bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two is better than one: innovative ants overcome the nature-inspired cognitive challenge of pupal insertion
Authors: Pathak Manish Kumar , Halder Subhashis , Mukhopadhyay Snigdha , Annagiri Sumana
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The cognitive abilities of animals play a crucial role in their capacity to adapt to changing environments. Experiments to understand cognition are usually performed on animals such as non-human primates, canids, or corvids. These studies often use food as the motivating factor. However, in the current study, we used a new paradigm to investigate the ability of ponerine ants, who are solitary foragers, to solve a nature-inspired problem. As pupae are the most invested brood item and are directly associated with the colony’s fitness, we designed an experiment that presented a challenge to colony relocation by imposing restrictions on the transportation of pupae to the new nest.

Methods

We used a narrow nest entrance through which an adult could enter, but it rendered the passage of an adult holding a pupa virtually impossible. Through this, we examined the capacity of these ants to overcome the “pupal insertion” challenge by investigating eight colonies involving 425 pupal insertions performed by 104 uniquely labeled ants.

Results

We found that 80% of all pupae were inserted into the nest by employing a novel cooperative behavior: one ant pushed the pupa while the other ant(s) inside the nest pulled it. Even though individual ants showed high variability in their performance regarding pupal insertion, the initial three successive insertions showed a significant improvement in their performance. Such improvement was also documented at the colony level, with shorter durations and fewer attempts for subsequent pupal insertions.

Discussion

Our study demonstrated that ants can overcome difficult environmental challenges through innovation and subsequently improve their performance without training or reward.
FDEM numerical study of the influence law of geostress on state and pressure of tunnel surrounding rock
Authors: Hu Bo , Xiao Mingqing , Fu Xiaodong , Yang Jian , Xu Chen , Wu Jiaming , Zhou Yongqiang
Published: July 2023

Surrounding rock pressure is a crucial parameter in tunnel engineering design, and its calculation is a classic challenge. The surrounding rock pressure is influenced by geostress, but existing calculation methods often do not take into account the effect of geostress. In this paper, finite discrete element method (FDEM) is used to study the design values of tunnel surrounding rock pressure under different geostress fields. Firstly, a set of calibration methods for input parameters of FDEM is summarized based on previous studies. Then, taking a high-speed railway tunnel in IV-level surrounding rock as an example, the excavation-induced failure process of the tunnel under the influence of gravity stress field and geostress field is simulated using the FDEM. By comparing the results with those of the finite element method simulation, the rationality of applying FDEM to the simulation of tunnel excavation is demonstrated. Next, a calculation method of surrounding rock pressure design value based on FDEM is proposed by introducing tunnel displacement criterion, and its validity is verified by comparing with the results of the theoretical formula. Finally, the surrounding rock pressure design values under different geostress are analyzed by using this calculation method. The results show that there are significant differences between the gravity stress field and the geostress field in the maximum principal stress distribution, failure zone form and crack distribution. The geostress directly influences the design value of surrounding rock pressure. As the geostress varies from 4MPa to 12MPa, the corresponding design value increases from 49KPa to 1,288KPa, illustrating a quadratic relationship between them. With the corresponding design support force, the displacement of the surrounding rock is controlled within a reasonable range, ensuring the stability of the tunnel is maintained.
Difference in the songs of paired and unpaired southern yellow-cheeked gibbon males (Nomascus gabriellae): social status or age?
Authors: Hradec Michal , Illmann Gudrun , Prikrylová Martina , Bolechová Petra , Vostrá-Vydrová Hana
Published: July 2023

All gibbons (Primates: Hylobatidae) are well known for emitting loud vocalizations specific for species and sex. The songs of paired and unpaired male southern yellow-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae) are characterized by the presence of staccato notes and multi-modulation phrases with two or more extremely rapid frequency modulations in the second note of each phrase. In addition, paired males also produce a coda vocalization, which is similar to the multi-modulation phrase of male calls but lacks the staccato notes and always occurs directly following the female great call as part of a pair-specific duet. The aim of this study was first to assess whether the songs of paired and unpaired males can be acoustically distinguished from one another and second, whether the coda vocalization differs from the multi-modulation phrase of the male call in paired males. To assess these issues, we analyzed 616 songs obtained from a long-term study of vocal development in 14 captive adult males (>7 years old), half of which were unpaired and significantly younger than paired subjects. For each song, we quantified nine acoustic features, for which we applied a suite of linear mixed effects models with social status as a fixed variable and age as a regression coefficient. This allowed us to compare (1) the structure of male calls (staccato notes and multi-modulation phrase) between paired and unpaired subjects, (2) the muti-modulation phrase of unpaired subjects to the coda vocalization of paired subjects, and (3) the multi-modulation phrase of paired males to the coda vocalization. We found that the male call of younger-unpaired subjects had a longer duration, broader frequency range, higher maximum frequency, and fewer staccato notes than their counterparts in paired subjects. The coda vocalization of older-paired males exhibited a larger number of frequency modulations than the multi-modulation phrase of all males. While the male call of younger-unpaired males differs from both the male call and the coda vocalization of older-paired males, further studies are necessary to disentangle the effects of age and pairing status.
Mapping of the Cladosporium fulvum resistance gene Cf-16, a major gene involved in leaf mold disease in tomato
Authors: Zhang Dongye , Li Huijia , Liu Guan , Xie Libo , Feng Guojun , Xu Xiangyang
Published: July 2023

