bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age But Not Menopausal Status Is Linked to Lower Resting Energy Expenditure
Authors: Karppinen Jari E , Wiklund Petri , Ihalainen Johanna K , Juppi Hanna-Kaarina , Isola Ville , Hyvärinen Matti , Ahokas Essi K , Kujala Urho M , Laukkanen Jari , Hulmi Juha J , Ahtiainen Juha P , Cheng Sulin , Laakkonen Eija K
Published: June 2023

Context

It remains uncertain whether aging before late adulthood and menopause are associated with fat-free mass and fat mass–adjusted resting energy expenditure (REEadj).

Objectives

We investigated whether REEadj differs between middle-aged and younger women and between middle-aged women with different menopausal statuses. We repeated the age group comparison between middle-aged mothers and their daughters to partially control for genotype. We also explored whether serum estradiol and FSH concentrations explain REEadj in midlife.

Methods

We divided 120 women, including 16 mother-daughter pairs, into age groups; group I (n = 26) consisted of participants aged 17 to 21, group II (n = 35) of those aged 22 to 38, and group III (n = 59) of those aged 41 to 58 years. The women in group III were further categorized as pre- or perimenopausal (n = 19), postmenopausal (n = 30), or postmenopausal hormone therapy users (n = 10). REE was assessed using indirect calorimetry, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and hormones using immunoassays.

Results

The REEadj of group I was 126 kcal/day [95% confidence interval (CI): 93-160] higher than that of group III, and the REEadj of group II was 88 kcal/day (95% CI: 49-127) higher. Furthermore, daughters had a 100 kcal/day (95% CI: 63-138 kcal/day) higher REEadj than their middle-aged mothers (all P < .001). In group III, REEadj was not lower in postmenopausal women and did not vary by sex hormone concentrations.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that REEadj declines with age in women before late adulthood, also when controlling partially for genetic background, and that menopause may not contribute to this decline.
Unfinished Business
Authors: Joseph-Gabriel Annette K.
Published: June 2023

This response essay engages the three book discussion essays by Shanna Jean-Baptiste, Grace Sanders Johnson, and Tobias Warner on the author’s Reimagining Liberation: How Black Women Transformed Citizenship in the French Empire (2020). Building on the speculative and archival methods undertaken by the three respondents, Joseph-Gabriel returns to underexplored primary sources to stage an encounter between the Haitian writer Marie Vieux Chauvet and the Martinican writer Suzanne Césaire. The resulting conversation considers alternate possibilities for reading disorder, defiance, and imagined new worlds in Black women’s literary production and political thought.
A genome-wide genetic screen identifies CYRI-B as a negative regulator of CEACAM3-mediated phagocytosis
Authors: Kuiper Johannes W. P. , Krause Julia , Potgeter Leon , Adrian Jonas , Hauck Christof R.
Published: June 2023

Opsonin-independent phagocytosis mediated by human carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 3 (CEACAM3) has evolved to control a subset of human-restricted bacterial pathogens. CEACAM3 engagement triggers rapid GTP-loading of the small GTPase Rac as a master regulator of cytoskeletal rearrangements and lamellipodia-driven internalization. To identify components of the CEACAM3-initiated signaling cascade, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-based screen in human myeloid cells. Following infection with fluorescently labeled bacteria, cells exhibiting elevated phagocytosis (gain-of-function) as well as cells showing reduced phagocytosis (loss-of-function) were sorted and enrichment of individual single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) was determined by next generation sequencing. Concentrating on genes whose targeting by three distinct sgRNAs consistently resulted in a gain-of-function phenotype, we identified the Rac-GTP-sequestering protein CYRI-B as a negative regulator of CEACAM3-mediated phagocytosis. Clonal HL-60 cell lines with CYRI-B knockout showed enhanced CEACAM3-downstream signaling, such as Rac GTP loading and phosphorylation of PAK kinases, leading to increased phagocytosis of bacteria. Complementation of the CYRI-B knockout cells reverted the knockout phenotype. Our results unravel components of CEACAM3-initiated opsonin-independent phagocytosis on a genome-wide level and highlight CYRI-B as a negative regulator of CEACAM3-initiated signaling in myeloid cells.
Double-stemmed and split structural variants of fluorescent RNA Mango aptamers
Authors: Herrera-Gutierrez Jeremy , Burden Steven J. , Kobernat Sarah E. , Shults Nicholas H. , Smith Mark , Fologea Daniel , Hayden Eric J.
Published: June 2023

Aptamers with fluorogenic ligands are emerging as useful tools to quantify and track RNA molecules. The RNA Mango family of aptamers have a useful combination of tight ligand binding, bright fluorescence, and small size. However, the simple structure of these aptamers, with a single base-paired stem capped by a G-quadruplex, can limit the sequence and structural modifications needed for many use-inspired designs. Here we report new structural variants of RNA Mango that have two base-paired stems attached to the quadruplex. Fluorescence saturation analysis of one of the double-stemmed constructs showed a maximum fluorescence that is ∼75% brighter than the original single-stemmed Mango I. A small number of mutations to nucleotides in the tetraloop-like linker of the second stem were subsequently analyzed. The effect of these mutations on the affinity and fluorescence suggested that the nucleobases of the second linker do not directly interact with the fluorogenic ligand (TO1-biotin), but may instead induce higher fluorescence by indirectly altering the ligand properties in the bound state. The effects of the mutations in this second tetraloop-like linker indicate the potential of this second stem for rational design and reselection experiments. Additionally, we demonstrated that a bimolecular mango designed by splitting the double-stemmed Mango can function when two RNA molecules are cotranscribed from different DNA templates in a single in vitro transcription. This bimolecular Mango has potential application in detecting RNA–RNA interactions. Together, these constructs expand the designability of the Mango aptamers to facilitate future applications of RNA imaging.
Η σχέση γεωγραφίας και πολιτισμού στη ζωή και στο έργο του Παναγιώτη Ποταγού
Authors: Μάμαλος Νικόλαος-Δημήτριος
Published: June 2023

