bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cascaded spectral light field tomography
Authors: Cui Qi , Zhao Ruixuan , Wang Zhaoqiang , Gao Liang
Published: August 2024

We present cascaded spectral light field tomography for multicolor imaging in three dimensions (3D). Building upon light field tomography, our method uses a Dove prism array and a cylindrical lens array to transform a 3D scene into one-dimensional (1D) projections. To further enhance the reconstructed image quality, we incorporate a rotating Dove prism to increase the number of projection angles and a scanning light sheet to sparsify the sample along the depth axis. The resulting 1D projections are then spectrally dispersed for parallel spectral measurements. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our system in both fluorescence and scattering microscopy applications.
Strong coupling of double excitons with guided mode resonances and quasi-bound states in the continuum in heterogeneous metamaterials
Authors: Li Junjie , Tang Yu , Cheng Yang , Cai Shijie , Liu Xiaoshan , Chen Jing , Fu Guolan , Liu Zhengqi , Pan Pingping , Liu Guiqiang
Published: August 2024

Heterogeneous metamaterials containing excitonic materials provide an ideal platform for strong exciton–photon coupling. In this Letter, we theoretically demonstrate four strong couplings in a heterogeneous metamaterial consisting of a TiO2 grating standing on a perovskite–WS2–perovskite waveguide layer by tuning the structural sizes. The quasi-bound state in the continuum (qBIC) and the guided mode resonance (GMR) both strongly coupled with the excitons of both perovskite and WS2 under oblique incident illumination, resulting in four large Rabi splittings of 177.32, 187.53, 406.25, and 435.09 meV via a reasonable combination of oscillator strengths of perovskite and WS2. Double strong coupling behaviors are also achieved when the grating period equals 222 nm with an incident light angle of 19.3°. Moreover, double ultrastrong coupling can even be realized by the GMR and qBIC respectively interacting with the exciton of WS2 when its oscillator strength reaches a certain value. Our work paves an effective avenue to realizing strong coupling and even ultrastrong coupling between multiple excitons and multiple optical modes.
Topological phase transition in centered rectangular photonic lattice: toward photonic topological insulator
Authors: Pakarzadeh Hassan , Hajivandi Jamileh , Kurt Hamza
Published: August 2024

A Cm planar two-dimensional photonic crystal, related to the centered rectangular lattice, with line (mirror reflection) symmetry is investigated wherein the Dirac cones appear at the high symmetry points of the Brillouin zone boundary. A bridge can be made between an ordinary insulator, zero-spin Chern number (Cs) and the topological insulator non-zero Cs, through the topological phase transition when we introduce a unique perturbation on the photonic structure. The perturbation can be realized by the mismatch of the lattice symmetry planes due to breaking the mirror symmetry of the unit cell. Through this modification, one of the topological phase transition characterizations, directional band gap and band inversion, will be happen. The proposed photonic crystal may be a good candidate for studying the one -way propagation of waves at the topological interfaces to realize photonic topological insulators (PTIs).
Attentional selection and communication through coherence: Scope and limitations
Authors: Greenwood Priscilla E. , Ward Lawrence M.
Published: August 2024

Synchronous neural oscillations are strongly associated with a variety of perceptual, cognitive, and behavioural processes. It has been proposed that the role of the synchronous oscillations in these processes is to facilitate information transmission between brain areas, the ‘communication through coherence,’ or CTC hypothesis. The details of how this mechanism would work, however, and its causal status, are still unclear. Here we investigate computationally a proposed mechanism for selective attention that directly implicates the CTC as causal. The mechanism involves alpha band (about 10 Hz) oscillations, originating in the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, being sent to communicating cortical areas, organizing gamma (about 40 Hz) oscillations there, and thus facilitating phase coherence and communication between them. This is proposed to happen contingent on control signals sent from higher-level cortical areas to the thalamic reticular nucleus, which controls the alpha oscillations sent to cortex by the pulvinar. We studied the scope of this mechanism in parameter space, and limitations implied by this scope, using a computational implementation of our conceptual model. Our results indicate that, although the CTC-based mechanism can account for some effects of top-down and bottom-up attentional selection, its limitations indicate that an alternative mechanism, in which oscillatory coherence is caused by communication between brain areas rather than being a causal factor for it, might operate in addition to, or even instead of, the CTC mechanism.
Rhythmidia: A modern tool for circadian period analysis of filamentous fungi
Authors: Keeley Alex T. , Lotthammer Jeffrey M. , Pelham Jacqueline F.
Published: August 2024

Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous across the kingdoms of life and serve important roles in regulating physiology and behavior at many levels. These rhythms occur in ~24-hour cycles and are driven by a core molecular oscillator. Circadian timekeeping enables organisms to anticipate daily changes by timing their growth and internal processes. Neurospora crassa is a model organism with a long history in circadian biology, having conserved eukaryotic clock properties and observable circadian phenotypes. A core approach for measuring circadian function in Neurospora is to follow daily oscillations in the direction of growth and spore formation along a thin glass tube (race tube). While leveraging robust phenotypic readouts is useful, interpreting the outputs of large-scale race tube experiments by hand can be time-consuming and prone to human error. To provide the field with an efficient tool for analyzing race tubes, we present Rhythmidia, a graphical user interface (GUI) tool written in Python for calculating circadian periods and growth rates of Neurospora. Rhythmidia is open source, has been benchmarked against the current state-of-the-art, and is easily accessible on GitHub.
COPS: A novel platform for multi-omic disease subtype discovery via robust multi-objective evaluation of clustering algorithms
Authors: Rintala Teemu J. , Fortino Vittorio
Published: August 2024

