bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A deep learning benchmark for first break detection from hardrock seismic reflection data
Authors: St-Charles Pierre-Luc , Rousseau Bruno , Ghosn Joumana , Bellefleur Gilles , Schetselaar Ernst
Published: October 2023

Deep learning techniques are used to tackle a variety of tasks related to seismic data processing and interpretation. Although many works have shown the benefits of deep learning, assessing the generalization capabilities of proposed methods for data acquired in different conditions and geologic environments remains challenging. This is especially true for applications in hardrock environments. The primary factors that impede the adoption of machine learning in geosciences include the lack of publicly available and labeled data sets and the use of inadequate evaluation methodologies. Because machine learning models are prone to overfit and underperform when the data used to train them are site specific, the applicability of these models on new survey data that could be considered “out-of-distribution” is rarely addressed. This is unfortunate, as evaluating predictive models in out-of-distribution settings can provide a good insight into their usefulness in real-world use cases. To tackle these issues, we develop a simple benchmarking methodology for first break picking to evaluate the transferability of deep learning models that are trained across different environments and acquisition conditions. For this, we consider a reflection seismic survey data set acquired at five distinct hardrock mining sites combined with annotations for first break picking. We train and evaluate a baseline deep learning solution based on a U-Net for future comparisons and discuss potential improvements to this approach.
Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer via Machine Learning Analysis of a National Electronic Medical Record Database
Authors: Matchaba Siyabonga , Fellague-Chebra Rafik , Purushottam Purushottam , Johns Adam
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in one of the lowest survival rates among patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether machine learning (ML) models can predict with high sensitivity and specificity an increased risk for PaC ahead of clinical diagnosis.

METHODS

Optum deidentified electronic health record (EHR) data set was used to extract 1-year data for each patient and to sample for PaC diagnosis, the number of interactions with the health care system, and unique demographic and clinical features. Data for patients with PaC diagnosis were collected between 1 and 2 years before the diagnosis. Standard binary classification ML models were used on training and testing data sets. Data analyses were performed using the scikit-learn package version 1.0.1.

RESULTS

The data set consisted of 18,987 patient EHRs collected between December 31, 2007, and December 31, 2017. EHRs with 10 unique features and at least three health care interactions were used for model training (N = 15,189; n = 8,438 [56%] with PaC) and testing (N = 3,798; n = 2,127 [56%] with PaC). The ensemble model achieved an AUC of 0.89, a sensitivity of 85.61%, and a specificity of 76.18% on the testing data set and produced superior results compared with other binary classifiers. Increasing unique health care interactions to nine failed to improve the AUC score. When the testing data set was enlarged to 5,696 patients, the ensemble model achieved an AUC of 0.92 and a specificity of 93.21%, but the sensitivity was compromised.

CONCLUSION

The ensemble model exceeded the state-of-the-art level of performance for prediction of PaC ahead of clinical diagnosis with a minimal clinically guided input, providing a potential strategy for selection of high-risk patients for further screening.
Early-life environmental effects on mitochondrial aerobic metabolism: a brood size manipulation in wild great tits
Authors: Cossin-Sevrin Nina , Stier Antoine , Hukkanen Mikaela , Zahn Sandrine , Viblanc Vincent A. , Anttila Katja , Ruuskanen Suvi
Published: October 2023

In avian species, the number of chicks in the nest and subsequent sibling competition for food are major components of the offspring's early-life environment. A large brood size is known to affect chick growth, leading in some cases to long-lasting effects for the offspring, such as a decrease in size at fledgling and in survival after fledging. An important pathway underlying different growth patterns could be the variation in offspring mitochondrial metabolism through its central role in converting energy. Here, we performed a brood size manipulation in great tits (Parus major) to unravel its impact on offspring mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in red blood cells. We investigated the effects of brood size on chick growth and survival, and tested for long-lasting effects on juvenile mitochondrial metabolism and phenotype. As expected, chicks raised in reduced broods had a higher body mass compared with enlarged and control groups. However, mitochondrial metabolism and ROS production were not significantly affected by the treatment at either chick or juvenile stages. Interestingly, chicks raised in very small broods were smaller in size and had higher mitochondrial metabolic rates. The nest of rearing had a significant effect on nestling mitochondrial metabolism. The contribution of the rearing environment in determining offspring mitochondrial metabolism emphasizes the plasticity of mitochondrial metabolism in relation to the nest environment. This study opens new avenues regarding the effect of postnatal environmental conditions in shaping offspring early-life mitochondrial metabolism.
Numerical simulation of thermo-throttle for iodine flow rate control in multidirectional plasma thruster
Authors: Savelev Pavel , Pashaev Aslan , Shumeiko Andrei
Published: October 2023

Background: Recently, a new direction in the field of electric propulsion has emerged – the multidirectional plasma thrusters. These thrusters are capable of producing propulsive forces in multiple directions. The thrusters are proposed to be used for orbit maintenance and alterations, formation flights, and interplanetary flights of space artificial objects ranging in size from CubeSats to fusion-powered interplanetary spacecraft. In this paper, the results of numerical simulation of the iodine propellant supply system for the multidirectional plasma thruster are presented.

