bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of crystal growth with optical floating zone and evaluation of Nd3+:LaAlO3 crystals with the dynamic nuclear polarization of 139La and 27Al
Authors: Ishizaki Kohei , Ide Ikuo , Fujita Masaki , Hotta Hiroki , Ito Yuki , Iinuma Masataka , Ikeda Yoichi , Iwata Takahiro , Kitaguchi Masaaki , Kohri Hideki , Matsushita Taku , Miura Daisuke , Miyachi Yoshiyuki , Shimizu Hirohiko M. , Yosoi Masaru
Published: June 2024

Producing a polarized lanthanum (La) target with high polarization and long relaxation time is crucial for realizing time-reversal violation experiments using polarized neutron beams. We use a LaAlO3 crystal doped with a small amount of Nd3+ ions for the polarized lanthanum target. Optimizing the amount of Nd3+ ions is considerably important because the achievable polarization and relaxation time strongly depend on this amount. We established a fundamental method to grow single crystals of Nd3+:LaAlO3 using an optical floating zone method that employs halogen lamps and evaluated the crystals with the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) method for polarizing nuclear spins. Two crystal samples were grown by ourselves and evaluated with the DNP at 1.3 K and 2.3 T for the first time, except for the target materials of protons. The enhancement of nuclear magnetic resonance signals for 139La and 27Al was successfully observed, and the enhancement factors were eventually 3.5 ± 0.3 and 13 ± 3 for the samples with Nd3+ ions of 0.05 and 0.01 mol. %, respectively. These enhancement factors correspond to absolute vector polarizations of 0.27% ± 0.02% (Nd3+ 0.05 mol. %) and 1.4% ± 0.3% (Nd3+ 0.01 mol. %). Although the obtained polarizations are still low, they are acceptable as a first step. The combination scheme of the crystal growth and the evaluation of the crystals is found to be effectively applicable for optimizing the amount of Nd3+ ions for improving the performance of the polarized target.
A resonant magnetic microsensor based on magnetic torque with piezoresistive readout
Authors: Zhao Zhijian , Toda Masaya , Ono Takahito
Published: June 2024

Magnetic sensors with high sensitivity are critical for various technological applications. This paper presents a highly sensitive magnetic sensor based on magnetic torque. The sensor comprises a silicon cantilever with a micro-pillared soft magnet at its end. A piezoresistive strain sensing element is integrated into the silicon cantilever for detecting vibration signals. The prototype of the resonant magnetic sensor is designed, fabricated, and evaluated. When an alternating magnetic field, generated by a coil, is applied to the cantilever, the micro-pillared magnet undergoes pendulum-like vibrations due to magnetic torque. Additionally, the application of the alternating magnetic field, which causes the external magnetic field to change the effective spring constant of the silicon cantilever, results in a change in resonant frequency. The evaluation results demonstrate that the fabricated magnetic sensor achieves a maximum sensitivity of 114.02 Hz/mT and a minimum detectable magnetic field of 35.7 nT. These findings suggest the sensor's potential for high-sensitivity magnetic field measurements in various applications.
Ferroelectric metals in van der Waals bilayers
Authors: Zhang Jiagang , Dai Ying , Zhang Ting
Published: June 2024

The combination of metallicity and ferroelectricity challenges conventional understanding, creating opportunities for advanced electronic materials and devices. This breakthrough is particularly notable, as metallicity and ferroelectricity have traditionally been considered mutually exclusive physical properties. In this work, starting with non-polar metallic single layers, we propose a design scheme for designing two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric metals (FEMs) based on van der Waals interactions. By first-principles calculations, we also substantiate the feasibility of the design scheme in materials such as FeSe and H-MnTe2. Notably, this scheme unveils metallic ferroelectricity, characterized by reversing polarization through interlayer sliding. Furthermore, these systems exhibit a coexistence of inherent magnetism and sliding ferroelectricity. The investigated design scheme and observed phenomena have broad applicability across 2D materials. Our results not only advance research in 2D FEMs but also enhance the understanding of coupled physical phenomena in 2D lattices.
Spanwise control authority of synthetic jets on a stalled airfoil
Authors: Machado Adnan , Xu Kecheng , Sullivan Pierre E.
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the aerodynamic effects of low- and high-frequency synthetic jet control strategies on a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 0025 airfoil. Visualizations and measurements are employed to assess the stability of the flow, focusing on the shear layer and wake dynamics under two forcing frequencies. High-frequency actuation is found to induce steadier flow reattachment and more favorable aerodynamic characteristics compared to low-frequency control. Flow structures resulting from high-frequency actuation, notably vortex rings, are identified and their significance in flow control is evaluated. The spanwise control authority of the synthetic jet array is evaluated, revealing that the aerodynamic stability decreases significantly away from the midspan. Additionally, the effective control length is limited to approximately 40% of the length of the array. Insights from modal analysis provide additional understanding of flow structures and their evolution across different spanwise planes.
Large-scale integration of CaF2 with quasi-vdW interface on two-dimensional FETs
Authors: Gao Yuan , Song Haizeng , Zhou Fei , Li Weisheng , Li Taotao , Wu Qi , Lin Shengsheng , Chen Tianhong , Tong Tong , Fei Zaiyao , Yan Shancheng , Shi Yi
Published: June 2024

