bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insight into the structural, optoelectronic, elastic and thermodynamic properties of new lead free double halides perovskites Cs2XCuF6 (X = Sc, Y): a first principle study
Authors: Rahman Nasir , Husain Mudasser , Tirth Vineet , Algahtani Ali , Azzouz-Rached Ahmed , Khan Rajwali , Ullah Asad , Shah Saima Ahmad , Inayat Kalsoom , Al-Qaisi Samah , Khan Aurangzeb
Published: December 2023

We conducted a thorough investigation of Cs2XCuF6 (X = Sc, Y) using a first-principles approach, exploring a wide range of material properties. We began by confirming the structural and thermodynamic stability of these compounds, employing analyses such as formation energy calculations, examination of the phonon band structure, and the utilization of the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (EOS) curve. A noteworthy finding was the tunability of the band gaps in these double perovskite materials, achieved by substituting Sc with Y, resulting in a band gap range from 2.67 to 2.62 eV. Our analysis extended to the mechanical stability of these compounds, characterized by elastic constants and revealing mechanical anisotropy and ductility. Additionally, we explored the optical properties, highlighting their broad absorption band from the infrared (IR) to visible regions, which holds significant promise for diverse optoelectronic applications. To provide a comprehensive understanding of these materials, we delved into their thermodynamic properties, encompassing thermal expansion coefficients (κ), heat capacities, entropy (S), volume, and Debye Temperature (θ
D). This investigation spanned a wide pressure range from 0 to 30 GPa and a temperature range from 0 to 1400 K, contributing to a holistic grasp of the fundamental characteristics of Cs2XCuF6 (X = Sc, Y).
Chebyshev Petrov-Galerkin procedure for the time-fractional heat equation with nonlocal conditions
Authors: Youssri Y H , Ismail M I , Atta A G
Published: December 2023

In this research paper, we address the time-fractional heat conduction equation in one spatial dimension, subject to nonlocal conditions in the temporal domain. To tackle this challenging problem, we propose a novel numerical approach, the ‘Rectified Chebyshev Petrov-Galerkin Procedure,’ which extends the classical Petrov-Galerkin method to efficiently handle the fractional temporal derivatives involved. Our method is characterized by several key contributions; We introduce a set of basis functions that inherently satisfy the homogeneous boundary conditions of the problem, simplifying the numerical treatment. Through careful mathematical derivations, we provide explicit expressions for the matrices involved in the Petrov-Galerkin method. These matrices are shown to be efficiently invertible, leading to a computationally tractable scheme. A comprehensive convergence analysis is presented, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of our approach. We demonstrate that our method converges to the true solution as the spatial and temporal discretization parameters are refined. The proposed Rectified Chebyshev Petrov-Galerkin Procedure is found to be robust, and capable of handling a wide range of problems with nonlocal temporal conditions. To illustrate the effectiveness of our method, we provide a series of numerical examples, including comparisons with existing techniques. These examples showcase the superiority of our approach in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.
Analysing the Landau-Ginzburg-Higgs equation in the light of superconductivity and drift cyclotron waves: Bifurcation, chaos and solitons
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Lou Jie , Khan Meraj Ali , Rahman Mati ur
Published: December 2023

The Landau-Ginzburg-Higgs (LGH) equation is a fundamental framework for examining physical systems in the fields of condensed matter physics and field theory. This study delves into the LGH equation, particularly in the context of its relevance to superconductivity and drift cyclotron waves. Researchers have extensively investigated the LGH equation to uncover a diverse array of exact solutions, employing various methodologies. This manuscript centers on the examination of its dynamic properties, encompassing the analysis of phenomena such as bifurcations, sensitivity, chaotic behavior, and the emergence of soliton solutions. To achieve this, we employ the principles of planar dynamical theory, shedding light on the intricate behaviors embedded within the LGH equation. Furthermore, we utilize the tools and techniques provided by planar dynamical theory to derive soliton solutions for the LGH equation.
On the η pseudo
PT
symmetry theory for non-Hermitian Hamiltonians: time-dependent systems
Authors: Maamache Mustapha
Published: December 2023

In the context of non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, many systems are known to possess a pseudo

P
T

symmetry, i.e. the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian H is related to its adjoint H
† via the relation,

H

†

=
P
T
H
P
T

. We propose a derivation of pseudo

P
T

symmetry and η -pseudo-Hermiticity simultaneously for the time dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonians by intoducing a new symmetry operator

η

˜

(
t
)
=
P
T
η
(
t
)

that not satisfy the time-dependent quasi-Hermiticity relation but obeys the Heisenberg evolution equation. Here, we solve the SU(1, 1) time-dependent non-Hermitian Hamiltonian and we construct a time-dependent solutions by employing this new symmetry operator and discuss a concrete physical applications of our results.

