bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcia magnesia alumino silicate (CMAS) corrosion attack on thermally sprayed thermal barrier coatings: a comprehensive review
Authors: Nair Rakesh Bhaskaran , Brabazon Dermot
Published: April 2024

Calcia-Magnesia-Alumino Silicate (CMAS) is a form of molten siliceous residue generated at elevated temperatures within aeroengines. CMAS adheres to the surface of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and has the potential to cause significant damage to engine components, resulting in TBC failures. The aviation industry has long recognized CMAS as a substantial threat to aircraft engines, and this threat persists today. A substantial amount of research has been carried out, primarily focusing on gaining a fundamental understanding of the degradation mechanism of traditional TBCs manufactured using air plasma spraying (APS) and electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) technologies after CMAS attack. A thorough understanding of why CMAS forms, its role in causing severe spallation, and how to prevent it is of significant concern both academically and industrially. This review article provides a detailed examination of the chemistry of CMAS and the resulting degradation mechanisms that the TBC may encounter throughout the aeroengine service life. This article also explores recent research, incorporating case studies, on the impact of CMAS attack on the resulting chemical and structural modifications of the ceramic topcoats. Current strategies designed to mitigate CMAS infiltration and perspectives for enhanced mitigation are discussed.
Students’ performance, attitude, and classroom observation data to assess the effect of problem-based learning approach supplemented by YouTube videos in Ugandan classroom
Authors: Gumisirizah Nicholus , Nzabahimana Joseph , Muwonge Charles M.
Published: April 2024

In response to global demands, Uganda’s Vision 2040 seeks to transform the country into a modern and prosperous nation by implementing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, focusing on equitable and quality education. The 21st-century workforce requires individuals who can effectively navigate complex workplace challenges. This dataset was gathered from Form-2 Ugandan secondary school students (aged 12 to 15) across 12 schools in the Sheema District. The dataset comprises three types of data: students’ performance in a physics topic (simple machines), their attitudes toward problem-solving and critical thinking when learning physics using Problem-Based Learning (PBL) supplemented by YouTube videos, and classroom observations documented with the reformed teaching observational protocol (RTOP). The intervention of teaching using PBL was executed in 2022, collecting data from 973 lower secondary school students. The intervention involved three approaches: one group (144 students) received PBL along with YouTube videos, another group of 482 students received PBL alone, and a third group (347 students) was taught using the traditional method. This data article explains the study’s data creation, collection, and analysis process. The dataset holds significance for secondary school teachers, policymakers, and researchers, offering insights into the impact of PBL with and without ICT resources on learning physics and students’ attitudes toward these learner-centered approaches.
Intra and interspecific audience effect on domestic dogs' behavioural displays and facial expressions
Authors: Pedretti Giulia , Canori Chiara , Costantini Elisa , Palme Rupert , Valsecchi Paola , Marshall-Pescini Sarah
Published: April 2024

The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of both intra- and interspecific audiences on dogs' facial expressions and behaviours. Forty-six dogs were exposed to three test conditions in which a food reward, initially available, was denied when in the presence of either a human (Human condition) or a dog audience (Dog condition), or in the absence of a visible audience (Non-social condition). Salivary cortisol was collected to evaluate the stress/arousal activation in the different conditions. Compared to the Non-social condition, the presence of a conspecific evoked more facial expressions, according to the DogFACS (Facial Action Coding System, an anatomically based tool to analyze facial expressions in domestic dogs), (EAD105—Ears downward), displacement behaviours (AD137—Nose licking, AD37—Lip wiping), tail wagging, whining, and panting (AD126). When facing a conspecific, dogs assumed a more avoidant attitude, keeping a distance and not looking at the stimuli, compared to when in the presence of the human partner. Dogs also exhibited more facial expressions (EAD102—Ears Adductor, EAD104—Ears Rotator), displacement behaviours (AD137—Nose licking, AD37—Lip wiping), panting (AD126) and whining when facing the conspecific than the human partner. Post-test cortisol was not influenced by any condition, and no association between pre-test cortisol and behavioural variables was found, thus strong differences in the levels of stress/arousal were unlikely to be responsible for differences in behavior between conditions. Considering the current results in the context of the available literature, we suggest that the higher displacement behaviors exhibited with the conspecifics were likely due to an increased level of uncertainty regarding the situations.
Reference genes to study the sex-biased expression of genes regulating Drosophila metabolism
Authors: De Groef Sofie , Ribeiro Lopes Melanie , Winant Mattias , Rosschaert Emily , Wilms Tom , Bolckmans Lenz , Calevro Federica , Callaerts Patrick
Published: April 2024

