bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case of invasive Aspergillus niger spondylodiscitis with epidural abscess following COVID-19 infection in an immunocompromised host with literature review
Authors: Borni Mehdi , Kammoun Brahim , Elleuch Kammoun Emna , Boudawara Mohamed Z.
Published: September 2024

Introduction and Importance:

Aspergillosis is defined as an opportunistic infection that may spread hematogenously. COVID-19 infection has not been reported as a direct cause or risk factor. Its treatment (e.g. corticosteroids) significantly increases the risk for invasive infections. The respiratory system remains the main target, and the Aspergillus fumigatus is the most responsible subtype. Other species like Aspergillus (A) flavus, A. niger, and A. nidulans follow in frequency. Other included sites are the skeletal muscular system and the entire spine leading to spondylodiscitis. Only a total of 118 cases of Aspergillus spondylodiscitis have been reported in the literature, and only 21 cases reporting spinal epidural abscess were identified.

Case Presentation:

The authors report a new rare case of invasive A. Niger spondylodiscitis with epidural and iliopsoas abscesses in a 63-year-old North African female patient with a history of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) treated with high doses of corticosteroids. The patient had favorable medical and radiological outcomes after 6 months of antibiotic and antifungal therapy.

Clinical Discussion:

Fungal spondylodiscitis is a rare pathology that may be lethal. Immunosuppression plays a determining role. Discovertebral contamination results from hematogenous dissemination, found in the majority of cases in adults. The main symptom is segmental spinal pain, with an inflammatory pattern most often predominating in the thoracolumbar spine. Clinical signs of spinal cord compression, such as paresthesias, radiculalgia, and paraplegia, can sometimes be associated. Diagnosis of such spondylodiscitis is based on cultures and/or histology, whereas in most cases, it was made by MRI. Epidural abscess remains a rare entity. The authors will explore the current literature in more detail to dissect and explain this rare entity.

Conclusion:

Aspergillus spondylodiscitis remains a rare and very demanding clinical entity. Early diagnosis and well-targeted medical treatment seem the ideal solution given that this type of infection has a poor prognosis.
Trends in malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage related mortality among older adults in United States (1999–2020)
Authors: Haseeb Abdul , Muhammad Umer Nasrullah Rana , Siddiq Mohammad Arham , Alim Ur Rahman Hafsah , Ali Syed Muhammad Sinaan , Advani Damni , Kumar Laksh , Shafique Muhammad Ashir , Mustafa Muhammad Saqlain , Raja Sandesh , Raja Adarsh , Abbasher Hussien Mohamed Ahmed Khabab
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage, although rare, are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, posing a serious health burden. Understanding the trends in mortality related to these cancers is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving patient outcomes. This study aims to analyze long-term mortality trends, identify demographic and geographic disparities, and uncover potential factors driving changes in mortality rates.

Methods:

This retrospective study analyzed mortality rates among individuals aged 65 and older from 1999 to 2020 using CDC WONDER death certificate data, abstracting demographics, geographic factors, and urban/rural status.

Results:

From 1999 to 2020, 18,205 adults aged 65 and older died from malignant neoplasms of bone and cartilage. The age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) started at 20 per 100,000 in 1999 and steadily declined until 2012 (APC: −1.12). However, from 2012 onwards, there was a notable reversal, with the AAMR rising sharply to 23.8 by 2020 (APC: 4.73). Men had higher mortality rates than women, with NH Black individuals showing the highest rates among races. Southern states and nonmetropolitan areas had elevated AAMRs, suggesting targeted interventions for better outcomes and lower death rates.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight significant inequities, with Southern states and nonmetropolitan areas showing elevated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs). These geographic disparities underscore the urgent need for targeted public health interventions in these regions to improve cancer outcomes and reduce mortality. Addressing these gaps is essential for achieving more equitable health outcomes, particularly in high-risk populations.
Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis in Young People With Chronic Low Back Pain at a Hospital-Based Health Management Organization
Authors: Tobar Jaramillo Mayra Alejandra , Marín Zúcaro Nicolas M. , Duarte Vanesa Mariel , Marcos Josefina , Marin Josefina , Rosa Javier , Soriano Enrique R.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

There is scarce information on the prevalence of axial spondylarthritis (axSpA) using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria and even less in Latin America. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of axSpA by applying the ASAS 2009 criteria to a medical records review study of young people with chronic low back pain (LBP) at a university hospital–based health management organization.

Methods

Electronic medical records from the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires health management organization were reviewed to estimate the prevalence of axSpA (radiographic axSpA [r-axSpA] and nonradiographic axSpA [nr-axSpA]) using the ASAS 2009 axSpA criteria in all patients with chronic LBP (≥3 months) aged <45 years at the first LBP appointment, observed between 2009 and 2019.

Results

Among 795 young people with CLBP, the estimated prevalence of axSpA was 5.78% (r-axSpA, 2.76%; nr-axSpA, 3.02%). Ten of 46 patients (21.74%) with axSpA (all nr-axSpA) were undiagnosed, with an undiagnosed axSpA prevalence of 1.26%. The median interval between the first LBP appointment and diagnosis was 34.6 months for axSpA (58.7 vs. 23.1 months for r-axSpA vs. nr-axSpA). Previously diagnosed r-axSpA and nr-axSpA patients had comparable use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) (45% vs. 36%) and delays between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug failure and bDMARD initiation (median, 2.76 vs. 2.66 months).

