bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accessing electronic properties of two-dimensional materials with gate-dependent micro four-point probe
Authors: Introna Marco , Bogdanowicz Janusz , Silva Henry Medina , Banerjee Sreetama , Kalhauge Kristoffer G , Wouters Lennaert , Shi Yuanyuan , Kim Ju-Seok , Lin Dennis , Asselberghs Inge , Adelmann Christoph , Afanas’Ev Valeri V , Zandvliet Harold J W , Celano Umberto
Published: November 2024

The attractive properties of 2D materials and transition metal dichalcogenides hold great potential for their use in future, ultra-scaled electronic applications. Although growth processes are increasingly trending towards highly scalable, industry compatible procedures, a fast, reliable, and efficient characterization method for pristine samples is still missing. In this study, we propose the use of back-gated micro four-point probe (M4PP) as a qualitative characterization technique for the early screening of pristine samples. We develop a custom procedure to probe MoS2 samples with different numbers of layers and grain orientations, showing the effects of probe landing and giving an interpretation of the electrical contact between the probe pins and the material. Using the M4PP data we employ a simple and effective parallel capacitor model to extract the charge carriers’ concentration (n
c) and the field-effect mobility (μ
FE). The model is then tested by comparing it with data obtained from back-gated field-effect transistors manufactured on the same material. The comparison provides a striking qualitative similarity, proving the usefulness of back-gated M4PP as characterization method for MoS2 samples.
Exploring self-polymerization technique for fabrication of high viscosity polydimethylsiloxane from dichlorodimethylsilane without using catalyst
Authors: Auliya Diba Grace , Fitrilawati Fitrilawati , Syakir Norman , Risdiana Risdiana
Published: November 2024

Self-polymerization offers an easy and simple technique to produce polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) from dichlorodimethylsilane (DCDMS). This method is a condensation stage that does not require additional treatments and materials. Here, we report the self-polymerization technique for the synthesis of high-viscosity PDMS without using a catalyst. Synthesis was carried out using dichloromethane (DCM) solvent with the volume ratio to DCDMS was 1:1. The polymerization process lasted for 63 days. PDMS with a viscosity of 5.13 Pa s which meets the category of high-viscosity of vitreous substitution obtained. The sample was clear and had a refractive index of 1.4028, slightly lower than commercial PDMS. The surface tension of the sample was 21 milliN/m. The sample has the advantage of higher surface tension compared to the commercial PDMS. It will have the effect of reducing the emulsification tendency. The viscosity, refractive index, and surface tension of the sample meet the requirements for the application of a vitreous humour substitute. This research reduced the number of catalyst and solvent used in the hydrolysis and accelerated the polymerization process.
Dephasing-tolerant quantum sensing for transverse magnetic fields with spin qudits
Authors: Mezzadri Matteo , Lepori Luca , Chiesa Alessandro , Carretta Stefano
Published: November 2024

We propose a dephasing-tolerant protocol for quantum sensing of transverse magnetic fields which exploits spin qudit sensors with embedded fault-tolerant (FT) quantum error correction. By exploiting longitudinal drives, the transverse field induces logical Rabi oscillations between encoded states, whose frequency is linear in the transverse field to be probed. Numerical simulations show that the present FT protocol enables the detection of very small fields, orders of magnitudes below the limit imposed by the coherence time.
Framing industrial decarbonization technologies in the public sphere: narratives from the digital ‘town square’ in the United Kingdom
Authors: Herman Kyle S , Chen Chien-Fei , Sovacool Benjamin K
Published: November 2024

Recent research underscores the importance of ensuring that net-zero pathways are perceived as legitimate and socially acceptable, as public attitudes can trigger significant backlash. This article investigates the narratives surrounding industrial decarbonization in the UK within Twitter’s ‘digital town square.’ Intermediary agents play a crucial role in shaping this discourse by fostering debate, offering specialized expertise, and promoting specific technological narratives. Our contribution is twofold: first, we systematically analyze tweets from intermediary agents to identify key technological and economic narratives; second, we employ natural language processing to demonstrate a striking consistency between these narratives and the perspectives of incumbent industries and central government. This alignment suggests that the technological selection of certain decarbonization strategies by both industry and government may undermine the social acceptability of industrial decarbonization technologies and associated infrastructure.
Piezo-actuated smart mechatronic systems for extreme scenarios
Authors: Yuan Zhongxiang , Zhou Shuliu , Hong Cailin , Xiao Ziyu , Zhang Zhengguang , Chen Xuedong , Zeng Lizhan , Wu Jiulin , Wang Yunlong , Li Xiaoqing
Published: November 2024

