bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross noise level PET denoising with continuous adversarial domain generalization
Authors: Liu Xiaofeng , Vafay Eslahi Samira , Marin Thibault , Tiss Amal , Chemli Yanis , Huang Yongsong , Johnson Keith A , El Fakhri Georges , Ouyang Jinsong
Published: March 2024

Objective. Performing positron emission tomography (PET) denoising within the image space proves effective in reducing the variance in PET images. In recent years, deep learning has demonstrated superior denoising performance, but models trained on a specific noise level typically fail to generalize well on different noise levels, due to inherent distribution shifts between inputs. The distribution shift usually results in bias in the denoised images. Our goal is to tackle such a problem using a domain generalization technique. Approach. We propose to utilize the domain generalization technique with a novel feature space continuous discriminator (CD) for adversarial training, using the fraction of events as a continuous domain label. The core idea is to enforce the extraction of noise-level invariant features. Thus minimizing the distribution divergence of latent feature representation for different continuous noise levels, and making the model general for arbitrary noise levels. We created three sets of 10%, 13%–22% (uniformly randomly selected), or 25% fractions of events from 97 18F-MK6240 tau PET studies of 60 subjects. For each set, we generated 20 noise realizations. Training, validation, and testing were implemented using 1400, 120, and 420 pairs of 3D image volumes from the same or different sets. We used 3D UNet as the baseline and implemented CD to the continuous noise level training data of 13%–22% set. Main results. The proposed CD improves the denoising performance of our model trained in a 13%–22% fraction set for testing in both 10% and 25% fraction sets, measured by bias and standard deviation using full-count images as references. In addition, our CD method can improve the SSIM and PSNR consistently for Alzheimer-related regions and the whole brain. Significance. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to alleviate the performance degradation in cross-noise level denoising from the perspective of domain generalization. Our study is also a pioneer work of continuous domain generalization to utilize continuously changing source domains.
Design of morphing wing for aerodynamic performance considering the wing flexibility effects
Authors: Navrátil J , Hostinský V , Sodja J
Published: March 2024

This paper provides an insight into ongoing research aimed at designing a morphing wing with the ability to continuously adapt its aerodynamic shape. The wing is targeted at a general purpose unmanned aerial vehicle. The morphing wing concept outlined in the paper is based on continuous camber changes of the wing leading and trailing edges, allowing optimal performance in different flight regimes. The aeroelastic tailoring method is used to design the load carrying structure of the wing in order to define the optimal stiffness and strength of the structure, which are considered as fixed in subsequent design steps. The research proposes a novel modular design approach that combines aerodynamic shape optimisation and aeroelastic considerations for designing morphing wing surfaces.
Commissioning and operation of the transverse collimation system at the RCS of CSNS
Authors: Xu Shouyan , Zhou Kai , Chen Jianliang , Huang Mingyang , Wang Sheng
Published: March 2024

In high-intensity proton synchrotrons, controlling beam loss during machine operation is
crucial to prevent radiation damage. Uncontrolled beam loss poses a significant challenge in
achieving higher beam intensity and power in these synchrotrons. The beam collimation system plays
a vital role in removing halo particles and localizing beam loss, serving as a critical tool for
controlling uncontrolled beam loss in high-intensity proton accelerators. To address the issue of
uncontrolled beam loss, a two-stage transverse collimation system was designed at the rapid
cycling synchrotron (RCS) of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). However, during the beam
commissioning, it was found that the collimation efficiency was compromised due to the small ratio
of the physical acceptance to the collimator acceptance and insufficient phase advances between
the primary and secondary collimators. To address this issue, the designed two-stage collimator
was modified to a one-stage collimator. Through optimization of the collimation system, the beam
loss was effectively localized within the collimator area. As a result, CSNS achieved the design
power of 100 kW with minimal uncontrolled beam loss.
Effect of porosity and crystallinity of activated carbons for electrochemical capacitors
Authors: Park Jung Eun , Kang Da Jung , Lee Gi Bbum , Hong Bum Ui , Hwang Sang Youp
Published: March 2024

Activated carbons (ACs) are usually utilized for the electrochemical capacitor due to their inherent properties, such as large surface area, high chemical stability, and good electrical conductivity. In this study, the commercial and chemically activated ACs with various surface areas were prepared and evaluated for their capacitance. The capacitances were generally increased as increasing the surface areas, but the highest surface area always did not lead to the highest capacitance. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of chemically activated coconut-ACs (2,209 m2/g) was lower than chemically activated wood-ACs (2,903 m2/g), but the capacitance was higher. It was found that the major factor for the capacitance was not only the surface area, but also the electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity is usually associated with crystallinity, which is represented by the nanographitic domain size and crystalline thickness along the c-axis (Lc). The crystalline structure enhances the electron mobility, increasing the capacitance. The conductivities of prepared ACs were measured at different pressures, and their crystalline structure was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction.
Comparative study on the influence of additives on interfacial adhesion strength between fibres and extruded polymer core via peel-off test
Authors: Balan G Sakthi , Aravind Raj S
Published: March 2024

