bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diasporic geopolitics, rising powers, and the future of international order
Authors: Adamson Fiona B. , Han Enze
Published: May 2024

This article examines ‘diasporic geopolitics’ as a significant factor in the future of global politics. Whereas discussions of global order in IR have been highly spatialised, we instead highlight the extent to which different regions of the world are entangled via ongoing migration processes, and their legacies in the form of global diasporas. We examine the significance of these interconnections by focusing on rising powers and their relations with the existing international order. Major migration-sending states such as China, India, and Turkey are now aspiring great powers that seek to exert global influence in international affairs. In this context, their diaspora governance policies are also undergoing a transformation, with diasporas increasingly understood as important assets for promoting sending states’ geopolitical agendas and great power ambitions. We examine three mechanisms by which such states exert power transnationally via their diaspora engagement policies. States can treat ‘their’ diasporas as economic assets that facilitate trade and foreign investment; as soft power assets that contribute to the promotion of ‘civilisational’ politics; and as diplomatic assets that can be strategically mobilised or repressed. We conclude by discussing the implications for thinking about the nature of global order and power politics in the coming 50 years.
Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with cantaloupe consumption, the United Kingdom and Portugal, September to November 2023
Authors: McGeoch Luke J. , Hoban Ann , Sawyer Clare , Rabie Hussein ,   Incident Team, Painset Anaïs , Browning Lynda , Brown Derek , McCarthy Caitlin , Nelson Andrew , Firme Ana , Pista Ângela , Moreno Joana , Martins João Vieira , Silveira Leonor , Machado Jorge , Vasconcelos Paula , Olufon Oluwakemi , Inzoungou-Massanga Carmellie , Douglas Amy , McCormick Jacquelyn , Larkin Lesley , Balasegaram Sooria
Published: May 2024

In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency identified cases of Salmonella Saintpaul distributed across England, Scotland, and Wales, all with very low genetic diversity. Additional cases were identified in Portugal following an alert raised by the United Kingdom. Ninety-eight cases with a similar genetic sequence were identified, 93 in the United Kingdom and 5 in Portugal, of which 46% were aged under 10 years. Cases formed a phylogenetic cluster with a maximum distance of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and average of less than one SNP between isolates. An outbreak investigation was undertaken, including a case–control study. Among the 25 UK cases included in this study, 13 reported blood in stool and 5 were hospitalized. One hundred controls were recruited via a market research panel using frequency matching for age. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of food exposures in cases and controls identified a strong association with cantaloupe consumption (adjusted odds ratio: 14.22; 95% confidence interval: 2.83–71.43; p-value: 0.001). This outbreak, together with other recent national and international incidents, points to an increase in identifications of large outbreaks of Salmonella linked to melon consumption. We recommend detailed questioning and triangulation of information sources to delineate consumption of specific fruit varieties during Salmonella outbreaks.
Cosmopolitan underworld: opiate refinement in inter-war Istanbul
Authors: MacArthur-Seal Daniel-Joseph
Published: May 2024

The Turkish government’s suppression of private heroin factories and its monopolization of opium exports brought the state into conflict with a large numbers of Istanbul residents who sought to profit from the lucrative trade in opiates. Sites of clandestine drug production spread across the urban and suburban landscape, inspiring public alarm and new policing measures. The article examines the human networks behind these production sites, investigating how they utilized the diversity of their members and contacts in the search for profit and the evasion of the state, and how this diversity was interpreted in press and public debate.
Poor subjective sleep quality and trait impulsivity in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Huang Mao-Hsuan , Kuan Yi-Hsuan , Chan Yee-Lam E. , Mao Wei-Chung , Su Tung-Ping
Published: May 2024

Background

Sleep disturbance and impulsivity are key components of mood vulnerability in bipolar disorder (BD), but few studies have assessed the association between these two symptoms among patients with BD.

Methods

Forty-seven euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder (BDI) or bipolar II disorder (BDII) and 58 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Trait impulsivity was measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11), which yielded 3 second-order factors: attention, motor, and non-planning. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). General linear models (GLMs) were used to assess the associations between subjective poor sleep and trait impulsivity with multiple testing corrections.

Results

Patients with BD scored higher in BIS-11 and PSQI than healthy controls. PSQI total scores positively correlated with BIS-11 total scores, while sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction were associated with attentional impulsiveness after controlling for covariates. Participants with higher PSQI total scores (>10) had higher scores in BIS-11 total, attention, and non-planning than those with low PSQI scores (≤5).

Conclusion

These findings support the hypothesis that poor sleep quality might lead to impulsivity and add to the growing evidence that improving sleep quality may be a therapeutic target for patients with BD.
Share of food group expenditure in Mexican households according to the gender of the head of household and size of the locality
Authors: Jaen Jocelyn , Collado-López Sonia , Armenta-Guirado Brianda Ioanna , G.-Olvera Armando , Hernández-F Mauricio
Published: May 2024

Objective:

To evaluate differences in the percentage of expenditure on food groups in Mexican households according to the gender of the household head and the size of the locality.

