bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First report on ALS herbicide resistance in barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) from rice fields of India
Authors: Choudhary Vijay K. , Reddy Seshadri S. , Mishra Subhash K. , Gharde Yogita , Kumar Sunil , Yadav Mayank , Barik Suhrid , Singh P.K.
Published: April 2023

Bispyribac-sodium, a herbicide that inhibits acetolactate synthase (ALS), is frequently used in rice fields in India to control weeds, including the most common noxious weed, barnyardgrass. However, rice growers have recently reported reduced control of barnyardgrass with bispyribac-sodium. Hence, a large-scale survey was carried out to assess bispyribac-sodium resistance in Chhattisgarh and Kerala, two rice-growing states. Open-field pot experiments were conducted for 2 yr to confirm resistance to bispyribac-sodium. Of the 37 biotypes tested, 30% (11) survived the recommended label rate of bispyribac-sodium (25 g ai ha−1). The effective rate of bispyribac-sodium required to achieve 50% control (ED50) of putative resistant biotypes ranged from 18 to 41 g ha−1, whereas it was about 10 g ha−1 for susceptible biotypes. This suggests that putative biotypes were two to four times more resistant to bispyribac-sodium. At 6 d after herbicide application, an in vitro enzyme assay demonstrated higher ALS enzyme activity in putative resistant biotypes (66% to 75%) compared with susceptible biotypes (48% to 52%). This indicates the presence of an insensitive ALS enzyme in those biotypes and a target site mutation as a possible mechanism for resistance. Whole-plant bioassays also suggested that the resistance problem is more widespread in Chhattisgarh than in Kerala. This study confirmed the first case of evolved resistance in barnyardgrass to bispyribac-sodium in rice fields of India.
Erforschung exzessiver Smartphone-Nutzung: Empfehlungen zur Vorgehensweise
Authors: Qasem Hila , Fauth-Bühler Mira
Published: April 2023

Zusammenfassung: Ziel: In der Fachwelt besteht noch große Uneinigkeit im Hinblick auf eine mögliche Klassifikation exzessiver Smartphone-Nutzung (ESN) als Störung aufgrund einer Verhaltenssucht. In diesem Positionspapier werden relevante inhaltliche und methodische Aspekte bisheriger Forschungsarbeiten zum Thema ESN dargestellt. Daraus werden Empfehlungen abgeleitet, welche Vorgehensweisen bei zukünftigen Forschungsarbeiten verstärkt Berücksichtigung finden sollten. Schlussfolgerungen: Unsere Empfehlungen umfassen folgende Punkte: 1. Entwicklung und konsistente Nutzung von Smartphone-basierten Messinstrumenten, die die Erhebung von Echtzeitnutzungsdaten und das Vorlegen von zeitgesteuerten Fragebögen erlauben, 2. Validierung dieser Instrumente an großen, repräsentativen Stichproben in Deutschland, 3. Untersuchungen mittels Echtzeit-Messinstrumenten zur Beantwortung der Frage, inwiefern ESN Suchtcharakter annehmen kann, sprich inwieweit zentrale Suchtkriterien erfüllt werden, 4. Klärung der zentralen Frage, inwiefern ESN spezifisch (d. h. die Nutzung von spezifischen Smartphone-Funktionen wie z. B. soziale Netzwerke) oder generalisiert (d. h. im Sinne eines Verhaltensmusters der allgemeinen Smartphone-Überbeanspruchung) erfolgt. Langfristig sollten weitere Studien zur Neurobiologie, sowie zur Langzeitstabilität von ESN durchgeführt werden, bevor die Klassifikation der ESN als Störung aufgrund einer Verhaltenssucht empfohlen werden kann.
Microscale Petrographic, Trace Element, and Isotopic Constraints on Glauconite Diagenesis in Altered Sedimentary Sequences: Implications for Glauconite Geochronology
Authors: Rafiei M. , Lӧhr S. C. , Alard O. , Baldermann A. , Farkaš J. , Brock G. A.
Published: April 2023

Glauconite is an authigenic clay mineral that is common in marine sedimentary successions. Dating of glauconite to determine the depositional age of sedimentary sequences has a long history but has fallen into disfavor due to the difficulty of obtaining “pure” glauconite separates. Recent advances in sedimentary petrography and reaction cell mass spectrometry permit rapid in situ Rb‐Sr dating of carefully screened glauconite grains. However, glauconite remains susceptible to burial alteration so that successful application of in situ Rb‐Sr glauconite geochronology requires improved, microscale constraints on the impact of postdepositional alteration on glauconite Rb‐Sr systematics and articulation of robust criteria for identifying grains suitable for geochronology. Here, we address these questions by combining SEM‐EDS mineral mapping, geochemical characterization, and in situ Rb‐Sr dating of glauconite grains in partially altered lower Cambrian sedimentary sequences from the Arrowie and Amadeus basins in Australia. Our approach provides information at high spatial resolution, representing new insights into the interplay between source material, burial fluids, and diagenetic processes. Among the different glauconite classes, which we classify based on alteration and inclusion type, only the primary apatite‐bearing “pristine” glauconite returns an age within the error of the expected stratigraphic age. We attribute the preservation of a depositional Rb‐Sr age to the influence of Sr‐rich, alteration‐resistant apatite and the limited permeability of the clay‐rich strata hosting these grains. We conclude that our combined petrographic–geochemical screening approach holds considerable potential for identifying the best preserved glauconite grains for in situ Rb‐Sr geochronology.
Modeling the Intermittent Lava Lake Drops Occurring Between 2015 and 2021 at Nyiragongo Volcano
Authors: Walwer D. , Wauthier C. , Barrière J. , Smittarello D. , Smets B. , d’Oreye N.
Published: April 2023