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is widely cultivated and consumed worldwide. Tomato leaf mold, caused by Cladosporium fulvum, is one of the most devastating diseases in tomato production. At present, some tomato leaf mold resistance (Cf series) genes used in production gradually lose resistance due to the continuous and rapid differentiation of C. fulvum physiological races. The Cf-16 gene derived from the “Ontario7816” tomato cultivar has shown effective resistance in field trials for many years, but few studies have reported on the mapping of the Cf-16 gene, which has not been cloned, limiting its utilization in tomato breeding. Here, we mapped Cf-16 using a novel comprehensive strategy including bulk segregation analysis (BSA), genome resequencing and SSR molecular markers. A genetic analysis revealed that Cf-16 resistance in “Ontario7816” is controlled by one major dominant locus. The Cf-16 gene was mapped in a region of 2.6 cM at chromosome 6 between two markers, namely, TGS447 and TES312, by using an F2 population from a cross between the resistant cultivar “Ontario7816” and susceptible line “Moneymaker.” Two nucleotide-binding-site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) resistance genes, namely, XM_004240667.3 and XM_010323727.1, were identified in this interval. They are strong candidates for the Cf-16 gene. The mapping of Cf-16 may speed up its utilization for breeding resistant tomato varieties and represents an important step forward in our understanding of the mechanism underlying resistance to tomato leaf mold.
Pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects and their associated factors among antenatal care attendees in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia, in 2019
Authors: Ferede Addisu Andualem , Kassie Belayneh Ayanaw , Mosu Kiber Temesgen , Getahun Worku Taye , Taye Birhan Tsegaw , Desta Melaku , Fetene Mamaru Getie
Published: July 2023

Background

Birth defects (BDs) are structural, behavioral, functional, and metabolic disorders present at birth. Due to lack of knowledge, families and communities stigmatized pregnant women following the birth of a child with birth defects. In Ethiopia, there was limited evidence to assess the level of knowledge among pregnant women despite increasing magnitude of birth defects.

Objectives

This study aims to assess pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects and its associated factors among antenatal care (ANC) attendees in referral hospitals of Amhara regional state in 2019.

Materials and methods

Between 1 June and 30 June 2019, 636 pregnant women receiving prenatal care participated in an institution-based cross-sectional study. The approach for sampling was multistage. A semi-structured pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered in EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was used. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval andp-value of ≤0.05 declared statistical significance association.

Results

A total of 636 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Accordingly, pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects was found to be 49.2% (95% CI: 45.4–53.1). Age group of <25 years (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04–0.61), urban residence (AOR = 6.06, 95% CI: 2.17–16.94), ANC booked before 20 weeks of gestational age (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.37–8.54), and ever heard on birth defects (AOR = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.87–13.43) were significantly associated factors with pregnant women's knowledge of birth defects.

Conclusions

Approximately half of the pregnant mothers were aware of birth defects. Addressing pre-pregnancy and pregnancy health information and education particularly on the prevention of birth defects is recommended.
Orally administrated Lactobacillus gasseri TM13 and Lactobacillus crispatus LG55 can restore the vaginal health of patients recovering from bacterial vaginosis
Authors: Qi Fengyuan , Fan Shangrong , Fang Chao , Ge Lan , Lyu Jinli , Huang Zhuoqi , Zhao Shaowei , Zou Yuanqiang , Huang Liting , Liu Xinyang , Liang Yiheng , Zhang Yongke , Zhong Yiyi , Zhang Haifeng , Xiao Liang , Zhang Xiaowei
Published: July 2023

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infection of the lower genital tract with a vaginal microbiome dysbiosis caused by decreasing of lactobacilli. Previous studies suggested that supplementation with live Lactobacillus may benefit the recovery of BV, however, the outcomes vary in people from different regions. Herein, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of oral Chinese-origin Lactobacillus with adjuvant metronidazole (MET) on treating Chinese BV patients. In total, 67 Chinese women with BV were enrolled in this parallel controlled trial and randomly assigned to two study groups: a control group treated with MET vaginal suppositories for 7 days and a probiotic group treated with oral Lactobacillus gasseri TM13 and Lactobacillus crispatus LG55 as an adjuvant to MET for 30 days. By comparing the participants with Nugent Scores ≥ 7 and < 7 on days 14, 30, and 90, we found that oral administration of probiotics did not improve BV cure rates (72.73% and 84.00% at day 14, 57.14% and 60.00% at day 30, 32.14% and 48.39% at day 90 for probiotic and control group respectively). However, the probiotics were effective in restoring vaginal health after cure by showing higher proportion of participants with Nugent Scores < 4 in the probiotic group compared to the control group (87.50% and 71.43% on day 14, 93.75% and 88.89% on day 30, and 77.78% and 66.67% on day 90). The relative abundance of the probiotic strains was significantly increased in the intestinal microbiome of the probiotic group compared to the control group at day 14, but no significance was detected after 30 and 90 days. Also, the probiotics were not detected in vaginal microbiome, suggesting that L. gasseri TM13 and L. crispatus LG55 mainly acted through the intestine. A higher abundance of Prevotella timonensis at baseline was significantly associated with long-term cure failure of BV and greatly contributed to the enrichment of the lipid IVA synthesis pathway, which could aggravate inflammation response. To sum up, L. gasseri TM13 and L. crispatus LG55 can restore the vaginal health of patients recovering from BV, and individualized intervention mode should be developed to restore the vaginal health of patients recovering from BV.