Dedicated to the memory of my mother Djabou Zoulikha and to Djabi Smail
Influence of liqorice growing on the salt composition of low-fertility soils of the Syrdarya region, Uzbekistan
Authors: Botirov Sh , Kurvantaev R
Published: December 2023

The article describes the influence of licorice on hard-to-reclaim lands, in order to obtain valuable roots and improve soils. The creation of a salt regime of the soil on irrigated lands is achieved only through the implementation of a complex of reclamation and agrotechnical measures, and the most important is the cultivation of licorice. For a comprehensive study of the effect of licorice on soil properties, reference sections were laid in key areas up to the groundwater table, and areas with different durations of licorice cultivation were selected. The following types of work were carried out in the field: description of the soil and soil profile, moisture content of soils and soils, selection of soil samples. Under laboratory conditions, the composition of water-soluble salts was determined. When planting licorice from the first year, a decrease in salt content is observed, by the fourth year of growing licorice, the content of dense residue ranges from 0.735 to 0.890%, by the sixth year, the soil profile to the groundwater level (GWL) turned out to be slightly saline along the profile, the content of dense residue ranges from non-saline to moderately saline degree (0.270-1.200%). With an increase in the limitation period of cultivation in the soil under licorice, the content of the chlorine ion decreases. The degree of alkalinity is strongly influenced by the content of magnesium and sodium in the soil. According to the content of total alkalinity under cultures of different age of growing licorice, there are no special differences in the profile. With an increase in the prescription of licorice cultivation, the amount of toxic salts decreases.
Analysis of the amount of flavonoids contained in the surface part of the Alhagi maurorum by chromatographic method
Authors: Kholmurodov B B , Ishimov U J , Tadjiyeva M K , Akramova R R , Samadov O B
Published: December 2023

The article provides information about the plant Alhagi maurorum and its chemical structure, pharmacological properties, place in folk medicine, and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method used in its analysis. When the leaves, stems, and seeds of Alhagi maurorum were analyzed by chromatography, dehydroquercetin, rutin, quercetin, lutein, and seneroside substances belonging to the class of flavonoids were determined. These flavonoids are natural antioxidants. Their beneficial properties in medicinal plants have been studied in the literature review. Alhagi maurorum above-ground parts of leaves, stems, and seeds were recommended to be used in a generalized state.
Study of the content of soluble vitamins in juices obtained from different grape varieties
Authors: Abdiev A N , Akbarov M M , Tojiboev A A , Abdullaeva G T , Sharipov S YA
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this work is to study the content of vitamins in berries and wine of new promising grape varieties, depending on various soil and climatic conditions of grape growth. The results of this work should help determine the degree of contribution of individual vitamins. According to the results of the study, we will have to identify the most suitable rootstocks and habitats for the studied grape varieties, not only based on economically valuable traits and organoleptic evaluation, but also on the potentially positive impact on human health, which will allow more efficient selection and recommendation of rootstocks and areas for vineyard planting. The amount of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, C, PP in grapes grown in the Fergana Valley of the Republic of Uzbekistan was studied. Vitamins contained in plant tissue are involved in redox metabolism. Vitamins are involved in redox metabolism. The amount of vitamins of grape juice varieties “Husayn white” and “Charos” was studied. The amount of vitamins contained in the solution was calculated by comparing the results obtained with standard chromatograms. Vitamins B2, B6, PP are more in the Charos variety, and vitamins B1 and vitamin C were not in the Husayn White and Charos varieties.
Parameters of the disc angle of a stepped plow for tillage
Authors: Mamatov F M , Chorieva D N , Rashidov N Sh , Mukimov B R , Habibullah T S
Published: December 2023

The development and creation of energy-saving machines and technologies for high-quality basic processing is one of main tasks today. The existing step plows for smooth, row less plowing have a number of disadvantages. With these plows, the technology of smooth plowing is carried out in conditions of a closed furrow, as a result, they do not ensure the turnover of layers the required degree and the sealing of plant residues, and also have a high energy intensity. The purpose study is to substantiate the parameters the disk angle stepped plow. Theoretical studies were carried out using the methods of classical mechanics. Analytical expressions have been obtained to determine the permissible distance of transverse discarding of soil particles by a disk angle and the range of flight of soil particles under the action disk, depending on its parameters. Theoretical studies have established that the permissible distance of transverse discarding of soil particles by a disk angle should be no more than 29 cm. The analysis of the expressions obtained showed that with an increase in the diameter disk angle-lift, its angle of installation to the pressure of movement, the angle of inclination to the vertical of depth of processing the angle-lift, the range of transverse rejection of soil particles increases. To ensure the established distance of soil discarding, the diameter of the disk angle-lift should be no more than 480 mm, its installation angle to the direction the hole should not exceed 35°, the installation angle to the vertical should not exceed 10° and the processing depth should not exceed 11 cm.
Liquid separation modeling while selecting contact devices for separation in a centrifugal field
Authors: Salin Alexey A
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes the use of mathematical modeling of technological processes as a tool for increasing the efficiency of equipment and solving environmental problems, which contributes to the sustainable development of enterprises in the chemical industry. The results of modeling the process of separating liquids of different densities in a centrifugal field are presented to study the influence of the type of atomizers on the flow rate and the number of contact devices on the separation efficiency. The work shows the importance of using numerical modeling in design to substantiate scientifically decisions made and confirm the effectiveness of developed structures. The results are important to intensify heat and mass transfer processes and to reduce the negative impact of production on the environment.
Justification of parameters and operating modes of an elevator with combined rods
Authors: Kodirov S T , Khatamov B A , Payziev G K
Published: December 2023