Precision actuation is a foundational technology in high-end equipment domains, where stroke, velocity, and accuracy are critical for processing and/or detection quality, precision in spacecraft flight trajectories, and accuracy in weapon system strikes. Piezoelectric actuators (PEAs), known for their nanometer-level precision, flexible stroke, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and scalable structure, have been widely adopted across various fields. Therefore, this study focuses on extreme scenarios involving ultra-high precision (micrometer and beyond), minuscule scales, and highly complex operational conditions. It provides a comprehensive overview of the types, working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of PEAs, along with their potential applications in piezo-actuated smart mechatronic systems (PSMSs). To address the demands of extreme scenarios in high-end equipment fields, we have identified five representative application areas: positioning and alignment, biomedical device configuration, advanced manufacturing and processing, vibration mitigation, micro robot system. Each area is further divided into specific subcategories, where we explore the underlying relationships, mechanisms, representative schemes, and characteristics. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future development trends related to PEAs and PSMSs. This work aims to showcase the latest advancements in the application of PEAs and provide valuable guidance for researchers in this field.
Towards sustainable machining: an experimental study of eco-friendly MQL and its impact on machinability and future opportunities
Authors: Rajasozhaperumal G , C Kannan
Published: November 2024

Enforcement of stricter environmental policies calls for alternative methods that could reduce the usage of cutting fluid during machining. Thus, dry machining and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) machining are gaining practical importance. From this perspective, the development of new biodegradable MQL fluids and their performance assessment during machining is acquiring global attention. In this work, Jatropha crude oil (JCO) is chemically transformed into an epoxidized product and used as a MQL fluid. The turning experiments are conducted on Nimonic 80A under varying cutting speeds, and feed rates with constant depth of cut to examine the effects on machinability characteristics. The experiments are conducted under three different environments viz. dry, conventional minimum quantity lubrication (CMQL) and epoxidized minimum quantity lubrication (EMQL). The cutting force, tool flank wear, surface roughness and chip morphology are used as performance indicators. Regarding environmental concerns, the EMQL proved to be a viable substitute for CMQL as it demonstrated the lowest cutting force, tool wear and surface roughness. EMQL can reduce tool wear and surface roughness to the extent of about 54% and 22% as compared to the dry machining environment. The cutting force is reduced by about 13% and 34% by adopting CMQL and EMQL respectively even under the high feed (f = 0.45 mm min−1) condition. The sustainability assessment model developed using the Pugh matrix environmental approach disclosed EMQL system helps in attaining the desired machinability qualities while offering environmental friendliness and cleaner production.
A transfer learning-based GAN for data augmentation in automatic modulation recognition
Authors: Gao Hai , Ke Jing , Lu Xiaochun , Cheng Fang , Chen Xiaofei
Published: November 2024

The automatic modulation recognition (AMR) algorithms based on deep learning (DL) have achieved high classification accuracy by automatically extracting deep features from massive data. However, in real-world scenarios, sufficient training data is always difficult to collect, which affects the performance of DL-based models. As a type of data augmentation algorithm, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can generate artificial data similar to the given real data and thus solve the problem of insufficient data, whereas the training process of GANs is also affected by limited number of data samples. Inspired by the successful application of transferring GANs in the field of image generation, this paper employs transfer learning-based GANs to enlarge the training data by generating the constellation diagram images of radio signals, which can effectively solve the problems of divergence and model collapse. We feed the enhanced dataset into a CNN model for modulation recognition and the experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method achieves a performance improvement ranging from 1% to 5.1% compared with the result of the original limited training data.
Next-Gen fortified health monitoring for cyber physical systems in internet of things using logistic maps based encryption
Authors: Sarkar Ankita , Jhamb Mansi
Published: November 2024

In an era of burgeoning digital healthcare, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of patient data is paramount. The adoption of health monitoring systems, leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) devices in CPS, presents challenges in safeguarding sensitive medical information. This work presents a unique way to encrypt data using chaotic mapping and ASCON algorithm which is a lightweight approach. The given method provides a P-value of 0.6066 for monobit test and an average entropy of 0.994 which ensures data integrity, high randomization and an average execution time of 0.502 microsec, this solution guarantees both unpredictability and security for patient data, making it a viable option for modern healthcare systems.
Implicit quantile networks for emulation in jet physics
Authors: Kronheim Braden , Al Kadhim Ali , Kuchera Michelle P , Prosper Harrison B , Ramanujan Raghuram
Published: November 2024

The ability to model and sample from conditional densities is important in many physics applications. Implicit quantile networks (IQN) have been successfully applied to this task in domains outside physics. In this work, we illustrate the potential of IQNs as components of emulators using the simulation of jets as an example. Specifically, we use an IQN to map jets described by their 4-momenta at the generation level to jets at the event reconstruction level. The conditional densities emulated by our model closely match those generated by Delphes, while also enabling faster jet simulation.
Investigation of solution-processed tungsten disulfide as switching layer in flexible resistive memory devices for performance and stability
Authors: Saini Shalu , Tiwari Shree Prakash
Published: November 2024

