change in wall shear stress and separating two distinct progression pathways resulting in distinct compliances.
Ameliorating effect of probiotic on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and lipolytic gene expression in rabbits
Authors: Aziz Marina , Hemeda Shabaan A. , Albadrani Ghadeer M. , Fadl Sabreen E. , Elgendey Fatma
Published: April 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that affects about 24% of people worldwide. Increased liver fat, inflammation, and, in the most severe cases, cell death are all characteristics of NAFLD. However, NAFLD pathogenesis and therapy are still not clear enough. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) inducing NAFLD on lipolytic gene expression, liver function, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzymes in rabbits and the modulatory effects of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) on it. A total of 45 male New Zealand white rabbits, eight weeks old, were randomly divided into three groups of three replicates (5 rabbits/replicate). Rabbits in group I were given a basal diet; rabbits in group II were given a high-cholesterol diet that caused NAFLD; and rabbits in group III were given a high-cholesterol diet as well as probiotics in water for 8 weeks. The results showed that a high-cholesterol diet caused hepatic vacuolation and upregulated the genes for lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Downregulated low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) gene, increased liver enzymes [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and total bilirubin. On the other hand, it decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin, and liver antioxidants [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)]. Supplementing with probiotics helped to return all parameters to normal levels. In conclusion, probiotic supplementation, especially L. acidophilus, protected against NAFLD, and restored lipolytic gene expression, liver functions, and antioxidants to normal levels.
Climatically promoted taxonomic homogenization of macroinvertebrates in unaffected streams varies along the river continuum
Authors: Zhai Marie , Bojková Jindřiška , Němejcová Denisa , Polášek Marek , Syrovátka Vít , Horsák Michal
Published: April 2023

Biotic homogenization appears to be a global consequence of anthropogenic change. However, the underlying environmental factors contributing to homogenization are difficult to identify because their effects usually interact and confound each other. This can be the reason why there is very little evidence on the role of climate warming in homogenization. By analysing macroinvertebrate assemblages in 65 streams that were as close to natural conditions as possible, we avoided the confounding effects of common anthropogenic stressors. This approach resulted in revealing a significant effect of increased temperature (both summer and winter) on changes in macroinvertebrate compositional over the past two decades. However, homogenization was significant only at opposite ends of the river continuum (submontane brooks, low-altitude rivers). Surprisingly, species of native origin predominated overall, increasing in frequency and abundance (“winners”), while only a minority of species declined or disappeared (“losers”). We hypothesise that undisturbed conditions mitigate species declines and thus homogenization, and that the temperature increase has so far been beneficial to most native species. Although we may have only captured a transitional state due to extinction debt, this underscores the importance of maintaining ecological conditions in stream to prevent species loss due to climate change.
Alcohol control policies reduce all-cause mortality in Baltic Countries and Poland between 2001 and 2020
Authors: Vaitkevičiūtė Justina , Gobiņa Inese , Janik-Koncewicz Kinga , Lange Shannon , Miščikienė Laura , Petkevičienė Janina , Radišauskas Ričardas , Reile Rainer , Štelemėkas Mindaugas , Stoppel Relika , Telksnys Tadas , Tran Alexander , Rehm Jürgen , Zatoński Witold A. , Jiang Huan
Published: April 2023

Alcohol consumption in the Baltic countries and Poland is among the highest globally, causing high all-cause mortality rates. Contrary to Poland, the Baltic countries have adopted many alcohol control policies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) “best buys”. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of these policies, which were implemented between 2001 and 2020, on all-cause mortality. Monthly mortality data for men and women aged 20+ years of age in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland were analysed for 2001 to 2020. A total of 19 alcohol control policies, fulfilling an a-priori defined definition, were implemented between 2001 and 2020 in the countries of interest, and 18 of them could be tested. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted by employing a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) for men and women separately. The age-standardized all-cause mortality rate was lowest in Poland and highest in Latvia and had decreased in all countries over the time period. Taxation increases and availability restrictions had short-term effects in all countries, on average reducing the age-standardized all-cause mortality rate among men significantly (a reduction of 2.31% (95% CI 0.71%, 3.93%; p = 0.0045)). All-cause mortality rates among women were not significantly reduced (a reduction of 1.09% (95% CI − 0.02%, 2.20%; p = 0.0554)). In conclusion, the alcohol control policies implemented between 2001 and 2020 reduced all-cause mortality among men 20+ years of age in Baltic countries and Poland, and thus, the practice should be continued.
Machine-learning predicts time-series prognosis factors in metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy
Authors: Saito Shinpei , Sakamoto Shinichi , Higuchi Kosuke , Sato Kodai , Zhao Xue , Wakai Ken , Kanesaka Manato , Kamada Shuhei , Takeuchi Nobuyoshi , Sazuka Tomokazu , Imamura Yusuke , Anzai Naohiko , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Kawakami Eiryo
Published: April 2023

