bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmentally relevant levels of Cd and Mo coexposure induces ferroptosis and excess ferritinophagy through AMPK/mTOR axis in duck myocardium
Authors: Huang Bingyan , Nie Gaohui , Dai Xueyan , Cui Ting , Pu Wenjing , Zhang Caiying
Published: May 2024

Cadmium (Cd) and excess molybdenum (Mo) are multiorgan toxic, but the detrimental impacts of Cd and/or Mo on poultry have not been fully clarified. Thence, a 16‐week sub‐chronic toxic experiment was executed with ducks to assess the toxicity of Cd and/or Mo. Our data substantiated that Cd and Mo coexposure evidently reduced GSH‐Px, GSH, T‐SOD, and CAT activities and elevated H2O2 and MDA concentrations in myocardium. What is more, the study suggested that Cd and Mo united exposure synergistically elevated Fe2+ content in myocardium and activated AMPK/mTOR axis, then induced ferroptosis by obviously upregulating ACSL4, PTGS2, and TFRC expression levels and downregulating SLC7A11, GPX4, FPN1, FTL1, and FTH1 expression levels. Additionally, Cd and Mo coexposure further caused excessive ferritinophagy by observably increasing autophagosomes, the colocalization of endogenous FTH1 and LC3, ATG5, ATG7, LC3II/LC3I, NCOA4, and FTH1 expression levels. In brief, this study for the first time substantiated that Cd and Mo united exposure synergistically induced ferroptosis and excess ferritinophagy by AMPK/mTOR axis, finally augmenting myocardium injure in ducks, which will offer an additional view on united toxicity between two heavy metals on poultry.
Deoxyshikonin triggers apoptosis in cervical cancer cells through p38 MAPK‐mediated caspase activation
Authors: Lee Chung‐Yuan , Chen Pei‐Ni , Kao Shao‐Hsuan , Wu Heng‐Hsiung , Hsiao Yi‐Hsuan , Huang Tzu‐Yu , Wang Po‐Hui , Yang Shun‐Fa
Published: May 2024

Deoxyshikonin (DSK) is a biological component derived from Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Although DSK possesses potential anticancer activities, whether DSK exerts anticancer effects on cervical cancer cells is incompletely explored. This study was aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of DSK against cervical cancer cells and its molecular mechanisms. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Level of phosphorylation and protein was determined using Western blot. Involvement of signaling kinases was assessed by specific inhibitors. Our results revealed that DSK reduced viability of human cervical cell in a dose‐dependent fashion. Meanwhile, DSK significantly elicited apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells. Apoptosis microarray was used to elucidate the involved pathways, and the results showed that DSK dose‐dependently diminished cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 (cIAP1), cIAP2, and XIAP, and induced cleavage of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase‐8/9/3. Furthermore, we observed that DSK significantly triggered activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK (p38), and only inhibition of p38 diminished the DSK‐mediated pro‐caspases cleavage. Taken together, our results demonstrate that DSK has anti‐cervical cancer effects via the apoptotic cascade elicited by downregulation of IAPs and p38‐mediated caspase activation. This suggests that DSK could act as an adjuvant to facilitate cervical cancer management.
Minimal seesaw and leptogenesis with the smallest modular finite group
Authors: Marciano Simone , Meloni Davide , Parriciatu Matteo
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We propose a model for leptons based on the smallest modular finite group Γ2 ≅ S3 that, for the first time, accounts for both the hints of large low-energy CP-violation in the lepton sector and the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, generated by only two heavy right-handed neutrinos. These same states are also employed in a Minimal seesaw mechanism to generate light neutrino masses. Besides the heavy neutrinos, our particle content is the same as the Standard Model (SM), with the addition of one single modulus τ, whose vacuum expectation value is responsible for both the modular and CP-symmetry breakings. We show that this minimalistic SM extension is enough to get an excellent fit to low energy neutrino observables and to the required baryon asymmetry ηB. Predictions for the neutrino mass ordering, effective masses in neutrinoless double beta decay and tritium decay as well as for the Majorana phases are also provided.
The dynamics of three-forms in thick branes
Authors: Gordin Jake E. B. , MacDevette Kelly , Bruton Jenna
Published: May 2024

Abstract

In this work, we investigate thick brane models with a single three-form field. We find novel solutions for thick braneworlds where only three-forms exist and interact gravitationally in the bulk, both with and without matter fields. We use an additional scalar field as proxy for the matter fields. As an initial study, we consider the results here in contrast to the single scalar field thick braneworld case. The properties of the specific three-form parameterisation limits the freedom we have to choose the form of the warp factor, leading to a closed system of equations with nontrivial yet unstable solutions. The stability of the gravitational sector for thick brane three-forms is investigated and the models are shown to be unstable against small perturbations of the metric, further indicating that three-forms cannot exist stably in thick braneworld settings.
On Second-Order Derivatives of Boolean Functions and Cubic APN Permutations in Even Dimension
Authors: Musukwa Augustine , Sala Massimiliano , Villa Irene , Zaninelli Marco
Published: May 2024