Methods: The geometry and temperature parameters of propellant supply system various elements are varied to determine the stable modes of iodine propellant ejection into the gas discharge chamber of the thruster. The temperatures of the thermo throttle and filter are found to ensure iodine mass flow rate in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mg/s. The thermo throttle and filter temperatures are altered in the range of 65 to 200 °C and 65 to 100 °C, correspondingly.

Results: The mass flow rate is critically dependent on the filter temperature and iodine saturated vapor pressure, as well as the filter and throttle geometries. The required values of iodine flow rate have been achieved by using the throttle with a diameter of 0.5 mm and a length of 60 mm and a filter with 56 holes, each hole diameter is 0.2 mm, and temperature from 90 C to 200 C.

Conclusions: According to the data obtained, the iodine storage and supply system is preferably equipped with a thermos throttle, which provides precise control of the flow rate, as well as reduces sharp jumps of the flow rate when the temperature of the filter changes. Preferred filter geometry: 56 holes, each hole 0.2 mm in diameter.
Shielding factors for a fission-powered mars exploration rover
Authors: Bendoyro Alexander C. , Thomas L. Dale , Cassibry Jason , Emrich William
Published: October 2023

Background: With the advances in compact fission power systems and Stirling converters, the efficiency and portability of electrical energy production systems has increased substantially thanks to NASA’s Kilopower project. These 1-10 kWe-class reactors are compact enough to be transportable by pressurized rovers, allowing an extended human reach across the surface of Mars to produce scientific data at a rate that greatly surpasses the rate of robotic rover data collection. If rovers were to harness fission power while mobile, it is possible for near-limitless range. This capability could allow one crew on Mars for under a “Conjunction” class mission as outlined in NASA’s Mars Design Reference Architecture (DRA) 5.0 to visit many geological sites of interest instead of requiring additional landings to explore distant features of the Martian surface. This study explored the parameters that affected the mass of the shielding required to protect the crew against a fission reactor embedded in the chassis of a pressurized rover.

Methods:  An analytical approach was devised to estimate the required mass of a hypothetical solid tungsten shield under various conditions.

Results: Power levels below 3.4 kWe were found to be impractical for rover applications. Between 3.4 kWe and 10 kWe would be able to recharge the rover without returning to base camp. The increase in shielding mass from a 3.4 kWe reactor and a 10 kWe reactor was 6%. The reduction between a 10 kWe reactor at 3 m and 6 m was 7%. Varying the shield thickness in accordance with astronaut activities resulted in a 19% reduction. Powering the reactor off before exiting the vehicle resulted in an additional 65% reduction.

Conclusions: Knowledge of the crew activities and locations had the greatest impact on the required shielding mass and the mission activities should be well-understood before finalizing a shield design.
How can policy and policymaking foster climate justice? A qualitative systematic review
Authors: Cairney Paul , Timonina Irina , Stephan Hannes
Published: October 2023

Background Climate change research has established general requirements for policy and policymaking: transformational changes in policy and policymaking to foster ‘climate justice’, including a ‘just transition’ or movement towards environmental sustainability with equitable processes and outcomes. However, there is a major gap between these requirements and actual policies and policy processes. We identify how researchers use policy theories to understand this gap. Methods We conducted a qualitative systematic review (2022) to identify peer reviewed journal articles on climate change, policy, justice, and equity in three databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Proquest). Each article had to provide a non-trivial reference to policymaking concepts or theories. We used an immersive and inductive approach to identify key themes and show how the use of policy concepts and theories informs climate change research. Results A total of 108 texts meet the inclusion criteria (with some bias towards Global North research since all texts are in English). Most provide general definitions of climate justice, require fair outcomes and processes, and list what is required to meet those aims. However, they also identify unjust processes and outcomes in relation to who is recognised, gets to define the problem, and wins or loses from solutions. Researchers contrast their preferred social justice approach (informing ‘civic environmentalism) to a dominant neoliberal approach (corresponding to weak ‘ecological modernization’). Conclusions Researchers focus on what they need from policy and policymaking to produce climate justice. Few engage meaningfully with policy theories to describe how policymaking actually works. More engagement would help to set meaningful expectations regarding policy change and avoid a needless tendency to treat policymaking like a ‘black box’.
Are Neighbors Alike? A Semisupervised Probabilistic Collaborative Learning Model for Online Review Spammers Detection
Authors: Wu Zhiang , Liu Guannan , Wu Junjie , Tan Yong
Published: October 2023

