bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ru(II)-based complexes containing 2-thiouracil derivatives suppress liver cancer stem cells by targeting NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling
Authors: Bomfim Larissa M. , Neves Sara P. , Coelho Amanda M. R. M. , Nogueira Mateus L. , Dias Rosane B. , Valverde Ludmila de F. , Rocha Clarissa A. G. , Soares Milena B. P. , Batista Alzir A. , Correa Rodrigo S. , Bezerra Daniel P.
Published: June 2024

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a rare population of cancer cells related to tumor initiation and maintenance. These cells are primarily responsible for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to chemotherapy. In this paper, we demonstrated the ability of Ru(II)-based complexes containing 2-thiouracil derivatives with the chemical formulas trans-[Ru(2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (1) and trans-[Ru(6m2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (2) (where 2TU = 2-thiouracil and 6m2TU = 6-methyl-2-thiouracil) to suppress liver CSCs by targeting NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling. Complexes 1 and 2 displayed potent cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines and suppressed liver CSCs from HepG2 cells. Increased phosphatidylserine exposure, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increased PARP (Asp214) cleavage, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic shrinkage were detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Mechanistically, complexes 1 and 2 target NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling in HepG2 cells. Cell motility inhibition was also detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Complexes 1 and 2 also inhibited tumor progression in mice with HepG2 cell xenografts and exhibited tolerable systemic toxicity. Taken together, these results indicate that these complexes are new anti-HCC drug candidates that can suppress liver CSCs.
Bicarbonate-binding catalysis for the enantioselective desymmetrization of keto sulfonium salts
Authors: Alemán José , Humbrías-Martín Jorge , del Río-Rodríguez Roberto , Aguilar-Galindo Fernando , Díaz-Tendero Sergio , Fernández-Salas Jose A.
Published: June 2024

Herein, an enantioselective desymmetrization of cyclic keto sulfonium salts through enantioselective deprotonation/ring opening process by anion-binding catalysis is presented. We report a squaramide/HCO3- complex as catalytic active species which is able to stereo-differentiate two enantiomeric protons, triggering the ring opening event taking advantage of the great tendency of sulfonium salts to act as leaving groups. Thus, this desymmetrization methodology give rise to β-methylsulfenylated sulfa-Michael addition type products with excellent yields and very good enantioselectivities. The bifunctional organocatalyst has been demonstrated to be capable of activating simultaneously the base and the keto sulfonium salt by DFT calculations and experimental proofs.
Microbiome and epigenetic variation in wild fish with low genetic diversity
Authors: Anka Ishrat Z. , Uren Webster Tamsyn M. , Berbel-Filho Waldir M. , Hitchings Matthew , Overland Benjamin , Weller Sarah , Garcia de Leaniz Carlos , Consuegra Sofia
Published: June 2024

Non-genetic sources of phenotypic variation, such as the epigenome and the microbiome, could be important contributors to adaptive variation for species with low genetic diversity. However, little is known about the complex interaction between these factors and the genetic diversity of the host, particularly in wild populations. Here, we examine the skin microbiome composition of two closely-related mangrove killifish species with different mating systems (self-fertilising and outcrossing) under sympatric and allopatric conditions. This allows us to partition the influence of the genotype and the environment on their microbiome and (previously described) epigenetic profiles. We find the diversity and community composition of the skin microbiome are strongly shaped by the environment and, to a lesser extent, by species-specific influences. Heterozygosity and microbiome alpha diversity, but not epigenetic variation, are associated with the fluctuating asymmetry of traits related to performance (vision) and behaviour (aggression). Our study identifies that a proportion of the epigenetic diversity and microbiome differentiation is unrelated to genetic variation, and we find evidence for an associative relationship between microbiome and epigenetic diversity in these wild populations. This suggests that both mechanisms could potentially contribute to variation in species with low genetic diversity.
Sororin is an evolutionary conserved antagonist of WAPL
Authors: Prusén Mota Ignacio , Galova Marta , Schleiffer Alexander , Nguyen Tan-Trung , Kovacikova Ines , Farias Saad Carolina , Litos Gabriele , Nishiyama Tomoko , Gregan Juraj , Peters Jan-Michael , Schlögelhofer Peter
Published: June 2024