Various peel-off experiments can be used to determine the adhesion strength of various fibres. Among them was the ‘T’ type peel-off test, which measures the adhesions between fibres. The use of organic and inorganic fillers in flake or powder form will alter the adhesive properties of the binders as well as the adhesive strength between the fibres. In this study, the adhesion strength between three different varieties of glass fibres (C-Glass, E-Glass, and S-Glass fibres) with a PLA core has been investigated. As a binder, an epoxy resin was used, and the resin was modified with inorganic additives such as alumina, bentonite, and silicon carbide. Peel-off testing was used to examine the effect of additives on the bonding strength between a thermoplastic core and a synthetic fibre. The addition of inorganic compounds was found to reduce the adhesion strength between the fibres and the core. In order to evaluate the initial adhesion between the filaments and the core, nine specimens were fabricated without the addition of any additives and their strengths were determined. Maximum adhesion strength of 71.8 MPa was recorded for the neat resin. The adhesive strength after inclusion of additives was observed to decrease by 18.14%, and recorded maximum peel-off strength of 58.2 MPa. Also, the inclusion percentages of the additives were found to be the most influential factor in determining the composites’ adhesive properties. Validation tests were also conducted with the optimized results which demonstrated that the predicted and experimental results were in excellent agreement. Macro and micro approaches were employed to analyze the deformation mechanisms in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the additives affected the adhesion strength.
Reconfigurable (4, 62) and (4, 82) Archimedean plasma photonic crystals in dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: LI 李 Rui 蕊 , WANG 王 Qihan 启晗 , LIU 刘 Fucheng 富成 , GAO 高 Kuangya 匡雅 , (侯笑含) Xiaohan HOU , JIA 贾 Mengmeng 萌萌 , LI 李 Qing 庆 , FAN 范 Weili 伟丽
Published: March 2024

Archimedean photonic crystal has become a research area of great interest due to its various unique properties. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the realization of reconfigurable (4, 62) and (4, 82) Archimedean plasma photonic crystals (APPCs) by use of dielectric barrier discharges in air. Dynamical control on both the macrostructures including the lattice symmetry and the crystal orientation, and the microstructures including the fine structures of scattering elements has been achieved. The formation mechanisms of APPCs are studied by time-resolved measurements together with numerical simulations. Large omnidirectional band gaps of APPCs have been obtained. The tunable topology of APPCs may offer new opportunities for fabricating multi-functional and highly-integrated microwave devices.
Research on a deconvolution algorithm for laser-induced fluorescence diagnosis based on the maximum entropy principle
Authors: LEI 雷 Qingyun 清雲 , YANG 杨 Xiong 雄 , CHENG 程 Mousen 谋森 , ZHANG 张 Fan 帆 , GUO 郭 Dawei 大伟 , LI 李 Xiaokang 小康 , XIAO 肖 Wenjie 文杰
Published: March 2024

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy is employed for plasma diagnosis, necessitating the utilization of deconvolution algorithms to isolate the Doppler effect from the raw spectral signal. However, direct deconvolution becomes invalid in the presence of noise as it leads to infinite amplification of high-frequency noise components. To address this issue, we propose a deconvolution algorithm based on the maximum entropy principle. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by utilizing simulated LIF spectra at various noise levels (signal-to-noise ratio, SNR = 20–80 dB) and measured LIF spectra with Xe as the working fluid. In the typical measured spectrum (SNR = 26.23 dB) experiment, compared with the Gaussian filter and the Richardson–Lucy (R-L) algorithm, the proposed algorithm demonstrates an increase in SNR of 1.39 dB and 4.66 dB, respectively, along with a reduction in the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 35% and 64%, respectively. Additionally, there is a decrease in the spectral angle (SA) of 0.05 and 0.11, respectively. In the high-quality spectrum (SNR = 43.96 dB) experiment, the results show that the running time of the proposed algorithm is reduced by about 98% compared with the R-L iterative algorithm. Moreover, the maximum entropy algorithm avoids parameter optimization settings and is more suitable for automatic implementation. In conclusion, the proposed algorithm can accurately resolve Doppler spectrum details while effectively suppressing noise, thus highlighting its advantage in LIF spectral deconvolution applications.
Fabrication of RC filters from a single printed Zn layer by reactive inkjet printing
Authors: Radwan Aziz , Sui Yongkun , Zorman Christian A
Published: March 2024