Sex is an important variable in biology. Notable differences have been observed between male and female Drosophila in regulation of metabolism, in response to nutritional challenges, and in phenotypes relevant for obesity and metabolic disorders. The differences between males and females can be expected to result from differences in gene expression. We observed that expression levels of reference genes commonly used for normalization of qRT-PCR results such as GAPDH, β-actin, and 18SrRNA, show prominent sexual dimorphism. Since this will impact relative expression and conclusions related to that, we performed a systematic analysis of candidate reference genes with the objective of identifying reference genes with stable expression in male and female Drosophila. These reference genes (LamCa, βTub60D and βTub97EF) were then used to assess sex-specific differences in expression of metabolism associated genes. Additionally, we evaluated the utility of these reference genes following a nutritional challenge and showed that LamCa and βtub97EF are stably expressed between sexes and under different nutritional conditions and are thus suitable as reference genes. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating the stability of reference genes when sex-specific differences in gene expression are studied, and identify structural genes as a category worth exploring as reference genes in other species. Finally, we also uncovered hitherto unknown sexually dimorphic expression of a number of metabolism-associated genes, information of interest to others working in the field of metabolic disorders.
Computation and convergence of fixed-point with an RLC-electric circuit model in an extended b-suprametric space
Authors: Panda Sumati Kumari , Velusamy Vijayakumar , Khan Ilyas , Niazai Shafiullah
Published: April 2024

This article establishes various fixed-point results and introduces the idea of an extended b-suprametric space. We also give several applications pertaining to the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the equations concerning RLC electric circuits. At the end of the article, a few open questions are posed concerning the distortion of Chua’s circuit and the formulation of the Lagrangian for Chua’s circuit.
Resilience and its influencing factors after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention in young and middle-aged patients with first acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Wang Jinju , Wu Yafeng , Zhou Juanjuan , Li Shaoman , She Liping
Published: April 2024

Mental health after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) influences the prognosis of patients. Resilience may contribute to improving a patient’s mental health. However, no study has investigated resilience and its associated factors in young and middle-aged patients undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after the first AMI. This study aimed to identify critical associated factors influencing resilience in these patients. This cross-sectional study recruited 161 young and middle-aged patients with first-episode AMI using a purposive sampling method. These patients were assessed 48 h after emergency PCI using the General Information Questionnaire, the Connor—Davidson Resilience Scale—10, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Scale Civilian Version. Stepwise and logistic regression were conducted to analyze the factors influencing resilience. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were used to compare the area under the curves (AUC) for each indicator. The resilience of the 161 participants was 29.50 ± 4.158. Monthly household income, self-efficacy, social support, and post-traumatic stress disorder explained 51.4% of the variance in resilience. Self-efficacy (OR 0.716, CI 0.589–0.870, P < 0.01) and social support (OR 0.772, CI 0.635–0.938, P < 0.01) were protective factors for psychological resilience, while post-traumatic stress disorder (OR 1.278, CI 1.077–1.515, P < 0.01) was a risk factor. ROC curve revealed that self-efficacy, social support, and PTSD had an AUC of 0.822, 0.855, and 0.889, respectively. Self-efficacy and social support improve, and PTSD degrades psychological resilience in young and middle-aged AMI patients undergoing emergency PCI.
A radiochemical lab-on-a-chip paired with computer vision to unlock the crystallization kinetics of (Ba,Ra)SO4
Authors: Poonoosamy Jenna , Kaspor Alexander , Schreinemachers Christian , Bosbach Dirk , Cheong Oskar , Kowalski Piotr M. , Obaied Abdulmonem
Published: April 2024

(Ra,Ba)SO4solid solutions are commonly encountered as problematic scales in subsurface energy-related applications, e.g., geothermal systems, hydraulic fracturing, conventional oil and gas, etc. Despite its relevance, its crystallization kinetics were never determined because of radium (226), high radioactivity (3.7 × 1010Bq g−1), and utilization in contemporary research, therefore constrained to trace amounts (< 10−8M) with the composition of BaxRa1-xSO4commonly restricted tox > 0.99. What if lab-on-a-chip technology could create new opportunities, enabling the study of highly radioactive radium beyond traces to access new information? In this work, we developed a lab-on-a-chip experiment paired with computer vision to evaluate the crystal growth rate of (Ba,Ra)SO4solid solutions. The computer vision algorithm enhances experimental throughput, yielding robust statistical insights and further advancing the efficiency of such experiments. The 3D analysis results of the precipitated crystals using confocal Raman spectroscopy suggested that {210} faces grew twice as fast as {001} faces, mirroring a common observation reported for pure barite. The crystal growth rate of (Ba0.5Ra0.5)SO4follows a second-order reaction with a kinetic constant equal to (1.23 ± 0.09) × 10−10mol m−2s−1.
A comprehensive stroke risk assessment by combining atrial computational fluid dynamics simulations and functional patient data
Authors: Zingaro Alberto , Ahmad Zan , Kholmovski Eugene , Sakata Kensuke , Dede’ Luca , Morris Alan K. , Quarteroni Alfio , Trayanova Natalia A.
Published: April 2024

Stroke, a major global health concern often rooted in cardiac dynamics, demands precise risk evaluation for targeted intervention. Current risk models, like the $$\text {CHA}_2\text {DS}_2\text {-VASc}$$