Cohesin mediates sister chromatid cohesion to enable chromosome segregation and DNA damage repair. To perform these functions, cohesin needs to be protected from WAPL, which otherwise releases cohesin from DNA. It has been proposed that cohesin is protected from WAPL by SORORIN. However, in vivo evidence for this antagonism is missing and SORORIN is only known to exist in vertebrates and insects. It is therefore unknown how important and widespread SORORIN’s functions are. Here we report the identification of SORORIN orthologs in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Sor1) and Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSORORIN). sor1Δ mutants display cohesion defects, which are partially alleviated by wpl1Δ. Atsororin mutant plants display dwarfism, tissue specific cohesion defects and chromosome mis-segregation. Furthermore, Atsororin mutant plants are sterile and separate sister chromatids prematurely at anaphase I. The somatic, but not the meiotic deficiencies can be alleviated by loss of WAPL. These results provide in vivo evidence for SORORIN antagonizing WAPL, reveal that SORORIN is present in organisms beyond the animal kingdom and indicate that it has acquired tissue specific functions in plants.
Evidence for dynastic succession among early Celtic elites in Central Europe
Authors: Gretzinger Joscha , Schmitt Felicitas , Mötsch Angela , Carlhoff Selina , Lamnidis Thiseas Christos , Huang Yilei , Ringbauer Harald , Knipper Corina , Francken Michael , Mandt Franziska , Hansen Leif , Freund Cäcilia , Posth Cosimo , Rathmann Hannes , Harvati Katerina , Wieland Günther , Granehäll Lena , Maixner Frank , Zink Albert , Schier Wolfram , Krausse Dirk , Krause Johannes , Schiffels Stephan
Published: June 2024

The early Iron Age (800 to 450 BCE) in France, Germany and Switzerland, known as the ‘West-Hallstattkreis’, stands out as featuring the earliest evidence for supra-regional organization north of the Alps. Often referred to as ‘early Celtic’, suggesting tentative connections to later cultural phenomena, its societal and population structure remain enigmatic. Here we present genomic and isotope data from 31 individuals from this context in southern Germany, dating between 616 and 200 BCE. We identify multiple biologically related groups spanning three elite burials as far as 100 km apart, supported by trans-regional individual mobility inferred from isotope data. These include a close biological relationship between two of the richest burial mounds of the Hallstatt culture. Bayesian modelling points to an avuncular relationship between the two individuals, which may suggest a practice of matrilineal dynastic succession in early Celtic elites. We show that their ancestry is shared on a broad geographic scale from Iberia throughout Central-Eastern Europe, undergoing a decline after the late Iron Age (450 BCE to ~50 CE).
High-throughput fitness experiments reveal specific vulnerabilities of human-adapted Salmonella during stress and infection
Authors: Wang Benjamin X. , Leshchiner Dmitry , Luo Lijuan , Tuncel Miles , Hokamp Karsten , Hinton Jay C. D. , Monack Denise M.
Published: June 2024

Salmonella entericais comprised of genetically distinct ‘serovars’ that together provide an intriguing model for exploring the genetic basis of pathogen evolution. Although the genomes of numerousSalmonellaisolates with broad variations in host range and human disease manifestations have been sequenced, the functional links between genetic and phenotypic differences among these serovars remain poorly understood. Here, we conduct high-throughput functional genomics on both generalist (Typhimurium) and human-restricted (Typhi and Paratyphi A)Salmonellaat unprecedented scale in the study of this enteric pathogen. Using a comprehensive systems biology approach, we identify gene networks with serovar-specific fitness effects across 25 host-associated stresses encountered at key stages of human infection. By experimentally perturbing these networks, we characterize previously undescribed pseudogenes in human-adaptedSalmonella. Overall, this work highlights specific vulnerabilities encoded within human-restrictedSalmonellathat are linked to the degradation of their genomes, shedding light into the evolution of this enteric pathogen.
Detailed mapping of the complex fiber structure and white matter pathways of the chimpanzee brain
Authors: Eichner Cornelius , Paquette Michael , Müller-Axt Christa , Bock Christian , Budinger Eike , Gräßle Tobias , Jäger Carsten , Kirilina Evgeniya , Lipp Ilona ,   EBC Consortium,   Data Analysis and Writing,   Brain Extraction, Møller Torsten , Olofsson-Sannö Karin , Morawski Markus , Rusch Henriette , Wenk Patricia , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Wittig Roman M. , Crockford Catherine , Friederici Angela D. , Anwander Alfred
Published: June 2024

Long-standing questions about human brain evolution may only be resolved through comparisons with close living evolutionary relatives, such as chimpanzees. This applies in particular to structural white matter (WM) connectivity, which continuously expanded throughout evolution. However, due to legal restrictions on chimpanzee research, neuroscience research currently relies largely on data with limited detail or on comparisons with evolutionarily distant monkeys. Here, we present a detailed magnetic resonance imaging resource to study structural WM connectivity in the chimpanzee. This open-access resource contains (1) WM reconstructions of a postmortem chimpanzee brain, using the highest-quality diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data yet acquired from great apes; (2) an optimized and validated method for high-quality fiber orientation reconstructions; and (3) major fiber tract segmentations for cross-species morphological comparisons. This dataset enabled us to identify phylogenetically relevant details of the chimpanzee connectome, and we anticipate that it will substantially contribute to understanding human brain evolution.
A decade-long study demonstrates that a population of invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) can be controlled by introducing sterilized males
Authors: Johnson Nicholas S. , Lewandoski Sean A. , Jubar Aaron K. , Symbal Matthew J. , Solomon Benson M. , Bravener Gale A. , Barber Jessica M. , Siefkes Michael J.
Published: June 2024