Design:

Analysis of secondary data from the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH) 2018. We estimated the percentage of expenditure on fifteen food groups according to the gender of the head of household and locality size and evaluated the differences using a two-part model approach.

Setting:

Mexico, 2018.

Participants:

A nationally representative sample of 74 647 Mexican households.

Results:

Female-headed households allocated a lower share of expenditure to the purchase of sweetened beverages and alcoholic beverages and higher percentages to milk and dairy, fruits and water. In comparison with metropolitan households, households in rural and urban localities spent more on cereals and tubers, sugar and honey, oil and fat and less on food away from home.

Conclusions:

Households allocate different percentages of expenditure to diverse food groups according to the gender of the head of the household and the size of the locality where they are located. Future research should focus on understanding the economic and social disparities related to differences in food expenditure, including the gender perspective.
American Reconstruction and the Abolition of Second Slavery: On Pascoe’s Intersectional Critique of Kant’s Theory of Labour
Authors: Basevich Elvira
Published: May 2024

To highlight the promise of Jordan Pascoe’s Kant’s Theory of Labour, my comments concern the diagnostic and prescriptive dimensions of the book’s excellent intersectional critique of dependent labour relations. The diagnostic dimension of Pascoe’s critique establishes that the organisation of dependent labour relations is a neglected problem of Kantian justice. The prescriptive dimension offers solutions to this problem but is underdeveloped. To enhance the book’s prescriptive dimension, I draw on the noted Africana philosopher W. E. B. Du Bois for guidance. For Du Bois, a constitutional republic ought to strive for the abolition of a ‘second’ slavery following the abolition of de jure black chattel slavery with the end of the American Civil War. Given Du Bois’ call for meaningful Emancipation, I argue that philosophers should reinterpret the Kantian normative ideal of freedom as universal independence to uproot the postbellum conditions of second slavery.
Have Chinese women's gender attitudes become more conservative? A study using an agency approach
Authors: Tian Yuan
Published: May 2024

Given the historical nature of gender consciousness against the backdrop of the nation's social system transformations and the deficiencies related to physical and mental determinism commonly found in research on the performance of female gender roles, this study innovatively uses Butler's agency approach to examine gender consciousness. Women in China have experienced the female liberation movement of “equality between men and women” under the Chinese socialist regime as well as the movement of “women's return to the family” after the introduction of the market economy. The current study uses the agency approach to present the processes of post-1980s Chinese women when balancing their paid work, housework, and childcare roles and the contradictions therein as well as the ideologies they have adopted to resolve such contradictions. This study comprehensively examines the effect of conservative and non-conservative ideologies on the gender consciousness and behavior of women acting under their own agency. The findings, which are based on a comparison of the gender consciousness and behavior of various cohorts, yield the conclusion that post-1980s women expect non-conservative behavior in the future but choose conservative behaviors strategically. Such strategic behavioral choices deepen inner gender role-related conflicts.
OPD-3 Manual zur Ereignis- und Traumaverarbeitung
Authors: Burgmer Markus , Ehrental Johannes C. , Heyng Matthias , Klauck-Steffens Gisela , Wrenger Marco
Published: May 2024

Belastende Lebensereignisse oder psychische Traumata? Welche Behandlung ist am besten geeignet?

Die Diagnose und Therapie von Traumafolgestörungen sind anspruchsvoll und komplex. Psychotherapeut:innen sehen sich zunehmend mit ­Patient:innen konfrontiert, bei denen eine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung zumindest als Komorbidität vermutet wird, oft ohne klare Vor­stellungen darüber, was eine traumafokussierte Behandlung tatsächlich beinhalten soll.

Umso wichtiger ist die sorgfältige Unterscheidung zwischen der ­Verarbeitung von unspezifischen belastenden Lebensereignissen und psychischen Traumatisierungen. Das vorliegende Zusatzmodul soll als Ergänzung zum OPD-3-Manual dazu beitragen, diese Differenzierung zu schärfen, da dies erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Auswahl der ­individuell geeigneten Psychotherapie hat.

Das Modul erweitert darüber hinaus die Beurteilung der psychodynamischen Grundlagen um die Auswirkungen traumatischer Ereignisse auf die Psychodynamik. Es berücksichtigt, wie individuelle psychodynamische Voraussetzungen die Wahrnehmung und Verarbeitung belastender Lebensereignisse beeinflussen und so vor einer Folgestörung schützen oder die Entwicklung dieser begünstigen können.

Der diagnostische Prozess erfolgt in zwei Stufen: zunächst nach OPD-3 die Erfassung der psychodynamischen Ausgangssituation vor dem ­traumatischen Ereignis, gefolgt von einem zweiten diagnostischen Schritt, die Auswirkungen des Ereignisses mithilfe dieses Moduls zu operationalisieren. Dies ermöglicht die Unterscheidung zwischen ­spezifischer Symptomatik und Psychodynamik, die Identifizierung von Ressourcen und vulnerablen Faktoren sowie die frühzeitige Erkennung von Therapiehemmnissen.