Ο Παναγιώτης Ποταγός (1838-1903) είναι αναμφισβήτητα ο μεγαλύτερος νεοέλληνας περιηγητής. Την περίοδο 1867 – 1883 ταξίδεψε σε Ασία και Αφρική αφήνοντας πλήθος επιτόπιων περιγραφών, παρατηρήσεων και συμπερασμάτων τόσο για τους λαούς όσο και για το γεωφυσικό περιβάλλον. Δε χρησιμοποίησε επιστημονικά όργανα και βασίστηκε στις αντίστοιχες περιγραφές των αρχαίων ιστορικών και γεωγράφων. Το έργο του απέκτησε μια αρχική αναγνώριση από γεωγραφικές υπηρεσίες του εξωτερικού σε πλήρη αναντιστοιχία με την αντιμετώπιση του από τις ελίτ του ελληνικού πολιτικού και πνευματικού κόσμου. Σταδιακά ο ρομαντισμός κάλυψε τις επιστημονικές παρατηρήσεις και θόλωσε τις βιογραφικές πληροφορίες ώστε ο θάνατος του στις Νυμφές της Κέρκυρας, όπου είχε αποσυρθεί για περίπου 17 έτη, να συσκοτίσει απτά δεδομένα.Η παρούσα ερευνητική εργασία έρχεται να καλύψει ένα σημαντικό κενό στην, ισχνή μέχρι σήμερα, ακαδημαϊκή μελέτη της ζωής και του έργου του Αρκά γιατρού: μελετά το σύνολο του γραπτού του έργου (εκδιδόμενο και ανέκδοτο) σε συνάρτηση με την προσωπική ζωή του δημιουργού τους και των επιλογών που την καθόρισαν. Συγκεκριμένα, προσπαθεί να αποτιμήσει τις παρατηρήσεις υπό το πρίσμα των ανθρωπιστικών επιστημών της ιστορίας, εθνολογίας ανθρωπολογίας, λαογραφίας, αρχαιολογίας σε άμεση συνάρτηση πάντα με την επιστήμη της γεωγραφίας. Σε τι συνίσταται ο πολιτισμός και πόσο επηρεάζεται/διαμορφώνεται από το γεωφυσικό περιβάλλον;Επιπλέον, η έρευνα εντάσσει τις περιηγήσεις στο σύγχρονο ιστορικό τους πλαίσιο, δηλαδή σε αυτό του ανταγωνισμού των αποικιακών δυνάμεων της Μεγάλης Βρετανίας και της Γαλλίας και, περαιτέρω προσπαθεί να αποτυπώσει προσωπικά οράματα και σχέδια για τον Ελληνισμό την περίοδο ακμής της Μεγάλης Ιδέας. Περαιτέρω επιδιώκει να εντάξει στην προβληματική της σχέσης ανθρώπου και γεωγραφίας την αινιγματική απόσυρσή του περιηγητή στη βόρεια Κέρκυρα όπου και αφήνει την τελευταία του πνοή.Πρόκειται για πρωτότυπη έρευνα που δεν περιορίζεται σε λογοτεχνική περιγραφή του βίου ή σε μεμονωμένη και αποσπασματική παρουσίαση μέρους της περιηγητικής καταγραφής αλλά προβάλει την αξίωση αποτίμησης του συνολικού έργου του Αρκά γιατρού σε συνδυασμό με την πορεία του βίου του.
Ανάπτυξη βιολογικά εμπνευσμένων μεθόδων όρασης υπολογιστών στη προσθετική αμφιβληστροειδούς
Authors: Μελανίτης-Παρασκευάς Νίκος
Published: June 2023

Στο πλαίσιο της διατριβής εξετάζεται το βιολογικό σύστημα του αμφιβληστροειδούς και αναπτύσσονται μοντέλα για την πρόβλεψη της απόκρισής του. Ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δίνεται στην ανάπτυξη μοντέλων και μεθόδων που συνεισφέρουν στο πλαίσιο της προσθετικής αμφιβληστροειδούς. Ειδικά χαρακτηριστικά εικόνων εισάγονται, μελετώντας τη βιβλιογραφία για την ταξινόμηση των γαγγλιακών κυττάρων του αμφιβληστροειδούς σε τύπους με χαρακτηριστική λειτουργία και αντλώντας τεχνικές για την επεξεργασία εικόνων από την περιοχή της όρασης υπολογιστών. Δεδομένα από βιολογικούς αμφιβληστροειδείς χρησιμοποιούνται για την εκπαίδευση μοντέλων, κάνοντας πιο ισχυρά τα συμπεράσματα της διατριβής. Τέλος αναλύεται η σχέση της οπτική προσοχής με την απόκριση του αμφιβληστροειδούς και του οπτικού φλοιού για να αξιολογηθεί η ενσωμάτωση μοντέλων οπτικής προσοχής σε παρεμβάσεις προσθετικής όρασης.
Progress for carbon dioxide geological storage in West Macedonia: A field and laboratory-based survey
Authors: Tyrologou Pavlos , Vamvaka Agnes , Koukouzas Nikolaos , Pedro Jorge , Fleury Marc , Carneiro Julio , Ribeiro Carlos , Ghikas Dina , Mpatsi Anna , Barradas João Pedro , Faria Paula , De Mesquita Lobo Veloso Fernanda
Published: June 2023