The big APN problem is one of the most important challenges in the theory of Boolean functions, i.e. finding a new APN permutation in even dimension. Among this class of functions, those with the lowest possible degree are cubic. Yet, none has been found so far. In this paper, we introduce new parameters for Boolean functions and for vectorial Boolean functions, mostly derived from the behavior of their second-order derivatives. These parameters are invariant under extended affine equivalence, and they are particularly relevant for small-degree functions. They allow studying bent, semi-bent and APN functions of degrees two and three. In particular, they allow tackling the big APN problem for cubic permutations. Notably, we focus on the case of dimension 8, providing some computational results.
Probabilistic Stirling numbers and applications
Authors: Adell José A. , Bényi Beáta
Published: May 2024

We introduce probabilistic Stirling numbers of the first kind $$s_Y(n,k)$$

s
Y

(
n
,
k
)

associated with a complex-valued random variable Y satisfying appropriate integrability conditions, thus completing the notion of probabilistic Stirling numbers of the second kind $$S_Y(n,k)$$

S
Y

(
n
,
k
)

previously considered by the first author. Combinatorial interpretations, recursion formulas, and connections between $$s_Y(n,k)$$

s
Y

(
n
,
k
)

and $$S_Y(n,k)$$

S
Y

(
n
,
k
)

are given. We show that such numbers describe a large subset of potential polynomials, on the one hand, and the moments of sums of i. i. d. random variables, on the other, establishing their precise asymptotic behavior without appealing to the central limit theorem. We explicitly compute these numbers when Y has a certain familiar distribution, providing at the same time their combinatorial meaning.
The IMPDH cytoophidium couples metabolism and fetal development in mice
Authors: Peng Min , Keppeke Gerson D. , Tsai Li-Kuang , Chang Chia-Chun , Liu Ji-Long , Sung Li-Ying
Published: May 2024

The cytoophidium is an evolutionarily conserved subcellular structure formed by filamentous polymers of metabolic enzymes. In vertebrates, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which catalyses the rate-limiting step in guanosine triphosphate (GTP) biosynthesis, is one of the best-known cytoophidium-forming enzymes. Formation of the cytoophidium has been proposed to alleviate the inhibition of IMPDH, thereby facilitating GTP production to support the rapid proliferation of certain cell types such as lymphocytes, cancer cells and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). However, past studies lacked appropriate models to elucidate the significance of IMPDH cytoophidium under normal physiological conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that the presence of IMPDH cytoophidium in mouse PSCs correlates with their metabolic status rather than pluripotency. By introducing IMPDH2 Y12C point mutation through genome editing, we established mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines incapable of forming IMPDH polymers and the cytoophidium. Our data indicate an important role of IMPDH cytoophidium in sustaining a positive feedback loop that couples nucleotide biosynthesis with upstream metabolic pathways. Additionally, we find that IMPDH2 Y12C mutation leads to decreased cell proliferation and increased DNA damage in teratomas, as well as impaired embryo development following blastocoel injection. Further analysis shows that IMPDH cytoophidium assembly in mouse embryonic development begins after implantation and gradually increases throughout fetal development. These findings provide insights into the regulation of IMPDH polymerisation in embryogenesis and its significance in coordinating cell metabolism and development.
High mountains of central Europe as a refuge of surprising cytotype diversity of Huperzia selago (Lycopodiaceae)
Authors: Vejvodová Kateřina , Krejčí Joel , Koutecký Petr , Lučanová Magdalena , Hornych Ondřej , Ekrt Libor
Published: May 2024

Polyploidization is pivotal in plant speciation, affecting adaptability, ecological tolerance and specific geographical distribution patterns. While cytotype diversity has been extensively studied in angiosperms and ferns, knowledge in homosporous lycophytes remains very limited. Our study addresses this gap, focusing on the homosporous lycophyte Huperzia selago in Central Europe. The genome size of 1330 individuals from 208 populations were assessed via flow cytometry, revealing five distinct cytotypes (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x). Challenging chromosome counting using gemmae roots yielded average counts of 140 (2x), 204 (3x), and 262 (4x) chromosomes. The hexaploid genome size (29 pg) approached the upper limits reported for lycophytes. Tetraploids were the most abundant (72.7%), while triploids (21.3%) were less common, while the remaining cytotypes comprised less than 5% of the dataset. Geographical separation of cytotypes was not observed. However, uncommon cytotypes were associated with the Alps and triploids also occured in the highest parts of Western Carpathians. Around 27.3% of populations exhibited multiple cytotypes. Except for atypical diploids, spore abortion differed between even (21.8%) and odd ploidies (65.2%). Microcharacter (stoma, spore) proportions did not linearly correspond with increasing ploidy levels. The high ploidy-level diversity and cytotype coexistence in Central European H. selago match the well documented patterns in ferns and angiosperms. These findings provide valuable insights into lycophyte polyploidy, underscoring the necessity for broader geographical sampling and application of molecular studies to elucidate phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic classifications within the genus Huperzia.
Plasmazytoides Urothelkarzinom: eine seltene Ursache des lokalisierten Lymphödems
Authors: Burmann Sven-Niklas , Michalowitz Alena-Lioba , Oellig Frank , Kreuter Alexander , Matull Johanna
Published: May 2024