Modern potato harvesters provide the required performance indicators under favorable operating conditions. Under unfavorable conditions, the completeness of separation of tubers from impurities decreases, and losses and damage to potato tubers increase. This situation is associated with the imperfection of the separating working parts of the potato digger. As a result, the productivity of potato diggers is generally determined by the throughput of their separating working bodies. Currently, rod elevators are most widespread and used. Therefore, increasing the efficiency and quality of work of the separating working parts of a potato digger is an urgent scientific and technical task.
Rapid detection of landslides mechanisms and assessment of their geometry and dimensions by means of a drone survey (UAV) after the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake
Authors: Milev N. , Tobita T. , Kiyota T. , Shiga M.
Published: December 2023

The 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes (Mw=7.7 and Mw=7.6, respectively) had serious impact on human lives, infrastructure and buildings. Unfortunately, more than 15 million people have been affected and current estimation of financial loss exceeds 35 billion dollars. Furthermore, more than 550 Mw>4 aftershocks have been recorded since the catastrophic events of February 6th 2023. Such emergency situations require rapid actions for assessing the failure mechanism and scale of problematic landslides since immediate decisions should be taken in most extreme cases. Recent advances in technology allows the application of relatively simple methods for such emergency engineering estimation – a good example is the use of drones (UAV) which are easily available on market nowadays. Drone videos allow the subsequent measurement of important parameters of landslides, such as length, width, depth, failure plane inclination and volume of displaced soil. The presented paper demonstrates three case studies which are based on drone video recordings: two landslides (Islahiye and Tepehan, respectively) and a rockfall (Idili).
Depth profile of Eurocode LM1 Load and its influence on geotechnical structures
Authors: Kerenchev N , Dobrinova A
Published: December 2023

This study concerns the impact of the moving loads LM1 on geotechnical structures like embankments and retaining structures related to cut and fill slope problem for road construction and maintenance. In many national standards or recommendations there is a depth dependant reduction factor for live road loads. Bulgarian road infrastructure agency and other institutions do not account for the load reduction with depth, which corresponds to higher cost of the infrastructure itself. This problem appears mainly when calculating the most common 2D tasks, while LM1 and the soil are 3D in nature. This paper presents two geotechnical structures an embankment and a retaining wall, where 3D FEM model is used. Using higher level soil model as hardening soil model with small strain stiffness, the study obtains the reduction of the tandem systems of LM1 and its influence on the slope surface or the structure itself.
Innovative approach for surveying slope stability in road infrastructure rehabilitation
Authors: Mitev I , Balev V , Penev V , Shtereva K , Moskovska L , Kalchev K
Published: December 2023

The objectives of the repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of the road network in mountainous terrains focus on the study of the structural condition of the rock slopes. An innovative approach to structural mapping and analysis was implemented within the framework of a survey project for a road section of road II-35 Troyan-Karnare, known as “BEKLEMETO”. This section begins with a long and steep descent from the Beklemeto saddle (at 1,525.5 m above sea level), passes through numerous bends on the southern rocky slope of the mountain and after 22.7 km descends into the northwestern part of the Karlovska valley, to the village of Karnare (at 562 m above sea level). The study of the structural disturbance provides an opportunity to present the groups of joints that have developed intensively on the rock slopes passing near the Republic Road II-35 in the section between Beklemeto and Karnare. Over the years, these slopes have been subjected to weathering, erosion and collapse processes, which have led to changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the rocks forming the slopes. The technology of mobile ground laser scanning, which is a suitable method for covering the complex characteristics of the terrain, was chosen for the research. The implementation of this technology was carried out through an integrated complex. Using this method, a total of 18 representative sections within the road II-35 “BEKLEMETO” were studied, and the number of measured cracks exceeded 13,000. The total length of the researched sections is over 10,770 m. In processing, short cracks with a length of less than 0.8 m, which do not affect the structural disturbance of the rock formations, are excluded. These data and studies are essential for the planning of effective measures to maintain and rehabilitate road infrastructure in complex mountain conditions.
Rib segmentation in chest x-ray images based on unsupervised domain adaptation
Authors: Zhao Jialin , Nie Ziwei , Shen Jie , He Jian , Yang Xiaoping
Published: December 2023