Online platforms continually face the menace of review spammers who manipulate ratings and comments for personal gain, eroding trust in online reviews. Despite various methods proposed to tackle this issue, challenges, like collusion between spammers, scarce labels, and skewed data distribution, persist. This paper introduces a practical solution to these problems by integrating individual behavioral features with a reviewer network, and it proposes a novel semisupervised collaborative learning model. Imagine our approach as a detective tool for online platforms. It works by investigating who is reviewing what and how they are linked within the reviewer network, which is like uncovering hidden relationships among reviewers to catch spammers. Through this method, our model significantly boosts the accuracy and transparency in identifying spammers. We tested this approach on real-world review data from different types of online platforms, and it outperformed other methods. Importantly, the model is resilient, even when you have limited data or when some labels might not be perfect. By using our approach, online platforms can spot fake reviews and spammers in a more cost-effective way, ensuring that the reviews are more reliable and that it is easier for consumers to make informed decisions. It is a practical step forward in the fight against fake reviews online.
Impact of Teachers' Charisma on Students’ Motivation and Perceived Learning During Emergency Remote Teaching
Authors: Kuziukova Olena , Labadze Lasha , Levidze Marine , Zaluzhna Olha
Published: October 2023

The swift widespread shift from face-to-face to emergency remote teaching (ERT) due to the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by numerous technical, psychological, and pedagogical challenges and prompted educators to look for ways to improve their performance to preserve the high quality of learning. One way to do this is for teachers to adopt charismatic behaviours. This study aims at investigating the concept of and factors determining teachers’ charisma and its connection with students’ intrinsic motivation and perceived learning in a synchronous online learning setting during ERT. The questionnaires measuring students’ intrinsic motivation, perceived learning, and teachers’ charisma were used to collect the responses from Ukrainian university students who reported on their online learning experienced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Varimax rotation method was applied to determine the factors of charisma. Correlation analyses established a connection between students’ intrinsic motivation and perceived learning and teachers’ charisma as well as each factor of charisma independently. The research is the first of its kind done in an online learning setting in an Eastern European cultural context. The research validates some previous findings done in a face-to-face teaching context. The current study also established the connection between humor and empathy as a factor of charismatic teaching.
Anticandidal Activity of Cajuput and Lemongrass Essential Oils Supplemented in Alcohol-Free Mouthwash Against Candida albicans Biofilm Formation on 96-Well Plate and Acrylic Surfaces
Authors:   Department of Family and Community Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Harintharanon Rarinthorn , Itthidecharon Chintana ,   Department of Family and Community Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Wanachantararak Phenphichar ,   Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Sookkhee Siriwoot ,   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Published: October 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alcohol-free mouthwash containing cajuput and lemongrass essential oils and their synergistic effect on eliminating Candida albicans biofilm formation, the most common causative agent of denture stomatitis. The inhibitory activity against C. albicans ATCC10231 biofilm formation on 96-well plate and acrylic surfaces of this formula was significantly different from 0.12% chlorhexidine solution at 20 minutes (P < 0.0001). At one hour and eight hours of immersion, the activity of this formula was similar to the activity of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash. After treatment with this formula, there were less densely active cells and biofilm compared to the negative control, and the action was close to that of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of cajuput and lemongrass essential oils were 2 and 4 µL/mL (for 0.2% and 0.4% v/v, respectively). For chequerboard assays, the fractional inhibitory concentrations of these oils were 0.5 and 0.25 µL/mL, respectively. The combination of cajuput and lemongrass oils in this formula exhibited partial synergism against C. albicans ATCC10231 biofilm formation with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.75. This study demonstrated the inhibitory activity of this formula against C. albicans biofilm formation on 96-well plate and acrylic surfaces after quantitated by colony enumeration and the XTT reduction assay resembled 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash. In conclusion, that C. albicans could be inhibited by the partial synergism of these essential oils in this mouthwash formula. Keywords: Inhibitory activity, Natural essential oils, Candida albicans, Microbial biofilm, Solid surface
Role of a journal for the publication of doctoral dissertations
Authors: Rahardjo Harrina Erlianti
Published: October 2023

[No abstract available]
Fringe projector with submillimeter fringe spacing at a meter-scale field of view
Authors: Shanmugam Prithiviraj , Falaggis Konstantinos
Published: October 2023

State-of-the-art fringe projection systems generate fringe patterns using digital light projectors (DLP). The axial uncertainty is limited by the smallest fringe period and is directly related to the pixel count. This results in limited accuracy of current DLP systems that affect applications such as in situ measurements for laser powder bed fusion systems, where a submillimeter fringe period is needed for field-of views larger than 500mm×500mm. This work presents a scalable fringe projection technique that enables the generation of stable fringe patterns over a large field of view spanning several meters while maintaining submillimeter fringe periods. This system uses geometric phase gratings to enable variable fringe spacing and fringe orientation capabilities. The system shears a coherent beam in the Fourier plane using a pair of geometric polarization gratings. The separation between the gratings directly affects the fringe spacing, and the orientation of the gratings affects the fringe orientation. The depth of focus is only limited by the coherence of the light source, enabling high fringe periods even on tilted planes. The system is designed with a single path configuration, making the system more robust to environmental noise. With a rotating linear polarizer, we demonstrate that phase-shifting methods could be employed to acquire phase information about the object. This paper employs a single-shot Fourier transform phase estimation technique to process the intensity maps acquired using projected fringe patterns. Further, we demonstrate the capabilities of the system to produce submillimeter fringe spacing and the ability to project fringes on larger scales for measurements.
High sensitivity twist sensor based on suspended core fiber Sagnac interferometer with temperature calibration
Authors: Huang Bingsen , Sheng Xinzhi , Cao Jiaqi , Gao Wei , Lou Shuqin
Published: October 2023