Clinical trial registration

https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/, identifier NCT04771728.
NR2F6, a new immune checkpoint that acts as a potential biomarker of immunosuppression and contributes to poor clinical outcome in human glioma
Authors: Miftah Hayat , Naji Oumayma , Ssi Saadia Ait , Ghouzlani Amina , Lakhdar Abdelhakim , Badou Abdallah
Published: July 2023

Intoroduction

Nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 6 (NR2F6) is a promising checkpoint target for cancer immunotherapy. However, there has been no investigation of NR2F6 in glioma. Our study systematically explored the clinical characteristics and biological functions of NR2F6 in gliomas.

Methods

We extracted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data of 663 glioma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as the training cohort and 325 samples from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) as the validation cohort. We also confirmed the NR2F6 gene expression feature in our own cohort of 60 glioma patients. R language and GraphPad Prism softwares were mainly used for statistical analysis and graphical work.

Results

We found that NR2F6 was significantly related to high tumor aggressiveness and poor outcomes for glioma patients. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that NR2F6 was associated with many biological processes that are related to glioma progression, such as angiogenesis, and with multiple immune-related functions. Moreover, NR2F6 was found to be significantly correlated with stromal and immune infiltration in gliomas. Subsequent analysis based on Gliomas single-cell sequencing datasets showed that NR2F6 was expressed in immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells. Mechanistically, results suggested that NR2F6 might act as a potential immunosuppression-mediated molecule in the glioma microenvironment through multiple ways, such as the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells, secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, M2 polarization of macrophages, in addition to combining with other immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that intracellular targeting of NR2F6 in both immune cells and tumor cells, as well as stromal cells, may represent a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for glioma. Stromal cells, may represent a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for glioma.
Combining deep mutational scanning to heatmap of HLA class II binding of immunogenic sequences to preserve functionality and mitigate predicted immunogenicity
Authors: Sivelle Coline , Sierocki Raphael , Lesparre Youen , Lomet Aurore , Quintilio Wagner , Dubois Steven , Correia Evelyne , Moro Ana Maria , Maillère Bernard , Nozach Hervé
Published: July 2023

Removal of CD4 T cell epitopes from therapeutic antibody sequences is expected to mitigate their potential immunogenicity, but its application is complicated by the location of their T cell epitopes, which mainly overlap with complementarity-determining regions. We therefore evaluated the flexibility of antibody sequences to reduce the predicted affinity of corresponding peptides for HLA II molecules and to maintain antibody binding to its target in order to guide antibody engineering for mitigation of predicted immunogenicity. Permissive substitutions to reduce affinity of peptides for HLA II molecules were identified by establishing a heatmap of HLA class II binding using T-cell epitope prediction tools, while permissive substitutions preserving binding to the target were identified by means of deep mutational scanning and yeast surface display. Combinatorial libraries were then designed to identify active clones. Applied to adalimumab, an anti-TNFα human antibody, this approach identified 200 mutants with a lower HLA binding score than adalimumab. Three mutants were produced as full-length antibodies and showed a higher affinity for TNFα and neutralization ability than adalimumab. This study also sheds light on the permissiveness of antibody sequences with regard to functionality and predicted T cell epitope content.
Identifying a baicalein-related prognostic signature contributes to prognosis prediction and tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhang Citing , Lei Defeng , Zhou Yan , Zhong Tongning , Li Xuefei , Ai Weipeng , Zheng Biao , Liu Jikui , Piao Yicui , Yan Zilong , Lai Zhengquan
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most malignant and lethal human cancers in the world due to its high metastatic potential, and patients with PDAC have a poor prognosis, yet quite little is understood regarding the underlying biological mechanisms of its high metastatic capacity. Baicalein has a dramatic anti-tumor function in the treatment of different types of cancer. However, the therapeutic effects of baicalein on human PDAC and its mechanisms of action have not been extensively understood. In order to explore the biological characteristic, molecular mechanisms, and potential clinical value of baicalein in inhibiting the metastatic capacity of PDAC. We performed several in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies. We first examined the potential regulation of baicalein in the metastatic capacity of PDAC cells. We showed that baicalein could dramatically suppress liver metastasis of PDAC cells with highly metastatic potential in mice model. The high-throughput sequencing analysis was employed to explore the biological roles of baicalein in PDAC cells. We found that baicalein might be involved in the infiltration of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAF) in PDAC. Moreover, a baicalein-related risk model and a lncRNA-related model were built by Cox analysis according to the data set of PDAC from TCGA database which suggested a clinical value of baicalein. Finally, we revealed a potential downstream target of baicalein in PDAC, we proposed that baicalein might contribute to the infiltration of CAF via FGFBP1. Thus, we uncovered a novel role for baicalein in regulation of PDAC liver metastasis that may contribute to its anti-cancer effect. We proposed that baicalein might suppress PDAC liver metastasis via regulation of FGFBP1-mediated CAF infiltration. Our results provide a new perspective on clinical utility of baicalein and open new avenues for the inhibition of liver-metastasis of PDAC.
Study on the dissolution diffusion behavior of Al in Sn melt
Authors: Zhao Junfeng , Li Xiaohui , Xie En , Mei Haijuan , Shen Youqu , Li Kai , Gong Weiping , Wang Liang
Published: July 2023

