bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic and Thermodynamic Control of the Response of Winter Climate and Extreme Weather to Projected Arctic Sea‐Ice Loss
Authors: Ye Kunhui , Woollings Tim , Sparrow Sarah N.
Published: July 2024

A novel sub‐sampling method has been used to isolate the dynamic effects of the response of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Siberian High (SH) from the total response to projected Arctic sea‐ice loss under 2°C global warming above preindustrial levels in very large initial‐condition ensemble climate simulations. Thermodynamic effects of Arctic warming are more prominent in Europe while dynamic effects are more prominent in Asia/East Asia. This explains less‐severe cold extremes in Europe but more‐severe cold extremes in Asia/East Asia. For Northern Eurasia, dynamic effects overwhelm the effect of increased moisture from a warming Arctic, leading to an overall decrease in precipitation. We show that the response scales linearly with the dynamic response. However, caution is needed when interpreting inter‐model differences in the response because of internal variability, which can largely explain the inter‐model spread in the NAO and SH response in the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project.
Evaluation of an In‐Canopy Wind and Wind Adjustment Factor Model for Wildfire Spread Applications Across Scales
Authors: Hung Wei‐Ting , Campbell Patrick C. , Moon Zachary , Saylor Rick , Kochendorfer John , Lee Temple R. , Massman William
Published: July 2024

The representation of vegetative sub‐canopy wind is critical in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models for the determination of the air‐surface exchange processes of heat, momentum, and trace gases. Because of the relationship between wind speed and fire behaviors, the influence of the canopy on near‐surface wind speed is critical for prognostic fire spread models used in regional NWP models. In practice, the wind speed at the midflame point of fires (midflame wind speed) is used to determine the rate of fire spread. However, the wind speeds from most in situ measurements and NWP models are taken at some reference height above the canopy and fire flames. Hence, this study develops a modular and computationally‐efficient one‐dimensional model set composed of a canopy wind model and a wind adjustment factor (WAF) model for NWP applications across scales. The model set uses prescribed foliage shape functions to represent the vertical vegetation profile and its impacts on the three‐dimensional structure of horizontal wind speeds. Results from the canopy wind model well agree with ground‐based observations with average mean absolute bias, root mean square error and determination coefficients around 0.18 m s−1, 0.40 m s−1and 0.90, respectively. The WAF model provides midflame wind speeds by estimating the WAF based on canopy, fire and flame characteristics. Various user‐definable options provide flexibility to adapt to variations in canopy characteristics and additional complexities associated with wildfires. The model set is expected to improve NWP models by providing an improved representation of the sub‐grid wind flows at any spatial scale.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm and cardiometabolic traits share strong genetic susceptibility to lipid metabolism and inflammation
Authors: Zheng Shufen , Tsao Philip S. , Pan Cuiping
Published: July 2024

Abdominal aortic aneurysm has a high heritability and often co-occurs with other cardiometabolic disorders, suggesting shared genetic susceptibility. We investigate this commonality leveraging recent GWAS studies of abdominal aortic aneurysm and 32 cardiometabolic traits. We find significant genetic correlations between abdominal aortic aneurysm and 21 of the cardiometabolic traits investigated, including causal relationships with coronary artery disease, hypertension, lipid traits, and blood pressure. For each trait pair, we identify shared causal variants, genes, and pathways, revealing that cholesterol metabolism and inflammation are shared most prominently. Additionally, we show the tissue and cell type specificity in the shared signals, with strong enrichment across traits in the liver, arteries, adipose tissues, macrophages, adipocytes, and fibroblasts. Finally, we leverage drug-gene databases to identify several lipid-lowering drugs and antioxidants with high potential to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm with comorbidities. Our study provides insight into the shared genetic mechanism between abdominal aortic aneurysm and cardiometabolic traits, and identifies potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
Photothermal CO2 conversion to ethanol through photothermal heterojunction-nanosheet arrays
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Li Li , Chu Xingyuan , Liu Xiaohui , Chen Guangbo , Guo Quanquan , Zhang Zhen , Wang Mingchao , Wang Shuming , Tahn Alexander , Sun Yongfu , Feng Xinliang
Published: July 2024

Photothermal CO2 conversion to ethanol offers a sustainable solution for achieving net-zero carbon management. However, serious carrier recombination and high C-C coupling energy barrier cause poor performance in ethanol generation. Here, we report a Cu/Cu2Se-Cu2O heterojunction-nanosheet array, showcasing a good ethanol yield under visible–near-infrared light without external heating. The Z-scheme Cu2Se-Cu2O heterostructure provides spatially separated sites for CO2 reduction and water oxidation with boosted carrier transport efficiency. The microreactors induced by Cu2Se nanosheets improve the local concentration of intermediates (CH3* and CO*), thereby promoting C-C coupling process. Photothermal effect of Cu2Se nanosheets elevates system’s temperature to around 200 °C. Through synergizing electron and heat flows, we achieve an ethanol generation rate of 149.45 µmol g−1 h−1, with an electron selectivity of 48.75% and an apparent quantum yield of 0.286%. Our work can serve as inspiration for developing photothermal catalysts for CO2 conversion into multi-carbon chemicals using solar energy.
Pre-trained multimodal large language model enhances dermatological diagnosis using SkinGPT-4
Authors: Zhou Juexiao , He Xiaonan , Sun Liyuan , Xu Jiannan , Chen Xiuying , Chu Yuetan , Zhou Longxi , Liao Xingyu , Zhang Bin , Afvari Shawn , Gao Xin
Published: July 2024