Background: It is widely acknowledged that carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is largely responsible for climatic changes that can lead to warming or cooling in various places. This disturbs natural processes, creating instability and fragility of natural and social ecosystems. To combat climate change, without compromising technology advancements and maintaining production costs at acceptable levels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies can be deployed to advance a non-disruptive energy transition. Capturing CO2 from industrial processes such as thermoelectric power stations, refineries, and cement factories and storing it in geological mediums is becoming a mature technology. Part of the Mesohellenic Basin, situated in Greek territory, is proposed as a potential area for CO2 storage in saline aquifers. This follows work previously done in the StrategyCCUS project, funded by the EU. The work is progressing under the Pilot Strategy, funded by the EU.

Methods: The current investigation includes geomechanical and petrophysical methods to characterise sedimentary formations for their potential to hold CO2 underground.

Results: Samples were found to have both low porosity and permeability while the corresponding uniaxial strength for the Tsotyli formation was 22 MPa, for Eptechori 35 MPa and Pentalofo 74 MPa.

Conclusions: The samples investigated indicate the potential to act as rock caps due to low porosity and permeability, but fluid pressure within the rock should remain within specified limits; otherwise, the rock may easily fracture and result in CO2 leakage or/and deform to allow the flow of CO2. Further investigation is needed to identify reservoir rocks as well more sampling to allow for statistically significant results.
How evidence-based policymaking helps and hinders policy conflict
Authors: Dorren Lars , Wolf Eva E.A.
Published: June 2023

A popular explanation for governments’ persistent enthusiasm for evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) is its expected capacity to solve policy conflict. However, research is divided on whether or not EBPM actually has a positive impact on conflict. On the one hand, EBPM is said to introduce a set of principles that helps overcome political differences. Simultaneously, EBPM has been criticised for narrowing the space for democratic debate, fuelling the very conflict it is trying to prevent. This article explores how EBPM structures policy conflict by studying the example of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in policy processes through reconstructive interviews and ethnographic observations. It argues that, although EBPM channels conflict in a way that prompts engagement from stakeholders, it also escalates conflict by misrepresenting the nature of policy processes. As such, the findings suggest that managing process participants’ expectations about what evidence is and can do is key in fostering productive policy conflict.
Neoliberal enrolment? The ‘partnership turn’ in government rhetoric and policy
Authors: Hughes Ciaran , Ketola Markus
Published: June 2023

This chapter reviews the development of ‘partnership’ rhetoric and policy through successive UK governments, and the impact of this on the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. We will see that whilst notions of voluntarism and active citizenship played an important role in the Thatcherite project of rolling back the state, it was during the New Labour era that ‘partnership’ became a key theme in policy narratives surrounding the sector and government-sector relationships. The chapter then traces the nature of the relationship between the sector and the coalition and Conservative-led governments at a time of austerity and the roll-out of an increasingly punitive form of neoliberalism. The second part of the chapter explores the historical role of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland and how the sector has been shaped by a complex mix of Westminster policy, EU peace programmes and political processes specific to NI.
Inside the networks: the rhetoric and the reality
Authors: Hughes Ciaran , Ketola Markus
Published: June 2023

This chapter offers an alternative representation of voluntary sector activity, networks and partnership, which stands in counterpoint to the positive-sum narratives encountered in the previous chapter. We will see how both the sector and government are seeking to adjust to, and manage, the winding down of a decades-long boom period for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland, and how the more punitive forms of neoliberalism pursued by Conservative governments since 2010 have translated into reforms and practices that are characterised by state-sector decoupling, rationalisation, instrumentalism, funding monopolisation, organisational competition and territorialism.
Strong-field photoionization/dissociation of vinyl bromide in near-infrared and ultraviolet femtosecond laser fields
Authors: Liu Yang , He Shen , Zhou Longxing , Chen Qi , Zhao Yiwen , Sun Tian , Shen Xingchen , Yu Tao , Lv Hang , Xu Haifeng
Published: June 2023

Ionization of polyatomic molecules in strong femtosecond laser fields is a pivotal process that may induce a variety of highly nonlinear molecular physical phenomena. We performed an experimental study on photoionization and dissociation of vinyl bromide molecules in 800 nm or 400 nm femtosecond strong laser fields using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The dependence of the ion yields on laser intensity and polarization was investigated, and the results are compared in different wavelength laser fields. The kinetic energy releases from Coulomb explosion of vinyl bromide, and the angular distributions of different fragment ions were obtained. The mechanism of strong-field ionization/dissociation of vinyl bromide in different laser fields is discussed based on the experimental results.
Thermally induced sideband generation in silicon-on-insulator cladding modulated Bragg notch filters
Authors: Pérez-Armenta Carlos , MacKay Kevan K. , Hadij-ElHouati Abdelfettah , Ortega-Moñux A. , Molina-Fernández I. , Wangüemert-Pérez J. Gonzalo , Schmid Jens H. , Cheben Pavel , Ye Winnie N.
Published: June 2023