The Al-Sn alloys with a large melting point difference and large density are widely used in sliding bearings in the aerospace and automobile industries. But the problem of insufficient alloying easily occurs during the preparation process due to the physical properties. This paper investigates the dissolution and diffusion behavior of Al in Sn Melt. The dissolution rates of Al in Sn melts at different temperatures were calculated. The research results show that the Al/Sn diffusion is dominated by the diffusion of Sn into Al, the Sn melt penetrate into the solid Al to form diffusion channel leading to the exfoliation and aggregation of the unmelted Al particles. Then, an electromagnetic field treatment technology was introduced to improve sufficient alloying by regulating the flow field of the metal melt. It can accelerate the diffusion and redistribution of elements at the Al/Sn solid-liquid interface, as well as change the dissolution mechanism of Al/Sn interface.
Evolution of primate interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs): a story of gain and loss with a differentiation into a canonical cluster and IFITM retrogenes
Authors: Schelle Luca , Abrantes Joana , Baldauf Hanna-Mari , Esteves Pedro José
Published: July 2023

Interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are a family of transmembrane proteins. The subgroup of immunity-related (IR-)IFITMs is involved in adaptive and innate immune responses, being especially active against viruses. Here, we suggest that IFITMs should be classified as (1) a canonical IFITM gene cluster, which is located on the same chromosome, and (2) IFITM retrogenes, with a random and unique location at different positions within the genome. Phylogenetic analyses of the canonical cluster revealed the existence of three novel groups of primate IFITMs (pIFITM) in the IR-IFITM clade: the prosimian pIFITMs(pro), the new world monkey pIFITMs(nwm) and the old world monkey pIFITMs(owm). Therefore, we propose a new nomenclature: IR-pIFITM1, IR-pIFITM2, IR-pIFITM3, IR-pIFITMnwm, IR-pIFITMowm, and IR-pIFITMpro. We observed divergent evolution for pIFITM5 and pIFITM10, and evidence for concerted evolution and a mechanism of birth-and-death evolution model for the IR-pIFITMs. In contrast, the IFITMs scattered throughout the genomes possessed features of retrogenes retrotransposed by class 1 transposable elements. The origin of the IFITM retrogenes correspond to more recent events. We hypothesize that the transcript of a canonical IFITM3 has been constantly retrotransposed using class 1 transposable elements resulting in the IFITM retro(pseudo)genes. The unique pattern of each species has most likely been caused by constant pseudogenization and loss of the retro(pseudo)genes. This suggests a third mechanism of evolution for the IR-IFITMs in primates, similar to the birth-and-death model of evolution, but via a transposable element mechanism, which resulted in retro(pseudo)genes.
The correlation between multiple HPV infections and the occurrence, development, and prognosis of cervical cancer
Authors: Na Jing , Li Ya , Wang Jun , Wang Xinyou , Lu JunLing , Han Shichao
Published: July 2023