Large language models (LLMs) are seen to have tremendous potential in advancing medical diagnosis recently, particularly in dermatological diagnosis, which is a very important task as skin and subcutaneous diseases rank high among the leading contributors to the global burden of nonfatal diseases. Here we present SkinGPT-4, which is an interactive dermatology diagnostic system based on multimodal large language models. We have aligned a pre-trained vision transformer with an LLM named Llama-2-13b-chat by collecting an extensive collection of skin disease images (comprising 52,929 publicly available and proprietary images) along with clinical concepts and doctors’ notes, and designing a two-step training strategy. We have quantitatively evaluated SkinGPT-4 on 150 real-life cases with board-certified dermatologists. With SkinGPT-4, users could upload their own skin photos for diagnosis, and the system could autonomously evaluate the images, identify the characteristics and categories of the skin conditions, perform in-depth analysis, and provide interactive treatment recommendations.
Equity in action: The Diagnostic Working Group of The Undiagnosed Diseases Network International
Authors: Palmer Elizabeth Emma , Cederroth Helene , Cederroth Mikk , Delgado-Vega Angelica Maria , Roberts Natalie , Taylan Fulya , Nordgren Ann , Botto Lorenzo D.
Published: July 2024

Rare diseases are recognized as a global public health priority. A timely and accurate diagnosis is a critical enabler for precise and personalized health care. However, barriers to rare disease diagnoses are especially steep for those from historically underserved communities, including low- and middle-income countries. The Undiagnosed Diseases Network International (UDNI) was launched in 2015 to help fill the knowledge gaps that impede diagnosis for rare diseases, and to foster the translation of research into medical practice, aided by active patient involvement. To better pursue these goals, in 2021 the UDNI established the Diagnostic Working Group of the UDNI (UDNI DWG) as a community of practice that would (a) accelerate diagnoses for more families; (b) support and share knowledge and skills by developing Undiagnosed Diseases Programs, particularly those in lower resource areas; and (c) promote discovery and expand global medical knowledge. This Perspectives article documents the initial establishment and iterative co-design of the UDNI DWG.
Transcriptome analysis reveals genes associated with late blight resistance in potato
Authors: Bhatia Nisha , Tiwari Jagesh Kumar , Kumari Chandresh , Zinta Rasna , Sharma Sanjeev , Buckseth Tanuja , Thakur Ajay K. , Singh Rajesh K. , Kumar Vinod
Published: July 2024

Late blight is a serious disease of potato worldwide. Our study aimed to unveil genes involved in late blight resistance in potato by RNA-seq analysis after artificial inoculation under controlled conditions. In this study, two potato somatic hybrids (P7 and Crd6) and three varieties such as Kufri Girdhari, Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Bahar (control) were used. Transcriptiome analysis revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were analysed into up-regulated and down-regulated genes. Further, DEGs were functionally characterized by the Gene Ontology annotations and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Overall, some of the up-regulated genes in resistant genotypes were disease resistance proteins such as CC-NBS-LRR resistance protein, ankyrin repeat family protein, cytochrome P450, leucine-rich repeat family protein/protein kinase family, and MYB transcription factor. Sequence diversity analysis based on 38 peptide sequences representing 18 genes showed distinct variation and the presence of three motifs in 15 amino acid sequences. Selected genes were also validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Interestingly, gene expression markers were developed for late blight resistant genotypes. Our study elucidates genes involved in imparting late blight resistance in potato, which will be beneficial for its management strategies in the future.
Development and validation of risk prediction model for post-donation renal function in living kidney donors
Authors: Lim Seong Jun , Kwon Jieun , Ko Youngmin , Kwon Hye Eun , Lee Jae Jun , Kim Jin-Myung , Jung Joo Hee , Kwon Hyunwook , Kim Young Hoon , Park Jae Berm , Lee Kyo Won , Shin Sung
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to create and validate a predictive model for renal function following live kidney donation, using pre-donation factors. Accurately predicting remaining renal function post live kidney donation is currently insufficient, necessitating an effective assessment tool. A multicenter retrospective study of 2318 live kidney donors from two independent centers (May 2007–December 2019) was conducted. The primary endpoint was the reduction in eGFR to below 60 mL/min/m2 6 months post-donation. The primary endpoint was achieved in 14.4% of the training cohort and 25.8% of the validation cohort. Sex, age, BMI, hypertension, preoperative eGFR, and remnant kidney proportion (RKP) measured by computerized tomography (CT) volumetry were found significant in the univariable analysis. These variables informed a scoring system based on multivariable analysis: sex (male: 1, female: 0), age at operation (< 30: 0, 30–39: 1, 40–59: 2, ≥ 60: 3), preoperative eGFR (≥ 100: 0, 90–99: 2, 80–89: 4, < 80: 5), and RKP (≥ 52%: 0, < 52%: 1). The total score ranged from 0 to 10. The model showed good discrimination for the primary endpoint in both cohorts. The prediction model provides a useful tool for estimating post-donation renal dysfunction risk, factoring in the side of the donated kidney. It offers potential enhancement to pre-donation evaluations.
Biocontrol potential of endophytic fungi against phytopathogenic nematodes on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Ghareeb Rehab Y. , Jaremko Mariusz , Abdelsalam Nader R. , Abdelhamid Mohamed M. A. , EL-Argawy Eman , Ghozlan Mahmoud H.
Published: July 2024