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score, often lack the granularity required for personalized predictions. In this study, we present a nuanced and thorough stroke risk assessment by integrating functional insights from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Our cohort, evenly split between control and stroke groups, comprises eight patients. Utilizing CINE CMR, we compute kinematic features, revealing smaller left atrial volumes for stroke patients. The incorporation of patient-specific atrial displacement into our hemodynamic simulations unveils the influence of atrial compliance on the flow fields, emphasizing the importance of LA motion in CFD simulations and challenging the conventional rigid wall assumption in hemodynamics models. Standardizing hemodynamic features with functional metrics enhances the differentiation between stroke and control cases. While standalone assessments provide limited clarity, the synergistic fusion of CMR-derived functional data and patient-informed CFD simulations offers a personalized and mechanistic understanding, distinctly segregating stroke from control cases. Specifically, our investigation reveals a crucial clinical insight: normalizing hemodynamic features based on ejection fraction fails to differentiate between stroke and control patients. Differently, when normalized with stroke volume, a clear and clinically significant distinction emerges and this holds true for both the left atrium and its appendage, providing valuable implications for precise stroke risk assessment in clinical settings. This work introduces a novel framework for seamlessly integrating hemodynamic and functional metrics, laying the groundwork for improved predictive models, and highlighting the significance of motion-informed, personalized risk assessments.
Investigating underlying brain structures and influence of mild and subjective cognitive impairment on dual-task performance in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Albrecht Franziska , Johansson Hanna , Ekman Urban , Poulakis Konstantinos , Bezuidenhout Lucian , Pereira Joana B. , Franzén Erika
Published: April 2024

Cognitive impairment can affect dual-task abilities in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but it remains unclear whether this is also driven by gray matter alterations across different cognitive classifications. Therefore, we investigated associations between dual-task performance during gait and functional mobility and gray matter alterations and explored whether these associations differed according to the degree of cognitive impairment. Participants with PD were classified according to their cognitive function with 22 as mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), 14 as subjective cognitive impairment (PD-SCI), and 20 as normal cognition (PD-NC). Multiple regression models associated dual-task absolute and interference values of gait speed, step-time variability, and reaction time, as well as dual-task absolute and difference values for Timed Up and Go (TUG) with PD cognitive classification. We repeated these regressions including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. We additionally explored whole-brain regressions with dual-task measures to identify dual-task-related regions. There was a trend that cerebellar alterations were associated with worse TUG dual-task in PD-SCI, but also with higher dual-task gait speed and higher dual-task step-time variability in PD-NC. After multiple comparison corrections, no effects of interest were significant. In summary, no clear set of variables associated with dual-task performance was found that distinguished between PD cognitive classifications in our cohort. Promising but non-significant trends, in particular regarding the TUG dual-task, do however warrant further investigation in future large-scale studies.
Replication protein-A, RPA, plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of recombination checkpoint in yeast meiosis
Authors: Sampathkumar Arivarasan , Zhong Chen , Tang Yuting , Fujita Yurika , Ito Masaru , Shinohara Akira
Published: April 2024

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) activate DNA damage responses (DDRs) in both mitotic and meiotic cells. A single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, Replication protein-A (RPA) binds to the ssDNA formed at DSBs to activate ATR/Mec1 kinase for the response. Meiotic DSBs induce homologous recombination monitored by a meiotic DDR called the recombination checkpoint that blocks the pachytene exit in meiotic prophase I. In this study, we further characterized the essential role of RPA in the maintenance of the recombination checkpoint during Saccharomyces cerevisiae meiosis. The depletion of an RPA subunit, Rfa1, in a recombination-defective dmc1 mutant, fully alleviates the pachytene arrest with the persistent unrepaired DSBs. RPA depletion decreases the activity of a meiosis-specific CHK2 homolog, Mek1 kinase, which in turn activates the Ndt80 transcriptional regulator for pachytene exit. These support the idea that RPA is a sensor of ssDNAs for the activation of meiotic DDR. Rfa1 depletion also accelerates the prophase I delay in the zip1 mutant defective in both chromosome synapsis and the recombination, consistent with the notion that the accumulation of ssDNAs rather than defective synapsis triggers prophase I delay in the zip1 mutant.
A retrospective analysis of the role of age and sex in outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy at a single academic dental center
Authors: Angelov Nikola , Soldatos Nikolaos , Ioannidou Effie , Carter Tonia C. , Shimpi Neel , Applegate Joseph , Kookal Krishna Kumar , Parsegian Karo
Published: April 2024

The present study examined the role of age and sex in the outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT). De-identified demographic and periodontal characteristics of patients who presented for baseline periodontal evaluation, NSPT, and periodontal re-evaluation were abstracted from electronic health records. Independent associations of age and sex with severe periodontitis defined as ≥ 5 mm clinical attachment loss (CAL) and ≥ 6 mm probing depth (PD) were determined using multinomial logistic regression. The null hypothesis was rejected at α < 0.05. A total of 2866 eligible subjects were included in the analysis. Significantly lower odds of CAL ≤ 4 mm than CAL ≥ 5 mm (reference) were observed in adults aged 35–64 (odds ratio, OR, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.13, 0.29) and ≥ 65 years (OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.07, 0.25) compared to those aged 18–34 years. Odds of PD < 4 mm versus PD ≥ 6 mm (reference) were lower in adults aged 35–64 years than those aged 18–34 years (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.55, 0.90) and higher in females compared to males (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.14, 2.44). These results suggest more compromised post-NSPT outcomes in older adults and males compared to the respective populations and highlight the need for personalized therapeutic strategies in these populations.
Metabolic engineering of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plants using different ∆6- and ∆5-desaturases co-expressed with LPCAT from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Klińska-Bąchor Sylwia , Demski Kamil , Gong Yangmin , Banaś Antoni
Published: April 2024

