bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Future Changes in Regional Tropical Cyclone Wind, Precipitation, and Flooding Using Event‐Based Downscaling
Authors: Michalek Alexander , Done James M. , Villarini Gabriele
Published: June 2024

Understanding changes in the hazard component of climate risk is important to inform societal resilience planning in a changing climate. Here, we examine local changes in wind speed, rainfall, and flooding related to tropical cyclones (TCs) and compare them across statistical and dynamical modeling approaches. Our focus region is the Delaware River Basin, located in the northeastern United States. We pair event‐based downscaling with large ensemble climate model information to capture the details of extreme TC wind, rain, and flooding, and their likelihood, in a changing climate. We identify local TCs in the Community Earth System Model 2 Large Ensemble (CESM2‐LENS). We find fewer TCs in the future, but these future storms have higher wind speeds and are wetter. We also find that TCs produce heavier 3‐day precipitation distributions than all other summertime weather events, with TCs constituting a larger percentage of the upper tail of the full precipitation distribution. With this information, we identify a small collection of 200‐year return events and compare the resulting TC rain and wind across dynamical and statistical downscaling methods. We find that dynamical downscaling produces peak rain rates far higher than CESM or the statistical downscaling method. It can also produce quite different future changes in precipitation totals for the small set of events considered here. This leads to vastly different flood responses. Overall, our results highlight the need to interpret future changes of event‐based simulations in the context of downscaling method limitations.
Statistical‐Physical Adversarial Learning From Data and Models for Downscaling Rainfall Extremes
Authors: Saha Anamitra , Ravela Sai
Published: June 2024

Quantifying the risk from extreme weather events in a changing climate is essential for developing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. Climate models capturing different scenarios are often the starting point for physical risk. However, accurate risk assessment for mitigation and adaptation often demands a level of detail they typically cannot resolve. Here, we develop a dynamic data‐driven downscaling (super‐resolution) method that incorporates physics and statistics in a generative framework to learn the fine‐scale spatial details of rainfall. Our approach transforms coarse‐resolution (0.25°) climate model outputs into high‐resolution (0.01°) rainfall fields while efficaciously quantifying the hazard and its uncertainty. The downscaled rainfall fields closely match observed spatial fields and their distributions. Contrary to conventional thinking, our results suggest that coupling simple statistics and physics to learning improves the efficacy of downscaling midlatitude rainfall extremes from climate models.
Distinct Central and Eastern Pacific El Niño Influence on Antarctic Surface Mass Balance
Authors: Macha J. M. A. , Mackintosh A. N. , McCormack F. S. , Henley B. J. , McGregor H. V. , van Dalum C. T. , Purich A.
Published: June 2024

The El Niño‐Southern Oscillation causes anomalous atmospheric circulation, temperature and precipitation across southern polar latitudes, but the influence of Central and Eastern Pacific El Niño events on Antarctic surface mass balance and snow accumulation has not yet been assessed. Here, we use reanalysis and reanalysis‐forced regional climate model output and find that Central Pacific El Niño results in significantly increased snow accumulation in the western Ross Sea sector and significantly decreased snow accumulation in the Amundsen Sea sector. Eastern Pacific El Niño is associated with similar but weaker patterns, with some regional exceptions. In some areas, like Dronning Maud Land, or the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, the effect of El Niño on snow accumulation changes from increased to reduced accumulation depending on the type of El Niño. Our results show that projecting El Niño types is important for constraining future changes in Antarctic surface mass balance.
A meta-analysis of the effects of ketamine on suicidal ideation in depression patients
Authors: Shen ZuoYao , Gao DaiQuan , Lv Xue , Wang HongXing , Yue WeiHua
Published: June 2024

The treatment of suicidal ideation in patients with depression has been a major problem faced by psychiatric and emergency departments, and reasonable drug selection is particularly important. Ketamine has been shown to reduce suicidal ideation rapidly, but the strength of the effect is unclear and there is little evidence-based medical evidence to support this. We systematically searched all articles published on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI and EMBASE. Stata 15 and R 4.1.3 were used for meta-analysis, and odds ratios were calculated in fixed effects or random effects models based on the heterogeneity test results. Our search resulted in 505 articles; we analyzed 14 studies, which included 1,380 participants. The 14 studies included 10 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies and 4 single-arm studies. Our study suggests that, ketamine has a significant therapeutic effect on suicidal ideation throughout the treatment cycle. We performed network meta-analyses(NMA) and pairwise meta-analyses to compare the efficacy of ketamine in the reduction of suicidal ideation. There was a significant reduction in suicidal ideation within the first day after treatment (NMA ketamine day1 RR = 10.02, 95%CI = 4.24 to 23.68). In repeated treatment, the degree of recovery of suicidal ideation after the last dose was significantly greater than that after the first dose (RR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.51 to 0.62). Recovery of suicidal ideation was also significantly better in the treatment end point than in the placebo group at the same time point (NMA ketamine day26 RR = 4.29, 95%CI = 1.41 to 13.08). This is the first network meta-analysis to demonstrate the role of ketamine in the alleviation of suicidal ideation. Our network meta-analysis also compared the effects of different drugs at different time points, which was not done in previous studies. This is of great reference significance for future drug research andrational drug use.
Planar cell polarity proteins mediate ketamine-induced restoration of glutamatergic synapses in prefrontal cortical neurons in a mouse model for chronic stress
Authors: Freitas Andiara E. , Feng Bo , Woo Timothy , Galli Shae , Baker Clayton , Ban Yue , Truong Jonathan , Beyeler Anna , Zou Yimin
Published: June 2024