Conclusion

In our cohort of young persons with chronic LBP, the prevalence of axSpA was approximately 6%, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed axSpA, which could explain the low prevalence of axSpA reported in previous studies in Latin America.
Improvement of the Facial and Dental Esthetics With Surgery-Only Approach
Authors: Albayrak Elif , Buyukcavus Muhammed Hilmi , Sari Ömer Faruk , Findik Yavuz
Published: September 2024

With the development and introduction of orthodontic techniques and surgical protocols, modern patient prototypes are emerging. This paves the way for new approaches to the treatment of dentomaxillofacial deformities. The aim of the authors' study is to determine the appropriate timing and procedure for orthognathic surgery and to obtain the best patient and physician-oriented results. It is stated that surgery first and surgery only approaches are protocols that increase the motivation for treatment, with esthetic improvement being the priority. In this case report, the treatment of the authors' patient, who complained of asymmetry and planned to have a prosthetic restoration after correction of the skeletal deformity, with only a surgical protocol, is described. Treatment of dentomaxillofacial deformities involves a comprehensive analysis of patient, orthodontist, and surgeon-specific variables. Within appropriate indications, only a surgical approach can be an ideal approach for patients and specialist physicians in a short time.
3D Printing of Multiscale Scaffolds with Microtopography for Guiding Tissue Organization and Regeneration
Authors: Fu Rao , Jones Evan , Sun Boyuan , Ameer Guillermo , Sun Cheng , Ding Yonghui
Published: September 2024

Engineering biomaterial scaffolds with multiscale structures, integrating anatomically accurate macroscale architecture (millimeters to centimeters) with microtopographic features (sub-microns to tens of microns), is critical for guiding cellular organization and tissue regeneration. However, fabricating such multiscale scaffolds remains challenging due to the limitations of conventional manufacturing techniques and the trade-off between speed and resolution in current 3D printing methods. Here, we present a multiscale micro-continuous liquid interface production (MµCLIP) technique that enables rapid, one-step 3D printing of centimeter-scale scaffolds with spatially tunable microtopography of various sizes and geometries in just a few minutes (up to 1 mm/min). To showcase the versatility of our technique, we printed a one-centimeter-long tubular scaffold with dual microtopographic patterns, i.e. 20 µm axially aligned grooves on the internal surface and 15 µm circumferentially aligned rings on the external surface. These scaffolds induced the simultaneous orientation of vascular endothelial cells along the axial grooves and vascular smooth muscle cells along the circumferential rings, mimicking the orthogonally aligned bilayer architecture of natural arteries. Moreover, the groove patterns significantly accelerated endothelial cell migration, potentially enhancing endothelialization in vascular implants. This approach provides a versatile tool for designing advanced scaffolds and medical devices that harness microtopography to guide tissue organization and enhance regeneration.
Planning and developing an intervention to improve the psychological wellbeing of people living with persistent pain: De-StressPain
Authors: Hughes Stephanie , Pincus Tamar , Geraghty Adam W A , Chew-Graham Carolyn A. , Stuart Beth , Little Paul , Moore Michael , Birkinshaw Hollie
Published: September 2024

Background

People with persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain often report depressive symptoms. Distress and depression have been found to predict the development of chronic pain conditions. Evidence suggests pain-related distress is qualitatively different from depressive illness, and current referral pathways and available interventions are sub-optimal for people with persistent MSK pain and distress. We aimed to develop and test the acceptability and proof of concept of an intervention to reduce pain-related distress in people with chronic MSK pain.

Methods

The Person-Based Approach (PBA)(1) informed the processes undertaken to inform intervention development. This included semi-structured interviews with people with persistent pain and with General Practitioners (GPs); and a stakeholder discussion with social prescribers. Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) representatives had input throughout all development work. Findings from these activities were triangulated to inform the development of a prototype intervention which was tested in a repeated-measures, mixed methods proof-of-concept study called De-StressPain.

The De-StressPainintervention offered 4-6 social prescriber sessions over 12 weeks, and access to a study website. 16 participants were recruited from general practices, and 4 social prescribers were recruited from Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and charitable organisations. Both quantitative measures and qualitative interviews were completed by participants at baseline and 12 weeks post-baseline. Quantitative measures included questions about mood (DAPOS, WEMWBS, 4DSQ), pain chronicity, pain intensity and musculoskeletal health (MSK-HQ). Semi-structured interviews with participants explored the participants’ context, their experiences of pain related distress, and their experiences of the intervention. Social prescribers were interviewed to explore their experiences of delivering the intervention. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The De-StressPainintervention was acceptable both to patients and to social prescribers. Some participants experienced positive changes such as improved mood, increased hope and increased activity. The social prescribers (“De-Stress Coaches”) provided accountability and supported motivation. All measures of mood showed improvement. Limited time and money were identified as barriers to engagement, along with participants holding the view that increasing pleasurable activities was indulgent. Some participants were already socially engaged and busy at the point of entering the study.