The release of sterilized insects to control pest populations has been used successfully during the past 6 decades, but application of the method in vertebrates has largely been overlooked or met with failure. Here, we demonstrate for the first time in fish, that a small population of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus; Class Agnatha), arguably one of the most impactful invasive fish in the world, can be controlled by the release of sterilized males. Specifically, the release of high numbers of sterile males (~ 1000's) into a geographically isolated population of adult sea lamprey resulted in the first multiyear delay in pesticide treatment since treatments began during 1966. Estimates of percent reduction in recruitment of age-1 sea lamprey due to sterile male release ranged from 7 to 99.9% with the precision of the estimate being low because of substantial year-to-year variability in larval density and distribution. Additional monitoring that accounts for recruitment variability in time and space would reduce uncertainty in the degree to which sterile male release reduces recruitment rates. The results are relevant to vertebrate pest control programs worldwide, especially as technical opportunities to sterilize vertebrates and manipulate sex ratios expand.
3D-bioprinted GelMA/gelatin/amniotic membrane extract (AME) scaffold loaded with keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells for skin tissue engineering
Authors: Pazhouhnia Zahra , Noori Alireza , Farzin Ali , Khoshmaram Keyvan , Hoseinpour Mahdieh , Ai Jafar , Ebrahimi Marzieh , Lotfibakhshaiesh Nasrin
Published: June 2024

Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) is a highly adaptable biomaterial extensively utilized in skin regeneration applications. However, it is frequently imperative to enhance its physical and biological qualities by including supplementary substances in its composition. The purpose of this study was to fabricate and characterize a bi-layered GelMA-gelatin scaffold using 3D bioprinting. The upper section of the scaffold was encompassed with keratinocytes to simulate the epidermis, while the lower section included fibroblasts and HUVEC cells to mimic the dermis. A further step involved the addition of amniotic membrane extract (AME) to the scaffold in order to promote angiogenesis. The incorporation of gelatin into GelMA was found to enhance its stability and mechanical qualities. While the Alamar blue test demonstrated that a high concentration of GelMA (20%) resulted in a decrease in cell viability, the live/dead cell staining revealed that incorporation of AME increased the quantity of viable HUVECs. Further, gelatin upregulated the expression of KRT10 in keratinocytes and VIM in fibroblasts. Additionally, the histological staining results demonstrated the formation of well-defined skin layers and the creation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in GelMA/gelatin hydrogels during a 14-day culture period. Our study showed that a 3D-bioprinted composite scaffold comprising GelMA, gelatin, and AME can be used to regenerate skin tissues.
Bioinformatics analysis of signature genes related to cell death in keratoconus
Authors: Liu Jinghua , Gao Juan , Xing Shulei , Yan Yarong , Yan Xinlin , Jing Yapeng , Li Xuan
Published: June 2024

Keratoconus is corneal disease in which the progression of conical dilation of cornea leads to reduced visual acuity and even corneal perforation. However, the etiology mechanism of keratoconus is still unclear. This study aims to identify the signature genes related to cell death in keratoconus and examine the function of these genes. A dataset of keratoconus from the GEO database was analysed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 3558 DEGs were screened from GSE151631. The results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that they mainly involved in response to hypoxia, cell–cell adhesion, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Then, the cell death-related genes datasets were intersected with the above 3558 DEGs to obtain 70 ferroptosis-related DEGs (FDEGs), 32 autophagy-related DEGs (ADEGs), six pyroptosis-related DEGs (PDEGs), four disulfidptosis-related DEGs (DDEGs), and one cuproptosis-related DEGs (CDEGs). After using Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), Random Forest analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, one ferroptosis-related gene (TNFAIP3) and five autophagy-related genes (CDKN1A, HSPA5, MAPK8IP1, PPP1R15A, and VEGFA) were screened out. The expressions of the above six genes were significantly decreased in keratoconus and the area under the curve (AUC) values of these genes was 0.944, 0.893, 0.797, 0.726, 0.882 and 0.779 respectively. GSEA analysis showed that the above six genes mainly play an important role in allograft rejection, asthma, and circadian rhythm etc. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that focusing on these genes and autoimmune diseases will be a beneficial perspective for the keratoconus etiology research.
Annealing temperature-dependent induced supramolecular chiroptical response of copolymer thin films studied by pump-modulated transient circular dichroism spectroscopy
Authors: Gust Domenic , Scholz Mirko , Schumacher Vivien , Mulatier Jean-Christophe , Pitrat Delphine , Guy Laure , Oum Kawon , Lenzer Thomas
Published: June 2024

