bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of pulsatile ERK activity in mouse embryonic stem cells is regulated by Raf activity
Authors: Toyooka Yayoi , Aoki Kazuhiro , Usami Fumiko Matsukawa , Oka Sanae , Kato Azusa , Fujimori Toshihiko
Published: June 2023

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a serine/threonine kinase that is known to regulate cellular events such as cell proliferation and differentiation. The ERK signaling pathway is activated by fibroblast growth factors, and is considered to be indispensable for the differentiation of primitive endoderm cells, not only in mouse preimplantation embryos, but also in embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture. To monitor ERK activity in living undifferentiated and differentiating ESCs, we established EKAREV-NLS-EB5 ESC lines that stably express EKAREV-NLS, a biosensor based on the principle of fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Using EKAREV-NLS-EB5, we found that ERK activity exhibited pulsatile dynamics. ESCs were classified into two groups: active cells showing high-frequency ERK pulses, and inactive cells demonstrating no detectable ERK pulses during live imaging. Pharmacological inhibition of major components in the ERK signaling pathway revealed that Raf plays an important role in determining the pattern of ERK pulses.
Comparative analysis between operative and non-operative acetabular labral tear injuries in division 1 collegiate athletes
Authors: Hyland Scott S. , Maeso Andres D. , Rogers Mark , Goforth Mike , Brolinson P. Gunnar
Published: June 2023

Acetabular labral tears have shown to be difficult to diagnose and manage in an active and competitive athletic population. The goal of this study was to compare NCAA Division 1 collegiate athletes undergoing operative and non-operative management of their labral injuries by assessing ability to return to competition and secondarily evaluate days lost from sport. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on Division 1 collegiate athletes from 2005 to 2020, incorporating all varsity university sports. Records showing MRI confirmed diagnosis were included in the cohort, as well as all pertinent clinical data. Data revealed 10/18 (55%) of individuals managed conservatively versus 23/29 (79%) surgically (p-value = 0.0834) were able to return to sport following treatment. Of those athletes, 22 surgical patients experienced a mean of 324 days ± 223 days lost from sport and nine conservatively managed patients experienced a mean of 27 days ± 70 lost days (p-value < 0.001) Seven of nine conservatively managed patients were able to continue competition while undergoing treatment. Findings suggest no statistical significance regarding operative vs non-operative management of acetabular labral tears. The majority of athletes returning to sport and treated conservatively were able to resume competition during treatment. Therefore, treatment of these injuries should be individualized based on athlete’s symptoms.
Relationships between cognitive biases, decision-making, and delusions
Authors: Sheffield Julia M. , Smith Ryan , Suthaharan Praveen , Leptourgos Pantelis , Corlett Philip R.
Published: June 2023

Multiple measures of decision-making under uncertainty (e.g. jumping to conclusions (JTC), bias against disconfirmatory evidence (BADE), win-switch behavior, random exploration) have been associated with delusional thinking in independent studies. Yet, it is unknown whether these variables explain shared or unique variance in delusional thinking, and whether these relationships are specific to paranoia or delusional ideation more broadly. Additionally, the underlying computational mechanisms require further investigation. To investigate these questions, task and self-report data were collected in 88 individuals (46 healthy controls, 42 schizophrenia-spectrum) and included measures of cognitive biases and behavior on probabilistic reversal learning and explore/exploit tasks. Of those, only win-switch rate significantly differed between groups. In regression, reversal learning performance, random exploration, and poor evidence integration during BADE showed significant, independent associations with paranoia. Only self-reported JTC was associated with delusional ideation, controlling for paranoia. Computational parameters increased the proportion of variance explained in paranoia. Overall, decision-making influenced by strong volatility and variability is specifically associated with paranoia, whereas self-reported hasty decision-making is specifically associated with other themes of delusional ideation. These aspects of decision-making under uncertainty may therefore represent distinct cognitive processes that, together, have the potential to worsen delusional thinking across the psychosis spectrum.
Influence of slope angle on deposit morphology and propagation of laboratory landslides
Authors: Wu Yan-Bin , Duan Zhao , Peng Jian-Bing , Zhang Qing , Pähtz Thomas
Published: June 2023

Landslide deposits often exhibit surface features, such as transverse ridges and X-shaped conjugate troughs, whose physical formation origins are not well understood. To study the deposit morphology, laboratory studies typically focus on the simplest landslide geometry: an inclined plane accelerating the sliding mass immediately followed by its deceleration on a horizontal plane. However, existing experiments have been conducted only for a limited range of the slope angle θ. Here, we study the effect of θ on the kinematics and deposit morphology of laboratory landslides along a low-friction base, measured using an advanced 3D scanner. At low θ (30°–35°), we find transverse ridges formed by overthrusting on the landslide deposits. At moderate θ (40°–55°), conjugate troughs form. A Mohr–Coulomb failure model predicts the angle enclosed by the X-shaped troughs as 90° − φ, with φ the internal friction angle, in agreement with our experiments and a natural landslide. This supports the speculation that conjugate troughs form due to failure associated with a triaxial shear stress. At high θ (60°–85°), a double-upheaval morphology forms because the rear of the sliding mass impacts the front during the transition from the slope to the horizontal plane. The overall surface area of the landslides increases during their downslope motion and then decreases during their runout.
The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on myocardial function in post-COVID-19 syndrome patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Leitman Marina , Fuchs Shmuel , Tyomkin Vladimir , Hadanny Amir , Zilberman-Itskovich Shani , Efrati Shai
Published: June 2023