We investigate and experimentally demonstrate a cladding modulated Bragg grating superstructure as a dynamically tunable and reconfigurable multi-wavelength notch filter. A non-uniform heater element was implemented to periodically modulate the effective index of the grating. The Bragg grating bandwidth is controlled by judiciously positioning loading segments away from the waveguide core, resulting in a formation of periodically spaced reflection sidebands. The thermal modulation of a periodically configured heater elements modifies the waveguide effective index, where an applied current controls the number and intensity of the secondary peaks. The device was designed to operate in TM polarization near the central wavelength of 1550 nm and was fabricated on a 220-nm silicon-on-insulator platform, using titanium-tungsten heating elements and aluminum interconnects. We experimentally demonstrate that the Bragg grating self-coupling coefficient can be effectively controlled in a range from 7 mm-1 to 110 mm-1 by thermal tuning, with a measured bandgap and sideband separation of 1 nm and 3 nm, respectively. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with simulations.
Polarization image demosaicing and RGB image enhancement for a color polarization sparse focal plane array
Authors: Liu Ju , Duan Jin , Hao Youfei , Chen Guangqiu , Zhang Hao , Zheng Yue
Published: June 2023

The color division of focal plane (DoFP) polarization sensor structure mostly uses Bayer filter and polarization filter superimposed on each other, which makes the polarization imaging unsatisfactory in terms of photon transmission rate and information fidelity. In order to obtain high-resolution polarization images and high-quality RGB images simultaneously, we simulate a sparse division of focal plane polarization sensor structure, and seek a sweet spot of the simultaneous distribution of the Bayer filter and the polarization filters to obtain both high-resolution polarization images and high-quality RGB images. In addition, From the perspective of sparse polarization sensor imaging, leaving aside the traditional idea of polarization intensity interpolation, we propose a new sparse Stokes vector completion method, in which the network structure avoids the introduction and amplification of noise during polarization information acquisition by mapping the S1 and S2 components directly. The sparsely polarimetric image demosaicing (Sparse-PDM) model is a progressive combined structure of RGB image artifact removal enhancement network and sparsely polarimetric image completion network, which aims to compensate sparsely polarimetric Stokes parameter images with the de-artifacts RGB image as a guide, thus achieving high-quality polarization information and RGB image acquisition. Qualitative and quantitative experimental results on both self-constructed and publicly available datasets prove the superiority of our method over state-of-the-art methods.
X-ray phase-contrast microtomography of soft tissues using a compact laboratory system with two-directional sensitivity
Authors: Navarrete-León Carlos , Doherty Adam , Savvidis Savvas , Gerli Mattia F. M. , Piredda Giovanni , Astolfo Alberto , Bate David , Cipiccia Silvia , Hagen Charlotte K. , Olivo Alessandro , Endrizzi Marco
Published: June 2023

X-ray microtomography is a nondestructive, three-dimensional inspection technique applied across a vast range of fields and disciplines, ranging from research to industrial, encompassing engineering, biology, and medical research. Phase-contrast imaging extends the domain of application of x-ray microtomography to classes of samples that exhibit weak attenuation, thus appearing with poor contrast in standard x-ray imaging. Notable examples are low-atomic-number materials, like carbon-fiber composites, soft matter, and biological soft tissues. We report on a compact and cost-effective system for x-ray phase-contrast microtomography. The system features high sensitivity to phase gradients and high resolution, requires a low-power sealed x-ray tube, a single optical element, and fits in a small footprint. It is compatible with standard x-ray detector technologies: in our experiments, we have observed that single-photon counting offered higher angular sensitivity, whereas flat panels provided a larger field of view. The system is benchmarked against known-material phantoms, and its potential for soft-tissue three-dimensional imaging is demonstrated on small-animal organs: a piglet esophagus and a rat heart. We believe that the simplicity of the setup we are proposing, combined with its robustness and sensitivity, will facilitate accessing quantitative x-ray phase-contrast microtomography as a research tool across disciplines, including tissue engineering, materials science, and nondestructive testing in general.
High frequency of Voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene mutations in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) suggest rapid insecticide resistance evolution in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yuan Hao , Shan Wenqi , Zhang Yuhang , Yan Hanlu , Li Yikai , Zhou Qiuming , Dong Haowei , Tao Feng , Liu Hongxia , Leng Peien , Peng Heng , Ma Yajun
Published: June 2023

Background

Dengue fever is an infectious disease that is imported into Shanghai, China and requires prevention and control measures. Controlling the vector Aedes albopictus through insecticide use is a key approach to dengue control. However, the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance in Ae. albopictus has raised concerns about the failure of dengue control efforts. Knockdown resistance (kdr) caused by point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene is a primary mechanism of pyrethroid resistance. In this study, we investigated the kdr mutations of Ae. albopictus in Shanghai and evaluated the trend in its evolution.

