bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Glycosylated Hemoglobin, Serum Nitric Oxide and Mean Arterial Blood Pressure
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Pondicherry, India, Manju M. , Vinod R. ,   Department of Microbiology, SriVenkateswara Medical College Pondicherry, India, Mishra Sasmita , Toora B. D. , Vijayakumar Vijayakumar ,   Department of Biochemistry, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Pondicherry, India
Published: September 2023

Background: Hypertension is about twice as frequent in individuals with diabetes as in those without diabetes. Formation of glycosylated conjugates like HbA1c is implicated to have many effects on the vascular endothelium which leads to the development of hypertension in diabetes. Nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilatation has been shown to be an important factor in the maintenance and regulation of peripheral vascular tone. Studies correlating these parameters give conflicting results. Hence the present study was designed to correlate HbA1c, Serum NO & mean arterial blood pressure. Aims: To study the relationship between glycosylated hemoglobin, serum nitric oxide & mean arterial blood pressure. Settings and Design: It is a case control study with 28 type 2 diabetic hypertensives, 32 type 2 diabetic normotensives and 51 controls (non diabetic normotensives). Materials & Methods: The study subjects included 28 type 2 diabetic hypertensives, 32 type 2 diabetic normotensives and 51 controls (non diabetic normotensives) [ADA 2010 and JNC7]. FBS, PPBS, PCV, Hb, HbA1c & serum NO estimation and BP recording was done in all the study subjects. Normalised mean arterial blood pressure (MAPn) and calculated glycosylated hemoglobin (cHbA1c) were calculated from mean arterial BP (MAP) and HbA1c respectively. Statistical Analysis: was done using R commander software. The difference in the distribution of cHbA1c, MAPn & NO levels between all 3 groups was measured using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. Correlation between the parameters was measured by Correlation coefficient and logistic regression (Spearman linear regression) analysis (univariate and multivariate). Results: There was a significant difference in the distribution of cHbA1c, MAPn & NO levels (p<0.001) between all 3 groups, whether measured by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. On univariate analysis, there was a positive correlation between cHbA1c & MAPn (p= +0.26), a negative correlation between NO & MAPn (p = -0.54) and cHbA1c & NO (p= -0.66) .On multivariate analysis, not only NO, but contrary to univariate analysis, cHbA1c also showed a negative association with MAPn. Conclusion: As the severity of diabetes increases, there is increase in BP, which is mainly due to the marked decrease in NO level which masks the negative correlation between HbA1c on MAPn.
The Impact of Integrating ICT on Students' English Speaking Proficiency Enhancement in Rwanda Polytechnic: A Case Study of IPRC Kitabi
Authors: MURAGIJIMANA Jean De La Paix
Published: September 2023

The current study explored the impact of instructional technology on the improvement of speaking skills for first-year students at Integrated Polytechnic Regional College Kitabi. It included both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and a sample of 132 respondents was chosen using purposive and census methods. SPSS was used to analyze the data that was gathered through interviews and questionnaires.

The study found that students as well as lecturers have positive mindset toward using ICT as a tool to improve English-speaking skills. It proved that using the pertinent instructional technologies to help students and lecturers enhance their speaking skills was beneficial. Conversely, the study identified some challenges that hamper the efficient use of these technological tools. It revealed that students face a variety of hurdles, including not having personal technological gadgets to utilize wherever and whenever they wish and a lack of enough ICT facilities at the college. Therefore, this study postulates that English language lecturers should effectively use ICT as a teaching tool to develop their English-speaking abilities, and the college authorities should consider the importance of ICT as a teaching and learning tool and increase ICT infrastructure to serve this purpose.
Actitud de los adolescentes hacia la prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual -Institución Educativa Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer San Juan De Lurigancho setiembre 2019
Authors:   , Villacorta Ochoa Rossmary
Published: September 2023

Introducción: La adolescencia constituye un grupo de riesgo para contraer las ITS y por consiguiente problemas de salud, son los adolescentes debido al temor, desinformación, inhibición o ineptitud quienes no solicitan la información concreta o un tratamiento adecuado y para la prevención de estas infecciones. Objetivo: Determinar la actitud de los adolescentes hacia la prevención de Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual en la Institución Educativa Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer San Juan de Lurigancho noviembre 2019. Metodología: El estudio fue de tipo cuantitativo, método descriptivo de corte transversal y con un muestreo no probabilístico. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 53 adolescentes que reunieron criterios de exclusión e inclusión; se creó el instrumento que fue validado y confiable. Resultados: Los adolescentes tienen una actitud hacia la prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual de indiferencia 77%, mientras que de aceptación 18% y rechazo 5%. De acuerdo con las dimensiones se obtuvo: según dimensión cognitiva fue de indiferencia en un 85%, aceptación en un 9% y rechazo en un 6%. Según dimensión afectiva fue de indiferencia en un 72%, rechazo en un 23% y aceptación en un 5%. Según dimensión conductual fue de indiferencia en un 75%, aceptación en un 17% y rechazo en un 8%. Conclusión: La actitud de los adolescentes hacia la prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual – Institución Educativa Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer San Juan de Lurigancho setiembre 2019 es de indiferencia.
Big Data Analytics and Its Role in Business Intelligence
Authors:   St. Peter’s Engineering College, Dhulapally, Maisammaguda, Hyderabad, India, Bhargavi K. Yamini , Bavya S.P. Neehalika ,   St.Mary’s Centenary Degree College,  Secunderabad, Telangana – 500025, India
Published: September 2023

