bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic enhancer landscapes in human craniofacial development
Authors: Rajderkar Sudha Sunil , Paraiso Kitt , Amaral Maria Luisa , Kosicki Michael , Cook Laura E. , Darbellay Fabrice , Spurrell Cailyn H. , Osterwalder Marco , Zhu Yiwen , Wu Han , Afzal Sarah Yasmeen , Blow Matthew J. , Kelman Guy , Barozzi Iros , Fukuda-Yuzawa Yoko , Akiyama Jennifer A. , Afzal Veena , Tran Stella , Plajzer-Frick Ingrid , Novak Catherine S. , Kato Momoe , Hunter Riana D. , von Maydell Kianna , Wang Allen , Lin Lin , Preissl Sebastian , Lisgo Steven , Ren Bing , Dickel Diane E. , Pennacchio Len A. , Visel Axel
Published: March 2024

The genetic basis of human facial variation and craniofacial birth defects remains poorly understood. Distant-acting transcriptional enhancers control the fine-tuned spatiotemporal expression of genes during critical stages of craniofacial development. However, a lack of accurate maps of the genomic locations and cell type-resolved activities of craniofacial enhancers prevents their systematic exploration in human genetics studies. Here, we combine histone modification, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression profiling of human craniofacial development with single-cell analyses of the developing mouse face to define the regulatory landscape of facial development at tissue- and single cell-resolution. We provide temporal activity profiles for 14,000 human developmental craniofacial enhancers. We find that 56% of human craniofacial enhancers share chromatin accessibility in the mouse and we provide cell population- and embryonic stage-resolved predictions of their in vivo activity. Taken together, our data provide an expansive resource for genetic and developmental studies of human craniofacial development.
Orbitronics: light-induced orbital currents in Ni studied by terahertz emission experiments
Authors: Xu Yong , Zhang Fan , Fert Albert , Jaffres Henri-Yves , Liu Yongshan , Xu Renyou , Jiang Yuhao , Cheng Houyi , Zhao Weisheng
Published: March 2024

Orbitronics is based on the use of orbital currents as information carriers. Orbital currents can be generated from the conversion of charge or spin currents, and inversely, they could be converted back to charge or spin currents. Here we demonstrate that orbital currents can also be generated by femtosecond light pulses on Ni. In multilayers associating Ni with oxides and nonmagnetic metals such as Cu, we detect the orbital currents by their conversion into charge currents and the resulting terahertz emission. We show that the orbital currents extraordinarily predominate the light-induced spin currents in Ni-based systems, whereas only spin currents can be detected with CoFeB-based systems. In addition, the analysis of the time delays of the terahertz pulses leads to relevant information on the velocity and propagation length of orbital carriers. Our finding of light-induced orbital currents and our observation of their conversion into charge currents opens new avenues in orbitronics, including the development of orbitronic terahertz devices.
Evolving copy number gains promote tumor expansion and bolster mutational diversification
Authors: Wang Zicheng , Xia Yunong , Mills Lauren , Nikolakopoulos Athanasios N. , Maeser Nicole , Dehm Scott M. , Sheltzer Jason M. , Sun Ruping
Published: March 2024

The timing and fitness effect of somatic copy number alterations (SCNA) in cancer evolution remains poorly understood. Here we present a framework to determine the timing of a clonal SCNA that encompasses multiple gains. This involves calculating the proportion of time from its last gain to the onset of population expansion (lead time) as well as the proportion of time prior to its first gain (initiation time). Our method capitalizes on the observation that a genomic segment, while in a specific copy number (CN) state, accumulates point mutations proportionally to its CN. Analyzing 184 whole genome sequenced samples from 75 patients across five tumor types, we commonly observe late gains following early initiating events, occurring just before the clonal expansion relevant to the sampling. These include gains acquired after genome doubling in more than 60% of cases. Notably, mathematical modeling suggests that late clonal gains may contain final-expansion drivers. Lastly, SCNAs bolster mutational diversification between subpopulations, exacerbating the circle of proliferation and increasing heterogeneity.
Gene expression analyses reveal differences in children’s response to malaria according to their age
Authors: Tebben Kieran , Yirampo Salif , Coulibaly Drissa , Koné Abdoulaye K. , Laurens Matthew B. , Stucke Emily M. , Dembélé Ahmadou , Tolo Youssouf , Traoré Karim , Niangaly Amadou , Berry Andrea A. , Kouriba Bourema , Plowe Christopher V. , Doumbo Ogobara K. , Lyke Kirsten E. , Takala-Harrison Shannon , Thera Mahamadou A. , Travassos Mark A. , Serre David
Published: March 2024