This paper presents the development of planar zinc (Zn) resistor–capacitor (RC) filters from a single printed layer that are both printed and treated at room temperature. The fabrication process involves screen printing the resistor, capacitor and interconnects in a single patterned layer on kraft paper substrates using a Zn microparticle ink. In order to form a distinct resistor and capacitor in the patterned structure, reactive inkjet printing (RIJ) was performed to selectively dispense acetic acid on the RC filter pattern to achieve regions with highly contrasting resistance. The required high degree of spatial contrast was achieved using the positional control of the inkjet printer combined with the number of print passes and drop spacing used to dispense the acetic acid droplets. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed the crystal structure and grain size of Zn microparticles remained unchanged with increasing acetic acid exposure while the prominence of cold-welding increased with increasing exposure. Zn-based RC filters sharing a common set of dimensions but with a wide range of corner frequencies were successfully fabricated using this process. For a fixed filter geometry, the corner frequencies could be tuned from ∼7 kHz to ∼1 MHz as the number of print passes used to form the resistor increased in a stepwise manner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first room temperature printing process to produce side-by-side resistors and conductors from the same printed layer and the first printing process of any type to produce RC filters with such a wide range of corner frequencies.
Changes in Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Use in 14 States From 2019 to 2021: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Fang Jing , Zhou Wen , Hayes Donald K , Wall Hilary K , Wozniak Gregory , Chung Alina , Loustalot Fleetwood
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) is an important out-of-office resource that is effective in improving hypertension control. Changes in SMBP use during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have not been described previously.

METHODS

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data were used to quantify changes in SMBP use between 2019 (prior COVID-19 pandemic) and 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). Fourteen states administered the SMBP module in both years. All data were self-reported from adults who participated in the BRFSS survey. We assessed the receipt of SMBP recommendations from healthcare professionals and actual use of SMBP among those with hypertension (n = 68,820). Among those who used SMBP, we assessed SMBP use at home and sharing BP readings electronically with healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

Among adults with hypertension, there was no significant changes between 2019 and 2021 in those reporting SMBP use (57.0% vs. 55.7%) or receiving recommendations from healthcare professionals to use SMBP (66.4% vs. 66.8%). However, among those who used SMBP, there were significant increases in use at home (87.7% vs. 93.5%) and sharing BP readings electronically (8.6% vs. 13.1%) from 2019 to 2021. Differences were noted by demographic characteristics and residence state.

CONCLUSIONS

Receiving a recommendation from the healthcare provider to use SMBP and actual use did not differ before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, among those who used SMBP, home use and sharing BP readings electronically with healthcare professional increased significantly, although overall sharing remained low (13.1%). Maximizing advances in virtual connections between clinical and community settings should be leveraged for improved hypertension management.
MINDG: a drug–target interaction prediction method based on an integrated learning algorithm
Authors: Yang Hailong , Chen Yue , Zuo Yun , Deng Zhaohong , Pan Xiaoyong , Shen Hong-Bin , Choi Kup-Sze , Yu Dong-Jun
Published: March 2024

Motivation

Drug–target interaction (DTI) prediction refers to the prediction of whether a given drug molecule will bind to a specific target and thus exert a targeted therapeutic effect. Although intelligent computational approaches for drug target prediction have received much attention and made many advances, they are still a challenging task that requires further research. The main challenges are manifested as follows: (i) most graph neural network-based methods only consider the information of the first-order neighboring nodes (drug and target) in the graph, without learning deeper and richer structural features from the higher-order neighboring nodes. (ii) Existing methods do not consider both the sequence and structural features of drugs and targets, and each method is independent of each other, and cannot combine the advantages of sequence and structural features to improve the interactive learning effect.

Results

To address the above challenges, a Multi-view Integrated learning Network that integrates Deep learning and Graph Learning (MINDG) is proposed in this study, which consists of the following parts: (i) a mixed deep network is used to extract sequence features of drugs and targets, (ii) a higher-order graph attention convolutional network is proposed to better extract and capture structural features, and (iii) a multi-view adaptive integrated decision module is used to improve and complement the initial prediction results of the above two networks to enhance the prediction performance. We evaluate MINDG on two dataset and show it improved DTI prediction performance compared to state-of-the-art baselines.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/jnuaipr/MINDG.
Enhanced production of hydrogen via catalytic methane decomposition on a Pt7-Ni (110) substrate: a reactive molecular dynamics investigation
Authors: Arifin Rizal , Zulkarnain  , Abdurrouf  , Winardi Yoyok , Riyanto Didik , Darminto
Published: March 2024

Numerous researchers in the energy field are engaged in a competitive race to advance hydrogen as a clean and environmentally friendly fuel. Studies have been conducted on the different aspects of hydrogen, including its production, storage, transportation and utilization. The catalytic methane decomposition technique for hydrogen production is an environmentally friendly process that avoids generating carbon dioxide gas, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Catalysts play a crucial role in facilitating rapid, cost-effective and efficient production of hydrogen using this technique. In this study, reactive molecular dynamics simulations were employed to examine the impact of Pt7 cluster decoration on the surface of a Ni (110) catalyst, referred to as Pt7-Ni (110), on the rates of methane dissociation and molecular hydrogen production. The reactive force field was employed to model the atomic interactions that enabled the formation and dissociation of chemical bonds. Our reactive molecular dynamics simulations using the Pt7-Ni (110) catalyst revealed a notable decrease in the number of methane molecules, specifically ~11.89 molecules per picosecond. The rate was approximately four times higher than that of the simulation system utilizing a Ni (110) catalyst and approximately six times higher than that of the pure methane, no-catalyst system. The number of hydrogen molecules generated during a simulation period of 150 000 fs was greater on the Pt7-Ni (110) surface than in both the Ni (110) and pure methane systems. This was due to the presence of numerous dissociated hydrogen atoms on the Pt7-Ni (110) surface.
Direct formation of single crystalline molecular clusters with disulfide bonding from thiol-containing triptycene derivatives
Authors: Fukui Tomoya , Saitou Riku , Tomi Fumiaki , Kubo Shoichi , Shishido Atsushi , Fukushima Takanori
Published: March 2024