Prägnante Fallbeispiele verdeutlichen die Potenziale trauma­fokussierender Psychotherapien, aber auch die Notwendigkeit, bei Patient:innen mit gering integrierter psychischer Struktur sorgfältig zu prüfen, ob eine traumafokussierte Behandlung erst nach Stabili­sierung indiziert ist.

Der für das Modul OPD-3 Ereignis- und Trauma­verarbeitung speziell angepasste Ratingbogen kann als ­digitales Zusatz­material über die Hogrefe-Mediathek als Download ­abgerufen werden.

Es ist wichtig zu verstehen, ob eine Traumatherapie für den individuellen Patienten geeignet ist. Ebenso wichtig ist die Unterscheidung zwischen der Verarbeitung von unspezifischen belastenden Lebensereignissen und tatsächlichen psychischen Traumatisierungen. Das vorliegende Zusatzmodul soll als Ergänzung zum OPD-3-Manual dazu beitragen, diese Differenzierung zu schärfen, da dies erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Auswahl der individuell geeigneten Psychotherapie hat.

Das Modul erweitert die Beurteilung der psychodynamischen Grundlagen um die Auswirkungen traumatischer Ereignisse auf die Psychodynamik. Es berücksichtigt, wie individuelle Voraussetzungen die Wahrnehmung und Verarbeitung traumatischer Ereignisse beeinflussen
An Investigation of the Local Time Behavior of ΣO/N2 During Solstice
Authors: Li Zhongli , Luan Xiaoli , Lei Jiuhou , Ren Dexin
Published: May 2024

The thermospheric column O/N2 ratio (ΣO/N2) exhibits complex spatial and temporal variations and is a key parameter in diagnosing the state of the thermosphere and ionosphere. The solar cycle, seasonal, latitudinal and longitudinal variations of ΣO/N2 have been studied in the past few decades. However, the local time variation of ΣO/N2 is rarely investigated. At solstice, the most important feature of ΣO/N2 is the well‐known summer‐winter difference caused by the global meridional circulation. Based on TIMED/GUVI observations from 2002 to 2022, it was found that the daytime pattern of ΣO/N2 exhibits significant hemispheric differences superimposed on the more prominent seasonal distribution. ΣO/N2 decreases soon after sunrise in the winter hemisphere, while it occurs much later in the summer hemisphere. This hemispheric difference in the local time variation of ΣO/N2 is generally reproduced by the empirical model MSIS and the physics‐based model TIEGCM. And the TIEGCM simulation results suggest that it is mainly attributed to the meridional advection. In the summer hemisphere, upward winds which decrease ΣO/N2 are weak in the early morning and compete with the enhancement of ΣO/N2 caused by the meridional advection, resulting in a later turning time around 11:00 LT. In the winter hemisphere, the reduction of ΣO/N2 caused by daytime upward winds is superimposed on the reduction of ΣO/N2 induced by the meridional advection, resulting in an earlier turning time around 7:00 LT. Additionally, ΣO/N2 peaks much later in regions near the magnetic pole than those far from the magnetic pole in the summer hemisphere.
A New Automatic Hydrological Station Relocation Algorithm (ASRA) for Moving Hydrological Stations Onto a Simulated Digital River Network
Authors: Wang Kun , Yan Denghua , Zhou Zuhao , Weng Baisha , Qin Tianling , Bi Wuxia , Liu Siyu
Published: May 2024

Determining the precise placement of hydrological stations on a simulated digital river network is crucial for constructing hydrological models applicable to process simulation, water resource management, and flood forecasting endeavors. To solve this problem, we categorized and scrutinized deviations between the simulated and their actual station locations, and proposed a novel automatic hydrological station relocation algorithm (ASRA). The algorithm was first validated in the Amazon Basin using Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) hydrological stations and 90 m × 90 m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, successfully correcting the spatial position and corresponding catchment area (CCA) of each station. Findings revealed that CCA inaccuracies were notably decreased, transitioning from an initial 7.62% when employing a conventional 5‐km search radius to 5.43% after adopting an iteratively optimized, objective, and rational 8‐km search radius. The ASRA method was subsequently applied to GRDC stations within the HDMA and HydroSHEDS data sets, successfully repositioning 8,339 and 8,026 stations respectively, all with catchment area deviations of less than 5%, thus either exceeding or at least equaling the precision of prior research efforts. A Python program was developed and incorporated into an ArcGIS toolbox that features user‐friendly attributes, enabling swift computation and accurate rectification, as a result of building upon our method. In short, our study presents a fresh approach and a robust tool for tackling the inconsistencies of hydrological station locations. The updated global GRDC hydrological station locations specifically tailored for both HDMA and HydroSHEDS data sets, together with the toolbox developed, were accessible for download on the figshare platform.
A Larval “Recruitment Kernel” to Predict Hatching Locations and Quantify Recruitment Patterns
Authors: Shi Wei , Boegman Leon , Shan Shiliang , Zhao Yingming , Ackerman Josef D. , Amidon Zachary , Jabbari Aidin , Roseman Edward
Published: May 2024