Recent research on multi-view clustering algorithms for complex disease subtyping often overlooks aspects like clustering stability and critical assessment of prognostic relevance. Furthermore, current frameworks do not allow for a comparison between data-driven and pathway-driven clustering, highlighting a significant gap in the methodology. We present the COPS R-package, tailored for robust evaluation of single and multi-omics clustering results. COPS features advanced methods, including similarity networks, kernel-based approaches, dimensionality reduction, and pathway knowledge integration. Some of these methods are not accessible through R, and some correspond to new approaches proposed with COPS. Our framework was rigorously applied to multi-omics data across seven cancer types, including breast, prostate, and lung, utilizing mRNA, CNV, miRNA, and DNA methylation data. Unlike previous studies, our approach contrasts data- and knowledge-driven multi-view clustering methods and incorporates cross-fold validation for robustness. Clustering outcomes were assessed using the ARI score, survival analysis via Cox regression models including relevant covariates, and the stability of the results. While survival analysis and gold-standard agreement are standard metrics, they vary considerably across methods and datasets. Therefore, it is essential to assess multi-view clustering methods using multiple criteria, from cluster stability to prognostic relevance, and to provide ways of comparing these metrics simultaneously to select the optimal approach for disease subtype discovery in novel datasets. Emphasizing multi-objective evaluation, we applied the Pareto efficiency concept to gauge the equilibrium of evaluation metrics in each cancer case-study. Affinity Network Fusion, Integrative Non-negative Matrix Factorization, and Multiple Kernel K-Means with linear or Pathway Induced Kernels were the most stable and effective in discerning groups with significantly different survival outcomes in several case studies.
An optimal normalization method for high sparse compositional microbiome data
Authors: Sohn Michael B. , Monaco Cynthia , Gill Steven R.
Published: August 2024

In many omics data, including microbiome sequencing data, we are only able to measure relative information. Various computational or statistical methods have been proposed to extract absolute (or biologically relevant) information from this relative information; however, these methods are under rather strong assumptions that may not be suitable for multigroup (more than two groups) and/or longitudinal outcome data. In this article, we first introduce the minimal assumption required to extract absolute from relative information. This assumption is less stringent than those imposed in existing methods, thus being applicable to multigroup and/or longitudinal outcome data. We then propose the first normalization method that works under this minimal assumption. The optimality and validity of the proposed method and its beneficial effects on downstream analysis are demonstrated in extensive simulation studies, where existing methods fail to produce consistent performance under the minimal assumption. We also demonstrate its application to real microbiome datasets to determine biologically relevant microbes to a specific disease/condition.
The HtrA chaperone monitors sortase-assembled pilus biogenesis in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Colomer-Winter Cristina , Yong Adeline M. H. , Chong Kelvin K. L. , Veleba Mark , Choo Pei Yi , Gao Iris Hanxing , Matysik Artur , Ho Foo Kiong , Chen Swaine L. , Kline Kimberly A.
Published: August 2024

Sortase-assembled pili contribute to virulence in many Gram-positive bacteria. In Enterococcus faecalis, the endocarditis and biofilm-associated pilus (Ebp) is polymerized on the membrane by sortase C (SrtC) and attached to the cell wall by sortase A (SrtA). In the absence of SrtA, polymerized pili remain anchored to the membrane (i.e. off-pathway). Here we show that the high temperature requirement A (HtrA) bifunctional chaperone/protease of E. faecalis is a quality control system that clears aberrant off-pathway pili from the cell membrane. In the absence of HtrA and SrtA, accumulation of membrane-bound pili leads to cell envelope stress and partially induces the regulon of the ceftriaxone resistance-associated CroRS two-component system, which in turn causes hyper-piliation and cell morphology alterations. Inactivation of croR in the OG1RF ΔsrtAΔhtrA background partially restores the observed defects of the ΔsrtAΔhtrA strain, supporting a role for CroRS in the response to membrane perturbations. Moreover, absence of SrtA and HtrA decreases basal resistance of E. faecalis against cephalosporins and daptomycin. The link between HtrA, pilus biogenesis and the CroRS two-component system provides new insights into the E. faecalis response to endogenous membrane perturbations.
The budding yeast Fkh1 Forkhead associated (FHA) domain promotes a G1-chromatin state and the activity of chromosomal DNA replication origins
Authors: Hoggard Timothy , Chacin Erika , Hollatz Allison J. , Kurat Christoph F. , Fox Catherine A.
Published: August 2024