Conclusions

We have confirmed the intervention is needed, acceptable and welcomed by people with pain. Social prescribers found the intervention acceptable to deliver. We identified the barriers that need to be addressed in future versions of the intervention.
New components of the community based DNA-repair mechanism in Sulfolobales
Authors: Recalde Alejandra , Wagner Alexander , Sivabalasarma Shamphavi , Yurmashava Anastasiya , Fehr Nayeli Phycilia , Thurm Rebecca , Le Thuong Ngoc , Köbler Christin , Wassmer Bianca , Albers Sonja-Verena , van Wolferen Marleen
Published: September 2024

After exposure to UV light,Sulfolobus acidocaldariuscells aggregate in a species-specific manner to exchange DNA and repair double-strand breaks via homologous recombination. The formation of cell-cell interactions is mediated by Ups pili. DNA exchange subsequently occurs through the Ced system, which imports DNA. To identify novel players in these processes, we investigated several genes upregulated after UV exposure by creating in-frame deletion mutants and performing cell aggregation and DNA exchange assays. This led to the identification of two novel components involved in the Ups and Ced systems: UpsC, a minor pilin of the Ups pili, and CedD, a VirD4-like ATPase essential for DNA import. Altogether, these findings provide new insights into the fascinating DNA damage response of Sulfolobales.
Exploring MicroRNA Signatures in Pediatric Non-infectious Uveitis: Meta-Analysis and Molecular Profiling of Patient Samples
Authors: Wawrzyniak Olga , Wawrzyniak Dariusz , Smuszkiewicz Michał , Głodowicz Paweł , Gotz-Więckowska Anna , Rolle Katarzyna
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To find a distinct non-coding RNA characteristic for idiopathic uveitis in the pediatric population. To explore the autoimmune-related miRNA expression profile in pediatric patients with idiopathic uveitis (IU) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-AU) and find a common molecular background for idiopathic uveitis and other autoimmune diseases.

Materials and methods

The expression levels of miRNAs were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR using serum samples from patients with idiopathic uveitis (n=8), juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (n=7), and healthy controls. We selected the most promising miRNAs from the original research papers: miR-16-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-451a as markers for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, miR-23a-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-140-5p, miR-193a-5p and miR-491-5p for uveitis in the adult population, and miR-125a-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-223-5p, miR-223-3p characteristic for both diseases and confirm their expression changes in serum from children with idiopathic uveitis. We comprehensively reviewed the literature enrolling the papers that met the inclusion criteria (miRNA and non-infectious uveitis/juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and performed target prediction analysis of appoint miRNAs. It additionally confirmed that altered miRNAs target the immunologically involved genes.

Results

Immunological involved miRNAs such as miR-146a-5p and miR-155-5p show diverse expression levels in different patients as they interact with multiple targets. miR-204-5p is downregulated in both patient groups compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion

miR-204-5p and miR-155-5p are candidates for molecular markers of autoimmune uveitis. We did not identify the miRNAs specific only to idiopathic uveitis, but for the first time in the pediatric population, we confirmed that this disease entity shares a molecular basis with other autoimmune diseases. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular interactions among miRNAs, cytokines, and transcription factors within the intricate immune response, particularly in the eye.
To FID or not to FID: Applying GANs for MRI Image Generation in HPC
Authors: Cepa Beatriz , Brito Cláudia , Sousa António
Published: September 2024

With the rapid growth of Deep Learning models and neural networks, the medical data available for training – which is already significantly less than other types of data – is becoming scarce. For that purpose, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have received increased attention due to their ability to synthesize new realistic images. Our preliminary work shows promising results for brain MRI images; however, there is a need to distribute the workload, which can be supported by High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments. In this paper, we generate 256×256 MRI images of the brain in a distributed setting. We obtained an FIDRadImageNetof 10.67 for the DCGAN and 23.54 for the WGAN-GP, which are consistent with results reported in several works published in this scope. This allows us to conclude that distributing the GAN generation process is a viable option to overcome the computational constraints imposed by these models and, therefore, facilitate the generation of new data for training purposes.
Identifying similar populations across independent single cell studies without data integration
Authors: González-Velasco Óscar , Simon Malte , Yilmaz Rüstem , Parlato Rosanna , Weishaupt Jochen , Imbusch Charles D. , Brors Benedikt
Published: September 2024

Supervised and unsupervised methods have emerged to address the complexity of single cell data analysis in the context of large pools of independent studies. Here, we present ClusterFoldSimilarity (CFS), a novel statistical method design to quantify the similarity between cell groups acroos any number of independent datasets, without the need for data correction or integration. By bypassing these processes, CFS avoids the introduction of artifacts and loss of information, offering a simple, efficient, and scalable solution. This method match groups of cells that exhibit conserved phenotypes across datasets, including different tissues and species, and in a multimodal scenario, including single-cell RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq, single-cell proteomics, or, more broadly, data exhibiting differential abundance effects among groups of cells. Additionally, CFS performs feature selection, obtaining cross-dataset markers of the similar phenotypes observed, providing an inherent interpretability of relationships between cell populations. To showcase the effectiveness of our methodology we generated single-nuclei RNA-Seq data from the motor cortex and spinal cord of adult mice. By using CFS, we identified three distinct sub-populations of astrocytes conserved on both tissues. CFS includes various visualization methods for the interpretation of the similarity scores and similar cell populations.
Whole blood transcriptome profile identifies motor neurone disease (MND) RNA biomarker signatures
Authors: Kõks Sulev , Rallmann Karin , Muldmaa Mari , Price Jack , Pfaff Abigail L , Taba Pille
Published: September 2024