A high sensitivity optical fiber twist sensor based on Suspend Core Fiber Sagnac Interference (SCFSI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By filling the air hole of the Suspend Core Fiber (SCF) with alcohol, the twist sensitivity of the twist sensor is greatly improved to 8.37 nm/°. Moreover, the valid angle measurement range of the sensor can be expanded by utilizing the combination of intensity demodulation and wavelength demodulation. The sensor not only has high twist angle sensitivity but also exhibits a capability of temperature calibration. Since the wavelength shifts of the interference fringes of Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) formed in the suspend core of SCF appears insensitive to twist angle, the parasitic interference formed by MZI can be used for temperature calibration. Due to compact structure, easy fabrication and low temperature cross sensitivity, the proposed sensor has a great potential for structural health monitoring, such as buildings, towers, bridges, and many other infrastructures.
Inverse design of asymmetric Y-junctions for ultra-compact, broadband, and low crosstalk mode (de)multiplexers
Authors: Wang Qi , Wang Wenkang , Sun Ronglei , Yu Ping , Qiu Huiye , Cheng Rui
Published: October 2023

Asymmetric Y-junctions, compared with mode coupling-based devices, possess considerably smaller wavelength dependence and thus are more promising for ultra-broadband mode (de)multiplexing in integrated optics. However, these devices also feature relatively high mode crosstalk and insertion loss. Here, we show that the mode crosstalk and loss of an asymmetric Y-junction can be significantly reduced by optimizing the waveguide shape of the Y-junction using an adjoint-based inverse design. Based on such inverse-designed asymmetric Y-junctions, we realize ultra-compact, broadband, and low crosstalk silicon photonic TE00 & TE1 and TE0 & TE2 mode (de)multiplexers with sizes of only 4.5 × 1.2 µm2 and 6 × 1.4 µm2, respectively. From simulations it is shown that the TE0 & TE1 and TE0 & TE2 mode (de)multiplexers contain wide bandwidths of 160 nm (1460-1620 nm) and 140 nm (1460-1600 nm), respectively, over which the mode crosstalks are below about −20 dB, and the losses are <0.41 dB and <0.88 dB, respectively. The experimental results show that in the corresponding TE0 & TE1 and TE0 & TE2 mode division multiplexing systems, the crosstalks are less than −15.5 dB and −15 dB over the spectral ranges of 1453-1580 nm and 1460-1566 nm, respectively, and the losses are <1.7 dB at 1520 nm and <8.24 dB over the entire measured wavelength range.
Rydberg-Rydberg interaction strengths and dipole blockade radii in the presence of Förster resonances
Authors: Wu Chi-En , Kirova Teodora , Auzins Marcis , Chen Yi-Hsin
Published: October 2023

Achieving a substantial blockade radius is crucial for developing scalable and efficient quantum communication and computation. In this theoretical study, we present the enhancement of the Rydberg blockade radius by utilizing Förster resonance. This phenomenon occurs when the energy difference between two initial Rydberg states closely matches that between the corresponding final Rydberg states, giving rise to a resonant energy transfer process. We employ quantum defect theory to numerically calculate the 87Rb–87Rb Rydberg atomic pair, enabling us to accurately estimate the van der Waals interaction. Our investigation reveals that when the principal quantum numbers of two Rydberg states differ only slightly, the Förster transition is rarely able to achieve a large blockade radius. However, in cases where the principal quantum numbers differ significantly, we substantially improve the Rydberg blockade radius. Most notably, we identify transition channels exhibiting an extensive blockade radius, surpassing 50 μm. This significant increase in the blockade radius enables larger-scale quantum operations and advances quantum technologies, with broad implications for achieving long-range quantum entanglement and robust quantum processes.
Multi-shaping sparse–continuous reconstruction for an optical coherence tomography sidelobe suppression
Authors: Qiao Zhengyu , Huang Yong , Hao Qun
Published: October 2023