Between 2015 and 2021, Nyiragongo's lava lake level experienced a linear increase punctuated by fast intermittent drops. These drops occurred synchronously to seismic swarm at approximately 15 km below the surface and extending laterally NE from the volcano. To interpret these lava lake level patterns in terms of reservoirs pressure evolution within Nyiragongo, we consider the following simplified plumbing system: a central reservoir is fed by a constant flux of magma, distributing the fluid up into the lava lake and laterally into a distal storage zone. Magma transport is driven by a pressure gradient between the magma storage bodies, accommodating influx and outflow of magma elastically, and the lava lake. Lateral transport at depth occurs through a hydraulic connection for which the flow resistance is coupled to the magma flux. When the right conditions are met, lateral magma transport occurs intermittently and triggers intermittent lava lake level drops matching the observations.
Characteristics of Storm Surge Events Along the North‐East Atlantic Coasts
Authors: Pineau‐Guillou Lucia , Delouis Jean‐Marc , Chapron Bertrand
Published: April 2023

Storm surges are often characterized in terms of magnitude, duration and frequency. Here, we propose a novel statistical method to help characterize the full dynamics of storm surge events. The method, called ECHAR, is based on techniques already successfully applied in astrophysics. Analysis of 20 tide gauges in the North‐East Atlantic consistently reveals that storm surge events display two distinctive components, a slow‐time background Gaussian structure and a fast‐time Laplace structure. Each of these structures can be reduced to its duration and amplitude. For large events, occurring 5 times per winter, the slow‐time structure lasts around 16 days, varying from 9 days in the South to 45 days in the North (Baltic Sea), with almost the same amplitude at all the stations (around 0.17 m). The fast‐time structure lasts around 1.7 days at all the stations, but its amplitude greatly varies, from 0.1 m in the South to 1.6 m in the North Sea. The wind stress contributes mostly to the fast‐time component of the storm surge event, whereas the atmospheric pressure contributes to both components. The proposed ECHAR method, helping to characterize extreme events, can be applied anywhere else in the global ocean, for example, where tropical storm surges occur.
Biden Administration Considers Unprecedented Solution to Colorado River Crisis
Authors: Palmer Jane
Published: April 2023

As Colorado River Basin states prove unable to reach a consensus in reducing their water consumption, the U.S. Department of the Interior is investigating an option that defies the Law of the River.
Targeting of epigenetic co-dependencies enhances anti-AML efficacy of Menin inhibitor in AML with MLL1-r or mutant NPM1
Authors: Fiskus Warren , Mill Christopher P. , Birdwell Christine , Davis John A. , Das Kaberi , Boettcher Steffen , Kadia Tapan M. , DiNardo Courtney D. , Takahashi Koichi , Loghavi Sanam , Soth Michael J. , Heffernan Tim , McGeehan Gerard M. , Ruan Xinjia , Su Xiaoping , Vakoc Christopher R. , Daver Naval , Bhalla Kapil N.
Published: April 2023

Monotherapy with Menin inhibitor (MI), e.g., SNDX-5613, induces clinical remissions in patients with relapsed/refractory AML harboring MLL1-r or mtNPM1, but most patients either fail to respond or eventually relapse. Utilizing single-cell RNA-Seq, ChiP-Seq, ATAC-Seq, RNA-Seq, RPPA, and mass cytometry (CyTOF) analyses, present pre-clinical studies elucidate gene-expression correlates of MI efficacy in AML cells harboring MLL1-r or mtNPM1. Notably, MI-mediated genome-wide, concordant, log2 fold-perturbations in ATAC-Seq and RNA-Seq peaks were observed at the loci of MLL-FP target genes, with upregulation of mRNAs associated with AML differentiation. MI treatment also reduced the number of AML cells expressing the stem/progenitor cell signature. A protein domain-focused CRISPR-Cas9 screen in MLL1-r AML cells identified targetable co-dependencies with MI treatment, including BRD4, EP300, MOZ and KDM1A. Consistent with this, in vitro co-treatment with MI and BET, MOZ, LSD1 or CBP/p300 inhibitor induced synergistic loss of viability of AML cells with MLL1-r or mtNPM1. Co-treatment with MI and BET or CBP/p300 inhibitor also exerted significantly superior in vivo efficacy in xenograft models of AML with MLL1-r. These findings highlight novel, MI-based combinations that could prevent escape of AML stem/progenitor cells following MI monotherapy, which is responsible for therapy-refractory AML relapse.
Heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: opportunities and challenges
Authors: Hu Chen , Zhang Yifan , Wu Chunping , Huang Qiang
Published: April 2023