Through the use of big data analytics, businesses are able to efficiently gather, process, clean, and analyse massive information to reveal previously hidden trends, patterns, and correlations. As a result, businesses are better able to flourish thanks to data-driven choices. Descriptive and diagnostic analytics are at the heart of business intelligence, providing explanations for where a firm has been, where it is, and why things are the way they are. In order to do these several kinds of analysis, BI tools require access to data storage. Big data is used by businesses to boost their bottom lines by optimising internal processes, enhancing customer service, developing more targeted marketing strategies, and so on. In this section, we’ll look at how business intelligence may benefit from using big data analytics.
Paraphrasing a peer's utterances to develop the students' speaking fluency
Authors: Suseno Edy
Published: September 2023

The majority of EFL students get stuck in conversation practice. Ten freshmen joined the treatment to correct such a flaw. They equip themselves with equipment connected with stable internet access. The teacher created a whatsapp group to begin the course. He updated the application with the pupils' contacts. The students formed pairs to make the teaching and learning process easier. The teacher gave each duo a URL to click on, listen to, and learn from. They talked about the material's content. After it is over, each group designates a representative to give the discussion's outcome in front of the class. He must also paraphrase his partner's viewpoint. After the presentation, there was a question-and-answer period. The teacher gave the evaluation once all participants had finished performing. The information gathered during the procedure was qualitatively examined. The students' speaking skills improved as a result. The teacher might modify these findings to teach the associated disciplines. It also inspires other researchers to conduct more research.
Socio-cultural effects of shrinking circulations of print media
Authors:   Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Stefanov Panayot
Published: September 2023

The article ”Socio-cultural effects of shrinking circulations of print media” with author Panayot Stefanov researches the socio-cultural effects of the transition of the public from traditional do new media in the conditions of the digital turn. The main hypothesis of the text is that the outflow from the press and the growing consumption of internet are two interrelated but not necessarily reciprocal processes. Through a comparative analysis between two mirror national media landscapes – of Finland and Bulgaria – and a comparison with the culture and reading habits, the report substantiates the dependence between the quality of the media and political indicators in the two countries and in the modern information society in general.
Media coverage of political and economic crises in Bulgaria (Study of four editions for the period January – June 2022)
Authors:   Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Ivanova Vyara
Published: September 2023

The report presents an analysis of media reflection on the deepening political and economic crises in Bulgaria. The media are an important factor in crisis situations. They have responsibilities stemming from the fact that the way they reflect reality and form the public‘s opinion about the ongoing political and economic processes has a significant impact on them. The analysis answers the question to what extent the media are aware of these responsibilities and whether they contribute to the deepening of negative processes. Publications in four media were studied over a six-month period (January 2022-June 2022). A content analysis of 3754 publications related to the topics of crises in politics and economics was conducted.
La desnutrición infantil y su efecto en el neurodesarrollo: una revisión crítica desde la perspectiva ecuatoriana
Authors: Ruiz Arciniega Josselyn Gabriela , Palomino Sarmiento Vanessa Carolina , Enríquez Bravo Guido René
Published: September 2023

El desarrollo infantil ocurre en hitos y cuando este proceso se ve afectado se presentan signos de alarma que muchas veces son parte de alteraciones en la evolución de los niños especialmente en edades tempranas, donde el proceso de neurodesarrollo es crucial para lograr el máximo potencial de las capacidades y habilidades del ser humano. Las causas que pueden marcar de manera negativa el proceso del neurodesarrollo son diversas, pero la presente investigación se basa en la desnutrición infantil, factor clave en el neurodesarrollo del niño menor de cinco años. El objetivo del estudio fue realizar una revisión bibliográfica de investigaciones sobre la desnutrición infantil y su efecto en el neurodesarrollo desde la perspectiva ecuatoriana. La metodología empleada se basó en el análisis documental y la revisión sistemática de literatura extraída de las bases de datos de SciELO, PudMed, Science Direct, RECIMUNDO, Dialnet, Revista Ecuatoriana de Neurología y Redalyc; con criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Se concluyó que la desnutrición infantil influye negativamente en el neurodesarrollo. En consecuencia, una alimentación adecuada es un medio para que el niño desarrolle sus capacidades tanto intelectuales como físicas
Brecha de recursos humanos y la calidad de atención en servicios sanitarios
Authors: Tirado Zavaleta Willian Alberto
Published: September 2023