Copolymer thin films showing induced supramolecular chirality are of considerable interest for optoelectronic applications such as organic light-emitting diodes. Here, we introduce a new helicene-like chiral additive with two octyloxy substituents which displays excellent chiral induction properties in an achiral polyfluorene copolymer, leading to a circular dichroism (CD) response of up to 10,000 mdeg. This chiral inducer also displays very good thermal stability, which enables us to perform an extended study on the induced chiroptical properties of the cholesteric copolymer thin films annealed at different temperatures in the range 140–260 °C. Starting from about 180 °C, a distinct change in the morphology of the CD-active film is observed by CD microscopy, from micrometre-size granular to extended CD-active regions, where the latter ones display skewed distributions of the dissymmetry parameter gabs. Broadband Müller matrix spectroscopy finds a pronounced CD and circular birefringence (CB) response and only weak linear dichroism (LD, LD’) and linear birefringence (LB, LB’). Ultrafast transient CD spectroscopy with randomly polarised excitation reveals a clean mirror-image-type transient response, which shows a second-order decay of the S1 population due to singlet–singlet annihilation processes.
Effect of cellular senescence on the response of human peritoneal mesothelial cells to TGF-β
Authors: Kawka Edyta , Herzog Rebecca , Ruciński Marcin , Malińska Agnieszka , Unterwurzacher Markus , Sacnun Juan Manuel , Wagner Anja , Kowalska Katarzyna , Jopek Karol , Kucz-Chrostowska Agata , Kratochwill Klaus , Witowski Janusz
Published: June 2024

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is implicated in both mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT) and cellular senescence of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). We previously showed that senescent HPMCs could spontaneously acquire some phenotypic features of MMT, which in young HPMCs were induced by TGF-β. Here, we used electron microscopy, as well as global gene and protein profiling to assess in detail how exposure to TGF-β impacts on young and senescent HPMCs in vitro. We found that TGF-β induced structural changes consistent with MMT in young, but not in senescent HPMCs. Of all genes and proteins identified reliably in HPMCs across all treatments and states, 4,656 targets represented overlapping genes and proteins. Following exposure to TGF-β, 137 proteins and 46 transcripts were significantly changed in young cells, compared to 225 proteins and only 2 transcripts in senescent cells. Identified differences between young and senescent HPMCs were related predominantly to wound healing, integrin-mediated signalling, production of proteases and extracellular matrix components, and cytoskeleton structure. Thus, the response of senescent HPMCs to TGF-β differs or is less pronounced compared to young cells. As a result, the character and magnitude of the postulated contribution of HPMCs to TGF-β-induced peritoneal remodelling may change with cell senescence.
Quantifying the effects of landscape and habitat characteristics on structuring bird assemblages in urban habitat patches
Authors: Zhu Yun , Liu Yu , Sheng Shang , Zheng Jinfeng , Wu Su , Cao Zhaoyang , Zhang Kai , Xu Yu
Published: June 2024

Understanding the determinants of biodiversity in fragmented habitats is fundamental for informing sustainable landscape development, especially in urban landscapes that substantially fragment natural habitat. However, the relative roles of landscape and habitat characteristics, as emphasized by two competing frameworks (the island biogeography theory and the habitat diversity hypothesis), in structuring species assemblages in fragmented habitats have not been fully explored. This study investigated bird assemblages at 26 habitat patches (ranging in size from 0.3 to 290.4 ha) in an urban landscape, southwest China, among which habitat type composition and woody plant species composition varied significantly. Through 14 bird surveys conducted over six breeding seasons from 2017 to 2022, we recorded 70 breeding bird species (excluding birds recorded only once and fly-overs, such as raptors, swallows and swifts), with an average of 26 ± 10 (SD) species per patch. We found that patch area had significant direct and indirect effects on bird richness, with the indirect effects mediated by habitat richness (i.e., the number of habitat types). Isolation (measured as the distance to the nearest patch), perimeter to area ratio (PAR), and woody plant richness did not significantly predict variation in bird richness. Furthermore, none of these factors significantly sorted bird species based on their functional traits. However, the overall makeup of bird assemblages was significantly associated with the specific habitat types and woody plant species present in the patches. The results suggest that neither the island biogeography theory nor the habitat diversity hypothesis can fully explain the impacts of habitat fragmentation on bird richness in our study system, with their roles primarily being linked to patch area. The findings that habitat and plant compositions were the major drivers of variation in bird assemblage composition offer valuable insights into urban planning and green initiatives. Conservation efforts should focus not only on preserving large areas, but also on preventing urban monocultures by promoting diverse habitats within those areas, contributing to the persistence of meta-communities.
Relationship between proteinuria and changes in antepartum and postpartum choroidal thickness in patients with pre-eclampsia
Authors: Lee You Hyun , Kim Do Yeon , Bae Jin Gon , Kim Yu Cheol
Published: June 2024