The field-effect transistors (FETs) using 2D materials as channel materials have received great attention in the future development of integrated circuits, where the selection of gate dielectrics with better interface and gate control capabilities has become a focal research area. In this work, we applied a large-scale CaF2 film as the top gate dielectric of the FETs, which achieved a subthreshold swing of 90 mV/dec, an on/off ratio of 106, and a transfer curve hysteresis window below 10 mV. Additionally, large-sized array devices were fabricated, which exhibited stable electrical performance. Theoretical calculations have shown the formation of a quasi-van der Waals interface without bonding between CaF2 and the channel, which is consistent with the results observed using transmission electron microscopy. Our work represents significant technological advances in the development of 2D FETs, holding profound implications for the future design and fabrication of low-power electronic devices.
Citrobacter braakii urinary tract infection in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Mohan Vathsala , Golledge Clay , Grasko Jonathan , Grasko Yael
Published: June 2024

We report urinary tract infection caused by Citrobacter braakii in an 83-old female patient with chronic kidney disease. The isolate was confirmed with bacteria analytical profile index and MALDI-TOF identification methods. A urine sample was presented to the lab for investigating urinary tract infection along with blood biochemistry and whole blood picture investigation. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’s guidelines and the isolate was resistant to ampicillin and amoxycillin clavulanate.
An adaptive weighted-average Kriging method applied to monitoring of freshwater ecosystems
Authors: Liu Qilu , Shen Jingfang , Li Yaohui
Published: June 2024

Context The prediction of freshwater quality is important for detecting pollution risks and assessing changes in freshwater ecosystems. As a high-precision interpolation method, Kriging was able to predict freshwater quality by using previously monitored data. However, how to select the key parameters, regression functions and correlation functions of Kriging method in the process of improving prediction accuracy is still a bottleneck. Aims This study aims to propose an adaptive weighted-average Kriging (AWAK) method to further enhance the accuracy of freshwater-quality predictions. Methods The AWAK method consists of four main steps. First, the key parameters influencing pollution indicators are selected by FPS method. Subsequently, six different Kriging candidate models are constructed by using regression and correlation functions with different characteristics. Then, an enhanced-likelihood function is used to determine the weights of the six Kriging candidate models. Finally, AWAK is built by weighted sum of these six Kriging models. Key results The AWAK outperformed traditional Kriging in predicting pH and dissolved oxygen, significantly reducing prediction errors. Conclusions By employing the AWAK method, this study successfully improved the accuracy of freshwater-quality predictions. Implications The introduction of the AWAK provides an effective approach in the field of freshwater ecology.
The TOX–RAGE axis mediates inflammatory activation and lung injury in severe pulmonary infectious diseases
Authors: Kim Hyelim , Park Hee Ho , Kim Hong Nam , Seo Donghyuk , Hong Kyung Soo , Jang Jong Geol , Seo Eun U , Kim In-Young , Jeon So-Young , Son Boram , Cho Seung-Woo , Kim Wantae , Ahn June Hong , Lee Wonhwa
Published: June 2024

Thymocyte selection–associated high-mobility group box (TOX) is a transcription factor that is crucial for T cell exhaustion during chronic antigenic stimulation, but its role in inflammation is poorly understood. Here, we report that TOX extracellularly mediates drastic inflammation upon severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by binding to the cell surface receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). In various diseases, including COVID-19, TOX release was highly detectable in association with disease severity, contributing to lung fibroproliferative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recombinant TOX-induced blood vessel rupture, similar to a clinical signature in patients experiencing a cytokine storm, further exacerbating respiratory function impairment. In contrast, disruption of TOX function by a neutralizing antibody and genetic removal of RAGE diminished TOX-mediated deleterious effects. Altogether, our results suggest an insight into TOX function as an inflammatory mediator and propose the TOX–RAGE axis as a potential target for treating severe patients with pulmonary infection and mitigating lung fibroproliferative ARDS.
Frost-free zone on leaves revisited
Authors: Einbock Annika , Conen Franz
Published: June 2024

Particular frost patterns on natural leaves had prompted Yao et al. [Y. Yao
et al
.,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
117
, 6323–6329 (2020)] to investigate the underlying physics. Their work revealed why on corrugated surfaces ice forms on crests and dries out adjacent grooves. In the absence of frost, in contrast, grooves tend to constitute niches on a leaf where microorganisms are less limited by moisture than in other locations. Here, we show that microorganisms able to nucleate ice before it forms on crests can modify the frosting pattern to their advantage. This ability might drive in cold arid environments the association between certain microorganisms and plants.
Socio-Economic Benefits of Involvement of Local People in Community-Based Tourism Development at Goo-Moremi Gorge, Botswana
Authors: Dibotlhale Gaofenngwe , Moswete Naomi
Published: June 2024

The case study is about the people of Goo-Moremi village and the development of cultural-heritage tourism based on their monument site referred to as the
Gorge
. A
Gorge
is a long narrow depression in the Earth’s surface, usually with a fairly regular downslope, and it is a rocky-walled, steep-sided, deep, narrow river valley possibly formed from tectonic action and further widened due to the erosive action of the water. The Goo-Moremi
Gorge
is typical as it is a depression formed because of tectonic activities. It is located in the Tswapong hills and has a deep valley and a stream running through it. As is the norm in Botswana, and based on community-based tourism principles, different communities are encouraged to form community-based organizations, also referred to as Trusts. Thus, formation of the Goo-Moremi Community Development Trust (CBO) in 1999, led to increased tourism activity associated with the
Gorge
and general related benefits to residents. The Trust was established to allow the residents to become part of the decision making process in tourism development within the community. Therefore, the establishment of the Trust meant that all members in the community be involved, participate, and share ownership and benefits from cultural-heritage tourism that takes place in their area. Results of the study show an increased tourism activity within the village with reference to the
Gorge
. In general, cultural-heritage tourism activity brought changes to the local people that heightened job creation, improved business opportunities, and increased awareness of the importance of cultural traditions and the need to safeguard and preserve the historic and cultural heritage resources of the people. Due to better awareness and understanding of cultural-heritage tourism, some residents supplemented their livelihoods based on crop and arable farming with tourism-related businesses. Examples of this include selling hand-crafted ornaments, hosting annual culture days, and selling a variety of traditional and local foods.

Information

© The Authors 2024
Ansatz optimization of the variational quantum eigensolver tested on the atomic Anderson model
Authors: De Riso Giuseppe , Cipriani Francesco , Villani Lorenzo , Bisogno Vincenzo , Lo Schiavo Marco , Romano Alfonso , Noce Canio
Published: June 2024

We present a detailed analysis and optimization of the variational quantum algorithms required to find the ground state of a correlated electron model, using several types of variational ansatz. Specifically, we apply our approach to the atomic limit of the Anderson model, which is widely studied in condensed matter physics since it can simulate fundamental physical phenomena, ranging from magnetism to superconductivity. The method is developed by presenting efficient state preparation circuits that exhibit total spin, spin projection, particle number and time-reversal symmetries. These states contain the minimal number of variational parameters needed to fully span the appropriate symmetry subspace allowing to avoid irrelevant sectors of Hilbert space. Then, we show how to construct quantum circuits, providing explicit decomposition and gate count in terms of standard gate sets. We test these quantum algorithms looking at ideal quantum computer simulations as well as implementing quantum noisy simulations. We finally perform an accurate comparative analysis among the approaches implemented, highlighting their merits and shortcomings.
Enhanced current-carrying capability in YBCO coated conductor bilayers for high-field applications
Authors: Aye M M , Rivasto E , Zhao Y , Huhtinen H , Paturi P
Published: June 2024

We have investigated the impact of bilayer structures on the critical current density, J
c, of YBa2Cu3O6+x
(YBCO) coated conductor films, i.e. films grown on buffered metal substrates, under varying temperature and magnetic field conditions. The bilayers consisted of a YBCO layer free of artificial pinning centers and 8 wt% BaZrO3-added (BZO) layer on top, where the thickness percentage of the layers was varied from 0 to 100 %. The results reveal that the bilayer configuration enhances J
c at temperatures below 60 K, with a significant improvement in high magnetic fields (5–8 T) and temperatures ≤20 K. The optimal BZO-added layer thickness was found to be approximately 70 %, reaching 80 % at 8 T. Structural examinations indicate improved growth of YBCO and BZO nanorods in the bilayer structure with BZO-added layer thickness ≤80 %. Theoretical model of the bilayer structure considering the layers as two parallel superconductors with different properties was developed. It was found that the model adequately explains all the experimentally observed tendencies, and thus the observed maximum in J
c is due to better growth of the BZO-added layer. The study provides valuable insights for designing optimal bilayer structures for diverse applications operating in different temperature and magnetic field regimes.
Surface temperature measurement from infrared synthetic diagnostic in preparation for ITER operations
Authors: Aumeunier M.-H. , Juven A. , Gerardin J. , Cisse C-M. B. , Pamela S. , Miorelli R. , Reboud C. , Retailleau F. , Marot J. , Rigollet F. , Marot L.
Published: June 2024

The protection of ITER in-vessel components and the plasma-wall interaction studies will be based on a large network of infrared (IR) cameras covering 70% of the tokamak. The surface temperature measurement from IR images remains challenging due to the presence of metallic targets, with changes in surface thermo-radiative properties (emissivity) and the presence of multiple reflections. The paper provides an overview of major progress to improve the interpretation of IR image and to get more reliable surface temperature from IR synthetic diagnostics. The paper presents the latest development of (1) the forward model to include the modelling of the edge localised modes and a new advanced camera that is better adapted to experimental data (2) the inverse model to retrieve the emissivity of the targets and the surface temperature from a neural network trained exclusively from synthetic IR images. Promising results have been obtained both from simulated test images with an estimated emissivity better than 0.05 and a surface temperature better than 10%, and from WEST experimental images of ITER-like wide-angle to filter reflection patterns.
MHD-FiT: MHD-based dynamic reconstruction of tokamak plasma configuration
Authors: Ahmadi T. , Ono Y. , Cai Y. , Tanabe H.
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces an innovative method for reconstructing 2D magnetic flux contours and plasma parameters of dynamically moving tokamak plasmas. While conventional methods like EFIT, based on the Grad–Shafranov equation, are suitable for plasma equilibria with a single magnetic axis, our approach utilizes the MHD equations and shows promise for tokamak plasmas in motion or containing multiple magnetic axes, which may not strictly adhere to plasma equilibria. By utilizing limited edge magnetic probe measurements, our developed model successfully reconstructs the time evolution of two merging plasma toroids in the TS-6 experiment. A comparison with direct 2D magnetic probe measurements in a low β regime reveals a reconstruction error of approximately 3%.
Non-soluble antibacterial polyurethane based on cation mechanism and functionalized by chitosan and heparin azide
Authors: Li Shuaishuai , Zhang Liang , Liu Yicheng , Zhang Enke , Li Xinyu , Chen Zichi , Yu Zihan , Zhou Haoyuan , Li Ying
Published: June 2024

Nowadays, medical polyurethanes with favorable and durable antibacterial properties received more attention, because of avoiding repeated replacement of interventional materials and reducing patients’ pain. In this thesis, non-soluble antibacterial polyurethane (NAPU) based on cation antibacterial mechanism was prepared by photo-grafting chitosan azide and heparin azide into polyurethane (PU). –NH3
+ of chitosan azide absorbed bacteria, inhibiting and breaking their mobility and structures. Heparin azide prevented cations from penetrating bacteria’s membranes and inhibited their growth. The results showed that chitosan azide and heparin azide were successfully grafted into PU. The highest antibacterial rate was 92.07%, cytotoxicity grade ranging from 0–1 (RGR standard) and water contact angle exhibiting 60°, attributing to cation antibacterial effect and –OH existing. Tensile strength was up to 23.91 MPa and was suitable for using as medical materials. NAPU with long-lasting coating both possessed antibacterial properties and persistence, which can solve the problem of medical catheters’ long-term using.
Explainable AI based automated segmentation and multi-stage classification of gastroesophageal reflux using machine learning techniques
Authors: Maity Rudrani , Raja Sankari V M , U Snekhalatha , N A Rajesh , Salvador Anela L
Published: June 2024

Presently, close to two million patients globally succumb to gastrointestinal reflux diseases (GERD). Video endoscopy represents cutting-edge technology in medical imaging, facilitating the diagnosis of various gastrointestinal ailments including stomach ulcers, bleeding, and polyps. However, the abundance of images produced by medical video endoscopy necessitates significant time for doctors to analyze them thoroughly, posing a challenge for manual diagnosis. This challenge has spurred research into computer-aided techniques aimed at diagnosing the plethora of generated images swiftly and accurately. The novelty of the proposed methodology lies in the development of a system tailored for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. The proposed work used an object detection method called Yolov5 for identifying abnormal region of interest and Deep LabV3+ for segmentation of abnormal regions in GERD. Further, the features are extracted from the segmented image and given as an input to the seven different machine learning classifiers and custom deep neural network model for multi-stage classification of GERD. The DeepLabV3+ attains an excellent segmentation accuracy of 95.2% and an F1 score of 93.3%. The custom dense neural network obtained a classification accuracy of 90.5%. Among the seven different machine learning classifiers, support vector machine (SVM) outperformed with classification accuracy of 87% compared to all other class outperformed combination of object detection, deep learning-based segmentation and machine learning classification enables the timely identification and surveillance of problems associated with GERD for healthcare providers.
Exponential attractors for a nonlocal delayed reaction-diffusion equation on an unbounded domain
Authors: Hu Wenjie , Caraballo Tomás
Published: June 2024

The main objective of this paper is to investigate exponential attractors for a nonlocal delayed reaction-diffusion equation on an unbounded domain. We first obtain the existence of a globally attractive absorbing set for the dynamical system generated by the equation under the assumption that the nonlinear term is bounded. Then, we construct exponential attractors of the equation directly in its natural phase space, i.e., a Banach space with explicit fractal dimension by combining squeezing properties of the system as well as a covering lemma of finite dimensional subspaces of a Banach space. Our result generalizes the methods established in Hilbert spaces and weighted spaces, and the fractal dimension of the obtained exponential attractor does not depend on the entropy number but only depends on some inner characteristic of the studied equation.
Ample cones of Hilbert schemes of points on hypersurfaces in ℙ³
Authors: Raha Neelarnab
Published: June 2024

Let

X
X

be a very general degree

d
≥
5

d\geq 5

hypersurface in

P

3

\mathbb {P}^3

. We compute the ample cone of the Hilbert scheme

X

[
n
]

X^{[n]}

of

n
n

points on

X
X

for various small values of

n
n

(the answer is already known for large

n
n

). We obtain complete answers in some cases and find lower bounds in certain others. We also observe that in the case of

X

[
2
]

X^{[2]}

for quintic hypersurfaces

X
X

, the existence (or absence) of hyperplane sections with points of high multiplicity also plays a role in the answer to the question at hand, in contrast with cases known earlier. Finally, in the case that a degree

d
≥
3

d\geq 3

smooth hypersurface

X
X

contains a line, we compute the nef cone of

X

[
n
]

X^{[n]}

in a slice of the Néron-Severi space.
Iterated-logarithm laws for convex hulls of random walks with drift
Authors: Cygan Wojciech , Sandrić Nikola , Šebek Stjepan , Wade Andrew
Published: June 2024

We establish laws of the iterated logarithm for intrinsic volumes of the convex hull of many-step, multidimensional random walks whose increments have two moments and a non-zero drift. Analogous results in the case of zero drift, where the scaling is different, were obtained by Khoshnevisan [Probab. Theory Related Fields 93 (1992), pp. 377–392]. Our starting point is a version of Strassen’s functional law of the iterated logarithm for random walks with drift. For the special case of the area of a planar random walk with drift, we compute explicitly the constant in the iterated-logarithm law by solving an isoperimetric problem reminiscent of the classical Dido problem. For general intrinsic volumes and dimensions, our proof exploits a novel zero–one law for functionals of convex hulls of walks with drift, of some independent interest. As another application of our approach, we obtain iterated-logarithm laws for intrinsic volumes of the convex hull of the centre of mass (running average) process associated to the random walk.
Linking integrals on rank-1-symmetric spaces
Authors: Bechtluft-Sachs Stefan , Samiou Evangelia
Published: June 2024

In symmetric spaces of rank one we obtain a right inverse of the Cartan differential on exact differential forms as an integral operator. As a corollary we extend Gauss’ linking integral beyond space forms.
Honesty and Democracy
Authors: Stitzlein Sarah M
Published: June 2024

This chapter depicts struggles in recent democracy, spurred by the rise of populism and post-truth. It depicts how citizens increasingly struggle to engage in civic reasoning and arrive at good solutions to shared problems. It points out that schools have failed to sufficiently address the situation and rarely overtly teach honesty. It shows that while most scholars have responded to dramatic shifts in the use of truth through one of four lenses categorized by Sarit Barzilai and Clark Chinn, all four need to be considered and honesty needs to be foregrounded across them. The chapter provides an overview of the book and summarizes the importance of teaching honesty.
Teaching Honesty
Authors: Stitzlein Sarah M
Published: June 2024

This chapter exposes significant shortcomings in current education, where honesty and truth are rarely discussed. Some commentators have argued that we need to fight post-truth by arming students with more facts and media literacy skills to enable them to sort out fact from fiction. This chapter argues that those approaches are often naive and shortsighted insofar as they do not develop more long-lasting commitments to or practices of honesty. Aiming to address that missing component in the development of good citizens, this chapter explains how a pragmatist might cultivate habits of honesty. Rather than a virtues- or character-based education for honesty, a habits approach reflects a deeply social understanding of democracy and provides civic, rather than primarily moral, motivations for being honest. This chapter describes how schools can nurture the disposition to be honest as students take up real and pressing problems in the world around them.
GasanalyzeR: advancing reproducible research using a new R package for photosynthesis data workflows
Authors: Tholen Danny
Published: June 2024

The analysis of photosynthetic traits has become an integral part of plant (eco-)physiology. Many of these characteristics are not directly measured, but calculated from combinations of several, more direct, measurements. The calculations of such derived variables are based on underlying physical models and may use additional constants or assumed values. Commercially available gas-exchange instruments typically report such derived variables, but the available implementations use different definitions and assumptions. Moreover, no software is currently available to allow a fully scripted and reproducible workflow that includes importing data, pre-processing and recalculating derived quantities. The R package gasanalyzer aims to address these issues by providing methods to import data from different instruments, by translating photosynthetic variables to a standardized nomenclature, and by optionally recalculating derived quantities using standardized equations. In addition, the package facilitates performing sensitivity analyses on variables or assumptions used in the calculations to allow researchers to better assess the robustness of the results. The use of the package and how to perform sensitivity analyses are demonstrated using three different examples.
The function of the cytoplasmic dynein light chain PTKM23 in the transport of PTSMAD2 during spermatogenesis in Portunus trituberculatus
Authors: Xiang Qiu-Meng , Chang Le , Zhu Jun-Quan , Mu Chang-Kao , Wang Chun-Lin , Hou Cong-Cong
Published: June 2024

Cytoplasmic dynein participates in transport functions and is essential in spermatogenesis. KM23 belongs to the dynein light chain family. The TGFβ signaling pathway is indispensable in spermatogenesis, and Smad2 is an important member of this pathway. We cloned PTKM23 and PTSMAD2 from Portunus trituberculatus and measured their expression during spermatogenesis. PTKM23 may be related to cell division, acrosome formation, and nuclear remodeling, and PTSMAD2 may participate in regulating the expression of genes related to spermatogenesis. We assessed the localization of PTKM23 with PTDHC and α-tubulin, and the results suggested that PTKM23 functions in intracellular transport during spermatogenesis. We knocked down PTKM23 in vivo, and the expression of p53, B-CATAENIN and CYCLIN B decreased significantly, further suggesting a role of PTKM23 in transport and cell division. The localization of PTDIC with α-tubulin and that of PTSMAD2 with PTDHC changed after PTKM23 knockdown. We transfected PTKM23 and PTSMAD2 into HEK-293 T cells and verified their colocalization. These results indicate that PTKM23 is involved in the assembly of cytoplasmic dynein and microtubules during spermatogenesis and that PTKM23 mediates the participation of cytoplasmic dynein in the transport of PTSMAD2 during spermatogenesis.
Overview of the Multispecies Ovary Tissue Histology Electronic Repository
Authors: Watanabe Karen H , Dietrich Suzanne W , Ding Yian , Ma Wenli , Sluka James P , Zelinski Mary B
Published: June 2024

The Multispecies Ovary Tissue Histology Electronic Repository (MOTHER) is a publicly accessible repository of ovary histology images. MOTHER includes hundreds of images from nonhuman primates, as well as ovary histology images from an expanding range of other species. Along with an image, MOTHER provides metadata about the image, and for selected species, follicle identification annotations. Ongoing work includes assisting scientists with contributing their histology images, creation of manual and automated (via machine learning) processing pipelines to identify and count ovarian follicles in different stages of development, and the incorporation of that data into the MOTHER database (MOTHER-DB). MOTHER will be a critical data repository storing and disseminating high-value histology images that are essential for research into ovarian function, fertility, and intra-species variability.
Changes in primary visual and auditory cortex of blind and sighted adults following 10 weeks of click-based echolocation training
Authors: Norman Liam J , Hartley Tom , Thaler Lore
Published: June 2024

Recent work suggests that the adult human brain is very adaptable when it comes to sensory processing. In this context, it has also been suggested that structural “blueprints” may fundamentally constrain neuroplastic change, e.g. in response to sensory deprivation. Here, we trained 12 blind participants and 14 sighted participants in echolocation over a 10-week period, and used MRI in a pre–post design to measure functional and structural brain changes. We found that blind participants and sighted participants together showed a training-induced increase in activation in left and right V1 in response to echoes, a finding difficult to reconcile with the view that sensory cortex is strictly organized by modality. Further, blind participants and sighted participants showed a training induced increase in activation in right A1 in response to sounds per se (i.e. not echo-specific), and this was accompanied by an increase in gray matter density in right A1 in blind participants and in adjacent acoustic areas in sighted participants. The similarity in functional results between sighted participants and blind participants is consistent with the idea that reorganization may be governed by similar principles in the two groups, yet our structural analyses also showed differences between the groups suggesting that a more nuanced view may be required.
Cardiac shockwave therapy in addition to coronary bypass surgery improves myocardial function in ischaemic heart failure: the CAST-HF trial
Authors: Holfeld Johannes , Nägele Felix , Pölzl Leo , Engler Clemens , Graber Michael , Hirsch Jakob , Schmidt Sophia , Mayr Agnes , Troger Felix , Pamminger Mathias , Theurl Markus , Schreinlechner Michael , Sappler Nikolay , Ruttmann-Ulmer Elfriede , Schaden Wolfgang , Cooke John P , Ulmer Hanno , Bauer Axel , Gollmann-Tepeköylü Can , Grimm Michael
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims

In chronic ischaemic heart failure, revascularisation strategies control symptoms but are less effective in improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The aim of this trial is to investigate the safety of cardiac shockwave therapy (SWT) as a novel treatment option and its efficacy in increasing cardiac function by inducing angiogenesis and regeneration in hibernating myocardium.

Methods

In this single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled trial (cardiac shockwave therapy for ischemic heart failure, CAST-HF; NCT03859466) patients with LVEF ≤40% requiring surgical revascularisation were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo direct cardiac SWT or sham treatment in addition to coronary bypass surgery. The primary efficacy endpoint was the improvement in LVEF measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging from baseline to 360 days.

Results

Overall, 63 patients were randomized, out of which 30 patients of the SWT group and 28 patients of the Sham group attained 1-year follow-up of the primary endpoint. Greater improvement in LVEF was observed in the SWT group (Δ from baseline to 360 days: SWT 11.3%, SD 8.8; Sham 6.3%, SD 7.4, P = .0146). Secondary endpoints included the 6-minute walking test, where patients randomized in the SWT group showed a greater Δ from baseline to 360 days (127.5 m, SD 110.6) than patients in the Sham group (43.6 m, SD 172.1) (P = .028) and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score on day 360, which was 11.0 points (SD 19.1) for the SWT group and 17.3 points (SD 15.1) for the Sham group (P = .15). Two patients in the treatment group died for non-device-related reasons.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the CAST-HF trial indicates that direct cardiac SWT, in addition to coronary bypass surgery improves LVEF and physical capacity in patients with ischaemic heart failure.
Campaign-induced interpersonal communication following exposure to strong and weak persuasive messages
Authors: Li Shu Scott , Dillard James Price , Su Youzhen
Published: June 2024

Media campaigns can create change in their audiences directly via message exposure and indirectly via conversations about the campaign. An experiment (N = 232) exposed regular consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages to either strong or weak messages that advocated reduced consumption, then allowed conversation or did not. There was evidence of direct media effects in that heavy drinkers who privately judged the messages as effective reported higher intended consumption reduction. However, when conversation was allowed, it erased the desired effect of campaign messages on intended reduction. Heavy drinkers had less favorable conversations about strong campaign messages than weak ones. Further, analytic language (e.g., but, because) augmented the persuasiveness of strong messages among heavy drinkers, but detracted from the persuasiveness of weak messages. Thus, we observed a complex interplay between intrapersonal processes devoted to the accurate assessment of campaign messages and interpersonal processes that defended existing levels of sugary beverage consumption.
Microbially mediated sulfur oxidation coupled with arsenate reduction within oligotrophic mining–impacted habitats
Authors: Sun Xiaoxu , Chen Qizhi , Häggblom Max M , Liu Guoqiang , Kong Tianle , Huang Duanyi , Chen Zhenyu , Li Fangbai , Li Baoqin , Sun Weimin
Published: June 2024

Arsenate [As(V)] reduction is a major cause of arsenic (As) release from soils, which threatens more than 200 million people worldwide. While heterotrophic As(V) reduction has been investigated extensively, the mechanism of chemolithotrophic As(V) reduction is less studied. Since As is frequently found as a sulfidic mineral in the environment, microbial mediated sulfur oxidation coupled to As(V) reduction (SOAsR), a chemolithotrophic process, may be more favorable in sites impacted by oligotrophic mining (e.g. As-contaminated mine tailings). While SOAsR is thermodynamically favorable, knowledge regarding this biogeochemical process is still limited. The current study suggested that SOAsR was a more prevalent process than heterotrophic As(V) reduction in oligotrophic sites, such as mine tailings. The water-soluble reduced sulfur concentration was predicted to be one of the major geochemical parameters that had a substantial impact on SOAsR potentials. A combination of DNA stable isotope probing and metagenome binning revealed members of the genera Sulfuricella, Ramlibacter, and Sulfuritalea as sulfur oxidizing As(V)-reducing bacteria (SOAsRB) in mine tailings. Genome mining further expanded the list of potential SOAsRB to diverse phylogenetic lineages such as members associated with Burkholderiaceae and Rhodocyclaceae. Metagenome analysis using multiple tailing samples across southern China confirmed that the putative SOAsRB were the dominant As(V) reducers in these sites. Together, the current findings expand our knowledge regarding the chemolithotrophic As(V) reduction process, which may be harnessed to facilitate future remediation practices in mine tailings.
Mechanistic insight into roles of α/β-type small acid-soluble proteins, RecA, and inner membrane proteins during bacterial spore inactivation by ohmic heating
Authors: Singh Shyam K , Ali Mohamed Medhat , Mok Jin Hong , Korza George , Setlow Peter , Sastry Sudhir K
Published: June 2024

Aim

Ohmic heating (OH) (i.e. heating by electric field) more effectively kills bacterial spores than traditional wet heating, yet its mechanism remains poorly understood. This study investigates the accelerated spore inactivation mechanism using genetically modified spores.

Methods and results

We investigated the effects of OH and conventional heating (CH) on various genetically modified strains of Bacillus subtilis: isogenic PS533 (wild type_1), PS578 [lacking spores’ α/β-type small acid-soluble proteins (SASP)], PS2318 (lacking recA, encoding a DNA repair protein), isogenic PS4461 (wild type_2), and PS4462 (having the 2Duf protein in spores, which increases spore wet heat resistance and decreases spore inner membrane fluidity). Removal of SASP brought the inactivation profiles of OH and CH closer, suggesting the interaction of these proteins with the field. However, the reemergence of a difference between CH and OH killing for SASP-deficient spores at the highest tested field strength suggested there is also interaction of the field with another spore core component. Additionally, RecA-deficient spores yielded results like those with the wild-type spores for CH, while the OH resistance of this mutant increased at the lower tested temperatures, implying that RecA or DNA are a possible additional target for the electric field. Addition of the 2Duf protein markedly increased spore resistance both to CH and OH, although some acceleration of killing was observed with OH at 50 V/cm.

Conclusions

In summary, both membrane fluidity and interaction of the spore core proteins with electric field are key factors in enhanced spore killing with electric field-heat combinations.
Zero-shot learning to extract assessment criteria and medical services from the preventive healthcare guidelines using large language models
Authors: Luo Xiao , Tahabi Fattah Muhammad , Marc Tressica , Haunert Laura Ann , Storey Susan
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The integration of these preventive guidelines with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) systems, coupled with the generation of personalized preventive care recommendations, holds significant potential for improving healthcare outcomes. Our study investigates the feasibility of using Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate the assessment criteria and risk factors from the guidelines for future analysis against medical records in EHR.

Materials and Methods

We annotated the criteria, risk factors, and preventive medical services described in the adult guidelines published by United States Preventive Services Taskforce and evaluated 3 state-of-the-art LLMs on extracting information in these categories from the guidelines automatically.

Results

We included 24 guidelines in this study. The LLMs can automate the extraction of all criteria, risk factors, and medical services from 9 guidelines. All 3 LLMs perform well on extracting information regarding the demographic criteria or risk factors. Some LLMs perform better on extracting the social determinants of health, family history, and preventive counseling services than the others.