Solution-processed tungsten disulfide (WS2) is demonstrated as a promising resistive switching layer for flexible resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices. For this study, WS2 nanoparticle solution was prepared by liquid exfoliation process from WS2 powder and comprehensive material investigation was performed to understand the suitability for device fabrication through morphologies and electronic behavior. Devices were fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with ITO acting as bottom electrode (BE) and silver (Ag) deposited as top electrode (TE) with thin film of WS2 prepared by spin coating as an active layer between electrodes. These fabricated flexible RRAM devices exhibited resistive switching characteristics with low operating voltages (V
SET ∼0.5 V and V
RESET ∼−1.4 V) over 100 consecutive cycles, along with impressive retention time of ∼104 s and high I
ON/I
OFF of ∼104. The performance variation of these devices was also investigated upon bending at radii of 12 mm and 5 mm indicating consistent switching, however a decay in LRS was observed after 250 s upon investigation of retention. These findings suggest that solution-processed thin films of WS2 nanomaterial can act as a promising switching layer for flexible electronics.
Imagination as an intellectual virtue
Authors: Marber Déborah , Wilson Alan T
Published: November 2024

Many philosophers have recently defended the epistemic value of imagination. In this paper, we expand these discussions into the realm of virtue epistemology by proposing and defending a virtue-theoretic conception of imagination. On this account, the intellectual virtue of imagination is a character trait consisting of dispositions to engage skilfully in activities characteristic of imagining, with good judgement and from appropriate epistemic motivations. We argue that this approach helps to explain important connections between related, but distinct, intellectual virtues, including creativity and empathy, and reveals avenues for future work on how best to develop intellectually virtuous imagination.
Development of Korean CARcinogen EXposure: occupation-based exposure matrix
Authors: Koh Dong-Hee , Choi Sangjun , Park Ju-Hyun , Lee Sang-Gil , Kim Hwan-Cheol , Kim Inah , Min Jeehee , Kim Yujin , Park Dong-Uk
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Information systems focusing on occupational carcinogen exposure, whether categorized by industry or occupation, play a pivotal role in the prevention of occupational cancers. Recently, the Korean CARcinogen EXposure (K-CAREX) system was developed to assess carcinogen exposure by industry. However, corresponding information categorized by occupation has yet to be developed. This study aimed to develop an occupation-based exposure matrix for occupational carcinogens as an extension of the K-CAREX framework.

Methods

The Work Environment Measurement Database (WEMD) and the Special Health Examination Database (SHED) were combined to estimate exposure intensity by occupation. The WEMD supplied exposure levels, whereas the SHED provided occupation information. Additionally, the SHED served as the primary data source for constructing an indicator of exposure prevalence by occupation, utilizing standard occupational classification.

Results

A total of 22 carcinogens were selected for evaluating exposure intensity, and 20 carcinogens were selected for assessing exposure prevalence. Exposure intensity and prevalence were assigned to 156 occupational groups based on these carcinogens. For instance, in terms of welding fume exposure, welders were assigned an exposure intensity rating of 3 and exhibited exposure prevalence of 26%.

Conclusions

Our findings complement the previously developed K-CAREX, which offered an industry-based exposure matrix. The resultant comprehensive K-CAREX, incorporating both industry- and occupation-based matrices, can be utilized for occupational cancer prevention and epidemiological studies.
Teaching Vergil to write: Vergil’s aesthetics and the influence of Philodemus and Parthenius
Authors: McOsker Michael F , Fratantuono Lee M
Published: November 2024

The influence of the Greek scholars Philodemus and Parthenius on their contemporary Vergil remains understudied. Close examination of selected passages from the Aeneid demonstrates the poet’s reception of Philodemus’ theory of poetry and of Parthenius’ collection of mythological summaries, the Erotica Pathemata. Investigating the intertextual connections between Philodemus, Parthenius, and Vergil offers a chance to explore how an Augustan poet made use of the writings of two of his teachers and main influences, and an opportunity to examine the question of late Hellenistic aesthetics through the prism of its earliest reception.
Physiological responses to capture, handling and tagging in the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)
Authors: Cole Georgina , Lavender Edward , Naylor Adam , Girling Simon , Aleynik Dmitry , Oppel Steffen , Dodd Jane , Thorburn James
Published: November 2024

Catch-and-release angling is a popular recreational pastime and an essential component of many fish research programmes. Marked physiological disturbances have been documented in elasmobranchs in response to angling and handling, but skates and rays remain understudied. Here, we describe for the first time the physiological responses of the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) to angling, handling and tagging in Scotland. Sixty-one skate were captured by angling as part of a tagging research programme. We assessed individual health, measured blood parameters at two time points (post-capture and prior to release) and recorded heart and respiratory rates during handling and the surgical insertion of acoustic tags. Injuries or infections were identified in 10% of individuals and attributed to prior angling in two cases. Skate generally experienced a mild metabolic acidosis characterized by decreases in blood pH and bicarbonate and increases in lactate and glucose. Respiratory acidosis characterized by limited increases in PCO2 was also observed. The degree of acidosis was greater with warmer sea temperatures and longer fight times, and worsened during the time that skate were handled on deck. Heart rates during handling were negatively associated with body size, positively associated with temperature and also linked to time on the line. Taken together, our results suggest that elevated fight times and temperatures increase the physiological stress experienced by rod and reel-caught flapper skate. Efforts to reduce fight times and minimize heat exposure (including shading, irrigation and reduced handling time) should be beneficial for skate.
A Future Avenue of Treatment Ulcerative Colitis Targeting Macrophage Polarization: A Phytochemical Application
Authors: Saurabh Nishant Kumar , Khan Mohd Mabood , Kirabo Annet
Published: November 2024

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a prevalent inflammatory bowel disease primarily impacting the mucosa of the colon. It is characterized by recurring and incurable symptoms and causes immense suffering and significant economic burden due to limited treatment options. Typical symptoms of UC include diarrhea, alterations in bowel patterns, bleeding from the rectum, rectal pain or urgency, anemia, and tiredness. Therefore, developing novel and effective treatment strategies for UC is imperative.