Rib segmentation in 2D chest x-ray images is a crucial and challenging task. On one hand, chest x-ray images serve as the most prevalent form of medical imaging due to their convenience, affordability, and minimal radiation exposure. However, on the other hand, these images present intricate challenges including overlapping anatomical structures, substantial noise and artifacts, inherent anatomical complexity. Currently, most methods employ deep convolutional networks for rib segmentation, necessitating an extensive quantity of accurately labeled data for effective training. Nonetheless, achieving precise pixel-level labeling in chest x-ray images presents a notable difficulty. Additionally, many methods neglect the challenge of predicting fractured results and subsequent post-processing difficulties. In contrast, CT images benefit from being able to directly label as the 3D structure and patterns of organs or tissues. In this paper, we redesign rib segmentation task for chest x-ray images and propose a concise and efficient cross-modal method based on unsupervised domain adaptation with centerline loss function to prevent result discontinuity and address rigorous post-processing. We utilize digital reconstruction radiography images and the labels generated from 3D CT images to guide rib segmentation on unlabeled 2D chest x-ray images. Remarkably, our model achieved a higher dice score on the test samples and the results are highly interpretable, without requiring any annotated rib markings on chest x-ray images. Our code and demo will be released in ‘https://github.com/jialin-zhao/RibsegBasedonUDA’.
Inward particle transport driven by biased endplate in a cylindrical magnetized plasma
Authors: GE 盖 Yue 跃 , XU 徐 Tianchao 田超 , XIAO 肖 Chijie 池阶 , GUO 郭 Zhibin 志彬 , WANG 王 Xiaogang 晓钢 , HE 何 Renchuan 任川 , YANG 杨 Xiaoyi 肖易 , ZHANG 张 Zuyu 祖煜 , YUAN 袁 Ruixin 瑞鑫
Published: December 2023

The inward particle transport is associated with the formation of peaked density profiles, which contributes to improve the fusion rate and the realization of steady-state discharge. The active control of inward particle transport is considered as one of the most critical issues of magnetic confinement fusion. Recently, it is realized preliminarily by adding a biased endplate in the Peking University Plasma Test (PPT) device. The results reveal that the inward particle flux increases with the bias voltage of the endplate. It is also found that the profile of radial electric field (

) shear is flattened by the increased bias voltage. Radial velocity fluctuations affect the inward particle more than density fluctuations, and the frequency of the dominant mode driving inward particle flux increases with the biased voltage applied to the endplate. The experimental results in the PPT device provide a method to actively control the inward particle flux using a biased endplate and enrich the understanding of the relationship between

shear and turbulence transport.
HER2/ERBB2 copy number analysis by targeted next-generation sequencing in breast cancer
Authors: Xia Daniel , Kuo Frank , Hughes Melissa , Lindeman Neal , Manning Danielle , Files Janet , Strauss Sarah , Kirkner Greg , Mohammed-Abreu Ayesha , Winer Eric , Tolaney Sara M , Lin Nancy U , Dillon Deborah A
Published: December 2023

Objectives

A combination of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the current standard of care for HER2 evaluation in breast cancer. Here, we investigate the potential clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS)–derived HER2/ERBB2 copy number (CN) data for predicting HER2 status as defined by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines.

Methods

In total, 294 locally recurrent and metastatic breast cancers previously tested by targeted hybrid capture–based NGS and by HER2 IHC/FISH were included. Analyses focused on the ERBB2 median log2 ratios and start-end genomic coordinates from NGS, average HER2 CN and HER2/CEP17 ratios from FISH, and the HER2 IHC scores. We also determined a more stringent log2 ratio cutoff to predict HER2-positive status with 100% specificity.

Results

Sixty-four (22%) cases were HER2 positive and 230 (78%) were HER2 negative by ASCO/CAP guidelines. The ERBB2 median log2 ratios from NGS strongly correlated with HER2 status by IHC/FISH (area under receiver operator characteristic curve = 0.951). ERBB2 log2 ratio more than 1.7 was 100% specific for HER2-positive results by IHC/FISH. Start and end genomic coordinates for regions of gain near ERBB2 by NGS also predicted HER2 status.

Conclusions

Copy number data from our NGS panel strongly correlate with HER2 status. Using a stringent cutoff, ERBB2 log2 ratio accurately predicts HER2 positivity with high specificity. The NGS CN assessment may have utility in determining HER2 status in certain clinical settings.
Do We Need New Electrocardiographic Criteria for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy? The Case of the Peguero–Lo Presti Criterion. A Narrative Review
Authors: Faggiano Andrea , Gherbesi Elisa , Tadic Marijana , Carugo Stefano , Grassi Guido , Cuspidi Cesare
Published: December 2023