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are commonly affected by sidelobe artifacts due to spectral non-uniformity and spectral leakage. Conventional frequency domain spectral shaping methods widen the mainlobe and compromise axial resolution. While image–domain deconvolution techniques can address the trade-off between axial resolution and artifact suppression, their reconstruction quality relies on accurate measurement or estimation of system point spread function (PSF). Inaccurate PSF estimation leads to loss of details in the reconstructed images. In this Letter, we introduce multi-shaping sparse–continuous reconstruction (MSSCR) for an OCT image, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, framework that combines spectral multi-shaping and iterative image reconstruction with sparse–continuous priors. The MSSCR achieves sidelobe suppression without requiring any PSF measurement or estimation and effectively preserving the axial resolution. The experimental results demonstrate that the MSSCR achieves sidelobe suppression of more than 8 dB. We believe that the MSSCR holds potential for addressing sidelobe artifacts in OCT.
Arithmetic logic unit based on the metastructure with coherent absorption
Authors: Zou Jia-Hao , Sui Jun-Yang , Chen Qi , Zhang Hai-Feng
Published: October 2023

An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) based on the metastructure (MS) with coherent absorption (CA) is proposed in this Letter. The ALU can perform AND and exclusive OR logical operations at the same frequency point. So it can be regarded as an optical half-adder. By controlling the chemical potential of graphene and the phase difference of coherent electromagnetic waves (EWs), two different binary numbers are input into the ALU. The dynamic absorption peaks, which are generated based on the CA, output the outcomes of the carry-digit bit and non-carry sum bit. This ALU can be used in the field of optical processing and encryption, such as processing hamming code. This given ALU based on the MS with CA has major implications for advancing the study and investigation into the application of CA. Furthermore, it also provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, idea for the study of MS with logical operation.
Chip-integrated optical fiber magnetic field sensing system
Authors: Ye Ziqi , Zhang Hao , Shi Fan , Fu Jianwei , Wang Binju , Gao Xumin , Wang Yongjin
Published: October 2023

Lightweight, low-cost, and simple systems for magnetic field sensing are in high demand. Here, we demonstrate such a magnetic field sensing system by integrating a light source, detector, magnetic fluid (MF), and plastic optical fiber (POF). Two bifunctional AlGaInP diodes with identical multiple-quantum well structures separately function as the light source and the detector of the sensing system due to the partial overlap between the electroluminescence and responsivity spectra. Magnetic field sensing is realized by changing the amount of reflected light due to the change in reflection coefficient of the POF/MF interface caused by the ambient magnetic field. The chip-integrated POF magnetic field sensor exhibits a reliable operation with a detection range from 10 Gs to 400 Gs. The results indicate that the chip-integrated POF sensor is promising for magnetic field sensing.
Leveraging the periodic interference condition in electro-optic modulators for picosecond pulse generation
Authors: Meyer Stefan , Kutscher Tonio F. , Lamminger Philipp , Sommer Florian , Karpf Sebastian
Published: October 2023

Ultra-short optical pulses in the femtosecond and picosecond regime are typically generated using mode-locked lasers. However, in mode-locking, the pulse repetition rate is fundamentally linked to the cavity length of the laser, making it difficult to synchronize these laser pulses to other light sources. Here, we apply a pulse-on-demand approach to picosecond pulse generation with an electro-optic intensity modulator (EOM). The high, 40 GHz bandwidth of the EOM enables low picosecond pulses, however it shifts the problem of pulse generation to the electronic pulses, requiring high bandwidth electronics. In this study, we present an electro-optic operation, leveraging the periodic interference condition of intensity EOMs by operating it with rising edges at twice its V
π
voltage. Utilizing this method, pulse durations as short as 10.9 ps were achieved by employing a 35 ps edge from an arbitrary waveform generator. The pulses were measured directly on a high-speed oscilloscope as well as indirectly through the spectral broadening of the generated optical pulses. We employ this approach to show arbitrary pulse length generation by applying step functions with only one V
π
voltage, thus permitting direct pulse-on-demand generation of pulses with arbitrary pulse length, shape and repetition rate for applications in spectroscopy, sensing and nonlinear imaging.
Uptake of environmental DNA in Bacillus subtilis occurs all over the cell surface through a dynamic pilus structure
Authors: Kilb Alexandra , Burghard-Schrod Marie , Holtrup Sven , Graumann Peter L.
Published: October 2023

At the transition to stationary phase, a subpopulation of Bacillus subtilis cells can enter the developmental state of competence, where DNA is taken up through the cell envelope, and is processed to single stranded DNA, which is incorporated into the genome if sufficient homology between sequences exists. We show here that the initial step of transport across the cell wall occurs via a true pilus structure, with an average length of about 500 nm, which assembles at various places on the cell surface. Once assembled, the pilus remains at one position and can be retracted in a time frame of seconds. The major pilin, ComGC, was studied at a single molecule level in live cells. ComGC was found in two distinct populations, one that would correspond to ComGC freely diffusing throughout the cell membrane, and one that is relatively stationary, likely reflecting pilus-incorporated molecules. The ratio of 65% diffusing and 35% stationary ComGC molecules changed towards more stationary molecules upon addition of external DNA, while the number of pili in the population did not strongly increase. These findings suggest that the pilus assembles stochastically, but engages more pilin monomers from the membrane fraction in the presence of transport substrate. Our data support a model in which transport of environmental DNA occurs through the entire cell surface by a dynamic pilus, mediating efficient uptake through the cell wall into the periplasm, where DNA diffuses to a cell pole containing the localized transport machinery mediating passage into the cytosol.
Demographically explicit scans for barriers to gene flow using gIMble
Authors: Laetsch Dominik R. , Bisschop Gertjan , Martin Simon H. , Aeschbacher Simon , Setter Derek , Lohse Konrad
Published: October 2023