Larval recruitment, a critical component of population connectivity, has been under investigated compared to larval dispersal. We developed a backward‐in‐time Lagrangian particle tracking model to predict larval hatching locations and proposed a larval recruitment kernel, to quantify recruitment patterns. Combining field data and a hydrodynamic model, our backtracking model predicted Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) hatching locations in Lake Erie. We found a strong linear correlation (r = 0.95–0.98) between travel distance (i.e., distance along a trajectory) and pelagic larval duration (PLD), and a moderate correlation (r = 0.66–0.68) between linear distance (i.e., displacement) and PLD. This questions the wide use of PLD as a proxy for dispersal distance. We defined the recruitment kernel using the probability density function of the linear recruitment distance. Characteristics of the recruitment kernel, such as theoretical self‐recruitment, median‐recruitment distance, long‐distance recruitment, and openness convey significant information about population connectivity that are distinct from those derived using the well‐known dispersal kernel (e.g., theoretical local retention).
Obesity pharmacotherapy in older adults: a narrative review of evidence
Authors: Henney Alex E. , Wilding John P. H. , Alam Uazman , Cuthbertson Daniel J.
Published: May 2024

The prevalence of obesity in older adults (people aged >60 years) is increasing in line with the demographic shift in global populations. Despite knowledge of obesity-related complications in younger adults (increased risk of type 2 diabetes, liver and cardiovascular disease and malignancy), these considerations may be outweighed, in older adults, by concerns regarding weight-loss induced reduction in skeletal muscle and bone mass, and the awareness of the ‘obesity paradox’. Obesity in the elderly contributes to various obesity-related complications from cardiometabolic disease and cancer, to functional decline, worsening cognition, and quality of life, that will have already suffered an age-related decline. Lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone of obesity management in older adults, with emphasis on resistance training for muscle strength and bone mineral density preservation. However, in older adults with obesity refractory to lifestyle strategies, pharmacotherapy, using anti-obesity medicines (AOMs), can be a useful adjunct. Recent evidence suggests that intentional weight loss in older adults with overweight and obesity is effective and safe, hence a diminishing reluctance to use AOMs in this more vulnerable population. Despite nine AOMs being currently approved for the treatment of obesity, limited clinical trial evidence in older adults predominantly focuses on incretin therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide). AOMs enhance weight loss and reduce cardiometabolic events, while maintaining muscle mass. Future randomised controlled trials should specifically evaluate the effectiveness of novel AOMs for long-term weight management in older adults with obesity, carefully considering the impact on body composition and functional ability, as well as health economics.
The application of PTR-MS and non-targeted analysis to characterize VOCs emitted from a plastic recycling facility fire
Authors: Vitucci Eva C. M. , Oladeji Oladayo , Presto Albert A. , Cannon Carolyn L. , Johnson Natalie M.
Published: May 2024

Background

On April 11th, 2023, the My Way Trading (MWT) recycling facility in Richmond, Indiana caught fire, mandating the evacuation of local residents and necessitating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct air monitoring. The EPA detected elevated levels of plastic combustion-related air pollutants, including hydrogen cyanide and benzene.

Objective

We aimed to identify these and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present as well as to identify the potential hazard of each compound for various human health effects.

Methods

To identify the VOCs, we conducted air monitoring at sites within and bordering the evacuation zone using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and non-targeted analysis (NTA). To facilitate risk assessment of the emitted VOCs, we used the EPA Hazard Comparison Dashboard.

Results

We identified 46 VOCs, within and outside the evacuation zone, with average detection levels above local background levels measured in Middletown, OH. Levels of hydrogen cyanide and 4 other VOCs were at least 1.8-fold higher near the incidence site in comparison to background levels and displayed unique temporal and spatial patterns. The 46 VOCs identified had the highest hazardous potential for eye and skin irritation, with approximately 45% and 39%, respectively, of the VOCs classified as high and very high hazards for these endpoints. Notably, all detected VOC levels were below the hazard thresholds set for single VOC exposures; however, hazard thresholds for exposure to VOC mixtures are currently unclear.

Impact

This study serves as a proof-of-concept that PTR-MS coupled with NTA can facilitate rapid identification and hazard assessment of VOCs emitted following anthropogenic disasters. Furthermore, it demonstrates that this approach may augment future disaster responses to quantify additional VOCs present in complex combustion mixtures.
Beyond the lab: a nanoimprint metalens array-based augmented reality
Authors: Li Chi , Ren Haoran
Published: May 2024

A see-through augmented reality prototype has been developed based on an ultrathin nanoimprint metalens array, opening up a full-colour, video-rate, and low-cost 3D near-eye display.
Light-deformable microrobots shape up for the biological obstacle course
Authors: Wijesinghe Philip
Published: May 2024

Euglena gracilis microalga has been transformed into a soft bio-microrobot with light-controlled motion and deformation that can address diverse bio-challenges, such as drug delivery, diseased cell removal, and photodynamic therapy.
Deep learning sheds new light on non-orthogonal optical multiplexing
Authors: Huang Zhengzhong , Cao Liangcai
Published: May 2024