When a DMF solution of 1,8,13-trimercaptotriptycene is allowed to stand under an inert atmosphere, a single crystalline molecular cluster with disulfide bonding results. Likewise, several thiol-containing triptycene derivatives yield single crystalline disulfide-containing clusters with different structural patterns. One of these clusters featuring a densely arranged tetrapod-like disulfide moiety exhibits a particularly high refractive index of 1.75, much higher than that of the others, although the sulfur contents of these clusters are comparable.
Effects of periodic heat events on the reproduction and longevity of female and male Agasicles hygrophila (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Jin Jisu , Zhao Meiting , Lv Chen , Wan Fanghao , Guo Jianying
Published: March 2024

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Amaranthaceae), commonly known as alligator weed, is a globally invasive and detrimental perennial weed. Agasicles hygrophila serves as an important biocontrol agent for alligator weeds. However, during mid-summer, when temperatures increase, A. hygrophila populations experience a significant decline, leading to ineffective weed control. This study has examined the impact of periodic heat events on the reproduction and survival of A. hygrophila females and males using various mating combinations and durations of temperature treatments. The results demonstrated significant effects on all of the studied parameters across mating combinations when compared with the control. Under the same temperature combination, the fecundity and survival rates of females, as well as the egg-hatching rate, decreased significantly with increasing repeated heat exposure. Furthermore, the egg-hatching rate varied significantly among different temperatures and time-interval combinations. In addition, the females displayed greater sensitivity to heat stress than males in terms of fecundity. These findings enhance our understanding of A. hygrophila population dynamics during summer and provide insights into the release of biocontrol agents in diverse regions with varying climates.
Lactococcuscell envelope proteases enable lactococcal growth in minimal growth media supplemented with high molecular weight proteins of plant and animal origin
Authors: Christensen Lise Friis , Laforce Ida Nynne , Wolkers-Rooijackers Judith C M , Mortensen Martin Steen , Smid Eddy J , Hansen Egon Bech
Published: March 2024

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have evolved into fastidious microorganisms that require amino acids from environmental sources. Some LAB have cell envelope proteases (CEPs) that drive the proteolysis of high molecular weight proteins like casein in milk. CEP activity is typically studied using casein as the predominant substrate, even though CEPs can hydrolyze other protein sources. Plant protein hydrolysis by LAB has rarely been connected to the activity of specific CEPs. This study aims to show the activity of individual CEPs using LAB growth in a minimal growth medium supplemented with high molecular weight casein or potato proteins. Using Lactococcus cremoris MG1363 as isogenic background to express CEPs, we demonstrate that CEP activity is directly related to growth in the protein-supplemented minimal growth media. Proteolysis is analyzed based on the amino acid release, allowing a comparison of CEP activities and analysis of amino acid utilization by L. cremoris MG1363. This approach provides a basis to analyze CEP activity on plant-based protein substrates as casein alternatives and to compare activity of CEP homologs.
A reference genome of Commelinales provides insights into the commelinids evolution and global spread of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)
Authors: Huang Yujie , Guo Longbiao , Xie Lingjuan , Shang Nianmin , Wu Dongya , Ye Chuyu , Rudell Eduardo Carlos , Okada Kazunori , Zhu Qian-Hao , Song Beng-Kah , Cai Daguang , Junior Aldo Merotto , Bai Lianyang , Fan Longjiang
Published: March 2024

Commelinales belongs to the commelinids clade, which also comprises Poales that includes the most important monocot species, such as rice, wheat, and maize. No reference genome of Commelinales is currently available. Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes or Eichhornia crassipes), a member of Commelinales, is one of the devastating aquatic weeds, although it is also grown as an ornamental and medical plant. Here, we present a chromosome-scale reference genome of the tetraploid water hyacinth with a total length of 1.22 Gb (over 95% of the estimated size) across 8 pseudochromosome pairs. With the representative genomes, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the commelinids, which supported Zingiberales and Commelinales being sister lineages of Arecales and shed lights on the controversial relationship of the orders. We also reconstructed ancestral karyotypes of the commelinids clade and confirmed the ancient commelinids genome having 8 chromosomes but not 5 as previously reported. Gene family analysis revealed contraction of disease-resistance genes during polyploidization of water hyacinth, likely a result of fitness requirement for its role as a weed. Genetic diversity analysis using 9 water hyacinth lines from 3 continents (South America, Asia, and Europe) revealed very closely related nuclear genomes and almost identical chloroplast genomes of the materials, as well as provided clues about the global dispersal of water hyacinth. The genomic resources of P. crassipes reported here contribute a crucial missing link of the commelinids species and offer novel insights into their phylogeny.
BSAlign: A Library for Nucleotide Sequence Alignment
Authors: Shao Haojing , Ruan Jue
Published: March 2024