Post-COVID-19 condition refers to a range of persisting physical, neurocognitive, and neuropsychological symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent evidence revealed that post-COVID-19 syndrome patients may suffer from cardiac dysfunction and are at increased risk for a broad range of cardiovascular disorders. This randomized, sham-control, double-blind trial evaluated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the cardiac function of post-COVID-19 patients with ongoing symptoms for at least three months after confirmed infection. Sixty patients were randomized to receive 40 daily HBOT or sham sessions. They underwent echocardiography at baseline and 1–3 weeks after the last protocol session. Twenty-nine (48.3%) patients had reduced global longitudinal strain (GLS) at baseline. Of them, 13 (43.3%) and 16 (53.3%) were allocated to the sham and HBOT groups, respectively. Compared to the sham group, GLS significantly increased following HBOT (− 17.8 ± 1.1 to − 20.2 ± 1.0,p = 0.0001), with a significant group-by-time interaction (p = 0.041). In conclusion, post-COVID-19 syndrome patients despite normal EF often have subclinical left ventricular dysfunction that is characterized by mildly reduced GLS. HBOT promotes left ventricular systolic function recovery in patients suffering from post COVID-19 condition. Further studies are needed to optimize patient selection and evaluate long-term outcomes.

This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04647656 on 01/12/2020.
Fabrication of biochar-based superhydrophobic coating on steel substrate and its UV resistance, anti-scaling, and corrosion resistance performance
Authors: Mohamed M. E. , Adel O. , Khamis E.
Published: June 2023

In this study, we report an eco-friendly and facile process for the synthesis of biochar, BC, and a cobalt-biochar nanocomposite, Co-BC, using rice straw biomass. We constructed two superhydrophobic coatings on steel substrates using potentiostatic electrodeposition of nickel-modified biochar, Ni@BC, and nickel modified by cobalt-biochar nanocomposite, Ni@Co-BC, then, these coatings were soaked in an ethanolic stearic acid solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the stearic acid-grafted Ni@BC coating, Ni@BC@SA, and the stearic acid-grafted Ni@Co-BC composite, Ni@Co-BC@SA, were well grafted on the steel surface. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the superhydrophobic coatings have nanoscale features. Atomic force microscopy results showed that the Ni@Co-BC@SA coat had higher roughness than Ni@BC@SA, resulting in higher superhydrophobicity. The water contact angles for Ni@BC@SA and Ni@Co-BC@SA coatings were 161° and 165°, respectively, while the values of water sliding angles for both coatings were 3.0° and 1.0°, respectively. Quantitative estimation of the scale inhibition efficiency revealed that the Ni@Co-BC@SA coating exhibited greater efficiency compared to the Ni@BC@SA coating. Additionally, the Ni@Co-BC@SA coating demonstrated improved corrosion resistance, UV resistance, mechanical abrasion resistance, and chemical stability compared to the Ni@BC@SA coating. These results highlight the superior performance of the Ni@Co-BC@SA coating and its potential as a highly effective and durable superhydrophobic coating for steel substrates.
A correlation of the adsorption capacity of perovskite/biochar composite with the metal ion characteristics
Authors: Ali Shimaa M. , El Mansop Mohamed A. , Galal Ahmed , Abd El Wahab Soha M. , El-Etr Wafaa M. T. , Zein El-Abdeen Hanaa A.
Published: June 2023

LaFeO3/biochar composite is prepared by cellulose-modified microwave-assisted method at 450 °C. The structure is identified by Raman spectrum which, consists of characteristics biochar bands and octahedral perovskite chemical shifts. The morphology is examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM); two phases are observed, rough microporous biochar and orthorhombic perovskite particles. The BET surface area of the composite is 57.63 m2/g. The prepared composite is applied as a sorbent for the removal of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ions from aqueous solutions and wastewater. The adsorption ability reaches a maximum at pH > 6 for Cd2+, and Cu2+ions, and is pH-independent for Pb2+ions adsorption. The adsorption follows pseudo 2nd order kinetic model, Langmuir isotherm for Pb2+ions, and Temkin isotherms for Cd2+, and Cu2+ions. The maximum adsorption capacities,qm, are 606, 391, and 112 mg/g for Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ions, respectively. The electrostatic interaction is responsible for the adsorption of Cd2+, and Cu2+ions on LaFeO3/biochar composite. In case of Pb2+ions form a complex with the surface functional groups of the adsorbate. LaFeO3/biochar composite shows high selectivity for the studied metal ions and excellent performance in real samples. The proposed sorbent can be easily regenerated and effectively reused.
Human skin gas profile of individuals with the people allergic to me phenomenon
Authors: Sekine Yoshika , Oikawa Daisuke , Todaka Michihito
Published: June 2023

