bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity of hyperparasitic fungi on Meliolales (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota): new species, records, and molecular data from Benin and Panama
Authors: Bermúdez-Cova Miguel A. , Krauß Anna , Sanjur Alicia , Tabé Affoussatou , Hofmann Tina A. , Yorou Nourou S. , Piepenbring Meike
Published: August 2023

Meliolales (black mildews) is an order of plant parasitic ascomycetous fungi in the tropics and subtropics. They are frequently overgrown and parasitized by other fungi, known as hyperparasites. During the last few years, species of hyperparasitic fungi on Meliolales have been collected in Benin and Panama. A new species of Paranectria and seven new reports of hyperparasites of different systematic groups are presented here with detailed descriptions and illustrations, together with new data concerning fungal hosts and host plants. The new species is called Paranectria longiappendiculata, characterized by exceptionally long appendages carried by the ascospores. New records for Benin and Panama are Calloriopsis herpotricha, Dimerosporiella cephalosporii, Isthmospora glabra, Isthmospora trichophila, Malacaria meliolicola, Paranectriella hemileiae, and Paranectriella minuta. Calloriopsis herpotricha is recorded for Africa and D. cephalosporii and P. hemileiae for America for the first time, suggesting an apparently pantropical distribution. Findings show a blatant lack of investigation on hyperparasitic fungi in the tropics. The phylogenetic positions of three of these newly reported species, C. herpotricha, D. cephalosporii, and P. minuta, are shown based on the analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU), and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. These sequences were generated in the context of the present study for the first time.
Drop in, drop out, or stay on: Patterns and predictors of panel attrition among young people
Authors: Malschinger Paul , Vogl Susanne , Schels Brigitte
Published: August 2023

Longitudinal transition studies are central to youth research but face particular challenges owing to panel attrition. While adolescents can be easily reached through institutions, their lives change after they leave school. Consequently, keeping them in further panel waves becomes more difficult. This methodological paper explores factors that are related to different patterns of panel attrition. In addition to general factors of survey participation associated with socio-demographic variables, such as gender and social background, we also consider aspects related to the survey topic which could influence patterns of attrition, such as career choice, and the survey experience (i.e., the evaluation of the questionnaire in the first wave). We use data from a five-wave panel study with young people in Vienna. About 3000 respondents participated in the first survey wave during their last year in general-track secondary school (2017–2018 academic year), and they were then surveyed annually over the next four years (2019–2022). We find that a group of respondents remain continuously in the panel, while some drop out permanently at some point and others drop out temporarily but drop in again later. Based on logistic regression models, the results show that gender, migration background, parental occupational status, and school grades are related to patterns of attrition. The survey experience in the first wave is partly related to these factors. Our results can inform future studies regarding causes for and consequences of panel attrition.
Analysis of the Anti-corrosion Performance of Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt on Various Heat-Treated Dual-Phase EN8 Steel in an Acidic Environment
Authors: Prabhu Deepa , Jomy Jilna , Prabhu P. R.
Published: August 2023

This work focuses on the investigation of the corrosion inhibition of heat-treated EN8 steel in the presence of sodium salt of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid in 0.5 M H2SO4 using the Gravimetric and Electrochemical methods. Austenitizing is performed at 700, 750, 790, and 900 °C for 2 h followed by quenching in water. When the heat-treated metal is exposed to 0.5 M H2SO4 at the temperature of 30, 40, 50, and 60 °C in the presence of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid sodium salt inhibitor, the corrosion inhibition increased with different heat treatment conditions depending on the phase change. This work investigates the activation and adsorption isotherm parameters. The adsorption isotherms were used to estimate Gibb's free energy change. The inhibition efficiency increased with inhibitor concentration and decreased with temperatures. Out of all the isotherms examined, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm produced the best-fit results, according to the adsorption study. Corrosion and inhibition on the metal's surface were confirmed by surface characterization.
PDGFRA, KIT, and KDR Gene Amplification in Glioblastoma: Heterogeneity and Clinical Significance
Authors: Carlotto Bianca Soares , Trevisan Patricia , Provenzi Valentina Oliveira , Soares Fabiano Pasqualotto , Rosa Rafael Fabiano Machado , Varella-Garcia Marileila , Zen Paulo Ricardo Gazzola
Published: August 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent tumor of the central nervous system, and its heterogeneity is a challenge in treatment. This study examined tumoral heterogeneity involving PDGFRA, KIT, and KDR gene amplification (GA) in 4q12 and its association with clinical parameters. Specimens from 22 GBM cases with GA for the 4q12 amplicon detected by FISH were investigated for homogeneous or heterogeneous coamplification patterns, diffuse or focal distribution of cells harboring GA throughout tumor sections, and pattern of clustering of fluorescence signals. Sixteen cases had homogenously amplification for all three genes (45.5%), for PDGFRA and KDR (22.7%), or only for PDGFRA (4.6%); six cases had heterogeneous GA patterns, with subpopulations including GA for all three genes and for two genes - PDGFRA and KDR (13.6%), or GA for all three and for only one gene - PDGFRA (9.1%) or KIT (4.6%). In 6 tumors (27.3%), GA was observed in focal tumor areas, while in the remaining 16 tumors (72.7%) it was diffusely distributed throughout the pathological specimen. Amplification was universally expressed as double minutes and homogenously stained regions. Coamplification of all three genes PDGFRA, KIT, and KDR, age ≥ 60 years, and total tumor resection were statistically associated with poor prognosis. FISH proved effective for detailed interpretation of molecular heterogeneity. The study uncovered an even more diverse range of amplification patterns involving the 4q12 oncogenes in GBM than previously described, thus highlighting a complex tumoral heterogeneity to be considered when devising more effective therapies.
Assessment of nuclear grade-based recurrence risk classification in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, node-positive high-risk early breast cancer
Authors: Murata Takeshi , Yoshida Masayuki , Shiino Sho , Watase Chikashi , Ogawa Ayumi , Shikata Shohei , Hashiguchi Hiromi , Yoshii Yukiko , Sugino Hirokazu , Jimbo Kenjiro , Maeshima Akiko , Iwamoto Eriko , Takayama Shin , Suto Akihiko
Published: August 2023