Increasing the accuracy of the nucleotide sequence alignment is an essential issue in genomics research. Although classic dynamic programming (DP) algorithms (e.g., Smith–Waterman and Needleman–Wunsch) guarantee to produce the optimal result, their time complexity hinders the application of large-scale sequence alignment. Many optimization efforts that aim to accelerate the alignment process generally come from three perspectives: redesigning data structures [e.g., diagonal or striped Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) implementations], increasing the number of parallelisms in SIMD operations (e.g., difference recurrence relation), or reducing search space (e.g., banded DP). However, no methods combine all these three aspects to build an ultra-fast algorithm. In this study, we developed a Banded Striped Aligner (BSAlign) library that delivers accurate alignment results at an ultra-fast speed by knitting a series of novel methods together to take advantage of all of the aforementioned three perspectives with highlights such as active F-loop in striped vectorization and striped move in banded DP. We applied our new acceleration design on both regular and edit distance pairwise alignment. BSAlign achieved 2-fold speed-up than other SIMD-based implementations for regular pairwise alignment, and 1.5-fold to 4-fold speed-up in edit distance-based implementations for long reads. BSAlign is implemented in C programing language and is available at https://github.com/ruanjue/bsalign.
Extracellular perception of multiple novel core effectors from the broad host-range pear anthracnose pathogen Colletotrichum fructicola in the nonhost Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Han Mengqing , Wang Chunhao , Zhu Wenhui , Pan Yuemin , Huang Lili , Nie Jiajun
Published: March 2024

Colletotrichum fructicola is emerging as a devastating pathogenic fungus causing anthracnose in a wide range of horticultural crops, particularly fruits. Exploitation of nonhost resistance (NHR) represents a robust strategy for plant disease management. Perception of core effectors from phytopathogens frequently leads to hypersensitive cell death and resistance in nonhost plants; however, such core effectors in C. fructicola and their signaling components in non-hosts remain elusive. Here, we found a virulent C. fructicola strain isolated from pear exhibits non-adaptation in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Perception of secreted molecules from C. fructicola appears to be a dominant factor in NHR, and four novel core effectors—CfCE4, CfCE25, CfCE61, and CfCE66—detected by N. benthamiana were, accordingly, identified. These core effectors exhibit cell death-inducing activity in N. benthamiana and accumulate in the apoplast. With a series of CRISPR/Cas9-edited mutants or gene-silenced plants, we found the coreceptor BAK1 and helper NLRs including ADR1, NRG1, and NRCs mediate perceptions of these core effectors in N. benthamiana. Concurrently, multiple N. benthamiana genes encoding cell surface immune receptors and intracellular immune receptors were greatly induced by C. fructicola. This work represents the first characterization of the repertoire of C. fructicola core effectors responsible for NHR. Significantly, the novel core effectors and their signaling components unveiled in this study offered insights into a continuum of layered immunity during NHR and will be helpful for anthracnose disease management in diverse horticultural crops.
Chromosome-level genome assemblies of Musa ornata and Musa velutina provide insights into pericarp dehiscence and anthocyanin biosynthesis in banana
Authors: Xiao Tian-Wen , Liu Xin , Fu Ning , Liu Tong-Jian , Wang Zheng-Feng , Ge Xue-Jun , Huang Hui-Run
Published: March 2024

Musa ornata and Musa velutina are members of the Musaceae family and are indigenous to the South and Southeast Asia. They are very popular in the horticultural market, but the lack of genomic sequencing data and genetic studies has hampered efforts to improve their ornamental value. In this study, we generated the first chromosome-level genome assemblies for both species by utilizing Oxford Nanopore long reads and Hi-C reads. The genomes of M. ornata and M. velutina were assembled into 11 pseudochromosomes with genome sizes of 427.85 Mb and 478.10 Mb, respectively. Repetitive sequences comprised 46.70% and 50.91% of the total genomes for M. ornata and M. velutina, respectively. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses indicated that upregulated genes in the mature pericarps of M. velutina were mainly associated with the saccharide metabolic processes, particularly at the cell wall and extracellular region. Furthermore, we identified polygalacturonase (PG) genes that exhibited higher expression level in mature pericarps of M. velutina compared to other tissues, potentially being accountable for pericarp dehiscence. This study also identified genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. Taken together, the chromosomal-level genome assemblies of M. ornata and M. velutina provide valuable insights into the mechanism of pericarp dehiscence and anthocyanin biosynthesis in banana, which will significantly contribute to future genetic and molecular breeding efforts.
Short-term power grid load forecasting based on variable weight combination hybrid model
Authors: Lin Tingting , Fan Sen , Zhang XinYing
Published: March 2024