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the most severe and complex malignant diseases with a high level of heterogeneity and, as a result, a wide range of therapeutic responses, regardless of clinical stage. Tumor progression depends on ongoing co-evolution and cross-talk with the tumor microenvironment (TME). In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), embedded in the extracellular matrix (ECM), induce tumor growth and survival by interacting with tumor cells. Origin of CAFs is quite varied, and the activation patterns of CAFs are also heterogeneous. Crucially, the heterogeneity of CAFs appears to play a key role in ongoing tumor expansion, including facilitating proliferation, enhancing angiogenesis and invasion, and promoting therapy resistance, through the production of cytokines, chemokines, and other tumor-promotive molecules in the TME. This review describes the various origin and heterogeneous activation mechanisms of CAFs, and biological heterogeneity of CAFs in HNSCC is also included. Moreover, we have highlighted versatility of CAFs heterogeneity in HNSCC progression, and have discussed different tumor-promotive functions of CAFs respectively. In the future, it is a promising strategy for the therapy of HNSCC that specifically targeting tumor-promoting CAF subsets or the tumor-promoting functional targets of CAFs.
Interfacial engineered superelastic metal-organic framework aerogels with van-der-Waals barrier channels for nerve agents decomposition
Authors: Yan Zishuo , Liu Xiaoyan , Ding Bin , Yu Jianyong , Si Yang
Published: April 2023

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) significantly threaten human peace and global security. Most personal protective equipment (PPE) deployed to prevent exposure to CWAs is generally devoid of self-detoxifying activity. Here we report the spatial rearrangement of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into superelastic lamellar-structured aerogels based on a ceramic network-assisted interfacial engineering protocol. The optimized aerogels exhibit efficient adsorption and decomposition performance against CWAs either in liquid or aerosol forms (half-life of 5.29 min, dynamic breakthrough extent of 400 L g−1) due to the preserved MOF structure, van-der-Waals barrier channels, minimized diffusion resistance (~41% reduction), and stability over a thousand compressions. The successful construction of the attractive materials offers fascinating perspectives on the development of field-deployable, real-time detoxifying, and structurally adaptable PPE that could be served as outdoor emergency life-saving devices against CWAs threats. This work also provides a guiding toolbox for incorporating other critical adsorbents into the accessible 3D matrix with enhanced gas transport properties.
Excessive serine from the bone marrow microenvironment impairs megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Kuang Chunmei , Xia Meijuan , An Gang , Liu CuiCui , Hu Cong , Zhang Jingyu , Liu Zhenhao , Meng Bin , Su Pei , Xia Jiliang , Guo Jiaojiao , Zhu Yinghong , Liu Xing , Wu Xuan , Shen Yi , Feng Xiangling , He Yanjuan , Li Jian , Qiu Lugui , Zhou Jiaxi , Zhou Wen
Published: April 2023

Thrombocytopenia is a major complication in a subset of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, little is known about its development and significance during MM. Here, we show thrombocytopenia is linked to poor prognosis in MM. In addition, we identify serine, which is released from MM cells into the bone marrow microenvironment, as a key metabolic factor that suppresses megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. The impact of excessive serine on thrombocytopenia is mainly mediated through the suppression of megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation. Extrinsic serine is transported into MKs through SLC38A1 and downregulates SVIL via SAM-mediated tri-methylation of H3K9, ultimately leading to the impairment of megakaryopoiesis. Inhibition of serine utilization or treatment with TPO enhances megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis and suppresses MM progression. Together, we identify serine as a key metabolic regulator of thrombocytopenia, unveil molecular mechanisms governing MM progression, and provide potential therapeutic strategies for treating MM patients by targeting thrombocytopenia.
Targeting CXCL16 and STAT1 augments immune checkpoint blockade therapy in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Palakurthi Bhavana , Fross Shaneann R. , Guldner Ian H. , Aleksandrovic Emilija , Liu Xiyu , Martino Anna K. , Wang Qingfei , Neff Ryan A. , Golomb Samantha M. , Lewis Cheryl , Peng Yan , Howe Erin N. , Zhang Siyuan
Published: April 2023

Chemotherapy prior to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment appears to improve ICB efficacy but resistance to ICB remains a clinical challenge and is attributed to highly plastic myeloid cells associating with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Here we show by CITE-seq single-cell transcriptomic and trajectory analyses that neoadjuvant low-dose metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) leads to a characteristic co-evolution of divergent myeloid cell subsets in female triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Specifically, we identify that the proportion of CXCL16 + myeloid cells increase and a high STAT1 regulon activity distinguishes Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressing immature myeloid cells. Chemical inhibition of STAT1 signaling in MCT-primed breast cancer sensitizes TNBC to ICB treatment, which underscores the STAT1’s role in modulating TIME. In summary, we leverage single-cell analyses to dissect the cellular dynamics in the tumor microenvironment (TME) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and provide a pre-clinical rationale for modulating STAT1 in combination with anti-PD-1 for TNBC patients.
Histone 4 lysine 5/12 acetylation enables developmental plasticity of Pristionchus mouth form
Authors: Werner Michael S. , Loschko Tobias , King Thomas , Reich Shelley , Theska Tobias , Franz-Wachtel Mirita , Macek Boris , Sommer Ralf J.
Published: April 2023

Development can be altered to match phenotypes with the environment, and the genetic mechanisms that direct such alternative phenotypes are beginning to be elucidated. Yet, the rules that govern environmental sensitivity vs. invariant development, and potential epigenetic memory, remain unknown. Here, we show that plasticity of nematode mouth forms is determined by histone 4 lysine 5 and 12 acetylation (H4K5/12ac). Acetylation in early larval stages provides a permissive chromatin state, which is susceptible to induction during the critical window of environmental sensitivity. As development proceeds deacetylation shuts off switch gene expression to end the critical period. Inhibiting deacetylase enzymes leads to fixation of prior developmental trajectories, demonstrating that histone modifications in juveniles can carry environmental information to adults. Finally, we provide evidence that this regulation was derived from an ancient mechanism of licensing developmental speed. Altogether, our results show that H4K5/12ac enables epigenetic regulation of developmental plasticity that can be stored and erased by acetylation and deacetylation, respectively.
Condensation and asymmetric amplification of chirality in achiral molecules adsorbed on an achiral surface
Authors: Liu Huiru , Li Heping , He Yu , Cheng Peng , Zhang Yi-Qi , Feng Baojie , Li Hui , Wu Kehui , Chen Lan
Published: April 2023