Single administration of low-dose ketamine has both acute and sustained anti-depressant effects. Sustained effect is associated with restoration of glutamatergic synapses in medial prefrontal cortic (mFPC) neurons. Ketamine induced profound changes in a number of molecular pathways in a mouse model for chronic stress. Cell-cell communication analyses predicted that planar-cell-polarity (PCP) signaling was decreased after chronic administration of corticosterone but increased following ketamine administration in most of the excitatory neurons. Similar decrease of PCP signaling in excitatory neurons was predicted in dorsolateral prefrontal cortical (dl-PFC) neurons of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We showed that the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-projecting infralimbic prefrontal cortex (IL PFC) neurons regulate immobility time in the tail suspension test and food consumption. Conditionally knocking out Celsr2 and Celsr3 or Prickle2 in the BLA-projecting IL PFC neurons abolished ketamine-induced synapse restoration and behavioral remission. Therefore, PCP proteins in IL PFC-BLA neurons mediate synapse restoration induced by of low-dose ketamine.
Identification and characterization of Varicella Zoster Virus circular RNA in lytic infection
Authors: Yang Shaomin , Cao Di , Jaijyan Dabbu Kumar , Wang Mei , Liu Jian , Cruz-cosme Ruth , Wu Songbin , Huang Jiabin , Zeng Mulan , Liu Xiaolian , Sun Wuping , Xiong Donglin , Tang Qiyi , Xiao Lizu , Zhu Hua
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the context of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) lytic infection. We employ two sequencing technologies, short-read sequencing and long-read sequencing, following RNase R treatment on VZV-infected neuroblastoma cells to identify and characterize both cellular and viral circRNAs. Our large scanning analysis identifies and subsequent experiments confirm 200 VZV circRNAs. Moreover, we discover numerous VZV latency-associated transcripts (VLTs)-like circRNAs (circVLTslytic), which contain multiple exons and different isoforms within the same back-splicing breakpoint. To understand the functional significance of these circVLTslytic, we utilize the Bacteria Artificial Chromosome system to disrupt the expression of viral circRNAs in genomic DNA location. We reveal that the sequence flanking circVLTs’ 5’ splice donor plays a pivotal role as a cis-acting element in the formation of circVLTslytic. The circVLTslytic is dispensable for VZV replication, but the mutation downstream of circVLTslytic exon 5 leads to increased acyclovir sensitivity in VZV infection models. This suggests that circVLTslytic may have a role in modulating the sensitivity to antiviral treatment. The findings shed new insight into the regulation of cellular and viral transcription during VZV lytic infection, emphasizing the intricate interplay between circRNAs and viral processes.
Midbrain glutamatergic circuit mechanism of resilience to socially transferred allodynia in male mice
Authors: Han Yi , Ai Lin , Song Lingzhen , Zhou Yu , Chen Dandan , Sha Sha , Ji Ran , Li Qize , Bu Qingyang , Pan Xiangyu , Zhai Xiaojing , Cui Mengqiao , Duan Jiawen , Yang Junxia , Chaudhury Dipesh , Hu Ankang , Liu He , Han Ming-Hu , Cao Jun-Li , Zhang Hongxing
Published: June 2024

The potential brain mechanism underlying resilience to socially transferred allodynia remains unknown. Here, we utilize a well-established socially transferred allodynia paradigm to segregate male mice into pain-susceptible and pain-resilient subgroups. Brain screening results show that ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons are selectively activated in pain-resilient mice as compared to control and pain-susceptible mice. Chemogenetic manipulations demonstrate that activation and inhibition of ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons bi-directionally regulate resilience to socially transferred allodynia. Moreover, ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons that project specifically to the nucleus accumbens shell and lateral habenula regulate the development and maintenance of the pain-resilient phenotype, respectively. Together, we establish an approach to explore individual variations in pain response and identify ventral tegmental area glutamatergic neurons and related downstream circuits as critical targets for resilience to socially transferred allodynia and the development of conceptually innovative analgesics.
Silver coordination-induced n-doping of PCBM for stable and efficient inverted perovskite solar cells
Authors: Gong Cheng , Li Haiyun , Wang Huaxin , Zhang Cong , Zhuang Qixin , Wang Awen , Xu Zhiyuan , Cai Wensi , Li Ru , Li Xiong , Zang Zhigang
Published: June 2024