Cervical carcinoma is the fourth female malignant tumor in the world, and the persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as the most common cause. This article studies the correlation between multiple HPV infections and the occurrence, development, and prognosis of cervical cancer in order to provide more references for clinical diagnosis and treatment. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 400 cervical carcinoma patients admitted to our hospital from 2015 to 2023. The collected patient data include age, HPV infection status, tumor size and morphology, local infiltration depth, diagnostic staging, surgical approach, vascular cancer thrombus status, lymph node status, and postoperative HPV follow-up status. We use SPSS statistical software for data analysis. Our research shows that the high-risk age group for cervical carcinoma is concentrated between 41 and 60 years old, which is basically consistent with the age range of the high incidence of HPV infection. In the statistics for HPV infection types, ~67.7% of patients are single HPV-infected, 25.29% are double infected, and 7.00% are infected with three or more types of HPV. Among the multiple HPV infections, most of the patients are younger than 40 years old and older than 70 years old, with double infection accounting for the majority. The top five HPV subtypes with high detection rates belong to high-risk subtypes, which are the HPV16, 18, 58, 33, and 52 subtypes, respectively. There was no significant relationship between multiple HPV infections and cervical cancer stage, lesion size, pathological tissue type, tissue differentiation degree/vascular cancer thrombus, and lymph node metastasis, and there was no significant difference in the results between the groups. In summary, multiple types of HPV infection in the cervix are common. We found that multiple infections, mainly HPV16, are closely related to cervical cancer. For the HPV16, 18, 58, 33, and 52 subtypes of infection, especially for patients younger than 40 years old and older than 70 years old, priority should be given to prevention and treatment. The relationship between multiple HPV infections and the progression and prognosis of cervical carcinoma requires further research, which could better guide cancer prevention and treatment.
Molecular detection of Coxiella spp. in ticks (Ixodidae and Argasidae) infesting domestic and wild animals: with notes on the epidemiology of tick-borne Coxiella burnetii in Asia
Authors: Ali Abid , Obaid Muhammad Kashif , Almutairi Mashal M. , Alouffi Abdulaziz , Numan Muhammad , Ullah Shafi , Rehman Gauhar , Islam Zia Ul , Khan Sher Bahadar , Tanaka Tetsuya
Published: July 2023

Tick-borneCoxiellaspp. are emerging in novel regions infecting different hosts, but information regarding their occurrence is limited. The purpose of this study was the molecular screening ofCoxiellaspp. in various ticks infesting goats, sheep, camels, cattle, wild mice, and domestic fowls (Gallus gallus domesticus) in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Morphologically identified tick species were confirmed by obtaining theircox1sequences and were molecularly screened forCoxiellaspp. by sequencingGroELfragments. Almost 345 out of 678 (50.9%) hosts were infested by nine tick species. Regarding the age groups, the hosts having an age >3 years were highly infested (192/345, 55.6%), while gender-wise infestation was higher in female hosts (237/345, 68.7%). In collected ticks, the nymphs were outnumbered (613/1,119, 54.8%), followed by adult females (293/1,119, 26.2%) and males (213/1,119, 19.7%). A total of 227 ticks were processed for molecular identification and detection ofCoxiellaspp. The obtainedcox1sequences of nine tick species such asHyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma anatolicum, Haemaphysalis cornupunctata, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis danieli, Haemaphysalis montgomeryi, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rhipicephalus microplus, andArgas persicusshowed maximum identities between 99.6% and 100% with the same species and in the phylogenetic tree, clustered to the corresponding species. All the tick species exceptHa. danieliandR. micropluswere found positive forCoxiellaspp. (40/227, 17.6%), includingCoxiella burnetii(15/40, 6.7%),Coxiellaendosymbionts (14/40, 6.3%), and differentCoxiellaspp. (11/40, 4.9%). By the BLAST results, theGroELfragments ofCoxiellaspp. showed maximum identity toC. burnetii, Coxiellaendosymbionts, andCoxiellasp., and phylogenetically clustered to the corresponding species. This is the first comprehensive report regarding the genetic characterization ofCoxiellaspp. in Pakistan's ticks infesting domestic and wild hosts. Proper surveillance and management measures should be undertaken to avoid health risks.
The effects of typical ageing on cognitive control: recent advances and future directions
Authors: Dexter Melissa , Ossmy Ori
Published: July 2023

Cognitive control is one of the most fundamental aspects of human life. Its ageing is an important contemporary research area due to the needs of the growing ageing population, such as prolonged independence and quality of life. Traditional ageing research argued for a global decline in cognitive control with age, typically characterised by slowing processing speed and driven by changes in the frontal cortex. However, recent advances questioned this perspective by demonstrating high heterogeneity in the ageing data, domain-specific declines, activity changes in resting state networks, and increased functional connectivity. Moreover, improvements in neuroimaging techniques have enabled researchers to develop compensatory models of neural reorganisation that helps negate the effects of neural losses and promote cognitive control. In this article on typical ageing, we review recent behavioural and neural findings related to the decline in cognitive control among older adults. We begin by reviewing traditional perspectives and continue with how recent work challenged those perspectives. In the discussion section, we propose key areas of focus for future research in the field.
Recognition new energy vehicles based on improved YOLOv5
Authors: Hu Yannan , Kong Mingming , Zhou Mingsheng , Sun Zhanbo
Published: July 2023