Machine learning technology is expected to support diagnosis and prognosis prediction in medicine. We used machine learning to construct a new prognostic prediction model for prostate cancer patients based on longitudinal data obtained from age at diagnosis, peripheral blood and urine tests of 340 prostate cancer patients. Random survival forest (RSF) and survival tree were used for machine learning. In the time-series prognostic prediction model for metastatic prostate cancer patients, the RSF model showed better prediction accuracy than the conventional Cox proportional hazards model for almost all time periods of progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Based on the RSF model, we created a clinically applicable prognostic prediction model using survival trees for OS and CSS by combining the values of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) before starting treatment and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at 120 days after treatment. Machine learning provides useful information for predicting the prognosis of metastatic prostate cancer prior to treatment intervention by considering the nonlinear and combined impacts of multiple features. The addition of data after the start of treatment would allow for more precise prognostic risk assessment of patients and would be beneficial for subsequent treatment selection.
Resting-state functional connectivity disruption between the left and right pallidum as a biomarker for subthreshold depression
Authors: Sato Yosuke , Okada Go , Yokoyama Satoshi , Ichikawa Naho , Takamura Masahiro , Mitsuyama Yuki , Shimizu Ayaka , Itai Eri , Shinzato Hotaka , Kawato Mitsuo , Yahata Noriaki , Okamoto Yasumasa
Published: April 2023

Although the identification of late adolescents with subthreshold depression (StD) may provide a basis for developing effective interventions that could lead to a reduction in the prevalence of StD and prevent the development of major depressive disorder, knowledge about the neural basis of StD remains limited. The purpose of this study was to develop a generalizable classifier for StD and to shed light on the underlying neural mechanisms of StD in late adolescents. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 91 individuals (30 StD subjects, 61 healthy controls) were included to build an StD classifier, and eight functional connections were selected by using the combination of two machine learning algorithms. We applied this biomarker to an independent cohort (n = 43) and confirmed that it showed generalization performance (area under the curve = 0.84/0.75 for the training/test datasets). Moreover, the most important functional connection was between the left and right pallidum, which may be related to clinically important dysfunctions in subjects with StD such as anhedonia and hyposensitivity to rewards. Investigation of whether modulation of the identified functional connections can be an effective treatment for StD may be an important topic of future research.
Predicting work disability among people with chronic conditions: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Nyberg Solja T. , Airaksinen Jaakko , Pentti Jaana , Ervasti Jenni , Jokela Markus , Vahtera Jussi , Virtanen Marianna , Elovainio Marko , Batty G. David , Kivimäki Mika
Published: April 2023

Few risk prediction scores are available to identify people at increased risk of work disability, particularly for those with an existing morbidity. We examined the predictive performance of disability risk scores for employees with chronic disease. We used prospective data from 88,521 employed participants (mean age 43.1) in the Finnish Public Sector Study including people with chronic disorders: musculoskeletal disorder, depression, migraine, respiratory disease, hypertension, cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, comorbid depression and cardiometabolic disease. A total of 105 predictors were assessed at baseline. During a mean follow-up of 8.6 years, 6836 (7.7%) participants were granted a disability pension. C-statistics for the 8-item Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) risk score, comprising age, self-rated health, number of sickness absences, socioeconomic position, number of chronic illnesses, sleep problems, BMI, and smoking at baseline, exceeded 0.72 for all disease groups and was 0.80 (95% CI 0.80–0.81) for participants with musculoskeletal disorders, 0.83 (0.82–0.84) for those with migraine, and 0.82 (0.81–0.83) for individuals with respiratory disease. Predictive performance was not significantly improved in models with re-estimated coefficients or a new set of predictors. These findings suggest that the 8-item FIOH work disability risk score may serve as a scalable screening tool in identifying individuals with increased risk for work disability.
Insights into nanoparticle shape transformation by energetic ions
Authors: Leino Aleksi A. , Jantunen Ville E. , Mota-Santiago Pablo , Kluth Patrick , Djurabekova Flyura
Published: April 2023