Esta investigación asumió como propósito la determinación de problemas y sus factores, y las estrategias o medidas implementadas a nivel mundial respecto al tratamiento de la brecha de recursos humanos en salud y su distribución, además de la forma en cómo esto influye en la calidad del servicio sanitario; todo esto se realizó por medio de un proceso de revisión sistemático con validez científica que hizo posible la obtención de datos, enfoques, estrategias y requerimientos, los mismos que fueron filtrados a través de una fase de análisis que permitió el desarrollo de un criterio para la discriminación de información relevante y la adaptación de aquellos estudios más relacionados con el tópico principal de este documento. La metodología empleada consistió en la recolección de distintos artículos de varios países con problemas en el recurso humano en salud, medidas de estado para corregir la brecha, estrategias de formación y evaluaciones de satisfacción del usuario externo
Conocimiento y actitud hacia la ecoeficiencia en los habitantes del distrito de Chilca, Perú
Authors: Révolo Acevedo Ronald Héctor , Osorio Berocal Emilio , Quispe Reymundo Bimael Justo
Published: September 2023

La Ecoeficiencia es una forma efectiva y fundamental para evaluar el Conocimiento y la Actitud a un nivel personal logrando un Desarrollo Ambiental-Urbano Sostenible; lo que nos lleva al objetivo de la investigación en el distrito de Chilca. Se analizó la descripción y relación entre ambos conceptos; elaborando así dos encuestas con 23 ítems/cu, teniendo como muestreo a 382 personas encuestadas, la encuesta esta validada mediante la escala de Likert (5 niveles) y corroborada mediante la contratación de hipótesis estadística rho Spearman, t-student y α=0.05. Los resultados afirmar lo siguiente: Conocimiento Ambiental hacia la Ecoeficiencia (115, 109 y 131 posee una idea totalmente de acuerdo en aire y suelo, diversidad biológica y cambio climático, respectivamente); Actitud Ambiental hacia la Ecoeficiencia (113, 137 y 141 tiene una idea totalmente de acuerdo en su aspecto cognitivo, afectivo y conativo, respectivamente) y la relación entre el C. y A. presenta un rho=0.47 siendo una relación buena, con t-student=10.35 y α=2.2e-16; perfeccionando que si existe relación entre la actitud ambiental y conocimiento ambiental hacia la ecoeficiencia. Concluyendo que, si tenemos una actitud y conocimiento “ambiental” a un nivel personal esto influirá a nivel urbano formando una polimatía y psicología ambiental ecoeficiente para un desarrollo ambiental urbano sostenible en el distrito de Chilca.
Development of a weak-link wing harness for use on large gulls (Laridae): methodology, evaluation and recommendations
Authors: Clewley Gary , Clark Nigel , Thaxter Chris , Green Rob , Scragg Emily , Burton Niall
Published: September 2023

Both for the welfare of the birds studied and the validity of the results obtained, it is important that biologging attachment methods should be suitably safe and effective. We describe a weak-link wing harness, designed for long-term attachment, which safely detaches from the bird without need for recapture, and a UK field trial on two species of gull with contrasting life-histories, Herring Gull Larus argentatus and Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus. We fitted 15 GPS devices to Herring Gulls in 2014 using three different weak-link materials: cotton thread, cotton piping cord and nitrile rubber. Productivity and return rates were compared against those fitted with permanent harnesses and a control group. A further 36 weak-link harnesses were fitted to Lesser Black-backed Gulls in 2017 and 2018 using GPS-GSM devices that provided more accurate attachment durations. The weak-link design was suitable for Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and harnesses detached completely. Devices fitted with cotton piping cord or nitrile weak-link harnesses remained attached to Herring Gulls for up to four years. Cotton thread was less durable, with harnesses detaching in 1–2 years. We did not detect any significant effects on breeding success or return rates from the harnesses, although small effects sizes cannot be discounted. Devices fitted to Lesser Black-backed Gulls with 6-ply cotton, 18-ply cotton or piping cord weak- link harnesses had respective mean (± standard error) minimum attachment durations of 102 ± 13.6 days (N = 15), 358 ± 42 days (N = 18) and 596 ± 225 days (N = 2). The use of weak-link harnesses can provide a flexible and favourable alternative to permanent designs mitigating some of the associated risks.
Historic evidence of the use of storm-petrels Hydrobates sp. as candles
Authors: Bond Alexander , Hammer Jógvan , Hammer Sjúrður
Published: September 2023

Many recent accounts of storm-petrel biology and conservation, particularly in the North Atlantic Ocean, refer to chicks of Leach’s Storm-petrels Hydrobates leucorhous and European Storm-petrels H. pelagicus being used as candles, particularly in Ireland, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands. Here, we examine the historical, ethnographical, and museum evidence for this practice. Most accounts are second-hand, and only a handful of examples exist and can be verified either as photographs, first- person accounts, or museum specimens. We conclude that the practice was not likely to be widespread, and its perception was perpetuated by reproductions and exaggerations by visiting naturalists in the eighteenth to twentieth centuries.
New solitary wave solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation by new version of the trial equation method
Authors: Pandir Yusuf , Ekin Ali
Published: September 2023