Lokalisierte Lymphödeme der Genitalregion sind insgesamt seltene Erkrankungen. Liegt ihnen eine angeborene Fehlentwicklung des Lymphgefäßsystems zugrunde, werden sie als primäre Lymphödeme bezeichnet. Sekundäre Lymphödeme entstehen durch exogene Schädigung von Lymphgefäßen infolge von z. B. operativen Eingriffen, Übergewicht, Filariasis, Radiotherapie oder tumorösen Prozessen. Wir präsentieren den Fall eines Patienten mit lokalisiertem Lymphödem der Genitalregion, für das sich ein bisher nicht diagnostiziertes Urothelkarzinom als ursächlich erwies.
Adverse childhood experiences and risk of late-life dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Abouelmagd Moaz Elsayed , AbdelMeseh Maickel , Elrosasy Amr , Eldeeb Hatem Abdelmoneim , Nabil Yehia
Published: May 2024

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to distressing events before age 18 that can lead to potential mental and physical health consequences. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between ACEs and the risk of dementia in elderly adults who experienced ACEs during childhood, addressing the existing inconsistencies and methodological variations.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was employed across key databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase) to identify relevant articles. Our primary outcome was ACEs-dementia risk, and our secondary outcome was mild cognitive impairment risk. A quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale and GRADE. A random-effects model was utilized to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and assess the reliability of the results.

Results

Out of 1,376 screened papers, nine studies were included. The studies consisted of two case-control, one prospective cohort, and six retrospective cohort studies conducted in the UK, France, USA, China, and Spain. Five studies were of good methodological quality according to the NOS. according to the GRADE, all outcomes were classified as very low or low quality of evidence. A significant association was observed between ACEs and dementia risk (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.20, 1.52; P = 0.00001) and mild cognitive impairment risk (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 0.63, 2.62; P = 0.49). A meta-analysis by type of adversity revealed significant results for the maltreatment subgroup(OR = 1.30; 95% CI 0.07-1.58; P = 0.007; I² = 0%). Subgroup analysis based on the dementia definition revealed no between-subgroup difference (P = 0.71) between tool-based and register/criteria-based subgroups. No possibility of Publication bias was observed upon inspection of the funnel plot.

Conclusion

Adverse childhood experiences may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, caution is warranted in interpreting these results due to the limited number of studies. Larger high-quality studies investigating the association between ACEs and dementia risk are needed to confirm the reliability of our results.
Prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption and evaluation of associated factors in university students
Authors: Ay Ahmet , ÇAM Cüneyt , KILINÇ Ali , Fatih ÖNSÜZ Muhammed , METİNTAŞ Selma
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption (HAC) according to gender among university students and associated factors.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on undergraduate students. We used a stratified sampling technique to represent 26036 students from all grade levels and 11 faculties, and the survey was administered to 2349 undergraduate students. The prevalence of HAC was determined with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). HAC was defined as getting 8 points or more from the AUDIT. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine HAC related factors in both genders.

Results

In this study, 53.2% of the participants were male. The prevalence of HAC in the study group was 13.5% and prevalence of lifetime drinker was 65.3%. In males; those whose fathers [OR = 1.72; 95% CI: (1.17-2.52)], mothers [1.49; (1.02-2.18)], close friends [2.42; (1.28-4.60)] drink alcohol and smoking [3.16; (2.09- 4.77)], use illicit substance [2.35; (1.66-3.34)], have mental health problems [1.65; (1.04-2.62)] were more likely to report HAC. Meanwhile in females, those whose fathers [OR = 1.92; 95%CI: (1.03-3.57)], close friends [5.81; (1.73-19.45)] drink alcohol and smoking [4.33; (2.31-8.15)], use illicit substance [4.34; (2.34-8.06)] have mental health problems [3.01; (1.67-5.43)] were more likely to report HAC.