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the forkhead (Fkh) transcription factor Fkh1 (forkhead homolog) enhances the activity of many DNA replication origins that act in early S-phase (early origins). Current models posit that Fkh1 acts directly to promote these origins’ activity by binding to origin-adjacent Fkh1 binding sites (FKH sites). However, the post-DNA binding functions that Fkh1 uses to promote early origin activity are poorly understood. Fkh1 contains a conserved FHA (forkhead associated) domain, a protein-binding module with specificity for phosphothreonine (pT)-containing partner proteins. At a small subset of yeast origins, the Fkh1-FHA domain enhances the ORC (origin recognition complex)-origin binding step, the G1-phase event that initiates the origin cycle. However, the importance of the Fkh1-FHA domain to either chromosomal replication or ORC-origin interactions at genome scale is unclear. Here, S-phase SortSeq experiments were used to compare genome replication in proliferating FKH1 and fkh1-R80A mutant cells. The Fkh1-FHA domain promoted the activity of ≈ 100 origins that act in early to mid- S-phase, including the majority of centromere-associated origins, while simultaneously inhibiting ≈ 100 late origins. Thus, in the absence of a functional Fkh1-FHA domain, the temporal landscape of the yeast genome was flattened. Origins are associated with a positioned nucleosome array that frames a nucleosome depleted region (NDR) over the origin, and ORC-origin binding is necessary but not sufficient for this chromatin organization. To ask whether the Fkh1-FHA domain had an impact on this chromatin architecture at origins, ORC ChIPSeq data generated from proliferating cells and MNaseSeq data generated from G1-arrested and proliferating cell populations were assessed. Origin groups that were differentially regulated by the Fkh1-FHA domain were characterized by distinct effects of this domain on ORC-origin binding and G1-phase chromatin. Thus, the Fkh1-FHA domain controlled the distinct chromatin architecture at early origins in G1-phase and regulated origin activity in S-phase.
How do we classify organ involvement in Chagas disease? A systematic review of organ involvement since 1909, Highlighting the urgent need for a universal classification system in Chronic Chagas disease
Authors: Losada Galván Irene , García Magdalena , Hasslocher-Moreno Alejandro Marcel , Ortiga Ariadna , Sanz Sergi , Molina Israel , Gascón Joaquim , Pinazo Maria-Jesus
Published: August 2024

Chagas disease (CD) is recognized as one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO), posing a significant global health challenge. The objective of this work was to conduct a systematic methodology review to explore the different classifications used to describe the presence and degree of organ involvement in patients with CD since the disease’s description in 1909. We searched relevant electronic medical databases from their inception dates to July 2023. We also delved into historical variations and revisions of each classification, the necessary diagnostic methods, their prognostic value, and their uptake. Our study underscores the conspicuous absence of a universally accepted CD classification system for cardiac and digestive involvement, both in the context of clinical trials and within current clinical guidelines. This endeavour will facilitate cross-population comparisons if clinical manifestations and complementary test results are available for each patient, constituting a pivotal stride toward identifying precise prognoses and establishing a minimum data set requisite for a fitting CD classification, tailored to the test availability in both endemic and non-endemic regions.
Hypogonadism and associated factors among male Leprosy patients
Authors: Urgie Nafyad Tolossa , Surur Miftah Oumer , Nigussie Shimelis , Worku Yigazu Beniam , Bobosha Kidist , Aragaw Abebaye , Shibru Getahun
Published: August 2024

Background

Leprosy affects various organs in addition to skin, eyes, and peripheral nerves. Testicular involvement in leprosy patients is common and causes disturbance in endocrine function of the testis and results in hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is frequently undiagnosed and underreported.

Objective

This study aimed to assess hypogonadism and associated factors among leprosy patients at Alert Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used in which consecutive 146 male leprosy patients aged between 18 to 65 years attending outpatient follow-up at leprosy outpatient clinic were included. Data was gathered both from patient charts and through patients’ interviews. Androgen deficiency symptoms were assessed by androgen deficiency in the aging male questionnaire, and 5ml of blood samples were taken from study participants and serum total testosterone, LH, and FSH were analyzed by Electrochemiluminescence method. Statistical correlation was assessed by Spearman correlation. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to identify the independent factors associated with hypogonadism and P-value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

Results

The prevalence of hypogonadism was 39 (26.7%). Out of this, 34 (87.2%) had primary hypogonadism, whereas 5 (12.8%) had secondary hypogonadism. Total testosterone was inversely correlated with Body mass index (r = -0.37, p = 0.002), Luteinizing hormone (r = -0.43, p <0.001), and Follicular stimulating hormone (r = -0.42, p< 0.001). However, Total testosterone was not significantly correlated with age (r = -0.019, p = 0.81). BMI [AOR = 1.32, 95%CI (1.16–1.51)] and grade-II disability [AOR = 3.80, 95%CI (1.23–11.64)] were identified as independent risk factors for hypogonadism.

Conclusion

Nearly one-fourth of male leprosy patients had hypogonadism. Overweight and grade-II disability were independent risk factors for hypogonadism.
Field laboratory comparison of STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for the detection of Lymphatic Filariasis in Samoa, 2023
Authors: Scott Jessica L. , Mayfield Helen J. , Sinclair Jane E. , Martin Beatris Mario , Howlett Maddison , Muttucumaru Ramona , Won Kimberly Y. , Thomsen Robert , Viali Satupaitea , Tofaeono-Pifeleti Rossana , Graves Patricia M. , Lau Colleen L.
Published: August 2024

Background

To monitor the progress of lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programmes, field surveys to assess filarial antigen (Ag) prevalence require access to reliable, user-friendly rapid diagnostic tests. We aimed to evaluate the performance of the new Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with the currently recommended Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting the Ag of Wuchereria bancrofti, the causative agent of LF, under field laboratory conditions.