In Bandiagara, Mali, children experience on average two clinical malaria episodes per year. However, even in the same transmission area, the number of uncomplicated symptomatic infections, and their parasitemia, can vary dramatically among children. We simultaneously characterize host and parasite gene expression profiles from 136 Malian children with symptomatic falciparum malaria and examine differences in the relative proportion of immune cells and parasite stages, as well as in gene expression, associated with infection and or patient characteristics. Parasitemia explains much of the variation in host and parasite gene expression, and infections with higher parasitemia display proportionally more neutrophils and fewer T cells, suggesting parasitemia-dependent neutrophil recruitment and/or T cell extravasation to secondary lymphoid organs. The child’s age also strongly correlates with variations in gene expression:Plasmodium falciparumgenes associated with age suggest that older children carry more male gametocytes, while variations in host gene expression indicate a stronger innate response in younger children and stronger adaptive response in older children. These analyses highlight the variability in host responses and parasite regulation duringP. falciparumsymptomatic infections and emphasize the importance of considering the children’s age when studying and treating malaria infections.
SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor ORF3a blocks lysosome function by modulating TBC1D5-dependent Rab7 GTPase cycle
Authors: Walia Kshitiz , Sharma Abhishek , Paul Sankalita , Chouhan Priya , Kumar Gaurav , Ringe Rajesh , Sharma Mahak , Tuli Amit
Published: March 2024

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, uses the host endolysosomal system for entry, replication, and egress. Previous studies have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor ORF3a interacts with the lysosomal tethering factor HOPS complex and blocks HOPS-mediated late endosome and autophagosome fusion with lysosomes. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to hyperactivation of the late endosomal and lysosomal small GTP-binding protein Rab7, which is dependent on ORF3a expression. We also observed Rab7 hyperactivation in naturally occurring ORF3a variants encoded by distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. We found that ORF3a, in complex with Vps39, sequesters the Rab7 GAP TBC1D5 and displaces Rab7 from this complex. Thus, ORF3a disrupts the GTP hydrolysis cycle of Rab7, which is beneficial for viral production, whereas the Rab7 GDP-locked mutant strongly reduces viral replication. Hyperactivation of Rab7 in ORF3a-expressing cells impaired CI-M6PR retrieval from late endosomes to the trans-Golgi network, disrupting the biosynthetic transport of newly synthesized hydrolases to lysosomes. Furthermore, the tethering of the Rab7- and Arl8b-positive compartments was strikingly reduced upon ORF3a expression. As SARS-CoV-2 egress requires Arl8b, these findings suggest that ORF3a-mediated hyperactivation of Rab7 serves a multitude of functions, including blocking endolysosome formation, interrupting the transport of lysosomal hydrolases, and promoting viral egress.
A single-cell atlas of Drosophila trachea reveals glycosylation-mediated Notch signaling in cell fate specification
Authors: Li Yue , Lu Tianfeng , Dong Pengzhen , Chen Jian , Zhao Qiang , Wang Yuying , Xiao Tianheng , Wu Honggang , Zhao Quanyi , Huang Hai
Published: March 2024

The Drosophila tracheal system is a favorable model for investigating the program of tubular morphogenesis. This system is established in the embryo by post-mitotic cells, but also undergoes remodeling by adult stem cells. Here, we provide a comprehensive cell atlas of Drosophila trachea using the single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) technique. The atlas documents transcriptional profiles of tracheoblasts within the Drosophila airway, delineating 9 major subtypes. Further evidence gained from in silico as well as genetic investigations highlight a set of transcription factors characterized by their capacity to switch cell fate. Notably, the transcription factors Pebbled, Blistered, Knirps, Spalt and Cut are influenced by Notch signaling and determine tracheal cell identity. Moreover, Notch signaling orchestrates transcriptional activities essential for tracheoblast differentiation and responds to protein glycosylation that is induced by high sugar diet. Therefore, our study yields a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of tracheal development and regeneration, and suggests a glycosylation-responsive Notch signaling in cell fate determination.
Short term supplementation with cranberry extract modulates gut microbiota in human and displays a bifidogenic effect
Authors: Lessard-Lord Jacob , Roussel Charlène , Lupien-Meilleur Joseph , Généreux Pamela , Richard Véronique , Guay Valérie , Roy Denis , Desjardins Yves
Published: March 2024