Continuous research on obtaining an even more efficient production of very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) in plants remains one of the main challenges of scientists working on plant lipids. Since crops are not able to produce these fatty acids due to the lack of necessary enzymes, genes encoding them must be introduced exogenously from native organisms producing VLC-PUFAs. In this study we reported, in tobacco leaves, the characterization of three distinct ∆6-desaturases from diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, fungi Rhizopus stolonifer and microalge Osterococcus tauri and two different ∆5-desaturases from P. tricornutum and single-celled saprotrophic eukaryotes Thraustochytrium sp. The in planta agroinfiltration of essential ∆6-desaturases, ∆6-elongases and ∆5-desaturases allowed for successful introduction of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5∆5,8,11,14,17) biosynthesis pathway. However, despite the desired, targeted production of ω3-fatty acids we detected the presence of ω6-fatty acids, indicating and confirming previous results that all tested desaturases are not specifically restricted to neither ω3- nor ω6-pathway. Nevertheless, the additional co-expression of acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) from Phaeodactylum tricornutum boosted the proportion of ω3-fatty acids in newly synthesized fatty acid pools. For the most promising genes combinations the EPA content reached at maximum 1.4% of total lipid content and 4.5% of all fatty acids accumulated in the TAG pool. Our results for the first time describe the role of LPCAT enzyme and its effectiveness in alleviating a bottleneck called ‘substrate dichotomy’ for improving the transgenic production of VLC-PUFAs in plants.
Potential interactive effect of positive expectancy violation and sleep on memory consolidation in dogs
Authors: Reicher Vivien , Kovács Tímea , Csibra Barbara , Gácsi Márta
Published: April 2024

In dogs, as in humans, both emotional and learning pretreatment affect subsequent behaviour and sleep. Although learning often occurs in an emotional-social context, the emotion-learning interplay in such context remain mainly unknown. Aims were to assess the effects of Controlling versus Permissive (emotional factors) training (learning factors) styles on dogs’ behaviour, learning performance, and sleep. Family dogs (N = 24) participated in two command learning sessions employing the two training styles with each session followed by assessment of learning performance, a 2-h-long non-invasive sleep EEG measurement, and a retest of learning performance. Pre- to post-sleep improvement in learning performance was evident in dogs that received the Permissive training during the second learning session, indicating that dogs that experienced a more rewarding situation than expected (positive expectancy violation) during the second training session showed improved learning success after their afternoon sleep. These results possibly indicate an interactive effect of expectancy violation and sleep on enhancing learning.
Analysis of the potential regulatory mechanisms of female and latent genital tuberculosis affecting ovarian reserve function using untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Wang Zhimin , Zhang Xueyan , Dai Bai , Li Debang , Chen Xiujuan
Published: April 2024

Female and latent genital tuberculosis (FGTB and LGTB) in young women may lead to infertility by damaging ovarian reserve function, but the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of FGTB and LGTB on ovarian reserve function and potential regulatory mechanisms by untargeted metabolomics of follicular fluid, aiming to provide insights for the clinical management and treatment approaches for afflicted women. We recruited 19 patients with FGTB, 16 patients with LGTB, and 16 healthy women as a control group. Clinical data analysis revealed that both the FGTB and LGTB groups had significantly lower ovarian reserve marker levels compared to the control group, including lower anti-Müllerian hormone levels (FGTB: 0.82 [0.6, 1.1] μg/L; LGTB: 1.57 [1.3, 1.8] μg/L vs. control: 3.29 [2.9, 3.5] μg/L), reduced antral follicular counts (FGTB: 6 [5.5, 9.5]; LGTB: 10.5 [7, 12.3] vs. control: 17 [14.5, 18]), and fewer retrieved oocytes (FGTB: 3 [2, 5]; LGTB: 8 [4, 8.3] vs. control: 14.5 [11.5, 15.3]). Conversely, these groups exhibited higher ovarian response marker levels, such as longer gonadotropin treatment days (FGTB: 12 [10.5, 12.5]; LGTB: 11 [10.8, 11.3] vs. control: 10 [8.8, 10]) and increased gonadotropin dosage requirements (FGTB: 3300 [3075, 3637.5] U; LGTB: 3037.5 [2700, 3225] U vs. control: 2531.25 [2337.5, 2943.8] U). All comparisons were statistically significant at P < 0.05. The results suggested that FGTB and LGTB have adverse effects on ovarian reserve and response. Untargeted metabolomic analysis identified 92 and 80 differential metabolites in the control vs. FGTB and control vs. LGTB groups, respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant alterations in metabolic pathways in the FGTB and LGTB groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05), with specific changes noted in galactose metabolism, biotin metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism in the FGTB group, and caffeine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism in the LGTB group. The analysis of metabolic levels has revealed the potential mechanisms by which FGTB and LGTB affect ovarian reserve function, namely through alterations in metabolic pathways. The study emphasizes the importance of comprehending the metabolic alterations associated with FGTB and LGTB, which is of considerable relevance for the clinical management and therapeutic approaches in afflicted women.
The H3K79me3 methyl-transferase Grappa is involved in the establishment and thermal plasticity of abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster females
Authors: Narbey Raphaël , Mouchel-Vielh Emmanuèle , Gibert Jean-Michel
Published: April 2024