The bidirectional migration of halides and silver causes irreversible chemical corrosion to the electrodes and perovskite layer, affecting long-term operation stability of perovskite solar cells. Here we propose a silver coordination-induced n-doping of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester strategy to safeguard Ag electrode against corrosion and impede the migration of iodine within the PSCs. Meanwhile, the coordination between DCBP and silver induces n-doping in the PCBM layer, accelerating electron extraction from the perovskite layer. The resultant PSCs demonstrate an efficiency of 26.03% (certified 25.51%) with a minimal non-radiative voltage loss of 126 mV. The PCE of resulting devices retain 95% of their initial value after 2500 h of continuous maximum power point tracking under one-sun irradiation, and > 90% of their initial value even after 1500 h of accelerated aging at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity.
Noisy qudit vs multiple qubits: conditions on gate efficiency for enhancing fidelity
Authors: Janković Denis , Hartmann Jean-Gabriel , Ruben Mario , Hervieux Paul-Antoine
Published: June 2024

As qubit-based platforms face near-term technical challenges in terms of scalability, qudits, d-level bases of quantum information, are being implemented in multiple platforms as an alternative for Quantum Information Processing (QIP). We compare the infidelity scalings of single qudit and multiqubit systems within identical Hilbert space dimensions and noisy environments in the Lindblad formalism. We find them to be gate-independent to first-order and present an analytically-derived critical curve $$({d}^{2}-1)/3{\log }_{2}(d)$$

(

d

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1

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/
3

log

2

(

d

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that benchmarks the operational time efficiency of qudits and qubits relative to their decoherence times. This comparison reveals conditions under which qudits offer competitive gate efficiencies compared to leading qubit platforms. Our findings, supported by numerical simulations testing the applicability and limits of the linear response formalism, highlight the relevance of qudits in near-term QIP. This provides a benchmark for evaluating qudit platforms, specifically those with lower dimensionality, in terms of their operational efficiency relative to the qubit state-of-the-art.
interFLOW: maximum flow framework for the identification of factors mediating the signaling convergence of multiple receptors
Authors: Sheinin Ron , Salomon Koren , Yeini Eilam , Dulberg Shai , Kaminitz Ayelet , Satchi-Fainaro Ronit , Sharan Roded , Madi Asaf
Published: June 2024

Cell-cell crosstalk involves simultaneous interactions of multiple receptors and ligands, followed by downstream signaling cascades working through receptors converging at dominant transcription factors, which then integrate and propagate multiple signals into a cellular response. Single-cell RNAseq of multiple cell subsets isolated from a defined microenvironment provides us with a unique opportunity to learn about such interactions reflected in their gene expression levels. We developed the interFLOW framework to map the potential ligand-receptor interactions between different cell subsets based on a maximum flow computation in a network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The maximum flow approach further allows characterization of the intracellular downstream signal transduction from differentially expressed receptors towards dominant transcription factors, therefore, enabling the association between a set of receptors and their downstream activated pathways. Importantly, we were able to identify key transcription factors toward which the convergence of multiple receptor signaling pathways occurs. These identified factors have a unique role in the integration and propagation of signaling following specific cell-cell interactions.
Safety and efficacy of C. muridarum vaccines adjuvanted with CpG-1826 and four concentrations of Montanide-ISA-720-VG
Authors: Slepenkin Anatoli , Pal Sukumar , Rasley Amy , Coleman Matthew A. , de la Maza Luis M.
Published: June 2024

It is recommended that the adjuvant Montanide ISA 720 VG be used at a concentration of 70% v/v. At this concentration, Montanide causes at the site of immunization a local granuloma that can last for several weeks. To determine the safety and protective efficacy of a Chlamydia muridarum MOMP vaccine, formulated with CpG-1826 and four different concentrations of Montanide (70%, 50%, 30% and 10%), BALB/c (H-2d) female mice were immunized twice intramuscularly. Local reactogenicity was significant for vaccines formulated with 70% or 50% Montanide but not for those inoculated with 30% or 10% Montanide. Robust humoral and cell mediated memory immune responses were elicited by the 70%, 50% and 30% Montanide formulations. Mice were challenged intranasally with 104 C. muridarum inclusion forming units (IFU). Based on changes in body weight, lungs’s weight and number of IFU recovered, mice vaccinated with the 70%, 50% and 30% Montanide formulations were significantly protected, but not mice receiving 10% Montanide. To conclude, we recommend the 30% Montanide concentration to be tested in humans and animal models to determine its safety and efficacy, in comparison to the 70% Montanide concentration currently used. The 30% Montanide formulation could significantly facilitate licensing of this adjuvant for human use.
T-cell immunity induced and reshaped by an anti-HPV immuno-oncotherapeutic lentiviral vector
Authors: Fert Ingrid , Douguet Laëtitia , Vesin Benjamin , Moncoq Fanny , Noirat Amandine , Authié Pierre , Ciret Sylvain , Le Chevalier Fabien , Blanc Catherine , Vitrenko Yakov , Charneau Pierre , Majlessi Laleh , Anna François
Published: June 2024