Cranberry is associated with multiple health benefits, which are mostly attributed to its high content of (poly)phenols, particularly flavan-3-ols. However, clinical trials attempting to demonstrate these positive effects have yielded heterogeneous results, partly due to the high inter-individual variability associated with gut microbiota interaction with these molecules. In fact, several studies have demonstrated the ability of these molecules to modulate the gut microbiota in animal and in vitro models, but there is a scarcity of information in human subjects. In addition, it has been recently reported that cranberry also contains high concentrations of oligosaccharides, which could contribute to its bioactivity. Hence, the aim of this study was to fully characterize the (poly)phenolic and oligosaccharidic contents of a commercially available cranberry extract and evaluate its capacity to positively modulate the gut microbiota of 28 human subjects. After only four days, the (poly)phenols and oligosaccharides-rich cranberry extract, induced a strong bifidogenic effect, along with an increase in the abundance of several butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Clostridium and Anaerobutyricum. Plasmatic and fecal short-chain fatty acids profiles were also altered by the cranberry extract with a decrease in acetate ratio and an increase in butyrate ratio. Finally, to characterize the inter-individual variability, we stratified the participants according to the alterations observed in the fecal microbiota following supplementation. Interestingly, individuals having a microbiota characterized by the presence of Prevotella benefited from an increase in Faecalibacterium with the cranberry extract supplementation.
Modulating the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 by different nanocarriers delivering an mRNA expressing trimeric RBD of the spike protein: COVARNA Consortium
Authors: Marcos-Villar Laura , Perdiguero Beatriz , Anthiya Shubaash , Borrajo Mireya L. , Lou Gustavo , Franceschini Lorenzo , Esteban Ignasi , Sánchez-Cordón Pedro J. , Zamora Carmen , Sorzano Carlos Óscar S. , Jordá Luis , Codó Laia , Gelpí Josep L. , Sisteré-Oró Marta , Meyerhans Andreas , Thielemans Kris , Martínez-Jiménez Francisco , López-Bigas Núria , García Felipe , Alonso María J. , Plana Montserrat , Esteban Mariano , Gómez Carmen Elena
Published: March 2024

Vaccines based on mRNA technology have revolutionized the field. In fact, lipid nanoparticles (LNP) formulated with mRNA are the preferential vaccine platform used in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection, with wider application against other diseases. The high demand and property right protection of the most potent cationic/ionizable lipids used for LNP formulation of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have promoted the design of alternative nanocarriers for nucleic acid delivery. In this study we have evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of different rationally designed lipid and polymeric-based nanoparticle prototypes against SARS-CoV-2 infection. An mRNA coding for a trimeric soluble form of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein from SARS-CoV-2 was encapsulated using different components to form nanoemulsions (NE), nanocapsules (NC) and lipid nanoparticles (LNP). The toxicity and biological activity of these prototypes were evaluated in cultured cells after transfection and in mice following homologous prime/boost immunization. Our findings reveal good levels of RBD protein expression with most of the formulations. In C57BL/6 mice immunized intramuscularly with two doses of formulated RBD-mRNA, the modified lipid nanoparticle (mLNP) and the classical lipid nanoparticle (LNP-1) were the most effective delivery nanocarriers at inducing binding and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Both prototypes fully protected susceptible K18-hACE2 transgenic mice from morbidity and mortality following a SARS-CoV-2 challenge. These results highlight that modulation of mRNAs immunogenicity can be achieved by using alternative nanocarriers and support further assessment of mLNP and LNP-1 prototypes as delivery vehicles for mRNA vaccines.
Photonic chip-based low-noise microwave oscillator
Authors: Kudelin Igor , Groman William , Ji Qing-Xin , Guo Joel , Kelleher Megan L. , Lee Dahyeon , Nakamura Takuma , McLemore Charles A. , Shirmohammadi Pedram , Hanifi Samin , Cheng Haotian , Jin Naijun , Wu Lue , Halladay Samuel , Luo Yizhi , Dai Zhaowei , Jin Warren , Bai Junwu , Liu Yifan , Zhang Wei , Xiang Chao , Chang Lin , Iltchenko Vladimir , Miller Owen , Matsko Andrey , Bowers Steven M. , Rakich Peter T. , Campbell Joe C. , Bowers John E. , Vahala Kerry J. , Quinlan Franklyn , Diddams Scott A.
Published: March 2024

Numerous modern technologies are reliant on the low-phase noise and exquisite timing stability of microwave signals. Substantial progress has been made in the field of microwave photonics, whereby low-noise microwave signals are generated by the down-conversion of ultrastable optical references using a frequency comb1–3. Such systems, however, are constructed with bulk or fibre optics and are difficult to further reduce in size and power consumption. In this work we address this challenge by leveraging advances in integrated photonics to demonstrate low-noise microwave generation via two-point optical frequency division4,5. Narrow-linewidth self-injection-locked integrated lasers6,7 are stabilized to a miniature Fabry–Pérot cavity8, and the frequency gap between the lasers is divided with an efficient dark soliton frequency comb9. The stabilized output of the microcomb is photodetected to produce a microwave signal at 20 GHz with phase noise of −96 dBc Hz−1 at 100 Hz offset frequency that decreases to −135 dBc Hz−1 at 10 kHz offset—values that are unprecedented for an integrated photonic system. All photonic components can be heterogeneously integrated on a single chip, providing a significant advance for the application of photonics to high-precision navigation, communication and timing systems.
Subicular neurons encode concave and convex geometries
Authors: Sun Yanjun , Nitz Douglas A. , Xu Xiangmin , Giocomo Lisa M.
Published: March 2024