Methodology/principal findings

We collected 17 populations of Ae. albopictus from 15 districts in Shanghai in 2020, extracted genomic DNA from individual mosquitoes, and amplified Domain II, III, and IV in VGSC using PCR. Following sequencing, we obtained 658 VGSC sequences. We detected the nonsynonymous mutations V1016G, I1532T, and F1534S/C/I, among which V1016G and F1534C/I were reported in Shanghai for the first time and F1534I was a novel mutant allele in Ae. albopictus. The overall mutation frequency was 84.65%, with individual mutation frequencies ranging from 46.81% to 100%, excluding the Fengxian District population, which had a frequency of 0%. The V1016G and I1532T mutation types accounted for 7.14% and 3.42%, respectively. The mutant allele at codon 1534 accounted for 63.98% of all mutations, including TCC/S (62.77%), TGC/C (1.06%), and ATC/I (0.15%). We identified and classified five intron types in Domain III by length, including A (83 bp, 12.07%), B (68 bp, 87.30%), C (80 bp, 0.16%), D (72 bp, 0.16%), and E (70 bp, 0.31%). Individuals with intron B had a significant mutation tendency at codon 1534 relative to intron A (chi-square test, p < 0.0001). We found no correlation between mutation frequency and the amount of pyrethroid used (Pearson correlation, p = 0.4755).

Conclusions/significance

In recent years, kdr mutations in the Ae. albopictus population in Shanghai have rapidly evolved, as evidenced by an increase in mutation types and significantly increased mutation frequency. The F1534I/ATC mutant allele was found to be a novel mutation, F1534C/TGC was reported for the first time in Shanghai, and intron B in Domain III was significantly associated with mutation frequency at codon 1534. Continuous monitoring of resistance changes and strict regulation of insecticide use are required.
Biochemical properties of naturally occurring human bloom helicase variants
Authors: Cueny Rachel R. , Varma Sameer , Schmidt Kristina H. , Keck James L.
Published: June 2023

Bloom syndrome helicase (BLM) is a RecQ-family helicase implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including DNA replication, DNA repair, and telomere maintenance. Mutations in humanBLMcause Bloom syndrome (BS), an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to myriad negative health impacts including a predisposition to cancer. BS-causing mutations inBLMoften negatively impact BLM ATPase and helicase activity. WhileBLMmutations that cause BS have been well characterized bothin vitroandin vivo, there are other less studiedBLMmutations that exist in the human population that do not lead to BS. Two of these non-BS mutations, encoding BLM P868L and BLM G1120R, when homozygous, increase sister chromatid exchanges in human cells. To characterize these naturally occurring BLM mutant proteinsin vitro, we purified the BLM catalytic core (BLMcore, residues 636–1298) with either the P868L or G1120R substitution. We also purified a BLMcoreK869A K870A mutant protein, which alters a lysine-rich loop proximal to the P868 residue. We found that BLMcoreP868L and G1120R proteins were both able to hydrolyze ATP, bind diverse DNA substrates, and unwind G-quadruplex and duplex DNA structures. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the P868L substitution weakens the DNA interaction with the winged-helix domain of BLM and alters the orientation of one lobe of the ATPase domain. Because BLMcoreP868L and G1120R retain helicase functionin vitro, it is likely that the increased genome instability is caused by specific impacts of the mutant proteinsin vivo. Interestingly, we found that BLMcoreK869A K870A has diminished ATPase activity, weakened binding to duplex DNA structures, and less robust helicase activity compared to wild-type BLMcore. Thus, the lysine-rich loop may have an important role in ATPase activity and specific binding and DNA unwinding functions in BLM.
A deep memory bare-bones particle swarm optimization algorithm for single-objective optimization problems
Authors: Sun Yule , Guo Jia , Yan Ke , Di Yi , Pan Chao , Shi Binghu , Sato Yuji
Published: June 2023

A deep memory bare-bones particle swarm optimization algorithm (DMBBPSO) for single-objective optimization problems is proposed in this paper. The DMBBPSO is able to perform high-precision local search while maintaining a large global search, thus providing a reliable solution to high-dimensional complex optimization problems. Normally, maintaining high accuracy while conducting global searches is an important challenge for single-objective optimizers. Traditional particle swarms optimizers can rapidly lose the diversity during iterations and are unable to perform global searches efficiently, and thus are more likely to be trapped by local optima. To address this problem, the DMBBPSO combines multiple memory storage mechanism (MMSM) and a layer-by-layer activation strategy (LAS). The MMSM catalyzes a set of deep memories to increase the diversity of the particle swarm. For every single particle, both of the personal best position and deep memories will be used in the evaluation process. The LAS enables the particle swarm to avoid premature convergence while enhancing local search capabilities. The collaboration between MMSM and LAS enhances the diversity of the particle swarm, which in turn enhances the robustness of the DMBBPSO. To investigate the optimization ability of the DMBBPSO for single-objective optimization problems, The CEC2017 benchmark functions are used in experiments. Five state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms are used in the control group. Finally, experimental results demonstrate that the DMBBPSO can provide high precision results for single-objective optimization problems.
Parameter calibration of the discrete element simulation model for soaking paddy loam soil based on the slump test
Authors: Tienan Zhou , Zhou Hao , Ji Jiangtao , Sun Fengyun , Qin Zhiyu
Published: June 2023