Temperature sensitivity of abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster females allows to investigate the mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity. Thermal plasticity of pigmentation is due to modulation of tan and yellow expression, encoding pigmentation enzymes. Furthermore, modulation of tan expression by temperature is correlated to the variation of the active histone mark H3K4me3 on its promoter. Here, we test the role of the DotCom complex, which methylates H3K79, another active mark, in establishment and plasticity of pigmentation. We show that several components of the DotCom complex are involved in the establishment of abdominal pigmentation. In particular, Grappa, the catalytic unit of this complex, plays opposite roles on pigmentation at distinct developmental stages. Indeed, its down-regulation from larval L2 to L3 stages increases female adult pigmentation, whereas its down-regulation during the second half of the pupal stage decreases adult pigmentation. These opposite effects are correlated to the regulation of distinct pigmentation genes by Grappa: yellow repression for the early role and tan activation for the late one. Lastly, reaction norms measuring pigmentation along temperature in mutants for subunits of the DotCom complex reveal that this complex is not only involved in the establishment of female abdominal pigmentation but also in its plasticity.
Novel PLGA-encapsulated-nanopiperine promotes synergistic interaction of p53/PARP-1/Hsp90 axis to combat ALX-induced-hyperglycemia
Authors: Dey Rishita , Dey Sudatta , Sow Priyanka , Chakrovorty Arnob , Bhattacharjee Banani , Nandi Sisir , Samadder Asmita
Published: April 2024

The present study predicts the molecular targets and druglike properties of the phyto-compound piperine (PIP) by in silico studies including molecular docking simulation, druglikeness prediction and ADME analysis for prospective therapeutic benefits against diabetic complications. PIP was encapsulated in biodegradable polymer poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) to form nanopiperine (NPIP) and their physico-chemical properties were characterized by AFM and DLS. ∼ 30 nm sized NPIP showed 86.68% encapsulation efficiency and − 6 mV zeta potential, demonstrated great interactive stability and binding with CT-DNA displaying upsurge in molar ellipticity during CD spectroscopy. NPIP lowered glucose levels in peripheral circulation by > 65 mg/dL compared to disease model and improved glucose influx in alloxan-induced in vivo and in vitro diabetes models concerted with 3-folds decrease in ROS production, ROS-induced DNA damage and 27.24% decrease in nuclear condensation. The 25% increase in % cell viability and inhibition in chromosome aberration justified the initiation of p53 and PARP DNA repairing protein expression and maintenance of Hsp90. Thus, the experimental study corroborated well with in silico predictions of modulating the p53/PARP-1/Hsp90 axis, with predicted dock score value of − 8.72, − 8.57, − 8.76 kcal/mol respectively, validated docking-based preventive approaches for unravelling the intricacies of molecular signalling and nano-drug efficacy as therapeutics for diabetics.
Improving speech depression detection using transfer learning with wav2vec 2.0 in low-resource environments
Authors: Zhang Xu , Zhang Xiangcheng , Chen Weisi , Li Chenlong , Yu Chengyuan
Published: April 2024

Depression, a pervasive global mental disorder, profoundly impacts daily lives. Despite numerous deep learning studies focused on depression detection through speech analysis, the shortage of annotated bulk samples hampers the development of effective models. In response to this challenge, our research introduces a transfer learning approach for detecting depression in speech, aiming to overcome constraints imposed by limited resources. In the context of feature representation, we obtain depression-related features by fine-tuning wav2vec 2.0. By integrating 1D-CNN and attention pooling structures, we generate advanced features at the segment level, thereby enhancing the model's capability to capture temporal relationships within audio frames. In the realm of prediction results, we integrate LSTM and self-attention mechanisms. This incorporation assigns greater weights to segments associated with depression, thereby augmenting the model's discernment of depression-related information. The experimental results indicate that our model has achieved impressive F1 scores, reaching 79% on the DAIC-WOZ dataset and 90.53% on the CMDC dataset. It outperforms recent baseline models in the field of speech-based depression detection. This provides a promising solution for effective depression detection in low-resource environments.
Chromatic vision and structural assessment in primary congenital glaucoma
Authors: Kato Renata Tiemi , Rolim-de-Moura Christiane , Allemann Norma
Published: April 2024

Primary congenital glaucoma is a rare disease that occurs in early birth and can lead to low vision. Evaluating affected children is challenging and there is a lack of studies regarding color vision in pediatric glaucoma patients. This cross-sectional study included 21 eyes of 13 children with primary congenital glaucoma who were assessed using the Farnsworth D-15 test to evaluate color vision discrimination and by spectral domain optical coherence tomography to measure retinal fiber layer thickness. Age, visual acuity, cup-to-disc ratio and spherical equivalent data were also collected. Global and sectional circumpapillary and macular retinal fiber layer thicknesses were measured and compared based on color vision test performance. Four eyes (19%) failed the color vision test with diffuse dyschromatopsia patterns. Only age showed statistical significance in color vision test performance. Global and sectional circumpapillary and macular retinal fiber layer thicknesses were similar between the color test outcomes dyschromatopsia and normal. While the color vision test could play a role in assessing children with primary congenital glaucoma, further studies are needed to correlate it with damage to retinal fiber layer thickness.
Biodiversity patterns of the coral reef cryptobiota around the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Villalobos Rodrigo , Aylagas Eva , Pearman John K. , Curdia Joao , Coker Darren , Bell Alyssa Clothilde , Brown Shannon D. , Rowe Katherine , Lozano-Cortés Diego , Rabaoui Lotfi J. , Marshell Alyssa , Qurban Mohammad , Jones Burton , Berumen Michael Lee , Carvalho Susana
Published: April 2024