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder characterised by systemic vascular resistance and endothelial dysfunction. It is known to influence choroidal thickness (CT). No previous studies have explored the antepartum and postpartum changes in CT with respect to the protein-creatinine ratio (PCR), a measure of proteinuria that is a clinical hallmark of PE. This study evaluated the correlations between antepartum and postpartum CT and the PCR in patients with PE. In this retrospective study, sixty-six eyes (66 patients) were analysed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median PCR value (2.36 mg/mg): low PCR group (< 2.36 mg/mg) and high PCR group (≥ 2.36 mg/mg). Ophthalmologic clinical data were collected and assessed. We observed higher antepartum CT and higher mean arterial pressure in high PCR group than in low PCR group. Moreover, postpartum CT decreased significantly in high PCR group. In the multivariate analysis, CT changes were correlated with antepartum CT and antepartum PCR after logarithm transformation. In conclusion, a greater decrease in CT was observed in high PCR group than in low PCR group. Further, the antepartum PCR showed a correlation with the extent of CT reduction.
On-device query intent prediction with lightweight LLMs to support ubiquitous conversations
Authors: Dubiel Mateusz , Barghouti Yasmine , Kudryavtseva Kristina , Leiva Luis A.
Published: June 2024

Conversational Agents (CAs) have made their way to providing interactive assistance to users. However, the current dialogue modelling techniques for CAs are predominantly based on hard-coded rules and rigid interaction flows, which negatively affects their flexibility and scalability. Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used as an alternative, but unfortunately they do not always provide good levels of privacy protection for end-users since most of them are running on cloud services. To address these problems, we leverage the potential of transfer learning and study how to best fine-tunelightweightpre-trained LLMs to predict the intent of user queries. Importantly, our LLMs allow for on-device deployment, making them suitable for personalised, ubiquitous, and privacy-preserving scenarios. Our experiments suggest that RoBERTa and XLNet offer the best trade-off considering these constraints. We also show that, after fine-tuning, these models perform on par with ChatGPT. We also discuss the implications of this research for relevant stakeholders, including researchers and practitioners. Taken together, this paper provides insights into LLM suitability for on-device CAs and highlights the middle ground between LLM performance and memory footprint while also considering privacy implications.
Organic fertilizer application promotes the soil nitrogen cycle and plant starch and sucrose metabolism to improve the yield of Pinellia ternata
Authors: Wei Lu , Li Jinxin , Qu Kaili , Chen Hong , Wang Mingxing , Xia Shuaijie , Cai Huixia , Long Xi-En , Miao Yuhuan , Liu Dahui
Published: June 2024

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit is a traditional Chinese medicine with important pharmacological effects. However, its cultivation is challenged by soil degradation following excessive use of chemical fertilizer. We conducted an experiment exploring the effects of replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers (OF) on the growth and yield of P. ternata, as well as on the soil physicochemical properties and microbial community composition using containerized plants. Six fertilization treatments were evaluated, including control (CK), chemical fertilizer (CF), different proportions of replacing chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer (OM1−4). Containerized P. ternata plants in each OF treatment had greater growth and yield than the CK and CF treatments while maintaining alkaloid content. The OM3 treatment had the greatest yield among all treatments, with an increase of 42.35% and 44.93% compared to the CK and CF treatments, respectively. OF treatments improved soil quality and fertility by enhancing the activities of soil urease (S-UE) and sucrase (S-SC) enzymes while increasing soil organic matter and trace mineral elements. OF treatments increased bacterial abundance and changed soil community structure. In comparison to the CK microbial groups enriched in OM3 were OLB13, Vicinamibacteraceae, and Blrii41. There were also changes in the abundance of gene transcripts among treatments. The abundance of genes involved in the nitrogen cycle in the OM3 has increased, specifically promoting the transformation of N-NO3− into N-NH4+, a type of nitrogen more easily absorbed by P. ternata. Also, genes involved in "starch and sucrose metabolism" and "plant hormone signal transduction" pathways were positively correlated to P. ternata yield and were upregulated in the OM3 treatment. Overall, OF in P. ternata cultivation is a feasible practice in advancing sustainable agriculture and is potentially profitable in commercial production.
Predicting seasonal influenza outbreaks with regime shift-informed dynamics for improved public health preparedness
Authors: Kim Minhye , Kim Yongkuk , Nah Kyeongah
Published: June 2024

In this study, we propose a novel approach that integrates regime-shift detection with a mechanistic model to forecast the peak times of seasonal influenza. The key benefit of this approach is its ability to detect regime shifts from non-epidemic to epidemic states, which is particularly beneficial with the year-round presence of non-zero Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) data. This integration allows for the incorporation of external factors that trigger the onset of the influenza season-factors that mechanistic models alone might not adequately capture. Applied to ILI data collected in Korea from 2005 to 2020, our method demonstrated stable peak time predictions for seasonal influenza outbreaks, particularly in years characterized by unusual onset times or epidemic magnitudes.
Biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using Solenostemma argel and their effect on enhancing salt tolerance in barley plants
Authors: Shaikhaldein Hassan O. , Al-Qurainy Fahad , Nadeem Mohammad , Khan Salim , Tarroum Mohamed , Salih Abdalrhaman M. , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman
Published: June 2024