Recent studies have shown that some people claim that their skin gases provoke allergy-like reactions in people in their near vicinity. Such a phenomenon or symptom is called ‘people allergic to me (PATM)’. Although numerous people suffer from PATM, the actual conditions are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of human skin profiles in patients with PATM by measuring the dermal emission fluxes of 75 skin gases using passive flux sampler and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We found common features in the human skin gas profiles of 20 subjects with PATM, with a significant difference from those of 24 non-PATM subjects: greater emissions of petrochemicals, organosulfur compounds, and some aldehydes and lower emissions of aroma compounds and others. The ratio of toluene to benzaldehyde is considered a vital sign that suggests the fundamental of PATM. These findings indicate that PATM is a medically unexplained phenomenon or symptom worthy of further research, which requires an interdisciplinary approach.
Comparing the efficacy in reducing brain injury of different neuroprotective agents following neonatal hypoxia–ischemia in newborn rats: a multi-drug randomized controlled screening trial
Authors: Sabir Hemmen , Maes Elke , Zweyer Margit , Schleehuber Yvonne , Imam Farhad B. , Silverman Jared , White Yasmine , Pang Raymand , Pasca Anca M. , Robertson Nicola J. , Maltepe Emin , Bernis Maria E.
Published: June 2023

Intrapartum hypoxia–ischemia leading to neonatal encephalopathy (NE) results in significant neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide, with > 85% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Therapeutic hypothermia (HT) is currently the only available safe and effective treatment of HIE in high-income countries (HIC); however, it has shown limited safety or efficacy in LMIC. Therefore, other therapies are urgently required. We aimed to compare the treatment effects of putative neuroprotective drug candidates following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in an established P7 rat Vannucci model. We conducted the first multi-drug randomized controlled preclinical screening trial, investigating 25 potential therapeutic agents using a standardized experimental setting in which P7 rat pups were exposed to unilateral HI brain injury. The brains were analysed for unilateral hemispheric brain area loss after 7 days survival. Twenty animal experiments were performed. Eight of the 25 therapeutic agents significantly reduced brain area loss with the strongest treatment effect for Caffeine, Sonic Hedgehog Agonist (SAG) and Allopurinol, followed by Melatonin, Clemastine, ß-Hydroxybutyrate, Omegaven, and Iodide. The probability of efficacy was superior to that of HT for Caffeine, SAG, Allopurinol, Melatonin, Clemastine, ß-hydroxybutyrate, and Omegaven. We provide the results of the first systematic preclinical screening of potential neuroprotective treatments and present alternative single therapies that may be promising treatment options for HT in LMIC.
First identification of Tyrophagus curvipenis (Acari: Acaridae) and pathogen detection in Apis mellifera colonies in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Nguyen Thi-Thu , Yoo Mi-Sun , Truong A-Tai , Lee Jong Ho , Youn So Youn , Lee Se-Ji , Kim Dong-Ho , Yoon Soon-Seek , Cho Yun Sang
Published: June 2023

Mites of the genus Tyrophagus (Acari: Acaridae) are among the most widely distributed mites. The species in this genus cause damage to stored products and crops, and pose a threat to human health. However, the influence of Tyrophagus spp. in apiculture remains unknown. In 2022, a study focusing on the identification of Tyrophagus species within five apiaries was conducted in Chungcheongnam Province, Republic of Korea. Its specific objective was to investigate the presence of Tyrophagus mites in response to the reported high mortality of honey bee colonies in this area. Morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome-c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) confirmed for the first time the presence of the mite species Tyrophagus curvipenis in a honey bee colony in the Republic of Korea. Two honey bee pathogens were detected in the mite, a viral pathogen (deformed wing virus, DWV) and a protozoal pathogen (Trypanosoma spp.). The presence of the two honey bee pathogens in the mite suggests that this mite could contribute to the spread of related honey bee diseases. However, the direct influence of the mite T. curvipenis on honey bee health remains unknown and should be further investigated.
Whole genome analysis for 163 gRNAs in Cas9-edited mice reveals minimal off-target activity
Authors: Peterson Kevin A. , Khalouei Sam , Hanafi Nour , Wood Joshua A. , Lanza Denise G. , Lintott Lauri G. , Willis Brandon J. , Seavitt John R. , Braun Robert E. , Dickinson Mary E. , White Jacqueline K. , Lloyd K. C. Kent , Heaney Jason D. , Murray Stephen A. , Ramani Arun , Nutter Lauryl M. J.
Published: June 2023