Conclusions

HAC prevalence is high among university students. The risk of HAC increases with the use of alcohol in family and circle of friends, smoking, illicit substance use and mental health problems. The factors associated with the risk of HAC in both genders are similar.
Spectral MV-algebras and equispectrality
Authors: Barbieri Giuseppina Gerarda , Di Nola Antonio , Lenzi Giacomo
Published: May 2024

In this paper we study the set of MV-algebras with given prime spectrum and we introduce the class of spectral MV-algebras. An MV-algebra is spectral if it is generated by the union of all its prime ideals (or proper ideals, or principal ideals, or maximal ideals). Among spectral MV-algebras, special attention is devoted to bipartite MV-algebras. An MV-algebra is bipartite if it admits an homomorphism onto the MV-algebra of two elements. We prove that both bipartite MV-algebras and spectral MV-algebras can be finitely axiomatized in first order logic. We also prove that there is only, up to isomorphism, a set of MV-algebras with given prime spectrum. A further part of the paper is devoted to some relations between bipartite MV-algebras and their states. Recall that a state on an MV-algebra is a generalization of a probability measure on a Boolean algebra. Particular states are the states with Bayes’ property. We show that an MV-algebra admits a state with the Bayes’ property if and only if it is bipartite.
Online elasticity estimation and material sorting using standard robot grippers
Authors: Patni Shubhan P. , Stoudek Pavel , Chlup Hynek , Hoffmann Matej
Published: May 2024

Stiffness or elasticity estimation of everyday objects using robot grippers is highly desired for object recognition or classification in application areas like food handling and single-stream object sorting. However, standard robot grippers are not designed for material recognition. We experimentally evaluated the accuracy with which material properties can be estimated through object compression by two standard parallel jaw grippers and a force/torque sensor mounted at the robot wrist, with a professional biaxial compression device used as reference. Gripper effort versus position curves were obtained and transformed into stress/strain curves. The modulus of elasticity was estimated at different strain points and the effect of multiple compression cycles (precycling), compression speed, and the gripper surface area on estimation was studied. Viscoelasticity was estimated using the energy absorbed in a compression/decompression cycle, the Kelvin-Voigt, and Hunt-Crossley models. We found that (1) slower compression speeds improved elasticity estimation, while precycling or surface area did not; (2) the robot grippers, even after calibration, were found to have a limited capability of delivering accurate estimates of absolute values of Young’s modulus and viscoelasticity; (3) relative ordering of material characteristics was largely consistent across different grippers; (4) despite the nonlinear characteristics of deformable objects, fitting linear stress/strain approximations led to more stable results than local estimates of Young’s modulus; and (5) the Hunt-Crossley model worked best to estimate viscoelasticity, from a single object compression. A two-dimensional space formed by elasticity and viscoelasticity estimates obtained from a single grasp is advantageous for the discrimination of the object material properties. We demonstrated the applicability of our findings in a mock single-stream recycling scenario, where plastic, paper, and metal objects were correctly separated from a single grasp, even when compressed at different locations on the object. The data and code are publicly available.
Automatic classification of smart sensor data for evaluating machine tool efficiency
Authors: Sortino Marco , Vaglio Emanuele
Published: May 2024

The assessment of production plant efficiency is crucial for optimizing the operational performance of manufacturing systems. In traditional facilities, automated data collection is limited and information primarily relies on operators declarations, which are prone to inaccuracy. There is therefore a need for readily accessible digital alternatives. This paper introduces a cost-effective method for classifying the status of machine tools using smart sensors to monitor their primary doors with minimal integration, and a streamlined algorithm for efficient data processing. The innovative algorithm was conceived using data collected in over 3 months in a manufacturing plant comprising 50 diverse machine tools engaged in batch production for the automotive industry, and is based on non-dimensional thresholds, making it suitable for generic applications requiring classification of repetitive patterns. Also, a realistic simulator was developed to provide reliable data for algorithm accuracy evaluation. The classification performance was fully tested using synthetic data, showing very good accuracy. In addition, the performance of the algorithm was compared to basic machine learning approaches further proving the validity of the proposed method. Ultimately, the classification algorithm was employed to assess the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of the real plant machines, which were closely aligned with the estimates provided by the enterprise management.
Homological Invariants of Pauli Stabilizer Codes
Authors: Ruba Blazej , Yang Bowen
Published: May 2024

We study translationally invariant Pauli stabilizer codes with qudits of arbitrary, not necessarily uniform, dimensions. Using homological methods, we define a series of invariants called charge modules. We describe their properties and physical meaning. The most complete results are obtained for codes whose charge modules have Krull dimension zero. This condition is interpreted as mobility of excitations. We show that it is always satisfied for translation invariant 2D codes with unique ground state in infinite volume, which was previously known only in the case of uniform, prime qudit dimension. For codes all of whose excitations are mobile we construct a p-dimensional excitation and a $$(D-p-1)$$(D-p-1)-form symmetry for every element of thep-th charge module. Moreover, we define a braiding pairing between charge modules in complementary degrees. We discuss examples which illustrate how charge modules and braiding can be computed in practice.
Loss to gain: pseudogenes in microorganisms, focusing on eubacteria, and their biological significance
Authors: Yang Yi , Wang Pengzhi , Qaidi Samir El , Hardwidge Philip R. , Huang Jinlin , Zhu Guoqiang
Published: May 2024

Pseudogenes are defined as “non-functional” copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms.