A deep neural network for non-orthogonal input channel encoding is proposed to recover speckle images through a multimode fiber. This novel approach could shed new light on the non-orthogonal optical multiplexing over a scattering medium.
Unraveling the nature of sensing in electrostatic MEMS gas sensors
Authors: Shama Yasser S. , Rahmanian Sasan , Mouharrar Hamza , Abdelrahman Rana , Elhady Alaaeldin , Abdel-Rahman Eihab M.
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the fundamental sensing mechanism of electrostatic MEMS gas sensors. It compares among the responsivities of a set of MEMS isopropanol sensors before and after functionalization, and in the presence and absence of electrostatic fields when operated in static and dynamic detection modes. In the static mode, we found that the sensors do not exhibit a measurable change in displacement due to added mass. On the other hand, bare sensors showed a clear change in displacement in response to isopropanol vapor. In the dynamic mode, functionalized sensors showed a measurable frequency shift due to the added mass of isopropanol vapor. In the presence of strong electrostatic fields, the measured frequency shift was found to be threefold larger than that in their absence in response to the same concentration of isopropanol vapor. The enhanced responsivity of dynamic detection allows the sensors to measure the vapor mass captured by the functional material, which is not the case for static detection. The detection of isopropanol by bare sensors in static mode shows that change in the medium permittivity is the primary sensing mechanism. The enhanced responsivity of dynamic mode sensors when operated in strong electrostatic fields shows that their sensing mechanism is a combination of a weaker added mass effect and a stronger permittivity effect. These findings show that electrostatic MEMS gas sensors are independent of the direction of the gravitational field and are, thus, robust to changes in alignment. It is erroneous to refer to them as ‘gravimetric’ sensors.
A transdiagnostic prodrome for severe mental disorders: an electronic health record study
Authors: Arribas Maite , Oliver Dominic , Patel Rashmi , Kornblum Daisy , Shetty Hitesh , Damiani Stefano , Krakowski Kamil , Provenzani Umberto , Stahl Daniel , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , McGuire Philip , Fusar-Poli Paolo
Published: May 2024

Effective prevention of severe mental disorders (SMD), including non-psychotic unipolar mood disorders (UMD), non-psychotic bipolar mood disorders (BMD), and psychotic disorders (PSY), rely on accurate knowledge of the duration, first presentation, time course and transdiagnosticity of their prodromal stages. Here we present a retrospective, real-world, cohort study using electronic health records, adhering to RECORD guidelines. Natural language processing algorithms were used to extract monthly occurrences of 65 prodromal features (symptoms and substance use), grouped into eight prodromal clusters. The duration, first presentation, and transdiagnosticity of the prodrome were compared between SMD groups with one-way ANOVA, Cohen’s f and d. The time course (mean occurrences) of prodromal clusters was compared between SMD groups with linear mixed-effects models. 26,975 individuals diagnosed with ICD-10 SMD were followed up for up to 12 years (UMD = 13,422; BMD = 2506; PSY = 11,047; median[IQR] age 39.8[23.7] years; 55% female; 52% white). The duration of the UMD prodrome (18[36] months) was shorter than BMD (26[35], d = 0.21) and PSY (24[38], d = 0.18). Most individuals presented with multiple first prodromal clusters, with the most common being non-specific (‘other’; 88% UMD, 85% BMD, 78% PSY). The only first prodromal cluster that showed a medium-sized difference between the three SMD groups was positive symptoms (f = 0.30). Time course analysis showed an increase in prodromal cluster occurrences approaching SMD onset. Feature occurrence across the prodromal period showed small/negligible differences between SMD groups, suggesting that most features are transdiagnostic, except for positive symptoms (e.g. paranoia, f = 0.40). Taken together, our findings show minimal differences in the duration and first presentation of the SMD prodromes as recorded in secondary mental health care. All the prodromal clusters intensified as individuals approached SMD onset, and all the prodromal features other than positive symptoms are transdiagnostic. These results support proposals to develop transdiagnostic preventive services for affective and psychotic disorders detected in secondary mental healthcare.
Pannexins in the musculoskeletal system: new targets for development and disease progression
Authors: Luo Yan , Zheng Shengyuan , Xiao Wenfeng , Zhang Hang , Li Yusheng
Published: May 2024

During cell differentiation, growth, and development, cells can respond to extracellular stimuli through communication channels. Pannexin (Panx) family and connexin (Cx) family are two important types of channel-forming proteins. Panx family contains three members (Panx1-3) and is expressed widely in bone, cartilage and muscle. Although there is no sequence homology between Panx family and Cx family, they exhibit similar configurations and functions. Similar to Cxs, the key roles of Panxs in the maintenance of physiological functions of the musculoskeletal system and disease progression were gradually revealed later. Here, we seek to elucidate the structure of Panxs and their roles in regulating processes such as osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and muscle growth. We also focus on the comparison between Cx and Panx. As a new key target, Panxs expression imbalance and dysfunction in muscle and the therapeutic potentials of Panxs in joint diseases are also discussed.
BERNN: Enhancing classification of Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry data with batch effect removal neural networks
Authors: Pelletier Simon J. , Leclercq Mickaël , Roux-Dalvai Florence , de Geus Matthijs B. , Leslie Shannon , Wang Weiwei , Lam TuKiet T. , Nairn Angus C. , Arnold Steven E. , Carlyle Becky C. , Precioso Frédéric , Droit Arnaud
Published: May 2024