Genome editing with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins holds exceptional promise for “correcting” variants causing genetic disease. To realize this promise, off-target genomic changes cannot occur during the editing process. Here, we use whole genome sequencing to compare the genomes of 50 Cas9-edited founder mice to 28 untreated control mice to assess the occurrence of S. pyogenes Cas9-induced off-target mutagenesis. Computational analysis of whole-genome sequencing data detects 26 unique sequence variants at 23 predicted off-target sites for 18/163 guides used. While computationally detected variants are identified in 30% (15/50) of Cas9 gene-edited founder animals, only 38% (10/26) of the variants in 8/15 founders validate by Sanger sequencing. In vitro assays for Cas9 off-target activity identify only two unpredicted off-target sites present in genome sequencing data. In total, only 4.9% (8/163) of guides tested have detectable off-target activity, a rate of 0.2 Cas9 off-target mutations per founder analyzed. In comparison, we observe ~1,100 unique variants in each mouse regardless of genome exposure to Cas9 indicating off-target variants comprise a small fraction of genetic heterogeneity in Cas9-edited mice. These findings will inform future design and use of Cas9-edited animal models as well as provide context for evaluating off-target potential in genetically diverse patient populations.
Transposons contribute to the acquisition of cell type-specific cis-elements in the brain
Authors: Sekine Kotaro , Onoguchi Masahiro , Hamada Michiaki
Published: June 2023

Mammalian brains have evolved in stages over a long history to acquire higher functions. Recently, several transposable element (TE) families have been shown to evolve into cis-regulatory elements of brain-specific genes. However, it is not fully understood how TEs are important for gene regulatory networks. Here, we performed a single-cell level analysis using public data of scATAC-seq to discover TE-derived cis-elements that are important for specific cell types. Our results suggest that DNA elements derived from TEs, MER130 and MamRep434, can function as transcription factor-binding sites based on their internal motifs for Neurod2 and Lhx2, respectively, especially in glutamatergic neuronal progenitors. Furthermore, MER130- and MamRep434-derived cis-elements were amplified in the ancestors of Amniota and Eutheria, respectively. These results suggest that the acquisition of cis-elements with TEs occurred in different stages during evolution and may contribute to the acquisition of different functions or morphologies in the brain.
Decadal stability in coral cover could mask hidden changes on reefs in the East Asian Seas
Authors: Chan Y. K. S. , Affendi Y. A. , Ang P. O. , Baria-Rodriguez M. V. , Chen C. A. , Chui A. P. Y. , Giyanto  , Glue M. , Huang H. , Kuo C-Y. , Kim S. W. , Lam V. Y. Y. , Lane D. J. W. , Lian J. S. , Lin S. M. N. N. , Lunn Z. , Nañola C. L. , Nguyen V. L. , Park H. S. , Suharsono  , Sutthacheep M. , Vo S. T. , Vibol O. , Waheed Z. , Yamano H. , Yeemin T. , Yong E. , Kimura T. , Tun K. , Chou L. M. , Huang D.
Published: June 2023

Coral reefs in the Central Indo-Pacific region comprise some of the most diverse and yet threatened marine habitats. While reef monitoring has grown throughout the region in recent years, studies of coral reef benthic cover remain limited in spatial and temporal scales. Here, we analysed 24,365 reef surveys performed over 37 years at 1972 sites throughout East Asia by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network using Bayesian approaches. Our results show that overall coral cover at surveyed reefs has not declined as suggested in previous studies and compared to reef regions like the Caribbean. Concurrently, macroalgal cover has not increased, with no indications of phase shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on reefs. Yet, models incorporating socio-economic and environmental variables reveal negative associations of coral cover with coastal urbanisation and sea surface temperature. The diversity of reef assemblages may have mitigated cover declines thus far, but climate change could threaten reef resilience. We recommend prioritisation of regionally coordinated, locally collaborative long-term studies for better contextualisation of monitoring data and analyses, which are essential for achieving reef conservation goals.
Critical scaling of whole-brain resting-state dynamics
Authors: Ponce-Alvarez Adrián , Kringelbach Morten L. , Deco Gustavo
Published: June 2023

Scale invariance is a characteristic of neural activity. How this property emerges from neural interactions remains a fundamental question. Here, we studied the relation between scale-invariant brain dynamics and structural connectivity by analyzing human resting-state (rs-) fMRI signals, together with diffusion MRI (dMRI) connectivity and its approximation as an exponentially decaying function of the distance between brain regions. We analyzed the rs-fMRI dynamics using functional connectivity and a recently proposed phenomenological renormalization group (PRG) method that tracks the change of collective activity after successive coarse-graining at different scales. We found that brain dynamics display power-law correlations and power-law scaling as a function of PRG coarse-graining based on functional or structural connectivity. Moreover, we modeled the brain activity using a network of spins interacting through large-scale connectivity and presenting a phase transition between ordered and disordered phases. Within this simple model, we found that the observed scaling features were likely to emerge from critical dynamics and connections exponentially decaying with distance. In conclusion, our study tests the PRG method using large-scale brain activity and theoretical models and suggests that scaling of rs-fMRI activity relates to criticality.
Integrative genomic analyses of promoter G-quadruplexes reveal their selective constraint and association with gene activation
Authors: Li Guangyue , Su Gongbo , Wang Yunxuan , Wang Wenmeng , Shi Jinming , Li Dangdang , Sui Guangchao
Published: June 2023