The origin of homochirality in nature is an important but open question. Here, we demonstrate a simple organizational chiral system constructed by achiral carbon monoxide (CO) molecules adsorbed on an achiral Au(111) substrate. Combining scanning tunneling microscope (STM) measurements with density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations, two dissymmetric cluster phases consisting of chiral CO heptamers are revealed. By applied high bias voltage, the stable racemic cluster phase can be transformed into a metastable uniform phase consisting of CO monomers. Further, during the recondensation of a cluster phase after lowering down bias voltage, an enantiomeric excess and its chiral amplification occur, resulting in a homochirality. Such asymmetry amplification is found to be both kinetically feasible and thermodynamically favorable. Our observations provide insight into the physicochemical origin of homochirality through surface adsorption and suggest a general phenomenon that can influence enantioselective chemical processes such as chiral separations and heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis.
Modelling seasonal household variation in harvested rainwater availability: a case study in Siaya County, Kenya
Authors: Yu Weiyu , Wanza Peggy , Kwoba Emmah , Mwangi Thumbi , Okotto-Okotto Joseph , Trajano Gomes da Silva Diogo , Wright Jim A.
Published: April 2023

Rainwater harvesting reliability, the proportion of days annually when rainwater demand is fully met, is challenging to estimate from cross-sectional household surveys that underpin international monitoring. This study investigated the use of a modelling approach that integrates household surveys with gridded precipitation data to evaluate rainwater harvesting reliability, using two local-scale household surveys in rural Siaya County, Kenya as an illustrative case study. We interviewed 234 households, administering a standard questionnaire that also identified the source of household stored drinking water. Logistic mixed effects models estimated stored rainwater availability from household and climatological variables, with random effects accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. Household rainwater availability was significantly associated with seasonality, storage capacity, and access to alternative improved water sources. Most households (95.1%) that consumed rainwater faced insufficient supply of rainwater available for potable needs throughout the year, with intermittencies during the short rains for most households with alternative improved sources. Although not significant, stored rainwater lasts longer for households whose only improved water source was rainwater (301.8 ± 40.2 days) compared to those having multiple improved sources (144.4 ± 63.7 days). Such modelling analysis could enable rainwater harvesting reliability estimation, and thereby national/international monitoring and targeted follow-up fieldwork to support rainwater harvesting.
Stress testing ΛCDM with high-redshift galaxy candidates
Authors: Boylan-Kolchin Michael
Published: April 2023

Early data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed a bevy of high-redshift galaxy candidates with unexpectedly high stellar masses. An immediate concern is the consistency of these candidates with galaxy formation in the standard ΛCDM cosmological model, wherein the stellar mass (M⋆) of a galaxy is limited by the available baryonic reservoir of its host dark matter halo. The mass function of dark matter haloes therefore imposes an absolute upper limit on the number density n (>M⋆, z) and stellar mass density ρ⋆ (>M⋆, z) of galaxies more massive than M⋆ at any epoch z. Here I show that the most massive galaxy candidates in JWST observations at z ≈ 7–10 lie at the very edge of these limits, indicating an important unresolved issue with the properties of galaxies derived from the observations, how galaxies form at early times in ΛCDM or within this standard cosmology itself.
Initial treatment response and short-term mortality of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lee Chang Hun , Kang Hye Jin , Yu Song Yi , Seo Seung Young , Kim Seong Hun , Kim Sang Wook , Lee Seung Ok , Lee Soo Teik , Kim In Hee
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to investigate the initial treatment response and short-term mortality of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with those without HCC. A total of 245 patients with liver cirrhosis diagnosed with SBP between January 2004 and December 2020 were included. Of these, 107 (43.7%) were diagnosed with HCC. Overall, the rates of initial treatment failure, 7-day and 30-day mortality were 91 (37.1%), 42 (17.1%), and 89 (36.3%), respectively. While the baseline CTP score, MELD score, culture-positive rate, and rates of antibiotic resistance did not differ between both groups, patients with HCC had a higher rate of initial treatment failure than those without HCC patients (52.3% vs. 25.4%, P < 0.001). Similarly, 30-day mortality was also significantly higher in patients with HCC (53.3% vs. 23.2%, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, HCC, renal impairment, CTP grade C, and antibiotic resistance were independent factors for initial treatment failure. Furthermore, HCC, hepatic encephalopathy, MELD score, and initial treatment failure were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality, with statistically significant poor survival outcomes in patients with HCC (P < 0.001). In conclusion, HCC is an independent risk factor for initial treatment failure and high short-term mortality in patients with cirrhosis with SBP. It has been suggested that more attentive therapeutic strategies are required to improve the prognosis of patients with HCC and SBP.
Tug of War games and PDEs on graphs with applications in image and high dimensional data processing
Authors: Ennaji Hamza , Quéau Yvain , Elmoataz Abderrahim
Published: April 2023