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful method for profiling complex biological samples. However, batch effects typically arise from differences in sample processing protocols, experimental conditions, and data acquisition techniques, significantly impacting the interpretability of results. Correcting batch effects is crucial for the reproducibility of omics research, but current methods are not optimal for the removal of batch effects without compressing the genuine biological variation under study. We propose a suite of Batch Effect Removal Neural Networks (BERNN) to remove batch effects in large LC-MS experiments, with the goal of maximizing sample classification performance between conditions. More importantly, these models must efficiently generalize in batches not seen during training. A comparison of batch effect correction methods across five diverse datasets demonstrated that BERNN models consistently showed the strongest sample classification performance. However, the model producing the greatest classification improvements did not always perform best in terms of batch effect removal. Finally, we show that the overcorrection of batch effects resulted in the loss of some essential biological variability. These findings highlight the importance of balancing batch effect removal while preserving valuable biological diversity in large-scale LC-MS experiments.
Arabidopsis α-Aurora kinase plays a role in cytokinesis through regulating MAP65-3 association with microtubules at phragmoplast midzone
Authors: Deng Xingguang , Xiao Yu , Tang Xiaoya , Liu Bo , Lin Honghui
Published: May 2024

The α-Aurora kinase is a crucial regulator of spindle microtubule organization during mitosis in plants. Here, we report a post-mitotic role for α-Aurora in reorganizing the phragmoplast microtubule array. In Arabidopsis thaliana, α-Aurora relocated from spindle poles to the phragmoplast midzone, where it interacted with the microtubule cross-linker MAP65-3. In a hypomorphic α-Aurora mutant, MAP65-3 was detected on spindle microtubules, followed by a diffuse association pattern across the phragmoplast midzone. Simultaneously, phragmoplast microtubules remained belatedly in a solid disk array before transitioning to a ring shape. Microtubules at the leading edge of the matured phragmoplast were often disengaged, accompanied by conspicuous retentions of MAP65-3 at the phragmoplast interior edge. Specifically, α-Aurora phosphorylated two residues towards the C-terminus of MAP65-3. Mutation of these residues to alanines resulted in an increased association of MAP65-3 with microtubules within the phragmoplast. Consequently, the expansion of the phragmoplast was notably slower compared to wild-type cells or cells expressing a phospho-mimetic variant of MAP65-3. Moreover, mimicking phosphorylation reinstated disrupted MAP65-3 behaviors in plants with compromised α-Aurora function. Overall, our findings reveal a mechanism in which α-Aurora facilitates cytokinesis progression through phosphorylation-dependent restriction of MAP65-3 associating with microtubules at the phragmoplast midzone.
Disentangling genetic effects on transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation through integrating exon and intron expression QTLs
Authors: Brümmer Anneke , Bergmann Sven
Published: May 2024

Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studies typically consider exon expression of genes and discard intronic RNA sequencing reads despite their information on RNA metabolism. Here, we quantify genetic effects on exon and intron levels of genes and their ratio in lymphoblastoid cell lines, revealing thousands of cis-QTLs of each type. While genetic effects are often shared between cis-QTL types, 7814 (47%) are not detected as top cis-QTLs at exon levels. We show that exon levels preferentially capture genetic effects on transcriptional regulation, while exon-intron-ratios better detect those on co- and post-transcriptional processes. Considering all cis-QTL types substantially increases (by 71%) the number of colocalizing variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). It further allows dissecting the potential gene regulatory processes underlying GWAS associations, suggesting comparable contributions by transcriptional (50%) and co- and post-transcriptional regulation (46%) to complex traits. Overall, integrating intronic RNA sequencing reads in eQTL studies expands our understanding of genetic effects on gene regulatory processes.
A Toxoplasma gondii O-glycosyltransferase that modulates bradyzoite cyst wall rigidity is distinct from host homologues
Authors: Kumar Pranav , Tomita Tadakimi , Gerken Thomas A. , Ballard Collin J. , Lee Yong Sok , Weiss Louis M. , Samara Nadine L.
Published: May 2024