G-quadruplexes (G4s) regulate DNA replication and gene transcription, and are enriched in promoters without fully appreciated functional relevance. Here we show high selection pressure on putative G4 (pG4) forming sequences in promoters through investigating genetic and genomic data. Analyses of 76,156 whole-genome sequences reveal that G-tracts and connecting loops in promoter pG4s display lower or higher allele frequencies, respectively, than pG4-flanking regions, and central guanines (Gs) in G-tracts show higher selection pressure than other Gs. Additionally, pG4-promoters produce over 72.4% of transcripts, and promoter G4-containing genes are expressed at relatively high levels. Most genes repressed by TMPyP4, a G4-ligand, regulate epigenetic processes, and promoter G4s are enriched with gene activation histone marks, chromatin remodeler and transcription factor binding sites. Consistently, cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) are enriched in promoter pG4s and their G-tracts. Overall, our study demonstrates selective constraint of promoter G4s and reinforces their stimulative role in gene expression.
Mixed-linker strategy for suppressing structural flexibility of metal-organic framework membranes for gas separation
Authors: Chang Chung-Kai , Ko Ting-Rong , Lin Tsai-Yu , Lin Yen-Chun , Yu Hyun Jung , Lee Jong Suk , Li Yi-Pei , Wu Heng-Liang , Kang Dun-Yen
Published: June 2023

Structural flexibility is a critical issue that limits the application of metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes for gas separation. Herein we propose a mixed-linker approach to suppress the structural flexibility of the CAU-10-based (CAU = Christian-Albrechts-University) membranes. Specifically, pure CAU-10-PDC membranes display high separation performance but at the same time are highly unstable for the separation of CO2/CH4. A partial substitution (30 mol.%) of the linker PDC with BDC significantly improves its stability. Such an approach also allows for decreasing the aperture size of MOFs. The optimized CAU-10-PDC-H (70/30) membrane possesses a high separation performance for CO2/CH4 (separation factor of 74.2 and CO2 permeability of 1,111.1 Barrer under 2 bar of feed pressure at 35°C). A combination of in situ characterization with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, as well as periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, unveils the origin of the mixed-linker approach to enhancing the structural stability of the mixed-linker CAU-10-based membranes during the gas permeation tests.
Structure of a 10-23 deoxyribozyme exhibiting a homodimer conformation
Authors: Cramer Evan R. , Starcovic Sarah A. , Avey Rebekah M. , Kaya Ali I. , Robart Aaron R.
Published: June 2023

Deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) are in vitro evolved DNA sequences capable of catalyzing chemical reactions. The RNA-cleaving 10-23 DNAzyme was the first DNAzyme to be evolved and possesses clinical and biotechnical applications as a biosensor and a knockdown agent. DNAzymes do not require the recruitment of other components to cleave RNA and can turnover, thus they have a distinct advantage over other knockdown methods (siRNA, CRISPR, morpholinos). Despite this, a lack of structural and mechanistic information has hindered the optimization and application of the 10-23 DNAzyme. Here, we report a 2.7 Å crystal structure of the RNA-cleaving 10-23 DNAzyme in a homodimer conformation. Although proper coordination of the DNAzyme to substrate is observed along with intriguing patterns of bound magnesium ions, the dimer conformation likely does not capture the true catalytic form of the 10-23 DNAzyme.
Accounting for 16S rRNA copy number prediction uncertainty and its implications in bacterial diversity analyses
Authors: Gao Yingnan , Wu Martin
Published: June 2023

16S rRNA gene copy number (16S GCN) varies among bacterial species and this variation introduces potential biases to microbial diversity analyses using 16S rRNA read counts. To correct the biases, methods have been developed to predict 16S GCN. A recent study suggests that the prediction uncertainty can be so great that copy number correction is not justified in practice. Here we develop RasperGade16S, a novel method and software to better model and capture the inherent uncertainty in 16S GCN prediction. RasperGade16S implements a maximum likelihood framework of pulsed evolution model and explicitly accounts for intraspecific GCN variation and heterogeneous GCN evolution rates among species. Using cross-validation, we show that our method provides robust confidence estimates for the GCN predictions and outperforms other methods in both precision and recall. We have predicted GCN for 592605 OTUs in the SILVA database and tested 113842 bacterial communities that represent an exhaustive and diverse list of engineered and natural environments. We found that the prediction uncertainty is small enough for 99% of the communities that 16S GCN correction should improve their compositional and functional profiles estimated using 16S rRNA reads. On the other hand, we found that GCN variation has limited impacts on beta-diversity analyses such as PCoA, NMDS, PERMANOVA and random-forest test.
Flexible graphite films with high cross-plane thermal conductivity prepared by graphitization of polyimide catalyzed by Ni-coated-CNTs
Authors: Li Shuaizhen , Zheng Zhibo , Liu Siwei , Chi Zhenguo , Zhang Yi , Xu Jiarui
Published: June 2023

Graphite films are widely used in microelectronic devices as heat-dissipation materials due to their high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion coefficient and lightweight.
A novel ZnO/viologen photochromic composite film with a rapid UV response for rewritable paper, solar UV detection, smart windows and anti-counterfeiting
Authors: Chen Na , Yong Wan-Xiong , Xiong Tuo-Dong , Fu Guo-Dong
Published: June 2023