Background

Histological grade (HG) has been used in the MonrachE trial to select patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive high-risk early breast cancer (EBC). Although nuclear grade (NG) is widely used in Japan, it is still unclear whether replacing HG with NG can appropriately select high-risk patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 647 patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive EBC and classified them into the following four groups: group 1: ≥ 4 positive axillary lymph nodes (pALNs) or 1–3 pALNs and either grade 3 of both grading systems or tumors ≥ 5 cm; group 2: 1–3 pALNs, grade < 3, tumor < 5 cm, and Ki-67 ≥ 20%; group 3: 1–3 pALNs, grade < 3, tumor < 5 cm, and Ki-67 < 20%; and group 4: group 2 or 3 by HG classification but group 1 by NG classification. We compared invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) among the four groups using the Kaplan–Meier method with the log-rank test.

Results

Group 1 had a significantly worse 5-year IDFS and DRFS than groups 2 and 3 (IDFS 80.8% vs. 89.5%, P = 0.0319, 80.8% vs. 95.5%, P = 0.002; DRFS 85.2% vs. 95.3%, P = 0.0025, 85.2% vs. 98.4%, P < 0.001, respectively). Group 4 also had a significantly worse 5-year IDFS (78.0%) and DRFS (83.6%) than groups 2 and 3.

Conclusions

NG was useful for stratifying the risk of recurrence in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive EBC and was the appropriate risk assessment for patient groups not considered high-risk by HG classification.
Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy for real-time evaluation of colorectal liver metastasis in resected surgical specimens
Authors: Takao Mikiya , Kawaguchi Yoshikuni , Matsumura Masaru , Kazami Yusuke , Tanimoto Meguri , Abe Satoru , Maki Harufumi , Ishizawa Takeaki , Arita Junichi , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Kaneko Junichi , Kokudo Norihiro , Hasegawa Kiyoshi
Published: August 2023

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) enables real-time examination of tissue structure. This study investigated pCLE with or without fluorescein sodium for the intraoperative diagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) and detection of surgical margins. Thirty-four specimens of CLM and adjacent noncancerous tissue were obtained from 21 patients and examined by pCLE between May 2017 and March 2018. Images were obtained both without and with fluorescein sodium applied to the cut surface and compared with hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue. Fluorescence intensity (FI) was measured by luminance-analysis software. Without external fluorophores, pCLE visualized 91.2% of CLM tissues as an irregular structure with low autofluorescence and 90.5% of noncancerous liver tissues as a regular structure with high autofluorescence. The median FI was significantly lower in cancer than in benign tissue in patients without chemotherapy [70.4 (51.6–110) vs. 48.3 (39.0–59.4), p = 0.002] and with chemotherapy [67.9 (54.6–89.2) vs. 48.6 (28.8–82.1), p < 0.001]. The border was clearly visible; pCLE with fluorescein sodium clearly showed their morphologies. In summary, our study demonstrated real-time pCLE distinguished CLM and noncancerous tissue by differences in structure and FI regardless of prehepatectomy chemotherapy. Fluorescein spray facilitated clear visualization of differences in the morphology.
New Concepts in Steroid Glaucoma
Authors: Levin A. M. , Sieck E. G.
Published: August 2023

Purpose of Review

In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology underlying intraocular pressure elevation associated with corticosteroid use as well as targeted therapies for treatment.

Recent Findings

Several signaling pathways at the level of the trabecular meshwork are altered by steroid exposure. A pre-existing diagnosis of glaucoma is the best-established risk factor for development of steroid-associated ocular hypertension. Topical, local, and systemic steroids have all been associated with ocular hypertension.