The Arabian Peninsula accounts for approximately 6% of the world’s coral reefs. Some thrive in extreme environments of temperature and salinity. Using 51 Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS), a standardized non-destructive monitoring device, we investigated the spatial patterns of coral reef cryptobenthic diversity in four ecoregions around the Arabian Peninsula and analyzed how geographical and/or environmental drivers shape those patterns. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was used to identify Amplicon Sequence Variants and assign taxonomy of the cryptobenthic organisms collected from the sessile and mobile fractions of each ARMS. Cryptobenthic communities sampled from the two ecoregions in the Red Sea showed to be more diverse than those inhabiting the Arabian (Persian) Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Geographic distance revealed a stronger relationship with beta diversity in the Mantel partial correlation than environmental distance. However, the two mobile fractions (106–500 µm and 500–2000 µm) also had a significant correlation between environmental distance and beta diversity. In our study, dispersal limitations explained the beta diversity patterns in the selected reefs, supporting the neutral theory of ecology. Still, increasing differences in environmental variables (environmental filtering) also had an effect on the distribution patterns of assemblages inhabiting reefs within short geographic distances. The influence of geographical distance in the cryptofauna assemblages makes these relevant, yet usually ignored, communities in reef functioning vulnerable to large scale coastal development and should be considered in ecosystem management of such projects.
Gut microbiome composition reveals the distinctiveness between the Bengali people and the Indigenous ethnicities in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahammad Ishtiaque , Bhattacharjee Arittra , Chowdhury Zeshan Mahmud , Rahman Anisur , Hossain Mohammad Uzzal , Dewan Gourab , Talukder Shiny , Das Keshob Chandra , Keya Chaman Ara , Salimullah Md
Published: April 2024

Ethnicity has a significant role in shaping the composition of the gut microbiome, which has implications in human physiology. This study intends to investigate the gut microbiome of Bengali people as well as several indigenous ethnicities (Chakma, Marma, Khyang, and Tripura) residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts areas of Bangladesh. Following fecal sample collection from each population, part of the bacterial 16 s rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq platform. Our findings indicated that Bangladeshi gut microbiota have a distinct diversity profile when compared to other countries. We also found out that Bangladeshi indigenous communities had a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio than the Bengali population. The investigation revealed an unclassified bacterium that was differentially abundant in Bengali samples while the genus Alistipes was found to be prevalent in Chakma samples. Further research on these bacteria might help understand diseases associated with these populations. Also, the current small sample-sized pilot study hindered the comprehensive understanding of the gut microbial diversity of the Bangladeshi population and its potential health implications. However, our study will help establish a basic understanding of the gut microbiome of the Bangladeshi population.
Conjugative type IV secretion systems enable bacterial antagonism that operates independently of plasmid transfer
Authors: Gordils-Valentin Lois , Ouyang Huanrong , Qian Liangyu , Hong Joshua , Zhu Xuejun
Published: April 2024

Bacterial cooperation and antagonism mediated by secretion systems are among the ways in which bacteria interact with one another. Here we report the discovery of an antagonistic property of a type IV secretion system (T4SS) sourced from a conjugative plasmid, RP4, using engineering approaches. We scrutinized the genetic determinants and suggested that this antagonistic activity is independent of molecular cargos, while we also elucidated the resistance genes. We further showed that a range of Gram-negative bacteria and a mixed bacterial population can be eliminated by this T4SS-dependent antagonism. Finally, we showed that such an antagonistic property is not limited to T4SS sourced from RP4, rather it can also be observed in a T4SS originated from another conjugative plasmid, namely R388. Our results are the first demonstration of conjugative T4SS-dependent antagonism between Gram-negative bacteria on the genetic level and provide the foundation for future mechanistic studies.
Spatiotemporal patterns of locus coeruleus integrity predict cortical tau and cognition
Authors: Bueichekú Elisenda , Diez Ibai , Kim Chan-Mi , Becker John Alex , Koops Elouise A. , Kwong Kenneth , Papp Kathryn V. , Salat David H. , Bennett David A. , Rentz Dorene M. , Sperling Reisa A. , Johnson Keith A. , Sepulcre Jorge , Jacobs Heidi I. L.
Published: April 2024

Autopsy studies indicated that the locus coeruleus (LC) accumulates hyperphosphorylated tau before allocortical regions in Alzheimer’s disease. By combining in vivo longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging measures of LC integrity, tau positron emission tomography imaging and cognition with autopsy data and transcriptomic information, we examined whether LC changes precede allocortical tau deposition and whether specific genetic features underlie LC’s selective vulnerability to tau. We found that LC integrity changes preceded medial temporal lobe tau accumulation, and together these processes were associated with lower cognitive performance. Common gene expression profiles between LC–medial temporal lobe–limbic regions map to biological functions in protein transport regulation. These findings advance our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of initial tau spreading from the LC and LC’s selective vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. LC integrity measures can be a promising indicator for identifying the time window when individuals are at risk of disease progression and underscore the importance of interventions mitigating initial tau spread.
Antibacterial polylysine-containing hydrogels for hemostatic and wound healing applications: preparation methods, current advances and future perspectives
Authors: Pourshahrestani Sara , Zeimaran Ehsan , Fauzi Mh Busra
Published: April 2024