New solitary wave solutions for the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation by a new version of the trial equation method are attained. Proper transformation reduces the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation to a quadratic ordinary differential equation that is fully integrated using the new version trial equation approach. The family of solitary wave solutions of the reduced equation ensures a combined expression for the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, which contains exact solutions derived in recent years using different integration methods. The analytic solution of the reduced equation permits to find exact solutions for the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, providing a variety of new solitary wave solutions that have not been reported before.
Inserção do pensamento computacional em alunos do ensino fundamental e médio
Authors: Marques Prates Jorge , Henrique Dias Valle Pedro , Morita Melo Silvana , Karen Missias Santos Gleyce
Published: September 2023

O pensamento computacional é um meio estratégico para identificar e solucionar problemas de diferentes áreas do conhecimento, utilizando como base algoritmos e computadores. Essa habilidade traz benefícios como a solução de problemas de forma ágil e a inserção no mundo digital, relevantes para a vida em sociedade e para o fácil aprendizado em futuras tecnologias. O objetivo do projeto foi contribuir para o processo de ensino/aprendizagem, por meio do desenvolvimento e da aplicação de material didático para o curso intitulado “Introdução ao Pensamento Computacional”. O curso, realizado mediante aulas on-line, foi idealizado com o intuito de desenvolver habilidades do pensamento computacional, além de introduzir os alunos no mundo digital, com a apresentação de conceitos básicos da computação. O público-alvo foram alunos do Ensino Fundamental e do Ensino Médio de escolas da rede pública. Inicialmente, foram selecionados materiais, a partir de pesquisas realizadas em bibliotecas digitais, para leitura e estudo. Posteriormente, esses materiais foram usados como base na preparação e na realização dos materiais das aulas. Adicionalmente, foram usadas ferramentas modernas e interativas de fácil compreensão para os alunos, desenvolvidas especialmente para o ensino de programação de crianças e adolescentes, como o Scratch. As atividades propostas foram realizadas e atingiram seu maior objetivo, que era contribuir para o processo de desenvolvimento do pensamento computacional, além de aproximar crianças e adolescentes da tecnologia e do seu uso. Os resultados indicam o aumento do interesse por tecnologia em todos os alunos participantes do curso.
La pédagogie des sans-terre comme forme d’expérience et d’enracinement démocratique du travail
Authors: Devette Pascale , Furukawa Marques Dan
Published: September 2023

Cet article interroge les liens entre éducation, démocratie et travail tels qu’ils se déploient dans une école du Mouvement des travailleurs ruraux sans-terre (MST) du Brésil, afin de cerner la manière dont ces trois sphères sociales s’influencent mutuellement. Pour ce faire, nous analysons les pensées de John Dewey (1859-1952) et de Simone Weil (1909-1943), indirectement mobilisées par les sans-terre pour créer ce qu’ils appellent la « pédagogie de la campagne », soit une praxis démocratique qui articule éducation et travail et qu’ils appliquent dans des centaines d’écoles à travers le Brésil. Nous partirons d’abord de considérations théoriques, afin de montrer l’importance sociale et politique de réfléchir à des institutions qui favorisent les capacités d’attention pour comprendre en retour comment ces capacités, loin d’être purement individuelles, ont des effets sur la qualité des liens sociaux et de la vie collective. Cette vision de l’articulation entre démocratie, éducation et travail à travers l’attention se retrouve au coeur de plusieurs institutions d’éducation gérées par le Mouvement des sans-terre au Brésil.
Finite-key analysis of decoy model semi-quantum key distribution based on four-state protocol
Authors: Zhan Shao-Kang , Wang Jin-Dong , Dong Shuang , Huang Si-Ying , Hou Qing-Cheng , Mo Nai-Da , Mi Shang , Xiang Li-Bing , Zhao Tian-Ming , Yu Ya-Fei , Wei Zheng-Jun , Zhang Zhi-Ming ,   Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Control Engineering and Materials, School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China,   Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro-nanophotonic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Published: September 2023

Semi-quantum key distribution allows a full quantum user Alice and a classical user Bob to share a pair of security keys guaranteed by physical principles. Semi-quantum key distribution is proposed while verifying its robustness. Subsequently, its unconditional security of semi-quantum key distribution system is verified theoretically. In 2021, the feasibility of semi-quantum key distribution system based on mirror protocol was verified experimentally. However, the feasibility experimental system still uses the laser pulse with strong attenuation. It has been proved in the literature that the semi-quantum key distribution system still encounters the risk of secret key leakage under photon number splitting attack. Therefore, the actual security of key distribution can be further reasonably evaluated by introducing the temptation state and conducting the finite-key analysis in the key distribution process. In this work, for the model of adding one-decoy state only to Alice at the sending based on a four state semi-quantum key distribution system, the length of the security key in the case of finite-key is analyzed by using Hoeffding inequality, and then the formula of the security key rate is obtained. It is found in the numerical simulation that when the sample size is \begin{document}$ {10}^{5} $\end{document}, the security key rate of \begin{document}$ {10}^{-4} $\end{document}, which is close to the security key rate of the asymptotic limits, can be obtained in the case of close range. It is very important for the practical application of semi-quantum key distribution system.
206 nm deep ultraviolet laser generated from fifth harmonic of femtosecond fiber laser
Authors: Shi Liang-Zhu , Zhang Meng , Chu Yu-Xi , Liu Bo-Wen , Hu Ming-Lie ,   Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Information Technology (Ministry of Education), Ultrafast Laser Laboratory, College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Published: September 2023