Blood-based biomarkers for motor neuron disease are needed for better diagnosis, progression prediction, and clinical trial monitoring. We used whole blood-derived total RNA and performed whole transcriptome analysis to compare the gene expression profiles in (motor neurone disease) MND patients to the control subjects. We compared 42 MND patients to 42 aged and sex-matched healthy controls and described the whole transcriptome profile characteristic for MND. In addition to the formal differential analysis, we performed functional annotation of the genomics data and identified the molecular pathways that are differentially regulated in MND patients. We identified 12,972 genes differentially expressed in the blood of MND patients compared to age and sex-matched controls. Functional genomic annotation identified activation of the pathways related to neurodegeneration, RNA transcription, RNA splicing and extracellular matrix reorganisation. Blood-based whole transcriptomic analysis can reliably differentiate MND patients from controls and can provide useful information for the clinical management of the disease and clinical trials.
Myocardial Endoglin Regulates Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Cardiac Regeneration
Authors: Sorensen Daniel W. , Tan Philip M. , Garay Bayardo I. , Solinsky Jacob , Yücel Doğacan , Zhang Michael J. , Galvin Conor , Elsenpeter Henry , Mikkila Jennifer , Jerdee Kendra , O’Connell Timothy D. , Molkentin Jeffery D. , Perlingeiro Rita C.R. , Kawakami Yasuhiko , Saucerman Jeffrey J. , van Berlo Jop H.
Published: September 2024

The mammalian heart loses almost all its regenerative potential in the first week of life due to the cessation of the ability of cardiomyocytes to proliferate. In recent years, a number of regulators of cardiomyocyte proliferation have been identified. Despite this, a clear understanding of the regulatory pathways that control cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration is lacking, and there are likely additional regulators to be discovered. Here, we performed a genome-wide screen on fetal murine cardiomyocytes to identify potential novel regulators of cardiomyocyte proliferation. Endoglin was identified as an inhibitor of cardiomyocyte proliferation in vitro. Endoglin knock-down resulted in enhanced DNA synthesis, cardiomyocyte mitosis and cytokinesis in mouse, rat and human cardiomyocytes. Using gene-targeted mice, we confirmed myocardial Endoglin to be important in cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration using gene-targeted mice. Mechanistically, we show that Smad signaling is required for the endoglin-mediated anti-proliferative effects. Our results identify the TGF-β coreceptor Endoglin as a regulator of cardiac regeneration and cardiomyocyte proliferation.

High-content function screening is used to identify a novel inhibitor of cardiomyocyte proliferation which can promote mammalian cardiac regeneration.
Identifying Agronomic, Nutrition and Leaf Vein Quantitative Trait Loci in the Orphan CropGynandropsis gynandra
Authors: Simpson Conor J. C. , Sogbohossou Dêêdi E. O. , Reeves Gregory , Schranz M. Eric , Singh Pallavi , Hibberd Julian M.
Published: September 2024

A sustainable food supply is vital for addressing the challenges of a growing global population and climate change.Gynandropsis gynandra, a nutritious C4orphan crop native to Africa and Asia, thrives in low-input agricultural systems, making it a valuable candidate for future food security. This crop also serves as a model for studying C4photosynthesis. However, research on its genetic improvement is limited. In this study, two mapping populations from diverse parental lines were used to identify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) linked to agronomically relevant traits like plant height, leaf area, flowering time, nutritional content, and photosynthesis. Fifteen QTL were identified, with two affecting both leaf size and flowering time across populations, which can be applied for marker assisted selection for crop improvement. Additionally, QTL linked to C4photosynthesis provide insights into the genetic mechanisms behind this pathway. Overall, this research enhances the potential ofG. gynandraas a climate-resilient crop.

One sentence summary

Leveraging natural variation inGynandropsis gynandrato identify QTL associated with important traits.
Sirtuin 6 is a histone delactylase
Authors: Nickel Garrison A. , Pederson Nicholas J. , Faheem  , Yang Zhenyu , Bulf Jack , Diehl Katharine L.
Published: September 2024