Infection with the apicomplexan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii can be life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts. Transmission frequently occurs through the oral ingestion of T. gondii bradyzoite cysts, which transition to tachyzoites, disseminate, and then form cysts containing bradyzoites in the central nervous system, resulting in latent infection. Encapsulation of bradyzoites by a cyst wall is critical for immune evasion, survival, and transmission. O-glycosylation of the protein CST1 by the mucin-type O-glycosyltransferase T. gondii (Txg) GalNAc-T3 influences cyst wall rigidity and stability. Here, we report X-ray crystal structures of TxgGalNAc-T3, revealing multiple features that are strictly conserved among its apicomplexan homologues. This includes a unique 2nd metal that is coupled to substrate binding and enzymatic activity in vitro and cyst wall O-glycosylation in T. gondii. The study illustrates the divergence of pathogenic protozoan GalNAc-Ts from their host homologues and lays the groundwork for studying apicomplexan GalNAc-Ts as therapeutic targets in disease.
Realizing thermoelectric cooling and power generation in N-type PbS0.6Se0.4 via lattice plainification and interstitial doping
Authors: Wang Lei , Wen Yi , Bai Shulin , Chang Cheng , Li Yichen , Liu Shan , Liu Dongrui , Wang Siqi , Zhao Zhe , Zhan Shaoping , Cao Qian , Gao Xiang , Xie Hongyao , Zhao Li-Dong
Published: May 2024

Thermoelectrics have great potential for use in waste heat recovery to improve energy utilization. Moreover, serving as a solid-state heat pump, they have found practical application in cooling electronic products. Nevertheless, the scarcity of commercial Bi2Te3 raw materials has impeded the sustainable and widespread application of thermoelectric technology. In this study, we developed a low-cost and earth-abundant PbS compound with impressive thermoelectric performance. The optimized n-type PbS material achieved a record-high room temperature ZT of 0.64 in this system. Additionally, the first thermoelectric cooling device based on n-type PbS was fabricated, which exhibits a remarkable cooling temperature difference of ~36.9 K at room temperature. Meanwhile, the power generation efficiency of a single-leg device employing our n-type PbS material reaches ~8%, showing significant potential in harvesting waste heat into valuable electrical power. This study demonstrates the feasibility of sustainable n-type PbS as a viable alternative to commercial Bi2Te3, thereby extending the application of thermoelectrics.
Tracing microplastic sources in urban water bodies combining their diversity, fragmentation and stability
Authors: Niu Jinqiong , Xu Dongyu , Wu Wenqiang , Gao Bo
Published: May 2024

Tracing the sources of microplastics (MPs) across various environmental media is currently facing significant challenges due to their complex transportable features. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive identification of MP sources in Beijing water bodies by combining MP diversity and the conditional fragmentation model, thoroughly considering local multiple sources. The resemblance in MP community compositions implied shared or similar sources in rivers and lakes, and the sources were assorted and equivalent based on the high diversity of MPs. The conditional fragmentation model can act as a proxy of fragmentation characteristics of MPs. According to the model, suburban sewage, soils, and dry and wet deposition constituted significant sources of MPs in the rivers and lakes of Beijing. The extremely high abundance of MPs (520,000 items·m−3) in suburban sewage also confirmed it as a potential source. For MPs with different polymer types and morphologies, non-fibrous polypropylene (PP) was primarily controlled by soils, whereas the contribution of sewage sludge to fibrous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was notable. Our study provides insights for more accurate source apportionment and contributes to a better understanding of MP fate in urban environment.
County-level intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019
Authors: Li Cheng , Jia Junwen , Wu Fang , Zuo Lijun , Cui Xuefeng
Published: May 2024

Agriculture is an important contributor to global carbon emissions. With the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and China’s carbon neutral strategy, accurate estimation of carbon emissions from crop farming is essential to reduce agricultural carbon emissions and promote sustainable food production systems in China. However, previous long-term time series estimates in China have mainly focused on the national and provincial levels, which are insufficient to characterize regional heterogeneity. Here, we selected the county-level administrative district as the basic geographical unit and then generated a county-level dataset on the intensity of carbon emissions from crop farming in China during 2000–2019, using random forest regression with multi-source data. This dataset can be used to delineate spatio-temporal changes in carbon emissions from crop farming in China, providing an important basis for decision makers and researchers to design agricultural carbon reduction strategies in China.
Consumer electronics based smart technologies for enhanced terahertz healthcare having an integration of split learning with medical imaging
Authors: Satpathy Sambit , Khalaf Osamah Ibrahim , Shukla Dhirendra Kumar , Algburi Sameer , Hamam Habib
Published: May 2024

The proposed work contains three major contribution, such as smart data collection, optimized training algorithm and integrating Bayesian approach with split learning to make privacy of the patent data. By integrating consumer electronics device such as wearable devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT) taking THz image, perform EM algorithm as training, used newly proposed slit learning method the technology promises enhanced imaging depth and improved tissue contrast, thereby enabling early and accurate disease detection the breast cancer disease. In our hybrid algorithm, the breast cancer model achieves an accuracy of 97.5 percent over 100 epochs, surpassing the less accurate old models which required a higher number of epochs, such as 165.
Mass spectrometric analysis of Odonthobuthus Doriae scorpion venom and its non-neutralized fractions after interaction with commercial antivenom
Authors: Abdollahnia Adel , Bahmani Kiumars , Aliahmadi Atousa , As’habi Mohammad Ali , Ghassempour Alireza
Published: May 2024