The power grid load exhibits non-linearity and volatility, posing challenges to power grid dispatching. To enhance the precision of power grid load forecasting, a variable weight combination forecasting model is suggested to address the issue of inadequate forecasting efficacy of individual algorithms. Considering the impact of various environmental factors on power grid load, a load influence feature dataset is formulated. Initially, support vector machines, genetic algorithm-optimized back propagation (BP) neural networks and radial basis neural networks are employed to forecast individual loads. Subsequently, a variance–covariance weight dynamic distribution method is utilized to merge the prediction results of the three individual algorithms, thereby establishing a short-term power grid load prediction model with variable weight combination. Taking a regional power grid as an example, the simulation results show that the prediction accuracy of the variable weight combination model is higher than that of the single algorithm. Taking the evaluation index MAPE as an example, compared with the three single algorithms, the prediction accuracy is improved by 42.31%, 48.56% and 65.33%. The practice proves that the proposed variable weight combination forecasting model greatly improves the accuracy of power network load forecasting.
Design of A Highly Sensitive, Low-cost Underwater Force Plate to Record Substrate Reaction Forces
Authors: Gamel K M , Pinti S , Astley H C
Published: March 2024

Synopsis

The study of underwater walking presents major challenges because the small forces applied during underwater walking are difficult to measure due to the lack of a sufficiently sensitive force plate that functions underwater. Understanding the force interaction between the underwater walker and the substrate may lead to better understanding of the evolution, ecology, and biomechanics of underwater walking. The shift from aquatic to terrestrial life was a crucial transition in animal evolution where, underwater walking preceded the invasion of land and combines mechanics from terrestrial locomotion (substrate reaction forces) and aquatic swimming (buoyancy and drag). In this work, we describe our design of a low-cost underwater force plate made using 3D printed multi axis load cells equipped with commercial strain gauges amplified with a custom circuit board, and custom code to gather force data. The use of 3D printed sensors allows customization of the material and thickness of the shear beam load cell to accommodate the loads for a wide range of study species. We show that our design can detect loads as small as 1 mN (filtered) with minimal noise and present sample live animal trials of several species. The 3D multiaxial load cells, circuit design, and custom code are open-source and available online.
Technical Understanding from Interactive Machine Learning Experience: a Study Through a Public Event for Science Museum Visitors
Authors: Kawabe Wataru , Nakao Yuri , Shitara Akihisa , Sugano Yusuke
Published: March 2024

While AI technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, the comprehension of machine learning (ML) among non-experts remains limited. Interactive machine learning (IML) has the potential to serve as a tool for end users, but many existing IML systems are designed for users with a certain level of expertise. Consequently, it remains unclear whether IML experiences can enhance the comprehension of ordinary users. In this study, we conducted a public event using an IML system to assess whether participants could gain technical comprehension through hands-on IML experiences. We implemented an interactive sound classification system featuring visualization of internal feature representation and invited visitors at a science museum to freely interact with it. By analyzing user behavior and questionnaire responses, we discuss the potential and limitations of IML systems as a tool for promoting technical comprehension among non-experts.
Quality, availability and suitability of antimicrobial stewardship guidance: a multinational qualitative study
Authors: Linde-Ozola Zane , Classen Annika Y , Giske Christian G , Göpel Siri , Eliakim-Raz Noa , Semret Makeda , Simonsen Gunnar Skov , Vehreschild Jörg Janne , Jørgensen Silje Bakken , Kessel Johanna , Kleppe Lars Kåre Selland , Oma Dorthea Hagen , Vehreschild Maria J G T , Vilde Aija , Dumpis Uga ,   PILGRIM study group, Aldins Pauls , Zvirbulis Viesturs , Kjellander Christian , Asfeldt Anne Mette , Wåhlin Hannes , Akselsen Per Espen , Kaya Merve , Fein Lucas J , Biehl Lena M , Dietz Thilo , Albus Kerstin , Schulze Nick , Farowski Fedja , Conzelmann Nadine , Eisenbeis Simone , Leibovici Leonard , Samuel Maayan Huberman , Langusa Elina , Urbena Jelena , Jardin Barbara Ann , Mbuyi Lylie , Karlsson Frida , Myrbakk Toni , Hansen Marte Tangeraas , Torkehagen Tina Fure , Sætre Silje Severine , Jarodd Anita Helene , Oftedal Sissel Frostad , Dalheim Anne , Ebeling Franziska , Angelstein Nina , Proske Susanna , Sauer Gabriel , Blumberg Christian , Rüb Alina , Butzer Sarina , Quante Markus , Christopeit Maximilian , Wagner Silvia , Daitch Vered , Yaron Yulia Maler , Babich Tanya
Published: March 2024

Background

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes are established across the world to treat infections efficiently, prioritize patient safety, and reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. One of the core elements of AMS programmes is guidance to support and direct physicians in making efficient, safe and optimal decisions when prescribing antibiotics. To optimize and tailor AMS, we need a better understanding of prescribing physicians’ experience with AMS guidance.