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a vital pest that causes significant yield losses and economic damage to potato plants. The use of chemical pesticides to control these nematodes has led to environmental concerns and the development of resistance in the nematode populations. Endophytic fungi offer an eco-friendly alternative to control these pests and produce secondary metabolites that have nematicidal activity against RKNs. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of Aspergillus flavus (ON146363), an entophyte fungus isolated from Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, against Meloidogyne incognita in filtered culture broth using GC–MS analysis. Among them, various nematicidal secondary metabolites were produced: Gadoleic acid, Oleic acid di-ethanolamide, Oleic acid, and Palmitic acid. In addition, biochemical compounds such as Gallic acid, Catechin, Protocatechuic acid, Esculatin, Vanillic acid, Pyrocatechol, Coumarine, Cinnamic acid, 4, 3-indol butyl acetic acid and Naphthyl acetic acid by HPLC. The fungus was identified through morphological and molecular analysis, including ITS 1–4 regions of ribosomal DNA. In vitro experiments showed that culture filtrate of A. flavus had a variable effect on reducing the number of egg hatchings and larval mortality, with higher concentrations showing greater efficacy than Abamectin. The fungus inhibited the development and multiplication of M. incognita in potato plants, reducing the number of galls and eggs by 90% and 89%, respectively. A. flavus increased the activity of defense-related enzymes Chitinas, Catalyse, and Peroxidase after 15, 45, and 60 days. Leaching of the concentrated culture significantly reduced the second juveniles’ stage to 97% /250 g soil and decreased the penetration of nematodes into the roots. A. flavus cultural filtrates via soil spraying improved seedling growth and reduced nematode propagation, resulting in systemic resistance to nematode infection. Therefore, A. flavus can be an effective biological control agent for root-knot nematodes in potato plants. This approach provides a sustainable solution for farmers and minimizes the environmental impact.
On leveraging self-supervised learning for accurate HCV genotyping
Authors: Fahmy Ahmed M. , Hammad Muhammed S. , Mabrouk Mai S. , Al-atabany Walid I.
Published: July 2024

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. While existing literature predominantly focuses on disease classification using clinical data, there exists a critical research gap concerning HCV genotyping based on genomic sequences. Accurate HCV genotyping is essential for patient management and treatment decisions. While the neural models excel at capturing complex patterns, they still face challenges, such as data scarcity, that exist a lot in computational genomics. To overcome this challenges, this paper introduces an advanced deep learning approach for HCV genotyping based on the graphical representation of nucleotide sequences that outperforms classical approaches. Notably, it is effective for both partial and complete HCV genomes and addresses challenges associated with imbalanced datasets. In this work, ten HCV genotypes: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, and 6 were used in the analysis. This study utilizes Chaos Game Representation for 2D mapping of genomic sequences, employing self-supervised learning using convolutional autoencoder for deep feature extraction, resulting in an outstanding performance for HCV genotyping compared to various machine learning and deep learning models. This baseline provides a benchmark against which the performance of the proposed approach and other models can be evaluated. The experimental results showcase a remarkable classification accuracy of over 99%, outperforming traditional deep learning models. This performance demonstrates the capability of the proposed model to accurately identify HCV genotypes in both partial and complete sequences and in dealing with data scarcity for certain genotypes. The results of the proposed model are compared to NCBI genotyping tool.
A retrospective analysis of the clinical profile and factors associated with mortality and poor hospital outcomes in adult Guillain–Barre syndrome patients
Authors: Tewedaj Zinabu Derso , Huluka Dawit Kebede , Kebede Yabets Tesfaye , Abebe Abel Tezera , Hussen Meksud Shemsu , Mohammed Bekri Delil , Juhar Leja Hamza
Published: July 2024