Key points

• Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented.

• How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted.

• Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed.
Preparation and application of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies recognizing goat CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Yang Haoyue , Hu Jiajin , Jiang Yuecai , Ma Wentao , Gao Shikong , Chen Dekun
Published: May 2024

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells participating in a variety of diseases including mycoplasmal pneumonia, contagious ecthyma, and so on. The role of Tregs in goat contagious ecthyma is not completely understood due to the lack of species-specific antibodies. Here, we developed a combination of CD4 and CD25 fluorescence monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to recognize goat Tregs and assessed its utility in flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining. Using immunofluorescence staining, we found that the frequency of Treg cells was positively correlated with the viral load during orf virus infection. These antibodies could serve as important tools to monitor Tregs during orf virus infection in goats.

Key points

• A combination of fluorescent mAbs (C11 and D12) was prepared for the detection of goat Tregs.

• C11 and D12 are effective in flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, and C11 has excellent species specificity.

• The frequency of Treg cells was positively correlated with the viral load during orf virus infection.
Biosynthetic gene clusters with biotechnological applications in novel Antarctic isolates from Actinomycetota
Authors: Bruna Pablo , Núñez-Montero Kattia , Contreras María José , Leal Karla , García Matías , Abanto Michel , Barrientos Leticia
Published: May 2024

Actinomycetota have been widely described as valuable sources for the acquisition of secondary metabolites. Most microbial metabolites are produced via metabolic pathways encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Although many secondary metabolites are not essential for the survival of bacteria, they play an important role in their adaptation and interactions within microbial communities. This is how bacteria isolated from extreme environments such as Antarctica could facilitate the discovery of new BGCs with biotechnological potential. This study aimed to isolate rare Actinomycetota strains from Antarctic soil and sediment samples and identify their metabolic potential based on genome mining and exploration of biosynthetic gene clusters. To this end, the strains were sequenced using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms. The assemblies were annotated and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Finally, the BGCs present in each genome were identified using the antiSMASH tool, and the biosynthetic diversity of the Micrococcaceae family was evaluated. Taxonomic annotation revealed that seven strains were new and two were previously reported in the NCBI database. Additionally, BGCs encoding type III polyketide synthases (T3PKS), beta-lactones, siderophores, and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) have been identified, among others. In addition, the sequence similarity network showed a predominant type of BGCs in the family Micrococcaceae, and some genera were distinctly grouped. The BGCs identified in the isolated strains could be associated with applications such as antimicrobials, anticancer agents, and plant growth promoters, among others, positioning them as excellent candidates for future biotechnological applications and innovations.

Key points

• Novel Antarctic rare Actinomycetota strains were isolated from soil and sediments

• Genome-based taxonomic affiliation revealed seven potentially novel species

• Genome mining showed metabolic potential for novel natural products
The dominance of dorsal scapular artery as the blood supply to muscles of the back in the absence of two primary vessels: a cadaveric case report
Authors: Rocha Janay , Chalk Robert , Bhattacharya Arunabh
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Understanding of rare or unknown anatomical variations of the vasculature of the neck is critical to reduce the risk of complications during surgeries and other invasive procedures in the neck and shoulder regions.

Methods

Bilateral dissection of the neck and muscles of the back of an 87-year-old Caucasian male donor was performed to demonstrate the origin, course and termination of the arteries that arise in the neck.

Results

Several anatomical variations were noted on the right side of the neck of the donor body – (i) only inferior thyroid and ascending cervical arteries originated from the thyrocervical trunk (TCT), from the first part of the subclavian artery (SA), whereas the transverse cervical (TCA) and suprascapular (SSA) arteries were entirely absent, (ii) Dorsal scapular artery (DSA) emerged normally from the third part of the SA. However, after supplying the rhomboids and levator scapulae muscles, DSA provided two additional branches to the trapezius muscle and a branch to the supraspinatus muscle. Interestingly, the branches to the trapezius muscle from the DSA were the only sources of blood supply to the muscle.

Conclusion

We report a unique anatomical variation involving the absence of the TCA and SSA from the TCT. The unilateral absence of these major vessels and the branches of DSA supplying the trapezius and supraspinatus muscles have not been reported previously in the literature in a single case report. This case study may provide useful information for head and neck reconstruction and shoulder repair surgeries.
Transient reflectance of silicon carbide during laser-induced phase separation
Authors: Pflug Theo , Bernard Benjamin , Jahn Falko , Gobald Michael , Weißmantel Steffen , Horn Alexander
Published: May 2024