We recently developed an immuno-oncotherapy against human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced tumors based on a lentiviral vector encoding the Early E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16 and HPV18 genotypes, namely “Lenti-HPV-07”. The robust and long-lasting anti-tumor efficacy of Lenti-HPV-07 is dependent on CD8+ T-cell induction and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. Here, we first established that anti-vector immunity induced by Lenti-HPV-07 prime has no impact on the efficacy of a homologous boost to amplify anti-HPV T-cell immunity. To longitudinally monitor the evolution of the T-cell repertoire generated after the prime, homologous or heterologous boost with Lenti-HPV-07, we tracked T-cell clonotypes by deep sequencing of T-Cell Receptor (TCR) variable β and α chain mRNA, applied to whole peripheral blood cells (PBL) and a T cell population specific of an immunodominant E7HPV16 epitope. We observed a hyper-expansion of clonotypes post prime, accompanied by increased frequencies of HPV-07-specific T cells. Additionally, there was a notable diversification of clonotypes post boost in whole PBL, but not in the E7HPV16-specific T cells. We then demonstrated that the effector functions of such Lenti-HPV-07-induced T cells synergize with anti-checkpoint inhibitory treatments by systemic administration of anti-TIM3 or anti-NKG2A monoclonal antibodies. While Lenti-HPV-07 is about to enter a Phase I/IIa clinical trial, these results will help better elucidate its mode of action in immunotherapy against established HPV-mediated malignancies.
Artificially regulated humification in creating humic-like biostimulators
Authors: Sun Kai , Niu Ziyan , Xiao Shenghua , Qi Xuemin , Li Shunyao , Chen Meihua , Dai Lingzhi , Si Youbin
Published: June 2024

Humic substances (HSs), as the “black gold” of global agriculture, have a crucial environmental significance in cleaning harmful compounds, maintaining carbon mass balance, and increasing crop productivity. Unfortunately, the resources of HSs extracted from nature are insufficient, causing the supply, demand, and budget of the humus market to gradually increase. Given the analogous architectures of lignin and HSs, artificially regulated humification (ARH) has a great potential for directionally controlling the oxidative cleavage of lignin and/or the radical copolymerization of lignin precursors, to produce reassembled oligomers and/or polymers that can compare favorably with the function and efficacy of HSs. Herein, different ARH strategies are innovatively proposed to tackle hazardous chemicals and create humic-like biostimulators (H-LBs). We briefly describe the characteristics and functionalities of natural HSs, and summarize the latest approaches and mechanisms of lignin and its precursor-based ARH. In particular, the ARH routes of bio-composting, laccase catalysis, white-rot fungal degradation, Fenton-based advanced oxidation, and hydrothermal humification are comparatively highlighted to govern harmful substrates, enhance carbon sequestration, generate H-LBs, and practice sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the mechanisms for promoting crop growth of H-LBs are also illustrated. Advances in modulating humification pathways may solve the technological bottlenecks of ARH in-situ and ex-situ by well-stocked lignin and its small derivatives, which are important for decontaminating contaminants, reducing CO2 emissions, and enriching H-LBs in agroecosystems.
A folding motif formed with an expanded genetic alphabet
Authors: Wang Bang , Rocca James R. , Hoshika Shuichi , Chen Cen , Yang Zunyi , Esmaeeli Reza , Wang Jianguo , Pan Xiaoshu , Lu Jianrong , Wang Kevin K. , Cao Y. Charles , Tan Weihong , Benner Steven A.
Published: June 2024

Adding synthetic nucleotides to DNA increases the linear information density of DNA molecules. Here we report that it also can increase the diversity of their three-dimensional folds. Specifically, an additional nucleotide (dZ, with a 5-nitro-6-aminopyridone nucleobase), placed at twelve sites in a 23-nucleotides-long DNA strand, creates a fairly stable unimolecular structure (that is, the folded Z-motif, or fZ-motif) that melts at 66.5 °C at pH 8.5. Spectroscopic, gel and two-dimensional NMR analyses show that the folded Z-motif is held together by six reverse skinny dZ−:dZ base pairs, analogous to the crystal structure of the free heterocycle. Fluorescence tagging shows that the dZ−:dZ pairs join parallel strands in a four-stranded compact down–up–down–up fold. These have two possible structures: one with intercalated dZ−:dZ base pairs, the second without intercalation. The intercalated structure would resemble the i-motif formed by dC:dC+-reversed pairing at pH ≤ 6.5. This fZ-motif may therefore help DNA form compact structures needed for binding and catalysis.
Multi-cohort analysis reveals immune subtypes and predictive biomarkers in tuberculosis
Authors: Li Ling , Wang Tao , Chen Zhi , Liang Jianqin , Ding Hong
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat, necessitating effective strategies for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. This study employs a multi-cohort analysis approach to unravel the immune microenvironment of TB and delineate distinct subtypes within pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. Leveraging functional gene expression signatures (Fges), we identified three PTB subtypes (C1, C2, and C3) characterized by differential immune-inflammatory activity. These subtypes exhibited unique molecular features, functional disparities, and cell infiltration patterns, suggesting varying disease trajectories and treatment responses. A neural network model was developed to predict PTB progression based on a set of biomarker genes, achieving promising accuracy. Notably, despite both genders being affected by PTB, females exhibited a relatively higher risk of deterioration. Additionally, single-cell analysis provided insights into enhanced major histocompatibility complex (MHC) signaling in the rapid clearance of early pathogens in the C3 subgroup. This comprehensive approach offers valuable insights into PTB pathogenesis, facilitating personalized treatment strategies and precision medicine interventions.
Investigating the impact of the quantity of wet and dry cycles on the mechanical characteristics and fracture variations of sandstones
Authors: He Ruiyu , Tang Xin , Yin Hong , Qin Yujia , Guo Zhengchao , Fang Li , Zhou Xiaoyi , Zhou Yuerong
Published: June 2024