The synergistic effects of the photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs and the photochromic properties of viologens make the film rapidly respond to UV-irradiation.
A shape‐based clustering algorithm and its application to load data
Authors: Li Naiwen , Wu Xian , Dong Jianjun , Zhang Dan
Published: June 2023

The popularity of smart metres has brought a huge amount of demand‐side data, which provides important information for the demand response of the power sector, to guide practitioners to understand the customers' electricity usage behaviours and patterns. Clustering analysis of customers' daily load data is an important tool for mining users' consumption habits and achieve non‐fixed market segmentation. Since the load data is time series, it is inappropriate to perform clustering directly without extracting targeted features. Therefore, according to the shape features of the daily load curve, a shape‐based clustering algorithm called BDKM is proposed. The algorithm first uses the B‐splines regression to fit the time series data to extract morphological features, and then the objects are segmented based on the dynamic time warping distance by clustering. Finally, the real world daily customers' load data is used to prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm based on B‐splines regression.
Robust tube‐based distributed MPC for PWA systems
Authors: Ma Aoyun , Li Dewei , Xi Yugeng
Published: June 2023

A robust tube‐based distributed model predictive control method is proposed for spatially interconnected systems with constraints and disturbances. The system contains multiple discrete‐time piecewise affine subsystems, which are coupled to each other through states. The predictive states of each subsystem are dependent on its states, inputs, and neighbouring states, and shrinking constraints are constructed to deal with the disturbances and the model mismatches. The differences between the predicted states at the current time instant and the optimal states at the previous time instant are constrained, which improves the accuracy of the predicted model and enhances the control performance. The conditions which ensure the recursive feasibility of optimization problems and the asymptotic stability of closed‐loop system are obtained. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the simulation results.
All‐SiC 99.4%‐efficient three‐phase T‐type inverter with DC‐side common‐mode filter
Authors: Anderson Jon Azurza , Marciano Daniele , Huber Jonas , Deboy Gerald , Busatto Giovanni , Kolar Johann W.
Published: June 2023

This letter presents a hardware demonstrator of an all‐SiC three‐level T‐type (3LTT) inverter with the common‐mode (CM) EMI filter stages placed on the DC input instead of the AC output side, targeting, for example, high‐efficiency PV applications. The extensive experimental characterization shows that state‐of‐the‐art SiC transistors and a DC‐side CM filter enable an unprecedented peak/full‐load efficiency of 99.4% (calorimetric measurement) at 12.5 kW and a power density of 2.4 kW/dm3 (39 W/in3). The demonstrator fulfills CISPR 11 Class A EMI regulations as well as upcoming EMI standards for the frequency range of 9–150 kHz. Compared to other high‐efficiency converters, which often employ bridge legs with more output voltage levels, the described 3LTT concept thus offers a very favorable trade‐off between complexity and performance.
A progressive segmentation with weight contrast label enhancement for weakly supervised video salient object detection
Authors: Lu Zelin , Liang Haoran , Xu Binwei , Liang Ronghua
Published: June 2023

Scribble labels have gained increasing attention in the field of weakly supervised video salient object detection (VSOD). Based on scribble labels, latest methods can spread labeled pixels to unlabeled regions using local coherence loss, but predicted objects often lose detail and boundary information. In this work, a novel method based on back‐foreground weight contrast is proposed that adds label enhancement points to facilitate the model to learn the edge, detail and location of salient object. Additionally, a new VSOD framework based on global structural localization is introduced. Enhanced scribble labels are used to assist the model for global localization, and then the located regions are finely segmented by the trained model. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the method achieves the state‐of‐the‐art performance on common VSOD datasets, with an improvement of 3.75%, 4.68%, and 0.88% in S‐measure, F‐measure, and MAE, respectively.
Automatic refinement of ephemeris‐derived range‐Doppler model through the least‐squares matching of Sentinel‐1 Single‐Look Complex images and DEM in mountainous areas
Authors: Saeedi Amale Hamidreza , Safdarinezhad Alireza
Published: June 2023

Range‐Doppler model is a transformation that relates ground and Single‐Look Complex SAR image spaces by knowing the instantaneous position and velocity of the sensor in its trajectory. Its instantaneous position and velocities are determined with the help of vectorial functions, which their precisions directly influence the accuracy of the range‐Doppler model. Ephemeris data is one of the sources used for the estimation of temporal functions. Some reasons can cause uncertainty in the temporal function directly derived from the satellite navigation data. Ground control points are other alternatives for calibration of the range‐Doppler model whose visual measurements are difficult in the mountainous areas of Sentinel‐1 Single‐Look Complex images due to their resolutions and distortions. The temporal functions of the range‐Doppler model are refined through numerous control points extracted from the automatic matching between Single‐Look Complex images and Digital Elevation Model. For this purpose, the radiometric and geometric similarities of the Single‐Look Complex images and Digital Elevation Model in mountainous areas are first increased based on the initial range‐Doppler model, and then their geometric discrepancies are compensated with the least‐squares image matching method. The results indicated that the proposed method in mountainous areas could automatically compensate for up to 30 pixels errors and reach sub‐pixel accuracies.
Recognizing technique variation in rock engravings: ArchCUT3-D for micromorphological analysis
Authors: Dubinsky Lena , David Marcelo , Grosman Leore
Published: June 2023