The cardiovascular risk associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the community and, particularly, in the hypertensive fraction of the general population, represents the rationale for its timely and accurate identification in order to implement adequate preventive strategies. Although electrocardiography (ECG) is the first-line and most economical method of diagnosing LVH its accuracy is largely suboptimal. Over the last 70 years, dozens of different ECG criteria, mostly based on measurements of QRS voltages, have been proposed. In this long journey, a few years ago Peguero et al. developed a novel ECG voltage criterion, currently recognized as Peguero–Lo Presti (PLP) suggesting that it has greater sensitivity than traditional ECG-LVH criteria. Considering that in the last 5 years numerous studies have investigated the diagnostic value of this new index, this review aimed to summarize the data published so far on this topic focusing both on the accuracy in identifying the presence of LVH compared with imaging techniques such as echocardiography (ECHO) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the value in predicting hard outcomes. The evidence in favor of the greater diagnostic accuracy of the PLP criterion in detecting LVH, phenotyped by ECHO or MRI, and in the stratification of hard outcomes compared with traditional ECG criteria does not appear to be sufficiently proven. Given that the diagnosis of LVH by all ECG criteria (including the PLP) exclusively based on the QRS amplitude is largely imprecise, the development of new multiparametric ECG criteria based on artificial intelligence could represent a real improvement in the diagnostic capacity of the ECG.
MBDBMetrics: an online metrics tool to measure the impact of biological data resources
Authors: Insana Giuseppe , Ignatchenko Alex , Martin Maria , Bateman Alex ,   UniProt Consortium, Bateman Alex , Martin Maria-Jesus , Orchard Sandra , Magrane Michele , Ahmad Shadab , Bowler-Barnett Emily H , Bye-A-Jee Hema , Denny Paul , Dogan Tunca , Ebenezer ThankGod , Fan Jun , da Costa Gonzales Leonardo Jose , Hussein Abdulrahman , Ignatchenko Alexandr , Insana Giuseppe , Ishtiaq Rizwan , Joshi Vishal , Jyothi Dushyanth , Kandasaamy Swaathi , Lock Antonia , Luciani Aurelien , Luo Jie , Lussi Yvonne , Raposo Pedro , Rice Daniel L , Saidi Rabie , Santos Rafael , Speretta Elena , Stephenson James , Totoo Prabhat , Tyagi Nidhi , Vasudev Preethi , Warner Kate , Zaru Rossana , Wijerathne Supun , Ibrahim Khawaja Talal , Kim Minjoon , Marin Juan , Bridge Alan J , Aimo Lucila , Argoud-Puy Ghislaine , Auchincloss Andrea H , Axelsen Kristian B , Bansal Parit , Baratin Delphine , Batista Neto Teresa M , Bolleman Jerven T , Boutet Emmanuel , Breuza Lionel , Gil Blanca Cabrera , Casals-Casas Cristina , Coudert Elisabeth , Cuche Beatrice , de Castro Edouard , Estreicher Anne , Famiglietti Maria L , Feuermann Marc , Gasteiger Elisabeth , Gehant Sebastien , Gos Arnaud , Gruaz Nadine , Hulo Chantal , Hyka-Nouspikel Nevila , Jungo Florence , Kerhornou Arnaud , Mercier Philippe Le , Lieber-herr Damien , Masson Patrick , Morgat Anne , Pedruzzi Ivo , Pilbout Sandrine , Pourcel Lucille , Poux Sylvain , Pozzato Monica , Pruess Manuela , Redaschi Nicole , Rivoire Catherine , Sigrist Christian J A , Sundaram Shya-mala , Sveshnikova Anastasia , Wu Cathy H , Arighi Cecilia N , Chen Chuming , Chen Yongxing , Huang Hongzhan , Laiho Kati , Leh-vaslaiho Minna , McGarvey Peter , Natale Darren A , Ross Karen , Vinayaka C R , Wang Yuqi , Zhang Jian
Published: December 2023

Motivation

There now exist thousands of molecular biology databases covering every aspect of biological data. This database infrastructure takes significant effort and funding to develop and maintain. The creators of these databases need to make strong justifications to funders to prove their impact or importance. There are many publication metrics and tools available such as Google Scholar to measure citation impact or AltMetrics covering multiple measures including social media coverage.

Results

In this article, we describe a series of novel impact metrics that have been applied initially to the UniProt database, and now made available via a Google Colab to enable any molecular biology resource to gain several additional metrics. These metrics, powered by freely available APIs from Europe PubMedCentral and SureCHEMBL cover mentions of the resource in full text articles, including which section of the paper the mention occurs in, grant acknowledgements and mentions in patent applications. This tool, that we call MBDBMetrics, is a useful adjunct to existing tools.

Availability and implementation

The MBDBMetrics tool is available at the following locations: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1aEmSQR9DGQIZmHAIuQV9mLv7Mw9Ppkin and https://github.com/g-insana/MBDBMetrics.
Alcohol reduces choosiness and relaxes mate preferences in female Drosophila simulans
Authors: Archer C Ruth , Alper Cleo , Mack Laura , Weedon Melanie , Sharma Manmohan D , Sutter Andreas , Hosken David J
Published: December 2023

Alcohol can alter sexual behaviour. However, our understanding of alcohol’s effects on sexual interactions is limited because males are usually the focus of nonhuman studies. Alcohol could in theory alter female mate-choice and, in turn, affect sexual selection, a major mechanism of evolution. Here we tested whether alcohol exposure affected female mate-preference, choosiness, and copulation duration in the fly Drosophila simulans, while simultaneously testing for genetic variation in these effects. We found that alcohol exposure did not affect copulation duration, but did weaken mate-preference, as females copulated with a broader range of males after exposure, and it tended to reduce female choosiness as females mated more quickly. Although female genotype significantly affected copulation duration and choosiness, the effects of alcohol appeared to be reasonably consistent across genotypes, but this depended on the analysis employed. Nonetheless, alcohol reduced female choosiness and weakened mate-preference, and may therefore reduce the strength of sexual selection. Testing whether these changes impact female fitness is now required.
Cortical resting motor threshold difference in asleep-awake craniotomy for motor eloquent gliomas: WHO grading influences motor pathway excitability
Authors: Pescador Ana M , Lavrador José P , Baamonde Alba D , Soumpasis Christos , Ghimire Prajwal , Mosquera José D S , Fiandeiro Carlos , Jones Holly , Gosavi Smita , Lejarde Arjel , Lawson Emily , Murace Sian , Gullan Richard , Ashkan Keyoumars , Bhangoo Ranjeev , Vergani Francesco
Published: December 2023