Identifying regions of the genome that act as barriers to gene flow between recently diverged taxa has remained challenging given the many evolutionary forces that generate variation in genetic diversity and divergence along the genome, and the stochastic nature of this variation. Progress has been impeded by a conceptual and methodological divide between analyses that infer the demographic history of speciation and genome scans aimed at identifying locally maladaptive alleles i.e. genomic barriers to gene flow. Here we implement genomewide IM blockwise likelihood estimation (gIMble), a composite likelihood approach for the quantification of barriers, that bridges this divide. This analytic framework captures background selection and selection against barriers in a model of isolation with migration (IM) as heterogeneity in effective population size (Ne) and effective migration rate (me), respectively. Variation in both effective demographic parameters is estimated in sliding windows via pre-computed likelihood grids. gIMble includes modules for pre-processing/filtering of genomic data and performing parametric bootstraps using coalescent simulations. To demonstrate the new approach, we analyse data from a well-studied pair of sister species of tropical butterflies with a known history of post-divergence gene flow: Heliconius melpomene and H. cydno. Our analyses uncover both large-effect barrier loci (including well-known wing-pattern genes) and a genome-wide signal of a polygenic barrier architecture.
The presence of wild edible plants and determinants influencing their harvest, consumption, and conservation in south eastern Bhutan
Authors: Bajgai Ram Chandra , Bajgai Yadunath , Johnson Stephen B.
Published: October 2023

Definition

Wild edible plants (WEPs) grow naturally in self-maintaining ecosystems. WEPs are harvested for consumption, sale, and medicinal uses. We hypothesize that WEPs play a major role in supplying food and generating income for the rural people in a world that is increasingly recognising its emerging conservation issues. We tested this hypothesis by identifying the reasons for harvest, consumption, and conservation of WEPs using focus group discussion, field observations and questionnaire surveys in south eastern Bhutan in late 2019.

Methods

Focused group discussions were held with the local people to identify reasons for harvest and consumption of WEPs. Data on the identified reasons for harvest, consumption, and conserving WEPs were determined using a questionnaire survey with ranking scales for a set of 76 randomly selected households. Representative field-observations and questionnaire surveys were carried out in villages close to forests. Parts of the plant used, how these were consumed, harvest season, and plant (life form) were recorded. The data was subjected to a Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and weighted averages calculated.

Result and conclusion

A total of 120 WEPs belonging to 63 families (including Agaricaceae) were reported. Most of the WEPs recorded were trees (45.0%) then herbs (25.8%), vines (13.3%) and shrubs (10.8%). The commonly consumed plant parts were the fruit (43.3%), shoots (28.3%) and leaves (20.8%).

The purposes for harvesting and consumption, conservation of WEPs were significantly (P<0.001) different, while the motivations for collecting WEPs were not. The motivation for collecting WEPs were family consumption > sale > medicinal uses > preservation for future use > insufficient food from cultivated source’s. The two most important strategies for conservation were to domesticate the WEPs and cultivate in forests. The findings reveal valuable lessons and insights about the reasons for harvesting, collection, consumption, and conservation of WEPs.
Automation, live-cell imaging, and endpoint cell viability for prostate cancer drug screens
Authors: Lyles Rolando D. Z. , Martinez Maria J. , Sherman Benjamin , Schürer Stephan , Burnstein Kerry L.
Published: October 2023

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard of care for high risk and advanced prostate cancer; however, disease progression from androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) to lethal and incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and (in a substantial minority of cases) neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is common. Identifying effective targeted therapies is challenging because of acquired resistance to established treatments and the vast heterogeneity of advanced prostate cancer (PC). To streamline the identification of potentially active prostate cancer therapeutics, we have developed an adaptable semi-automated protocol which optimizes cell growth and leverages automation to enhance robustness, reproducibility, and throughput while integrating live-cell imaging and endpoint viability assays to assess drug efficacy in vitro. In this study, culture conditions for 72-hr drug screens in 96-well plates were established for a large, representative panel of human prostate cell lines including: BPH-1 and RWPE-1 (non-tumorigenic), LNCaP and VCaP (ADPC), C4-2B and 22Rv1 (CRPC), DU 145 and PC3 (androgen receptor-null CRPC), and NCI-H660 (NEPC). The cell growth and 72-hr confluence for each cell line was optimized for real-time imaging and endpoint viability assays prior to screening for novel or repurposed drugs as proof of protocol validity. We demonstrated effectiveness and reliability of this pipeline through validation of the established finding that the first-in-class BET and CBP/p300 dual inhibitor EP-31670 is an effective compound in reducing ADPC and CRPC cell growth. In addition, we found that insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor linsitinib is a potential pharmacological agent against highly lethal and drug-resistant NEPC NCI-H660 cells. This protocol can be employed across other cancer types and represents an adaptable strategy to optimize assay-specific cell growth conditions and simultaneously assess drug efficacy across multiple cell lines.
Public perception of an important urban estuary: Values, attitudes, and policy support in the Biscayne Bay-Miami Social Ecological System
Authors: Wester Julia
Published: October 2023