Animals in the natural world constantly encounter geometrically complex landscapes. Successful navigation requires that they understand geometric features of these landscapes, including boundaries, landmarks, corners and curved areas, all of which collectively define the geometry of the environment1–12. Crucial to the reconstruction of the geometric layout of natural environments are concave and convex features, such as corners and protrusions. However, the neural substrates that could underlie the perception of concavity and convexity in the environment remain elusive. Here we show that the dorsal subiculum contains neurons that encode corners across environmental geometries in an allocentric reference frame. Using longitudinal calcium imaging in freely behaving mice, we find that corner cells tune their activity to reflect the geometric properties of corners, including corner angles, wall height and the degree of wall intersection. A separate population of subicular neurons encode convex corners of both larger environments and discrete objects. Both corner cells are non-overlapping with the population of subicular neurons that encode environmental boundaries. Furthermore, corner cells that encode concave or convex corners generalize their activity such that they respond, respectively, to concave or convex curvatures within an environment. Together, our findings suggest that the subiculum contains the geometric information needed to reconstruct the shape and layout of naturalistic spatial environments.
Harmonised statistics and maps of forest biomass and increment in Europe
Authors: Avitabile Valerio , Pilli Roberto , Migliavacca Mirco , Duveiller Gregory , Camia Andrea , Blujdea Viorel , Adolt Radim , Alberdi Iciar , Barreiro Susana , Bender Susann , Borota Dragan , Bosela Michal , Bouriaud Olivier , Breidenbach Johannes , Cañellas Isabel , Čavlović Jura , Colin Antoine , Di Cosmo Lucio , Donis Janis , Fischer Christoph , Freudenschuss Alexandra , Fridman Jonas , Gasparini Patrizia , Gschwantner Thomas , Hernández Laura , Korhonen Kari , Kulbokas Gintaras , Kvist Vivian , Latte Nicolas , Lazdins Andis , Lejeune Philippe , Makovskis Kristaps , Marin Gheorghe , Maslo Jan , Michorczyk Artur , Mionskowski Marcin , Morneau François , Myszkowski Marcin , Nagy Kinga , Nilsson Mats , Nord-Larsen Thomas , Pantic Damjan , Perin Jerôme , Redmond John , Rizzo Maria , Šebeň Vladimír , Skudnik Mitja , Snorrason Arnor , Sroga Radosław , Stoyanov Todor , Svensson Arvid , Talarczyk Andrzej , Teeuwen Sander , Thürig Esther , Uva José , Mubareka Sarah
Published: March 2024

Forest biomass is an essential resource in relation to the green transition and its assessment is key for the sustainable management of forest resources. Here, we present a forest biomass dataset for Europe based on the best available inventory and satellite data, with a higher level of harmonisation and spatial resolution than other existing data. This database provides statistics and maps of the forest area, biomass stock and their share available for wood supply in the year 2020, and statistics on gross and net volume increment in 2010–2020, for 38 European countries. The statistics of most countries are available at a sub-national scale and are derived from National Forest Inventory data, harmonised using common reference definitions and estimation methodology, and updated to a common year using a modelling approach. For those counties without harmonised statistics, data were derived from the State of Europe’s Forest 2020 Report at the national scale. The maps are coherent with the statistics and depict the spatial distribution of the forest variables at 100 m resolution.
Selection of social comparison standards in cardiac patients with and without experienced defibrillator shock
Authors: Willy Kevin , Meyer Thomas , Eckardt Lars , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: March 2024

Patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) often report psychological distress. Literature suggests that patients with physical disease often compare their well-being and coping to fellow patients. However, we lack knowledge on social comparison among patients with ICD. In this study, we examined psychological distress and social comparison selection in patients with (ICD+) and without experienced ICD shocks (ICD−). We theorized that relative to ICD− patients, those with ICD+ display higher levels of psychological distress and thereby compare more frequently with fellow patients with more severe disease, but better disease coping and try to identify more strongly with these standards to improve their own coping. We recruited 92 patients with (ICD+, n = 38) and without an experienced ICD shock (ICD−, n = 54), who selected one of four comparison standards varying in disease severity and coping capacity. Relative to ICD−, ICD+ patients reported higher levels of device-related distress, but there were no significant differences in anxiety, depression, or quality of life. ICD+ patients selected more often comparison standards with poor coping and, irrespective of standard choice, displayed more negative mood following comparison. Our results show that ICD+ patients tend to perform unfavorable comparisons to fellow patients, which might explain higher psychological distress and worse coping. These findings warrant further research into social comparison as a relevant coping mechanism in ICD patients.
Hydrodynamic features of pulsed solvent extractor for separation of two metals by using the antagonistic effect of solvents
Authors: Asadollahzadeh Mehdi , Torkaman Rezvan
Published: March 2024