In the field of Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), vehicle recognition is a hot research topic. Although different types of vehicles can already be recognized, further identification and statistics of new energy and fuel vehicles in unknown and complex environments remain a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a New Energy Vehicle Recognition and Traffic Flow Statistics (NEVTS) approach. Specifically, we first utilized the You Only Look Once v5 (YOLOv5) algorithm to detect vehicles in the target area, in which we applied Task-Specific Context Decoupling (TSCODE) to decouple the prediction and classification tasks of YOLOv5. This approach significantly enhanced the performance of vehicle detection. Then, track them upon detection. Finally, we use the YOLOv5 algorithm to locate and classify the color of license plates. Green license plates indicate new energy vehicles, while non-green license plates indicate fuel vehicles, which can accurately and efficiently calculate the number of new energy vehicles. The effectiveness of the proposed NEVTS in recognizing new energy vehicles and traffic flow statistics is demonstrated by experimental results. Not only can NEVTS be applied to the recognition of new energy vehicles and traffic flow statistics, but it can also be further employed for traffic timing pattern extraction and traffic situation monitoring and management.
Impact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on healthy cognitive and brain aging
Authors: Trifilio Erin , Shortell Destin , Olshan Sarah , O’Neal Alexandria , Coyne Jozee , Lamb Damon , Porges Eric , Williamson John
Published: July 2023

Evidence for clinically meaningful benefits of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been rapidly accumulating over the past 15  years. This relatively novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique has been applied to a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. More recently, non-invasive forms of VNS have allowed for investigations within healthy aging populations. These results offer insight into protocol considerations specific to older adults and how to translate those results into effective clinical trials and, ultimately, effective clinical care. In this review, we characterize the possible mechanisms by which non-invasive VNS may promote healthy aging (e.g., neurotransmitter effects, inflammation regulation, functional connectivity changes), special considerations for applying non-invasive VNS in an older adult population (e.g., vagus nerve changes with age), and how non-invasive VNS may be used in conjunction with existing behavioral interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive training) to promote healthy emotional and cognitive aging.
Micro SleepNet: efficient deep learning model for mobile terminal real-time sleep staging
Authors: Liu Guisong , Wei Guoliang , Sun Shuqing , Mao Dandan , Zhang Jiansong , Zhao Dechun , Tian Xuelong , Wang Xing , Chen Nanxi
Published: July 2023

The real-time sleep staging algorithm that can perform inference on mobile devices without burden is a prerequisite for closed-loop sleep modulation. However, current deep learning sleep staging models have poor real-time efficiency and redundant parameters. We propose a lightweight and high-performance sleep staging model named Micro SleepNet, which takes a 30-s electroencephalography (EEG) epoch as input, without relying on contextual signals. The model features a one-dimensional group convolution with a kernel size of 1 × 3 and an Efficient Channel and Spatial Attention (ECSA) module for feature extraction and adaptive recalibration. Moreover, the model efficiently performs feature fusion using dilated convolution module and replaces the conventional fully connected layer with Global Average Pooling (GAP). These design choices significantly reduce the total number of model parameters to 48,226, with only approximately 48.95 Million Floating-point Operations per Second (MFLOPs) computation. The proposed model is conducted subject-independent cross-validation on three publicly available datasets, achieving an overall accuracy of up to 83.3%, and the Cohen Kappa is 0.77. Additionally, we introduce Class Activation Mapping (CAM) to visualize the model’s attention to EEG waveforms, which demonstrate the model’s ability to accurately capture feature waveforms of EEG at different sleep stages. This provides a strong interpretability foundation for practical applications. Furthermore, the Micro SleepNet model occupies approximately 100 KB of memory on the Android smartphone and takes only 2.8 ms to infer one EEG epoch, meeting the real-time requirements of sleep staging tasks on mobile devices. Consequently, our proposed model has the potential to serve as a foundation for accurate closed-loop sleep modulation.
Bioaccessibility and bioactive potential of different phytochemical classes from nutraceuticals and functional foods
Authors: Nicolescu Alexandru , Babotă Mihai , Barros Lillian , Rocchetti Gabriele , Lucini Luigi , Tanase Corneliu , Mocan Andrei , Bunea Claudiu I. , Crișan Gianina
Published: July 2023

Nutraceuticals and functional foods are composed of especially complex matrices, with polyphenols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins, among others, being the main classes of phytochemicals involved in their bioactivities. Despite their wide use, further investigations are needed to certify the proper release of these phytochemicals into the gastrointestinal medium, where the bioaccessibility assay is one of the most frequently used method. The aim of this review was to gather and describe different methods that can be used to assess the bioaccessibility of nutraceuticals and functional foods, along with the most important factors that can impact this process. The link between simulated digestion testing of phytochemicals and their in vitro bioactivity is also discussed, with a special focus on the potential of developing nutraceuticals and functional foods from simple plant materials. The bioactive potential of certain classes of phytochemicals from nutraceuticals and functional foods is susceptible to different variations during the bioaccessibility assessment, with different factors contributing to this variability, namely the chemical composition and the nature of the matrix. Regardless of the high number of studies, the current methodology fails to assume correlations between bioaccessibility and bioactivity, and the findings of this review indicate a necessity for updated and standardized protocols.
Effects of ranitidine and nizatidine on the risk of gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Kang Hyejung , Nam Chung Mo , Choi Dong-Woo , Park Sohee
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer occurs in digestive organs such as the stomach, colon, liver, esophagus, and pancreas. About 83,034 cases occurred in Korea alone in 2020. Dietary factors, alcohol consumption, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and lifestyle factors increase the incidence of diseases such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can develop into GI cancer. However, in 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration announced that the drugs ranitidine and nizatidine, which are used for digestive disorders, contain carcinogens. In this study, we investigated the effects of ranitidine and nizatidine on the development of GI cancer.