Laser irradiation can induce local modulations of functional material properties, such as a decreased resistivity or a variation in reflectance. Recent studies investigated the laser-induced phase separation of 4 H-SiC into carbon and silicon on top of regrown SiC to customize its electrical conductivity for the application in electronic devices. To understand the physical processes leading to the laser-induced phase separation, time-resolved pump-probe measurements represent a suitable tool. This study advances the state of the art by characterizing the transient reflectance changes in 4 H-SiC upon irradiation by spatially resolved pump-probe reflectometry. Since the laser heating alters the reflectance of the sample, the spatially resolved measurement enables to observe the heat conduction from the irradiated to the non-irradiated areas, which sustains for several milliseconds. Numerical simulations of the temperature evolution reveal a restricted one-dimensional heat conduction into depth due to the broad lateral extent of the irradiated area. The associated sustained increased temperature within the irradiated area most certainly abets the feasibility of the phase separation. These findings offer practical insights for optimizing the applied laser parameters to tailor the material properties via phase separation.
Root mucilage nitrogen for rhizosphere microorganisms under drought
Authors: Nazari Meisam , Bickel Samuel , Kuzyakov Yakov , Bilyera Nataliya , Zarebanadkouki Mohsen , Wassermann Birgit , Dippold Michaela A.
Published: May 2024

Nitrogen (N) is a crucial nutrient for the growth and activity of rhizosphere microorganisms, particularly during drought conditions. Plant root-secreted mucilage contains N that could potentially nourish rhizosphere microbial communities. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding mucilage N content, its source, and its utilization by microorganisms under drought stress. In this study, we investigated the impact of four maize varieties (DH02 and DH04 from Kenya, and Kentos and Keops from Germany) on the secretion rates of mucilage from aerial roots and explored the origin of mucilage N supporting microbial life in the rhizosphere. We found that DH02 exhibited a 96% higher mucilage secretion rate compared to Kentos, while Keops showed 114% and 89% higher secretion rates compared to Kentos and DH04, respectively. On average, the four maize varieties released 4 μg N per root tip per day, representing 2% of total mucilage secretion. Notably, the natural abundance of 15N isotopes increased (higher δ15N signature) with mucilage N release. This indicates a potential dilution of the isotopic signal from biological fixation of atmospheric N by mucilage-inhabiting bacteria as mucilage secretion rates increase. We proposed a model linking mucilage secretion to a mixture of isotopic signatures and estimated that biological N fixation may contribute to 45 - 75% of mucilage N per root tip. The N content of mucilage from a single maize root tip can support a bacterial population ranging from 107 to 1010 cells per day. In conclusion, mucilage serves as a significant N-rich resource for microbial communities in the rhizosphere during drought conditions.
Nachhaltige Antriebssysteme für künftige Flugzeugsysteme
Authors: Heitmeir Franz
Published: May 2024

Die steigende Erderwärmung und die erforderlichen Maßnahmen, um diese einzudämmen, sind Themen, für die möglichst bald von den Naturwissenschaftler:innen und Ingenieur:innen Lösungen gefunden werden müssen. Die Diskussion um die Art der künftigen Mobilität hat mittlerweile alle Bereiche erfasst, von Autos, Lastkraftwagen und Schiffen bis hin zu Flugzeugen. Leider ist das Thema sehr komplex, systemübergreifend, politisch und ideologisch besetzt. Vieles ist nur mithilfe gemeinsamer internationaler Anstrengungen zu lösen.
Revisiting the metal sites of nitrous oxide reductase in a low-dose structure from Marinobacter nauticus
Authors: Pomowski Anja , Dell’Acqua Simone , Wüst Anja , Pauleta Sofia R. , Moura Isabel , Einsle Oliver
Published: May 2024

Copper-containing nitrous oxide reductase catalyzes a 2-electron reduction of the green-house gas N2O to yield N2. It contains two metal centers, the binuclear electron transfer site CuA, and the unique, tetranuclear CuZ center that is the site of substrate binding. Different forms of the enzyme were described previously, representing variations in oxidation state and composition of the metal sites. Hypothesizing that many reported discrepancies in the structural data may be due to radiation damage during data collection, we determined the structure of anoxically isolated Marinobacter nauticus N2OR from diffraction data obtained with low-intensity X-rays from an in-house rotating anode generator and an image plate detector. The data set was of exceptional quality and yielded a structure at 1.5 Å resolution in a new crystal form. The CuA site of the enzyme shows two distinct conformations with potential relevance for intramolecular electron transfer, and the CuZ cluster is present in a [4Cu:2S] configuration. In addition, the structure contains three additional types of ions, and an analysis of anomalous scattering contributions confirms them to be Ca2+, K+, and Cl–. The uniformity of the present structure supports the hypothesis that many earlier analyses showed inhomogeneities due to radiation effects. Adding to the earlier description of the same enzyme with a [4Cu:S] CuZ site, a mechanistic model is presented, with a structurally flexible CuZ center that does not require the complete dissociation of a sulfide prior to N2O binding.