It is believed that antivenoms play a crucial role in neutralizing venoms. However, uncontrolled clinical effects appear in patients stung by scorpions after the injection of antivenom. In this research, non-neutralized components of the venom of the Iranian scorpion Odonthobuthus doriae were analyzed after interacting with the commercial antivenom available in the market. The venom and antivenom interaction was performed, then centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Two peaks of Odonthobuthus doriae venom were observed in the chromatogram of the supernatant. Two components were isolated by HPLC and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) instruments. Peptide sequencing was done by Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF MS/MS). Results indicate that the components of scorpion venom mainly have a molecular weight below 10 kDa, consisting of toxic peptides that disrupt the function of sodium and potassium channels. The MALDI-TOF MS results show that two toxic peptides with molecular masses of 6941 Da and 6396 Da were not neutralized by the antivenom. According to the MS/MS sequencing data, the components have been related to peptides A0A5P8U2Q6_MESEU and A0A0U4FP89_ODODO, which belong to the sodium and potassium channels toxins family, respectively.
Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and antimicrobial and anticancer activities of two-dimensional ZnO nanosheets
Authors: Bhuin Abhik , Udayakumar Saranya , Gopalarethinam Janani , Mukherjee Debdyuti , Girigoswami Koyeli , Ponraj Caroline , Sarkar Sujoy
Published: May 2024

Active pharmaceutical ingredients have emerged as an environmentally undesirable element because of their widespread exploitation and consequent pollution, which has deleterious effects on living things. In the pursuit of sustainable environmental remediation, biomedical applications, and energy production, there has been a significant focus on two-dimensional materials (2D materials) owing to their unique electrical, optical, and structural properties. Herein, we have synthesized 2D zinc oxide nanosheets (ZnO NSs) using a facile and practicable hydrothermal method and characterized them thoroughly using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The 2D nanosheets are used as an efficient photocatalyst for antibiotic (herein, end-user ciprofloxacin (CIP) was used as a model antibiotic) degradation under sunlight. It is observed that ZnO NSs photodegrade ~ 90% of CIP within two hours of sunlight illumination. The molecular mechanism of CIP degradation is proposed based on ex-situ IR analysis. Moreover, the 2D ZNO NSs are used as an antimicrobial agent and exhibit antibacterial qualities against a range of bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and MIC of the bacteria are found to be 5 μg/l and 10 μg/l, respectively. Despite having the biocompatible nature of ZnO, as-synthesized nanosheets have also shown cytotoxicity against two types of cancer cells, i.e. A549 and A375. Thus, ZnO nanosheets showed a nontoxic nature, which can be exploited as promising alternatives in different biomedical applications.
Correlation between positron annihilation lifetime and photoluminescence measurements for calcined Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Atta Hoda , Mahmoud Kamal R. , Salim El Sayed I. , Elmohsnawy Eithar , El-Shaer Abdelhamid
Published: May 2024

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 is a compound that has stable chemical properties, composition, and an affinity for human bone. As a result, it can be used in odontology, cancer treatment, and orthopedic grafts to repair damaged bone. To produce calcined HAp at 600 °C with different pH values, a wet chemical precipitation method was employed. All synthesized HAp samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL), Zeta potential, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The XRD results revealed that all calcined HAp samples were formed in a hexagonal structure with a preferred (002) orientation at different pH values. The crystal size of the samples was determined using the Scherrer equation, which ranged from 16 to 25 nm. The SEM and TEM results showed that the morphology of the samples varied from nanorods to nanospheres and rice-like structures depending on the pH value of the sample. The PL measurements indicated that the blue and green emission peaks of HAp were due to defects (bulk, surface, and interface) in the samples, which created additional energy levels within the band gap. According to Zeta potential measurements, the charge carrier changed from a positive to negative value, ranging from 3.94 mV to − 2.95 mV. PALS was used to understand the relationship between the defects and the photoluminescence (PL) properties of HAp. Our results suggest that HAp nanoparticles have excellent potential for developing non-toxic biomedical and optical devices for phototherapy.
HMGN1 loss sensitizes lung cancer cells to chemotherapy
Authors: Wu Xianli , Cai Geqi , Feng Jing , Lin Wenchu
Published: May 2024

The high mobility group nucleosome binding (HMGN) family, constitutes a large family of non-histone protein family known to bind the acidic patch of the nucleosomes with various key cellular functions. Several studies have highlighted the pivotal roles of HMGNs in the pathogenic process of various cancer types. However, the roles of HMGN family in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not been fully elucidated. Herein, integrative analyses of multiple-omics data revealed that HMGNs frequently exhibit dysregulation in LUAD. Subsequent analysis of the clinical relevance of HMGN1 demonstrated its association with poor prognosis in LUAD and its potential as a diagnostic marker to differentiate LUAD from healthy controls. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis suggested that HMGN1 was mainly involved in DNA repair. To corroborate these findings, cellular experiments were conducted, confirming HMGN1’s crucial involvement in homologous recombination repair and its potential to enhance the sensitivity of LUAD cells to standard chemotherapeutic drugs. This study proposes HMGN1 as a novel prognostic biomarker and a promising target for chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma.