bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weyl metallic state induced by helical magnetic order
Authors: Soh Jian-Rui , Sánchez-Ramírez Irián , Yang Xupeng , Sun Jinzhao , Zivkovic Ivica , Rodríguez-Velamazán J. Alberto , Fabelo Oscar , Stunault Anne , Bombardi Alessandro , Balz Christian , Le Manh Duc , Walker Helen C. , Dil J. Hugo , Prabhakaran Dharmalingam , Rønnow Henrik M. , de Juan Fernando , Vergniory Maia G. , Boothroyd Andrew T.
Published: January 2024

In the rapidly expanding field of topological materials there is growing interest in systems whose topological electronic band features can be induced or controlled by magnetism. Magnetic Weyl semimetals, which contain linear band crossings near the Fermi level, are of particular interest owing to their exotic charge and spin transport properties. Up to now, the majority of magnetic Weyl semimetals have been realized in ferro- or ferrimagnetically ordered compounds, but a disadvantage of these materials for practical use is their stray magnetic field which limits the minimum size of devices. Here we show that Weyl nodes can be induced by a helical spin configuration, in which the magnetization is fully compensated. Using a combination of neutron diffraction and resonant elastic x-ray scattering, we find that below TN = 14.5 K the Eu spins in EuCuAs develop a planar helical structure which induces two quadratic Weyl nodes with Chern numbers C = ±2 at the A point in the Brillouin zone.
Emerging topological bound states in Haldane model zigzag nanoribbons
Authors: Traverso Simone , Sassetti Maura , Traverso Ziani Niccolò
Published: January 2024

Zigzag nanoribbons hosting the Haldane Chern insulator model are considered. In this context, a reentrant topological phase, characterized by the emergence of quasi zero dimensional in-gap states, is discussed. The bound states, which reside in the gap opened by the hybridization of the counter-propagating edge modes of the Haldane phase, are localized at the ends of the strip and are found to be robust against on-site disorder. These findings are supported by the behavior of the Zak phase over the parameter space, which exhibits jumps of π in correspondence to the phase transitions between the trivial and the non-trivial phases. The effective mass inversion leading to the jumps in the Zak phase is interpreted in a low energy framework. Setups with non-uniform parameters also show topological bound states via the Jackiw-Rebbi mechanism. All the properties reported are shown to be extremely sensitive to the strip width.
The effect of light intensity on microalgae biofilm structures and physiology under continuous illumination
Authors: Gao Yan , Bernard Olivier , Fanesi Andrea , Perré Patrick , Lopes Filipa
Published: January 2024

The interest by biofilm-based microalgae technologies has increased lately due to productivity improvement, energy consumption reduction and easy harvesting. However, the effect of light, one key factor for system’s operation, received less attention than for planktonic cultures. This work assessed the impact of Photon Flux Density (PFD) on Chlorella vulgaris biofilm dynamics (structure, physiology, activity). Microalgae biofilms were cultivated in a flow-cell system with PFD from 100 to 500 $${\upmu {\textrm{mol}} \, \textrm{m}^{-2} \, \textrm{s}^{-1}}$$

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. In the first stage of biofilm development, uniform cell distribution was observed on the substratum exposed to 100 $${\upmu \textrm{mol} \, \textrm{m}^{-2} \, \textrm{s}^{-1}}$$

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while cell clusters were formed under 500 $${\upmu \textrm{mol} \, \textrm{m}^{-2} \, \textrm{s}^{-1}}$$

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. Though similar specific growth rate in exponential phase (ca. 0.3 $${\textrm{d}^{-1}}$$

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) was obtained under all light intensities, biofilm cells at 500 $${\upmu \textrm{mol} \, \textrm{m}^{-2} \, \textrm{s}^{-1}}$$

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seem to be ultimately photoinhibited (lower final cell density). Data confirm that Chlorella vulgaris showed a remarkable capability to cope with high light. This was marked for sessile cells at 300 $${\upmu \textrm{mol} \, \textrm{m}^{-2} \, \textrm{s}^{-1}}$$

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, which reduce very rapidly (in 2 days) their chlorophyll-a content, most probably to reduce photodamage, while maintaining a high final cell density. Besides cellular physiological adjustments, our data demonstrate that cellular spatial organization is light-dependent.
Landmark-based registration of a cochlear model to a human cochlea using conventional CT scans
Authors: Stritzel Jenny , Ebrahimzadeh Amir Hossein , Büchner Andreas , Lanfermann Heinrich , Marschollek Michael , Wolff Dominik
Published: January 2024

Cochlear implants can provide an advanced treatment option to restore hearing. In standard pre-implant procedures, many factors are already considered, but it seems that not all underlying factors have been identified yet. One reason is the low quality of the conventional computed tomography images taken before implantation, making it difficult to assess these parameters. A novel method is presented that uses the Pietsch Model, a well-established model of the human cochlea, as well as landmark-based registration to address these challenges. Different landmark numbers and placements are investigated by visually comparing the mean error per landmark and the registrations’ results. The landmarks on the first cochlear turn and the apex are difficult to discern on a low-resolution CT scan. It was possible to achieve a mean error markedly smaller than the image resolution while achieving a good visual fit on a cochlear segment and directly in the conventional computed tomography image. The employed cochlear model adjusts image resolution problems, while the effort of setting landmarks is markedly less than the segmentation of the whole cochlea. As a next step, the specific parameters of the patient could be extracted from the adapted model, which enables a more personalized implantation with a presumably better outcome.
Alcohol-related cancer morbidity and mortality are stratified using modified albumin platelet product
Authors: Fujita Koji , Morishita Asahiro , Oura Kyoko , Ono Masafumi , Himoto Takashi , Masaki Tsutomu
Published: January 2024

Alcohol abuse is associated with several diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and extrahepatic malignancies. Recently, we reported albumin platelet product (APP) and modified APP (mAPP) as novel indices of liver fibrosis staging and prognosis in patients without alcoholic liver diseases. This retrospective cohort study aimed to extend application of APP and mAPP in prognosis prediction of patients with alcoholic liver diseases. We enrolled 222 patients with alcoholic liver diseases based on their medical records. Cut-off values of APP = 4.349 and mAPP = 2.484 were adopted based on a past report. Hazard ratios of APP and mAPP were compared to those of albumin-bilirubin score and fibrosis-4 index. The primary and secondary endpoints were carcinogenesis and death, respectively. Thus, APP = 4.349 and mAPP = 2.484 significantly differentiated cancer-free survival and overall survival in univariate analysis. Hazard ratios of mAPP = 2.484 were greater than those of the albumin-bilirubin score of -2.270 and fibrosis-4 index of 3.25. Multivariate analysis revealed mAPP = 2.484 as an independent risk factor for carcinogenesis and overall death. In conclusion, mAPP is a simple index to stratify patient’s risk for carcinogenesis and death.
Unbalanced regularized optimal mass transport with applications to fluid flows in the brain
Authors: Chen Xinan , Benveniste Helene , Tannenbaum Allen R.
Published: January 2024

As a generalization of the optimal mass transport (OMT) approach of Benamou and Brenier’s, the regularized optimal mass transport (rOMT) formulates a transport problem from an initial mass configuration to another with the optimality defined by the total kinetic energy, but subject to an advection-diffusion constraint equation. Both rOMT and the Benamou and Brenier’s formulation require the total initial and final masses to be equal; mass is preserved during the entire transport process. However, for many applications, e.g., in dynamic image tracking, this constraint is rarely if ever satisfied. Therefore, we propose to employ an unbalanced version of rOMT to remove this constraint together with a detailed numerical solution procedure and applications to analyzing fluid flows in the brain.
Modeling the potential distribution of the energy tree species Triadica sebifera in response to climate change in China
Authors: Liu Mei , Yang Liyong , Su Miaomiao , Gong Wei , Liu Yibo , Yang Jingxuan , Huang Yi , Zhao Cong
Published: January 2024

As an important woody oilseed species in China, Triadica sebifera is not only concerned with the substitution of traditional energy sources, but also plays a considerable role in coping with energy shortages. Accurately predicting the potential geographic distribution of Triadica sebifera in China and understanding its ecological needs are crucial for alleviating the energy crisis and effectively implementing energy substitution strategies. In this study, the potential geographic distribution of Triadica sebifera in China at contemporary and future periods was predicted based on the distribution data of Triadica sebifera in China and the environmental factor variables by Maxent model and ArcGIS software. The combination of important factors governing the potential geographic distribution of Triadica sebifera was assessed by the contribution of environmental factor variables. The accuracy of Maxent model's predictions was assessed by AUC values, TSS values and Kappa statistics. The results show that: High AUC and TSS values indicate high accuracy and performance of the model. The crucial environmental factors limiting the potential geographic distribution of Triadica sebifera are the temperature factor (mean air temperature of the driest quarter), precipitation factor (precipitation of the coldest quarter, precipitation of the wettest month), and the intensity of human activities (hf). The total suitable area for Triadica sebifera is 233.64 × 104 km2, primarily located in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; its high suitability area is 30.89 × 104 km2, accounting for 13.22% of the total suitable area, mainly distributed in Jiangxi, Sichuan and Hunan provinces in the shape of a cake. Under the four typical greenhouse gas emission concentration patterns in the 2050s and 2070s, the areas of high and medium suitable areas for Triadica sebifera will increase, while the area of its low suitable area will decrease. However, the total suitable area will remain relatively unchanged. Its potential suitable habitats show a trend of shifting towards lower latitudes and southeast regions. The study predicted the pattern of Triadica sebifera under different climate change conditions, which can provide guidance for future cultivation of Triadica sebifera as well as for biofuel development and utilization.
Influence of certified perioperative nurses on the establishment of preoperative outpatient clinic and rate of preoperative assessment in Japan
Authors: Hara Kentaro , Yamamoto Chie , Mills Shigeko , Osaki Kengo , Tokuyama Kaoru , Inoue Takahiro
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to investigate the influence of certified perioperative nurses on preoperative outpatient clinic and preoperative assessments. The study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022; data were collected and analyzed using a questionnaire at 247 hospitals in Japan. To analyze the factors affecting the rate of preoperative assessment with the primary endpoint of preoperative outpatient care and preoperative nursing visits, we performed multiple linear regression analysis of facility characteristics, perioperative nurse background, and the presence or absence of certified perioperative nurses. Regarding the presence or absence of a preoperative outpatient clinic, patients from 68 (52.3%) and 41 (35.0%) institutions in the enrolled and nonenrolled groups. Respectively, underwent a preoperative assessment; the rate of preoperative assessments in the enrolled group was significantly higher than that in the nonenrolled group. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing the preoperative assessment rate revealed a significant association with certified perioperative nurse attendance. Facilities with certified perioperative nurses have a significantly higher prevalence of preoperative outpatient clinic and significantly higher rates of preoperative assessments than facilities without certified perioperative nurses. Enrollment of certified perioperative nurses may lead to the improvement of the quality of preoperative nursing interventions.
Characteristics of multi-absorption bands in near IR based on a 1D photonic crystal comprising two composite metamaterials
Authors: Medhat Mai , Mehaney Ahmed , Al-Dossari M. , Aly Arafa H. , Elsayed Hussein A.
Published: January 2024

The Matlab program has been utilized in this study to examine the absorption spectral properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPCs) comprising two composite metamaterials through near IR wavelengths. The composite metamaterials are designed from Ag of a gyroidal geometry (layer A) and hyperbolic metamaterial (layer B). Therefore, the introduced design is labeled as $${[A{B}^{n}]}^{m}$$

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with n and m to define the periodicity of the hyperbolic metamaterial and the whole structure, respectively. The numerical findings have been introduced in the vicinity of the effective medium theory, transfer matrix method and the Drude model as well. In this regard, the numerical results demonstrate the appearance of some spectral absorption bands ranging from 0.7 µm to 3 µm for both TM and TE polarizations. Additionally, these bands are almost insensitive to the changes in the angle of incidence. Interestingly, we have considered the role played by some parameters such as the permittivities and thicknesses of both layers on the introduced absorption bands. Finally, we believe that the investigated results could be promising through many applications such as wavelength selective absorbers, solar energy, and smart windows as well.
Unravelling individual rhythmic abilities using machine learning
Authors: Dalla Bella Simone , Janaqi Stefan , Benoit Charles-Etienne , Farrugia Nicolas , Bégel Valentin , Verga Laura , Harding Eleanor E. , Kotz Sonja A.
Published: January 2024

Humans can easily extract the rhythm of a complex sound, like music, and move to its regular beat, like in dance. These abilities are modulated by musical training and vary significantly in untrained individuals. The causes of this variability are multidimensional and typically hard to grasp in single tasks. To date we lack a comprehensive model capturing the rhythmic fingerprints of both musicians and non-musicians. Here we harnessed machine learning to extract a parsimonious model of rhythmic abilities, based on behavioral testing (with perceptual and motor tasks) of individuals with and without formal musical training (n = 79). We demonstrate that variability in rhythmic abilities and their link with formal and informal music experience can be successfully captured by profiles including a minimal set of behavioral measures. These findings highlight that machine learning techniques can be employed successfully to distill profiles of rhythmic abilities, and ultimately shed light on individual variability and its relationship with both formal musical training and informal musical experiences.
Entropy removal of medical diagnostics
Authors: He Shuhan , Chong Paul , Yoon Byung-Jun , Chung Pei-Hung , Chen David , Marzouk Sammer , Black Kameron C. , Sharp Wilson , Safari Pedram , Goldstein Joshua N. , Raja Ali S. , Lee Jarone
Published: January 2024

Shannon entropy is a core concept in machine learning and information theory, particularly in decision tree modeling. To date, no studies have extensively and quantitatively applied Shannon entropy in a systematic way to quantify the entropy of clinical situations using diagnostic variables (true and false positives and negatives, respectively). Decision tree representations of medical decision-making tools can be generated using diagnostic variables found in literature and entropy removal can be calculated for these tools. This concept of clinical entropy removal has significant potential for further use to bring forth healthcare innovation, such as quantifying the impact of clinical guidelines and value of care and applications to Emergency Medicine scenarios where diagnostic accuracy in a limited time window is paramount. This analysis was done for 623 diagnostic tools and provided unique insights into their utility. For studies that provided detailed data on medical decision-making algorithms, bootstrapped datasets were generated from source data to perform comprehensive machine learning analysis on these algorithms and their constituent steps, which revealed a novel and thorough evaluation of medical diagnostic algorithms.
FBPP: software to design PCR primers and probes for nucleic acid base detection of foodborne pathogens
Authors: Soliman Mohamed A. , Azab Mohamed S. , Hussein Hala A. , Roushdy Mohamed M. , Abu el-naga Mohamed N.
Published: January 2024

Foodborne pathogens can be found in various foods, and it is important to detect foodborne pathogens to provide a safe food supply and to prevent foodborne diseases. The nucleic acid base detection method is one of the most rapid and widely used methods in the detection of foodborne pathogens; it depends on hybridizing the target nucleic acid sequence to a synthetic oligonucleotide (probes or primers) that is complementary to the target sequence. Designing primers and probes for this method is a preliminary and critical step. However, new bioinformatics tools are needed to automate, specific and improve the design sets to be used in the nucleic acid‒base method. Thus, we developed foodborne pathogen primer probe design (FBPP), an open-source, user-friendly graphical interface Python-based application supported by the SQL database for foodborne pathogen virulence factors, for (i) designing primers/probes for detection purposes, (ii) PCR and gel electrophoresis photo simulation, and (iii) checking the specificity of primers/probes.
In silico and in vitro prediction of new synthesized N-heterocyclic compounds as anti-SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Hashem Heba E. , Ahmad Sajjad , Kumer Ajoy , Bakri Youness El
Published: January 2024

Computer-aided drug design has been employed to get the medicinal effects against Corona virus from different pyridine derivatives after synthesizing the new compounds. Additionally, various computational studies are also employed between the newly prepared pyridine derivatives and three controls against three proteins (6Y2E, 6M71 and 6M3M). Different methods were employed to synthesize new pyridine derivatives according to the literature using different reaction mediums. MTT was performed for cytotoxicity study and IC50 for inhibitory concentration. Additionally, in-silico studies including DFT, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, MMPBSA, ADME, pharmacokinetics and Lipinski rules were evaluated. The chemical structures of all new compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic investigation. A molecular docking study demonstrated that compounds 5, 11, and 12 have the best binders of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme, with energy scores of − 7.5 kcal/mol, − 7.2 kcal/mol, and − 7.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The net binding energy values of the 11-Mpro, 12-Mpro, and 5-Mpro complexes revealed their highly stable nature in terms of both intermolecular interactions and docked conformation across the simulation time. ADME properties, besides the pharmacokinetics and Lipinski rules, showed that all seven newly synthesized compounds follow Lipinski rules with high GI absorption. The In Vitro antiviral study against SARS-CoV-2 using MTT methods confirms that compound 5 has more potential and is safer than other tested compounds. The study shows that the newly synthesized pyridine derivatives have medicinal properties against SARS-CoV-2 without violating Lipinski rules. Compounds 5, 11, and 12, particularly compound 5, may serve as promising potential candidate for COVID-19.
Co-release of cytokines after drug-eluting stent implantation in acute myocardial infarction patients with PCI
Authors: Wan Minying , Hu Kun , Lu Yi , Wang Cheng , Mao Bin , Yang Qing , Zheng Zhenzhong , Wu Hao , Luo Yihong , Maiti Amit K.
Published: January 2024

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) often requires stent implantation leading to cardiovascular injury and cytokine release. Stent implantation induces cytokines production including TNFα, Hs-CRP, IL-1ß, IL2 receptor, IL6, IL8, and IL10, but their co-release is not extensively established. In 311 PCI patients with Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) implantation, we statistically evaluate the correlation of these cytokines release in various clinical conditions, stent numbers, and medications. We observed that TNFα is moderately correlated with IL-1ß (r2 = 0.59, p = 0.001) in diabetic PCI patients. Similarly, in NSTEMI (Non-ST Segment Elevation) patients, TNFα is strongly correlated with both IL-1ß (r2 = 0.97, p = 0.001) and IL8 (r2 = 0.82, p = 0.001). In CAD (Coronary Artery Disease)-diagnosed patients TNFα is highly correlated (r2 = 0.84, p = 0.0001) with IL8 release but not with IL-1ß. In patients with an increased number of stents, Hs-CRP is significantly coupled with IL8 > 5 pg/ml (t-statistic = 4.5, p < 0.0001). Inflammatory suppressor drugs are correlated as TNFα and IL8 are better suppressed by Metoprolol 23.75 (r2 = 0.58, p < 0.0001) than by Metoprolol 11.87 (r2 = 0.80, p = 0.5306). Increased TNFα and IL-1ß are better suppressed by the antiplatelet drug Brilinta (r2 = 0.30, p < 0.0001) but not with Clopidogrel (r2 = 0.87, p < 0.0001). ACI/ARB Valsartan 80 (r2 = 0.43, p = 0.0011) should be preferred over Benazepril 5.0 (r2 = 0.9291, p < 0.0001) or Olmesartan (r2 = 0.90, p = 0.0001). Thus, the co-release of IL-1ß, IL8 with TNFα, or only IL8 with TNFα could be a better predictor for the outcome of stent implantation in NSTEMI and CAD-diagnosed AMI patients respectively. Cytokine suppressive medications should be chosen carefully to inhibit further cardiovascular damage.
Measurement of IFN-γ and IL-2 for the assessment of the cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Safont Guillem , Villar-Hernández Raquel , Smalchuk Daria , Stojanovic Zoran , Marín Alicia , Lacoma Alicia , Pérez-Cano Cristina , López-Martínez Anabel , Molina-Moya Bárbara , Solis Alan Jhunior , Arméstar Fernando , Matllo Joan , Díaz-Fernández Sergio , Romero Iris , Casas Irma , Strecker Kevin , Preyer Rosemarie , Rosell Antoni , Latorre Irene , Domínguez Jose
Published: January 2024

The study of specific T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 is important for understanding long-term immunity and infection management. The aim of this study was to assess the dual IFN-γ and IL-2 detection, using a SARS-CoV-2 specific fluorescence ELISPOT, in patients undergoing acute disease, during convalescence, and after vaccination. We also evaluated humoral response and compared with T-cells with the aim of correlating both types of responses, and increase the number of specific response detection. Blood samples were drawn from acute COVID-19 patients and convalescent individuals classified according to disease severity; and from unvaccinated and vaccinated uninfected individuals. IgGs against Spike and nucleocapsid, IgMs against nucleocapsid, and neutralizing antibodies were also analyzed. Our results show that IFN-γ in combination with IL-2 increases response detection in acute and convalescent individuals (p = 0.023). In addition, IFN-γ detection can be a useful biomarker for monitoring severe acute patients, as our results indicate that those individuals with a poor outcome have lower levels of this cytokine. In some cases, the lack of cellular immunity is compensated by antibodies, confirming the role of both types of immune responses in infection, and confirming that their dual detection can increase the number of specific response detections. In summary, IFN-γ/IL-2 dual detection is promising for characterizing and assessing the immunization status, and helping in the patient management.
Sea ice-ocean coupling during Heinrich Stadials in the Atlantic–Arctic gateway
Authors: El bani Altuna Naima , Ezat Mohamed M. , Smik Lukas , Muschitiello Francesco , Belt Simon T. , Knies Jochen , Rasmussen Tine L.
Published: January 2024

The variability of Arctic sea-ice during abrupt stadial-interstadial shifts in the last glacial period remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the millennial-scale relationship, with a focus on Heinrich Stadials (HS), between sea-ice cover and bottom water temperature (BWT) during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 3 and 2 (64–13 ka) in the Fram Strait using new molecular sea ice biomarker data and published benthic foraminiferal BWT records. Widespread spring sea-ice cover (SpSIC) dominated the studied interval, especially in mid-late MIS 3 (45–29 ka). Yet, warm interstadials were characterized by relatively more open-ocean conditions compared to cold stadials. At the transition between a HS and the subsequent interstadial, sea ice was tightly linked to BWT with rapid reductions in SpSIC coinciding with lower BWT at the end of HS. The relative timing of the events, especially during HS 1, points to ocean warming as the key controlling factor for sea ice reduction at millennial timescales.
Plant defensive responses to insect eggs are inducible by general egg-associated elicitors
Authors: Lortzing Vivien , Valsamakis Georgios , Jantzen Friederike , Hundacker Janik , Paniagua Voirol Luis R. , Schumacher Fabian , Kleuser Burkhard , Hilker Monika
Published: January 2024

Egg deposition by herbivorous insects is well known to elicit defensive plant responses. Our study aimed to elucidate the insect and plant species specificity of these responses. To study the insect species specificity, we treated Arabidopsis thaliana with egg extracts and egg-associated secretions of a sawfly (Diprion pini), a beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) and a butterfly (Pieris brassicae). All egg extracts elicited salicylic acid (SA) accumulation in the plant, and all secretions induced expression of plant genes known to be responsive to the butterfly eggs, among them Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes. All secretions contained phosphatidylcholine derivatives, known elicitors of SA accumulation and PR gene expression in Arabidopsis. The sawfly egg extract did not induce plant camalexin levels, while the other extracts did. Our studies on the plant species specificity revealed that Solanum dulcamara and Ulmus minor responded with SA accumulation and cell death to P. brassicae eggs, i.e. responses also known for A. thaliana. However, the butterfly eggs induced neoplasms only in S. dulcamara. Our results provide evidence for general, phosphatidylcholine-based, egg-associated elicitors of plant responses and for conserved plant core responses to eggs, but also point to plant and insect species-specific traits in plant–insect egg interactions.
Crowdsourced human-based computational approach for tagging peripheral blood smear sample images from Sickle Cell Disease patients using non-expert users
Authors: Rubio José María Buades , Moyà-Alcover Gabriel , Jaume-i-Capó Antoni , Petrović Nataša
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we present a human-based computation approach for the analysis of peripheral blood smear (PBS) images images in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). We used the Mechanical Turk microtask market to crowdsource the labeling of PBS images. We then use the expert-tagged erythrocytesIDB dataset to assess the accuracy and reliability of our proposal. Our results showed that when a robust consensus is achieved among the Mechanical Turk workers, probability of error is very low, based on comparison with expert analysis. This suggests that our proposed approach can be used to annotate datasets of PBS images, which can then be used to train automated methods for the diagnosis of SCD. In future work, we plan to explore the potential integration of our findings with outcomes obtained through automated methodologies. This could lead to the development of more accurate and reliable methods for the diagnosis of SCD.
Time-course changes in fingernail cortisol levels during pregnancy and postpartum
Authors: Izawa Shuhei , Kawasaki Mikiko , Sugaya Nagisa , Nomura Shusaku
Published: January 2024

The cortisol level in fingernails can reflect the cumulative hormones produced in the body several months prior. However, previous studies have only demonstrated the cross-sectional associations of fingernail cortisol with salivary or hair cortisol, and not longitudinal changes in fingernail cortisol in situations where cortisol levels in the body could be expected to change. Therefore, this study focused on pregnancy as a model for changes in cortisol levels over a prolonged period of time, and investigating the time courses of fingernail cortisol during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We collected nail samples from 30 healthy women during pregnancy and 12 months postpartum to measure the cortisol levels in the nail. Results showed that cortisol levels in fingernail clippings increased from 1 month before childbirth to 4 months postpartum, with the levels peaking at 2 months postpartum. Additionally, we found higher cortisol levels in fingernail clippings in primiparas than in those of multiparas. The time course of fingernail cortisol levels could replicate the longitudinal changes in cortisol in the body, and differences between multiparas and primiparas seemed to be biologically plausible, which could support the concept of fingernail cortisol as a retrospective index of hormone production.
Folate receptor overexpression induces toxicity in a diet-dependent manner in C. elegans
Authors: Shrestha Bideep , Tallila Milla , Matilainen Olli
Published: January 2024

Folate receptor (FR) alpha (FOLR1) and beta (FOLR2) are membrane-anchored folate transporters that are expressed at low levels in normal tissues, while their expression is strongly increased in several cancers. Intriguingly, although the function of these receptors in, for example, development and cancer has been studied intensively, their role in aging is still unknown. To address this, we utilized Caenorhabditis elegans, in which FOLR-1 is the sole ortholog of folate receptors. We found that the loss of FOLR-1 does not affect reproduction, physical condition, proteostasis or lifespan, indicating that it is not required for folate transport to maintain health. Interestingly, we found that FOLR-1 is detectably expressed only in uterine-vulval cells, and that the histone-binding protein LIN-53 inhibits its expression in other tissues. Furthermore, whereas knockdown of lin-53 is known to shorten lifespan, we found that the loss of FOLR-1 partially rescues this phenotype, suggesting that elevated folr-1 expression is detrimental for health. Indeed, our data demonstrate that overexpression of folr-1 is toxic, and that this phenotype is dependent on diet. Altogether, this work could serve as a basis for further studies to elucidate the organismal effects of abnormal FR expression in diseases such as cancer.
Comparing deep learning and handcrafted radiomics to predict chemoradiotherapy response for locally advanced cervical cancer using pretreatment MRI
Authors: Jeong Sungmoon , Yu Hosang , Park Shin-Hyung , Woo Dongwon , Lee Seoung-Jun , Chong Gun Oh , Han Hyung Soo , Kim Jae-Chul
Published: January 2024

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), but its responsiveness varies among patients. A reliable tool for predicting CRT responses is necessary for personalized cancer treatment. In this study, we constructed prediction models using handcrafted radiomics (HCR) and deep learning radiomics (DLR) based on pretreatment MRI data to predict CRT response in LACC. Furthermore, we investigated the potential improvement in prediction performance by incorporating clinical factors. A total of 252 LACC patients undergoing curative chemoradiotherapy are included. The patients are randomly divided into two independent groups for the training (167 patients) and test datasets (85 patients). Contrast-enhanced T1- and T2-weighted MR scans are obtained. For HCR analysis, 1890 imaging features are extracted and a support vector machine classifier with a five-fold cross-validation is trained on training dataset to predict CRT response and subsequently validated on test dataset. For DLR analysis, a 3-dimensional convolutional neural network was trained on training dataset and validated on test dataset. In conclusion, both HCR and DLR models could predict CRT responses in patients with LACC. The integration of clinical factors into radiomics prediction models tended to improve performance in HCR analysis. Our findings may contribute to the development of personalized treatment strategies for LACC patients.
Influence of the breathing pattern on the pulmonary function of endurance-trained athletes
Authors: Sikora Marcin , Mikołajczyk Rafał , Łakomy Olga , Karpiński Jakub , Żebrowska Aleksandra , Kostorz-Nosal Sabina , Jastrzębski Dariusz
Published: January 2024

Proper functioning of the respiratory system is one of the most important determinants of human health. According to current knowledge, the diaphragmatic breathing pattern seems to be the most favourable. However, recent reports indicate that athletes often have dysfunctional breathing patterns, which may be associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The influence of the type of breathing pattern on the mechanical airways in athletes has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine the characteristics and relationships between breathing patterns and respiratory function in athletes. This study included 69 Polish elite endurance athletes (♂40, ♀29) in different sports disciplines and 44 (♂17, ♀27) healthy nonathletes as a control group. All participants underwent pulmonary function tests (spirometry, plethysmography, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide) with assessment of breathing patterns by the Hi–Lo test. Inspiratory and expiratory resistance (R) and reactance (X) of the respiratory system at a given frequency (5 Hz, 11 Hz, and 19 Hz) were measured by a noninvasive forced oscillation technique. In this study, almost half of the athletes (44.92%) had dysfunctional breathing patterns, although at a lower rate than that in the control group. Diaphragmatic breathing patterns were characterized by higher spirometric, plethysmographic and DLCO values compared to thoracic or abdominal breathing patterns. Similarly, lower inspiratory reactance at 5 Hz (X5%pred.) was observed in the diaphragmatic pattern compared to the thoracic pattern. A diaphragmatic breathing pattern is associated with better pulmonary function test results. However, this study revealed a dysfunctional breathing pattern in almost half of the athletes. These results suggest that the assessment of breathing patterns and the implementation of breathing exercises in athletes are essential to promote proper breathing patterns.
Changes in global DMS production driven by increased CO2 levels and its impact on radiative forcing
Authors: Zhao Junri , Zhang Yan , Bie Shujun , Bilsback Kelsey R. , Pierce Jeffrey R. , Chen Ying
Published: January 2024

Our study highlights the importance of understanding the future changes in dimethyl-sulfide (DMS), the largest natural sulfur source, in the context of ocean acidification driven by elevated CO2 levels. We found a strong negative correlation (R2 = 0.89) between the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and sea-surface DMS concentrations based on global observational datasets, not adequately captured by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Earth System Models (ESMs). Using this relationship, we refined projections of future sea-surface DMS concentrations in CMIP6 ESMs. Our study reveals a decrease in global sea-surface DMS concentrations and the associated aerosol radiative forcing compared to ESMs’ results. These reductions represent ~9.5% and 11.1% of the radiative forcings resulting from aerosol radiation and cloud interactions in 2100 reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report. Thus, future climate projections should account for the climate implications of changes in DMS production due to ocean acidification.
Next-generation study databases require FAIR, EHR-integrated, and scalable Electronic Data Capture for medical documentation and decision support
Authors: Dugas Martin , Blumenstock Max , Dittrich Tobias , Eisenmann Urs , Feder Stephan Christoph , Fritz-Kebede Fleur , Kessler Lucy J. , Klass Maximilian , Knaup Petra , Lehmann Christoph U. , Merzweiler Angela , Niklas Christian , Pausch Thomas M. , Zental Nelly , Ganzinger Matthias
Published: January 2024

Structured patient data play a key role in all types of clinical research. They are often collected in study databases for research purposes. In order to describe characteristics of a next-generation study database and assess the feasibility of its implementation a proof-of-concept study in a German university hospital was performed. Key characteristics identified include FAIR access to electronic case report forms (eCRF), regulatory compliant Electronic Data Capture (EDC), an EDC with electronic health record (EHR) integration, scalable EDC for medical documentation, patient generated data, and clinical decision support. In a local case study, we then successfully implemented a next-generation study database for 19 EDC systems (n = 2217 patients) that linked to i.s.h.med (Oracle Cerner) with the local EDC system called OpenEDC. Desiderata of next-generation study databases for patient data were identified from ongoing local clinical study projects in 11 clinical departments at Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany, a major tertiary referral hospital. We compiled and analyzed feature and functionality requests submitted to the OpenEDC team between May 2021 and July 2023. Next-generation study databases are technically and clinically feasible. Further research is needed to evaluate if our approach is feasible in a multi-center setting as well.
The origins of the Guinness stout yeast
Authors: Kerruish Daniel W. M. , Cormican Paul , Kenny Elaine M. , Kearns Jessica , Colgan Eibhlin , Boulton Chris A. , Stelma Sandra N. E.
Published: January 2024

Beer is made via the fermentation of an aqueous extract predominantly composed of malted barley flavoured with hops. The transforming microorganism is typically a single strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and for the majority of major beer brands the yeast strain is a unique component. The present yeast used to make Guinness stout brewed in Dublin, Ireland, can be traced back to 1903, but its origins are unknown. To that end, we used Illumina and Nanopore sequencing to generate whole-genome sequencing data for a total of 22 S. cerevisiae yeast strains: 16 from the Guinness collection and 6 other historical Irish brewing. The origins of the Guinness yeast were determined with a SNP-based analysis, demonstrating that the Guinness strains occupy a distinct group separate from other historical Irish brewing yeasts. Assessment of chromosome number, copy number variation and phenotypic evaluation of key brewing attributes established Guinness yeast-specific SNPs but no specific chromosomal amplifications. Our analysis also demonstrated the effects of yeast storage on phylogeny. Altogether, our results suggest that the Guinness yeast used today is related to the first deposited Guinness yeast; the 1903 Watling Laboratory Guinness yeast.
Ants evade harmful food by active abandonment
Authors: Zanola Daniel , Czaczkes Tomer J. , Josens Roxana
Published: January 2024

Invasive ants, such as the Argentine ant, pose a severe economic and ecological threat. Despite advancements in baiting techniques, effectively managing established ant populations remains a daunting challenge, often ending in failure. Ant colonies employ behavioural immunity against pathogens, raising the question of whether ants can collectively respond to toxic baits. This study investigates whether ant colonies actively abandon palatable but harmful food sources. We provided two sucrose feeders, each generating a new foraging trail, with one transitioning to offering toxic food. Six hours later, ant activity on that path decreases, while activity on the non-toxic food and the trunk trail remains unaffected, excluding factors like population decline or satiation as reasons for the activity decline. Laboratory experiments confirmed that ants remained alive six hours after ingesting toxic food. Ant presence remains low on the toxic food path for days, gradually decreasing along the nearest section of the trunk trail. This abandonment behaviour minimises the entry of harmful food into the nest, acting as a protective social mechanism. The evasion of toxic bait-treated areas likely contributes considerably to control failures. Understanding the behavioural response to toxic baits is essential for developing effective strategies to combat invasive ant species.
Learning reservoir dynamics with temporal self-modulation
Authors: Sakemi Yusuke , Nobukawa Sou , Matsuki Toshitaka , Morie Takashi , Aihara Kazuyuki
Published: January 2024

Reservoir computing (RC) can efficiently process time-series data by mapping the input signal into a high-dimensional space via randomly connected recurrent neural networks (RNNs), which are referred to as a reservoir. The high-dimensional representation of time-series data in the reservoir simplifies subsequent learning tasks. Although this simple architecture allows fast learning and facile physical implementation, the learning performance is inferior to that of other state-of-the-art RNN models. In this study, to improve the learning ability of RC, we propose self-modulated RC (SM-RC) that extends RC by adding a self-modulation mechanism. SM-RC can perform attention tasks where input information is retained or discarded depending on the input signal. We find that a chaotic state can emerge as a result of learning in SM-RC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SM-RC outperforms RC in NARMA and Lorenz model tasks. Because the SM-RC architecture only requires two additional gates, it is physically implementable as RC, thereby providing a direction for realizing edge artificial intelligence.
Self-driving laboratories to autonomously navigate the protein fitness landscape
Authors: Rapp Jacob T. , Bremer Bennett J. , Romero Philip A.
Published: January 2024

Protein engineering has nearly limitless applications across chemistry, energy and medicine, but creating new proteins with improved or novel functions remains slow, labor-intensive and inefficient. Here we present the Self-driving Autonomous Machines for Protein Landscape Exploration (SAMPLE) platform for fully autonomous protein engineering. SAMPLE is driven by an intelligent agent that learns protein sequence–function relationships, designs new proteins and sends designs to a fully automated robotic system that experimentally tests the designed proteins and provides feedback to improve the agent’s understanding of the system. We deploy four SAMPLE agents with the goal of engineering glycoside hydrolase enzymes with enhanced thermal tolerance. Despite showing individual differences in their search behavior, all four agents quickly converge on thermostable enzymes. Self-driving laboratories automate and accelerate the scientific discovery process and hold great potential for the fields of protein engineering and synthetic biology.
Application of electrolysed water in post-harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables
Authors: Saxena Juhi
Published: January 2024

Post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables have triggered the interest of scientists to look for alternative methods for treatment of horticultural produce after harvest for inactivation of pathogens without causing any ill effects.
Whole egg consumption in relation to bone health of the US population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shi Da , Liu Wei , Hang Jiayi , Chen Weihong
Published: January 2024

Osteoporosis, a condition that is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), is a serious health concern worldwide.
Development of magnetic nanoparticles with double silica shells of different porosities for efficient siRNA delivery to breast cancer cells
Authors: Bao Qing , Liu Xiangyu , Li Yan , Yang Tao , Yue Hui , Yang Mingying , Mao Chuanbin
Published: January 2024

Silica-based magnetic nanoparticles are designed to deliver siRNA to triple negative breast cancer cells. The cells are killed due to siRNA-induced apoptosis upon the magnetic field-enhanced efficient cellular uptake and endosome escape of siRNA.
Crosslinker energy landscape effects on dynamic mechanical properties of ideal polymer hydrogels
Authors: Khare Eesha , C. S. de Alcântara Amadeus , Lee Nic , Skaf Munir S. , Buehler Markus J.
Published: January 2024

Reversible crosslinkers can enable several desirable mechanical properties, such as improved toughness and self-healing, when incorporated in polymer networks for bioengineering and structural applications.
Pentatomic carbon ring conjugated nitrogen-doped nanographene
Authors: Bai Jinku , Xu Xiao , Wang Xin-Yue , Sun Xin , Liang Jiaqi , Liang Tongling , Gong Han-Yuan
Published: January 2024

A N-doped nanographene 1 was synthesized. Compared to the hexatomic carbon ring conjugated TB(phen), this study focuses on the effects corresponding to the pentatomic carbon ring conjugation and substituent group of 1 on the physical properties.
Atomically precise Au and Ag nanoclusters doped with a single atom as model alloy catalysts
Authors: Masuda Shinya , Sakamoto Kosuke , Tsukuda Tatsuya
Published: January 2024

This minireview focuses on single-atom doping effects on thermal catalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis of atomically precise gold or silver nanoclusters.
Macromolecular architectural effects on solution self-assembly of amphiphilic AB-type block copolymers
Authors: Ozawa Naoki , Nishimura Tomoki
Published: January 2024

This review discusses the self-assembly of amphiphilic linear and various non-linear polymers such as star and cyclic architectures, highlighting how polymer architecture impacts self-assembly behavior.
Rise of wood-based catalytic electrodes for large-scale hydrogen production
Authors: Ling Ruihua , Lu Tong , Amini Abbas , Yang Hao , Cheng Chun
Published: January 2024

The wood-based pretreatment strategy and active site loading strategy of wood-based catalytic electrodes make them valuable electrodes for water electrolysis, and they hold significant potential for industrial-scale water electrolysis.
Ni–Fe bimetallic catalysts with high dispersion supported by SBA-15 evaluated for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde
Authors: Mangesh V. L. , Govindarajan Murali , Raju Chekuri Rama Bhadri , Perumal Tamizhdurai , Rajendran Kumaran , Chandrasekaran Kavitha , Siva Kumar Nadavala , Basivi Praveen Kumar , Alreshaidan Salwa B. , Al-Fatesh Ahmed S.
Published: January 2024

A wetness impregnation method was used to impregnate the substrate with a substantial quantity of oleic acid together with a metal precursor, leading to significantly dispersed Ni–Fe bimetallic catalysts based on mesoporous SBA-15.
Improving the gas sorption capacity in lantern-type metal–organic polyhedra by a scrambled cage method
Authors: Doñagueda Suso Beatriz , Wang Zaoming , Kennedy Alan R. , Fletcher Ashleigh J. , Furukawa Shuhei , Craig Gavin A.
Published: January 2024

Herein we use a scrambled ligand approach to tune the surface areas of metal–organic polyhedra, driven by the creation of mesoporosity.
Future costs of power-to-liquid sustainable aviation fuels produced from hybrid solar PV-wind plants in Europe
Authors: Seymour Kyle , Held Maximilian , Stolz Boris , Georges Gil , Boulouchos Konstantinos
Published: January 2024

Geographic variation of PtL jet fuel production cost from standalone hybrid solar PV-wind plants is estimated for Europe through 2050.