Shape modification of embedded nanoparticles can be achieved by means of swift heavy ion irradiation. During irradiation, the particles elongate and align with the direction of the ion beam, presumably due to nanometer-scale phase transitions induced by individual ion impacts. However, the details of this transformation are not fully understood. The shape of metal nanoparticles embedded in dielectric matrices defines the non-linear optical properties of the composite material. Therefore, understanding the transformation process better is beneficial for producing materials with the desired optical properties. We study the elongation mechanism of gold nanoparticles using atomistic simulations. Here we focus on long-timescale processes and adhesion between the nanoparticle and the matrix. Without the necessity of ad-hoc assumptions used earlier, our simulations show that, due to adhesion with the oxide, the nanoparticles can grow in aspect ratio while in the molten state even after silicon dioxide solidifies. Moreover, they demonstrate the active role of the matrix: Only explicit simulations of ion impacts around the embedded nanoparticle provide the mechanism for continuous elongation up to experimental values of aspect ratio. Experimental transmission electron microscopy micrographs of nanoparticles after high-fluence irradiation support the simulations. The elongated nanoparticles in experiments and their interface structures with silica, as characterized by the micrographs, are consistent with the simulations. These findings bring ion beam technology forward as a precise tool for shaping embedded nanostructures for various optical applications.
Molecular dynamics study of low molecular weight gel forming salt-triggered dipeptide
Authors: Jia Xiangfeng , Chen Jingfei , Xu Wen , Wang Qi , Wei Xiaofeng , Ma Yongshan , Chen Feiyong , Zhang Guiqin
Published: April 2023

Molecular dynamics simulation method was used to study the aggregation of Na and Ca salts in different concentrations of Naphthalene-dipeptide (2NapFF) solutions. The results show that high-valence Ca2+ triggers the formation of a gel at a certain dipeptide concentration, and the low-valence Na+ system follows the aggregation law of general surfactants. The results also show that hydrophobic and electrostatic forces are the main driving forces for the formation of dipeptide aggregates, and that hydrogen bonds do not play a major role in the formation of dipeptide solution aggregates. Hydrophobic and electrostatic effects are the main driving forces for the formation of gels in dipeptide solutions triggered by Ca2+. Electrostatic attraction drives Ca2+ to form a weak coordination with four oxygen atoms on two carboxyl groups, which causes the dipeptide molecules to form a gel with a branched network structure.
Left ventricular function changes and echocardiographic predictors in adult survivors of fulminant myocarditis treated with the Chinese protocol
Authors: Jiang Luying , Zhang Kaiyue , Zhang Chunran , Liu Yujian , Jiang Jiangang , Wang Daowen , Zuo Houjuan , Wang Hong
Published: April 2023

Disagreement exists regarding the long-term prognosis and recovery of left ventricular (LV) function in patients with fulminant myocarditis (FM). This study reported the outcome and LV ejection fraction (EF) changes in FM treated with Chinese protocol, and assessed whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) could provide additional information. This retrospective study included 46 FM adult patients who applied timely circulatory support and immunomodulatory therapy with adequate doses of both glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins as core approaches and survived after acute phase. They all presented with acute onset of cardiac symptoms < 2 weeks. LV end-diastolic dimensions, LVEF and GLS at discharge and 2-year were obtained and compared. We then performed linear regression and ROC analysis to determine independent factors to predict normalization of GLS at 2-year. At 2 years, the survival was 100% in our cohort. And the GLS improved modestly (15.40 ± 3.89% vs 17.24 ± 2.89%, P = 0.002). At two years, a proportion of patients whose LV function remained abnormal, being 22% evaluated by EF (< 55%) and higher to 37% by GLS (< 17%). Moreover, GLS at discharge but not at presentation correlated with GLS at 2-year (r = 0.402, P = 0.007). The FM adult treated with Chinese protocol have good survival and modest improvement of LV function during 2-year.
Adaptation to the shallow sea floor environment of a species of marine worms, Oligobrachia mashikoi, generally inhabiting deep-sea water
Authors: Ogiso Shouzo , Watanabe Kazuki , Maruyama Yusuke , Miyake Hiroshi , Hatano Kaito , Hirayama Jun , Hattori Atsuhiko , Watabe Yukina , Sekiguchi Toshio , Kitani Yoichiro , Furusawa Yukihiro , Tabuchi Yoshiaki , Matsubara Hajime , Nakagiri Mana , Toyota Kenji , Sasayama Yuichi , Suzuki Nobuo
Published: April 2023