Methodology/Principal findings

During an LF survey in Samoa, 344 finger-prick blood samples were tested using FTS and QFAT. Microfilariae (Mf) status was determined from blood slides prepared from any sample that reported Ag-positive by either Ag-test. Each test was re-read at 1 hour and the next day to determine the stability of results over time. Overall Ag-positivity by FTS was 29.0% and 30.2% by QFAT. Concordance between the two tests was 93.6% (kappa = 0.85). Of the 101 Mf slides available, 39.6% were Mf-positive, and all were Ag-positive by both tests. Darker test line intensities from Ag-positive FTS were found to predict Mf-positivity (compared to same/lighter line intensities). QFAT had significantly higher reported test result changes than FTS, mostly reported the next day, but fewer changes were reported between 10 minutes to 1hour. The field laboratory team preferred QFAT over FTS due to the smaller blood volume required, better usability, and easier readability.

Conclusion/Significance

QFAT could be a suitable and user-friendly diagnostic alternative for use in the monitoring and surveillance of LF in field surveys based on its similar performance to FTS under field laboratory conditions.
Fallacy of attributing the U.S. firearm mortality epidemic to mental health
Authors: Bleyer Archie , Siegel Stuart E. , Estrada Jaime , Thomas Charles R.
Published: August 2024

Background

Annual global data on mental disorders prevalence and firearm death rates for 2000–2019, enables the U.S. to be compared with comparable counties for these metrics.

Methods

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Health Burden data were used to compare the prevalence of mental disorders with overall, homicide and suicide firearm death rates including homicides and suicides, in high sociodemographic (SDI) countries.

Results

Overall and in none of the nine major categories of mental disorders did the U.S. have a statistically-significant higher rate than any of 40 other high SDI countries during 2019, the last year of available data. During the same year, the U.S. had a statistically-significant higher rate of all deaths, homicides, and suicides by firearm (all p<<0.001) than all other 40 high SDI countries. Suicides accounted for most of the firearm death rate differences between the U.S. and other high SDI countries, and yet the prevalence of mental health disorders associated with suicide were not significantly difference between the U.S. and other high SDI countries.

Conclusion

Mental disorder prevalence in the U.S. is similar in all major categories to its 40 comparable sociodemographic countries, including mental health disorders primarily associated with suicide. It cannot therefore explain the country’s strikingly higher firearm death rate, including suicide. Reducing firearm prevalence, which is correlated with the country’s firearm death rate, is a logical solution that has been applied by other countries.
Differential games in the supply chain of innovative products with consumer purchase regret induced returns
Authors: Mu Xianping , Liu Junjie , Pu Yutao
Published: August 2024

Innovative products entering the market will cause dynamic changes in market demand, and consumers’ purchase regret and their return behavior make the market environment more and more complex, which in turn affects the dynamic decision-making in the supply chain. In this paper, under the situation of discrete decision time, combining with the objective reality, we make discrete modification to the classical Bass diffusion model (Bass model), construct a manufacturer-led, retailer-followed supply chain differential game model, analyze the optimal decision-making of the manufacturer and the retailer by combining with the theory of discrete optimal control, and then verify the conclusions by numerical simulation. The results show that: when retailers purchase directly from the manufacturer and sell in the market, the optimal pricing of the innovative product can make the supply chain as a whole, realizing Pareto optimality; consumer’s purchase regret will increase the amount of returns, which will lead to the decrease of product sales and the profits of the manufacturer and the retailer; when the innovative product accounts for a different share of the market, the impact of purchase regret on the wholesale price and the retail price are also different. Therefore, manufacturers need to have an extensive comprehension of the market to minimize the negative effects of consumer regret and returns, and to formulate a reasonable pricing strategy for their products to gain as much profit as possible.
Several intuitionistic fuzzy hamy mean operators with complex interval values and their application in assessing the quality of tourism services
Authors: Koam Ali N. A. , Ahmad Ali , Masmali Ibtisam , Azeem Muhammad , Sarfraz Mehwish
Published: August 2024

In order to assess the quality of senior tourism services in vacation destinations, we examine complex interval valued intuitionistic Fuzzy Dombi Hamy Mean (CIVIFDHM) operators. These operators successfully manage imprecision and uncertainty in the preferences of senior tourists. However, the Hamy mean (HM) operator can identify the connections between various input data sets and produce excellent outcomes when combining and evaluating information. We illustrate their usefulness and efficacy through a case study, providing a strong instrument for improving service quality for senior citizens and promoting an inclusive and fulfilling travel experience. In this work, we develop the HM operator and Dombi operations with Complex interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (CIVIFNs). We recommend the CIVIFDHM operator, complex interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted Dombi Hamy mean (CIVIFWDHM), complex interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy dual Dombi Hamy mean (CIVIFDDHM), and complex interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy weighted dual Dombi Hamy mean (CIVIFWDD) operators. Next, multiple attribute decision making (MADM) models are constructed with the help of CIVIFWDHM and CIVIFWDDHM operators. We provided an evaluation of an older tourism operator in a tourist area as an example to show the suggested models.
Effects of gastric bypass on the digestibility and postprandial metabolic fate of 15N dietary protein in rats
Authors: Benhaddou Soukaïna , Ribeiro-Parenti Lara , Khodorova Nadezda , Willemetz Alexandra , Chapelais Martin , Azzout-Marniche Dalila , Le Gall Maude , Gaudichon Claire
Published: August 2024