Current management is directed at steroid-sparing alternatives to treatment, steroid cessation, IOP-lowering medications, and interventional lasers and surgery.
Removal of organic micropollutants from water by adsorption on thermo-plasma expanded graphite encapsulated into calcium alginate
Authors: Cuccarese Marco , Van Hulle Stijn W. H. , Mancini Ignazio M. , Masi Salvatore , Caniani Donatella
Published: August 2023

Nowadays, public concern is focused on the degradation of water quality. For this reason, the development of innovative technologies for water treatment in view of (micro)pollutant removal is important. Indeed, organic (micro)pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides and plasticizers at concentration levels of μg L−1 or even ng L−1 are hardly removed during conventional wastewater treatment. In view of this, thermo-plasma expanded graphite, a light-weight innovative material in the form of a powder, was encapsulated into calcium alginate to obtain a granular form useful as filtration and adsorption material for removal of different pollutants. The produced material was used to remove atrazine, bisphenol-A, 17-α-ethinylestradiol and carbamazepine (at concentration levels of 125, 250 and 500 µg L−1) by top-down filtration. The effect of flow rate, bed depth and adsorbent composition was evaluated based on breakthrough curves. The experimental data was analysed with the Adams-Bohart model in view of scale-up. Under optimal conditions, removal and adsorption capacity of respectively about 21%, 21%, 38%,42%, 43 µg g−1, 44 µg g−1, 37 µg g−1 and 87 µg g−1 were obtained for atrazine, bisphenol, 17-α ethinylestradiol and carbamazepine when using 0.12 g of thermo-plasma expanded graphite to treat 200 mL at 500 µg L−1 (for each compound) of solution obtaining at contact time of 20 min. The granular form of TPEG obtained (GTPEG) by entrapping in calcium alginate results to have a good adsorbent property for the removal of carbamazepine, atrazine, bisphenol A and 17-α ethinylestradiol from water at concentration levels between 250 and 500 μg L−1. Promising results confirm the adsorbent properties of TPEG and push-up us to investigate on its application and improve of its performance by evaluating different entrapping materials.
Using Mindfulness to Improve Quality of Life in Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Agency Outcomes for Caregivers and Clients
Authors: Singh Nirbhay N. , Lancioni Giulio E. , Hwang Yoon-Suk , Myers Rachel E. , Townshend Kishani , Medvedev Oleg N.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Research suggests that the quality of life of professional caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder can be enhanced through mindfulness-based training. The effects of such training have been evidenced in terms of perceived psychological stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue (i.e., burnout, secondary traumatic stress), and symptoms of depression. In addition to changes in caregiver personal outcomes, mindfulness-based training may have effects on the quality assurance variables of the agency that employs these caregivers. The aim of the present study was to examine the changes from a systems perspective in terms of quality assurance variables related to caregivers and clients in community-based group homes.

Methods

Professional caregivers (n = 216) were randomized into three experimental conditions based on the training they received: mindfulness, psychoeducation, or inservice training-as-usual (control). The effects of the training were assessed in terms of quality assurance indices pertaining to caregivers (progressive discipline, call-ins, days absent, medical referrals, hospitalizations, and caregiver turnover) and clients (learning objectives, behavioral episodes, use of physical restraints, emergency medications [stat], medical emergencies, hospitalizations, aggression to staff, aggression to peers, and level of supervision).

Results

Overall, caregivers in the mindfulness group exhibited significantly fewer progressive discipline and call-ins when compared to the psychoeducation and control groups. Caregivers in both the mindfulness and psychoeducation groups exhibited significantly fewer days of absence from work, medical referrals, and caregiver turnover when compared to the control group. There was no difference across the three groups in terms of hospitalizations. Clients under the care of mindfulness-trained caregivers showed significantly greater improvement in completing learning objectives, fewer behavioral episodes, reduced need for physical restraints and stat medication for behavioral episodes, fewer episodes of aggression to peers, and lower levels of supervision when compared to those in the psychoeducation and control groups. Clients did equally well in terms of medical emergencies, hospitalizations, and aggression to staff in the mindfulness and psychoeducation groups when compared to those in the control group.

Conclusions

Differential effects of mindfulness training, psychoeducation, and inservice training-as-usual were evident in quality assurance variables related to caregivers and clients. The results suggest that training caregivers in different approaches to self-care may differentially affect not only their clinical status but also at a systems level in terms of quality assurance indices.
Effect of (Co and Zn) doping on structural, characterization and the heavy metal removal efficiency of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles
Authors: Ramadan Rania , El-Masry Mai M.
Published: August 2023

Nanomaterials, especially ferrites, have various applications in mechanical, electrical, and optical fields. However, their abilities in environmental applications remain unexplored. In this work, the flash auto-combustion method has been used to prepare three different compositions of CuFe2O4, Zn-CuFe2O4, and Co-CuFe2O4 nanocomposite. The structure, spectroscopic, surface, and morphological properties of the prepared samples were characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, and HRTEM, respectively. According to XRD analysis, the prepared ferrites consist of nanocrystalline particles with sizes of 24.5, 37.5, and 32.6 for CuFe2O4, Zn-CuFe2O4, and Co-CuFe2O4, respectively. Zn-CuFe2O4 and Co-CuFe2O4 had a single cubic phase, while a tetragonal phase was formed in CuFe2O4. The addition of cobalt and zinc to copper ferrite increased the crystallite size and the lattice parameters. The absorption band in FTIR spectra, which represents the stretching vibrations along the [MetalO] bond at the octahedral (B) position, was nearly constant (412 Cm−1) by the addition of Zn to CuFe2O4. The surface area and quantity of gas adsorbed on the surface of Co-CuFe2O4 were the highest. The greatest force constants [(Ko = 1.37 & KT = 1.32 105 dyne/cm] were detected in Zn-CuFe2O4. Co-CuFe2O4 exhibited the highest saturation magnetization as well as magnetocrystalline anisotropy. From FESM, the particles have a homogeneous distribution, which is confirmed by the appropriate synthesis method. The nanonanosamples had an average particle size of 79 nm, 66 nm, and 56 nm for CuFe2O4, Co-CuFe2O4, and Zn-CuFe2O4, respectively. The surface area and quantity of gas adsorbed on the sample surface were increased by doping Cu ferrite with Co and Zn. All the prepared samples were tested for heavy metal (Cr6+) removal from the water; they demonstrated promising results after optimizing the experimental conditions at pH 7 and contact time 50 min, and these values reached 54%, 90%, and 93% for CuFe2O4, Zn-CuFe2O4, and Co-CuFe2O4 nanocomposite, respectively.
Three Reasons to Forego Trigger Warnings
Authors: Sanson Mevagh
Published: August 2023