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute autoimmune polyneuropathy with substantial geographic variations in demography, antecedent events, clinical manifestations, electrophysiological sub-types, diagnostic findings, treatment modalities, and prognostic indicators. However, there is limited contemporary data on GBS patient profiles and prognostic factors from low-resource settings like Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical profile, factors associated with mortality, and hospital outcomes among GBS patients admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 GBS patients admitted to TASH from January 2018 to December 2022. Data on demographics, clinical features, treatments, complications, and outcomes were extracted from medical records. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with mortality and poor hospital outcomes. The cohort had a mean age of 28.5 years, with 76.7% aged 14–34 years. Males comprised 61.7% of cases. Ascending paralysis (76.7%) was the predominant presentation. Absent or reduced reflexes were seen in 91.7% of patients. The most common antecedent event was gastroenteritis (26.7%), followed by upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) (15%) and vaccination (11.7%). The mean interval from symptom onset to hospital presentation was 8.77 days, and the peak symptom severity was 4.47 days. The axonal variant (75.5%) was the most common subtype, followed by the demyelinating variant (24.5%). Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered to 41.7% of patients. Respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilator (MV) support occurred in 26.7% of cases. The mortality rate was 10%, with mechanical ventilation being the only factor significantly associated with mortality (95% CI 2.067–184.858; P < 0.010). At discharge, 55% had a good outcome, and 45% had a poor outcome, according to the Hughes Functional Disability Scale (HFDS). Mechanical ventilation (AOR 0.024, 95% CI 0.001–0.607) and a GBS disability score > 3 (AOR 0.106, 95% CI 0.024–0.467) were factors significantly associated with poor hospital outcomes. GBS in this cohort primarily affected individuals of young age, commonly preceded by gastroenteritis and characterized by a high frequency of the axonal variant. Mechanical ventilation was found to be significantly linked to mortality. Alongside mechanical ventilation requirements, severe disability upon presentation emerged as a crucial determinant of poor outcomes upon discharge, underscoring the importance of early identification of high-risk patients and prompt interventions.
Enhancing hydrodynamic forces through miniaturized control of square cylinders using the lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Refaie Ali Ahmed , Abbasi Waqas Sarwar , Younus Rabia , Rahman Hamid , Nadeem Sumaira , Majeed Afraz Hussain , Ahmad Irshad
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the influence of small control cylinders on the fluid dynamics around a square cylinder using the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Varying the gaps (L) between the main and control cylinders from 0 to 6, four distinct flow regimes are identified: the solo body regime (SBR), shear layer reattachment (SLR), suppressed fully developed flow (SFDF), and intermittent shedding (IS). The presence of control cylinders results in significant reductions in flow-induced forces, with drag coefficient (CD) and root mean square values of drag and lift coefficients (CDrms and CLrms) decreasing by approximately 31%, 90%, and 81%, respectively. The SFDF flow regime exhibits the lowest fluid forces compared to other regimes. The effects of tiny control cylinders on the fluid flow characteristics of a square cylinder are examined using the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) in this research work. The gaps (L) between the main and control cylinders are varied in the range from 0 to 6. The size of each control cylinder is equal to one-fifth of the primary cylinder. According to the findings, there are four distinct flow regimes as the gap spacing varies: solo body regime (SBR), shear layer reattachment (SLR), suppressed fully developed flow (SFDF), and intermittent shedding (IS) for gap spacing ranges 0 ≤ L ≤ 0.2, 0.3 ≤ L ≤ 0.9, 1 ≤ L ≤ 3, and 3.2 ≤ L ≤ 6, respectively. Additionally, it has been noted that the amplitude of variable lift force is reduced when the gap separation between the main and control cylinders is increased. When compared to solo cylinder values, it is found that the presence of small control cylinders in the flow field results in a considerable reduction of flow-induced forces. The SFDF flow regime was determined to have the lowest fluid forces compared to the other flow regimes studied. Our findings highlight the efficacy of small control cylinders in mitigating flow-induced forces and controlling flow characteristics. The LBM proves to be a valuable computational technique for such fluid flow problems.
Quantifying local and global mass balance errors in physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Mamud M. L. , Mudunuru M. K. , Karra S. , Ahmmed B.
Published: July 2024

Physics-informed neural networks (PINN) have recently become attractive for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) that describe physics laws. By including PDE-based loss functions, physics laws such as mass balance are enforced softly in PINN. This paper investigates how mass balance constraints are satisfied when PINN is used to solve the resulting PDEs. We investigate PINN’s ability to solve the 1D saturated groundwater flow equations (diffusion equations) for homogeneous and heterogeneous media and evaluate the local and global mass balance errors. We compare the obtained PINN’s solution and associated mass balance errors against a two-point finite volume numerical method and the corresponding analytical solution. We also evaluate the accuracy of PINN in solving the 1D saturated groundwater flow equation with and without incorporating hydraulic heads as training data. We demonstrate that PINN’s local and global mass balance errors are significant compared to the finite volume approach. Tuning the PINN’s hyperparameters, such as the number of collocation points, training data, hidden layers, nodes, epochs, and learning rate, did not improve the solution accuracy or the mass balance errors compared to the finite volume solution. Mass balance errors could considerably challenge the utility of PINN in applications where ensuring compliance with physical and mathematical properties is crucial.
Clonal growth characteristics and diversity patterns of different Clintonia udensis (Liliaceae) diploid and tetraploid cytotypes in the Hualongshan Mountains
Authors: Han Mian , Qie Qiyang , Liu Meilan , Meng Huiqin , Wu Tiantian , Yang Yadi , Niu Lingling , Sun Genlou , Wang Yiling
Published: July 2024