Separating copper and cobalt ions is crucial due to the industry’s strategic reliance on both these elements. When the extraction process is able to significantly increase the separation factor, it becomes favorable to separate two ions. However, the presence of Cu(II) ions together with Co(II) hinders the achievement of optimum efficiency when using commonly available extractants. This study conducted the separation of the two elements using both batch and continuous methods in a pilot plant pulsed column equipped with a disc and doughnut structure. The initial step involved optimizing the key variables to maximize the separation factor using the central composite design procedure. The optimization of Cyanex272, Cyphos IL 101 concentrations, and the pH value of the aqueous phase were all adjusted to 0.024 M, 0.046 M, and 7.3, correspondingly. In the following step, the hydrodynamic characteristics and extraction performance were examined in the pulsed column of the pilot plant. The findings indicated that the presence of Cyphos IL 101 resulted in an increased separation factor and efficiency within the column. As a result, the ionic liquid enhances performance without encountering any operational issues. This additive is considered an environmentally friendly solvent and does not cause any negative impacts. Consequently, it is suggested for utilization in continuous industrial processes.
Experimental and numerical investigation of the mechanical properties and energy evolution of sandstone–concrete combined body
Authors: Yuan Shisong , Du Bin , Shen Mingxuan
Published: March 2024

Studying the mechanical properties of rock–concrete combined body is crucial to ensure the safety and stability of engineering structures. In this paper, laboratory tests and numerical simulations are used to investigate the mechanical properties of the sandstone–concrete combined body. Uniaxial compression tests and an acoustic emission monitoring system are used to analyze the failure characteristics of the sandstone–concrete sample and to validate the accuracy of the numerical model. The mechanical properties of the composite body were further analyzed by integrating energy and damage theories. The results of the sandstone–concrete study suggest that the combined sandstone–concrete body exhibits synergistic deformation and failure when subjected to uniaxial compression. The peak stress and elastic modulus fall between those of sandstone and concrete. The interface's shape causes the stress in the y-direction to transition from tensile stress to compressive stress. Energy is stored before reaching the peak stress and released after reaching the peak stress. The damage curve indicates that the damage increases gradually with the strain, and it results in plastic failure. In the numerical simulation of triaxial compression, the stress and displacement at the interface are evenly distributed. Compared to uniaxial compression, the energy of each component is higher and shows a linear positive correlation with confining pressure. Additionally, the rate of energy dissipation increases with higher confining pressure. The damage variable also increases with the increase in confining pressure, and the plastic failure process is also apparent under triaxial compression.
Epidemiology of fungal infection in COVID 19 in Spain during 2020 and 2021: a nationwide study
Authors: López-Herrero R. , Sánchez-de Prada L. , Tamayo-Velasco A. , Heredia-Rodríguez M. , Bardají Carrillo M. , Jorge Monjas P. , de la Varga-Martínez O. , Resino S. , Sarmentero-López de Quintana G. , Gómez-Sánchez E. , Tamayo E.
Published: March 2024

We realize a nationwide population-based retrospective study to analyze the characteristics and risk factors of fungal co-infections in COVID-19 hospitalized patients as well as describe their causative agents in the Spanish population in 2020 and 2021. Data were obtained from records in the Minimum Basic Data Set of the National Surveillance System for Hospital Data in Spain, provided by the Ministry of Health, and annually published with two years lag. The assessment of the risk associated with the development of healthcare-associated fungal co-infections was assessed using an adjusted logistic regression model. The incidence of fungal co-infection in COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 1.41%. The main risk factors associated were surgery, sepsis, age, male gender, obesity, and COPD. Co-infection was associated with worse outcomes including higher in-hospital and in ICU mortality, and higher length of stay. Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. were the microorganisms more frequent. This is the first study analyzing fungal coinfection at a national level in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Spanish population and one of the few studies available that demonstrate that surgery was an independent risk factor of Aspergillosis coinfection in COVID-19 patients.
Determinants of pesticides use among tomato farmers in the Bono and Ahafo regions of Ghana
Authors: Bandanaa Joseph , Bosomtwe Augustine , Danson-Anokye Alexander , Adjei Eric , Bissah Matilda , Kotey Daniel A.
Published: March 2024

Tomato production plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of farmers and agricultural households in the forest savanna transitional belt of Ghana. However, the success of tomato cultivation is hindered by the presence of insect pests and diseases, necessitating the use of agricultural inputs. This study aimed to identify the pesticides used in tomato farming, assess their World Health Organization (WHO) active ingredient hazard class, determine the precautionary behaviour associated with pesticide use by tomato farmers, and elucidate the socio-economic factors influencing pesticide usage in the Bono and Ahafo regions of Ghana. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 1009 respondents, who were administered a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyse the collected data. The results revealed that tomato farmers utilized 15 types of insecticides (e.g., lambda and chlorpyrifos ethyl based), 8 types of fungicides (e.g., mancozeb and sulphur + copper based), and 6 types of weedicides (mostly glyphosate based) on their crops. Notably, four insecticides and two fungicides types were found to be unregistered products. Lambda-cyhalothrin-based insecticides and mancozeb-based fungicides were predominantly used by the farmers. The assessed pesticides exhibited varying levels of hazard, ranging from slight to moderate. The study found that farmer training was a significant driver influencing insecticide use, while the educational level of farmers and average yield played important roles in determining fungicide use. Socio-economic factors such as being the head of the household, employing farm workers, the cultivated tomato variety, and farmer training influenced weedicide use. The type of tomato variety cultivated emerged as the primary socio-economic driver of pesticide use. The study recommended the establishment and implementation of a systematic monitoring regime for pesticide product marketing and use, with the aim of reducing the utilization of unregistered products by farmers. Implementing these measures supports sustainable tomato farming in the Bono and Ahafo regions of Ghana.
Academic resilience, self-efficacy, and motivation: the role of parenting style
Authors: Shengyao Ye , Salarzadeh Jenatabadi Hashem , Mengshi Ye , Minqin Chen , Xuefen Lin , Mustafa Zaida
Published: March 2024