The distinctive characteristics of nanoparticles and their potential applications have been given considerable attention by scientists across different fields, particularly agriculture. However, there has been limited effort to assess the impact of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in modulating physiological and biochemical processes in response to salt-induced stress. This study aimed to synthesize CuNPs biologically using Solenostemma argel extract and determine their effects on morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant defense system of barley (Hordeum vulgare) under salt stress. The biosynthesized CuNPs were characterized by (UV–vis spectroscopy with Surface Plasmon Resonance at 320 nm, the crystalline nature of the formed NPs was verified via XRD, the FTIR recorded the presence of the functional groups, while TEM was confirmed the shape (spherical) and the sizes (9 to 18 nm) of biosynthesized CuNPs. Seeds of barley plants were grown in plastic pots and exposed to different levels of salt (0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl). Our findings revealed that the supplementation of CuNPs (0, 25 and 50 mg/L) to salinized barley significantly mitigate the negative impacts of salt stress and enhanced the plant growth-related parameters. High salinity level enhanced the oxidative damage by raising the concentrations of osmolytes (soluble protein, soluble sugar, and proline), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In addition, increasing the activities of enzymatic antioxidants, total phenol, and flavonoids. Interestingly, exposing CuNPs on salt-stressed plants enhanced the plant-growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, and gas exchange parameters. Furthermore, CuNPs counteracted oxidative damage by lowering the accumulation of osmolytes, H2O2, MDA, total phenol, and flavonoids, while simultaneously enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, the application of biosynthesized CuNPs presents a promising approach and sustainable strategy to enhance plant resistance to salinity stress, surpassing conventional methods in terms of environmental balance.
Trace fossils as mechanical discontinuities in shales, insight for the generation of bedding-parallel veins (BPV)
Authors: Zanella Alain , Ruiz Remigio , Varela Augusto N. , Arregui Mariano G.
Published: June 2024

Understanding shale petrophysical parameters is of interest due to its direct implications as cap rocks for CO2 or hydrogen storage, waste depositions, and as unconventional reservoirs. The generation and propagation of natural and induced fracture networks in such rocks is highly dependent on the mechanical behavior linked to several sedimentological parameters, as lithological discontinuities or bioturbation. This study is focused on a different sedimentological parameter that consists of trace fossils and their implication on the generation of fluid-assisted fractures, called bedding-parallel veins. In the Austral-Magallanes Basin, Southern Patagonia, Argentina, both geological features, Skolithos Ichnofacies (doomed pioneers trace fossils) and bedding-parallel veins, are numerous, especially at the top of the turbiditic bodies. The trace fossils exhibit U-shaped vertically oriented burrows composed of clean sandstone, partially cemented by calcite, and a spreite in the central part with heterogenous laminated siltstone. Bedding-parallel veins are composed of calcite fibers with some pyrite grains and bitumen. They are located on the top of the trace fossils along the lithological discontinuity between the turbiditic bodies and the impermeable shales. On their surfaces, a radial pattern starts growing from the trace fossils. Moreover, the number of bedding-parallel veins is dependent on the bioturbation intensity. With this study, we infer that trace fossils represent ichnological mechanical discontinuities (IMD) that have a key role in the generation and development of bedding-parallel veins. By correlation, we also suggest that these geological features must be thoroughly studied, especially regarding their potential for the development of induced fracturing networks.
The effectiveness of digital twins in promoting precision health across the entire population: a systematic review
Authors: Shen Mei-di , Chen Si-bing , Ding Xiang-dong
Published: June 2024

Digital twins represent a promising technology within the domain of precision healthcare, offering significant prospects for individualized medical interventions. Existing systematic reviews, however, mainly focus on the technological dimensions of digital twins, with a limited exploration of their impact on health-related outcomes. Therefore, this systematic review aims to explore the efficacy of digital twins in improving precision healthcare at the population level. The literature search for this study encompassed PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Database to retrieve potentially relevant records. Patient health-related outcomes were synthesized employing quantitative content analysis, whereas the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scales were used to evaluate the quality and potential bias inherent in each selected study. Following established inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 studies were screened from an initial 1321 records for further analysis. These studies included patients with various conditions, including cancers, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, qi deficiency, post-hepatectomy liver failure, and dental issues. The review coded three types of interventions: personalized health management, precision individual therapy effects, and predicting individual risk, leading to a total of 45 outcomes being measured. The collective effectiveness of these outcomes at the population level was calculated at 80% (36 out of 45). No studies exhibited unacceptable differences in quality. Overall, employing digital twins in precision health demonstrates practical advantages, warranting its expanded use to facilitate the transition from the development phase to broad application.