The discrete element computer simulation method is an effective tool that enables the study of the interaction mechanism between the pulping components and the paddy soil during the paddy field pulping process. The findings are valuable in optimizing the parameters of the paddy beating device to improve its working quality and efficiency. However, the lack of accurate soil models for paddy soil has limited the application and development of the discrete element method in paddy pulping research. This study selected the Hertz-Mindlin with Johnson-Kendall-Roberts discrete element model for the pre-pulping paddy loam soil and used the slump error as the test index to select nine parameters, including soil Poisson’s ratio and surface energy, as test factors to calibrate the model parameters. The Plackett-Burman test identified soil shear modulus, surface energy, and soil-iron plate static friction coefficient as significant factors affecting the test index. The steepest ascent test results determined the test range of the above parameters. The Box-Behnken test obtained the regression model between the significant factors and the test index, and the regression model was optimized using the slump error as the target. The optimal combination of parameters was surface energy of 3.257 J/m2, soil shear modulus of 0.709 MPa, and static friction coefficient between soil and iron plate of 0.701. The slump simulation test using this combination of parameters yielded an average slump error of 2.04%. The collective results indicate the accuracy of the calibrated discrete element simulation parameters for paddy loam soil. These parameters can be used for discrete element simulation analysis of the paddy pulping process after paddy field soaking.
Equivalence of laboratory-developed test and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx across all combined positive score indications
Authors: Vainer Gilad , Huang Lingkang , Emancipator Kenneth , Nuti Shanthy
Published: June 2023

We conducted an analysis across multiple PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) indications to establish concordance of a 22C3 antibody–based laboratory-developed test (LDT) on the Ventana BenchMark XT or BenchMark ULTRA platform and the regulatory-approved PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx in cervical cancer (CC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and urothelial carcinoma (UC). Tumor specimens from each tumor type were stained with 22C3 antibody and scored using the 22C3 antibody–based LDT, and scores were compared with those using PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx. PD-L1 status was measured by the pathologist using CPS as a continuous score and using clinically relevant cutoffs (CC, ≥1 and ≥10; HNSCC, ≥1 and ≥20; ESCC, TNBC, and UC, ≥10). The agreement between the BenchMark platforms and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and a contingency table for clinical interpretation. A total of 522 samples were evaluated for the pan-tumor analysis (CC, n = 77; ESCC, n = 80; HNSCC, n = 126; TNBC, n = 118, UC, n = 121). Most clinical interpretations of PD-L1 status were concordant between the BenchMark XT and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx for all five tumor types with regard to negative percentage agreement (NPA; 83–97%), positive percentage agreement (PPA; 86–100%), and overall percentage agreement (OPA; 90–97%); the ICC by tumor type was high (≥0.88). Importantly, the pan-tumor ICC was 0.95 (95% CI 0.94–0.96). Thirty additional TNBC samples were evaluated using the BenchMark ULTRA and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx; the NPA, PPA, and OPA were 100%. The 22C3 antibody–based LDT on Ventana BenchMark XT and BenchMark ULTRA platforms demonstrated high concordance with the regulatory-approved PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx across multiple tumor types. These findings suggest the comparability of PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx with an LDT based on the 22C3 antibody.
Genome analysis of biosurfactant producing bacterium, Bacillus tequilensis
Authors: Nayarisseri Anuraj , Singh Sanjeev Kumar
Published: June 2023

Bioremediation is crucial for recuperating polluted water and soil. By expanding the surface area of substrates, biosurfactants play a vital role in bioremediation. Biosurfactant-producing microbes release certain biosurfactant compounds, which are promoted for oil spill remediation. In the present investigation, a biosurfactant-producing bacterium Bacillus tequilensis was isolated from Chilika Lake, Odisha, India (latitude and longitude: 19.8450 N 85.4788 E). Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) of Bacillus tequilensis was carried out using Illumina NextSeq 500. The size of the whole genome of Bacillus tequilensis was 4.47 MB consisting of 4,478,749 base pairs forming a circular chromosome with 528 scaffolds, 4492 protein-encoding genes (ORFs), 81 tRNA genes, and 114 ribosomal RNA transcription units. The total raw reads were 4209415, and the processed reads were 4058238 with 4492 genes. The whole genome obtained from the present investigation was used for genome annotation, variant calling, variant annotation, and comparative genome analysis with other existing Bacillus species. In this study, a pathway was constructed which describes the biosurfactant metabolism of Bacillus tequilensis. The study identified that genes such as SrfAD, SrfAC, SrfAA and SrfAB are involved in biosurfactant synthesis. The sequence of the genes SrfAD, SrfAC, SrfAA, SrfAB was deposited in GenBank database with accession MUG02427.1, MUG02428.1, MUG02429.1, MUG03515.1 respectively. The whole genome sequence was submitted to GenBank with an accession RMVO00000000 and the raw fastq reads were submitted to SRA, NCBI repository with an accession: SRX5023292.
Extraction and generalisation of category-level information during visual statistical learning in autistic people
Authors: Parsons Owen , Baron-Cohen Simon
Published: June 2023

Background

We examined whether information extracted during a visual statistical learning task could be generalised from specific exemplars to semantically similar ones. We then looked at whether performance in autistic people differed to non-autistic people during a visual statistical learning task and specifically examined whether differences in performance between groups occurred when sequential information was presented at a semantic level. We did this by assessing recall performance using a two-alternative forced choice paradigm after presenting participants with a sequence of naturalistic scene images.

Methods

125 adult participants (61 participants with an autism diagnosis and 64 non-autistic controls) were presented with a fast serial presentation sequence of images and given a cover task to avoid attention being explicitly drawn to patterns in the underlying sequences. This was followed by a two-alternative forced choice task to assess participants’ implicit recall. Participants were presented with 1 of 3 unique versions of the task, in which the presentation and assessment of statistical regularities was done at either a low feature-based level or a high semantic-based level.