Previous research has found that parenting style influences academic resilience. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the mechanism underlying the relationship between parenting style and academic resilience. This study aims to examine the relationship between adolescents' parenting style and academic resilience, drawing upon the framework of Social Cognitive Theory. Specifically, it wants to explore the mediating roles of self-efficacy and academic motivation in this relationship. The participants were 518 students chosen at random from educational institutions in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. Social Cognitive Theory was the theoretical foundation for the study, and the Parental Authority Questionnaire was used to measure parenting style. Out of the respondents, 55.5% were male and 45.5% female. The student allocation in the study sample was as follows: 62.34% undergraduate, 28.22% master’s, and 9.44% PhD. More than 60% of participants were over 25 years old. Moreover, the findings revealed that parenting style was directly and positively related to academic resilience. Parenting style was also found to be indirectly and positively related to academic resilience via self-efficacy and academic motivation, respectively, and sequentially. More crucially, it was discovered that the direct association was far lower than the indirect effects, with self-efficacy being the most effective. The study indicates a relationship between parenting style and academic resilience in adolescents, with self-efficacy and academic motivation acting as the main mediators. These findings emphasize the significance of these intermediary elements, implying that they play a larger role than the direct influence of parenting style alone.
Photoreduction of atrazine from aqueous solution using sulfite/iodide/UV process, degradation, kinetics and by-products pathway
Authors: Vahidi-Kolur Robabeh , Yazdanbakhsh Ahmadreza , Hosseini Seyed Arman , Sheikhmohammadi Amir
Published: March 2024

Due to its widespread use in agriculture, atrazine has entered aquatic environments and thus poses potential risks to public health. Therefore, researchers have done many studies to remove it. Advanced reduction process (ARP) is an emerging technology for degrading organic contaminants from aqueous solutions. This study was aimed at evaluating the degradation of atrazine via sulfite/iodide/UV process. The best performance (96% of atrazine degradation) was observed in the neutral pH at 60 min of reaction time, with atrazine concentration of 10 mg/L and concentration of sulfite and iodide of 1 mM. The kinetic study revealed that the removal of atrazine was matched with the pseudo-first-order model. Results have shown that reduction induced by $${{\text{e}}}_{{\text{aq}}}^{-}$$

e

aq

-

and direct photolysis dominated the degradation of atrazine. The presence of anions ($${{\text{Cl}}}^{-}$$

Cl

-

,$${{\text{CO}}}_{3}^{2-}$$

CO

3

2
-

and $${{\text{SO}}}_{4}^{2-}$$

SO

4

2
-

) did not have a significant effect on the degradation efficiency. In optimal conditions, COD and TOC removal efficiency were obtained at 32% and 4%, respectively. Atrazine degradation intermediates were generated by de-chlorination, hydroxylation, de-alkylation, and oxidation reactions. Overall, this research illustrated that Sulfite/iodide/UV process could be a promising approach for atrazine removal and similar contaminants from aqueous solutions.
Additive effects of emotional expression and stimulus size on the perception of genuine and artificial facial expressions: an ERP study
Authors: Ziereis Annika , Schacht Anne
Published: March 2024

Seeing an angry individual in close physical proximity can not only result in a larger retinal representation of that individual and an enhanced resolution of emotional cues, but may also increase motivation for rapid visual processing and action preparation. The present study investigated the effects of stimulus size and emotional expression on the perception of happy, angry, non-expressive, and scrambled faces. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioral responses of N = 40 participants who performed a naturalness classification task on real and artificially created facial expressions. While the emotion-related effects on accuracy for recognizing authentic expressions were modulated by stimulus size, ERPs showed only additive effects of stimulus size and emotional expression, with no significant interaction with size. This contrasts with previous research on emotional scenes and words. Effects of size were present in all included ERPs, whereas emotional expressions affected the N170, EPN, and LPC, irrespective of size. These results imply that the decoding of emotional valence in faces can occur even for small stimuli. Supra-additive effects in faces may necessitate larger size ranges or dynamic stimuli that increase arousal.
Consumption of red and processed meat during early pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes: a prospective birth cohort study
Authors: Norouziasl Reyhane , Jayedi Ahmad , Mirmohammadkhani Majid , Emadi Alireza , Aghaamo Shahrzad , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: March 2024