Histone lactylation (Kla) is a post translational modification (PTM) that is derived from metabolic lactate. Histone Kla has been extensively studied in the field of inflammation resolution and macrophage polarization but has also been implicated in diverse cellular processes including differentiation, various wound repair phenotypes, and oncogenesis in several cancer models. While mechanistic connections between histone Kla and transcriptional changes have been studied in very limited contexts, general mechanistic details describing how regulation of gene expression by histone Kla occurs are scarce. It is hypothesized that histone Kla may be installed either through nonenzymatic means or by the p300 histone acyltransferase complex, and it is known that Class I HDACs and Sirtuins 1-3 can remove histone Kla. Here, we identified histone delactylase activity of the deacylase enzyme Sirtuin 6 (Sirt6), a member of the Class III HDAC family known to have roles in regulating metabolic homeostasis. We characterized the ability of Sirt6 to delactylate histonesin vitroand in mammalian cell culture. We identified H3K9 and H3K18, canonical histone sites of Sirt6-catalyzed deacetylase activity, as sites of its delactylase activity. We also demonstrated that the delactylase activity of Sirt6 and the Class I HDACs are additive, suggesting that they represent different cellular axes of regulating gene expression via controlling levels of histone Kla.
Periodontal health in a French cohort of people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Samot J , Courtin E , Guehl D , Damon-Perriere N , Branchard O , Saint-Jean M , Chuy V , Ella B , Badet MC
Published: September 2024

The deterioration of motor skills and fine hand movement impairment associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) hinders the performance of daily oral hygiene procedures. This study examined the periodontal health of people with PD using clinical and microbiological periodontal parameters measured at two time points during their medical follow-up.

This prospective cohort study included participants with PD. Clinical oral health data, including oral hygiene and periodontal status, as well as microbiological samples were collected at baseline and after follow-up for at least 3 months.

Forty people with PD were recruited (35% female; median [Q1–Q3] age: 65.3 [57.9– 72.8] years) and 35 were followed up. The participants had good hygiene habits, and the proportion of participants with a “good” plaque index improved during follow-up (+21 points,p= 0.239). The proportion of patients with periodontal pockets > 6 mm decreased from 20% to 3% (p= 0.131). This improvement was associated with a reduction in theTreponema denticolabacterial load (p= 0.003).

The oral hygiene of people with PD improved during this study. Although these promising results require confirmation, they are an important step toward enhancing oral care support for PD patients.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03827551, registered on January 31, 2019, (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03827551)
Nitroxoline evidence Amoebicidal Activity againstAcanthamoeba castellaniithrough DNA damage and the stress response pathways
Authors: Chen Lijun , Han Wei , Feng Meng , Jing Wenwen , Zhou Qingtong , Cheng Xunjia
Published: September 2024

Acanthamoeba castellaniiis a widespread unicellular eukaryote found in diverse environments, including tap water, soil, and swimming pools. It is responsible for severe infections, such asAcanthamoebakeratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis, particularly in individuals with immunocompromisation. The ability of protozoans to form dormant cysts complicates treatment, as current therapies are ineffective against cyst stages and suffer from poor specificity and side effects. Nitroxoline, a quinoline derivative with well-established antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, is a promising therapeutic candidate. This study aimed to elucidate cellular signalling events that counteract the effects of nitroxoline. In this study, nitroxoline significantly reduced the viability ofA. castellaniitrophozoites in a dose- and time-dependent manner, inducing morphological changes and apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed substantial alterations in gene expression, including enrichment of metabolic pathways, DNA damage responses, and iron ion binding. Nitroxoline treatment upregulated genes involved in DNA repair and oxidative stress response while regulating genes in the methionine and cysteine cycles. It also decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, H₂S production, and total iron amount inA. castellanii. Bioinformatics analyses and molecular docking studies suggest direct interactions between nitroxoline andA. castellaniiproteins. Our research provides a comprehensive molecular map of the response ofA. castellaniito nitroxoline, revealing significant changes in gene expression related to the stress response and metabolic pathways. These findings underscore the potential of nitroxoline as a potent anti-Acanthamoebaagent, offering new insights into its mechanism of action and paving the way for effective therapeutic strategies.
Pulvinar perturbation causes functional reorganization of visual attentional information in posterior parietal cortex
Authors: Yang Fang-Chi , Chiang Feng-Kuei , Rich Erin L. , Burwell Rebecca D.
Published: September 2024

The pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus (PUL) is a higher-order thalamic relay and the main visual extrageniculate thalamic nucleus. Evidence suggests the PUL coordinates information processing across cortical areas involved in visual perception and attention. Other findings suggest the PUL may also influence higher-order cognitive processes, such as attentional control, through interactions with connected neocortical areas like the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). We hypothesized that PUL input to the dorsal and caudal PPC (DPPC and CPPC) enhances visuospatial processing and attention. To test this hypothesis, we recorded neuronal activity in the PUL, DPPC, and CPPC of freely behaving rats performing the visuospatial attention (VSA) task while optogenetically suppressing PUL neurons on some trials. We found that PUL manipulation did not affect behavioral performance, but reorganized neural codes in DPPC and CPPC as well as PUL itself.
Humans actively reconfigure neural task states
Authors: Ritz Harrison , Jha Aditi , Daw Nathaniel Douglass , Cohen Jonathan D
Published: September 2024