Ancient rock engravings evoke the interest of archeologists and art historians as an important remnant of human cultures. Traditionally, engraved images are studied based on iconography, iconology, and stylistic characteristics, with little emphasis on execution technology. In contrast, the research method presented in this study strives to characterize the techniques adopted for making rock engravings in ancient times, with technological variations considered as indicators of the engraver’s production process. 3-D scans of two ancient engravings and contemporary graffiti were obtained from Site 25 in Timna Park, Southern Israel. The models were analyzed with ArchCUT3-D, a software specifically developed to precisely evaluate the 3-D micromorphological characteristics of the incisions making up the engraving. The software analyzes the surface micromorphology by extracting 3-D slices of the incisions using an accurate and repeatable method. Our results indicate that different incisions were executed by remarkably distinct techniques of stroking the rock surface with a sharp tool. The identification of discriminant characteristics enabled us to demonstrate the particularities of the engraving operations, such as ergonomic conditions and the level of consistency of the engraving gesture. ArchCUT3-D thus provides a computational method for incision technique recognition through micromorphology specifications, and the reconstruction of engraving gestures and individual production procedures.
Poverty and Private Law: Beyond Distributive Justice
Authors: Dagan Hanoch , Dorfman Avihay
Published: June 2023

Poverty has so far been overwhelmingly understood as a state of distributive injustice. As a result, the debate in private law theory about the role of private law in alleviating poverty has essentially collapsed into the question of whether private law could, and should, promote distributive justice. We challenge the terms of this debate and, in particular, poverty’s reduction to its distributive dimension. We argue that poverty is a social condition with direct implications for the transactional freedom and equal standing of the person affected by it. In particular, poverty can impair one person’s ability to interact with another on terms reflecting reciprocal respect for their self-determination and substantive equality. Our account identifies institutional limitations on the operationalization of poverty accommodation in private law on the one hand, while elaborating promising ways for incorporating poverty into a broad range of private law interactions on the other.
The diverse diaspora of CAM: a pole-to-pole sketch
Authors: Holtum Joseph A M
Published: June 2023

Background

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis is a successful adaptation that has evolved often in angiosperms, gymnosperms, ferns and lycophytes. Present in ~5 % of vascular plants, the CAM diaspora includes all continents apart from Antarctica. Species with CAM inhabit most landscapes colonized by vascular plants, from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego, from below sea level to 4800 m a.s.l., from rainforests to deserts. They have colonized terrestrial, epiphytic, lithophytic, palustrine and aquatic systems, developing perennial, annual or geophyte strategies that can be structurally arborescent, shrub, forb, cladode, epiphyte, vine or leafless with photosynthetic roots. CAM can enhance survival by conserving water, trapping carbon, reducing carbon loss and/or via photoprotection.

Scope

This review assesses the phylogenetic diversity and historical biogeography of selected lineages with CAM, i.e. ferns, gymnosperms and eumagnoliids, Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Aizoaceae, Portulacineae (Montiaceae, Basellaceae, Halophytaceae, Didiereaceae, Talinaceae, Portulacaceae, Anacampserotaceae and Cactaceae) and aquatics.

Conclusions

Most extant CAM lineages diversified after the Oligocene/Miocene, as the planet dried and CO2 concentrations dropped. Radiations exploited changing ecological landscapes, including Andean emergence, Panamanian Isthmus closure, Sundaland emergence and submergence, changing climates and desertification. Evidence remains sparse for or against theories that CAM biochemistry tends to evolve before pronounced changes in anatomy and that CAM tends to be a culminating xerophytic trait. In perennial taxa, any form of CAM can occur depending upon the lineage and the habitat, although facultative CAM appears uncommon in epiphytes. CAM annuals lack strong CAM. In CAM annuals, C3 + CAM predominates, and inducible or facultative CAM is common.
Functional connectivity changes in infants with varying degrees of unilateral hearing loss
Authors: Liu Yidi , Li Hong , Zhou Xin , Chen Yingrui , Wang Xuetong , Lin Zhihan , Niu Haijing , Liu Haihong
Published: June 2023

It has been proved that unilateral hearing loss (UHL) can cause functional connectivity alterations in adults. However, the mechanism of the human brain coping with the challenge of unilateral hearing deprivation at very early developmental phases remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study on 3- to 10-month-old infants with varying degrees of unilateral hearing loss to investigate the effect of unilateral auditory deprivation in infants. Using network-based statistics, increased functional connectivity was observed in single-sided deafness (SSD) compared with normal hearing infants, and the right middle temporal gyrus was the most involved nodes. In addition, changes in cortical function in infants were related to the degree of hearing loss, with significantly increased functional connectivity in infants with severe to profound unilateral hearing loss compared with the ones with mild to moderate. Moreover, more significant cortical functional recombination changes were found in right-SSD than in left-SSD infants. For the first time, our study provides evidence for the effects of unilateral hearing deprivation on the early cortical development of the human brain, which would also act as a reference for intervention decisions in children with unilateral hearing loss in clinical settings.
Intracardiac echocardiography probe via oesophageal to guide percutaneous left atrial appendage closure procedure: a case series
Authors: Laterra Giulia , Artale Claudia , Sacchetta Giorgio , Contarini Marco
Published: June 2023

Background

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) can be an alternative to oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, characterized by high risk of stroke (CHA2D2VASC ≥ two for men and CHA2D2VA2SC ≥ three for women) and high risk of bleeding (HASBLED = 3).