Results

Participants were able to generalise statistical information from specific exemplars to semantically similar ones. There was an overall significant reduction in visual statistical learning in the autistic group but we were unable to determine whether group differences occurred specifically in conditions where the learning of semantic information was required.

Conclusions

These results provide evidence that participants are able to extract statistical information that is presented at the level of specific exemplars and generalise it to semantically similar contexts. We also showed a modest but statistically significant reduction in recall performance in the autistic participants relative to the non-autistic participants.
Antecedents of the responsible acquisition of computers behaviour: Integrating the theory of planned behaviour with the value-belief-norm theory and the habits variable
Authors: Loo W. H. , Yeow Paul H. P. , Yee Yen Yuen
Published: June 2023

The responsible behaviour of consumers that purchase green computers is a form of sustainable consumption, as green computers use less energy resulting in less CO2 emissions and the use of fewer toxic metals and materials during their production. The research question is how to encourage such behaviour. Although prior research has provided some answers by investigating the antecedents of the behaviour, it has done so through a piecemeal approach from the angles of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, and habits. The present research aims to investigate the antecedents of the responsible acquisition of computers behaviour (RACB) among Malaysian consumers by integrating the TPB and the VBN theory with the habits variable. Hypotheses and a research framework were developed based on these theories and a survey questionnaire was used to collect information on the green computer purchase behaviour of computer owners aged 17 and over in Malaysia. A total of 1,000 usable surveys were completed and structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data collected. The findings reveal that the TPB, the VBN theory, and the habits variable can be integrated to explain RACB, which is formed when biospheric values trigger subjective norms that subsequently result in the formation of habits that lead to intentions of acquiring green computers and RACB. The study’s findings show that although personal norms do not affect RACB, subjective norms affect ascriptions of responsibility, personal norms, and RACB. The findings provide insights to policymakers, NGOs, manufacturers, and marketers that can assist them in designing strategies for the effective promotion of RACB.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Nepal: A retrospective study
Authors: Das Seema , Maharjan Renusha , Bajracharya Rashmita , Shrestha Rabina , Karki Sulata , Das Rupesh , Odland Jon Øyvind , Odland Maria Lisa
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are the most common types of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy and these conditions are associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aims to determine the differences in pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Methods

A retrospective study was done at The Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, a tertiary level hospital, in the Kathmandu, Nepal. Pregnant women who had given birth at the hospital between September 17 and December 18 of 2017 were included. Data were obtained from the non-digitalized hospital records. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval were computed using logistic regression analysis. Multivariable analysis of pregnancy outcomes (cesarean sections, low birth weight, and preterm birth) was adjusted for maternal age, parity, twin birth, gestational age, calcium supplementation, and maternal co-morbidity.

Results

Preeclampsia was strongly associated with cesarean section compared to normal pregnancies (OR = 8.11, p<0.001). Whereas the odds of cesarean section among women with gestational hypertension was almost 2 times (OR = 1.89, p<0.001). Preterm birth was not significantly associated with gestational hypertension but was associated with preeclampsia (OR = 3.39, p<0.001). Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were not associated with low birth weight.

Conclusion

In Nepal, women who develop preeclampsia seem at higher risk of having adverse pregnancy outcomes than women with gestational hypertension. These findings should be considered by national health authorities and other health organizations when setting new priorities to improve pregnancy outcomes.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision & utilisation of primary health care services in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kambia district, Sierra Leone & Masaka district, Uganda
Authors: Kasonia K. , Tindanbil D. , Kitonsa J. , Baisley K. , Zalwango F. , Enria L. , Mansaray A. , James M. , Nije Y. , Tata D. Tetsa , Lawal B. J. , Drammeh A. , Lowe B. , Mukadi-Bamuleka D. , Mounier-Jack S. , Nakiyimba F. , Obady P. , Muhavi J. , Bangura J. S. , Greenwood B. , Samai M. , Leigh B. , Watson-Jones D. , Kavunga-Membo H. , Ruzagira E. , Gallagher K. E.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on essential primary healthcare services at public primary healthcare facilities.

Methods

The number of weekly consultations for antenatal care (ANC), outpatient (OPD), immunisations (EPI), family planning (FP) and HIV services, between January 2018 and December 2020, were collected from 25 facilities in Masaka district, Uganda, 21 in Goma, and 29 in Kambia district, Sierra Leone. Negative binomial regression models accounting for clustering and season were used to analyse changes in activity levels between 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Results

In Goma, we found no change in OPD, EPI or ANC consultations, FP was 17% lower in March-July 2020 compared to 2019, but this recovered by December 2020. New diagnoses of HIV were 34% lower throughout 2020 compared to 2019. In Sierra Leone, compared to the same periods in 2019, facilities had 18–29% fewer OPD consultations throughout 2020, and 27% fewer DTP3 doses in March-July 2020. There was no evidence of differences in other services. In Uganda there were 20–35% fewer under-5 OPD consultations, 21–66% fewer MCV1 doses, and 48–51% fewer new diagnoses of HIV throughout 2020, compared to 2019. There was no difference in the number of HPV doses delivered.