Polyploidization plays an important role in plant evolution and biodiversity. However, intraspecific polyploidy compared to interspecific polyploidy received less attention. Clintonia udensis (Liliaceae) possess diploid (2n = 2x = 14) and autotetraploid (2n = 4x = 28) cytotypes. In the Hualongshan Mountains, the autotetraploids grew on the northern slope, while the diploids grew on the southern slopes. The clonal growth characteristics and clonal architecture were measured and analyzed by field observations and morphological methods. The diversity level and differentiation patterns for two different cytotypes were investigated using SSR markers. The results showed that the clonal growth parameters, such as the bud numbers of each rhizome node and the ratio of rhizome branches in the autotetraploids were higher than those in the diploids. Both the diploids and autotetraploids appeared phalanx clonal architectures with short internodes between ramets. However, the ramets or genets of the diploids had a relatively scattered distribution, while those of the autotetraploids were relatively clumping. The diploids and autotetraploids all allocated more biomass to their vegetative growth. The diploids had a higher allocation to reproductive organs than that of autotetraploids, which indicated that the tetraploids invested more resources in clonal reproduction than diploids. The clone diversity and genetic diversity of the autotetraploids were higher than that of the diploids. Significant genetic differentiation between two different cytotypes was observed (P < 0.01). During establishment and evolution, C. udensis autotetraploids employed more clumping phalanx clonal architecture and exhibited more genetic variation than the diploids.
Frequency-hopping along with resolution-turning for fast and enhanced reconstruction in ultrasound tomography
Authors: Quang-Huy Tran , Sharma Bhisham , Theu Luong Thi , Tran Duc-Tan , Chowdhury Subrata , Karthik Chandran , Gurusamy Saravanakumar
Published: July 2024

The distorted Born iterative (DBI) method is considered to obtain images with high-contrast and resolution. Besides satisfying the Born approximation condition, the frequency-hopping (FH) technique is necessary to gradually update the sound contrast from the first iteration and progress to the actual sound contrast of the imaged object in subsequent iterations. Inspired by the fact that the higher the frequency, the higher the resolution. Because low-frequency allows for low-resolution object imaging, hence for high-resolution imaging requirements, using low-frequency to possess a high-resolution image from the first iteration will be less efficient. For an effective reconstruction, the object’s resolution at low frequencies should be small. And similarly, with high frequencies, the object resolution should be larger. Therefore, in this paper, the FH, and the resolution-turning (RT) technique are proposed to obtain object images with high-contrast and -resolution. The convergence speed in the initial iterations is rapidly achieved by utilizing low frequency in the frequency-turning technique and low image resolution in the resolution-turning technique. It is crucial to ensure accurate object reconstruction for subsequent iterations. The desired spatial resolution is attained by employing high frequency and large image resolution. The resolution-turning distorted Born iterative (RT-DBI) and frequency-hopping distorted Born iterative (FH-DBI) solutions are thoroughly investigated to exploit their best performance. This makes sense because if it is not good to choose the number of iterations for the frequencyf1in FH-DBI and for the resolution ofN1 × N1in RT-DBI, then these solutions give even worse quality than traditional DBI. After that, the RT-FH-DBI integration was investigated in two sub-solutions. We found that the lower frequencyf1used both before and after the RT would get the best performance. Consequently, compared to the traditional DBI approaches, the normalized error and total runtime for the reconstruction process were dramatically decreased, at 83.6% and 18.6%, respectively. Besides fast and quality imaging, the proposed solution RT-FH-DBI is promised to produce high-contrast and high-resolution object images, aiming at object reconstruction at the biological tissue. The development of 3D imaging and experimental verification will be studied further.
Air quality in a revitalized special economic zone at the center of an urban monocentric agglomeration
Authors: Cichowicz Robert , Dobrzański Maciej
Published: July 2024

In this study, we have examined the air quality within a revitalized, post-industrial urban area in Łódź, Poland. The use of Dron technology with mobile measurement equipment allowed for accurate assessment of air quality (particulate matter and gaseous pollutants) and factors influencing air quality (wind speed and direction) on a local scale in an area of 0.18 km2 and altitudes from 2 to 50 m. The results show that the revitalization carried out in the Lodz special economic zone area contributed to eliminate internal air pollution emitters through the use of ecological and effective heat sources. The exceedances permissible concentration values were local, and concerned mainly the higher measurement zones of the troposphere (more than 30 m above ground level). In the case of gaseous pollutants, higher wind speeds were associated with a decrease in the concentration of SO2 and an increase in H2S concentration. In both cases, the wind contributed to the occurrence of local areas of accumulation of these gaseous pollutants in the spaces between buildings or wooded areas.
First detection of PCV4 in swine in the United States: codetection with PCV2 and PCV3 and direct detection within tissues
Authors: Kroeger Molly , Vargas-Bermudez Diana S. , Jaime Jairo , Parada Julian , Groeltz Jennifer , Gauger Philip , Piñeyro Pablo
Published: July 2024