The aim of this note is to revisit the connections between some stochastic games, namely Tug-of-War games, and a class of nonlocal PDEs on graphs. We consider a general formulation of Tug-of-War games which is shown to be related to many classical PDEs in the continuous setting. We transcribe these equations on graphs using ad hoc differential operators and we show that it covers several nonlocal PDEs on graphs such as $$\infty $$
∞
-Laplacian, game p-Laplacian and the eikonal equation. This unifying mathematical framework allows us to easily design simple algorithms to solve several inverse problems in imaging and data science, with a particular focus on cultural heritage and medical imaging.
Increasing cell culture density during a developmental window prevents fated rod precursors derailment toward hybrid rod-glia cells
Authors: Barravecchia Ivana , De Cesari Chiara , Guadagni Viviana , Signore Giovanni , Bertolini Edoardo , Giannelli Serena Gea , Scebba Francesca , Martini Davide , Pè Mario Enrico , Broccoli Vania , Andreazzoli Massimiliano , Angeloni Debora , Demontis Gian Carlo
Published: April 2023

In proliferating multipotent retinal progenitors, transcription factors dynamics set the fate of postmitotic daughter cells, but postmitotic cell fate plasticity driven by extrinsic factors remains controversial. Transcriptome analysis reveals the concurrent expression by postmitotic rod precursors of genes critical for the Müller glia cell fate, which are rarely generated from terminally-dividing progenitors as a pair with rod precursors. By combining gene expression and functional characterisation in single cultured rod precursors, we identified a time-restricted window where increasing cell culture density switches off the expression of genes critical for Müller glial cells. Intriguingly, rod precursors in low cell culture density maintain the expression of genes of rod and glial cell fate and develop a mixed rod/Muller glial cells electrophysiological fingerprint, revealing rods derailment toward a hybrid rod-glial phenotype. The notion of cell culture density as an extrinsic factor critical for preventing rod-fated cells diversion toward a hybrid cell state may explain the occurrence of hybrid rod/MG cells in the adult retina and provide a strategy to improve engraftment yield in regenerative approaches to retinal degenerative disease by stabilising the fate of grafted rod precursors.
Plant chemical variation mediates soil bacterial community composition
Authors: Buchkowski Robert W. , Benedek Klára , Bálint János , Molnár Attila , Felföldi Tamás , Fazakas Csaba , Schmitz Oswald J. , Balog Adalbert
Published: April 2023

An important challenge in the study of ecosystem function is resolving how plant antiherbivore chemical defence expression may influence plant-associated microbes, and nutrient release. We report on a factorial experiment that explores a mechanism underlying this interplay using individuals of the perennial plant Tansy that vary genotypically in the chemical content of their antiherbivore defenses (chemotypes). We assessed to what extent soil and its associated microbial community versus chemotype-specific litter determined the composition of the soil microbial community. Microbial diversity profiles revealed sporadic effects of chemotype litter and soil combinations. Soil source and litter type both explained the microbial communities decomposing the litter with soil source having a more important effect. Some microbial taxa are related to particular chemotypes, and thus intra-specific chemical variation of a single plant chemotype can shape the litter microbial community. But we found that ultimately the effect of fresh litter inputs from a chemotype appeared to act secondary as a filter on the composition of the microbial community, with the primary factor being the existing microbial community in the soil.
Maternal autistic traits and antenatal pain by cross-sectional analysis of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Yamada Keiko , Kimura Takashi , Cui Meishan , Tanaka Eizaburo , Kubota Yasuhiko , Ikehara Satoyo , Iso Hiroyasu
Published: April 2023

The aim of cross-sectional study was to investigate whether the presence of autistic traits in pregnant women was positively associated with the prevalence and severity of antenatal pain. We analyzed 89,068 pregnant women from a Japanese national birth cohort cross-sectionally. Autistic traits were assessed using the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient short form (AQ-10-J). Antenatal pain was measured using the SF-8 bodily pain item (SF-8-Pain). Antenatal pain in the second to third trimester during pregnancy was categorized into three groups: without pain, mild pain, and moderate-to-severe pain. Participants were divided into eight groups by AQ-10-J score: seven consecutive scoring groups (scores 0–6), and those above the cut-off (≥ 7) for probable autistic spectrum disorders. Odds ratios (OR) for the prevalence of mild and moderate-to-severe pain were calculated for each AQ-10-J scoring group (reference: without pain group) using multinominal logistic regression analysis. Autistic traits were positively associated with mild and moderate-to-severe pain in a dose–response manner, but the association with moderate-to-severe pain was strongest. Fully-adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for moderate-to-severe pain were: 1.01 (0.91–1.13) for 1 point, 1.13 (1.02–1.25) for 2 points, 1.16 (1.04–1.29) for 3 points, 1.20 (1.07–1.34) for 4 points, 1.23 (1.09–1.40) for 5 points, 1.27 (1.10–1.47) for 6 points, and 1.24 (1.05–1.46) for ≥ 7 points (AQ-10-J cut-off). We identified an association between maternal autistic traits and antenatal pain. Maternal autistic traits may need to be considered when addressing antenatal pain during healthcare for expectant mothers.
The relationship between gait speed and mediolateral stability depends on a person's preferred speed
Authors: Brinkerhoff Sarah A. , Murrah William M. , Roper Jaimie A.
Published: April 2023