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass may be associated with an alteration of protein bioavailability in relation to intestinal remodeling. Our study aimed to test this hypothesis by Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Diet-induced obese rats underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery (RYGB rats) while a Sham-operated control group was used. All rats received a 15N-labeled protein meal 1 or 3 months after surgery and were euthanized 6h later. Protein digestibility, 15N recovered in organs and urea pool, fractional protein synthesis rate, and intestinal morphometry were assessed. Protein digestibility was similar in all groups (94.2±0.3%). The small intestine was hypertrophied in RYGB rats 1 month after surgery, weighing 9.1±0.2g vs. 7.0±0.3g in Sham rats (P = 0.003). Villus height and crypt depth were increased in the alimentary limb and ileum of RYGB rats. However, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass had no impact on the fractional synthesis rate. In the gastrointestinal tract, 15N retention only differed in the ileal mucosa and was higher in RYGB rats at 1 month (0.48±0.2% vs. 0.3±0.09%, P = 0.03). 15N recovery from the liver, muscle, and skin was lower in RYGB rats at 1 month. 15N recovery from urinary and plasma urea was higher in RYGB rats at both times, resulting in increased total deamination (13.2±0.9% vs. 10.1±0.5%, P<0.01). This study showed that Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass did not affect protein digestibility. Dietary nitrogen sequestration was transitorily and moderately diminished in several organs. This was associated with a sustained elevation of postprandial deamination after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, whose mechanisms merit further studies.
Structure based screening and molecular docking with dynamic simulation of natural secondary metabolites to target RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of five different retroviruses
Authors: Azeem Muhammad , Mustafa Ghulam , Ahmed Sibtain , Mushtaq Amna , Arshad Muhammad , Usama Muhammad , Farooq Muhammad
Published: August 2024

Viral diseases pose a serious global health threat due to their rapid transmission and widespread impact. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) participates in the synthesis, transcription, and replication of viral RNA in host. The current study investigates the antiviral potential of secondary metabolites particularly those derived from bacteria, fungi, and plants to develop novel medicines. Using a virtual screening approach that combines molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we aimed to discover compounds with strong interactions with RdRp of five different retroviruses. The top five compounds were selected for each viral RdRp based on their docking scores, binding patterns, molecular interactions, and drug-likeness properties. The molecular docking study uncovered several metabolites with antiviral activity against RdRp. For instance, cytochalasin Z8 had the lowest docking score of –8.9 (kcal/mol) against RdRp of SARS-CoV-2, aspulvinone D (–9.2 kcal/mol) against HIV-1, talaromyolide D (–9.9 kcal/mol) for hepatitis C, aspulvinone D (–9.9 kcal/mol) against Ebola and talaromyolide D also maintained the lowest docking score of –9.2 kcal/mol against RdRp enzyme of dengue virus. These compounds showed remarkable antiviral potential comparable to standard drug (remdesivir –7.4 kcal/mol) approved to target RdRp and possess no significant toxicity. The molecular dynamics simulation confirmed that the best selected ligands were firmly bound to their respective target proteins for a simulation time of 200 ns. The identified lead compounds possess distinctive pharmacological characteristics, making them potential candidates for repurposing as antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Further experimental evaluation and investigation are recommended to ascertain their efficacy and potential.
A new power G-family of distributions: Properties, estimation, and applications
Authors: Gemeay Ahmed M. , Alharbi Waleed Hamoud , El-Alosey Alaa R.
Published: August 2024

This article suggests a new method to expand a family of life distributions by adding a parameter to the family, increasing its flexibility. It is called the extended Modi-G family of distributions. We derived the general statistical properties of the proposed family. Different methods of estimation were presented to estimate the parameters for the proposed family, such as maximum likelihood, ordinary least square, weighted least square, Anderson Darling, right-tailed Anderson-Darling, Cramér-von Mises, and maximum product of spacing methods. A special sub-model with three parameters called extended Modi exponential distribution was derived along with different shapes of its density and hazard functions. Randomly generated data sets and different estimation methods were used to illustrate the behavior of parameters of the proposal sub-model. To illustrate the importance of the proposed family over the other well-known methods, applications to medicine and geology data sets were analyzed.
Collective action within an environment of unknown unknowns: Experiences with the port of Mars Game
Authors: Janssen Marco A. , Balakrishna Raksha , Gharavi Lance , Hong Yi-Chun , Lee Allen , Nguyen Christine , Simeone Michael
Published: August 2024

There is limited research about how groups solve collective action problems in uncertain environments, especially if groups are confronted with unknown unknowns. We aim to develop a more comprehensive view of the characteristics that allow both groups and individuals to navigate such issues more effectively. In this article, we present the results of a new online experiment where individuals make decisions of whether to contribute to the group or pursue self-interest in an environment with high uncertainty, including unknown unknowns. The behavioral game, Port of Mars is framed as a first-generation habitat on Mars where participants have to make decisions on how much to invest in the shared infrastructure to maintain system health and how much to invest in personal goals. Participants can chat during the game, and take surveys before and after the game in order to measure personality attributes and observations from the game. Initial results suggest that a higher average social value orientation and more communication are the key factors that explain why some groups are more successful than others in surviving Port of Mars. Neither other attributes of players nor the group’s communication content explain the observed differences between groups.
In vitro reconstitution reveals membrane clustering and RNA recruitment by the enteroviral AAA+ ATPase 2C
Authors: Shankar Kasturika , Sorin Marie N. , Sharma Himanshu , Skoglund Oskar , Dahmane Selma , ter Beek Josy , Tesfalidet Solomon , Nenzén Louise , Carlson Lars-Anders
Published: August 2024