Developing neurophysiological tools to predict WHO tumor grade can empower the treating teams for a better surgical decision-making process. A total of 38 patients with supratentorial diffuse gliomas underwent an asleep-awake-sedated craniotomies for tumor removal with intraoperative neuromonitoring. The resting motor threshold was calculated for different train stimulation paradigms during awake and asleep phases. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and Bayesian regression models were performed to analyze the prediction of tumor grading based on the resting motor threshold differences. Significant positive spearman correlations were observed between resting motor threshold excitability difference and WHO tumor grade for train stimulation paradigms of 5 (R = 0.54, P = 0.00063), 4 (R = 0.49, P = 0.002), 3 (R = 0.51, P = 0.001), and 2 pulses (R = 0.54, P = 0.0007). Kruskal–Wallis analysis of the median revealed a positive significant difference between the median of excitability difference and WHO tumor grade in all paradigms. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed 3 mA difference as the best predictor of high-grade glioma across different patterns of motor pathway stimulation. Bayesian regression found that an excitability difference above 3 mA would indicate a 75.8% probability of a glioma being high grade. Our results suggest that cortical motor excitability difference between the asleep and awake phases in glioma surgery could correlate with tumor grade.
Myocardial protection in cardiac surgery—hindsight from the 2020s
Authors: Mukharyamov Murat , Schneider Ulrich , Kirov Hristo , Caldonazo Tulio , Doenst Torsten
Published: December 2023

Myocardial protection and specifically cardioplegia have been extensively investigated in the beginnings of cardiac surgery. After cardiopulmonary bypass had become routine, more and more cardiac operations were possible, requiring reliable and reproducible protection for times of blood flow interruptions to the most energy-demanding organ of the body. The concepts of hypothermia and cardioplegia evolved as tools to extend cardiac ischaemia tolerance to a degree considered safe for the required operation. A plethora of different solutions and delivery techniques were developed achieving remarkable outcomes with cross-clamp times of up to 120 min and more. With the beginning of the new millennium, interest in myocardial protection research declined and, as a consequence, conventional cardiac surgery is currently performed using myocardial protection strategies that have not changed in decades. However, the context, in which cardiac surgery is currently performed, has changed during this time. Patients are now older and suffer from more comorbidities and, thus, other organs move more and more into the centre of risk assessment. Yet, systemic effects of cardioplegic solutions have never been in the focus of attention. They say hindsight is always 20–20. We therefore review the biochemical principles of ischaemia, reperfusion and cardioplegic extension of ischaemia tolerance and address the concepts of myocardial protection with ‘hindsight from the 2020s’. In light of rising patient risk profiles, minimizing surgical trauma and improving perioperative morbidity management becomes key today. For cardioplegia, this means accounting not only for cardiac, but also for systemic effects of cardioplegic solutions.
Microbiome-enabled genomic selection improves prediction accuracy for nitrogen-related traits in maize
Authors: Yang Zhikai , Zhao Tianjing , Cheng Hao , Yang Jinliang
Published: December 2023

Root-associated microbiomes in the rhizosphere (rhizobiomes) are increasingly known to play an important role in nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance of plants. However, it remains largely unclear to what extent these rhizobiomes contribute to trait variation for different genotypes and if their inclusion in the genomic selection protocol can enhance prediction accuracy. To address these questions, we developed a microbiome-enabled genomic selection method that incorporated host SNPs and amplicon sequence variants from plant rhizobiomes in a maize diversity panel under high and low nitrogen (N) field conditions. Our cross-validation results showed that the microbiome-enabled genomic selection model significantly outperformed the conventional genomic selection model for nearly all time-series traits related to plant growth and N responses, with an average relative improvement of 3.7%. The improvement was more pronounced under low N conditions (8.4–40.2% of relative improvement), consistent with the view that some beneficial microbes can enhance N nutrient uptake, particularly in low N fields. However, our study could not definitively rule out the possibility that the observed improvement is partially due to the amplicon sequence variants being influenced by microenvironments. Using a high-dimensional mediation analysis method, our study has also identified microbial mediators that establish a link between plant genotype and phenotype. Some of the detected mediator microbes were previously reported to promote plant growth. The enhanced prediction accuracy of the microbiome-enabled genomic selection models, demonstrated in a single environment, serves as a proof-of-concept for the potential application of microbiome-enabled plant breeding for sustainable agriculture.
A pair of RNA binding proteins inhibit ion transporter expression to maintain lifespan
Authors: Napier-Jameson Rebekah , Marx Olivia , Norris Adam
Published: December 2023