Deep ultraviolet (DUV) femtosecond laser, which combines the advantages of high single-photon energy of DUV laser with high peak power of femtosecond laser, is widely used in scientific research, biomedicine, material processing and so on. However, in the process of generating DUV femtosecond laser based on nonlinear frequency conversion is encountered a problem that the group velocity mismatch caused by dispersion makes the temporal walk-off of the nonlinear frequency conversion larger than the pulse duration of the femtosecond laser, thus making the generation of the DUV femtosecond laser very difficult. In this work, based on a Yb-doped fiber femtosecond laser, the delay line is optimized to precisely compensate for the spatial and temporal walk-off, so DUV femtosecond laser possesses the following performances: the center wavelength is 206 nm, the repetition rate is 1 MHz, the maximum output power is 102 mW, the maximum conversion efficiency is 4.25% from near infrared to DUV, the root mean square (RMS) power stability is 0.88% within 3 h, and the peak-to-peak power stability is 3.75%. The evolution of laser spectra and beam quality in the process of second harmonic generation (SHG), fourth harmonic generation (FHG) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) are also systematically studied. The experimental results provide a basis for generating DUV femtosecond laser from femtosecond fiber lasers.
Advances in high spatiotemporal resolution fluorescence microscopic imaging technique based on point scanning
Authors: Pan Bin-Xiong , Gong Cheng , Zhang Peng , Liu Zi-Ye , Pi Peng-Jian , Chen Wang , Huang Wen-Qiang , Wang Bao-Ju , Zhan Qiu-Qiang ,   South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China,   School of Physics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Published: September 2023

Laser point-scanning fluorescence microscopy serves as an indispensable tool in the life science research, owing to its merits of excellent resolution, high sensitivity, remarkable specificity, three-dimensional optical-sectioning capability, and dynamic imaging. However, conventional laser point-scanning fluorescence microscopy confronts a series of challenges in the rapidly evolving field of life sciences, because of the limitations imposed by optical diffraction and point scanning detection. Over the past two decades, substantial advancements have been made in super-resolution fluorescence microscopic imaging techniques. Researchers have developed various high spatial and temporal resolution point-scanning microtechniques, which hold great significance for biological optical imaging and other relevant applications. Regrettably, there are still few review articles covering the recent progress of this field. It is essential to provide a comprehensive review of laser point-scanning fluorescence microscopic techniques for their future developments and trends. In this article, the basic principles and recent advances in different point-scanning fluorescence microscopy imaging techniques are introduced from the perspectives of temporal resolution and spatial resolution, and the progress and applications of high spatio-temporal resolution microscopic imaging techniques based on point-scanning mode are summarized. Finally, the development trends and challenges of high spatio-temporal resolution point scanning fluorescence microscopic imaging technique are discussed.
Josephson current induced by spin-mixing Cooper pairs
Authors: Meng Hao , Wu Xiu-Qiang ,   School of Physics and Telecommunication Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China,   Department of Physics, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
Published: September 2023

Based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, we investigate the transport of the Josephson current in a one-dimensional S/FL-F-FR/S junction, where S and F are superconductor and ferromagnet, and FL,R are the left and right interfaces with noncollinear magnetizations. It is found that the FL and FR interfaces can induce spin-mixing and spin-flip effects, which can transform a part of spin-singlet pairs in the S into equal-spin triplet pairs in the F. For the short S/FL-F-FR/S junction, the spin-singlet pairs and the equal-spin triplet pairs can survive in the F layer. Therefore, with the increase of the ferromagnetic exchange field and the angle difference of interface magnetization rotation, the critical current oscillates on a base level. If the F is transformed into half-metal, only the equal-spin triple pairs exist in the F layer, and the oscillation characteristic of critical current disappears. In addition, the FL and FR interfaces can work as conventional potential barriers. As a result, the critical current exhibits double oscillation behaviors with the increase of ferromagnetic thickness, in which the long-wave oscillation arises from the phase change of the spin-singlet pairs in the ferromagnetic layer, and the short-wave oscillation is caused by the resonant tunneling effect when the spin-singlet pairs and the equal-spin triplet pairs pass through two interfacial barriers.
Bayesian analysis of phase data in EEG and MEG
Authors: Dimmock Sydney , O'Donnell Cian , Houghton Conor
Published: September 2023

Electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography recordings are non-invasive and temporally precise, making them invaluable tools in the investigation of neural responses in humans. However, these recordings are noisy, both because the neuronal electrodynamics involved produces a muffled signal and because the neuronal processes of interest compete with numerous other processes, from blinking to day-dreaming. One fruitful response to this noisiness has been to use stimuli with a specific frequency and to look for the signal of interest in the response at that frequency. Typically this signal involves measuring the coherence of response phase: here, a Bayesian approach to measuring phase coherence is described. This Bayesian approach is illustrated using two examples from neurolinguistics and its properties are explored using simulated data. We suggest that the Bayesian approach is more descriptive than traditional statistical approaches because it provides an explicit, interpretable generative model of how the data arises. It is also more data-efficient: it detects stimulus-related differences for smaller participant numbers than the standard approach.
Exposure to high-sugar diet induces transgenerational changes in sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior via H3K27me3 reprogramming
Authors: Yang Jie , Tang Ruijun , Chen Shiye , Chen Yinan , Yuan Kai , Huang Rui , Wang Liming
Published: September 2023