Enteroviruses are a vast genus of positive-sense RNA viruses that cause diseases ranging from common cold to poliomyelitis and viral myocarditis. They encode a membrane-bound AAA+ ATPase, 2C, that has been suggested to serve several roles in virus replication, e.g. as an RNA helicase and capsid assembly factor. Here, we report the reconstitution of full-length, poliovirus 2C’s association with membranes. We show that the N-terminal membrane-binding domain of 2C contains a conserved glycine, which is suggested by structure predictions to divide the domain into two amphipathic helix regions, which we name AH1 and AH2. AH2 is the main mediator of 2C oligomerization, and is necessary and sufficient for its membrane binding. AH1 is the main mediator of a novel function of 2C: clustering of membranes. Cryo-electron tomography reveal that several 2C copies mediate this function by localizing to vesicle-vesicle interfaces. 2C-mediated clustering is partially outcompeted by RNA, suggesting a way by which 2C can switch from an early role in coalescing replication organelles and lipid droplets, to a later role where 2C assists RNA replication and particle assembly. 2C is sufficient to recruit RNA to membranes, with a preference for double-stranded RNA (the replicating form of the viral genome). Finally, the in vitro reconstitution revealed that full-length, membrane-bound 2C has ATPase activity and ATP-independent, single-strand ribonuclease activity, but no detectable helicase activity. Together, this study suggests novel roles for 2C in membrane clustering, RNA membrane recruitment and cleavage, and calls into question a role of 2C as an RNA helicase. The reconstitution of functional, 2C-decorated vesicles provides a platform for further biochemical studies into this protein and its roles in enterovirus replication.
Adsorption and Desorption Metal Cu (II) using Zeolite Synthetic by Bottom Ash Coal Modified Dithizone
Authors: Sidarta Yuan , Krisdiyanto Didik , Khamidinal Khamidinal
Published: August 2024

Zeolite synthetic and zeolite modified dithizone has been succesfully created by hydrotermal method. The aim of this research is to know the characteristics of zeolite synthetic and zeolite modified dithizone and to know capacity of adsorption and desorption. The effect of various variables, such as pH, concentration of Cu (II), contact time and temperature was investigated using batch process,  characterization zeolite modified dithizone and zeolite synthetic using XRD,  XRF, FTIR and GSA. The result of characterization bottom ash coal by hydrotermal reaction using XRF, be discovered composition Si as many 82,01% and Al 8,54%. product of melting hydrothermally indicate a specific zeolite IR absorption at a wavelength of 300-1250 cm-1. The result XRD showed that be found zeolite-X, zeolite-A, zeolite sodalite and difatogram of dithizone. Zeolite modified dithizone has been succesfully synthesized with a marked presence group of –NH and –SH by using FTIR. Zeolite modified dithizone surface area change from 160,262 m2/g to 69,609 m2/g. The best adsorption metal Cu(II) by zeolite synthetic is pH 7. Kinetics adsorption zeolite synthetic and zeolite modified dithizone follow kinetics of pseudo second orde, with R2 respectively 0,7378 and 0,8689, rate constant of pseudo second orde adsorption at zeolite synthetic  is -0,017 g/mg.min-1 and zeolite modified dithizone -0,013 g/mg.min-1. Isotherm type for both of adsorbent follow Langmuir isotherm. Desorption of metal Cu(II) on zeolite modified dithizone and zeolite synthetic a lot off obtained using HCl at level 47,08% and 41,49% respectively.
Determination of Physicochemical Properties of Some Selected Well and Borehole Water of Nasarawa Area of Zagga Town of Kebbi State, Nigeria
Authors: Sarkingobir Yusuf , Yabo Asiya Gidado
Published: August 2024

Nowadays, especially in poor resource settings, there is rising infectious and chronic diseases, which most especially can be attributed to poor water quality as one of the causes. Consequently, it becomes imperative to determine the safety of drinking water source. This research is aimed to determine the physicochemical characteristics in well water and borehole water in Nasarawa area of Zagga town of Kebbi state, using standard methods and materials of analytical grade. Results show the pH range of 6.13-6.7, and conductivity is in the range of 3.37-80.1 (ppm). Bicarbonate determined is within the range of 24-84 (ppm). TDS was found in the range of 9-35(ppm), while DO found was 4.7-6.8 (ppm). Chloride was 0.7-11.3 (ppm), and TSS is 7.3-13.3 (ppm). pH, DO, Cl, TDS, and bicarbonate are within the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits as found in the findings of this study.
Karakteristik Burung dalam Perspektif Al-Qur’an dan Sains
Authors: Syahputra Afrizal El Adzim , Rohman Abdur
Published: August 2024