To investigate the association of red and processed meat intake with the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) in Iranian mothers. A total of 635 pregnant mothers were included. Dietary intake was assessed by a 90-item food frequency questionnaire during the first trimester of pregnancy. Intakes of total red meat, unprocessed red meat, and processed meat were calculated and then, Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95%CIs of GDM across tertiles of red meat intake while controlling for age, occupation, pre-pregnancy body mass index, physical activities, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and pregnancy hypertension, order of pregnancy, nausea during current pregnancy, multivitamin use during current pregnancy, weight gain during current pregnancy and total energy intake. The average age of the mothers was 28.80 ± 5.09 years, the average pre-pregnancy body mass index was 25.13 ± 4.43 kg/m2, and the average weight gain during pregnancy was 13.50 ± 5.03 kg. The multivariable-adjusted HRs of GDM for the third tertiles of red and processed meat, red meat, and processed meat intake were, respectively, 1.92 (95% CI 1.06, 3.49), 1.52 (95% CI 0.85, 2.72) and 1.31 (95% CI 0.73, 2.34) when compared to the first tertiles. Our prospective cohort study suggested that there was a positive association between the consumption of red and processed meat and with risk of GDM in a small sample of Iranian mothers with low red meat intake. More large-scale cohort studies in the Iranian population are needed to present more robust evidence in this regard.
Negative causal exploration of systemic sclerosis: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Han Zesen , Han Peisen , Wang Fang , Zheng Huayu , Chen Xiujian , Meng Hongyu , Li Fenglei
Published: March 2024

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is an autoimmune-related connective tissue disease with a complex and unknown pathophysiological mechanism with genes association. Several articles have reported a high prevalence of thyroid disease in SSc patients, while one study suggested a potential contribution of appendicitis to the development of SSc. To investigate this causal association, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using instrumental variables (IVs) to assess exposure and outcome. In the MR study involving two cohorts, all analyses were conducted using the TwoSampleMR package in R (version 4.3.0). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) meeting a statistically significant threshold of 5E−08 were included in the analysis. Multiple complementary approaches including MR-IVW, MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were employed to estimated the relationship between the exposure and outcome. Leave-one-out analysis and scatter plots were utilized for further investigation. Based on the locus-wide significance level, all of the MR analysis consequences manifested no causal association between the risk of appendicitis with SSc (IVW OR 0.319, 95% CI 0.063–14.055, P = 0.966). Negative causal effects of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) on SSc (IVW OR 0.131, 95% CI 0.816–1.362, P = 0.686), Graves’ disease (GD) on SSc (IVW OR 0.097, 95% CI 0.837–1.222, P = 0.908), and hypothyroidism on SSc (IVW OR 1.136, 95% CI 0.977–1.321, P = 0.096) were derived. The reverse MR revealed no significant causal effect of SSc on thyroid disease. According to the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy was unlikely to distort the causal estimates. The consequences indicated no significant association between AT, GD, and hypothyroidism with SSc. Similarly, there was no observed relationship with appendicitis.
Influence of age on the relation between body position and noninvasively acquired intracranial pulse waves
Authors: Boraschi Andrea , Hafner Matthias , Spiegelberg Andreas , Kurtcuoglu Vartan
Published: March 2024

The capacitive measurement of the head’s dielectric properties has been recently proposed as a noninvasive method for deriving surrogates of craniospinal compliance (CC), a parameter used in the evaluation of space-occupying neurological disorders. With the higher prevalence of such disorders in the older compared to the younger population, data on the head’s dielectric properties of older healthy individuals would be of particularly high value before assessing pathologic changes. However, so far only measurements on young volunteers (< 30 years) were reported. In the present study, we have investigated the capacitively obtained electric signal known as W in older healthy individuals. Thirteen healthy subjects aged > 60 years were included in the study. W was acquired in the resting state (supine horizontal position), and during head-up and head-down tilting. AMP, the peak-to-valley amplitude of W related to cardiac action, was extracted from W. AMP was higher in this older cohort compared to the previously investigated younger one (0°: 5965 ± 1677 arbitrary units (au)). During head-up tilting, AMP decreased (+ 60°: 4446 ± 1620 au, P < 0.001), whereas it increased during head-down tilting (− 30°: 7600 ± 2123 au, P < 0.001), as also observed in the younger cohort. Our observation that AMP, a metric potentially reflective of CC, is higher in the older compared to the younger cohort aligns with the expected decrease of CC with age. Furthermore, the robustness of AMP is reinforced by the consistent relative changes observed during tilt testing in both cohorts.
Multi-platform whole genome sequencing for tuberculosis clinical and surveillance applications
Authors: Thorpe Joseph , Sawaengdee Waritta , Ward Daniel , Campos Monica , Wichukchinda Nuanjun , Chaiyasirinroje Boonchai , Thanraka Aungkana , Chumpol Jaluporn , Phelan Jody E. , Campino Susana , Mahasirimongkol Surakameth , Clark Taane G.
Published: March 2024