Beard worms from the family Siboglinidae, are peculiar animals and are known for their symbiotic relationships with sulfur bacteria. Most Siboglinids inhabit the deep-sea floor, thus making difficult to make any observations in situ. One species, Oligobrachia mashikoi, occurs in the shallow depths (24.5 m) of the Sea of Japan. Taking advantage of its shallow-water habitat, the first ecological survey of O. mashikoi was performed over a course of 7 years, which revealed that its tentacle-expanding behavior was dependent on the temperature and illuminance of the sea water. Furthermore, there were significantly more O. mashikoi with expanding tentacles during the nighttime than during the daytime, and the prevention of light eliminated these differences in the number of expending tentacles. These results confirmed that the tentacle-expanding behavior is controlled by environmental light signals. Consistent with this, we identified a gene encoding a photoreceptor molecule, neuropsin, in O. mashikoi, and the expression thereof is dependent on the time of day. We assume that the described behavioral response of O. mashikoi to light signals represent an adaptation to a shallow-water environment within the predominantly deep-sea taxon.
The impact of pandemic-related stress on attentional bias and anxiety in alexithymia during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lee Shu-Hui , Lee Kuan-Te
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic had negative consequences for mental health, yet it is unknown how and to what extent the psychological outcomes of this stressful event are moderated by individual traits. Alexithymia is a risk factor for psychopathology, and thus likely predicted individual differences in resilience or vulnerability to stressful events during the pandemic. This study explored the moderating role of alexithymia in the relationships of pandemic-related stress with anxiety levels and attentional bias. The participants were 103 Taiwanese individuals who completed a survey during the outbreak of the Omicron wave. Additionally, an emotional Stroop task including pandemic-related or neutral stimuli was used to measure attentional bias. Our results demonstrate that pandemic-related stress had a lesser impact on anxiety in individuals with a higher level of alexithymia. Moreover, we found that in individuals with higher exposure to pandemic-related stressors, a higher level of alexithymia indicated less attentional bias toward COVID-19-related information. Thus, it is plausible that individuals with alexithymia tended to avoid pandemic-related information, which could temporarily relieve stressors during the pandemic.
Statistical control of structural networks with limited interventions to minimize cellular phenotypic diversity represented by point attractors
Authors: Kim Jongwan , Hopper Corbin , Cho Kwang-Hyun
Published: April 2023

The underlying genetic networks of cells give rise to diverse behaviors known as phenotypes. Control of this cellular phenotypic diversity (CPD) may reveal key targets that govern differentiation during development or drug resistance in cancer. This work establishes an approach to control CPD that encompasses practical constraints, including model limitations, the number of simultaneous control targets, which targets are viable for control, and the granularity of control. Cellular networks are often limited to the structure of interactions, due to the practical difficulty of modeling interaction dynamics. However, these dynamics are essential to CPD. In response, our statistical control approach infers the CPD directly from the structure of a network, by considering an ensemble average function over all possible Boolean dynamics for each node in the network. These ensemble average functions are combined with an acyclic form of the network to infer the number of point attractors. Our approach is applied to several known biological models and shown to outperform existing approaches. Statistical control of CPD offers a new avenue to contend with systemic processes such as differentiation and cancer, despite practical limitations in the field.
Correlation between electroencephalographic markers in the healthy brain
Authors: Päeske Laura , Uudeberg Tuuli , Hinrikus Hiie , Lass Jaanus , Bachmann Maie
Published: April 2023

Mental disorders have an increasing tendency and represent the main burden of disease to society today. A wide variety of electroencephalographic (EEG) markers have been successfully used to assess different symptoms of mental disorders. Different EEG markers have demonstrated similar classification accuracy, raising a question of their independence. The current study is aimed to investigate the hypotheses that different EEG markers reveal partly the same EEG features reflecting brain functioning and therefore provide overlapping information. The assessment of the correlations between EEG signal frequency band power, dynamics, and functional connectivity markers demonstrates that a statistically significant correlation is evident in 37 of 66 (56%) comparisons performed between 12 markers of different natures. A significant correlation between the majority of the markers supports the similarity of information in the markers. The results of the performed study confirm the hypotheses that different EEG markers reflect partly the same features in brain functioning. Higuchi’s fractal dimension has demonstrated a significant correlation with the 82% of other markers and is suggested to reveal a wide spectrum of various brain disorders. This marker is preferable in the early detection of symptoms of mental disorders.
The ephemeral fumarolic mineralization of the 2021 Tajogaite volcanic eruption (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain)
Authors: Campeny Marc , Menéndez Inmaculada , Ibáñez-Insa Jordi , Rivera-Martínez Jesús , Yepes Jorge , Álvarez-Pousa Soledad , Méndez-Ramos Jorge , Mangas José
Published: April 2023