Purpose

This review aimed to explain how macrophage polarization contributes to UC development and compiled information on natural compounds with promising therapeutic potential that can target the macrophage phenotype and shed light on its potential mode of action.

Results

The phenotypic alteration of macrophages profoundly affects the development of UC, and these cells are essential for preserving intestinal immunological homeostasis. Evidence from research suggests that one effective method for UC prevention and therapy is to guide macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype. Phytochemicals, which are compounds extracted from plants, possess a wide array of biological activities. For example: Ginsenoside Rg1 emerges as a crucial regulator of macrophage polarization, promoting the M2 phenotype while inhibiting the M1 phenotype. Notably, their low toxicity and high effectiveness render them promising candidates for therapeutic interventions. These compounds have demonstrated encouraging protective effects against inflammation in the colon.

Conclusions

Exploring phytochemicals as a therapeutic avenue targeting macrophage polarization presents an innovative approach to treating UC.
Occlusal outcome of orthodontic treatment: a systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized trials
Authors: Papageorgiou Spyridon N , Giannakopoulou Theodora , Eliades Theodore , Vandevska-Radunovic Vaska
Published: November 2024

Background

Several appliances or treatment protocols are marketed to either patients or orthodontists as being associated with improved orthodontic outcomes. However, clinical decision-making should be based on robust scientific evidence and not marketing claims or anecdotal evidence.

Objective

To identify appliances/protocols being associated with improved outcomes of fixed appliance treatment.

Search methods

Unrestricted literature searches in seven databases/registers for human studies until March 2024.

Selection criteria

Randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials on human patients of any age, sex, or ethnicity receiving comprehensive orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and assessing occlusal outcome with either the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) or the American Board of Orthodontics-Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS) index.

Data collection and analysis

Duplicate/independent study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment with the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Random-effects meta-analyses of averages or mean differences with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CI), followed by meta-regression/subgroup/sensitivity analyses and assessment of the quality of clinical recommendations with the Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

Data from 20 small- to moderately-sized trials covering 1470 patients indicated that orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances is effective and results on average in a final PAR score of 6.0 points (95% CI 3.9–8.2 points), an absolute PAR reduction of 23.0 points (95% CI 15.6–30.4 points), a % PAR reduction of 82.6% (95% CI 70.8%–94.4%), and an absolute ABO-OGS score of 18.9 points (95% CI 11.7–26.2 points). However, very high between-study heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) was seen for both PAR and ABO-OGS. Extraction treatment was associated with significantly better occlusal outcome than non-extraction treatment with ABO-OGS (12.9 versus 16.6 points; P = .02). There was no statistically significant difference in occlusal outcome with (i) 0.018″-slot or 0.022″-slot brackets; (ii) customized or prefabricated brackets; (iii) anchorage reinforcement with temporary anchorage devices; (iv) use of vibrational adjuncts; and (v) aligners or fixed appliances (P > .05 in all instances), while small benefits were seen with indirectly bonded brackets.

Conclusions

Considerable between-study heterogeneity exists in the reported occlusal outcome of fixed appliance treatment, and different appliances or adjuncts have little effect on this. Standardization and/or automatization of the scoring procedures for PAR and ABO-OGS might help to improve consistency and reliability of outcome measurement in orthodontic trials.

Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42024525088).
Agribusiness innovation, value chain interventions, farmer input use, agricultural productivity, land access and asset ownership
Authors: Amare Mulubrhan , Zavale Helder , Smart Jenny
Published: November 2024

This study evaluated the implications of the Innovation for Agribusiness (InovAgro) value chain interventions (VCIs) on farmers’ input use, market information access and land access. We used a spatial identification strategy to classify farmers as beneficiary or non-beneficiary farmers. The study used a FFs DiD analysis on a matched sample using the three-wave panel data. Our findings show that InovAgro VCIs have a positive and significant effect on beneficiary farmers’ use of yield-boosting agricultural inputs, productivity and access to agricultural market information. Our findings also show that simultaneous exposure to all three VCIs under the complete package had a positive effect on overall farmer assets.
Traditional risk factors, optimal cardiovascular health, and elevated lipoprotein(a)
Authors: Razavi Alexander C , Reyes Mikaila P , Wilkins John T , Szklo Moyses S , Tsai Michael Y , Whelton Seamus P , Sperling Laurence S , Tsimikas Sotirios , Bhatia Harpreet S
Published: November 2024

Aims

To assess the association of traditional risk factor burden and Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) score with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) across lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels.