Trigger warnings—alerts advising people about the negative nature of the material to follow and possible adverse reactions to it—are now commonplace. But their use on campuses remains controversial. A growing body of work on the effects of trigger warnings, including the work by Kimble and colleagues (Human Arenas, 2023), suggests that students do not need trigger warnings and demonstrates at least three ways in which trigger warnings do not have their intended effects. First, people rarely use the warnings to avoid negative material. Second, people report the same degree of distress about negative material whether or not they received a warning. Third, the warnings by themselves can lead people to feel distressed. In other words, trigger warnings are not merely unhelpful; they are harmful in ways not intended. For these three reasons, college instructors should forego the use of trigger warnings.
DAEMON: A Domain-Based Monitoring Ontology for IoT Systems
Authors: Daoudagh Said , Marchetti Eda , Calabrò Antonello , Ferrada Filipa , Oliveira Ana Inês , Barata José , Peres Ricardo , Marques Francisco
Published: August 2023

Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging technology used in several contexts and domains. The work aims to define a technological reference solution specifically conceived for monitoring and assessing the behavior of IoT systems from the cybersecurity perspective when a new device or component joins the system. We leverage semantic web technologies, such as ontologies, for defining DAEMON, a domain-based ontology that formally models monitoring, IoT, and System of Systems (SoS) domains’ knowledge. We also propose a supporting architecture and describe the proof-of-concept implementing different components. We have validated and showcased our proposal by instantiating DAEMON into a multi-robot autonomous navigation scenario applied to the intralogistics domain.
A brief introductory review to deep generative models for civil structural health monitoring
Authors: Luleci Furkan , Catbas F. Necati
Published: August 2023

The use of deep generative models (DGMs) such as variational autoencoders, autoregressive models, flow-based models, energy-based models, generative adversarial networks, and diffusion models has been advantageous in various disciplines due to their high data generative skills. Using DGMs has become one of the most trending research topics in Artificial Intelligence in recent years. On the other hand, the research and development endeavors in the civil structural health monitoring (SHM) area have also been very progressive owing to the increasing use of Machine Learning techniques. As such, some of the DGMs have also been used in the civil SHM field lately. This short review communication paper aims to assist researchers in the civil SHM field in understanding the fundamentals of DGMs and, consequently, to help initiate their use for current and possible future engineering applications. On this basis, this study briefly introduces the concept and mechanism of different DGMs in a comparative fashion. While preparing this short review communication, it was observed that some DGMs had not been utilized or exploited fully in the SHM area. Accordingly, some representative studies presented in the civil SHM field that use DGMs are briefly overviewed. The study also presents a short comparative discussion on DGMs, their link to the SHM, and research directions.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Online Bioarchaeology Education through Participant Survey of a Cohort of International Adult Learners
Authors: Ward Stacey M. , Barker Anna-Claire L. , Shoocongdej Rasmi , Wangthongchaicharoen Naruphol , Miszkiewicz Justyna J. , King Charlotte L. , Halcrow Siân E.
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the adoption of online education across all sectors worldwide, which was particularly challenging for disciplines that rely on hands-on learning such as bioarchaeology. Although the impacts of this rapid transition have been well investigated in fields such as anatomy and forensic anthropology, there has been little research into its effects within bioarchaeology. We address this deficit by investigating two common perceptions around online learning from a bioarchaeological perspective: (1) online techniques are inadequate for teaching practical skills, and (2) online learning environments lack a sense of community, thereby negatively affecting learner experiences. To gauge learner perceptions around online practical education in this field, we conducted a qualitative survey of participants in a bioarchaeology masterclass series. Results suggest that students perceive online learning to be as effective for practical training as in-person alternatives and that online learning may engender a sense of community when offered using a collaborative, interactive approach. Based on our results we provide several key recommendations for online education in bioarchaeology, including an active emphasis on social engagement and relationship building, culturally appropriate teaching, and the use of resources to encourage flexibility in learning. A Thai-language abstract is available as Supplemental Text 1.
The aerodynamic force estimation of a swept-wing UAV using ANFIS based on metaheuristic algorithms
Authors: Uzun M. , Bilgic H.H. , Çopur E.H. , Çoban S.
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a new approach to modeling and controlling the problems associated with a morphing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is proposed. Within the scope of the study, a dataset was created by obtaining a wide range of aerodynamic parameters for the UAV with Ansys Fluent under variable conditions using the computational fluid dynamics approach. For this, a large dataset was created that considered 5 different angles of attack, 14 different swept angles, and 5 different velocities. While creating the dataset, the analyses were verified by considering studies that have been experimentally validated in the literature. Then, an artificial intelligence-based model was created using the dataset obtained. Metaheuristic algorithms such as the artificial bee colony algorithm, ant colony algorithm and genetic algorithms are used to increase the modeling success of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach. A novel modeling approach is proposed that constitutes a new decision support system for real-time flight. According to the results obtained, all the ANFIS models based on metaheuristic algorithms were more successful than the traditional approach, the multilinear regression model. The swept angle that meets the minimum lift needed by the UAV for different flight conditions was estimated with the help of the designed decision support system. Thus, the drag force is minimised while obtaining the required lift force. The performance of the UAV was compared with the nonmorphing configuration, and the results are presented in tables and graphs.
Remarks on countable subadditivity
Authors: Grafakos Loukas , Vişan Monica
Published: August 2023