The present work aims to characterize the ephemeral mineral assemblage related to the fumarolic fields of the Tajogaite volcano, formed in 2021 in La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain). A set of 73 samples was obtained after two sampling campaigns in different fumarole sectors of the studied area. Mineralization related to these fumaroles formed efflorescent patches located at variable distance from the main volcanic craters. Distal patches are predominantly whitish, while in the vicinities they typically show yellowish to orange colours. Field observations also revealed that fumaroles usually occur in elevated topographic areas as well as over fractured and porous volcanic pyroclastic materials. The mineralogical and textural characterisation of the Tajogaite fumaroles unfolds a complex mineral assemblage, comprising cryptocrystalline phases related to low (< 200 °C) and medium temperature (200–400 °C) conditions. In Tajogaite, we propose a classification of three different fumarolic mineralization types: (1) fluorides and chlorides located in proximal fumarolic areas (~ 300–180 °C); (2) native sulphur associated with gypsum, mascagnite and salammoniac (~ 120–100 °C) and (3) sulphates and alkaline carbonates typically occurred in distal fumarolic areas (< 100 °C). Finally, we present a schematic model of the formation of Tajogaite fumarolic mineralization and their compositional evolution developed during the cooling of the volcanic system.
Co-evolution of large inverted repeats and G-quadruplex DNA in fungal mitochondria may facilitate mitogenome stability: the case of Malassezia
Authors: Christinaki Anastasia C. , Theelen Bart , Zania Alkmini , Coutinho Selene Dall’ Acqua , Cabañes Javier F. , Boekhout Teun , Kouvelis Vassili N.
Published: April 2023

Mitogenomes are essential due to their contribution to cell respiration. Recently they have also been implicated in fungal pathogenicity mechanisms. Members of the basidiomycetous yeast genus Malassezia are an important fungal component of the human skin microbiome, linked to various skin diseases, bloodstream infections, and they are increasingly implicated in gut diseases and certain cancers. In this study, the comparative analysis of Malassezia mitogenomes contributed to phylogenetic tree construction for all species. The mitogenomes presented significant size and gene order diversity which correlates to their phylogeny. Most importantly, they showed the inclusion of large inverted repeats (LIRs) and G-quadruplex (G4) DNA elements, rendering Malassezia mitogenomes a valuable test case for elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for this genome diversity. Both LIRs and G4s coexist and convergently evolved to provide genome stability through recombination. This mechanism is common in chloroplasts but, hitherto, rarely found in mitogenomes.
An improved SIFT algorithm for registration between SAR and optical images
Authors: Zhang Wannan , Zhao Yuqian
Published: April 2023

Aiming at improving the performance of scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm during the registration of optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, a new SIFT algorithm is proposed. Firstly, the nonlinear diffusion scale space of optical and SAR images is constructed by using nonlinear diffusion filtering, the uniform gradient information is calculated by using multi-scale Sobel operator and multi-scale exponential weighted mean ratio operator respectively. Then, after removing the first layer of the scale space with the image blocking strategy, the scale space is partitioned, and Harris feature points are extracted on the basis of consistent gradient information to obtain stable and uniform point features. Descriptors are constructed based on gradient position and direction histogram templates and normalized to overcome nonlinear radiation differences between images. Finally, the correct matching point pairs are obtained by using bilateral fast approximate nearest neighbor (FLANN) search matching method and random sampling consistent (RANSAC) method, and the affine transformation model parameters are obtained. Compared with the other two algorithms, the CMR of this algorithm is improved by 80.53%, 75.61% and 81.74% respectively in the three groups of images, and the RMSE is reduced by 0.6491, 1.0287 and 0.6306 respectively.
A cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature to predict prognosis and immune microenvironment of colon adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Dongming , Qu Guangzhen , Ling Shen , Sun Yuanlin , Cui Yingnan , Yang Yingchi , Cao Xueyuan
Published: April 2023