Polylysine, renowned for its outstanding antibacterial efficacy, has shown significant promise in the biomedical field. This review presents various preparation methods and recent advances in polylysine-containing hydrogels to promote wound healing.
Advancements and strategic approaches in catenane synthesis
Authors: Chen Qing , Zhu Kelong
Published: April 2024

Catenanes have captured the imagination of chemists with their intriguing features. In this review, we have overviewed different approaches developed for the synthesis of catenanes, ranging from early statistical methods to the state-of-the-art template-directed syntheses.
Synthesis and proton-conductive behaviour of two MOFs with covalently bonded imidazoles in the channels
Authors: Chen Kun-Peng , Ma Yue , Ren Hong-Xia , Zhang Chen-Xi , Wang Qing-Lun
Published: April 2024

Based on two imidazole substituted phthalic acid ligands, two new metal–organic frameworks have been synthesized. Both complexes exhibit impressive proton conductivities under 98% RH.
Physiochemical characterization and ameliorative effect of rice resistant starch modified by heat-stable α-amylase and glucoamylase on the gut microbial community in T2DM mice
Authors: Ren Jianing , Dai Jing , Chen Yue , Wang Zhenzhen , Sha Ruyi , Mao Jianwei
Published: April 2024

Rice resistant starch modified by heat-stable α-amylase and glucoamylase with a more stable structure treated T2DM by improving glycolipid metabolism, repairing pancreatic damage, reducing inflammation and regulating intestinal flora disorders.
Exploring the effects of synthesis parameters on the properties and photoactivity of WO3–graphene oxide synthesized via a microwave route
Authors: Rodrigues Bárbara S. , Niederberger Markus , Souza Juliana S.
Published: April 2024

Tungsten oxide (WO3) is a promising material for photocatalysis.
Strategies for the synthesis of complex oxides for application as light-responsive electrodes in photoelectrochemical cells – a review
Authors: Macedo Nadia Guerra , Alvim Jéssica Costa , Soares Leonardo Carvalho , Souza da Costa Luelc , Galante Miguel Tayar , Lima Vanderlei Silva , Longo Claudia
Published: April 2024

The choice of an adequate synthesis method is a fundamental step to obtain complex oxides photoelectrodes for efficient photoelectrochemical production of solar fuels.
Unraveling the formation of oxygen vacancies on the surface of transition metal-doped ceria utilizing artificial intelligence
Authors: Xu Ning , Xu Liangliang , Wang Yue , Liu Wen , Xu Wenwu , Hu Xiaojuan , Han Zhong-Kang
Published: April 2024

The AI approach provides new understanding of the formation of oxygen vacancies on the surface of TM-doped cerium systems.
BF3·Et2O-assisted synthesis of sulfinylated spiro[5.5]trienones from biaryl ynones
Authors: Roy Barnali , Kuila Puspendu , Jha Sangam , Sarkar Debayan
Published: April 2024

Unveiling a practical and efficient BF3·Et2O-promoted metal-free cationic approach, a wide variety of biologically valuable and synthetically challenging sulfinylated spiro[5.5]trienones from biaryl ynones and arylsulfinic acids is achieved.
Combined electrical-electrochemical phenotypic profiling of antibiotic susceptibility of in vitro biofilm models
Authors: Rafiee Zahra , Rezaie Maryam , Choi Seokheun
Published: April 2024

This study presents a novel, simple method for biofilm cultivation and a combined electrical-electrochemical technique to efficiently gauge antibiotic effectiveness against biofilm-related infections.
Structural effects of oxidation on sugars: glucose as a precursor of gluconolactone and glucuronolactone
Authors: Parra-Santamaria Maider , Insausti Aran , Alonso Elena R. , Basterretxea Francisco J. , Cocinero Emilio J.
Published: April 2024

This atomic-resolution study reveals glucose changes due to oxidation, exploring key carbohydrate aspects like hydrogen bonding, ring-puckering, anomeric effect, and tautomeric selection. Results confirm mutarotation suppression in the gas phase.
Controllable synthesis of NiCo2O4 nanoparticles supported on MnO2 nanowires with excellent oxidase-mimicking performance
Authors: Chen Yu , Xie Yanchun , Gao Yizhi , Ding Ran , Ding Xingsheng , Han Suping , Zhang Min
Published: April 2024

In this work, we developed a facile approach to decorate NiCo2O4 nanoparticles on MnO2 nanowires, leading to the formation of 1D hierarchical heterostructures as efficient oxidase mimics for the detection of glutathione.
Leveraging an all-fixed transfer framework to predict the interpretable formation energy of MXenes with hybrid terminals
Authors: Song Zihao , Niu Xiaobin , Chen Haiyuan
Published: April 2024

All-fixed transfer as an interpretable method to screen stable hybrid terminated MXenes.
On the third-order nonlinear optical responses of cis and trans stilbenes – a quantum chemistry investigation
Authors: Kaka Komlanvi Sèvi , Castet Frédéric , Champagne Benoît
Published: April 2024