Objectives

To explore the prescribing physicians’ user experience, needs and targeted improvements of AMS guidance in hospital settings.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 prescribing physicians/AMS guidance users from hospital settings in Canada, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Norway and Sweden as a part of the international PILGRIM trial. A socioecological model was applied as an overarching conceptual framework for the study.

Results

Research participants were seeking more AMS guidance than is currently available to them. The most important aspects and targets for improvement of AMS guidance were: (i) quality of guidelines; (ii) availability of infectious diseases specialists; and (iii) suitability of AMS guidance to department context.

Conclusions

Achieving prudent antibiotic use not only depends on individual and collective levels of commitment to follow AMS guidance but also on the quality, availability and suitability of the guidance itself. More substantial commitment from stakeholders is needed to allocate the required resources for delivering high-quality, available and relevant AMS guidance to make sure that the prescribers’ AMS needs are met.
Thripidae pest species community identification and population genetic diversity analyses of 2 dominant thrips in cotton fields of China
Authors: Gao Yue , Luo Junyu , Wang Li , Zhu Xiangzhen , Zhang Kaixin , Li Dongyang , Niu Lin , Gao Xueke , Ji Jichao , Hua Hongxia , Cui Jinjie
Published: March 2024

Thrips are devastating pests for various crops, and they can rasp tender leaves, terminal buds, and flowers, which specifically causing huge economic losses to cotton production. However, there is very little knowledge about the species composition of thrips in mainland China, as well as the genetic structure of the thrips populations, particularly in the cotton-producing regions. In this study, thrips were collected from 40 geographical locations at 8 different provinces which representing majority cotton-producing belts in China, and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequence was used to identify species composition and evaluate the genetic diversity of collected thrips individuals. Based on experimental results proven that overall, 10 and 8 species of thrips were identified in seedling and flowering stage respectively, which is corresponding dominant species are Thrip tabaci (Lindeman) and Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom). Genetically, 24 haplotypes were identified in 310 T. tabaci individuals from 10 locations, and 263 haplotypes were detected in 1,861 F. intonsa individuals from 40 locations. Hap1 (T. tabaci) is the most widely distributed haplotype among all the T. tabaci samples. Likewise, Hap 2 is the most widely distributed and abundant haplotype among all samples of F. intonsa. The genetic differentiation degrees of T. tabaci between SXYC population and other 9 populations were high, but its gene flow in these 10 regions was relatively low, which might be due to geographical barriers. The Mantel tests showed no correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance of the 2 thrip species. Demographic analysis results showed that both T. tabaci and F. intonsa experienced population expansion in China. Taken together, this study identifies the species composition of thrips in major cotton-producing regions at different growth periods and evaluates effects of geomorphology on the geographical distribution of haplotypes of dominant thrips T. tabaci and F. intonsa.
Performance of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in responses to different amplitudes of alternating temperatures across permissive warm temperature regimes
Authors: Zhong Tingfang , Gong Liwen , Pan Yingru , Li Junwei , Lu Aiying , Liu Liming , Wu Haiyan , Zhao Zihua , Wang Leyun
Published: March 2024

Climate change involves changes in the pattern of temperature fluctuations and the frequency and magnitude of thermal extremes. It is essential to investigate how insects respond to increased temperature variations, especially for species that usually experience diel temperature variations extending to thermal performance limits. To explicitly elucidate the effects of sizes of amplitudes of temperature variations, we used daily alternating temperatures with an equivalent mean of 28 °C to investigate the impact of different fluctuation amplitudes (± 0 °C,  ± 2 °C,  ± 4 °C, and  ± 6 °C) across permissive temperature regimes on the performance of Spodoptera lituraFabricius, a highly destructive polyphagous pest of crops and vegetables in tropical and temperate climates. Amplitudes of temperature fluctuations significantly affected developmental durations, adult life spans, pupal weights, fecundity, and fertility of S. litura. The survival rates from the egg stage to the adult eclosion did not differ significantly across different temperature treatments. The developmental durations of individual life cycles significantly increased with larger amplitudes in 3 fluctuating temperature treatments. The pupal weight was significantly lower and the adult life span was significantly shorter in the ± 6 °C treatment in all treatments. Fecundity and fertility were significantly reduced in the ± 6 °C treatment, making the continuation of generations nearly impossible. The results should provide critical information for understanding the ecology of this widespread pest under diel, seasonal, and global climate changes.
Labor Unions and the Electoral Consequences of Trade Liberalization
Authors: Ogeda Pedro , Ornelas Emanuel , Soares Rodrigo R
Published: March 2024