The ability to switch between tasks is a core component of adaptive cognition, yet a mechanistic understanding of this capacity has remained elusive. In particular, there are longstanding debates over the extent to which task-switching is primarily influenced by interference from previous tasks or active preparation for upcoming tasks. We advance this debate by modeling the evolution of task representations in human electroencephalographic recordings as linear dynamical systems over a high-dimensional latent space. Using control theoretic analyses of dynamical systems fit to both brains and task-optimized neural networks, we reveal neural signatures of active preparation that reconcile the role of interference and control in task switching. These findings inform a core debate in cognitive control and offer a promising new paradigm for human neuroimaging analysis.
Frequency stabilization of self-sustained oscillations in a sideband-driven electromechanical resonator
Authors: Zhang B. , Yan Yingming , Dong X. , Dykman M.I. , Chan H.B.
Published: September 2024

We present a method to stabilize the frequency of self-sustained vibrations in micromechanical and nanomechanical resonators. The method refers to a two-mode system with the vibrations at significantly different frequencies. The signal from one mode is used to control the other mode. In the experiment, self-sustained oscillations of micromechanical modes are excited by pumping at the blue-detuned sideband of the higher-frequency mode. Phase fluctuations of the two modes show near-perfect anticorrelation. They can be compensated in either of the modes by a stepwise change of the pump phase. The phase change of the controlled mode is proportional to the pump phase change, with the proportionality constant independent of the pump amplitude and frequency. This finding allows us to stabilize the phase of one mode against phase diffusion using the measured phase of the other mode. We demonstrate that phase fluctuations of either the high-frequency mode or the low-frequency mode can be significantly reduced. The results open new opportunities in generating stable vibrations in a broad frequency range via parametric down-conversion in nonlinear resonators.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Boosting neutrino mass ordering sensitivity with inelasticity for atmospheric neutrino oscillation measurement
Authors: Olavarrieta Santiago Giner , Jin Miaochen , Argüelles Carlos A. , Fernández Pablo , Martinez-Soler Ivan
Published: September 2024

In this letter, we study the potential of boosting the atmospheric neutrino experiments sensitivity to the neutrino mass ordering (NMO) sensitivity by incorporating inelasticity measurements. We show how this observable improves the sensitivity to the NMO and the precision of other neutrino oscillation parameters relevant to atmospheric neutrinos, specifically in the IceCube-Upgrade and KM3NeT-ORCA detectors. Our results indicate that an oscillation analysis of atmospheric neutrinos, including inelasticity information, has the potential to enhance the ordering discrimination by several units of χ2 in the assumed scenario of five and three years of running of IceCube-Upgrade and KM3NeT-ORCA detectors, respectively.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Ultimate Regime of Rayleigh-Bénard Turbulence: Subregimes and Their Scaling Relations for the Nusselt vs Rayleigh and Prandtl Numbers
Authors: Shishkina Olga , Lohse Detlef
Published: September 2024

We offer a new model for the heat transfer and the turbulence intensity in strongly driven Rayleigh-Bénard turbulence (the so-called ultimate regime), which in contrast to hitherto models is consistent with the new mathematically exact heat transfer upper bound of Choffrut [Upper bounds on Nusselt number at finite Prandtl number, .] and thus enables extrapolations of the heat transfer to geo- and astrophysical flows. The model distinguishes between four subregimes of the ultimate regime and well describes the measured heat transfer in various large-Rayleigh experiments. In this new representation, which properly accounts for the Prandtl number dependence, the onset to the ultimate regime is seen in all available large-Rayleigh datasets, though at different Rayleigh numbers, as to be expected for a non-normal–nonlinear instability.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Spin Exchange-Enabled Quantum Simulator for Large-Scale Non-Abelian Gauge Theories
Authors: Halimeh Jad C. , Homeier Lukas , Bohrdt Annabelle , Grusdt Fabian
Published: September 2024

A central requirement for the faithful implementation of large-scale lattice gauge theories (LGTs) on quantum simulators is the protection of the underlying gauge symmetry. Recent advancements in the experimental realizations of large-scale LGTs have been impressive, albeit mostly restricted to Abelian gauge groups. Guided by this requirement for gauge protection, we propose an experimentally feasible approach to implement large-scale non-Abelian SU(N) and U(N) LGTs with dynamical matter in d+1D, enabled by two-body spin-exchange interactions realizing local emergent gauge-symmetry stabilizer terms. We present two concrete proposals for

2

+

1

D

SU

(

2

)

and U(2) LGTs, including dynamical bosonic matter and induced plaquette terms, that can be readily implemented in current ultracold-molecule and next-generation ultracold-atom platforms. We provide numerical benchmarks showcasing experimentally accessible dynamics, and demonstrate the stability of the underlying non-Abelian gauge invariance. We develop a method to obtain the effective gauge-invariant model featuring the relevant magnetic plaquette and minimal gauge-matter coupling terms. Our approach paves the way towards near-term realizations of large-scale non-Abelian quantum link models in analog quantum simulators.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
X-ray ghost imaging with a specially developed beam splitter
Authors: Zhao Chang-Zhe , Zhang Hai-Peng , Tang Jie , Zhao Ni-Xi , Li Zhong-Liang , Xiao Ti-Qiao
Published: September 2024