We discuss how countable subadditivity of operators can be derived from subadditivity under mild forms of continuity, and provide examples manifesting such circumstances.
Psychotherapy for adult depression in low- and middle-income countries: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tong Lingyao , Miguel Clara , Panagiotopoulou Olga-Maria , Karyotaki Eirini , Cuijpers Pim
Published: August 2023

Previous meta-analyses on psychotherapy for adult depression have found a larger treatment effect in non-Western trials compared to Western trials (i.e. North America, Europe, and Australia). However, factors contributing to this difference remain unclear. This study investigated different study characteristics between Western and non-Western trials and examined their association with effect size estimates. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Library (01–09–2022). We included randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that compared psychotherapy with a control condition. The validity of included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool (RoB 1). Effect sizes were pooled using the random-effects model. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were also conducted. We identified 405 eligible trials, among which 105 trials (117 comparisons, 16 304 participants) were from non-Western countries. We confirmed that non-Western trials had a larger treatment effect (g = 1.10, 95% CI 0.90–1.31) than Western trials (g = 0.57, 95% CI 0.52–0.62). Trials from non-Western countries also had more usual care controls, higher risk of bias, larger sample sizes, lower mean ages, younger adults, more group-based interventions, and other recruitment methods (e.g. systematic screening; p < 0.05). The larger effect sizes found in non-Western trials were related to the presence of wait-list controls, high risk of bias, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and clinician-diagnosed depression (p < 0.05). The larger treatment effects observed in non-Western trials may result from the high heterogeneous study design and relatively low validity. Further research on long-term effects, adolescent groups, and individual-level data are still needed.
Temperature and convictions: evidence from India
Authors: Craigie Terry-Ann , Taraz Vis , Zapryanova Mariyana
Published: August 2023

High temperatures have been shown to affect human cognition and decision-making in a variety of settings. In this paper, we explore the extent to which higher temperatures affect judicial decision-making in India. We use data on judicial decisions from the Indian eCourt platform, merged with high-resolution gridded daily weather data. We estimate causal effects by leveraging a fixed effects framework. We find that high daily maximum temperatures raise the likelihood of convictions and these results are robust to numerous controls and specifications. Our findings contribute to a growing literature that documents that the negative impacts of rising temperatures are often more severe in low- and middle-income countries.
M6A-mediated-upregulation of lncRNA BLACAT3 promotes bladder cancer angiogenesis and hematogenous metastasis through YBX3 nuclear shuttling and enhancing NCF2 transcription
Authors: Xie Jinbo , Zhang Hui , Wang Keyi , Ni Jinliang , Ma Xiaoying , Khoury Christopher J. , Prifti Viktor , Hoard Brock , Cerenzia Eric G. , Yin Lei , Zhang Houliang , Wang Ruiliang , Zhuo Dong , Mao Weipu , Peng Bo
Published: August 2023

Lymphatic metastasis is recognized as the leading manner of metastasis in bladder cancer (BLCa), but hematogenous metastasis accounts for a majority of cancer-associated deaths. The past two decades have witnessed tremendous attention in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are a new hope for the development of targeted drug therapy for metastatic cancers; however, the underlying mechanism of lncRNAs involved in BLCa hematogenous metastasis remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified BLCa-associated transcript 3 (BLACAT3), a lncRNA, which was aberrantly upregulated in BLCa and corelated with poor prognosis of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Methodologically, m6A epitranscriptomic microarray, RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry (MS) were used to screen the key molecules of the regulatory axis. Functional assays, animal models and clinical samples were used to explore the roles of BLACAT3 in BLCa in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, m6A modification contributes to BLACAT3 upregulation by stabilizing RNA structure. BLACAT3 recruits YBX3 to shuttle into the nucleus, synergistically enhances NCF2 transcription, and promotes BLCa angiogenesis and hematogenous metastasis by activating downstream NF-κB signaling. Our findings will develop prognosis prediction tools for BLCa patients and discover novel therapeutic biological targets for metastatic BLCa.
High-dose aciclovir in CMV infection prophylaxis after allogeneic HSCT: a single-center long-term experience
Authors: Kabut Tomáš , Weinbergerová Barbora , Folber František , Lengerová Martina , Mayer Jiří
Published: August 2023