Conclusions

The level of disruption varied across the different settings and qualitatively appeared to correlate with the strength of lockdown measures and reported attitudes towards the risk posed by COVID-19. Mitigation strategies such as health communications campaigns and outreach services may be important to limit the impact of lockdowns on primary healthcare services.
Evaluating the effects of episodic and semantic memory induction procedures on divergent thinking in younger and older adults
Authors: Ahmed Halima , Pauly-Takacs Kata , Abraham Anna
Published: June 2023

Evidence suggesting that episodic specificity induction improves divergent thinking performance in younger and older adults has been taken as indicative of the role of declarative memory processes in creativity. A series of studies were carried out to verify the specificity of such findings by investigating the effects of several novel episodic and semantic memory induction procedures on a widely employed measure of divergent creative thinking (the Alternate Uses Task), in comparison to a control induction and a no-induction baseline in both younger and older adults. There was no clear evidence for a specific role played by the induction of episodic or semantic memory processes in facilitating creative thinking across the three experiments, and the effects of the induction procedures (episodic, semantic and control) on divergent thinking were not comparable across age groups. On the other hand, higher levels of creativity were generally associated with older adults (60–80 years). In Experiments 2 and 3, older adults generated a greater number of responses (fluency), more unique responses (average originality, peak originality, creativity ratings) and more varied responses (flexibility) than younger adults (18–30 years). The findings are discussed in relation to the specificity of declarative memory operations and their impact on creative thinking, especially within the context of healthy ageing.
PyKleeBarcode: Enabling representation of the whole animal kingdom in information space
Authors: Duchemin Wandrille , Thaler David S.
Published: June 2023

As biological sequence databases continue growing, so do the insight that they promise to shed on the shape of the genetic diversity of life. However, to fulfil this promise the software must remain usable, be able to accommodate a large amount of data and allow use of modern high performance computing infrastructure. In this study we present a reimplementation as well as an extension of a technique using indicator vectors to compute and visualize similarities between sets of nucleotide sequences. We have a flexible and easy to use python program relying on standard and open-source libraries. Our tool allows analysis of very large complement of sequences using code parallelization, as well as by providing routines to split a computational task in smaller and manageable subtasks whose results are then merged. This implementation also facilitates adding new sequences into an indicator vector-based representation without re-computing the whole set. The efficient synthesis of data into knowledge is no trivial matter given the size and rapid growth of biological sequence databases. Based on previous results regarding the properties of indicator vectors, the open-source approach proposed here efficiently and flexibly supports comparative analysis of genetic diversity at a large scale. Our software is freely available at: https://github.com/WandrilleD/pyKleeBarcode.
Theoretical analysis of currency reform and national governance challenges during the early Joseon Dynasty: A game theory approach
Authors: Hou Guanyu , Hu Ningning
Published: June 2023

During the early period of the Joseon Dynasty, the government undertook currency reform at both central and local levels to promote currency exchange and restructure market order. Drawing on historical sources and utilizing game theory methodologies, this study examines the challenges of state governance and the dynamics of central-local relations during this era. The findings suggest that the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty’s governance system arose from the rulers’ deliberate decisions; however, it was also driven by the necessity to reconcile the development of productive forces with the superstructure. The study highlights the impact of the “official” issue on communication efficiency between central and local authorities, which contributed to the currency reform’s failure. Consequently, the central government’s regulation and control over local regions, as well as its ability to govern the aspirations of grassroots populations, emerged as crucial factors for successful national governance. This research provides valuable insights into the academic value and significance of historical state governance practices and informs contemporary centrallocal relations and policy development.
Design and optimization of dual-motor electric tractor drive system based on driving cycles
Authors: Zhang Junjiang , Zhao Bin , Yan Xianghai , Liu Mengnan , Xu Liyou , Shang Chengyan
Published: June 2023

Aiming at the unreasonable determination of the power coupling device speed ratio and the power battery capacity in the initial design stage of the dual-motor electric tractor, a dual-motor drive system is designed, and a parameter optimization method based on driving cycles (POMBDC) is proposed. By analyzing the driving characteristics requirements and actual working conditions of the tractor, the dynamic model of the dual-motor drive system under different working modes is established, and the parameters of the dual-motor, transmission and maximum service mass are designed. On this basis, based on the driving cycles and aiming at the lowest power consumption, the POMBDC is formed, this method can collaboratively optimize the power coupling device speed ratio and the power battery capacity. In order to verify the rationality of the POMBDC, the instantaneous optimization-constant speed ratio design method (IO-CSRDM), rule-optimization speed ratio design method (R-OSRDM) and rule-constant speed ratio design method (R-CSRDM) are developed as comparison methods, and simulation experiments are carried out. Under plowing conditions, the power battery capacity of the POMBDC is 3.08%, 5.71%, and 8.73% lower than those of the IO-CSRDM, R-OSRDM, and R-CSRDM, respectively. The power consumption resulting from the POMBDC is reduced by 3.11%, 5.74%, and 8.8%, compared with those of the IO-CSRDM, R-OSRDM and R-CSRDM, respectively. Under rotary tillage conditions, the power battery capacity of the POMBDC is 6%, 8.64%, and 11.11% lower than those of the IO-CSRDM, R-OSRDM, and R-CSRDM, respectively. The power consumption resulting from the POMBDC is reduced by 6.05%, 8.66%, and 11.13%, compared with those of the IO-CSRDM, R-OSRDM and R-CSRDM, respectively. The POMBDC can effectively increase the operating mileage of pure electric tractors and reduce costs.