Human health is facing a host of new threats linked to unbalanced diets, including high-sugar diet (HSD), which contributes to the development of both metabolic and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions can be transmitted to multiple generations of offspring and exert long-lasting health burden. Meanwhile, whether and how diet-induced behavioral abnormalities can be transmitted to the offspring remains largely unclear. Here, we showed that ancestral HSD exposure suppressed sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior in the offspring in Drosophila. These behavioral deficits were transmitted through the maternal germline and companied by the enhancement of H3K27me3 modifications. PCL-PRC2 complex, a major driver of H3K27 trimethylation, was upregulated by ancestral HSD exposure, and disrupting its activity eliminated the transgenerational inheritance of sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior deficits. Elevated H3K27me3 inhibited the expression of a transcriptional factor Cad and suppressed sweet sensitivity of the sweet-sensing gustatory neurons, reshaping the sweet perception and feeding behavior of the offspring. Taken together, we uncovered a novel molecular mechanism underlying behavioral abnormalities spanning multiple generations of offspring upon ancestral HSD exposure, which would contribute to the further understanding of long-term health risk of unbalanced diet.
A rapid review of COVID-19’s global impact on breast cancer screening participation rates and volumes from January to December 2020
Authors: Lee Reagan , Xu Wei , Dozier Marshall , McQuillan Ruth , Theodoratou Evropi , Figueroa Jonine ,   On Behalf of UNCOVER and the International Partnership for Resilience in CancerSystems (I-PaRCS), Breast Cancer Working Group 2
Published: September 2023

COVID-19 has strained population breast mammography screening programs that aim to diagnose and treat breast cancers earlier. As the pandemic has affected countries differently, we aimed to quantify changes in breast screening volume and uptake during the first year of COVID-19 . We systematically searched Medline, the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 database, and governmental databases. Studies covering January 2020 to March 2022 were included. We extracted and analyzed data regarding study methodology, screening volume, and uptake. To assess for risk of bias, we used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool. Twenty-six cross-sectional descriptive studies (focusing on 13 countries/nations) were included out of 935 independent records. Reductions in screening volume and uptake rates were observed among eight countries. Changes in screening participation volume in five nations with national population-based screening ranged from –13 to –31%. Among two countries with limited population-based programs, the decline ranged from –61 to –41%. Within the USA, population participation volumes varied ranging from +18 to –39%, with suggestion of differences by insurance status (HMO, Medicare, and low-income programs). Almost all studies had high risk of bias due to insufficient statistical analysis and confounding factors. The extent of COVID-19-induced reduction in breast screening participation volume differed by region and data suggested potential differences by healthcare setting (e.g., national health insurance vs. private healthcare). Recovery efforts should monitor access to screening and early diagnosis to determine whether prevention services need strengthening to increase the coverage of disadvantaged groups and reduce disparities.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cellular and molecular heterogeneity in fibrocartilaginous enthesis formation
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wan Liyang , Xiao Han , Wang Linfeng , Hu Jianzhong , Lu Hongbin
Published: September 2023

The attachment site of the rotator cuff (RC) is a classic fibrocartilaginous enthesis, which is the junction between bone and tendon with typical characteristics of a fibrocartilage transition zone. Enthesis development has historically been studied with lineage tracing of individual genes selected a priori, which does not allow for the determination of single-cell landscapes yielding mature cell types and tissues. Here, in together with open-source GSE182997 datasets (three samples) provided by Fang et al., we applied Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to delineate the comprehensive postnatal RC enthesis growth and the temporal atlas from as early as postnatal day 1 up to postnatal week 8. And, we furtherly performed single-cell spatial transcriptomic sequencing on postnatal day 1 mouse enthesis, in order to deconvolute bone-tendon junction (BTJ) chondrocytes onto spatial spots. In summary, we deciphered the cellular heterogeneity and the molecular dynamics during fibrocartilage differentiation. Combined with current spatial transcriptomic data, our results provide a transcriptional resource that will support future investigations of enthesis development at the mechanistic level and may shed light on the strategies for enhanced RC healing outcomes.
Judging the difficulty of perceptual decisions
Authors: Löffler Anne , Zylberberg Ariel , Shadlen Michael N. , Wolpert Daniel M.
Published: September 2023