PROSPERO registry: CRD42024507256.
Correlations reveal the hierarchical organization of biological networks with latent variables
Authors: Häusler Stefan
Published: June 2024

Deciphering the functional organization of large biological networks is a major challenge for current mathematical methods. A common approach is to decompose networks into largely independent functional modules, but inferring these modules and their organization from network activity is difficult, given the uncertainties and incompleteness of measurements. Typically, some parts of the overall functional organization, such as intermediate processing steps, are latent. We show that the hidden structure can be determined from the statistical moments of observable network components alone, as long as the functional relevance of the network components lies in their mean values and the mean of each latent variable maps onto a scaled expectation of a binary variable. Whether the function of biological networks permits a hierarchical modularization can be falsified by a correlation-based statistical test that we derive. We apply the test to gene regulatory networks, dendrites of pyramidal neurons, and networks of spiking neurons.
Metal-organic frameworks for solar-driven desalination
Authors: Zhang Panyouwen , Hu Yue , Yao Bing , Guo Jingyun , Ye Zhizhen , Peng Xinsheng
Published: June 2024

The rising demand for freshwater and the challenge of energy scarcity have fueled interest in solar interfacial water evaporation technology, which harnesses solar energy to produce clean water. Attaining high performance with this technology necessitates the development of highly efficient photothermal materials, heat management optimization, and the resolution of salt deposition issues to ensure equipment longevity. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess large specific surface areas and high porosity, making them ideal for various water treatment applications. In recent years, MOFs have been extensively employed for solar-driven desalination. Here, we review recent developments in the functionalization of MOFs thin films, composites and MOFs-based derivatives and strategies for achieving efficient seawater desalination with MOFs while preventing salt deposition. Furthermore, desalination systems that integrate pollutant degradation and power generation are discussed, which further expand the application scenarios of solar-driven interfacial water evaporation desalination technologies.
Enterprise’s strategies to improve financial capital under a climate change scenario – evidence of the leading country
Authors: Nguyen Quang-Loc , Nguyen Minh-Hoang , La Viet-Phuong , Bhatti Muhammad Ishaq , Hoang Vuong Quan
Published: June 2024

Climate change poses manifold consequences to the world’s ecosystems and human well-being. Greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate-friendly technological innovations at the corporate level are considered effective measures to mitigate climate change. Using the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) to analyze 178 enterprises listed in the Standard and Poor’s 500 companies from 2016 to 2021, this paper examines how companies’ climate risk-mitigating efforts can affect their market value. We found that emitted carbon dioxide negatively affects the stock price. Meanwhile, companies’ income and climate risk-mitigating efforts, including producing eco-friendly products, using renewable energy, and environmental investments, are positively associated with their share value. However, the effects of these efforts are conditional on the companies’ income. Based on these findings, we suggest that building an eco-surplus culture among investors and improving their climate change knowledge can be a promising approach to promoting a corporation’s mitigation efforts.
The enablers of adaptation: A systematic review
Authors: Brullo Tia , Barnett Jon , Waters Elissa , Boulter Sarah
Published: June 2024

Knowledge of the practice of climate change adaptation is slowly shifting from a focus on barriers and limits to an understanding of its enablers. Here we take stock of the knowledge on the enablers of adaptation through a systematic review of the literature. Our review of empirical articles explaining how adaptation is enabled finds that there is a tendency in the literature to focus on local-scale case studies. Across all studies, some factors seem to be more important than others, including resources (particularly money), awareness of climate risks and responses, leadership, bridging and bonding social capital, and the support of higher-level institutions. Our analysis also highlights significant gaps in knowledge about enablers, including those that affect change in regional/provincial and national governments, in the private sector, and in non-local not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations.
Studying and improving reasoning in humans and machines
Authors: Yax Nicolas , Anlló Hernán , Palminteri Stefano
Published: June 2024

In the present study, we investigate and compare reasoning in large language models (LLMs) and humans, using a selection of cognitive psychology tools traditionally dedicated to the study of (bounded) rationality. We presented to human participants and an array of pretrained LLMs new variants of classical cognitive experiments, and cross-compared their performances. Our results showed that most of the included models presented reasoning errors akin to those frequently ascribed to error-prone, heuristic-based human reasoning. Notwithstanding this superficial similarity, an in-depth comparison between humans and LLMs indicated important differences with human-like reasoning, with models’ limitations disappearing almost entirely in more recent LLMs’ releases. Moreover, we show that while it is possible to devise strategies to induce better performance, humans and machines are not equally responsive to the same prompting schemes. We conclude by discussing the epistemological implications and challenges of comparing human and machine behavior for both artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology.
Tracing household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in New Zealand using genomics
Authors: Jelley Lauren , Aminisani Nayyereh , O’Neill Meaghan , Jennings Tineke , Douglas Jordan , Utekar Srushti , Johnston Helen , Welch David , Hadfield James ,   SHIVERS Investigation Team,   Clinical Advisors:, Turner Nikki , Dowell Tony , Nesdale Annette , Dobinson Hazel C. , Campbell-Stokes Priscilla , Balm Michelle , Grant Cameron C. , Daniells Karen , McIntyre Peter , Trenholme Adrian , Byrnes Cass ,   Study and Clinical and data team:, Seeds Ruth , Wood Tim , Rensburg Megan , Cueto Jort , Caballero Ernest , John Joshma , Penghulan Emmanuel , Currin Danielle , Ryan Mary , Bowers Andrea ,   Clinical Virology Team:, Tan Chor Ee , Bocacao Judy , Gunn Wendy , Bird Bryden , Slater Tegan , Ahmed Farjana , Sam Mai Anh , Glampe Elaisa , Davey Gabriella , de Ligt Joep , Winter David , French Nigel , Thomas Paul G. , Webby Richard J. , Huang Sue , Geoghegan Jemma L.
Published: June 2024