Materials and methods

In this study, using National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) version 2.5 (updated from 2002 to 2019), subjects who developed GI cancer were enrolled in the case group, and those who were at risk of, but did not develop, cancer were enrolled in the control group. Thereafter, risk-set matching was performed (1:3 ratio) by sex and age at the time of diagnosis of cancer in the case group. Through this procedure, 22,931 cases and 68,793 controls were identified. The associations of ranitidine and/or nizatidine with GI cancer were confirmed by adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated through conditional logistic regression analysis.

Results

The aORs of ranitidine and/or nizatidine users were lower than those of nonusers in all average prescription days groups (< 30 days/year: aOR [95% CI] = 0.79 [0.75-0.82]; 30–59 days/year: aOR [95% CI] = 0.66 [0.59-0.73]; 60–89 days/year: aOR [95% CI] = 0.69 [0.59-0.81]; ≥ 90 days/year: aOR [95% CI] = 0.69 [0.59-0.79]). Sensitivity analyses were conducted with different lag periods for the onset of GI cancer after drug administration, and these analyses yielded consistent results. Additional analyses were also performed by dividing subjects into groups based on cancer types and CCI scores, and these analyses produced the same results.

Conclusion

Our study, using nationwide retrospective cohort data, did not find evidence suggesting that ranitidine and nizatidine increase the risk of GI cancer. In fact, we observed that the incidence of GI cancer was lower in individuals who used the drugs compared to nonusers. These findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of these drugs on cancer risk, likely attributed to their ability to improve digestive function.
U-CHANGE Project: a multidimensional consensus on how clinicians, patients and caregivers may approach together the new urothelial cancer scenario
Authors: Bracarda Sergio , Iacovelli Roberto , Baldazzi Valentina , Zucali Paolo Andrea , Gernone Angela , Conti Giario Natale , Pappagallo Giovanni , Brunelli Matteo , Bruzzi Paolo , Fiorini Edoardo , Magenta Laura , Diomede Francesco , Mereta Federico , D’Aria Irma , Magliano Danilo , Liberatori Monica , Cantù Daniela , Croce Davide , Eandi Simone , Colombo Giorgio Lorenzo , Ferrante Fulvio , Salè Emanuela Omodeo , Marinozzi Andrea , Lenzi Daniele , Remiddi Francesca , Remiddi Stefano
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Advanced urothelial carcinoma remains aggressive and very hard to cure, while new treatments will pose a challenge for clinicians and healthcare funding policymakers alike. The U-CHANGE Project aimed to redesign the current model of care for advanced urothelial carcinoma patients to identify limitations (“as is” scenario) and recommend future actions (“to be” scenario).

Methods

Twenty-three subject-matter experts, divided into three groups, analyzed the two scenarios as part of a multidimensional consensus process, developing statements for specific domains of the disease, and a simplified Delphi methodology was used to establish consensus among the experts.

Results

Recommended actions included increasing awareness of the disease, increased training of healthcare professionals, improvement of screening strategies and care pathways, increased support for patients and caregivers and relevant recommendations from molecular tumor boards when comprehensive genomic profiling has to be provided for appropriate patient selection to ad hoc targeted therapies.

Discussion

While the innovative new targeted agents have the potential to significantly alter the clinical approach to this highly aggressive disease, the U-CHANGE Project experience shows that the use of these new agents will require a radical shift in the entire model of care, implementing sustainable changes which anticipate the benefits of future treatments, capable of targeting the right patient with the right agent at different stages of the disease.
Linked-read based analysis of the medulloblastoma genome
Authors: Zwaig Melissa , Johnston Michael J. , Lee John J.Y. , Farooq Hamza , Gallo Marco , Jabado Nada , Taylor Michael D. , Ragoussis Jiannis
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Medulloblastoma is the most common type of malignant pediatric brain tumor with group 4 medulloblastomas (G4 MBs) accounting for 40% of cases. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie this subgroup are still poorly understood. Point mutations are detected in a large number of genes at low incidence per gene while the detection of complex structural variants in recurrently affected genes typically requires the application of long-read technologies.

Methods

Here, we applied linked-read sequencing, which combines the long-range genome information of long-read sequencing with the high base pair accuracy of short read sequencing and very low sample input requirements.

Results

We demonstrate the detection of complex structural variants and point mutations in these tumors, and, for the first time, the detection of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) with linked-reads. We provide further evidence for the high heterogeneity of somatic mutations in G4 MBs and add new complex events associated with it.