Understanding public perceptions, values, and preferences can be fundamental to effective conservation governance, management, and outreach. This is particularly true in socially and ecologically complex marine and coastal spaces, where many relevant questions remain. The social-ecological system of Biscayne Bay and Miami-Dade are on the frontier of problems that will soon engulf many coastal-urban systems. Despite the economic, ecological, and cultural importance of Biscayne Bay, research into the social components of this social-ecological system is distinctly lacking. In order to effectively address urgent coastal management issues, practitioners and policy-makers need a clear understanding of public perceptions, values, and priorities. In this paper I present the results of a large online survey (n = 1146) exploring public attitudes toward Biscayne Bay as a case study of management and opportunity in a complex coastal social-ecological system. Results describe a public that interacts with and utilizes Biscayne Bay in a variety of ways, from leisure and recreation, to subsistence. This public believes the Bay to be moderately healthy, though somewhat in decline, and has experienced a range of local environmental threats, about which they feel considerable concern. These interactions and concerns are in turn reflected in overwhelming endorsement of value statements regarding the ecological, material, cultural and economic importance of the ecosystem to the city, as well as high levels of support for policy actions to protect and restore that ecosystem. Together these findings indicate that additional policy steps to preserve and restore Biscayne Bay would enjoy support from the local public and demonstrate the power of public perceptions research to identify gaps and opportunities for management and outreach.
Yinzhihuang injection induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth in acute myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Huang Zhe , Shen Yunfu , Fan Xianming , Guo Qulian , Ma Wenzhe
Published: October 2023

Background

The unmet needs in treating acute myeloid leukemia(AML) promote us to look for more effective and less toxic therapies. In this study, we discovered that Yinzhihuang injection(YZHI), a traditional Chinese patent medicine for hepatitis treatment, suppressed the growth of AML cells.

Method

Anti-proliferative activities of YZHI were measured by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle arrest was evaluated by PI staining, and apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V/PI staining. To explore the cell cycle arrest and cell death mechanism induced by YZHI, we assessed a series of assays, including measurements of the protein expression and cellular ATP. The anti-tumor activity was further demonstrated in nude mice.

Results

Flow cytometric and biochemical analysis revealed that YZHI caused cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis in the AML HL-60 cells. Mechanistically, YZHI activated AMPK by promoting phosphorylation of the kinase. The active AMPK negatively regulated the downstream target mTORC1, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C rescued YZHI induced apoptosis and partially restored cell proliferation of HL-60. Consistent with the data in vitro, YZHI obviously suppressed subcutaneous xenograft growth in nude mice.

Conclusions

In a word, our data suggest that YZHI can be repurposed for the treatment of AML, which is worthy of further clinical evaluation.
Effects of the pre-existing coronary heart disease on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Saikun , Zhu Ruiting , Zhang Chengwei , Guo Yingze , Lv Mengjiao , Zhang Changyue , Bian Ce , Jiang Ruixue , Zhou Wei , Guo Lirong
Published: October 2023

Although studies have shown severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in patients with pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD), the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing CHD remains uncertain primarily due to the limited number of patients in existing studies. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of pre-existing CHD on the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Five electronic databases were searched for eligible studies. This article focused on cohort and case-control studies involving the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing CHD. The meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as valid indicators. The study was registered in PROSPERO with the identifier: CRD42022352853. A total of 81 studies, involving 157,439 COVID-19 patients, were included. The results showed that COVID-19 patients with pre-existing CHD exhibited an elevated risk of mortality (OR = 2.45; 95%CI: [2.04, 2.94], P < 0.001), severe/critical COVID-19 (OR = 2.57; 95%CI: [1.98, 3.33], P < 0.001), Intensive Care Unit or Coronary Care Unit (ICU/CCU) admission: (OR = 2.75, 95%CI: [1.61, 4.72], P = 0.002), and reduced odds of discharge/recovery (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: [0.28, 0.66], P < 0.001) compared to COVID-19 patients without pre-existing CHD. Subgroup analyses indicated that the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with pre-existing CHD was influenced by publication year, follow-up duration, gender, and hypertension. In conclusion, pre-existing CHD significantly increases the risk of poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19, particularly in those male or hypertensive patients.
Systematic review of predictors of hospitalisation for non-specific low back pain with or without referred leg pain
Authors: Orlando Joseph F. , Beard Matthew , Guerin Michelle , Kumar Saravana
Published: October 2023