Deciding how difficult it is going to be to perform a task allows us to choose between tasks, allocate appropriate resources, and predict future performance. To be useful for planning, difficulty judgments should not require completion of the task. Here we examine the processes underlying difficulty judgments in a perceptual decision making task. Participants viewed two patches of dynamic random dots, which were colored blue or yellow stochastically on each appearance. Stimulus coherence (the probability,
p
blue
, of a dot being blue) varied across trials and patches thus establishing difficulty, |
p
blue
− 0.5|. Participants were asked to indicate for which patch it would be easier to decide the dominant color. Accuracy in difficulty decisions improved with the difference in the stimulus difficulties, whereas the reaction times were not determined solely by this quantity. For example, when the patches shared the same difficulty, reaction times were shorter for easier stimuli. A comparison of several models of difficulty judgment suggested that participants compare the absolute accumulated evidence from each stimulus and terminate their decision when they differed by a set amount. The model predicts that when the dominant color of each stimulus is known, reaction times should depend only on the difference in difficulty, which we confirm empirically. We also show that this model is preferred to one that compares the confidence one would have in making each decision. The results extend evidence accumulation models, used to explain choice, reaction time and confidence to prospective judgments of difficulty.
ScRNA-seq of Diverse Pheochromocytoma Patients Reveals Distinct Microenvironment Characteristics and Supports an Informative Molecular Classification System
Authors: Qin Sen , Xu Yawei , Yu Shimiao , Han Wencong , Fan Shiheng , Ai Wenxiang , Zhang Kenan , Wang Yizhou , Zhou Xuehong , Shen Qi , Gong Kan , Sun Luyang , Zhang Zheng
Published: September 2023

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that originate from chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland. However, the cellular molecular characteristics and immune microenvironment of PCCs are incompletely understood. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on 16 tissues from 4 sporadic unclassified PCC patients and 1 hereditary PCC patient with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. We found that intra-tumoral heterogeneity was less extensive than the inter-individual heterogeneity of PCCs, a finding inconsistent with the widely-used PASS evaluation system. We further divided the unclassified PCC patients into two types, metabolism-type (marked by NDUFA4L2 and COX4I2) and kinase-type (marked by RET and PNMT), validated by immunohistochemical staining. Trajectory analysis of tumor evolution revealed that metabolism-type PCC cells display phenotype of consistently active metabolism and increased malignant potential, while kinase-type PCC cells showed decreased epinephrine synthesis and neuron-like phenotypes. Cellular communication analysis showed activation of the annexin pathway and a strong inflammation reaction in metabolism-type PCCs and activation of FGF signaling in the kinase-type PCC. Although multispectral immunofluorescence staining showed a lack of CD8 + T cell infiltration in both metabolism-type and kinase-type PCCs, only the kinase-type PCC exhibited downregulation of HLA-Ⅰ molecules that possibly regulated by RET , suggesting the potential of combined therapy with kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy for kinase-type PCCs; in contrast, the application of immunotherapy to metabolism-type PCCs (with antigen presentation ability) is likely unsuitable. Our study presents a single-cell transcriptomics-based molecular classification and microenvironment characterization of PCCs, providing clues for potential therapeutic strategies to treat PCCs.
The genetic and dietary landscape of the muscle insulin signalling network
Authors: van Gerwen Julian , Masson Stewart WC , Cutler Harry B , Vegas Alexis Diaz , Potter Meg , Stöckli Jacqueline , Madsen Søren , Nelson Marin E , Humphrey Sean J , James David E
Published: September 2023

Metabolic disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, yet few studies have examined how these factors influence signal transduction, a key mediator of metabolism. Using mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics, we quantified 23,126 phosphosites in skeletal muscle of five genetically distinct mouse strains in two dietary environments, with and without acute in vivo insulin stimulation. Almost half of the insulin-regulated phosphoproteome was modified by genetic background on an ordinary diet, and high-fat high-sugar feeding affected insulin signalling in a strain-dependent manner. Our data revealed coregulated subnetworks within the insulin signalling pathway, expanding our understanding of the pathway’s organisation. Furthermore, associating diverse signalling responses with insulin-stimulated glucose uptake uncovered regulators of muscle insulin responsiveness, including the regulatory phosphosite S469 on Pfkfb2, a key activator of glycolysis. Finally, we confirmed the role of glycolysis in modulating insulin action in insulin resistance. Our results underscore the significance of genetics in shaping global signalling responses and their adaptability to environmental changes, emphasising the utility of studying biological diversity with phosphoproteomics to discover key regulatory mechanisms of complex traits.
PAK3 downregulation induces cognitive impairment following cranial irradiation
Authors: Lee Haksoo , Kang Hyunkoo , Moon Changjong , Youn BuHyun
Published: September 2023

Cranial irradiation is used for prophylactic brain radiotherapy as well as the treatment of primary brain tumors. Despite its high efficiency, it often induces unexpected side effects, including cognitive dysfunction. Herein, we observed that mice exposed to cranial irradiation exhibited cognitive dysfunction, including altered spontaneous behavior, decreased spatial memory, and reduced novel object recognition. Analysis of the actin cytoskeleton revealed that ionizing radiation (IR) disrupted the filamentous/globular actin (F/G-actin) ratio and downregulated the actin turnover signaling pathway p21-activated kinase 3 (PAK3)-LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1)-cofilin. Furthermore, we found that IR could upregulate microRNA-206–3 p (miR-206–3 p) targeting PAK3. As the inhibition of miR-206–3 p through antagonist (antagomiR), IR-induced disruption of PAK3 signaling is restored. In addition, intranasal administration of antagomiR-206–3 p recovered IR-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Our results suggest that cranial irradiation-induced cognitive impairment could be ameliorated by regulating PAK3 through antagomiR-206–3 p, thereby affording a promising strategy for protecting cognitive function during cranial irradiation, and promoting quality of life in patients with radiation therapy.
Neural criticality from effective latent variables
Authors: Morrell Mia C , Nemenman Ilya , Sederberg Audrey
Published: September 2023