Combining high-level wavefunction methods with density functional theory highlights the larger response of the trans isomer of stilbene with respect to cis stilbene and it allows assessing the (lack of) consistency between previous experimental data.
High-throughput calculation for the screening of formamidinium halide perovskite for solar cells
Authors: Tashiro Tomoya , Suzuki Hajime , Takahashi Keisuke
Published: April 2024

128 organic halide perovskites are systematically investigated using high-throughput first principles calculations where Ge and Sn-based materials are searched.
Novel triphenyltin(iv) compounds with carboxylato N-functionalized 2-quinolones as promising potential anticancer drug candidates: in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Kasalović Marijana P. , Jelača Sanja , Milanović Žiko , Maksimović-Ivanić Danijela , Mijatović Sanja , Lađarević Jelena , Božić Bojan , Marković Zoran , Dunđerović Duško , Rüffer Tobias , Kretschmer Robert , Kaluđerović Goran N. , Pantelić Nebojša Đ.
Published: April 2024

Three triphenyltin(iv) compounds with carboxylato N-functionalized 2-quinolones are reported. The compounds showed remarkable anticancer activity in lower micromolar concentrations. The most active compound exhibited a better in vivo profile than cisplatin.
DLPNO-CCSD(T) and DFT study of the acetate-assisted C–H activation of benzaldimine at [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2: the relevance of ligand exchange processes at ruthenium(ii) complexes in polar protic media
Authors: Ojea Vicente , Ruiz María
Published: April 2024

For acetate-assisted cyclometallation of benzaldimine at [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 in MeOH, anion dissociation is the rate-determining step. Subsequent C–H bond activation events and acetate/chloride exchange at cycloruthenate are reversible processes.
Influence of acid–base equilibrium on interactions of some monofunctional coumarin Pd(ii) complexes with biologically relevant nucleophiles-comprehensive kinetic study
Authors: Milanović Žiko , Marković Zoran , Kesić Ana , Jovanović Stević Snežana , Petrović Biljana , Avdović Edina
Published: April 2024

The study examines Pd(ii) complex substitution with biologically relevant nucleophiles, focusing on l-cysteine's coordination modes. It validates the theoretical protocol's efficacy and its potential for guiding future research and applications.
From trash to cash: current strategies for bio-upcycling of recaptured monomeric building blocks from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste
Authors: Carniel Adriano , Ferreira dos Santos Nathália , Buarque Filipe Smith , Mendes Resende João Victor , Ribeiro Bernardo Dias , Marrucho Isabel M. , Coelho Maria Alice Zarur , Castro Aline M.
Published: April 2024

Bio-upcycling of monomers recovered from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste is a novel alternative to turn recycling process more economically attractive by obtaining several products with higher added value.
Enhancing thermometric efficiency: a wavelength excitation analysis in LiSrGdW3O12:Tb3+ for superior single band ratiometric (SBR) thermometry
Authors: Ayachi Fadwa , Saidi Kamel , Dammak Mohamed , Carvajal Joan Josep , Pujol Maria Cinta
Published: April 2024

This study delves into the Single Band Ratiometric (SBR) method for luminescence thermometry, specifically employing Tb3+-doped LiSrGdW3O12 (LSGW) as a novel phosphor.
Ultra-high Q-factor and amplitude-tunable Fano resonance in vanadium dioxide–silicon hybrid metamaterials
Authors: Deng Kun , Gao Yachen , Gao Yang , Wu Tong
Published: April 2024

We present a VO2-silicon metamaterial with Q factor up to 165 198 that can be used for terahertz sensing. By adjusting the conductivity of VO2, an optical switching function with a modulation depth of 98.9% can be realized.
Influence of aluminium doping on high purity quartz glass properties
Authors: Gaweł Bartłomiej Adam , Busam Jochen , Marthinsen Astrid , Warden Gabriela Kazimiera , Hallam Benny , Di Sabatino Marisa
Published: April 2024

Low ppm level Al doping of quartz glass substantially increases its viscosity at high temperatures.
Photochemical and biological dual-effects enhance the inhibition of photosensitizers for tumour growth
Authors: Niu Huiyu , Liu Yang , Wang Yafu , Yang Yonggang , Wang Ge , James Tony D. , Sessler Jonathan L. , Zhang Hua
Published: April 2024

A dual photochemical-biological strategy could enhance the therapeutic effect of photosensitizers suitable for cancer treatment.
Insights into mechanistic interpretation of crystalline-state reddish phosphorescence of non-planar π-conjugated organoboron compounds
Authors: Adachi Yohei , Kurihara Maho , Yamada Kohei , Arai Fuka , Hattori Yuto , Yamana Keita , Kawasaki Riku , Ohshita Joji
Published: April 2024

Benzo[d]dithieno[b,f]borepins exhibited reddish room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) despite the absence of heavy atoms and oxygen atoms.
A multifunctional binder capable of harvesting light, electronic transport, and photocharging a lithium-ion photobattery
Authors: Briqueleur Elsa , Dollé Mickael , Skene W. G.
Published: April 2024

Poly(perylenediimide-alt-ethylene oxide) was prepared as a multifunctional lithium-ion battery binder. Upon light harvesting, the binder oxidized LiFePO4 and subsequently injected an electron into the circuit for potential solar conversion and storage.