There is only limited data on cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis with high-dose (HD) aciclovir after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We performed a retrospective analysis on a total of 179 patients who underwent their allo-HSCT with HD-aciclovir prophylaxis at our center. A clinically significant CMV infection (cs-CMVi) was observed in 56 (31%) cases with a median time of 49 (range 25–147) days after HSCT. A significantly higher CMV infection rate was observed in seropositive recipients with a seronegative donor (74%) compared to seropositive recipients with a seropositive donor, and seronegative recipients with seropositive and seronegative donors (24%, 18%, 7% respectively;p < 0.001). The CMV serostatus was the only significant risk factor for CMV infection in our analysis. CMV disease developed in three patients with CMV-related death in two cases. During HD-aciclovir prophylaxis, we did not observe any medical condition attributable to HD-aciclovir’s adverse effects. Compared to published results, we observed a low incidence of cs-CMVi with HD-aciclovir prophylaxis in several patient subgroups, especially in seropositive recipients with a seropositive donor. With respect to the determined threshold, HD-aciclovir prophylaxis seems to have good efficacy in an intermediate cs-CMVi risk patients, but prospective randomized trials would be needed for definite conclusions.
A novel recombination protein C12ORF40/REDIC1 is required for meiotic crossover formation
Authors: Fan Suixing , Wang Yuewen , Jiang Hanwei , Jiang Xiaohua , Zhou Jianteng , Jiao Yuying , Ye Jingwei , Xu Zishuo , Wang Yue , Xie Xuefeng , Zhang Huan , Li Yang , Liu Wei , Zhang Xiangjun , Ma Hui , Shi Baolu , Zhang Yuanwei , Zubair Muhammad , Shah Wasim , Xu Zhipeng , Xu Bo , Shi Qinghua
Published: August 2023

During meiosis, at least one crossover must occur per homologous chromosome pair to ensure normal progression of meiotic division and accurate chromosome segregation. However, the mechanism of crossover formation is not fully understood. Here, we report a novel recombination protein, C12ORF40/REDIC1, essential for meiotic crossover formation in mammals. A homozygous frameshift mutation in C12orf40 (c.232_233insTT, p.Met78Ilefs*2) was identified in two infertile men with meiotic arrest. Spread mouse spermatocyte fluorescence immunostaining showed that REDIC1 forms discrete foci between the paired regions of homologous chromosomes depending on strand invasion and colocalizes with MSH4 and later with MLH1 at the crossover sites. Redic1 knock-in (KI) mice homozygous for mutation c.232_233insTT are infertile in both sexes due to insufficient crossovers and consequent meiotic arrest, which is also observed in our patients. The foci of MSH4 and TEX11, markers of recombination intermediates, are significantly reduced numerically in the spermatocytes of Redic1 KI mice. More importantly, our biochemical results show that the N-terminus of REDIC1 binds branched DNAs present in recombination intermediates, while the identified mutation impairs this interaction. Thus, our findings reveal a crucial role for C12ORF40/REDIC1 in meiotic crossover formation by stabilizing the recombination intermediates, providing prospective molecular targets for the clinical diagnosis and therapy of infertility.
An analog-AI chip for energy-efficient speech recognition and transcription
Authors: Ambrogio S. , Narayanan P. , Okazaki A. , Fasoli A. , Mackin C. , Hosokawa K. , Nomura A. , Yasuda T. , Chen A. , Friz A. , Ishii M. , Luquin J. , Kohda Y. , Saulnier N. , Brew K. , Choi S. , Ok I. , Philip T. , Chan V. , Silvestre C. , Ahsan I. , Narayanan V. , Tsai H. , Burr G. W.
Published: August 2023

Models of artificial intelligence (AI) that have billions of parameters can achieve high accuracy across a range of tasks1,2, but they exacerbate the poor energy efficiency of conventional general-purpose processors, such as graphics processing units or central processing units. Analog in-memory computing (analog-AI)3–7 can provide better energy efficiency by performing matrix–vector multiplications in parallel on ‘memory tiles’. However, analog-AI has yet to demonstrate software-equivalent (SWeq) accuracy on models that require many such tiles and efficient communication of neural-network activations between the tiles. Here we present an analog-AI chip that combines 35 million phase-change memory devices across 34 tiles, massively parallel inter-tile communication and analog, low-power peripheral circuitry that can achieve up to 12.4 tera-operations per second per watt (TOPS/W) chip-sustained performance. We demonstrate fully end-to-end SWeq accuracy for a small keyword-spotting network and near-SWeq accuracy on the much larger MLPerf8 recurrent neural-network transducer (RNNT), with more than 45 million weights mapped onto more than 140 million phase-change memory devices across five chips.
A high-performance speech neuroprosthesis
Authors: Willett Francis R. , Kunz Erin M. , Fan Chaofei , Avansino Donald T. , Wilson Guy H. , Choi Eun Young , Kamdar Foram , Glasser Matthew F. , Hochberg Leigh R. , Druckmann Shaul , Shenoy Krishna V. , Henderson Jaimie M.
Published: August 2023