Observations of power laws in neural activity data have raised the intriguing notion that brains may operate in a critical state. One example of this critical state is ‘avalanche criticality’, which has been observed in various systems, including cultured neurons, zebrafish, rodent cortex, and human EEG. More recently, power laws were also observed in neural populations in the mouse under an activity coarse-graining procedure, and they were explained as a consequence of the neural activity being coupled to multiple latent dynamical variables. An intriguing possibility is that avalanche criticality emerges due to a similar mechanism. Here, we determine the conditions under which latent dynamical variables give rise to avalanche criticality. We find that populations coupled to multiple latent variables produce critical behavior across a broader parameter range than those coupled to a single, quasi-static latent variable, but in both cases, avalanche criticality is observed without fine-tuning of model parameters. We identify two regimes of avalanches, both critical but differing in the amount of information carried about the latent variable. Our results suggest that avalanche criticality arises in neural systems in which activity is effectively modeled as a population driven by a few dynamical variables and these variables can be inferred from the population activity.
H1 restricts euchromatin-associated methylation pathways from heterochromatic encroachment
Authors: Harris C Jake , Zhong Zhenhui , Ichino Lucia , Feng Suhua , Jacobsen Steven E
Published: September 2023

Silencing pathways prevent transposable element (TE) proliferation and help to maintain genome integrity through cell division. Silenced genomic regions can be classified as either euchromatic or heterochromatic, and are targeted by genetically separable epigenetic pathways. In plants, the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway targets mostly euchromatic regions, while CMT DNA methyltransferases are mainly associated with heterochromatin. However, many epigenetic features - including DNA methylation patterning - are largely indistinguishable between these regions, so how the functional separation is maintained is unclear. The linker histone H1 is preferentially localized to heterochromatin and has been proposed to restrict RdDM from encroachment. To test this hypothesis, we followed RdDM genomic localization in an h1 mutant by performing ChIP-seq on the largest subunit, NRPE1, of the central RdDM polymerase, Pol V. Loss of H1 resulted in NRPE1 enrichment predominantly in heterochromatic TEs. Increased NRPE1 binding was associated with increased chromatin accessibility in h1, suggesting that H1 restricts NRPE1 occupancy by compacting chromatin. However, RdDM occupancy did not impact H1 localization, demonstrating that H1 hierarchically restricts RdDM positioning. H1 mutants experience major symmetric (CG and CHG) DNA methylation gains, and by generating an h1/nrpe1 double mutant, we demonstrate these gains are largely independent of RdDM. However, loss of NRPE1 occupancy from a subset of euchromatic regions in h1 corresponded to the loss of methylation in all sequence contexts, while at ectopically bound heterochromatic loci, NRPE1 deposition correlated with increased methylation specifically in the CHH context. Additionally, we found that H1 similarly restricts the occupancy of the methylation reader, SUVH1, and polycomb-mediated H3K27me3. Together, the results support a model whereby H1 helps maintain the exclusivity of heterochromatin by preventing encroachment from other competing pathways.
Septin 7 interacts with Numb to preserve sarcomere structural organization and muscle contractile function
Authors: De Gasperi Rita , Csernoch Laszlo , Dienes Beatrix , Gonczi Monika , Chakrabarty Jayanta K , Goeta Shahar , Aslan Abdurrahman , Toro Carlos A , Karasik David , Brown Lewis M , Brotto Marco , Cardozo Christopher P
Published: September 2023

Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which aging-related reductions of the levels of Numb in skeletal muscle fibers contribute to loss of muscle strength and power, two critical features of sarcopenia. Numb is an adaptor protein best known for its critical roles in development, including asymmetric cell division, cell-type specification, and termination of intracellular signaling. Numb expression is reduced in old humans and mice. We previously showed that, in mouse skeletal muscle fibers, Numb is localized to sarcomeres where it is concentrated near triads; conditional inactivation of Numb and a closely related protein Numb-like (Numbl) in mouse myofibers caused weakness, disorganization of sarcomeres, and smaller mitochondria with impaired function. Here, we found that a single knockout of Numb in myofibers causes reduction in tetanic force comparable to a double Numb, Numbl knockout. We found by proteomics analysis of protein complexes isolated from C2C12 myotubes by immunoprecipitation using antibodies against Numb that Septin 7 is a potential Numb-binding partner. Septin 7 is a member of the family of GTP-binding proteins that organize into filaments, sheets, and rings, and is considered part of the cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescence evaluation revealed a partial overlap of staining for Numb and Septin 7 in myofibers. Conditional, inducible knockouts of Numb led to disorganization of Septin 7 staining in myofibers. These findings indicate that Septin 7 is a Numb-binding partner and suggest that interactions between Numb and Septin 7 are critical for structural organization of the sarcomere and muscle contractile function.