Discussion

While LLMs demonstrate the capability to handle lengthy preventive care guidelines, several challenges persist, including constraints related to the maximum length of input tokens and the tendency to generate content rather than adhering strictly to the original input. Moreover, the utilization of LLMs in real-world clinical settings necessitates careful ethical consideration. It is imperative that healthcare professionals meticulously validate the extracted information to mitigate biases, ensure completeness, and maintain accuracy.

Conclusion

We developed a data structure to store the annotated preventive guidelines and make it publicly available. Employing state-of-the-art LLMs to extract preventive care criteria, risk factors, and preventive care services paves the way for the future integration of these guidelines into the EHR.
Vertebral compression fractures at abdominal CT: underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and evaluation of an AI algorithm
Authors: Wiklund Peder , Buchebner David , Geijer Mats
Published: June 2024

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are common and indicate a high future risk of additional osteoporotic fractures. However, many VCFs are unreported by radiologists, and even if reported, many patients do not receive treatment. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for the detection of VCFs and to assess the prevalence of reported and unreported VCFs. This retrospective cohort study included patients over age 60 yr with an abdominal CT between January 18, 2019 and January 18, 2020. Images and radiology reports were reviewed to identify reported and unreported VCFs, and the images were processed by an AI algorithm. For reported VCFs, the electronic health records were reviewed regarding subsequent osteoporosis screening and treatment. Totally, 1112 patients were included. Of these, 187 patients (16.8%) had a VCF, of which 62 had an incident VCF and 49 had a previously unknown prevalent VCF. The radiologist reporting rate of these VCFs was 30% (33/111). For moderate and severe (grade 2–3) VCF, the AI algorithm had 85.2% sensitivity, 92.3% specificity, 57.8% positive predictive value, and 98.1% negative predictive value. Three of 30 patients with reported VCFs started osteoporosis treatment within a year. The AI algorithm had high accuracy for the detection of VCFs and could be very useful in increasing the detection rate of VCFs, as there was a substantial underdiagnosis of VCFs. However, as undertreatment in reported cases was substantial, to fully realize the potential of AI, changes to the management pathway outside of the radiology department are imperative.
Unraveling the complex biogeographic and anthropogenic history of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in Alaska
Authors: Young Kiana B , White Kevin S , Shafer Aaron B A
Published: June 2024

Both natural and anthropogenic forces can play a substantial role in the demographic history and current structure of a wildlife population. Species with strict habitat requirements are especially susceptible to these impacts. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in Alaska are of particular interest in this regard due to their influence on alpine ecosystems, importance to human cultures, and enigmatic history in some areas. Here, we used genetic tools to examine the population structure and demographic history of mountain goats in Alaska. We genotyped 816 mountain goats at 18 microsatellites, identified the number of genetically distinct subpopulations, and assessed their genetic diversity. We used Bayesian methods to investigate demographic history relative to the known geologic and human history of Alaska, and we simulated human-mediated translocation events onto islands to address the hypothesis that Baranof Island harbored an extant population prior to an early 20th-century introduction. We showed that Alaska has 4 genetically distinct subpopulations of mountain goats. The main demographic split between Southcentral and Southeast Alaska occurred following the retreat of ice after the Last Glacial Maximum. Simulations of translocation events largely aligned with expected genetic diversity patterns of current subpopulations except for Baranof Island which showed greater diversity than the simulation, consistent with the hypothesis of an endemic population prior to the translocation. This study highlights the value of considering both natural and anthropogenic forces when assessing the biogeographic history of a species and provides new insights about the complex demographic history and biogeography of mountain goats in Alaska.
Baseline DSB repair prediction of chronic rare Grade ≥ 3 toxicities induced by radiotherapy using classification algorithms
Authors: Muggiolu Giovanna , Sauvaigo Sylvie , Libert Sarah , Millet Mathias , Daguenet Elisabeth , Bouleftour Wafa , Maillet Thierry , Deutsch Eric , Magné Nicolas
Published: June 2024

Small fractions of patients suffer from radiotherapy late severe adverse events (AEs Grade ≥ 3), which are usually irreversible and badly affect their quality of life. A novel functional DNA repair assay characterizing several steps of double-strand break (DSB) repair mechanisms was used. DNA repair activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were monitored for 1 week using NEXT-SPOT assay in 177 breast and prostate cancer patients. Only seven patients had Grade ≥ 3 AEs, 6 months after radiotherapy initiation. The machine learning method established the importance of variables among demographic, clinical and DNA repair data. The most relevant ones, all related to DNA repair, were employed to build a predictor. Predictors constructed with random forest and minimum bounding sphere predicted late Grade ≥ 3 AEs with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 77.17 and 86.22%, respectively. This multiplex functional approach strongly supports a dominant role for DSB repair in the development of chronic AEs. It also showed that affected patients share specific features related to functional aspects of DSB repair. This strategy may be suitable for routine clinical analysis and paves the way for modelling DSB repair associated with severe AEs induced by radiotherapy.