Methods and results

There were 6676 participants without clinical ASCVD from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who underwent Lp(a) testing and were followed for incident ASCVD events (coronary heart disease and stroke). Low, intermediate, and elevated Lp(a) were defined as <30, 30–49, and ≥50 mg/dL, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association of traditional risk factors and LS7 score (poor: 0–8, average: 9–10, and optimal: 11–14) with incident ASCVD across Lp(a) groups during a median follow-up of 17.7 years, adjusting for demographics and time-varying statin and aspirin therapy. The mean age was 62.1 years, 53% were women, and 61% were non-white. The median Lp(a) was 17 (interquartile range 8–41) mg/dL, 13% had Lp(a) 30–49 mg/dL, and 20% had Lp(a) ≥ 50 mg/dL. Individuals with Lp(a) ≥ 50 mg/dL had higher absolute event rates across all LS7 categories. There was no significant interaction between Lp(a) and LS7 score on incident ASCVD (P-interaction = 0.60). Compared to a poor LS7 score, optimal LS7 conferred a lower risk for incident ASCVD among individuals with Lp(a) < 30 [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28–0.71], Lp(a) 30–49 (HR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02–0.89), and Lp(a) ≥ 50 mg/dL (HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13–0.99).

Conclusion

Participants without clinical ASCVD who achieved an optimal LS7 score had ASCVD risk reduction regardless of Lp(a) level. These results emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle and ASCVD risk factor control among individuals with elevated Lp(a).
Two major-effect loci influence interspecific mating in females of the sibling species, Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia
Authors: Lu Kenneth , Erezyilmaz Deniz
Published: November 2024

Secondary contact between incompletely isolated species can produce a wide variety of outcomes. The vinegar flies Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia diverged on islands in the Indian Ocean and are currently separated by partial pre- and postzygotic barriers. The recent discovery of hybridization between D. simulans and D. sechellia in the wild presents an opportunity to monitor the prevalence of alleles that influence hybridization between these sibling species. We therefore sought to identify those loci in females that affect interspecific mating, and we adapted a two-choice assay to capture female mate choice and female attractiveness simultaneously. We used shotgun sequencing to genotype female progeny of reciprocal F1 backcrosses at high resolution and performed QTL analysis. We found 2 major-effect QTL in both backcrosses, one on either arm of the third chromosome that each account for 32–37% of the difference in phenotype between species. The QTL of both backcrosses overlap and may each be alternate alleles of the same locus. Genotypes at these 2 loci followed an assortative mating pattern with D. simulans males but not D. sechellia males, which mated most frequently with females that were hybrid at both loci. These data reveal how different allele combinations at 2 major loci may promote isolation and hybridization in the same species pair. Identification of these QTLs is an important step toward understanding how the genetic architecture of mate selection may shape the outcome of secondary contact.
Denture Use Mitigates the Cognitive Impact of Tooth Loss in Older Adults
Authors: Chou Yi-Chang , Weng Shih-Han , Cheng Feng-Shiang , Hu Hsiao-Yun
Published: November 2024

Background

Denture use may contribute to maintaining cognitive function by addressing the masticatory difficulties caused by tooth loss. However, reports on the association between tooth loss and cognitive impairment have been inconsistent. The impact of changes in tooth number and denture use on the development of cognitive impairment in older adults remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate these impacts among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

This 7-year longitudinal prospective cohort study included 64 520 community-dwelling Taiwanese older adults aged ≥65 years without cognitive impairment at baseline. The primary outcome was cognitive impairment assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire.

Results

Older adults with 10–19, 1–9, and 0 teeth, including natural teeth and dentures, had higher risks of developing cognitive impairment than those with ≥20 teeth, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 1.40 (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 1.14–1.71), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.40–2.43), and 2.56 (95% CI, 1.74–3.76), respectively. Furthermore, among those with 10–19 teeth (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52–0.98) or 1–9 teeth (OR, 0.43, 95% CI, 0.27–0.68) at baseline, an increase of more than 1 level in tooth number during follow-up (eg, from 10–19 to ≥ 20 teeth and dentures through the acquisition of dental prosthetics such as dentures, bridges, or implants) was associated with a lower risk of developing cognitive impairment compared with those with a stable tooth number.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that prompt denture use and maintaining >20 teeth (including natural teeth and dentures) mitigate the risk of cognitive impairment associated with tooth loss among community-dwelling older adults.
“UDE DIATOMS in the Wild 2024”: a new image dataset of freshwater diatoms for training deep learning models
Authors: Venkataramanan Aishwarya , Kloster Michael , Burfeid-Castellanos Andrea , Dani Mimoza , Mayombo Ntambwe A S , Vidakovic Danijela , Langenkämper Daniel , Tan Mingkun , Pradalier Cedric , Nattkemper Tim , Laviale Martin , Beszteri Bánk
Published: November 2024

Background

Diatoms are microalgae with finely ornamented microscopic silica shells. Their taxonomic identification by light microscopy is routinely used as part of community ecological research as well as ecological status assessment of aquatic ecosystems, and a need for digitalization of these methods has long been recognized. Alongside their high taxonomic and morphological diversity, several other factors make diatoms highly challenging for deep learning–based identification using light microscopy images. These include (i) an unusually high intraclass variability combined with small between-class differences, (ii) a rather different visual appearance of specimens depending on their orientation on the microscope slide, and (iii) the limited availability of diatom experts for accurate taxonomic annotation.