The sandstone is in a state of dry–wet cycle under the repeated action of rainfall, and its mechanical properties are deteriorated to varying degrees, which causes cracks in the sandstone. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties and fracture propagation of sandstone under the action of dry–wet cycles. Currently, there are limited studies using numerical simulation methods to study the fracture extension of rocks under various dry and wet cycling conditions.Therefore, in this paper, the effects of different amounts of dry and wet cycling on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of sandstone are investigated through uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations of fracture extension. The findings indicate that the deformation stage of sandstone remains unchanged by the dry–wet cycle. The uniaxial compressive potency and coefficient of restitution gradually diminish as the quantity of cycles rises, while the Poisson's ratio exhibits the opposite trend, and the impact on the mechanical performance of sandstone wanes with cycle increments, and the correlation coefficient surpasses 0.93, signifying a substantial influence of the dry–wet cycle on sandstone's mechanical performances. The discrepancy between the numerical simulation and experimental results is minimal, with a maximum error of only 3.1%, demonstrating the congruence of the simulation and experimental outcomes.The mesoscopic examination of the simulations indicates that the quantity of fractures in the sandstone specimens rises with the escalation of dry–wet cycles, and the steps of analysis linked to crack inception and fracture propagation are accelerated, and the analysis steps from fracture initiation to penetration are also reduced.
Quality of life and associated factors for community health workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Forte Franklin Delano Soares , Vieira Neiva Francenely Cunha , Farias Sidney Feitoza , Campelo Isabella Lima Barbosa , Castro Marcia , Yousafzai Aisha Khizar , Vieira-Meyer Anya Pimentel Gomes Fernandes
Published: June 2024

In this study, we evaluated the quality of life (QoL) and associated factors of community health workers (CHWs) in different urban settings as a contributor to the preparedness of Brazilian primary care for future sanitary emergencies. The sample included 1935 CHWs from 4 state capitals and 4 inland municipalities in northeastern Brazil. Information was collected on QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), work routines, sociodemographics, direct and indirect exposure to violence, general self-efficacy, social support (MSPSS), mental health (SRQ-20) and coronavirus anxiety. The data were subjected to multiple linear regression analysis (α = 5%). In the state capitals, the factors associated with loss of QoL were poor mental health, lack of training, uncertainty about occupational biosafety, and lack of adaptation of services to tend to patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the inland municipalities, the main factors were coronavirus anxiety, poor mental health, lack of adaptation of services, lack of training, and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). A high MSPSS (family and friends) score and self-efficacy had positive impacts on QoL in both urban settings. Our results highlight the need for investment in permanent education, PPE, social support, and mental health care for CHWs.
Efficient deep learning-based approach for malaria detection using red blood cell smears
Authors: Mujahid Muhammad , Rustam Furqan , Shafique Rahman , Montero Elizabeth Caro , Alvarado Eduardo Silva , de la Torre Diez Isabel , Ashraf Imran
Published: June 2024

Malaria is an extremely malignant disease and is caused by the bites of infected female mosquitoes. This disease is not only infectious among humans, but among animals as well. Malaria causes mild symptoms like fever, headache, sweating and vomiting, and muscle discomfort; severe symptoms include coma, seizures, and kidney failure. The timely identification of malaria parasites is a challenging and chaotic endeavor for health staff. An expert technician examines the schematic blood smears of infected red blood cells through a microscope. The conventional methods for identifying malaria are not efficient. Machine learning approaches are effective for simple classification challenges but not for complex tasks. Furthermore, machine learning involves rigorous feature engineering to train the model and detect patterns in the features. On the other hand, deep learning works well with complex tasks and automatically extracts low and high-level features from the images to detect disease. In this paper, EfficientNet, a deep learning-based approach for detecting Malaria, is proposed that uses red blood cell images. Experiments are carried out and performance comparison is made with pre-trained deep learning models. In addition, k-fold cross-validation is also used to substantiate the results of the proposed approach. Experiments show that the proposed approach is 97.57% accurate in detecting Malaria from red blood cell images and can be beneficial practically for medical healthcare staff.
Electrospray deposition of physical unclonable functions for drug anti-counterfeiting
Authors: Kingsley Bryce J. , Schaffer J. David , Chiarot Paul R.
Published: June 2024