Mediolateral stability during walking requires active control and is complex. Step width, a proxy for stability, follows a curvilinear relationship as gait speeds increase. However, despite the complexity of maintenance for stability, no study has yet investigated the variation across individuals of the relationship between speed and step width. The purpose of this study was to determine if variation between adults affects the estimation of the relationship between speed and step width. Participants walked on a pressurized walkway 72 times. Gait speed and step width were measured within each trial. Mixed effects models assessed the relationship between gait speed and step width, and the variability in the relationship across participants. The relationship between speed and step width followed a reverse J-curve on average, but the relationship was moderated by participants’ preferred speed. Step width response as speed increases is not homogenous in adults. This finding suggests that “appropriate” stability moderation (tested across a range of speeds) differs as a function of an individual’s preferred speed. Mediolateral stability is complex, and further research to elucidate individual factors contributing to variation is needed.
From comparative gene content and gene order to ancestral contigs, chromosomes and karyotypes
Authors: Xu Qiaoji , Jin Lingling , Zheng Chunfang , Zhang Xiaomeng , Leebens-Mack James , Sankoff David
Published: April 2023

To reconstruct the ancestral genome of a set of phylogenetically related descendant species, we use the raccroche pipeline for organizing a large number of generalized gene adjacencies into contigs and then into chromosomes. Separate reconstructions are carried out for each ancestral node of the phylogenetic tree for focal taxa. The ancestral reconstructions are monoploids; they each contain at most one member of each gene family constructed from descendants, ordered along the chromosomes. We design and implement a new computational technique for solving the problem of estimating the ancestral monoploid number of chromosomes x. This involves a “g-mer” analysis to resolve a bias due long contigs, and gap statistics to estimate x. We find that the monoploid number of all the rosid and asterid orders is $$x=9$$

x
=
9

. We show that this is not an artifact of our method by deriving $$x\approx 20$$

x
≈
20

for the metazoan ancestor.
Mineral and heavy metal content in dry dog foods with different main animal components
Authors: Kępińska-Pacelik Jagoda , Biel Wioletta , Witkowicz Robert , Podsiadło Cezary
Published: April 2023

Dog caregivers, mainly for economic reasons and easy availability, choose dry, over the counter diets (OTC). The mineral composition of OTC foods depends primarily on the components used in the production of the pet food. Regardless of the main component of the food, it must meet the recommended minimum mineral content, established by nutritional guidelines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the mineral (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo) and heavy metal content (Pb, Co, Cd, Cr, Ni) using the methods of colorimetry and mass spectrometry, of OTC dry dog foods and to compare with the FEDIAF and AAFCO nutritional guidelines. Dry foods pose no risk to dogs in terms of heavy metal content. The worst results in terms of mineral content were obtained in mixed foods, therefore it is worth considering feeding the dog a mono-protein food. The PCA analysis disproved our hypothesis and revealed that the main animal source did not statistically significantly affect the levels of minerals and their ratios. However, the analysis of contrasts confirms the differentiation of the content of individual minerals between the groups of foods. For the first time, we proved that pet food with a mineral composition similar to the MIN-RL may be characterized by unfavorable mineral ratios.
Navigated direct photocoagulation with a 30-ms short-pulse laser for treating microaneurysms in diabetic macular edema exhibits a high closure rate
Authors: Ikegami Yasuko , Shiraya Tomoyasu , Araki Fumiyuki , Ueta Takashi , Toyama Taku , Yanagita Tomohiko , Numaga Jiro , Shoji Nobuyuki , Kato Satoshi
Published: April 2023

This study carried out direct photocoagulation for treating microaneurysms (MAs) in diabetic macular edema (DME) using a navigation laser system with a 30-ms pulse duration. The MA closure rate after 3 months was investigated using pre and postoperative fluorescein angiography images. MAs primarily inside the edematous area based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) maps were selected for treatment, and leaking MAs (n = 1151) were analyzed in 11 eyes (eight patients). The total MA closure rate was 90.1% (1034/1151), and the mean MA closure rate in each eye was 86.5 ± 8.4%. Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased from 471.9 ± 73.0 μm to 420.0 ± 87.5 μm (P = 0.049), and there was a correlation between the MA closure rate and the CRT reduction rate (r = 0.63, P = 0.037). There was no difference in the MA closure rate depending on the degree of edema thickness based on a false-color topographic OCT map image. Direct photocoagulation for DME with a short pulse using the navigated photocoagulator resulted in a high MA closure rate in just 3 months and a corresponding improvement in retinal thickness. These findings encourage the use of a new therapeutic approach for DME.
Tea leaf disease detection and identification based on YOLOv7 (YOLO-T)
Authors: Soeb Md. Janibul Alam , Jubayer Md. Fahad , Tarin Tahmina Akanjee , Al Mamun Muhammad Rashed , Ruhad Fahim Mahafuz , Parven Aney , Mubarak Nabisab Mujawar , Karri Soni Lanka , Meftaul Islam Md.
Published: April 2023