Graphical Abstract

The [4Cu:2S] CuZ site in M. nauticus N 2O reductase. The electron density map shown is contoured at the 5
σ level, highlighting the presence of two sulfide ligands.
705x677mm (72 x 72 DPI)
Assessing self-regulated processes: what do primary school students do, say and think in the process of understanding a text?
Authors: Leites Valentina Ronqui , Seferian Daniel Trías , Martínez Juan Antonio Huertas
Published: May 2024

Self-regulation has a positive impact on learning and academic achievement, but due to its nature, it is difficult to assess it in a valid and reliable manner. This study aims to explore the validity of three self-regulation assessment methods in text comprehension tasks (questionnaire, think-aloud and traces) as well as to identify the variables associated with reading performance. For this purpose, individual sessions were conducted with 96 sixth-grade primary education students, who were asked to read a text and complete two reading comprehension tasks working in a virtual environment. Task traces were recorded, think-aloud was recorded and coded, and participants answered a self-report questionnaire about the strategies used. A limited relationship was found between self-regulation measured by means of the questionnaire, think-aloud and traces, and the relationship between think-aloud and traces was moderate. Regarding the factors related to text comprehension task performance, think-aloud and task time measurements were found to be better predictors of performance than the questionnaire.
Moving towards an ecological management of overabundant ungulates: insights from wildlife-vehicle collisions and hunting bag data
Authors: Tarjuelo Rocío , Luque-Larena Juan José , Mougeot François
Published: May 2024

Increasing abundance of large ungulates is raising human-wildlife impacts and the effectiveness of recreational hunting to reduce their population growth is increasingly questioned. We report on long-term trends (> 15 years) in wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and hunting bags, and on associations between the annual growth rate of WVC and that of hunting bags for three ungulates – the wild boar, the red deer, and the roe deer – and the grey wolf in northwest Spain to evaluate the regulating capacity of recreational hunting at large spatial scale. Wildlife-vehicle collisions increased by 332% in 16 years and 91% of all traffic accidents were caused by collisions with these three ungulates. All ungulate species showed significant positive trends in WVC and hunting bags, but we did not observe a negative association between annual growth rate of hunting bags and that of WVC except for the wild boar. Results suggest that recreational hunting was unable to reduce ungulate population growth at the regional scale. There was no upward trend of vehicle collisions with wolves over the study period, possibly reflecting stable wolf populations. Natural mortality due to predation could be promoted through the protection of apex predators, but the lethal management of apex predators, often based on sociopolitical pressures rather than damage levels, can conflict with the strategy for mitigating ungulate impacts. Ungulate management needs to be reconsidered from an ecological perspective that integrates human management measures, including recreational hunting, based on the population dynamics and the recovery of predator–prey interactions by favoring the expansion of apex predators.
On G-Drazin partial order in rings
Authors: Dolinar G. , Kuzma B. , Marovt J. , Mosić D.
Published: May 2024

We extend the concept of a G-Drazin inverse from the set $$M_n$$

M
n

of all $$n\times n$$

n
×
n

complex matrices to the set $$\mathcal{R}^{D}$$

R

D

of all Drazin invertible elements in a ring $$\mathcal{R}$$
R
with identity. We also generalize a partial order induced by G-Drazin inverses from $$M_n$$

M
n

to the set of all regular elements in $$\mathcal{R}^{D}$$

R

D

, study its properties, compare it to known partial orders, and generalize some known results.
Effect of Psychosocial Interventions on Children and Youth Emotion Regulation: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Espenes Kristin , Tørmoen Anita J. , Rognstad Kristian , Nilsen Karianne H. , Waaler Pamela M. , Wentzel-Larsen Tore , Kjøbli John
Published: May 2024

To investigate the effect of psychosocial interventions on emotion regulation outcomes in children and youth (0–23 years). We conducted a meta-analysis using a three-level modeling approach extracting multiple effect-sizes from experimental and quasi-experimental studies. We included 40 interventions from 35 publications involving 3,891 participants and extracted 258 posttreatment effect sizes. Analyses were performed to assess intervention effects on emotion regulation, moderating effects of inclusion of acceptance focus and other potential moderators. Additionally, we examined intervention effects on mental health outcomes. Interventions showed a significant small-to-medium effect on emotion regulation (d = 0.37, 95% CI [0.22, 0.51], p < .001). Similar effects on were found regardless of acceptance-focus. Interventions significantly associated with a higher level of effect (p ≤ 0.045) included ACT, DBT, CBT and behavior parent training interventions. Significant small-to-medium effects were found for mental health outcomes (d = 0.39, 95% CI [0.25, 0.53], p < .001), with a correlation of .56 between overall outcomes across domains. Meta-regression results indicated that psychosocial interventions are moderately effective in improving emotion regulation, with no significant difference in inclusion of acceptance-focus. Findings suggest that emotion regulation is a transdiagnostic process that may inform the development of more beneficial interventions.
Predicting habitat suitability for the Australian cycad-attacking weevil (Siraton internatus) under climate change
Authors: Hsaio Yun , Liao Jhih-Rong
Published: May 2024