Since PCV4 was first described in 2019, the virus has been identified in several countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. Most studies have been limited to detecting PCV4 by PCR. Thus, PCV4 has an unclear association with clinical disease. This study utilized 512 porcine clinical lung, feces, spleen, serum, lymphoid tissue, and fetus samples submitted to the ISU-VDL from June–September 2023. PCV4 was detected in 8.6% of samples with an average Ct value of 33. While detection rates among sample types were variable, lymphoid tissue had the highest detection rate (18.7%). Two ORF2 sequences were obtained from lymphoid tissue samples and had 96.36–98.98% nucleotide identity with reference sequences. Direct detection of PCV4 by RNAscope revealed viral replication in B lymphocytes and macrophages in lymph node germinal centers and histiocytic and T lymphocyte infiltration in the lamina propria of the small intestine. PCV4 detection was most commonly observed in nursery to finishing aged pigs displaying respiratory and enteric disease. Coinfection with PCV2, PCV3, and other endemic pathogens was frequently observed, highlighting the complex interplay between different PCVs and their potential roles in disease pathogenesis. This study provides insights into the frequency of detection, tissue distribution, and genetic characteristics of PCV4 in the US.
Effects of edge disorder on the stability of quantum oscillations in two-dimensional coupled systems
Authors: Lu Yan-Yan , Mu Zhao-Nan , Huang Yu , Guo Gui-Rong , Li Han-Hui , Xiong Shao-Jie , Zhong Jian-Xin
Published: July 2024

This paper utilizes the theory of quantum diffusion to analyze the electron probability and spreading width of a wavepacket on each layer in a two-dimensional (2D) coupled system with edge disorder, aiming to clarify the effects of edge disorder on the stability of the electron periodic oscillations in 2D coupled systems. Using coupled 2D square lattices with edge disorder as an example, we show that, the electron probability and wavepacket spreading width exhibit periodic oscillations and damped oscillations, respectively, before and after the wavepacket reaches the boundary. Furthermore, these electron oscillations exhibit strong resistance against disorder perturbation with a longer decay time in the regime of large disorder, due to the combined influences of ordered and disordered site energies in the central and edge regions. Finally, we numerically verified the universality of the results through bilayer graphene, demonstrating that this anomalous quantum oscillatory behavior is independent of lattice geometry. Our findings are helpful in designing relevant quantum devices and understanding the influence of edge disorder on the stability of electron periodic oscillations in 2D coupled systems.
Scene semantics affects allocentric spatial coding for action in naturalistic (virtual) environments
Authors: Baltaretu Bianca R. , Schuetz Immo , Võ Melissa L.-H. , Fiehler Katja
Published: July 2024

Interacting with objects in our environment requires determining their locations, often with respect to surrounding objects (i.e., allocentrically). According to the scene grammar framework, these usually small, local objects are movable within a scene and represent the lowest level of a scene’s hierarchy. How do higher hierarchical levels of scene grammar influence allocentric coding for memory-guided actions? Here, we focused on the effect of large, immovable objects (anchors) on the encoding of local object positions. In a virtual reality study, participants (n = 30) viewed one of four possible scenes (two kitchens or two bathrooms), with two anchors connected by a shelf, onto which were presented three local objects (congruent with one anchor) (Encoding). The scene was re-presented (Test) with 1) local objects missing and 2) one of the anchors shifted (Shift) or not (No shift). Participants, then, saw a floating local object (target), which they grabbed and placed back on the shelf in its remembered position (Response). Eye-tracking data revealed that both local objects and anchors were fixated, with preference for local objects. Additionally, anchors guided allocentric coding of local objects, despite being task-irrelevant. Overall, anchors implicitly influence spatial coding of local object locations for memory-guided actions within naturalistic (virtual) environments.
A new 915 MHz coaxial-line-based microwave plasma source
Authors: Miotk Robert , Mizeraczyk Jerzy , Jasiński Mariusz
Published: July 2024

Microwave plasma is known for its versatility in providing tailored operating conditions (pressure, working gas composition and residence time of reagents) for specific applications. Microwave plasma sources (MPSs) are vital in modern applications, demanding continuous improvement. This work introduces a coaxial-line-based nozzleless MPS that operates at atmospheric pressure at an unique frequency of 915 MHz. The measured electrodynamic characteristics in nitrogen of the MPS highlighted the need for improved energy efficiency of the device. The main novelty of this work lies in improving an energy efficiency of the presented MPS, which led to an advanced new version of the device. To achieve this, a dual strategy is employed. Firstly, numerical simulations are used to design a construction modifications to the MPS, which should increase the efficiency of transferring microwave energy from the microwave source to the generated plasma. In this step, a standard model for homogeneous plasma and a two-port equivalent method were used. Then, the theoretical results were experimentally validated by manufacturing a new energy improved version of the MPS. In the new MPS the achieved reflected microwave power (losses) was less than 3% of incident microwave power in the tested range of nitrogen flow rate (50–100 Nl/min). Compared to the MPS before improvement, this means a two-fold decreasing the reflected microwave power. To test the new MPS, the electrodynamic characteristics of the new device version and properties of the microwave plasma generated in nitrogen, using optical emission spectroscopy (OES), were investigated. The OES was used to determine the vibrational Tvib and rotational Trot temperatures of nitrogen molecules and molecular ions. In this work, the estimated Tvib and Trot temperatures for nitrogen molecules ranged from 4000 to 5300 K, depending on discharge conditions, while for nitrogen molecular ions, the temperatures changed between 4700 and 6100 K, respectively. Both the Tvib and Trot temperatures decrease linearly along the plasma flame.
Clinical and microbiological characteristics of persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, risk factors for mortality, and the role of CD4+ T cells
Authors: Yang Eunmi , Cho Yeong Geon , Kim Eunsil , Chang Euijin , Bae Seongman , Jung Jiwon , Kim Min Jae , Chong Yong Pil , Kim Sung-Han , Choi Sang-Ho , Lee Sang-Oh , Chung Yun Shin , Kim Yang Soo
Published: July 2024