Birds are the animals most frequently mentioned in the Qur’an. However, the birds in the Qur’an have never been studied using a comprehensive scientific approach. This research is expected to be able to add insight and knowledge to Indonesian scholars about the integration of the theme of birds in the Qur’an and science. This study uses a thematic method based on library research by tracing verses about birds in the Qur’an. These verses are then studied using the method of scientific exegesis in which the sources are contemporary commentary books. Then these verses can be integrated with science. Based on the research conducted by the author, the characteristics of birds in the Qur’an can be detailed as follows: First; movement of birds in the air. For thousands of years before, the Qur’an has explained the patterns of bird movement that have been revealed by science today. Second; the behavior of crows and their benefits to humans. Crows have intelligence that is beneficial to human life. Third; nutritional content in salwa birds. The nutritional value of salwa birds can nourish the human body. Fourth; the behavior of the birds bombarding Abraha’s troops. Based on the opinion of contemporary scholars, these birds are interpreted as small organisms that cause various diseases. This organism then develops into a lethal weapon of mass murder, which is popularly known as bioterrorism.
IMPLEMENTASI DEVOPS PADA PENGEMBANGAN APLIKASI ANDROID PENDETEKSI KUALITAS BERAS BERBASIS MACHINE LEARNING
Authors: Paramudita Febriyanti , Zulfa Mulki Indana , Taryana Acep
Published: August 2024

Beras merupakan makanan pokok sebagian besar penduduk Indonesia. Permintaannya cenderung meningkat sekitar 1% setiap tahun hingga tahun 2050. Permintaan yang terus meningkat tersebut menuntut standar kualitas yang tinggi. Saat ini, Badan Urusan Logistik (BULOG) masih menggunakan metode konvensional dalam pemantauan kualitas beras yang rentan terhadap human error dan subjektivitas. Masalah yang muncul dari metode ini adalah ketidakakuratan dalam penilaian kualitas beras yang berdampak pada distribusi dan kepercayaan konsumen. Dalam penelitian ini, penulis memanfaatkan teknologi informasi, khususnya aplikasi Android dengan pendekatan DevOps, untuk meningkatkan efisiensi dan objektivitas dalam mendeteksi kualitas beras. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi DevOps membawa dampak positif terhadap kualitas dan stabilitas aplikasi, dengan 60 pipeline yang membentuk alur kerja yang fleksibel. Melalui pemantauan, hasil menunjukkan variasi waktu mulai aplikasi dari 338ms hingga 1.61s, respons perangkat fisik adalah 3.97s, tidak ada kasus slow rendering, kualitas kode mencapai 100%, dan ukuran payload berkisar antara 3.41KB dan 6.42KB, sesuai dengan kompleksitas jumlah data yang diperlukan oleh masing-masing fitur. Dengan demikian, aplikasi ini berpotensi memberikan solusi efektif untuk memonitor dan meningkatkan kualitas beras di pasar, mengurangi ketergantungan pada metode konvensional yang kurang efisien.
ENHANCING BANK CUSTOMER PROTECTION AGAINST PHISHING ATTACKS THROUGH XGBOOST-BASED FEATURE ANALYSIS
Authors: Karin Tan Regina , Sani Ramadhan Rakhmat , Alzami Farrikh , Rohmani Asih
Published: August 2024

Internet usage in Indonesia has significantly increased, with approximately 175.4 million people or 64% of the population actively using the internet. While the internet provides numerous benefits, such as easy access to information and faster communication, this rise in usage also opens opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit user vulnerabilities. One of the most common forms of cybercrime is phishing, which attempts to steal users' personal information by impersonating a trusted entity. Current methods for detecting phishing are ineffective against zero-day phishing attacks. Therefore, this study employs the XGBoost algorithm to detect phishing websites. The results show that the XGBoost model, using feature selection techniques, can enhance phishing detection accuracy to 95.5%, with a precision of 95.5%, recall of 95.1%, and F1-score of 95.3%. With these capabilities, XGBoost can be used to protect internet users from evolving phishing threats and assist banks in anticipating customer losses.
PERANCANGAN DAN PEMBUATAN PROTOTYPE WATER SPRAY PEMBERSIH PANEL SURYA BERBASIS INTERNET OF THINGS
Authors: Yulianto Rizki Dwi , Haryudo Subuh Isnur , Rakhmawati Lusia , Rijanto Tri
Published: August 2024

Energi Matahari merupakan salah satu energi terbarukan yang dapat di rubah menjadi energi listrik mengunakan panel surya, Panel surya merupakan teknologi yang ramah lingkungan. Namun, ada beberapa faktor yang dapat mempengaruhi penurunan kinerja panel surya adalah iradiasi matahari, suhu panel surya, debu, pasir, kotoran, dan elemen lainnya. Konsep Internet of Things (IoT) mencakup ide untuk memperluas jaringan perangkat yang terhubung dengan internet guna mengontrol dan memonitor perangkat secara jarak jauh. Oleh sebab itu maka, pada penelitian ini akan merancang dan membuat prototype water spray pembersih panel surya berbasis Internet of Things (IoT). Hasil pengujian panel surya selama tiga hari, nilai tegangan dan arus yang dihasilkan oleh panel surya memiliki perbedaan, dimana nilai tegangan dan arus yang dihasilkan oleh panel surya dengan sistem pembersih memiliki nilai tegangan rata-rata 14,37 volt dan arus rata-rata 0,89 amper, Sedangkan panel surya tanpa sistem pembersih memiliki nilai tegangan rata-rata 13,77 volt dan arus rata-rata 0,77 amper. Panel surya dengan sistem pembersih memiliki peningkatan tegangan rata-rata 4,97%. Dalam jangka panjang selisih tegangan dan peningkatan tegangan akan semakin besar dikarenakann bertambahnya penumpukan kotoran akan mengakibatkan pengurangan daya serap pada panel tersebut pada panel surya tanpa sistem pembersih.
A lifting principle for canonical stability indices of varieties of general type
Authors: Chen Meng , Liu Hexu
Published: August 2024