In recent years, pharmaceutical counterfeiting has become an increasingly dangerous situation. A patient who unknowingly consumes a counterfeit drug is at a serious health risk. To address this problem, a low-cost and robust approach for authentication that can be administered at the point-of-care is required. Our proposed solution uses Optical Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs); patterns formed by a stochastic process that can be used for authentication. We create edible PUFs (ePUFs) using electrospray deposition, which utilizes strong electric fields to atomize a liquid suspension into a plume of micro-scale droplets that are delivered to the target. The ePUFs are electrospray-deposited from an edible ink directly onto the surface of the drug tablets. The process parameters (flow rate, translation speed, and suspension concentration) govern the characteristics of the ePUF to provide highly stochastic patterns. To evaluate our approach, 200 ePUFs were deposited onto tablets at various conditions, followed by imaging and storage of the patterns in a database. For ePUF authentication, a machine vision approach was created using the open source SIFT pattern matching algorithm. Using optimized pattern-matching constraints, our algorithm was shown to be 100% successful in authenticating the cellphone images of the ePUFs to the database. Additionally, the algorithm was found to be robust against changes in illumination and orientation of the cellphone images.
Legal analysis of South Korean cosmetic filler litigations for safer medical practices
Authors: Kang Daihun , Hong Seung Eun
Published: June 2024

Cosmetic filler injections have gained popularity in recent years, but the rise in complications has led to an increase in legal disputes. This study analyzes civil court rulings related to cosmetic filler injection lawsuits in South Korea from 2007 to 2023. A retrospective case analysis was performed using a systematic database search, and a mixed-methods approach was employed for data analysis. The study examined 27 cases, revealing a high rate of liability findings against medical practitioners. Skin necrosis and blindness were the most common complications, and intravascular filler injection was recognized as negligence. Violation of informed consent was found in most cases, with mean compensation awards of ￦193,019,107 KRW ($142,831 USD) for first instance cases and ￦81,845,052 KRW ($60,564 USD) for second instance cases. The findings emphasize the importance of practitioner awareness, adherence to precautionary measures, and proactive prevention and management of complications. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for developing strategies that prioritize patient safety and minimize legal disputes in the aesthetic medicine industry. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing medical practices and safeguarding patient well-being in the field of cosmetic filler injections.
ProteinCoLoc streamlines Bayesian analysis of colocalization in microscopic images
Authors: Seefelder Manuel , Kochanek Stefan , Klein Fabrice A. C.
Published: June 2024

Colocalization, the spatial overlap of molecular entities, is often key to support their involvement in common functions. Existing colocalization tools, however, face limitations, particularly because of their basic statistical analysis and their low-throughput manual entry processes making them unsuitable for automation and potentially introducing bias. These shortcomings underscore the need for user-friendly tools streamlining colocalization assessments and enabling their robust and automated quantitative analyses. We have developed ProteinCoLoc, an innovative software designed for automated high-throughput colocalization analyses and incorporating advanced statistical features such as Bayesian modelling, automatic background detection and localised correlation analysis. ProteinCoLoc rationalises colocalization assessments without manual input, comes with a user-friendly graphical user interface and provides various analytics allowing to study and locally quantify colocalization. This easy-to-use application presents numerous advantages, including a direct comparison with controls employing a Bayesian model and the analysis of local correlation patterns, while reducing hands-on time through automatic background detection. The software was validated while studying the colocalization pattern of two proteins forming a stable complex: the huntingtin protein (HTT) and its partner huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40). Our results showcase the software’s capacity to quantitatively assess colocalizations. ProteinCoLoc is available both as a Julia package and as a compiled software (https://github.com/ma-seefelder/ProteinCoLoc).
Influence of triangular obstacles on droplet breakup dynamics in microfluidic systems
Authors: Tazikeh Lemeski Azadeh , Seyyedi Seyyed Masoud , Hashemi-Tilehnoee Mehdi , Naeimi Azadeh Sadat
Published: June 2024

Microfluidic devices with complex geometries and obstacles have attracted considerable interest in biomedical engineering and chemical analysis. Understanding droplet breakup behavior within these systems is crucial for optimizing their design and performance. This study investigates the influence of triangular obstacles on droplet breakup processes in microchannels. Two distinct types of triangular obstructions, positioned at the bifurcation (case I) and aligned with the flow (case II), are analyzed to evaluate their impact on droplet behavior. The investigation considers various parameters, including the Capillary number (Ca), non-dimensional droplet length (L*), non-dimensional height (A*), and non-dimensional base length (B*) of the triangle. Utilizing numerical simulations with COMSOL software, the study reveals that the presence of triangular obstacles significantly alters droplet breakup dynamics. Importantly, the shape and location of the obstacle emerge as key factors governing breakup characteristics. Results indicate faster breakup of the initial droplet when the obstacle is positioned in the center of the microchannel for case I. For case II, the study aims to identify conditions under which droplets either break up into unequal-sized entities or remain intact, depending on various flow conditions. The findings identify five distinct regimes: no breakup, breakup without a tunnel, breakup with a tunnel, droplet fragmentation into unequal-sized parts, and sorting. These regimes depend on the presence or absence of triangular obstacles and the specific flow conditions. This investigation enhances our understanding of droplet behavior within intricate microfluidic systems and provides valuable insights for optimizing the design and functionality of droplet manipulation and separation devices. Notably, the results emphasize the significant role played by triangular obstacles in droplet breakup dynamics, with the obstacle’s shape and position being critical determinants of breakup characteristics.
RPS24 alternative splicing is a marker of cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Park Jiyeon , Nam Da Hae , Kim Dokyeong , Chung Yeun-Jun
Published: June 2024