A reliable and accurate diagnosis and identification system is required to prevent and manage tea leaf diseases. Tea leaf diseases are detected manually, increasing time and affecting yield quality and productivity. This study aims to present an artificial intelligence-based solution to the problem of tea leaf disease detection by training the fastest single-stage object detection model, YOLOv7, on the diseased tea leaf dataset collected from four prominent tea gardens in Bangladesh. 4000 digital images of five types of leaf diseases are collected from these tea gardens, generating a manually annotated, data-augmented leaf disease image dataset. This study incorporates data augmentation approaches to solve the issue of insufficient sample sizes. The detection and identification results for the YOLOv7 approach are validated by prominent statistical metrics like detection accuracy, precision, recall, mAP value, and F1-score, which resulted in 97.3%, 96.7%, 96.4%, 98.2%, and 0.965, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that YOLOv7 for tea leaf diseases in natural scene images is superior to existing target detection and identification networks, including CNN, Deep CNN, DNN, AX-Retina Net, improved DCNN, YOLOv5, and Multi-objective image segmentation. Hence, this study is expected to minimize the workload of entomologists and aid in the rapid identification and detection of tea leaf diseases, thus minimizing economic losses.
PCSK9, a novel immune and ferroptosis related gene in abdominal aortic aneurysm neck
Authors: Zhuang Junli , Zhu Hua , Cheng Ziqi , Hu Xinyao , Yu Xiaohui , Li Jie , Liu Huagang , Tang Peng , Zhang Ying , Xiong Xiaoxing , Deng Hongping
Published: April 2023

The gene expression profile of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) neck is not fully understood. The etiology of AAA is considered to be related to atherosclerosis and the inflammatory response, involving congenital, genetic, metabolic, and other factors. The level of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is related to those of cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. PCSK9 inhibitors have significant effects on lowering LDL-cholesterol, reversing atherosclerotic plaques, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events and have been approved by several lipid-lowering guidelines. This work was aimed to investigate the potential role of PCSK9 in the neck of AAA. We extracted the expression dataset (GSE47472) containing 14 AAA patients and 8 donors and single-cell RNAseq (scRNA-seq) data (GSE164678) of CaCl2-induced (AAA) samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. Through bioinformatics methods, we found that PCSK9 was up-regulated in the proximal neck of human AAA. In AAA, PCSK9 was mainly expressed in fibroblasts. Additionally, immune check-point PDCD1LG2 was also expressed higher in AAA neck than donor, while CTLA4, PDCD1, and SIGLEC15 were down-regulated in AAA neck. The expression of PCSK was correlated with PDCD1LG2, LAG3, and CTLA4 in AAA neck. Additionally, some ferroptosis-related genes were also down-regulated in AAA neck. PCSK9 was also correlated with ferroptosis-related genes in AAA neck. In conclusion, PCSK9 was highly expressed in AAA neck, and may exert its role through interacting with immune check-points and ferroptosis-related genes.
Effects of bariatric surgery and dietary intervention on insulin resistance and appetite hormones over a 3 year period
Authors: Brzozowska Malgorzata M. , Isaacs Michelle , Bliuc Dana , Baldock Paul A. , Eisman John A. , White Chris P. , Greenfield Jerry R. , Center Jacqueline R.
Published: April 2023

To examine an impact of three types of bariatric surgery compared with dietary intervention (DIET), on concurrent changes in Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and appetite hormones over 3 years. Fifty-five adults were studied during phase of weight loss (0–12 months) and during weight stability (12–36 months) post intervention. Measurements of HOMA-IR, fasting and postprandial PYY and GLP1, adiponectin, CRP, RBP4, FGF21 hormones and dual-Xray absorptiometry were performed throughout the study. All surgical groups achieved significant reductions in HOMA-IR with greatest difference between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and DIET (− 3.7; 95% CI − 5.4, − 2.1; p = 0.001) at 12–36 months. Initial (0–12 months) HOMA-IR values were no different to DIET after adjustment for the lost weight. During 12–36 months, after controlling for treatment procedure and weight, for every twofold increase in postprandial PYY and adiponectin, HOMA-IR decreased by 0.91 (95% CI − 1.71, − 0.11; p = 0.030) and by 0.59 (95% CI − 1.10, − 0.10; p = 0.023) respectively. Initial, non-sustained changes in RBP4 and FGF21 were not associated with HOMA-IR values. While initial rapid weight loss reduces insulin resistance, the enhanced secretions of PYY and adiponectin may contribute to weight-independent improvements in HOMA-IR during weight stability.

Clinical trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000188730.
Diagnostic performance of an automated microscopy and pH test for diagnosis of vaginitis
Authors: Lev-Sagie Ahinoam , Strauss Doris , Ben Chetrit Avraham
Published: April 2023

Vaginitis is a common gynecological problem, nevertheless, its clinical evaluation is often insufficient. This study evaluated the performance of an automated microscope for the diagnosis of vaginitis, by comparison of the investigated test results to a composite reference standard (CRS) of wet mount microscopy performed by a specialist in vulvovaginal disorders, and related laboratory tests. During this single-site cross-sectional prospective study, 226 women reporting vaginitis symptoms were recruited, of which 192 samples were found interpretable and were assessed by the automated microscopy system. Results showed sensitivity between 84.1% (95%CI: 73.67–90.86%) for Candida albicans and 90.9% (95%CI: 76.43–96.86%) for bacterial vaginosis and specificity between 65.9% (95%CI: 57.11–73.64%) for Candida albicans and 99.4% (95%CI: 96.89–99.90%) for cytolytic vaginosis. These findings demonstrate the marked potential of machine learning-based automated microscopy and an automated pH test of vaginal swabs as a basis for a computer-aided suggested diagnosis, for improving the first-line evaluation of five different types of infectious and non-infectious vaginal disorders (vaginal atrophy, bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans vaginitis, cytolytic vaginosis, and aerobic vaginitis/desquamative inflammatory vaginitis). Using such a tool will hopefully lead to better treatment, decrease healthcare costs, and improve patients’ quality of life.
Inference of glioblastoma migration and proliferation rates using single time-point images
Authors: Rosén Emil , Mangukiya Hitesh Bhagavanbhai , Elfineh Ludmila , Stockgard Rebecka , Krona Cecilia , Gerlee Philip , Nelander Sven
Published: April 2023