By early 2022, the highly transmissible Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 had spread across most of the world. For the first time since the pandemic began, New Zealand was experiencing high levels of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We enroled a cohort of households to better understand differences in transmission dynamics among subvariants of Omicron. We enroled 71 households, comprising 289 participants, and aimed to use viral genomes to gain a clearer understanding of variant-specific differences in epidemiological parameters affecting transmission dynamics. Approximately 80% of the households enroled experienced transmission of BA.2, while most of the remaining households had infections with BA.1 or BA.5. Using a logistic regression generalised linear mixed model, we found no difference in household secondary infection rate between Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5. Of the households recruited, the vast majority (92%) experienced a single chain of transmission with one inferred introduction. Further, we found that in 48% of the households studied, all household participants became infected following an index case. Most household participants tested positive within a week following an introduction, supporting the seven-day isolation requirement for household contacts that was in place in New Zealand at the time. By integrating genomic and epidemiological data, we show that viral transmission dynamics can be investigated with a higher level of granularity than with epidemiological data alone. Overall, households are a high risk setting for viral transmission in New Zealand.
Assessing the myth of disaster risk reduction in the wake of catastrophic floods
Authors: Nohrstedt Daniel , Mondino Elena , Di Baldassarre Giuliano , Parker Charles F.
Published: June 2024

Whether disasters serve as focusing events leading to measures that reduce future disaster risks is contested. Here, we study flood disasters in 23 of the world’s most flood-prone countries to assess whether catastrophic floods, those milestone events with the highest fatalities, have been followed by decreasing mortality in subsequent floods. Results from a trend analysis, controlling for flood magnitude and subtypes, find that reductions in mortality rates have rarely followed the most devastating floods.
Stochastic coastal flood risk modelling for the east coast of Africa
Authors: Benito Irene , Aerts Jeroen C. J. H. , Eilander Dirk , Ward Philip J. , Muis Sanne
Published: June 2024

Coastal flooding resulting from tropical cyclones can have large repercussions in many low-lying regions around the world. Accurate flood risk assessments are crucial for designing measures to reduce the societal impacts of coastal flooding. At continental to global scales, however, traditional flood risk assessments mostly use methods that do not capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of coastal flood risk patterns. In this study, we address these deficiencies by applying a novel modelling framework that dynamically simulates stochastic coastal flood risk for the east coast of Africa. Using 10,000 years of synthetic tropical cyclones and a cascade of hydrodynamic models to simulate storm tides and flooding, we calculate the damage of each individual tropical cyclone event and empirically derive the risk curve for each country. Results show that the largest aggregated annual losses in the region come from multiple events rather than from a single low-probability event. Results also reveal that events with the highest return periods in terms of storm surge residual levels and flood extents are not necessarily the most damaging events. Here, the 1 in 10,000-year damage event is associated with a 1 in 45-year event in terms of flood extent, showing that addressing exposure and vulnerability is essential in determining risk. Our modelling framework enables a high-resolution continental-scale risk analysis that takes the spatial dependencies of flood events into account.
A quantum sensing metrology for magnetic memories
Authors: Borràs Vicent J. , Carpenter Robert , Žaper Liza , Rao Siddharth , Couet Sebastien , Munsch Mathieu , Maletinsky Patrick , Rickhaus Peter
Published: June 2024

Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is a leading emergent memory technology that is poised to replace current non-volatile memory technologies such as eFlash. However, controlling and improving distributions of device properties becomes a key enabler of new applications at this stage of technology development. Here, we introduce a non-contact metrology technique deploying scanning NV magnetometry (SNVM) to investigate MRAM performance at the individual bit level. We demonstrate magnetic reversal characterization in individual, <60 nm-sized bits, to extract key magnetic properties, thermal stability, and switching statistics, and thereby gauge bit-to-bit uniformity. We showcase the performance of our method by benchmarking two distinct bit etching processes immediately after pattern formation. In contrast to ensemble averaging methods such as perpendicular magneto-optical Kerr effect, we show that it is possible to identify out of distribution (tail-bits) bits that seem associated to the edges of the array, enabling failure analysis of tail bits. Our findings highlight the potential of nanoscale quantum sensing of MRAM devices for early-stage screening in the processing line, paving the way for future incorporation of this nanoscale characterization tool in the semiconductor industry.