Findings

We present the largest diatom image dataset thus far, aimed at facilitating the application and benchmarking of innovative deep learning methods to the diatom identification problem on realistic research data, “UDE DIATOMS in the Wild 2024.” The dataset contains 83,570 images of 611 diatom taxa, 101 of which are represented by at least 100 examples and 144 by at least 50 examples each. We showcase this dataset in 2 innovative analyses that address individual aspects of the above challenges using subclustering to deal with visually heterogeneous classes, out-of-distribution sample detection, and semi-supervised learning.

Conclusions

The problem of image-based identification of diatoms is both important for environmental research and challenging from the machine learning perspective. By making available the so far largest image dataset, accompanied by innovative analyses, this contribution will facilitate addressing these points by the scientific community.
stMMR: accurate and robust spatial domain identification from spatially resolved transcriptomics with multimodal feature representation
Authors: Zhang Daoliang , Yu Na , Yuan Zhiyuan , Li Wenrui , Sun Xue , Zou Qi , Li Xiangyu , Liu Zhiping , Zhang Wei , Gao Rui
Published: November 2024

Background

Deciphering spatial domains using spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is of great value for characterizing and understanding tissue architecture. However, the inherent heterogeneity and varying spatial resolutions present challenges in the joint analysis of multimodal SRT data.

Results

We introduce a multimodal geometric deep learning method, named stMMR, to effectively integrate gene expression, spatial location, and histological information for accurate identifying spatial domains from SRT data. stMMR uses graph convolutional networks and a self-attention module for deep embedding of features within unimodality and incorporates similarity contrastive learning for integrating features across modalities.

Conclusions

Comprehensive benchmark analysis on various types of spatial data shows superior performance of stMMR in multiple analyses, including spatial domain identification, pseudo-spatiotemporal analysis, and domain-specific gene discovery. In chicken heart development, stMMR reconstructed the spatiotemporal lineage structures, indicating an accurate developmental sequence. In breast cancer and lung cancer, stMMR clearly delineated the tumor microenvironment and identified marker genes associated with diagnosis and prognosis. Overall, stMMR is capable of effectively utilizing the multimodal information of various SRT data to explore and characterize tissue architectures of homeostasis, development, and tumor.
Delivery of IL-12 by neoantigen-reactive T cells promotes antitumor immunity in murine osteosarcoma mode
Authors: Tian Cong , Sun Xingxing , Zhu Hongling , Zhou Meixiang , Chen Qingyu , Min Daliu , Huang Yan , Han Kun
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Despite the proven clinical benefits of cytokine therapy in cancer treatment, systemic administration of cytokines such as IL-12 is constrained by dose-limiting toxicities and short half-lives. To address these challenges, we explored a localized cytokine delivery strategy using engineered neoantigen-reactive T (NRT) cells as carriers in a murine model of osteosarcoma.

Materials and Methods

We used a neoantigen from K7M2 osteosarcoma cells to retrovirally transduce NRT cells to express an inducible form of IL-12. We evaluated the engineered NRT cells’ antitumor activity and the production of IL-12 and IFN-γ upon in vitro co-culture with tumor cells. We systemically administered NRT-IL-12 cells in a mouse model of osteosarcoma to assess their impact on tumor growth and survival.

Results

In vitro assays demonstrated that the engineered NRT cells exhibited enhanced antitumor activity and produced elevated levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ. In the mouse model of osteosarcoma, systemic administration of NRT-IL-12 cells resulted in a significant reduction in tumor growth and an increase in survival rates compared to the administration of control NRT cells. Further analysis revealed that NRT-IL-12 cells induced a profound increase in CD8+ T-cell infiltration and a decrease in Treg cells within the tumor microenvironment.

Conclusion

Our study presents a novel and efficacious strategy for osteosarcoma immunotherapy by harnessing NRT cells as targeted cytokine delivery vehicles.
Postmortem distribution of MDPHP in a fatal intoxication case
Authors: Croce Emma Beatrice , Dimitrova Alexandra , Di Milia Maria Grazia , Pierotti Stefano , Arillotta Davide , Barbaresi Marta , Focardi Martina , Vaiano Fabio
Published: November 2024