Cancer cell migration is a driving mechanism of invasion in solid malignant tumors. Anti-migratory treatments provide an alternative approach for managing disease progression. However, we currently lack scalable screening methods for identifying novel anti-migratory drugs. To this end, we develop a method that can estimate cell motility from single end-point images in vitro by estimating differences in the spatial distribution of cells and inferring proliferation and diffusion parameters using agent-based modeling and approximate Bayesian computation. To test the power of our method, we use it to investigate drug responses in a collection of 41 patient-derived glioblastoma cell cultures, identifying migration-associated pathways and drugs with potent anti-migratory effects. We validate our method and result in both in silico and in vitro using time-lapse imaging. Our proposed method applies to standard drug screen experiments, with no change needed, and emerges as a scalable approach to screen for anti-migratory drugs.
Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ)-based optomechanics
Authors: Kiasat Yasaman , Donato Maria Grazia , Hinczewski Michael , ElKabbash Mohamed , Letsou Theodore , Saija Rosalba , Maragò Onofrio Maria , Strangi Giuseppe , Engheta Nader
Published: April 2023

Optomechanics deals with the control and applications of mechanical effects of light that stems from the redistribution of photon momenta in light scattering. As an example, light-induced levitation of an infinitesimally small dipolar particle is expected in front of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials. However, a theoretical understanding of these effects on single-material and multi-material larger particles is still lacking. Here, we investigate, analytically and numerically, optical forces on polarizable particles with size ranging from 20 nm to a 1 μm in proximity of ENZ metamaterials. We look at the general features of the repulsive-attractive optomechanics from the nano to the microscale exploiting different theoretical methods (dipole approximation, finite elements calculations, transition (T-)matrix). We discuss the role of realistic layered materials, as our ENZ substrate, on optical forces and analyze the influence of composition and shape by studying a range of complex particles (dielectric, core-shell, plasmonic ellipsoids). Physical insights into the results are discussed and future research directions are forecasted. Our results provide possibilities in exploiting engineered materials and surfaces for the manipulation and tailoring of light-induced forces in optomechanics.
German citizens’ preference for domestic carbon dioxide removal by afforestation is incompatible with national removal potential
Authors: Merk Christine , Liebe Ulf , Meyerhoff Jürgen , Rehdanz Katrin
Published: April 2023

Efficient and sustainable solutions for offsetting residual emissions via carbon dioxide removal are a major challenge. Proposed removal methods result in trade-offs with other Sustainable Development Goals, and the removal needs of many countries exceed their domestic potentials. Here, we examine the public acceptability of conducting afforestation and direct air capture programmes domestically in Germany or abroad. To uncover the relative importance of various programme attributes, we use a multifactorial vignette experiment. We find that afforestation receives stronger support than direct capture. Next to the costs to households, minimising environmental impacts on biodiversity in forests and the use of renewable energy for direct capture are more important for acceptability than the permanence of storage. Further, individuals strongly prefer domestic programmes to offsets in other countries. These findings suggest significant discrepancies between strong public preferences for domestic carbon removal with low environmental side-effects and the too low potential for such removals.
Personalized tissue-engineered veins – long term safety, functionality and cellular transcriptome analysis in large animals
Authors: Österberg Klas , Bogestål Yalda , Jenndahl Lachmi , Gustafsson-Hedberg Tobias , Synnergren Jane , Holmgren Gustav , Bom Eva , Petronis Sarunas , Krona Annika , Eriksson Jonna S. , Rosendahl Jennifer , Crisostomo Veronica , Sanchez-Margallo Francisco M. , Baez-Diaz Claudia , Strehl Raimund , Håkansson Joakim
Published: April 2023

Donor veins were decellularized and reconditioned with the recipient's blood to produce autologous personalized tissue engineered veins. After 1 year in vivo, all grafts were patent and morphologically and genetically very similar with native veins.
Ionic liquid–polymer thermochromic electrolytes with a wide and tunable LCST for application in multi-stimuli-responsive optical modulation
Authors: Wu Hao , Wang Mi , Wu Wanbao , Bai De , Liang Yihong , Hu Shunyou , Yu Wen , He Peng , Zhang Jiaheng
Published: April 2023

The thermo- and electro-dual-responsive smart window can passively change the light transmission according to the ambient temperature while actively enhancing privacy or playing a decorative role through voltage regulation features.
3D bioprinting tumor models mimic the tumor microenvironment for drug screening
Authors: Mi Xuelian , Su Zhi , Yue Xiaokun , Ren Ya , Yang Xue , Qiang Lei , Kong Weiqing , Ma Zhenjiang , Zhang Changru , Wang Jinwu
Published: April 2023

This review describes 3D bioprinting methods, the use of bioinks in tumor models, and in vitro tumor model design strategies for building complex tumor microenvironment features using biological 3D printing technology.
Hydrophilic surface-modified 3D printed flexible scaffolds with high ceramic particle concentrations for immunopolarization-regulation and bone regeneration
Authors: Li Wenfeng , Xu Fancheng , Dai Fang , Deng Tian , Ai Yufeng , Xu Zhiyong , He Chenjiang , Ai Fanrong , Song Li
Published: April 2023

Hydrophilic surface-modified 3D printed flexible scaffolds with high ceramic particle concentrations can alleviate foreign body reactions and regulate macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype and bone regeneration.