X-ray ghost imaging with a crystal beam splitter has advantages in highly efficient imaging due to the simultaneous acquisition of signals from both the object beam and reference beam. However, beam splitting with a large field of view, uniform distribution and high correlation has been a great challenge up to now. Therefore, a dedicated beam splitter has been developed by optimizing the optical layout of a synchrotron radiation beamline and the fabrication process of a Laue crystal. A large field of view, consistent size, uniform intensity distribution and high correlation were obtained simultaneously for the two split beams. Modulated by a piece of copper foam upstream of the splitter, a correlation of 92% between the speckle fields of the object and reference beam and a Glauber function of 1.25 were achieved. Taking advantage of synthetic aperture X-ray ghost imaging (SAXGI), a circuit board of size 880 × 330 pixels was successfully imaged with high fidelity. In addition, even though 16 measurements corresponding to a sampling rate of 1% in SAXGI were used for image reconstruction, the skeleton structure of the circuit board can still be determined. In conclusion, the specially developed beam splitter is applicable for the efficient implementation of X-ray ghost imaging.
Quantum refinement in real and reciprocal space using the Phenix and ORCA software
Authors: Lundgren Kristoffer J. M. , Caldararu Octav , Oksanen Esko , Ryde Ulf
Published: September 2024

X-ray and neutron crystallography, as well as cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), are the most common methods to obtain atomic structures of biological macromolecules. A feature they all have in common is that, at typical resolutions, the experimental data need to be supplemented by empirical restraints, ensuring that the final structure is chemically reasonable. The restraints are accurate for amino acids and nucleic acids, but often less accurate for substrates, inhibitors, small-molecule ligands and metal sites, for which experimental data are scarce or empirical potentials are harder to formulate. This can be solved using quantum mechanical calculations for a small but interesting part of the structure. Such an approach, called quantum refinement, has been shown to improve structures locally, allow the determination of the protonation and oxidation states of ligands and metals, and discriminate between different interpretations of the structure. Here, we present a new implementation of quantum refinement interfacing the widely used structure-refinement software Phenix and the freely available quantum mechanical software ORCA. Through application to manganese superoxide dismutase and V- and Fe-nitrogenase, we show that the approach works effectively for X-ray and neutron crystal structures, that old results can be reproduced and structural discrimination can be performed. We discuss how the weight factor between the experimental data and the empirical restraints should be selected and how quantum mechanical quality measures such as strain energies should be calculated. We also present an application of quantum refinement to cryo-EM data for particulate methane monooxygenase and show that this may be the method of choice for metal sites in such structures because no accurate empirical restraints are currently available for metals.
Crystal structures of the (η2:η2-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(η6-toluene)iridium(I) cation and μ-chlorido-iridium(III) complexes of 2-(phosphinito)- and 2-(phosphinomethyl)anthraquinone ligands
Authors: Thackeray Sachin , Mahoney James , Arrington Ashleigh , Wilklow-Marnell Miles , Brennessel William W.
Published: September 2024

When reacted in dry, degassed toluene, [Ir(COD)Cl]2 (COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene) and 2 equivalents of 2-(di-tert-butylphosphinito)anthraquinone (tBuPOAQH) were found to form a unique tri-iridium compound consisting of one monoanionic dinuclear tri-μ-chlorido complex bearing one bidentate tBuPOAQ ligand per iridium, which was charge-balanced by an outer sphere [Ir(toluene)(COD)]+ ion, the structure of which has not previously been reported. This product, which is a toluene solvate, namely, (η2:η2-cycloocta-1,5-diene)(η6-toluene)iridium(I) tri-μ-chlorido-bis({3-[(di-tert-butylphosphanyl)oxy]-9,10-dioxoanthracen-2-yl}hydridoiridium(III)) toluene monosolvate, [Ir(C7H8)(C8H12)][Ir2H2(C22H24O3P)2Cl3]·C7H8 or [Ir(toluene)(COD)][Ir(κ-P,C-tBuPOAQ)(H)]2(μ-Cl)3]·toluene, formed as small orange platelets at room temperature, crystallizing in the triclinic space group P\overline{1}. The cation and anion are linked via weak C—H...O interactions. The stronger intermolecular attractions are likely the offset parallel π–π interactions, which occur between the toluene ligands of pairs of inverted cations and between pairs of inverted anthraquinone moieties, the latter of which are capped by toluene solvate molecules, making for π-stacks of four molecules each. The related ligand, 2-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)-anthraquinone (tBuPCAQH), did not form crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction under analogous reaction conditions. However, when the reaction was conducted in chloroform, yellow needles readily formed following addition of 1 atm of carbon monoxide. Diffraction studies revealed a neutral, dinuclear, di-μ-chlorido complex, di-μ-chlorido-bis(carbonyl{3-[(di-tert-butylphosphanyl)oxy]-9,10-dioxoanthracen-2-yl}hydridoiridium(I)), [Ir2H2(C23H26O2P)2Cl2(CO)2] or [Ir(κ-P,C-tBuPCAQ)(H)(CO)(μ-Cl)]2, Ir2C48H54Cl2O6P2, again crystallizing in space group P\overline{1}. Offset parallel π–π interactions between anthraquinone groups of adjacent molecules link the molecules in one dimension.
Structure of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazol-3-ium chloride hemipentahydrate
Authors: Uppu Rao M , Chikkula Krishnaveni , Saneei Soheil , Babu Sainath , Fronczek Frank R.
Published: September 2024