The synthetic cathinone (SC) 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP) is structurally correlated to the 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). In recent years, the number of intoxication cases has increased even if little is known about the pharmacokinetics properties. The Postmortem (PM) distribution of MDPHP remains largely unexplored. In these reports, MDPHP levels were quantified in blood, gastric content, and urine. This study aimed to describe the MDPHP PM distribution in several specimens, i.e. central and peripheral blood (CB and PB), right and left vitreous humor (rVH and lVH), gastric content (GCo), urine (U), and hair. The samples were collected from a cocaine-addicted 30-year-old man with a PM interval estimated in 3–4 h. Autopsy examination revealed unspecific findings, i.e. cerebral and pulmonary edema. No injection marks were observed. Toxicological analyses were performed using a multi-analytical approach: headspace gas chromatography for blood alcohol content (BAC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the main drugs of abuse, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) for benzodiazepines, and new psychoactive substances (NPS). BAC was negative (0.02 g/L). MDPHP concentrations were as follows: 1,639.99 ng/mL, CB; 1,601.90 ng/mL, PB; 12,954.13 ng/mL, U; 3,028.54 ng/mL, GCo; 1,846.45 ng/mL, rVH; 2,568.01 ng/mL, lVH; 152.38 (0.0–1.5 cm) and 451.33 (1.5–3.0 cm) ng/mg, hair. Moreover, hair segments were also positive for 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (DMMC < limit of quantification: 0.01 ng/mg), α-PHP (0.59 ng/mg, 0.0–1.5 cm; 3.07 ng/mg, 1.5–3.0 cm), cocaine (6.58 ng/mg, 0.0–1.5 cm; 22.82 ng/mg, 1.5–3.0 cm), and benzoylecgonine (1.13 ng/mg, 0.0–1.5 cm; 4.30 ng/mg, 1.5–3.0 cm). MDPHP concentrations were significantly higher than those reported in the literature for fatal cases. For these reasons, the cause of death was probably the consumption of a lethal amount of MDPHP. Because CB and PB were similar, PM redistribution was not relevant.
A How-to Guide for Community Breast Imaging Centers: Starting a Breast Imaging Fellowship
Authors: Miles Randy C , Lopez Antonio R , Tran Nhat-Tuan , Doyle Christopher , Vijapura Charmi , Wahab Rifat A , Naeger David M
Published: November 2024

Opportunities exist to provide high-quality breast imaging fellowship training in the community setting. Various challenges exist, however, including obtaining funding for a fellowship position, creating an educational curriculum in a potentially nonacademic environment, and developing an overall competitive program that will attract radiology trainees. Here, we explore factors that contribute to the establishment of an academic breast imaging fellowship program in the community setting based on experience, including (1) providing guidance on how to secure funding for a breast imaging fellowship position; (2) developing a training curriculum based on established guidelines from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, American College of Radiology, and Society of Breast Imaging; and (3) navigating the landscape of the recruitment process, from program branding to matching applicants.
Increasing plant species diversity aggravates microbial phosphorus limitation but alleviates microbial carbon limitation in a subtropical forest
Authors: Gao Kun , Du Hu , Zhu Zihong , Fang Yuantian , Li Dejun
Published: November 2024

The relative limitation of microbes by soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is linked with soil microbial activities, so how change of plant species diversity (PSD) affects microbial resource limitation would partly determine its impacts on SOC dynamics and nutrient cycling. However, the responses of microbial resource limitation to increasing PSD have poorly explored. Here, 45 plots covering a natural PSD gradient were used to investigate the effects of PSD on microbial resource limitation in a subtropical forest. Extracellular enzymatic stoichiometry along with a laboratory N and P addition experiment were used to determine microbial resource limitation. Contents of microbial biomass C, N and P significantly increased, but C:P and N:P ratios in microbial biomass were unchanged as PSD increased. Soil microbes were generally co-limited by C and P, but not by N across the 45 plots. Increasing PSD did not alter microbial N limitation, alleviated microbial C limitation and aggravated microbial P limitation. The alleviated microbial C limitation or aggravated microbial P limitation was attributed to increased soil C availability but decreased P availability, which resulted in stimulated soil C:P and N:P ratios and in turn greater C:P and N:P imbalance between soil and microbial biomass under higher PSD. Our results highlight the divergent effects of increasing PSD on microbial resource limitation. Considering that microbial C and P limitations are widespread, the patterns observed in the current study should be applicable broadly.
Giant (complex) inguinal hernia in female patient left untreated for 40 years: a case report
Authors: Nikolovski Andrej , Gjinoska Klaudia , Kocevski Zhivorad , Stoicovski Emil , Mitrev Zan
Published: November 2024

A giant inguinal hernia is a rare clinical presentation in patients refusing hernia repair for different reasons during a long period. The appearance is remarkable, and the preoperative preparation and the surgery itself might be challenging. They can present in an emergency (hernia incarceration) or elective setting. Most of the patients are male, but exclusions exist. This is a rare case of a female patient with a giant inguinal hernia left untreated for 40 years.
A case of intraabdominal tuberculosis masquerading as inguinal hernia: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Yildirim Sanem , Yigit Yavuz , Jabeen Atika , Mohamed Eslam Hussein , Alkahlout Baha Hamdi
Published: November 2024

Inguinal masses are common presentations in clinical practice, often attributed to hernias. However, atypical features may lead to diagnostic difficulties and delayed intervention. We present a case of a 32-year-old Ethiopian woman with a prolonged history of a growing groin mass 2 months following childbirth, her diagnosis potentially challenged by her recent obstetric history. Despite previous evaluations suggesting inguinal hernia, her symptoms worsened, prompting an emergency department visit. Further investigation revealed an unexpected diagnosis of intraabdominal tuberculosis, manifesting as a large iliopsoas abscess. This case underscores the importance of considering uncommon etiologies in the differential diagnosis of inguinal masses, particularly in high-risk populations with comparable situations, to ensure timely diagnosis and intervention.
Acute obstructive uropathy secondary to a rectus sheath haematoma in an anticoagulated patient
Authors: Babic Stephanie M , Trivedi Anand
Published: November 2024