Speech brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to restore rapid communication to people with paralysis by decoding neural activity evoked by attempted speech into text1,2 or sound3,4. Early demonstrations, although promising, have not yet achieved accuracies sufficiently high for communication of unconstrained sentences from a large vocabulary1–7. Here we demonstrate a speech-to-text BCI that records spiking activity from intracortical microelectrode arrays. Enabled by these high-resolution recordings, our study participant—who can no longer speak intelligibly owing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—achieved a 9.1% word error rate on a 50-word vocabulary (2.7 times fewer errors than the previous state-of-the-art speech BCI2) and a 23.8% word error rate on a 125,000-word vocabulary (the first successful demonstration, to our knowledge, of large-vocabulary decoding). Our participant’s attempted speech was decoded  at 62 words per minute, which is 3.4 times as fast as the previous record8 and begins to approach the speed of natural conversation (160 words per minute9). Finally, we highlight two aspects of the neural code for speech that are encouraging for speech BCIs: spatially intermixed tuning to speech articulators that makes accurate decoding possible from only a small region of cortex, and a detailed articulatory representation of phonemes that persists years after paralysis. These results show a feasible path forward for restoring rapid communication to people with paralysis who can no longer speak.
Chromosome-level genome assembly of Korean native cattle and pangenome graph of 14 Bos taurus assemblies
Authors: Jang Jisung , Jung Jaehoon , Lee Young Ho , Lee Sanghyun , Baik Myunggi , Kim Heebal
Published: August 2023

This study presents the first chromosome-level genome assembly of Hanwoo, an indigenous Korean breed of Bos taurus taurus. This is the first genome assembly of Asian taurus breed. Also, we constructed a pangenome graph of 14 B. taurus genome assemblies. The contig N50 was over 55 Mb, the scaffold N50 was over 89 Mb and a genome completeness of 95.8%, as estimated by BUSCO using the mammalian set, indicated a high-quality assembly. 48.7% of the genome comprised various repetitive elements, including DNAs, tandem repeats, long interspersed nuclear elements, and simple repeats. A total of 27,314 protein-coding genes were identified, including 25,302 proteins with inferred gene names and 2,012 unknown proteins. The pangenome graph of 14 B. taurus autosomes revealed 528.47 Mb non-reference regions in total and 61.87 Mb Hanwoo-specific regions. Our Hanwoo assembly and pangenome graph provide valuable resources for studying B. taurus populations.
Machine learning-ready remote sensing data for Maya archaeology
Authors: Kokalj Žiga , Džeroski Sašo , Šprajc Ivan , Štajdohar Jasmina , Draksler Andrej , Somrak Maja
Published: August 2023

In our study, we set out to collect a multimodal annotated dataset for remote sensing of Maya archaeology, that is suitable for deep learning. The dataset covers the area around Chactún, one of the largest ancient Maya urban centres in the central Yucatán Peninsula. The dataset includes five types of data records: raster visualisations and canopy height model from airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite data, and manual data annotations. The manual annotations (used as binary masks) represent three different types of ancient Maya structures (class labels: buildings, platforms, and aguadas – artificial reservoirs) within the study area, their exact locations, and boundaries. The dataset is ready for use with machine learning, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for object recognition, object localization (detection), and semantic segmentation. We would like to provide this dataset to help more research teams develop their own computer vision models for investigations of Maya archaeology or improve existing ones.
A large-scale fMRI dataset for the visual processing of naturalistic scenes
Authors: Gong Zhengxin , Zhou Ming , Dai Yuxuan , Wen Yushan , Liu Youyi , Zhen Zonglei
Published: August 2023

One ultimate goal of visual neuroscience is to understand how the brain processes visual stimuli encountered in the natural environment. Achieving this goal requires records of brain responses under massive amounts of naturalistic stimuli. Although the scientific community has put a lot of effort into collecting large-scale functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data under naturalistic stimuli, more naturalistic fMRI datasets are still urgently needed. We present here the Natural Object Dataset (NOD), a large-scale fMRI dataset containing responses to 57,120 naturalistic images from 30 participants. NOD strives for a balance between sampling variation between individuals and sampling variation between stimuli. This enables NOD to be utilized not only for determining whether an observation is generalizable across many individuals, but also for testing whether a response pattern is generalized to a variety of naturalistic stimuli. We anticipate that the NOD together with existing naturalistic neuroimaging datasets will serve as a new impetus for our understanding of the visual processing of naturalistic stimuli.
Inclusion unlocks the creative potential of gender diversity in teams
Authors: Vedres Balázs , Vásárhelyi Orsolya
Published: August 2023