For any integer

n
>
0

n>0

, the 𝑛-th canonical stability index

r
n

r_{n}

is defined to be the smallest positive integer so that the

r
n

r_{n}

-canonical map

Φ

r
n

\Phi_{r_{n}}

is stably birational onto its image for all smooth projective 𝑛-folds of general type.
We prove the lifting principle for

{

r
n

}

\{r_{n}\}

as follows:

r
n

r_{n}

is equal to the maximum of the set of those canonical stability indices of smooth projective

(

n
+
1

)

(n+1)

-folds with sufficiently large canonical volumes.
Equivalently, there exists a constant

V
⁢

(
n
)

>
0

\mathfrak{V}(n)>0

such that, for any smooth projective 𝑛-fold 𝑋 with the canonical volume

vol
⁢

(
X
)

>

V
⁢

(
n
)

\mathrm{vol}(X)>{\mathfrak{V}}(n)

, the pluricanonical map

φ

m
,
X

\varphi_{m,X}

is birational onto the image for all

m
≥

r

n
−
1

m\geq r_{n-1}

.
An optimal transport approach to estimating causal effects via nonlinear difference-in-differences
Authors: Torous William , Gunsilius Florian , Rigollet Philippe
Published: August 2024

We propose a nonlinear difference-in-differences (DiD) method to estimate multivariate counterfactual distributions in classical treatment and control study designs with observational data. Our approach sheds a new light on existing approaches like the changes-in-changes estimator and the classical semiparametric DiD estimator, and it also generalizes them to settings with multivariate heterogeneity in the outcomes. The main benefit of this extension is that it allows for arbitrary dependence between the coordinates of vector potential outcomes and includes higher-dimensional unobservables, something that existing methods cannot provide in general. We demonstrate its utility on both synthetic and real data. In particular, we revisit the classical Card & Krueger dataset, which reports fast food restaurant employment before and after a minimum wage increase. A reanalysis with our methodology suggests that these restaurants substitute full-time labor with part-time labor on aggregate in response to a minimum wage increase. This treatment effect requires estimation of the multivariate counterfactual distribution, an object beyond the scope of classical causal estimators previously applied to this data.
Can the Illusory Transparency Bias Be Modulated? Two Ways of Reducing It
Authors: Gordo Cristina , Moreno-Ríos Sergio
Published: August 2024

Taking others’ perspectives is a challenging task, especially when inferring them from written reports. In three experiments, we investigated how to modulate the illusory transparency bias, an error in perspective taking during reading. We modified the traditional illusory transparency task by adding a final sentence that informed participants about an outcome. The outcome was either consistent or inconsistent with a biased response. We found that the illusory transparency bias disappeared when the outcome provided was inconsistent (Experiment 2) but increased when it was consistent (Experiment 1). Experiment 3 tested whether the size of the bias depended on the relationship between the event and the message. In the counterfactual condition, the message was dependent on the event, while in the semifactual condition it was not. Again, a modulation of the bias was obtained. The results are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications and their relationship to other cognitive biases.
Are Observers Differentially Motivated to Empathize With Stigmatized Targets? An Investigation Using the Empathy Selection Task
Authors: Vanbeneden Antoine , Woltin Karl-Andrew , Yzerbyt Vincent
Published: August 2024

Research shows that people do not spontaneously show empathy toward stigmatized outgroups, and especially not toward groups lacking both competence and warmth as described in the Stereotype Content Model. However, people do prove capable of empathizing with such targets when required. We hypothesized that this discrepancy is due to a lower motivation to empathize with such stigmatized targets, reflected by people perceiving higher cognitive costs when doing so. In a series of four preregistered studies (Ntotal = 719), we tested this hypothesis by contrasting low competence/low warmth stigmatized groups with other groups in an Empathy Selection Task and measuring participants’ perceived cognitive costs of empathizing. Results replicate previous findings that people prefer to avoid empathy due to its perceived cognitive costs. However, targets’ group membership unexpectedly did not moderate effects. We propose a series of potential explanations for the absence of group membership moderating effects and suggest avenues for future work.
Reduced Reporting of Social Comparison Emotions and Valuation of Group-Based Morals in Autistic People
Authors: Loustau Trystan , Dungan James , Young Liane
Published: August 2024

People's moral values and social emotions play an important role in everyday interactions. We investigated moral values and social emotions in autistic people within in-person (N = 62) and online (N = 443) samples. Autistic adults and neurotypical adults rated their endorsement of “groupbinding” (versus individual-based) moral values (e.g., ingroup loyalty) and responded to vignettes designed to elicit social comparison emotions: envy and schadenfreude. Across studies, autistic participants reported reduced endorsement of binding moral values and reduced levels of social comparison emotions. These findings reveal important associations among social cognition, moral values, and social emotions.