This study evaluated the determinants of mortality and the T cell immune response in patients with persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). This was a prospective cohort study and patients with confirmed SAB were enrolled from 2008 to 2020. We compared clinical, microbiological, and genotypic features between surviving and deceased patients with persistent SAB. The concentrations of cytokines and the proportions of IFN-γ secreting CD4+ T cells were measured serially during the bacteremia period. Of the 1760 patients, 242 had persistent bacteremia (PB), and 49 PB patients died within 30 days. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and female sex were independently associated with 30 days mortality. The level of IL-10 was significantly increased in the plasma of patients with a high Pitt bacteremia score and those who died within 12 weeks from the index day. The proportion of IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T cells were the highest just before the positive-to-negative conversion of blood cultures in patients with a low Pitt bacteremia score and those who survived for 12 weeks. The level of IL-10 is correlated with clinical outcomes in PB patients. IFN-γ secreting CD4+ T cells might play a pivotal role in SAB PB.
Time-course study of genetic changes in periodontal ligament regeneration after tooth replantation in a mouse model
Authors: Ohshima Jun , Abe Shotaro , Morita Masayoshi , Tanaka Nobutake , Yamaguchi Masaya , Hayashi Mikako
Published: July 2024

This research focused on analyzing gene expression changes in the periodontal ligament (PDL) after tooth re-plantation to identify key genes and pathways involved in healing and regeneration. Utilizing a mouse model, mRNA was extracted from the PDL at various intervals post-replantation for RNA sequencing analysis, spanning from 3 to 56 days. The results revealed significant shifts in gene expression, particularly notable on day 28, supported by hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis highlighted an upregulation in olfactory receptor and G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathways at this time point. These findings were validated through reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), with immunochemical staining localizing olfactory receptor gene expression to the PDL and surrounding tissues. Moreover, a scratch assay indicated that olfactory receptor genes might facilitate wound healing in human PDL fibroblasts. These results underscore the importance of the 28-day post-transplant phase as a potential “tipping point” in PDL healing and regeneration. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the potential role of olfactory receptor genes in PDL regeneration, providing a foundation for developing new therapeutic approaches in tooth replantation and transplantation, with broader implications for regenerative medicine in oral health.
Unlocking the potential of biofilm-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for growth and yield enhancement in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Rafique Munazza , Naveed Muhammad , Mumtaz Muhammad Zahid , Niaz Abid , Alamri Saud , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Waheed Muhammad Qandeel , Ali Zulfiqar , Naman Abdul , Rehman Sajid ur , Brtnicky Martin , Mustafa Adnan
Published: July 2024

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) boost crop yields and reduce environmental pressures through biofilm formation in natural climates. Recently, biofilm-based root colonization by these microorganisms has emerged as a promising strategy for agricultural enhancement. The current work aims to characterize biofilm-forming rhizobacteria for wheat growth and yield enhancement. For this, native rhizobacteria were isolated from the wheat rhizosphere and ten isolates were characterized for plant growth promoting traits and biofilm production under axenic conditions. Among these ten isolates, five were identified as potential biofilm-producing PGPR based on in vitro assays for plant growth-promoting traits. These were further evaluated under controlled and field conditions for their impact on wheat growth and yield attributes. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis further indicated that the biochemical composition of the biofilm produced by the selected bacterial strains includes proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA). Inoculated plants in growth chamber resulted in larger roots, shoots, and increase in fresh biomass than controls. Similarly, significant increases in plant height (13.3, 16.7%), grain yield (29.6, 17.5%), number of tillers (18.7, 34.8%), nitrogen content (58.8, 48.1%), and phosphorus content (63.0, 51.0%) in grains were observed in both pot and field trials, respectively. The two most promising biofilm-producing isolates were identified through 16 s rRNA partial gene sequencing as Brucella sp. (BF10), Lysinibacillus macroides (BF15). Moreover, leaf pigmentation and relative water contents were significantly increased in all treated plants. Taken together, our results revealed that biofilm forming PGPR can boost crop productivity by enhancing growth and physiological responses and thus aid in sustainable agriculture.
Change of El Niño onset location around 1970
Authors: Pan Xiao , Li Tim , Yu Jinhua
Published: July 2024

A shift of El Niño onset location from eastern Pacific (EP) to western Pacific (WP) occurred around 1970. It was accompanied by a faster mean sea surface temperature (SST) warming in WP and a change of precursory SST and wind anomaly patterns. The eigenvalue analysis of a simple coupled model shows that an SST anomaly (SSTA) in WP may grow under the post-1970 mean condition but cannot under the pre-1970 mean condition. As a result, a warm SSTA appeared in WP accompanying to a preceding La Niña condition in EP after 1970, whereas such a warming was rarely seen before 1970. The preceding SSTA patterns led to distinctive zonal wind responses in EP, favoring El Niño onset in EP prior to 1970. For the post-1970 El Niño onset, an initial warming in WP was induced by anomalous downward solar radiation in association with atmospheric meridional overturning circulation or anomalous horizontal advection associated with thermocline induced eastward geostrophic currents.
Observed changes in the climate and snow dynamics of the Third Pole
Authors: Kuttippurath Jayanarayanan , Patel Vikas Kumar , Sharma Babu Ram
Published: July 2024