Several studies have highlighted the potential contribution of gender diversity to creativity, also noted challenges stemming from conflicts and a deficit of trust. Thus, we argue that gender diversity requires inclusion as well to see increased collective creativity. We analyzed teams in 4011 video game projects, recording weighted network data from past collaborations. We developed four measures of inclusion, based on de-segregation, strong ties across genders, and the incorporation of women into the core of the team’s network. We measured creativity by the distinctiveness of game features compared to prior games. Our results show that gender diversity without inclusion does not contribute to creativity, while at maximal inclusion one standard deviation change in diversity results in .04–.09 standard deviation increase in creativity. On the flipside, at maximal inclusion but low diversity (when there is a ‘token’ female team member highly integrated in a male network) we see a negative impact on creativity. Considering the history of game projects in a developer firm, we see that adding diversity first, and developing inclusion later can lead to higher diversity and inclusion, compared to the alternative of recruiting developers with already existing cross-gender ties. This suggests that developer firms should encourage building inclusive collaboration ties in-house.
The energy conservation and emission reduction co-benefits of China’s emission trading system
Authors: Li Chenggang , Chen Ziling , Hu Yongxiang , Cai Chengcheng , Zuo Xintong , Shang Guofei , Lin Hongwei
Published: August 2023

Emission Trading System (ETS) is an innovative practice under the progress of green development in China. It is also an important method for China to achieve market-oriented environmental governance in ecological civilization construction. The ETS pilot policy has implemented for more than 10 years. However, the co-benefits of ETS pilot policy by the integration of energy consumption, carbon and sulfur dioxide emissions, and wastewater has not been evaluated. In order to fill this gap, we use the 2003–2017 annual data of 30 China’s provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions), and utilize the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model and Propensity Score Matching (PSM-DID) methodology to evaluate the co-benefits of ETS pilot policy on energy conservation and emission reduction. We find that the ETS pilot policy significantly promote energy conservation and emission reduction. Eastern and central China have significantly benefited from the policy, while the western China has not due to the limited technology and innovation as well as an imbalance of the industrial structure. The results provide the policy reference for China’s government and institutions as well as the governments and institutions around the world to fulfill their commitments to save energy and reduce emissions, and early achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutralization.
The effect of alfalfa cultivation on improving physicochemical properties soil microorganisms community structure of grey desert soil
Authors: Qi Jiangjiao , Fu Dongqing , Wang Xuzhe , Zhang Fanfan , Ma Chunhui
Published: August 2023

Planting alfalfa in grey desert soil can have significant effects on soil nutrient levels, microbial communities, and overall soil improvement. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the relationship between the rhizosphere microbial community structure of grey desert soil planted with different alfalfa varieties (Aohan, WL525HQ, Knight2, Kangsai, Victoria, and WL712), alfalfa characteristics and rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties. Alfalfa planting increased the nitrogen and organic matter in the grey desert soil, and the effects in Victoria, Kangsai, and Aohan were relatively better than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. The Chao1 and Shannon indexes showed that the diversity and relative abundance of bacteria and fungi in Kangsai were significantly higher than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. Redundancy analysis showed that available nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as fresh weight, significantly affected the changes in fungal and bacterial communities. Variance partitioning analysis showed that soil and alfalfa growth characteristics explained 50.04% and 51.58% of the structural changes in the bacteria and fungi, respectively. Therefore, planting alfalfa changed the community structure of bacteria and fungi, as well as the content of soil nutrients, and different varieties of alfalfa had different effects on soil improvement.
A new ape from Türkiye and the radiation of late Miocene hominines
Authors: Sevim-Erol Ayla , Begun David R. , Yavuz Alper , Tarhan Erhan , Sözer Çilem Sönmez , Mayda Serdar , van den Hoek Ostende Lars W. , Martin Robert M. G. , Alçiçek M. Cihat
Published: August 2023

Fossil apes from the eastern Mediterranean are central to the debate on African ape and human (hominine) origins. Current research places them either as hominines, as hominins (humans and our fossil relatives) or as stem hominids, no more closely related to hominines than to pongines (orangutans and their fossil relatives). Here we show, based on our analysis of a newly identified genus, Anadoluvius, from the 8.7 Ma site of Çorakyerler in central Anatolia, that Mediterranean fossil apes are diverse, and are part of the first known radiation of early members of the hominines. The members of this radiation are currently only identified in Europe and Anatolia; generally accepted hominins are only found in Africa from the late Miocene until the Pleistocene. Hominines may have originated in Eurasia during the late Miocene, or they may have dispersed into Eurasia from an unknown African ancestor. The diversity of hominines in Eurasia suggests an in situ origin but does not exclude a dispersal hypothesis.
Microwave-assisted one-step synthesis of water-soluble manganese-carbon nanodot clusters
Authors: Gomez-Blanco Nina , Prato Maurizio
Published: August 2023

Using metal coordination to assemble carbon nanodots (CND) into clusters can enhance their photophysical properties for applications in sensing and biomedicine. Water-soluble clusters of CNDs are prepared by one-step microwave synthesis starting from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine and MnCl2·4H2O as precursors. Transmission electron microscopy and powder X-Ray diffraction techniques indicate that the resulting clusters form spherical particles of 150 nm constituted by amorphous CNDs joined together with Mn ions in a laminar crystalline structure. The nanomaterial assemblies show remarkable fluorescence quantum yields (0.17–0.20) and magnetic resonance imaging capability (r1 = 2.3-3.8 mM–1.s–1). In addition, they can be stabilized in aqueous solutions by phosphate ligands, providing a promising dual imaging platform for use in biological systems.