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis offers valuable insights for tuberculosis (TB) control. High throughput platforms like Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) are increasingly used globally, although ONT is known for higher error rates and is less established for genomic studies. Here we present a study comparing the sequencing outputs of both Illumina and ONT platforms, analysing DNA from 59 clinical isolates in highly endemic TB regions of Thailand. The resulting sequence data were used to profile the M. tuberculosis pairs for their lineage, drug resistance and presence in transmission chains, and were compared to publicly available WGS data from Thailand (n = 1456). Our results revealed isolates that are predominantly from lineages 1 and 2, with consistent drug resistance profiles, including six multidrug-resistant strains; however, analysis of ONT data showed longer phylogenetic branches, emphasising the technologies higher error rate. An analysis incorporating the larger dataset identified fifteen of our samples within six potential transmission clusters, including a significant clade of 41 multi-drug resistant isolates. ONT's extended sequences also revealed strain-specific structural variants in pe/ppe genes (e.g. ppe50), which are candidate loci for vaccine development. Despite some limitations, our results show that ONT sequencing is a promising approach for TB genomic research, supporting precision medicine and decision-making in areas with less developed infrastructure, which is crucial for tackling the disease’s significant regional burden.
Impact of diabetes distress on glycemic control and diabetic complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Park Hye-Sun , Cho Yongin , Seo Da Hea , Ahn Seong Hee , Hong Seongbin , Suh Young Ju , Chon Suk , Woo Jeong-Taek , Baik Sei Hyun , Lee Kwan Woo , Kim So Hun
Published: March 2024

The effect of diabetes distress on glycemic control and its association with diabetes complications is still poorly understood. We aimed to study the clinical features of patients with high diabetes distress, focusing on changes in glycemic control and risk of diabetic complications. From the Korean National Diabetes Program data, we investigated 1862 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who completed diabetic complication studies and the Korean version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey (PAID-K). A total score of PAID-K ≥ 40 was considered indicative of high distress. Individuals with high distress (n = 589) had significantly higher levels of glycated hemoglobin than those without distress (7.4% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001). This trend persisted throughout the 3-year follow-up period. Higher PAID-K scores were associated with younger age, female gender, longer duration of diabetes, and higher carbohydrate intake (all p < 0.05). There was a significant association between high distress and diabetic neuropathy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.63; p = 0.002), but no significant association was found with other complications, including retinopathy, albuminuria, and carotid artery plaque. In conclusion, high diabetes distress was associated with uncontrolled hyperglycemia and higher odds of having diabetic neuropathy.
Performance enhancement of the solar still using textiles and polyurethane rollers
Authors: Wiener Jakub , Khan Muhammad Zaman , Shah Kaushal
Published: March 2024

The acquisition of clean drinking water in regions with limited power sources has been a challenge of paramount concern. Solar stills have emerged as a popular and sustainable option for obtaining clean water in such regions. This process involves employing solar radiation to heat up water, which is then condensed to obtain potable water. The present study introduces a solar still system that is both cost-effective and energy-efficient, while simultaneously ensuring sustainability. Fabric-coated polyurethane rollers with capillary action enhance evaporation area, leading to notable performance improvements. Water vapour condensed on the cooling chamber's inclined aluminium plate and collected in the distillate chamber within the solar still. The thermal, energetic, and economic performance and productivity of the proposed model were evaluated. The fabricated solar still boasted maximum instantaneous system efficiency and exergy efficiency of approximately 62.16% and 7.67%, respectively. This system's cost-effectiveness and performance improvements are particularly noteworthy. The daily average distillate productivity of the proposed still was estimated at 1.14 L/m2, resulting in an annual production rate of 416.54 L/year. The estimated cost of producing 1 L of distillate was 0.023 $.
Association between admission hemoglobin level and prognosis in sepsis patients based on a critical care database
Authors: Peng Hongchun , Su Yingjie , Luo Ju , Ding Ning
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to explore the association between admission hemoglobin level and clinical outcomes in sepsis based on Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV(MIMIC-IV) database. It was a retrospective study. Sepsis patients in the database were included. Data extraction from MIMIC-IV was performed by PostgreSQL 9.6 software. Three different models including crude model (adjusted for none), model I (adjusted for gender and age) and model II (adjusted for all potential cofounders) were constructed. A generalized liner model and a smooth fitting curve for indicating the relationship between hemoglobin level and 30-day mortality were performed. 6249 septic patients with a 30.18% of 30-day mortality were included. With 1 g/dl increment in hemoglobin level, the values of odds ratio (OR) in crude model, model I and model II were 0.96 (95% confidential interval (CI) 0.94–0.99, P = 0.0023), 0.96 (95%CI 0.93–0.98, P = 0.0010) and 0.87 (95%CI 0.79–0.95, P = 0.0020), respectively. The smooth fitting curve indicated a non-linear relationship and the turning point was 7.2 g/dl. Compared the hemoglobin group < 7.2 g/dl, the risk of 30-day mortality significantly decreased by 32% in the hemoglobin group ≥ 7.2 g/dl (OR = 0.68, 95%CI 0.51–0.93, P = 0.0142). The non-linear relationship between admission hemoglobin level and 30-day mortality in sepsis was found. Hemoglobin supplementation might be beneficial for septic patients with hemoglobin level < 7.2 g/dl.