The Third Pole (TP) is the world’s largest highland and has one of the biggest reservoirs of glacier ice mass and snow cover on the Earth. Three major Asian rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra) are nourished by the melting of glaciers and snow in Central Himalaya, which are inevitable for the socioeconomic sustainability and water security of South Asia. Here, we investigate the long-term (1980–2020) changes in snow depth and precipitation in TP, where major precipitation occurs in the form of rainfall in summer, and snowfall in winter and spring. The seasonal mean snow depth is deep (≥1 m) in winter and shallow (≤0.2 m) in summer. The average snowmelt and snow water equivalent are higher in the central and western Himalaya and Karakoram ranges in spring, which are the regions with most glaciers in TP. There is a significant positive trend in total precipitation, about 0.01–0.03 mm d−1 yr−1 in the central and eastern TP during the South Asian Summer Monsoon for the 1980–2020 period. Snowmelt is also increasing (>0.5 × 10−3 mm yr−1) in the western Himalaya during spring, which is consistent with the temperature rise (0.04–0.06 °C yr−1) there. In addition, there is a notable increase in the annual mean glacier melt (here, the water equivalent thickness) in TP (−1 to −5 cm w.e. yr−1), with its highest values in the eastern and central Himalaya (−3 to −5 cm w.e. yr−1), as estimated for the period 2003–2020. On top of these, by the end of the 21st century, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) projections show that there would be a significant decrease in snow depth and an increase in temperature of TP in all shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Henceforth, the increasing trend in temperature and melting of snow/glaciers in TP would be a serious threat to the regional climate, water security and livelihood of the people of South Asia.
A systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis of eHealth and mHealth interventions for improving lifestyle behaviours
Authors: Singh Ben , Ahmed Mavra , Staiano Amanda E. , Gough Claire , Petersen Jasmine , Vandelanotte Corneel , Kracht Chelsea , Huong Christopher , Yin Zenong , Vasiloglou Maria F. , Pan Chen-Chia , Short Camille E. , Mclaughlin Matthew , von Klinggraeff Lauren , Pfledderer Christopher D. , Moran Lisa J. , Button Alyssa M. , Maher Carol A.
Published: July 2024

The aim of this meta-meta-analysis was to systematically review randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence examining the effectiveness of e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, healthy eating and sleep. Nine electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 June 2023. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of RCTs that evaluate e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep and healthy eating in any adult population were included. Forty-seven meta-analyses were included, comprising of 507 RCTs and 206,873 participants. Interventions involved mobile apps, web-based and SMS interventions, with 14 focused on physical activity, 3 for diet, 4 for sleep and 26 evaluating multiple behaviours. Meta-meta-analyses showed that e- and m-Health interventions resulted in improvements in steps/day (mean difference, MD = 1329 [95% CI = 593.9, 2065.7] steps/day), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MD = 55.1 [95% CI = 13.8, 96.4] min/week), total physical activity (MD = 44.8 [95% CI = 21.6, 67.9] min/week), sedentary behaviour (MD = −426.3 [95% CI = −850.2, −2.3] min/week), fruit and vegetable consumption (MD = 0.57 [95% CI = 0.11, 1.02] servings/day), energy intake (MD = −102.9 kcals/day), saturated fat consumption (MD = −5.5 grams/day), and bodyweight (MD = −1.89 [95% CI = −2.42, −1.36] kg). Analyses based on standardised mean differences (SMD) showed improvements in sleep quality (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.72) and insomnia severity (SMD = −0.90, 95% CI = −1.14, −0.65). Most subgroup analyses were not significant, suggesting that a variety of e- and m-Health interventions are effective across diverse age and health populations. These interventions offer scalable and accessible approaches to help individuals adopt and sustain healthier behaviours, with implications for broader public health and healthcare challenges.
Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1 is dispensable in macrophage differentiation and anti-pathogen response
Authors: Zhang Lishan , Wu Zhengyi , Qiu Xuanhui , Zhang Jia , Cheng Shih-Chin
Published: July 2024

Macrophages play a pivotal role in orchestrating the immune response against pathogens. While the intricate interplay between macrophage activation and metabolism remains a subject of intense investigation, the role of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1 (Got1) in this context has not been extensively assessed. Here, we investigate the impact of Got1 on macrophage polarization and function, shedding light on its role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, pathogen defense, and immune paralysis. Using genetically modified mouse models, including both myeloid specific knockout and overexpression, we comprehensively demonstrate that Got1 depletion leads to reduced ROS production in macrophages. Intriguingly, this impairment in ROS generation does not affect the resistance of Got1 KO mice to pathogenic challenges. Furthermore, Got1 is dispensable for M2 macrophage differentiation and does not influence the onset of LPS-induced immune paralysis. Our findings underscore the intricate facets of macrophage responses, suggesting that Got1 is dispensable in discrete immunological processes.