The title hydrated molecular salt, C19H15N4
+·Cl−·2.5H2O, has two triphenyltetrazolium cations, two chloride anions and five water molecules in the asymmetric unit. The cations differ in the conformations of the phenyl rings with respect to the heterocyclic core, most notably for the C-bonded phenyl ring, for which the N—C—C—C torsion angles differ by 36.4 (3)°. This is likely a result of one cation accepting an O—H...N hydrogen bond from a water molecule [O...N = 3.1605 (15) Å], while the other cation accepts no hydrogen bonds. In the extended structure, the water molecules are involved in centrosymmetric (H2O)2Cl2 rings as well as (H2O)4 chains. An unusual O—H...π interaction and weak C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds are also observed.
Ti4Fe2C0.82O0.18
Authors: Liu Huizi , Fan Changzeng , Wen Bin , Zhang Lifeng
Published: September 2024

The phase with composition Ti4Fe2C0.82O0.18, tetratitanium diiron carbide oxide, was unexpectedly synthesized by high-pressure sintering (HPS) of a stoichiometric mixture with nominal composition Ti2Fe. The Ti4Fe2C0.82O0.18 phase crystallizes in the Fd\overline{3}m space group and can be considered as the Ti2Fe structure filled with C and O atoms co-occupying the same octahedral void [occupancy ratio 0.82 (7):0.18 (7)]. The Ti4Fe2C0.82O0.18 phase is isotypic with Ti4Ni2C and Ti4Fe2O0.407, and is the first example where C and O atoms co-occupy the same site in filled Ti2Fe structures.
Comparative analysis of data protection regulations in East African countries
Authors: Shao Deo , Ishengoma Fredrick , Nikiforova Anastasija , Swetu Mrisho
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Protection of personal data is integral to the digital economy, ensuring trust and privacy as its foundational elements. The purpose of this study is to analyze data protection laws in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to understand their legal frameworks and identify challenges hindering their effective implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a comparative exploratory case study approach, analyzing legal frameworks of four East African (EA) countries through examination of legal documents, official reports and academic articles. The dimensions of analysis include registration, supervisory authority, data subject rights and cross-border data transfer regulations.

Findings

While all four EA countries are in the process of enacting data protection acts, they differ in scope, provisions and enforcement; more needs to be done to ensure mature data protection in these countries. The commonalities and distinctions in the legal frameworks are underscored, providing a mapping of data protection regulations in the EA region. Moreover, this study reports implementation constraints and areas for improvement.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, highlighting areas where data protection regulations can be improved. The results of this study can guide harmonizing regional data protection laws, ensuring consistent and effective enforcement. This study offers a foundation for future policy development and regional cooperation on data protection issues.

Social implications

The social implications of this research lie in its potential to shape public attitudes on data protection and privacy rights. By highlighting these concerns, this study may influence societal norms and values, encouraging a more informed and conscientious public discourse on inclusive policies that consider the diverse needs of different regional populations.

Originality/value

This study provides a pioneering comparative analysis of data protection regulations across four EA countries, offering unique insights into the regional variations and commonalities in legal frameworks. Its value lies in informing future policy development, enhancing regional cooperation and contributing to the harmonization of data protection practices in the selected EA countries, which remains an under-explored area in existing literature.
Analysis of knowledge services efficiency and influencing factors of public libraries in China: a mixed study based on the SBM model and dynamic QCA
Authors: Jiaxuan Li , Yue Wang , Jiewang Chu
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The core objective of this study is to provide an in-depth quantitative assessment of the efficiency of public library knowledge services (PLKS) in China and to scrutinize the factors that have a significant impact on the efficiency of PLKS. Furthermore, this study also aims to examine the characteristics and evolving patterns of PLKS in China and to propose strategies for enhancing the quality of services provided by public libraries. The findings of this paper are expected to provide valuable references for current academic research and practice areas, guiding and promoting exploration and development in related fields.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyse and evaluate the operation mechanism and efficiency of PLKS, this study creatively constructs a multi-stage PLKS efficiency evaluation model and provides related indicators. Based on this process, the super-efficiency network slacks-based measure model was used to analyse the efficiency, and dynamic qualitative comparative analysis was adopted to analyse the recipes about the influencing factors of PLKS. Ultimately, through a comprehensive interpretation of the measured data and the integration of extant societal development conditions, the authors put forth relevant recommendations.

Findings

In the first stage, PLKS in China meets the basic requirements, but in the second stage, there is evident resource wastage. In addition, there are five recipes in PLKS of China. These five recipes reveal the configuration relationship between the factors that affect PLKS. The results show that PLKS in China are different in different regions, and the effects of the influencing factors are also different.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors provide an exhaustive deconstruction and interpretation of PLKS, thereby proposing a three-stage PLKS efficiency conversion process. Furthermore, the authors have identified a set of readily accessible and quantifiable indicators. It is worth emphasizing that the authors have taken a unique approach to analyse the elements affecting PLKS from the perspective of configuration, which has significantly broadened the boundaries and depth of PLKS research.