Significant costs and utilisation of healthcare resources are associated with hospitalisations for non-specific low back pain despite clinical guidelines recommending community-based care. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the predictors of hospitalisation for low back pain. A protocol was registered with PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (#CRD42021281827) and conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Database search of Ovid Medline, Emcare, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, PEDro and OTSeeker was conducted. Studies were included if they examined a predictor of hospitalisation for non-specific low back pain with or without referred leg pain. Data was extracted and descriptively synthesised. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklists. There were 23 studies published over 29 articles which identified 52 predictor variables of hospitalisation for low back pain. The risk of hospitalisation was grouped into themes: personal, health and lifestyle, psychology, socioeconomic, occupational, clinical, and health systems and processes. There was moderate level evidence that arrival to an emergency department via ambulance with low back pain, and older age increase the risk of hospitalisations for low back pain. There was low level evidence that high pain intensity, past history of low back pain, opioid use, and occupation type increase the risk of hospitalisation for low back pain. Further research into psychological and social factors is warranted given the paucity of available studies. Hospital avoidance strategies, improved patient screening and resource utilisation in emergency departments are considerations for practice.
IPSO-LSTM hybrid model for predicting online public opinion trends in emergencies
Authors: Mu Guangyu , Liao Zehan , Li Jiaxue , Qin Nini , Yang Ziye
Published: October 2023

When emergencies are widely discussed and shared, it may lead to conflicting opinions and negative emotions among internet users. Accurately predicting sudden network public opinion events is of great importance. Therefore, this paper constructs a hybrid forecasting model to solve this problem. First, this model introduces an improved inertia weight and an adaptive variation operation to enhance the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Then, the improved PSO (IPSO) algorithm optimizes the parameters of the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network. Finally, the IPSO-LSTM hybrid prediction model is constructed to forecast and analyze emergency public opinion dissemination trends. The experimental outcomes indicate that the IPSO-LSTM model surpasses others and has high prediction accuracy. In the four emergency predictions we select, the MAPE value of IPSO-LSTM is 74.27% better than that of BP, 33.96% better than that of LSTM, and 13.59% better than that of PSO-LSTM on average. This study aims to assist authorities in quickly identifying potential public opinion crises, developing effective strategies, and promoting sustainable and positive growth in the network environment.
Effects of customer relationship management (CRM) strategies and socio-cognitive constructs on the physical activity of individuals with arthritis over time
Authors: Newton Fiona J. , Haregu Tilahun N. , Newton Joshua D. , Donovan Robert , Mahal Ajay , Mackenzie-Stewart Ruth , Ewing Michael T. , Bauman Adrian , Manera Karine E. , Smith Ben J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Regular physical activity is important for arthritis self-management and could be promoted through tailoring community leisure and fitness centers’ customer-relationship management (CRM) strategies.

Objectives

This study investigates the influence of two CRM strategies on individuals with arthritis reaching or maintaining two moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) thresholds (≥150 and ≥45 minutes/week) from baseline-to-12 months and 12-to-24 months as well as mean changes in total minutes/week of MVPA. It also explores time-dependent variations in the influence of socio-cognitive variables on MVPA outcomes.

Methods

Survey data from 374 participants with arthritis in a two-year randomized controlled trial (control versus two CRM strategies: IncentiveOnly and Incentive+Support) were used. Participants reported measures of physical activity participation, socio-cognitive decision-making, mental and physical wellbeing, friendship, community connectedness, sense of trust in others, and demographics.

Findings/discussion

Receiving the Incentive+Support CRM strategy (versus control) increased participants’ likelihood of reaching/maintaining both physical activity thresholds from 12-to-24 months (≥150 MVPA minutes/week, p < .001; ≥45 MVPA minutes/week, p < .032) but not from baseline-to-12 months. However, receiving the IncentiveOnly CRM strategy (versus control) did not predict reaching/maintaining these thresholds. Importantly, socio-cognitive decision-making variables’ influence on reaching/maintaining these MVPA thresholds varied over time, suggesting CRM strategies may require further tailoring based on time-specific profiles. Perhaps because of new facility induced excitement, the mean change in total MVPA minutes/week for the control group significantly increased (26.8 minute/week, p = .014, 95% CI [5.5, 48.0]) from baseline-to-12 months, but subsequently declined by 11.4 minute/week from 12-to-24 months (p = .296, 95% CI [-32.7, 9.9]). Mean changes in total MVPA minutes/week were non-significant for those receiving IncentiveOnly content but significant for those receiving Incentive+Support content: baseline-to-12 months (38.2 minute/week increase, p = .023, 95% CI [4.9, 71.4]) and baseline-to-24-months (45.9 minute/week increase, p = .007, 95% CI [12.7, 79.1]).