We show that the Brazilian trade liberalization in the early 1990s led to a permanent relative decline in the vote share of left-wing presidential candidates in the regions more affected by the tariff cuts. This happened even though the shock, implemented by a right-wing party, induced a contraction in manufacturing and formal employment in the more affected regions, and despite the left’s identification with protectionist policies. To rationalize this response, we consider a new institutional channel for the political effects of trade shocks: the weakening of labor unions. We provide support for this mechanism in two steps. First, we show that union presence—proxied by the number of workers directly employed by unions, by union density, and by the number of union establishments—declined in regions that became more exposed to foreign competition. Second, we show that the negative effect of tariff reductions on the votes for the left was driven exclusively by political parties with historical links to unions. Furthermore, the impact of the trade liberalization on the vote share of these parties was significant only in regions that had unions operating before the reform. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that tariff cuts reduced the vote share of the left partly through the weakening of labor unions. This institutional channel is fundamentally different from the individual-level responses, motivated by economic or identity concerns, that have been considered in the literature.
Toward best practices for trade-security measures
Authors: Cohen Harlan Grant
Published: March 2024

The global economy is increasingly being weaponized. Citing security concerns from traditional defence to economic competitiveness, health emergency, and climate crisis, states are turning to sanctions, tariffs, export controls, investment screening, and subsidies. But while economic statecraft is becoming common, rules remain scarce. Questions about notice, duration, proportionality, harm minimization, compensation, retaliation, and/or rebalancing lack clear answers and seem almost theoretical. Once, we might have hoped the World Trade Organization (WTO) would play a role in developing such rules. But in the absence of an Appellate Body and in the face of state rejections of review, WTO’s deliberative processes have ground to a halt.

This essay argues for a new approach, focused less on adjudicating security disputes than on developing best practices for invoking and using trade security measures. It explains why a new approach is necessary, detailing both how the WTO’s deliberative engine broke down and why dispute settlement is ill-suited to develop guidance now needed. It suggests where and how best practices might be developed, before considering an agenda for such a best practice process. In the end, the hope is a process that can develop expectations—expectations that might make a world of economic statecraft a bit less dangerous.
Inbreeding effects on different lineages of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Woldemelak Wondimagegn Atilaw
Published: March 2024

Inbreeding can have detrimental effects on reproductive fitness, but the extent of lineage-specific variation in these effects remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of brother and sister inbreeding on reproductive fitness in 2 lineages (L1 and T) of T. tabaci. Inbred females from both lineages exhibited a significant reduction in longevity compared with the control group. The L1 lineage experienced a 27% and 43% decrease in longevity in the F2 and F3 generations, respectively, while the T lineage showed a similar trend with a 30% and 44% decrease. The T lineage consistently displayed slightly longer lifespans than the L1 lineage across all generations. Brother and sister inbreeding also led to a decrease in fecundity rates in both lineages. In the F3 generation, the number of eggs laid decreased by 59% compared with the F2 generation. The T lineage consistently exhibited slightly lower fecundity rates compared with the L1 lineage. Egg hatchability rates declined with subsequent inbreeding, with the F3 generation showing lower rates compared with the F2 generation. However, the T lineage did not exhibit a significant difference in inbreeding depression for egg hatchability rates, while the L1 lineage demonstrated a noticeable decrease. Deformities observed in male L1 lineage resulting from inbreeding were consistent with disruptions in normal developmental processes, affecting various body parts such as legs, antennae, and wings. Continued inbreeding increased susceptibility to inbreeding depression in terms of longevity, fecundity, and egg hatchability.
Persons and their Brains: Life, Death, and Lessened Humanity
Authors: Maples Caitlin
Published: March 2024

The authors of the articles in this issue of The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy address a wide variety of topics, from definitions of disease to bioenhancement. Each author, however, draws out the importance of careful use of language. Over the years, philosophers of medicine and bioethicists have debated questions such as what qualifies something as a disease, whether disease language is evaluative, whether the term “person” encompasses more than just human beings, and what language ought to be used to best convey complex information to patients. Among a great deal of disagreement on these topics, one thing emerges distinctly: that clarity and careful attention to language is paramount in medicine. The articles in this issue contribute to that conversation, presenting complex arguments and illustrative examples of why it is so important to use clear and well-defined terms in medicine, and of the reality-altering power that our language carries.
Intercostal artery aneurysm presenting as a spontaneous hemothorax in a patient with neurofibromatosis
Authors: Panesar Harsimran , Pelz Geoffrey , Mansour Daniel
Published: March 2024

Beyond the commonly known clinical presentation of neurofibromatosis, vascular pathologies are increasingly becoming a known complication. We present a case of a 41-year-old adult with neurofibromatosis type 1 who came with a right-sided spontaneous hemothorax due to a ruptured 13-mm fusiform aneurysm of the right posterior T9 intercostal artery. Patient underwent a transcatheter angiographic embolization with subsequent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for a retained hemothorax. Patient was discharged home on Hospital Day 5, and follow-up imaging demonstrated a complete resolution of the hemothorax. This presented case contributes to literature by demonstrating intra-arterial embolization as a viable option to obtain hemostasis in fragile vessels. However, this may not always result in hemostasis, and VATS should be considered to achieve and ensure complete hemostasis.