Regulation of lifespan by transcription factors has been well established. More recently, a role for RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in regulating lifespan has also emerged. In both cases, a major challenge is to determine which regulatory targets are functionally responsible for the observed lifespan phenotype. We recently identified a pair of neuronal RBPs, exc-7/ELAVL and mbl-1/Muscleblind, which in Caenorhabditis elegans display synthetic (nonadditive) lifespan defects: single mutants do not affect lifespan, but exc-7; mbl-1 double mutants have strongly reduced lifespan. Such a strong synthetic phenotype represented an opportunity to use transcriptomics to search for potential causative targets that are synthetically regulated. Focus on such genes would allow us to narrow our target search by ignoring the hundreds of genes altered only in single mutants, and provide a shortlist of synthetically regulated candidate targets that might be responsible for the double mutant phenotype. We identified a small handful of genes synthetically dysregulated in double mutants and systematically tested each candidate gene for functional contribution to the exc-7; mbl-1 lifespan phenotype. We identified 1 such gene, the ion transporter nhx-6, which is highly upregulated in double mutants. Overexpression of nhx-6 causes reduced lifespan, and deletion of nhx-6 in an exc-7; mbl-1 background partially restores both lifespan and healthspan. Together, these results reveal that a pair of RBPs mediate lifespan in part by inhibiting expression of an ion transporter, and provide a template for how synthetic phenotypes (including lifespan) can be dissected at the transcriptomic level to reveal potential causative genes.
Lifetime risk of maternal near miss morbidity: a novel indicator of maternal health
Authors: Gazeley Ursula , Polizzi Antonino , Romero-Prieto Julio E , Aburto José Manuel , Reniers Georges , Filippi Veronique
Published: December 2023

Background

The lifetime risk of maternal death quantifies the probability that a 15-year-old girl will die of a maternal cause in her reproductive lifetime. Its intuitive appeal means it is a widely used summary measure for advocacy and international comparisons of maternal health. However, relative to mortality, women are at an even higher risk of experiencing life-threatening maternal morbidity called ‘maternal near miss’ (MNM) events—complications so severe that women almost die. As maternal mortality continues to decline, health indicators that include information on both fatal and non-fatal maternal outcomes are required.

Methods

We propose a novel measure—the lifetime risk of MNM—to estimate the cumulative risk that a 15-year-old girl will experience a MNM in her reproductive lifetime, accounting for mortality between the ages 15 and 49 years. We apply the method to the case of Namibia (2019) using estimates of fertility and survival from the United Nations World Population Prospects along with nationally representative data on the MNM ratio.

Results

We estimate a lifetime risk of MNM in Namibia in 2019 of between 1 in 40 and 1 in 35 when age-disaggregated MNM data are used, and 1 in 38 when a summary estimate for ages 15–49 years is used. This compares to a lifetime risk of maternal death of 1 in 142 and yields a lifetime risk of severe maternal outcome (MNM or death) of 1 in 30.

Conclusions

The lifetime risk of MNM is an urgently needed indicator of maternal morbidity because existing measures (the MNM ratio or rate) do not capture the cumulative risk over the reproductive life course, accounting for fertility and mortality levels.
Optimization of artificial membrane feeding system for lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), and experimental infection with Rickettsia amblyommatis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae)
Authors: Rochlin Ilia , Chu Dennis , Gmelin Matthew , Le Justin , Furie Martha B , Thanassi David G , Kim Hwan Keun
Published: December 2023

With the introduction of siliconized artificial membranes, various artificial feeding systems (AFS) for hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been developed over the last decades. Most AFS utilize similar core components but employ diverse approaches, materials, and experimental conditions. Published work describes different combinations of the core components without experimental optimizations for the artificial feeding of different tick species. Amblyomma americanum L., (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick) is a known vector and reservoir for diverse tick-borne pathogens, such as Rickettsia amblyommatis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Ongoing environmental changes have supported the expansion of A. americanum into new habitats, contributing to increased tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in A. americanum interactions with tick-borne pathogens. Here, we performed a systematic analysis and developed an optimized AFS for nymphal lone star ticks. Our results demonstrate that Goldbeater’s membranes, rabbit hair, hair extract, and adult lone star ticks significantly improved the attachment rate of nymphal ticks, whereas tick frass and frass extract did not. With the optimized conditions, we achieved an attachment rate of 46 ± 3% and a success rate of 100% (i.e., one or more attached ticks) in each feeding experiment for nymphal lone star ticks. When fed on sheep blood spiked with R. amblyommatis, both nymphal and adult lone star ticks acquired and maintained R. amblyommatis, demonstrating the feasibility of studying A. americanum–pathogen interactions using AFS. Our study can serve as a roadmap to optimize and improve AFS for other medically relevant tick species.
A preliminary investigation of rabbit carcass decomposition and attracted ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the seaward coastal beach of Al-Jubail City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Qurashi Afnan S , Mashaly Ashraf M , Alajmi Reem , Al-Khalifa Mohamed S , Mansour Lamjed , Al-Omar Suliman Y , Sharaf Mostafa R , Aldawood Abdulrahman S , Al-Dhafer Hathal M , Hunter Tony , Almutawa Masha’el Y , Ahmed Ashraf M
Published: December 2023