Discussion

We detected several enhancer-hijacking events, an ecDNA containing the MYCN gene, and rare structural rearrangements, such a chromothripsis in a G4 medulloblastoma, chromoplexy involving 8 different chromosomes, a TERT gene rearrangement, and a PRDM6 duplication.
Two pediatric patients with hemiplegic migraine presenting as acute encephalopathy: case reports and a literature review
Authors: Xiang Yu , Li Fei , Song Zhenfeng , Yi Zhi , Yang Chengqing , Xue Jiao , Zhang Ying
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of migraine. HM in children may be atypical in the initial stage of the disease, which could easily lead to misdiagnosis.

Methods

We report two cases of atypical hemiplegic migraine that onset as an acute encephalopathy. And a comprehensive search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. We selected only papers that reported complete clinical information about the patients with CACNA1A or ATP1A2 gene mutation.

Results

Patient #1 showed a de novo mutation, c.674C>A (p. Pro225His), in exon 5 of the CACNA1A gene. And patient #2 showed a missense mutation (c.2143G>A, p. Gly715Arg) in exon 16 of the ATP1A2. Together with our two cases, a total of 160 patients (73 CACNA1A and 87 ATP1A2) were collected and summarized finally.

Discussion

Acute encephalopathy is the main manifestation of severe attacks of HM in children, which adds to the difficulty of diagnosis. Physicians should consider HM in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with somnolence, coma, or convulsion without structural, epileptic, infectious, or inflammatory explanation. When similar clinical cases appear, gene detection is particularly important, which is conducive to early diagnosis and treatment. Early recognition and treatment of the disease can help improve the prognosis.
Pneumonia, lymphocytes and C-reactive protein are valuable tests for predicting surgical intervention in necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Yu Daiyue , Yang Huirong , Zhong Chen , Fan Kaisi , Zeng Guichang , Zhang Mengzhen , Zhao Qianyun , Yang Jiaming , Yang Liucheng , Wu Kai
Published: July 2023

Background

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the important causes of neonatal death, and proper timing of operation is of critical significance. This study aimed to explore the high-risk factors for NEC requiring surgical intervention and to provide a reference for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Clinical and radiological evidence of NEC neonates admitted to Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University and Zhongshan Boai Hospital from January 2010 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into surgical group and conservative group according to whether they underwent surgery or not. Univariate analysis of the clinical data of the two groups was conducted, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed for statistically significant results in the univariate analysis.

Results

267 infants were included in this study, of which 90 patients underwent surgical intervention for NEC and 177 conservation treatment. The univariate analysis showed that the gestational age, pneumonia, leukocytes, lymphocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, C-reactive protein, and blood glucose were statistically significant in the surgical group compared to the conservative group (All P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared to the conservative group, patients in the surgical group had a higher proportion of pneumonia (OR = 2.098; 95% CI: 1.030-4.272; P = 0.041), lower lymphocyte values (OR = 0.749; 95% CI: 0.588-0.954; P = 0.019), and higher C-reactive protein values (OR = 1.009; 95% CI: 1.003-1.016; P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Pneumonia, decreased lymphocytes, and elevated C-reactive protein are potential high-risk factors for neonates with NEC requiring surgical intervention and may have potential clinical implications for predicting surgical risk.
A frequent CYP2D6 variant promotes skipping of exon 3 and reduces CYP2D6 protein expression in human liver samples
Authors: Collins Joseph M. , Lester Hannah , Shabnaz Samia , Wang Danxin
Published: July 2023

CYP2D6 is one of the most polymorphic drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver. While genetic CYP2D6 variants serve as clinical biomarkers to predict CYP2D6 activity, large inter-person variability in CYP2D6 expression remains unaccounted for. Previous results suggest that there is variable expression of a CYP2D6 splice isoform with an in-frame deletion of exon 3 (CYP2D6ΔE3) encoding a protein lacking numerous active site residues. Here, using fragment analysis and RT-qPCR, we revealed that rs1058164 G (MAF = 27%–43%) is associated with increased formation of CYP2D6∆E3 in human liver samples (1.4–2.5-fold) and transfected cells. Furthermore, western blots showed that rs1058164 G was associated with a 50% decrease in full-length hepatic CYP2D6 protein expression. In addition, by studying a larger liver cohort, we confirmed our previous results that rs16947 (CYP2D6*2) reduces full-length CYP2D6 mRNA by increasing the production of an unstable splice isoform lacking exon 6 (CYP2D6ΔE6) and that the impact of CYP2D6ΔE6 is offset in carriers of the downstream enhancer variant rs5758550. The three frequent SNPs (rs1058164, rs16947, and rs5758550) form various 3-SNP-haplotypes, each with distinct CYP2D6 expression characteristics. Using an expression score (ES) system, we tested the impact of the 3-SNP-haplotype on improving the standard model to predict hepatic CYP2D6 protein expression based on genotype. A model that incorporates the 3-SNP-haplotype provided the best fit for CYP2D6 expression and also accounted for more variability in CYP2D6 protein levels (59%) than a model based on the accepted standard (36%) or one that only adds rs16947 and rs5758550 (42%). Clinical studies are needed to determine whether including the 3-SNP-haplotype alongside current standard CYP2D6 models improves the predictive value of CYP2D6 panels.