A rectus sheath haematoma (RSH) is a relatively rare cause of acute abdominal pain that is becoming more prevalent due to an increase in anticoagulant therapy. Of its associated complications, acute obstructive uropathy is exceedingly rare. This is a case of a 62-year-old lady who presented with abdominal pain caused by an RSH which then led to obstructive uropathy. She had undergone laparoscopic removal of a gastric band 6 days prior and due to a mechanical mitral valve, required ongoing anticoagulation. Initially, she had a contained RSH, but this subsequently decompressed into the extraperitoneal space, causing acute obstructive uropathy secondary to external compression. She was managed with ureteric stenting and her anticoagulation was appropriately modified throughout her admission. This case highlights that the challenging aspect of RSH management involves tailoring treatment to address individual patient factors and the location of the haematoma itself.
WOX out, those teeth are sharp!
Authors: Drieberg Hannah
Published: November 2024

This article comments on:

Xu L, Fang N, Lu T, Tameshige T, Nakata MT, Jiang Y, Tan L, He H, Zhang X, Huang Y, Li C, Yang Z, Tang W, Nagawa S. 2025. WOX1 controls leaf serration development via temporally restricting BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1 and CUP SHAPED COTYLEDON 3 expression in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany 76, 478–492. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erae443
Karyotype, Male Meiosis, and Pollen Features of Barleria (Acanthaceae): A Wild Ornamental From India
Authors: Patil Suraj S , Lekhak Manoj M
Published: November 2024

Barleria is a palaeotropical genus of herbs, shrubs, and rarely climbers or trees. We investigated the karyotypes and male meiosis of 12 and 13 species, respectively, for the first time. Mitotic metaphases revealed two chromosome counts, 2n = 40 and 2n = 44. Chromosomes had median (m), submedian (sm), and subterminal (st) region centromeres. The total haploid chromosome length (TCL) ranged from 78.95 µm (Barleria sahyadrica) to 37.80 µm (B. nitida). Dispersion index differentiated the species into two groups, one with lower (3.40–4.79) and the other with higher (6.63–12.87) values. Principal component analysis based on six karyological parameters, namely base number (x), 2n, TCL, coefficient of variation of chromosome length, coefficient of variation of centromeric index, and mean centromeric asymmetry, exhibited three clusters. Cluster I included species of the subgenus Barleria. Cluster III had species of the subgenus Prionitis section Somalia. Cluster II comprised species of the subgenus Barleria and the subgenus Prionitis section Prionitis (B. sahyadrica). Pollen grains were oblate spheroidal or distinctly three-lobed, tri-brevicolporate with honey-combed tectum. Our analyses revealed karyological relationships among the investigated species and also provide raw data to breeders interested in horticultural applications of Barleria for accomplishing interspecific hybridization.
UHRF1 ubiquitin ligase activity supports the maintenance of low-density CpG methylation
Authors: Tiedemann Rochelle L , Hrit Joel , Du Qian , Wiseman Ashley K , Eden Hope E , Dickson Bradley M , Kong Xiangqian , Chomiak Alison A , Vaughan Robert M , Tibben Bailey M , Hebert Jakob M , David Yael , Zhou Wanding , Baylin Stephen B , Jones Peter A , Clark Susan J , Rothbart Scott B
Published: November 2024

The RING E3 ubiquitin ligase UHRF1 is an established cofactor for DNA methylation inheritance. The model posits that nucleosomal engagement through histone and DNA interactions directs UHRF1 ubiquitin ligase activity toward lysines on histone H3 tails, creating binding sites for DNMT1 through ubiquitin interacting motifs (UIM1 and UIM2). However, the extent to which DNMT1 relies on ubiquitin signaling through UHRF1 in support of DNA methylation maintenance remains unclear. Here, with integrative epigenomic and biochemical analyses, we reveal that DNA methylation maintenance at low-density cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) is particularly vulnerable to disruption of UHRF1 ubiquitin ligase activity and DNMT1 ubiquitin reading activity through UIM1. Hypomethylation of low-density CpGs in this manner induces formation of partially methylated domains (PMDs), a methylation signature observed across human cancers. In contrast, UIM2 disruption completely abolishes the DNA methylation maintenance function of DNMT1 in a CpG density-independent manner. In the context of DNA methylation recovery following acute DNMT1 depletion, we further reveal a ‘bookmarking’ function for UHRF1 ubiquitin ligase activity in support of DNA re-methylation. Collectively, these studies show that DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation inheritance is a ubiquitin-regulated process that is partially reliant on UHRF1 and suggest a disrupted UHRF1-DNMT1 ubiquitin signaling axis contributes to PMD formation in cancers.