Cuproptosis is a novel cell death modality but its regulatory role in the colon cancer remains obscure. This study is committed to establishing a cuproptosis-related lncRNA (CRL) signature to forecast the prognosis for colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) samples were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. LASSO-COX analysis was performed to construct a prognostic signature consisting of five CRLs (AC015712.2, ZEB1-AS1, SNHG26, AP001619.1, and ZKSCAN2-DT). We found the patients with high-risk scores suffered from poor prognosis in training cohort (p < 0.001) and validation cohort (p = 0.004). Nomogram was created based on the 5-CRL signature. Calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated the nomogram performed well in 1‑, 3‑, and 5‑year overall survival (OS). Subsequently, we observed increased infiltration of multiple immune cells and upregulated expression of immune checkpoints and RNA methylation modification genes in high-risk patients. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed two tumor-related pathways, including MAPK and Wnt signaling pathways. Finally, we found AKT inhibitors, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), camptothecin, and thapsigargin had more sensitivity to antitumor therapy in high-risk patients. Collectively, this CRL signature is promising for the prognostic prediction and precise therapy of COAD.
A moonlighting role for LysM peptidoglycan binding domains underpins Enterococcus faecalis daughter cell separation
Authors: Salamaga Bartłomiej , Turner Robert D. , Elsarmane Fathe , Galley Nicola F. , Kulakauskas Saulius , Mesnage Stéphane
Published: April 2023

Control of cell size and morphology is of paramount importance for bacterial fitness. In the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis, the formation of diplococci and short cell chains facilitates innate immune evasion and dissemination in the host. Minimisation of cell chain size relies on the activity of a peptidoglycan hydrolase called AtlA, dedicated to septum cleavage. To prevent autolysis, AtlA activity is tightly controlled, both temporally and spatially. Here, we show that the restricted localization of AtlA at the septum occurs via an unexpected mechanism. We demonstrate that the C-terminal LysM domain that allows the enzyme to bind peptidoglycan is essential to target this enzyme to the septum inside the cell before its translocation across the membrane. We identify a membrane-bound cytoplasmic protein partner (called AdmA) involved in the recruitment of AtlA via its LysM domains. This work reveals a moonlighting role for LysM domains, and a mechanism evolved to restrict the subcellular localization of a potentially lethal autolysin to its site of action.
Climate delay discourses present in global mainstream television coverage of the IPCC’s 2021 report
Authors: Painter James , Ettinger Joshua , Holmes David , Loy Loredana , Pinto Janaina , Richardson Lucy , Thomas-Walters Laura , Vowles Kjell , Wetts Rachel
Published: April 2023

Recent scholarship suggests that groups who oppose acting on climate change have shifted their emphasis from attacking the credibility of climate science itself to questioning the policies intended to address it, a position often called ‘response skepticism’. As television is the platform most used by audiences around the world to receive climate information, we examine 30 news programmes on 20 channels in Australia, Brazil, Sweden, the UK and USA which included coverage of the 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the Physical Science. Using manual quantitative content analysis, we find that skepticism about the science of climate change is still prevalent in channels that we have classified as ‘right-wing’, but largely absent from channels classified as ‘mainstream’. Forms of response skepticism are particularly common in ‘right-wing’ channels, but also present in some ‘mainstream’ coverage. Two of the most prominent discourses question the perceived economic costs of taking action and the personal sacrifices involved. We explore the implications of our findings for future research and climate communication.
Indoor and outdoor air quality impacts of cooking and cleaning emissions from a commercial kitchen
Authors: Ditto Jenna C. , Crilley Leigh R. , Lao Melodie , VandenBoer Trevor C. , Abbatt Jonathan P. D. , Chan Arthur W. H.
Published: April 2023

Online gas- and particle-phase measurements in a commercial kitchen reveal exposure risks and outdoor air impacts during cooking and cleaning.
Feasibility of electricity generation based on an ammonia-to-hydrogen-to-power system
Authors: Lim Dongjun , Moon Jong Ah , Yoon Chang Won , Lim Hankwon
Published: April 2023

Techno-economic, carbon footprint, and scenario analyses of an ammonia-to-hydrogen-to-power system with different catalysts and fuels are conducted to evaluate its feasibility.
Understanding the synergistically enhanced thermocatalytic decomposition of ammonium perchlorate using cobalt nanoparticle-embedded nitrogen-doped graphitized carbon
Authors: Lin Hong , Zhang Qingchun , Liu Huiyu , Shen Shiying , Guo Zhiliang , Jin Bo , Peng Rufang
Published: April 2023