Cycads hold important economic and conservation value. Some species are extensively used in landscaping, while others are endangered and legally protected. The Australian cycad-attacking weevil, Siraton internatus, is notably destructive, occasionally causing infestations and invasions across various countries. This study simulated habitat suitability for S. internatus to assess its potential invasion and the impact of climate change. Habitat suitability was evaluated under current climate and four climate change scenarios over two time frames (2050 and 2090). Furthermore, we investigated the threat posed by S. internatus to cycad reserves, using Taiwanese reserves as a representative case. Our MaxEnt predictions demonstrated high accuracy, meeting multiple evaluation criteria. We explored the potential distribution of S. internatus within Australia and internationally, identifying suitable habitats in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The case study highlighted the low habitat suitability within the two Taiwanese cycad reserves, which is projected to decrease to unsuitable levels under future climate change scenarios for this weevil species. Moreover, our results revealed that suitable habitat for S. internatus is projected to contract globally under all climate scenarios and time periods, but expansion in Chile and the southern Himalaya (e.g., Nepal). This study provides valuable insights into cycad conservation and pest invasion risks. The results support both global and local efforts to manage the invasion threats from this destructive Australian cycad-attacking weevil species. It also accentuates the urgency for continuous biosecurity inspections and prevention of exporting mature cycad caudexes from Australia.
Features in extractive supervised single-document summarization: case of Persian news
Authors: Rezaei Hosein , Mirhosseini Seyed Amid Moeinzadeh , Shahgholian Azar , Saraee Mohamad
Published: May 2024

Text summarization has been one of the most challenging areas of research in NLP. Much effort has been made to overcome this challenge by using either abstractive or extractive methods. Extractive methods are preferable due to their simplicity compared with the more elaborate abstractive methods. In extractive supervised single-document approaches, the system will not generate sentences. Instead, via supervised learning, it learns how to score sentences within the document based on some textual features and subsequently selects those with the highest rank. Therefore, the core objective is ranking, which enormously depends on the document structure and context. These dependencies have been unnoticed by many state-of-the-art solutions. In this work, document-related features such as topic and relative length are integrated into the vectors of every sentence to enhance the quality of summaries. Our experiment results show that the system takes contextual and structural patterns into account, which will increase the precision of the learned model. Consequently, our method will produce more comprehensive and concise summaries.
Simultaneous and Independent Control of Multiple Swimming Magnetic Microrobots by Stabilizer Microrobot
Authors: Khalesi Ruhollah , Nejat Pishkenari Hossein , Vossoughi Gholamreza
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a new strategy for simultaneous control of multiple magnetic Micro Robots (MRs) improving stability and robustness with respect to external disturbances. Independent control of multiple MRs, can enhance efficiency and allows for performing more challenging applications. In this study, we present a system consisting of a Helmholtz coil and 2N Permanent Magnets (PMs), rotated by servomotors, to control several MRs. We have also improved the system’s stability by adding a larger MR (stabilizer MR). This MR can be moved all around the workspace and works as a moving internal magnetic field source. Thanks to this moveable magnetic field, other MRs are more stable against environmental disturbances. By simulating simultaneous and independent control of multiple MRs, we demonstrate the advantages of using the stabilizer MR (more than 20 percent reduction in tracking error and control effort). In addition, we evaluate experimentally our proposed method to independently control the position of three MRs using a stabilizer MR demonstrating the efficacy of the strategy.
Recent and Prospects of Synthesis and Application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) in Water Treatment: A Review
Authors: Motshekga Sarah C. , Oyewo Opeyemi A. , Makgato Seshibe S.
Published: May 2024

Wastewater treatment is designed to eradicate toxic pollutants emanating from the industrial effluent to the surface and underground water. The efficiency and limitations of most of the existing water treatment techniques such as coagulation/flocculation, photocatalysis, membrane technologies and adsorption in the remediation of toxic pollutants have been established. However, the success reported for each of these techniques is usually associated with the efficiency and environmental friendliness of water treatment products applied. MOFs-based products are one of the materials serving as an alternative to chemically synthesized products, and their application as water treatment products has been reported extensively but not systematically documented. In this review, authors endeavoured to comprehensively provide insights into the recent MOFs-based product synthesis for different applications, especially in water treatment. The key factors influencing the synthesis of MOFs, including choice of metal ions, organic linkers, and synthesis conditions, along with the latest developments in scalable and cost-effective fabrication techniques are discussed. The synthesis routes, their limitation and their performances as an adsorbent, photocatalyst and additives in membrane fabrication in the removal of toxic pollutants from water are elaborated. The prospects in the large-scale production of MOFs-based water treatment products for real industrial applications are critically reviewed in this study. Overall, a well-curated synthesis and application of MOFs in water treatment is hereby generated from the best resources accessible through the literature.