Case summary

We describe three case reports in which an intracardiac echocardiography probe was used via the oesophageal route as an alternative to traditional transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or ICE methods to guide LAAC. Guiding the procedure via conventional TEE, even if feasible, could be difficult in these patients due to different causes: one patient was affected by Brugada syndrome while the other two patients reported oropharyngeal abnormalities. For these reasons, we performed an alternative use of the ICE probe to guide the entire LAAC procedure.

Discussion

Currently, LAAC is performed using intracardiac or transoesophageal echocardiography. This alternative use of ICE probe via oesophageal (ICE-TEE) is reported in previous studies that describe the feasibility of this technique both in excluding the presence of thrombus in left atrial appendage before cardioversion and in guiding percutaneous foramen ovale closure. Therefore, the ICE probe has been used as an intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiographic probe to repair congenital heart disease in infants or children with oropharyngeal abnormalities.

This case series reports the first use of ICE-TEE to guide the entire LAAC procedure, guaranteeing the visualization of all echocardiographic views needed to perform it. The present case series highlights the potential of ICE-TEE to safely perform both pre-procedural and intraoperative evaluations in LAAC procedure.
A systematic assessment of the characteristics of randomized controlled trials cited by acute coronary syndrome clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Gonzalez-Del-Hoyo Maribel , Mas-Llado Caterina , Siquier-Padilla Joan , Blaya-Peña Laura , Coughlan J J , Peral Vicente , Rossello Xavier
Published: June 2023

Aims

The aim of this study was to describe the methodological features of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) cited in American and European clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods and results

Out of 2128 non-duplicated references cited in the 2013 and 2014 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and 2017 and 2020 European Society of Cardiology CPGs for STEMI and NSTE-ACS, we extracted data for 407 RCTs (19.1% of total references). The majority were multicenter studies (81.8%), evaluated pharmacological interventions (63.1%), had a 2-arm (82.6%), and superiority (90.4%) design. Most RCTs (60.2%) had an active comparator, and 46.2% were funded by industry. The median observed sample size was 1001 patients (84.2% of RCTs achieved ≥80% of the intended sample size). Most RCTs had a single primary outcome (90.9%), which was a composite in just over half (51.9%). Among the RCTs testing for superiority, 44.0% reported a P-value of ≥0.05 for the primary outcome and 61.9% observed a risk reduction of >15%. The observed treatment effect was lower-than-expected in 67.6% of RCTs, with 34.4% having at least a 20% lower-than-expected treatment effect. The calculated post hoc statistical power was ≥80% for 33.9% of cited RCTs.

Conclusions

This analysis demonstrates that RCTs cited by CPGs can still have significant methodological issues and limitations, highlighting that a better understanding of the methodological aspects of RCTs is crucial in order to formulate recommendations relevant to clinical practice.
Association of polycystic ovary syndrome with cardiovascular disease among female hospitalizations in the United States
Authors: Dwivedi Alok Kumar , Vishwakarma Deepanjali , Dubey Pallavi , Reddy Sireesha
Published: June 2023

Objective

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms related to ovulatory dysfunction and androgen overproduction. Although PCOS is associated with multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD)-risk factors, previous studies have reported controversial associations between PCOS and different types of CVD events. We sought to determine the association of PCOS with various CVD outcomes among hospitalized women.

Methods

All women hospitalizations between the ages of 15 and 65 years recorded in the National Inpatient Sample database, 2017 were analyzed with sampling-weighted logistic regression analysis. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, codes were used to define outcomes including composite CVD, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke/cerebrovascular accident (CVA), heart failure (HF), arterial fibrillation (AF) or arrhythmia, pulmonary heart disease (PHD), myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and diabetes.

Results

Among the total hospitalizations of women, 13 896 (0.64) had a PCOS diagnosis. Polycystic ovary syndrome was found to be associated with most CVD outcomes, including composite CVD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.55-1.93, P < .001), MACE (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI, 1.12-1.53, P < .001), CHD (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.35-2.01, P < .001), stroke/CVA (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.08-1.98, P = .014), HF (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI, 1.07-1.57, P = .007), AF/arrhythmia (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI, 1.88-2.57, P < .001), and PHD (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI, 1.23-2.03, P < .001) among hospitalized women with an age of ≤40 years. However, the associations between PCOS and CVD outcomes were mediated by obesity and metabolic syndrome conditions.

Conclusions

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with CVD events and the association is mediated by obesity and metabolic syndrome conditions, particularly among hospitalized women aged ≤40 years in the United States.