Although alternative splicing (AS) is a major mechanism that adds diversity to gene expression patterns, its precise role in generating variability in ribosomal proteins, known as ribosomal heterogeneity, remains unclear. The ribosomal protein S24 (RPS24) gene, encoding a ribosomal component, undergoes AS; however, in-depth studies have been challenging because of three microexons between exons 4 and 6. We conducted a detailed analysis of RPS24 AS isoforms using a direct approach to investigate the splicing junctions related to these microexons, focusing on four AS isoforms. Each of these isoforms showed tissue specificity and relative differences in expression among cancer types. Significant differences in the proportions of these RPS24 AS isoforms between cancerous and normal tissues across diverse cancer types were also observed. Our study highlighted a significant correlation between the expression levels of a specific RPS24 AS isoform and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in lung and breast cancers. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing AS of ribosomal protein genes and highlights the biological implications of RPS24 AS isoforms in tissue development and tumorigenesis.
Detection of CLCF1 protein expression by flow cytometry
Authors: Laplante Véronique , Rousseau Marine , Lombard-Vadnais Félix , Nadeau Ulysse , Nazha Agathe , Schmouth Jean-François , Sharma Mukut , Lesage Sylvie , Gauchat Jean-François , Pasquin Sarah
Published: June 2024

Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) is an IL-6 family cytokine with neurotrophic and immuno-modulating functions. CLCF1 mRNA has been detected in primary and secondary lymphoid organs, and up-regulation of CLCF1 mRNA levels has been associated with the T helper (Th) 17 polarization. However, information regarding CLCF1 expression by immune cells at the protein level remains scarce. We have developed a methodology that uses a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against CLCF1 for the detection of human and mouse CLCF1 by flow cytometry. We have successfully detected CLCF1 protein expression in cells from the mouse pro-B cell line Ba/F3 that were transduced with CLCF1 cDNA. Interestingly, we found that the anti-CLCF1 mAb inhibits CLCF1 biological activity in vitro by binding to an epitope that encompasses site III of the cytokine. Moreover, we have detected CLCF1 expression in mouse splenic T cells, as well as in vitro differentiated Th1 cells. The specificity of the fluorescence signal was demonstrated using Clcf1-deficient lymphocytes generated using a conditional knock-out mouse model. The detection of CLCF1 protein by flow cytometry will be a valuable tool to study CLCF1 expression during normal and pathological immune responses.
Effect of nutritional status on occurrence of pneumonia after traumatic cervical spinal cord injury
Authors: Hayashi Tetsuo , Fujiwara Yuichi , Irie Momo , Masuda Muneaki , Sakai Hiroaki , Kobayashi Hiromitsu , Kawano Osamu , Maeda Takeshi
Published: June 2024

Pneumonia after cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is a common and serious complication; however, its nutrition-related etiology has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of nutritional factors on pneumonia after CSCI. Patients with acute traumatic CSCI who were admitted within 3 days after injury and followed up for at least 3 months were retrospectively examined. Occurrence of pneumonia, nutritional status, severity of dysphagia, vital capacity, use of respirators, and motor scores for paralysis were evaluated. Of 182 patients included in this study, 33 (18%) developed pneumonia. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that low nutritional status, severe paralysis, and low vital capacity were significant risk factors for pneumonia. The severity of paralysis, respiratory dysfunction, and poor nutritional status can affect the occurrence of pneumonia after CSCI. In addition to respiratory management, nutritional assessment and intervention may play key roles in preventing pneumonia associated with spinal cord injury-induced immune depression. Nutritional care should be provided as soon as possible when the nutritional status of a patient worsens after an injury.
Finding influential nodes in complex networks based on Kullback–Leibler model within the neighborhood
Authors: Wang Guan , Sun Zejun , Wang Tianqin , Li Yuanzhe , Hu Haifeng
Published: June 2024