The excellent catalytic activity of Co-NPs@NC is attributed to the well-dispersed Co NPs, the intrinsic adsorption capacity for NH3, and the synergistically enhanced effect of NC, which favor the thermal catalytic decomposition of AP.
Spin-isolated ultraviolet-visible dynamic meta-holographic displays with liquid crystal modulators
Authors: Asad Aqsa , Kim Joohoon , Khaliq Hafiz Saad , Mahmood Nasir , Akbar Jehan , Chani Muhammad Tariq Saeed , Kim Yeseul , Jeon Dongmin , Zubair Muhammad , Mehmood Muhammad Qasim , Massoud Yehia , Rho Junsuk
Published: April 2023

Wearable displays or head-mounted displays (HMDs) have the ability to create a virtual image in the field of view of one or both eyes.
Two novel metal–organic frameworks constructed by pyridinyl-derived and carboxylate mixed ligands for photocatalytic dye degradation
Authors: Ma Chixiao , Zhang Junyong , Xu Hao , Zeng Xianghua , Gong Chunhua , Xie Jingli
Published: April 2023

A new pyridinyl-derived ligand has been utilized for the fabrication of two isomorphous MOFs by using a mixed-ligand strategy, and the MOFs exhibit certain photocatalytic activity for the degradation of several organic dyes.
Unveiling the different physicochemical properties of M-doped β-NaFeO2 (where M = Ni or Cu) materials evaluated as CO2 sorbents: a combined experimental and theoretical analysis
Authors: Gómez-Garduño Nayeli , Araiza Daniel G. , Celaya Christian A. , Muñiz Jesús , Pfeiffer Heriberto
Published: April 2023

A nickel-doped sodium ferrite presented oxygen vacancies and the highest CO2 sorption, while AIMD simulations evidenced high Na mobility.
Two-color infrared photothermal microscopy
Authors: Park Chanjong , Lim Jong Min , Hong Seok-Cheol , Cho Minhaeng
Published: April 2023

A two-color infrared photothermal microscopy (IPM) was developed by using modulation-frequency multiplexing and dual-frequency lock-in detection techniques, which allows simultaneous monitoring of two different molecular species in live cells.
Machine learning methods for the detection of explosives, drugs and precursor chemicals gathered using a colorimetric sniffer sensor
Authors: Francis Deena P. , Laustsen Milan , Dossi Eleftheria , Treiberg Tuule , Hardy Iona , Shiv Shai Hvid , Hansen Bo Svarrer , Mogensen Jesper , Jakobsen Mogens H. , Alstrøm Tommy S.
Published: April 2023

The detection of explosives, drugs and precursor chemicals from data derived using colorimetric sensing experiments can be done effectively using machine learning methods.
Spontaneous reduction of iron(iii)porphyrin to iron(ii)porphyrin–CO complex in mouse circulation
Authors: Noguchi Masataka , Mao Qiyue , Nakagami Atsuki , Kitagishi Hiroaki
Published: April 2023

In mice, an iron(iii)porphyrin is internally reduced to its iron(ii) state during circulation and excreted with CO in the urine.
Formation of lanthanide luminescent di-metallic helicates in solution using a bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand
Authors: Hegarty Isabel N. , Barry Dawn E. , Byrne Joseph P. , Kotova Oxana , Gunnlaugsson Thorfinnur
Published: April 2023

Bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)picolinamide (tzpa) was used to form Tb(iii) double- and triple-stranded di-metallic helicates in solution, where changes in the absorption and the Tb(iii) emission were used to monitor the formation of these supramolecular systems.
Palladium-catalyzed disilylation of ortho-halophenylethylenes enabled by 2-pyridone ligand
Authors: Zhu Bin-Bin , Zhang Shu-Sheng , Fu Jian-Guo , Lin Guo-Qiang , Feng Chen-Guo
Published: April 2023

A palladium-catalyzed disilylation reaction of ortho-halophenylethylenes has been developed with very low catalyst loadings and excellent yields.
Enhancing birefringence of non-π-conjugated sulfate systems through rare-earth metal-centered polyhedra
Authors: Yan Jingdong , Chu Dongdong , Zhang Fangfang , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie , Hou Xueling
Published: April 2023