The current study was carried out in the seaward coastal beach environment of Al-Jubail City, Saudi Arabia, to analyze the rabbit carcass decomposition process, the succession pattern of associated ants, and their potential utility in forensic investigation. Experiments were conducted over a 4-season course (from autumn 2018 to summer 2019). A total of 9 species belonging to the 2 subfamilies, Myrmicinae and Formicinae, were recorded. The myrmicine species were Crematogaster aegyptiaca Mayr, 1862; Messor ebeninus Santschi, 1927; Messor foreli Santschi, 1923; and Monomorium abeillei Andre, 1881. The formicine species were Camponotus xerxes Forel, 1904; Cataglyphis albicans (Roger, 1859); Cataglyphis hologerseniCollingwood & Agosti, 1996; Cataglyphis viaticoides (André, 1881); and Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904). M. abeillei was the only species recorded in all 4 seasons, while M. abeillei and C. albicans were the dominant species in summer and C. aegyptiaca and C. albicans in spring. Diversity was lowest in the autumn, with only 4 species recorded. The COI gene sequences of 5 species have been successfully deposited in the GenBank database for the first time. In total, 4 carcass decomposition stages were observed, with the longest duration in winter (13 days), the shortest in summer (11 days), and in between for both autumn and spring. Most ant species were present during both decay and dry stages, while M. abeillei, C. aegyptiaca, M. ebeninus, and C. albicans were observed in all decomposition stages. These data may indicate that ants on this coastal beach showed seasonal and geographical succession patterns that could be taken into consideration in forensic investigations.
Genetic trio of BRAF and TERT alterations and rs2853669TT in papillary thyroid cancer aggressiveness
Authors: Liu Rengyun , Zhu Guangwu , Tan Jie , Shen Xiaopei , Xing Mingzhao
Published: December 2023

Background

BRAF V600E and TERT promoter alterations are core components in current genetics-based risk assessment for precision management of papillary thyroid cancer. It remains unknown whether this approach could achieve even better precision through a widely recognized prognostic single-nucleotide variation (SNV, formerly SNP), rs2853669T>C, in the TERT promoter.

Methods

The genetic status of alterations and SNV were examined by sequencing genomic DNA from papillary thyroid cancer in 608 patients (427 women and 181 men) aged 47 years (interquartile range = 37-57), with a median follow-up time of 75 months (interquartile range = 36-123), and their relationship with clinical outcomes was analyzed. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine TERT promoter activities.

Results

TERT promoter alterations showed a strong association with papillary thyroid cancer recurrence in the presence of genotype TT of rs2853669 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10 to 4.12) but not TC/CC (adjusted HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.56 to 2.41). TERT and BRAF alterations commonly coexisted and synergistically promoted papillary thyroid cancer recurrence. With this genetic duet, TT of rs2853669 showed a robustly higher disease recurrence than TC/CC (adjusted HR = 14.26, 95% CI = 2.86 to 71.25). Patients with the genetic trio of BRAF V600E, TERT alteration, and TT of rs2853669 had a recurrence of 76.5% vs recurrence of 8.4% with neither variation and with TC/CC (HR = 13.48, 95% CI = 6.44 to 28.21). T allele of rs2853669 strongly increased TERT promoter activities, particularly the variant promoters.

Conclusions

The SNV rs2853669T>C dramatically refines the prognostic power of BRAF V600E and TERT promoter alterations to a higher precision, suggesting the need for including this SNV in the current genetics-based risk prognostication of papillary thyroid cancer.
Propagation effects at low frequencies seen in the LOFAR long-term monitoring of the periodically active FRB 20180916B
Authors: Gopinath A , Bassa C G , Pleunis Z , Hessels J W T , Chawla P , Keane E F , Kondratiev V , Michilli D , Nimmo K
Published: December 2023

LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) has previously detected bursts from the periodically active, repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source FRB 20180916B down to unprecedentedly low radio frequencies of 110 MHz. Here, we present 11 new bursts in 223 more hours of continued monitoring of FRB 20180916B in the 110–188 MHz band with LOFAR. We place new constraints on the source’s activity window $w =4.3^{+0.7}_{-0.2}$ d and phase centre $\phi _{\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{LOFAR}} = 0.67^{+0.03}_{-0.02}$ in its 16.33-d activity cycle, strengthening evidence for its frequency-dependent activity cycle. Propagation effects like Faraday rotation and scattering are especially pronounced at low frequencies and constrain properties of FRB 20180916B’s local environment. We track variations in scattering and time–frequency drift rates, and find no evidence for trends in time or activity phase. Faraday rotation measure (RM) variations seen between June 2021 and August 2022 show a fractional change >50 per cent with hints of flattening of the gradient of the previously reported secular trend seen at 600 MHz. The frequency-dependent window of activity at LOFAR appears stable despite the significant changes in RM, leading us to deduce that these two effects have different causes. Depolarization of and within individual bursts towards lower radio frequencies is quantified using LOFAR’s large fractional bandwidth, with some bursts showing no detectable polarization. However, the degree of depolarization seems uncorrelated to the scattering time-scales, allowing us to evaluate different depolarization models. We discuss these results in the context of models that invoke rotation, precession, or binary orbital motion to explain the periodic activity of FRB 20180916B.