As a research hot topic in the field of network security, the implementation of machine learning, such as federated learning, involves information interactions among a large number of distributed network devices. If we regard these distributed network devices and connection relationships as a complex network, we can identify the influential nodes to find the crucial points for optimizing the imbalance of the reliability of devices in federated learning system. This paper will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of existing algorithms for identifying influential nodes in complex networks, and propose a method from the perspective of information dissemination for finding influential nodes based on Kullback–Leibler divergence model within the neighborhood (KLN). Firstly, the KLN algorithm removes a node to simulate the scenario of node failure in the information dissemination process. Secondly, KLN evaluates the loss of information entropy within the neighborhood after node removal by establishing the KL divergence model. Finally, it assesses the damage influence of the removed node by integrating the network attributes and KL divergence model, thus achieving the evaluation of node importance. To validate the performance of KLN, this paper conducts an analysis and comparison of its results with those of 11 other algorithms on 10 networks, using SIR model as a reference. Additionally, a case study was undertaken on a real epidemic propagation network, leading to the proposal of management and control strategies for daily protection based on the influential nodes. The experimental results indicate that KLN effectively evaluates the importance of the removed node using KL model within the neighborhood, and demonstrate better accuracy and applicability across networks of different scales.
Natural allelic variation confers diversity in the regulation of flag leaf traits in wheat
Authors: Schierenbeck Matías , Alqudah Ahmad Mohammad , Thabet Samar Gamal , Avogadro Evangelina Gabriela , Dietz Juan Ignacio , Simón María Rosa , Börner Andreas
Published: June 2024

Flag leaf (FL) dimension has been reported as a key ecophysiological aspect for boosting grain yield in wheat. A worldwide winter wheat panel consisting of 261 accessions was tested to examine the phenotypical variation and identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) with candidate genes influencing FL morphology. To this end, four FL traits were evaluated during the early milk stage under two growing seasons at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research. The results showed that all leaf traits (Flag leaf length, width, area, and length/width ratio) were significantly influenced by the environments, genotypes, and environments × genotypes interactions. Then, a genome-wide association analysis was performed using 17,093 SNPs that showed 10 novel QTNs that potentially play a role in modulating FL morphology in at least two environments. Further analysis revealed 8 high-confidence candidate genes likely involved in these traits and showing high expression values from flag leaf expansion until its senescence and also during grain development. An important QTN (wsnp_RFL_Contig2177_1500201) was associated with FL width and located inside TraesCS3B02G047300 at chromosome 3B. This gene encodes a major facilitator, sugar transporter-like, and showed the highest expression values among the candidate genes reported, suggesting their positive role in controlling flag leaf and potentially being involved in photosynthetic assimilation. Our study suggests that the detection of novel marker-trait associations and the subsequent elucidation of the genetic mechanism influencing FL morphology would be of interest for improving plant architecture, light capture, and photosynthetic efficiency during grain development.
Topological optimization and fatigue life prediction of a single pad externally adjustable fluid film bearing
Authors: Kamat Harishkumar , Pai Anand , Vernekar Navaneeth Krishna , Kini Chandrakant R. , Shenoy Satish B.
Published: June 2024

This work focuses on the prediction and comparison of the fatigue life of topologically optimized pads in an externally adjustable fluid film (EAFF) bearing. It integrates one-way/two-way fluid–structure interaction analysis, topological optimization (TO), and design modifications of the pad of an externally adjustable fluid film bearing. The major goal is to create an optimum pad design that minimizes weight and maintains structural integrity, and then to predict and compare the fatigue life of these alternative designs. The outcomes of the present study are as follows: (i) Two-way FSI results show a decrease of 65.64% in hydrodynamic fluid film pressure when compared to one-way FSI results because they take into account modifications in the fluid region's geometry caused by pad deformation; (ii) even though the maximum pad deformation in optimized pad geometry (Type-4) resulting from oil film pressure is relatively small (0.0036551 mm), the influence of pad deformation on the fluid domain due to hydrodynamic fluid film pressure cannot be understated; and (iii) when comparing the TO technique's results with fatigue life results, four elongated holes in the radial direction (Type-4) are most appropriate.
Residues of atrazine and diuron in rice straw, soils, and air post herbicide-contaminated straw biomass burning
Authors: Lamnoi Suteekan , Boonupara Thirasant , Sumitsawan Sulak , Vongruang Patipat , Prapamontol Tippawan , Udomkun Patchimaporn , Kaewlom Puangrat
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the environmental impact of burning herbicide-contaminated biomass, focusing on atrazine (ATZ) and diuron (DIU) sprayed on rice straw prior to burning. Samples of soil, biomass residues, total suspended particulate (TSP), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM10), and aerosols were collected and analyzed. Soil analysis before and after burning contaminated biomass showed significant changes, with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) initially constituting 79.2% and decreasing by 3.3 times post-burning. Atrazine-desethyl, sebuthylazine, and terbuthylazine were detected post-burning. In raw rice straw biomass, terbuthylazine dominated at 80.0%, but burning ATZ-contaminated biomass led to the detection of atrazine-desethyl and notable increases in sebuthylazine and terbuthylazine. Conversely, burning DIU-contaminated biomass resulted in a shift to 2,4-D dominance. Analysis of atmospheric components showed changes in TSP, PM10, and aerosol samples. Linuron in ambient TSP decreased by 1.6 times after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass, while atrazine increased by 2.9 times. Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), increased by approximately 9.9 to 13.9 times after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass. In PM10, BaA and BaP concentrations increased by approximately 11.4 and 19.0 times, respectively, after burning ATZ-contaminated biomass. This study sheds light on the environmental risks posed by burning herbicide-contaminated biomass, emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management. The findings underscore the importance of regulatory measures to mitigate environmental contamination and protect human health.