By introducing rare-earth metal-centered polyhedra to enhance the birefringence of non-π-conjugated sulfate systems, NaLa2(SO4)2F3with a moderate birefringence (0.041 at 1064 nm) was successfully synthesized.
Sulfur–arene interactions: the S⋯π and S–H⋯π interactions in the dimers of benzofuran⋯sulfur dioxide and benzofuran⋯hydrogen sulfide
Authors: Jin Yan , Li Wenqin , Saragi Rizalina Tama , Juanes Marcos , Pérez Cristóbal , Lesarri Alberto , Feng Gang
Published: April 2023

Stacked or directional? The dimers of benzofuran with sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide observed in a jet expansion illustrate sulfur–arene interactions and the different S⋯π or S–H⋯π binding patterns of divalent sulfur.
A comparative study of pectic polysaccharides from fresh and driedDendrobium officinalebased on their structural properties and hepatoprotection in alcoholic liver damaged mice
Authors: Hui Ailing , Xu Weiqin , Wang Jinghe , Liu Jie , Deng Shaohuan , Xiong Baoyi , Zhang Wencheng , Wu Zeyu
Published: April 2023

Two novel pectic polysaccharides (FDP and DDP) from fresh/driedDendrobium officinaleprevent alcohol-induced liver injury by attenuating oxidant stress and inflammatory cytokine response. “Fresh” pectin exhibits more promising hepatoprotection.
Scalable functionalized liquid crystal elastomer fiber soft actuators with multi-stimulus responses and photoelectric conversion
Authors: Wu Dingsheng , Zhang Yanan , Yang Hanrui , Wei Anfang , Zhang Yuxin , Mensah Alfred , Yin Rui , Lv Pengfei , Feng Quan , Wei Qufu
Published: April 2023

Scalable multi-responsive LCE fiber actuators were fabricated and used to manufacture artificial muscles, smart circuit switches and adaptive smart windows.
Syntheses, characterizations and catalytic properties of three zinc complexes and one lithium compound chelated by β-diketiminate ligands
Authors: Lu Yanhua , Li Yafei , She Yeye , Jia Chaohong , Li Yahong
Published: April 2023

Three zinc and one lithium compounds supported by β-diketiminate were synthesized. One zinc complex was catalytically active for the borylation of aryl iodides and the lithium compound is active for the hydroboration of carbonyl compounds.
Cobalt incorporation and MoS2–NiS2 heterostructure synergistic for improving full water electrolysis efficiency
Authors: Wu Minyu , Meng Xiangdong , Zhou Min , Zhou Yuxue
Published: April 2023

Cobalt doping MoS2/NiS2 is first obtained using a chemical vapor vulcanization method. Cobalt doping further modified the electronic structure of MoS2/NiS2 and modulated the electron density of catalytic sites, beneficial for HER and OER.
Synthesis of 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives from α-aminocarbonyls under transition-metal-free conditions
Authors: Hao Liqiang , Wu Gaorong , Wang Yangyang , Xu Xiaobo , Ji Yafei
Published: April 2023

The environmentally friendly and efficient method reported here is highly promising for constructing 1,4-benzoxazine derivatives via C–C/C–O cross coupling cyclization pathways. The present protocol exhibits a wide range of substrate scope and functional-group tolerance.
Mechanochemical method: a powerful tool to obtain ω-poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized structures and curcumin analogues
Authors: de Moura Aniele , Gaglieri Caroline , Terciotti Luiz Octavio , Rinaldo Daniel , Caires Flávio Junior
Published: April 2023

This paper reports PEG functionalization and C–N bond formation in Schiff base and multicomponent reactions and also shows a curcumin derivative esterification reaction, all of which are mechanochemical reactions.
Energy harvesting from radio waves using few-layer 2D galena (galenene)
Authors: R Karthik , Singh Appu Kumar , Sreeram P R , Mahapatra Preeti Lata , Galvao Douglas S. , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar
Published: April 2023

Radiofrequency (RF) energy harvesting is receiving increased attention in today's digital era due to its potential to replace or improve the longevity of energy storage devices in low-power IoT devices.
Divergent synthesis of two types of indolizines from pyridine-2-acetonitrile, (hetero)arylglyoxal, and TMSCN
Authors: Nam Seonghyeon , Lee Sunhee , Kim Woojin , Kim Ikyon
Published: April 2023

Divergent synthesis of two types of indolizines is described via a step-dependent assembly of pyridine-2-acetonitriles, arylglyoxals, and TMSCN.