bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mid-infrared single-pixel imaging at the single-photon level
Authors: Wang Yinqi , Huang Kun , Fang Jianan , Yan Ming , Wu E , Zeng Heping
Published: February 2023

Single-pixel cameras have recently emerged as promising alternatives to multi-pixel sensors due to reduced costs and superior durability, which are particularly attractive for mid-infrared (MIR) imaging pertinent to applications including industry inspection and biomedical diagnosis. To date, MIR single-pixel photon-sparse imaging has yet been realized, which urgently calls for high-sensitivity optical detectors and high-fidelity spatial modulators. Here, we demonstrate a MIR single-photon computational imaging with a single-element silicon detector. The underlying methodology relies on nonlinear structured detection, where encoded time-varying pump patterns are optically imprinted onto a MIR object image through sum-frequency generation. Simultaneously, the MIR radiation is spectrally translated into the visible region, thus permitting infrared single-photon upconversion detection. Then, the use of advanced algorithms of compressed sensing and deep learning allows us to reconstruct MIR images under sub-Nyquist sampling and photon-starving illumination. The presented paradigm of single-pixel upconversion imaging is featured with single-pixel simplicity, single-photon sensitivity, and room-temperature operation, which would establish a new path for sensitive imaging at longer infrared wavelengths or terahertz frequencies, where high-sensitivity photon counters and high-fidelity spatial modulators are typically hard to access.
Ssu72 phosphatase is essential for thermogenic adaptation by regulating cytosolic translation
Authors: Park Eun-Ji , Kim Hyun-Soo , Lee Do-Hyoung , Kim Su-Min , Yoon Joon-Sup , Lee Ji-Min , Im Se Jin , Lee Ho , Lee Min-Woo , Lee Chang-Woo
Published: February 2023

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a pivotal role in maintaining body temperature and energy homeostasis. BAT dysfunction is associated with impaired metabolic health. Here, we show that Ssu72 phosphatase is essential for mRNA translation of genes required for thermogenesis in BAT. Ssu72 is found to be highly expressed in BAT among adipose tissue depots, and the expression level of Ssu72 is increased upon acute cold exposure. Mice lacking adipocyte Ssu72 exhibit cold intolerance during acute cold exposure. Mechanistically, Ssu72 deficiency alters cytosolic mRNA translation program through hyperphosphorylation of eIF2α and reduces translation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and defective thermogenesis in BAT. In addition, metabolic dysfunction in Ssu72-deficient BAT returns to almost normal after restoring Ssu72 expression. In summary, our findings demonstrate that cold-responsive Ssu72 phosphatase is involved in cytosolic translation of key thermogenic effectors via dephosphorylation of eIF2α in brown adipocytes, providing insights into metabolic benefits of Ssu72.
Policy relevant health related liveability indicator datasets for addresses in Australia’s 21 largest cities
Authors: Higgs Carl , Lowe Melanie , Hooper Paula , Mavoa Suzanne , Arundel Jonathan , Gunn Lucy , Simons Koen , Giles-Corti Billie
Published: February 2023

Measuring and monitoring the spatial distribution of liveability is crucial to ensure that implemented urban and transport planning decisions support health and wellbeing. Spatial liveability indicators can be used to ensure these decisions are effective, equitable and tracked across time. The 2018 Australian National Liveability Study datasets comprise a suite of policy-relevant health-related spatial indicators of local neighbourhood liveability and amenity access estimated for residential address points and administrative areas across Australia’s 21 most populous cities. The indicators and measures encompass access to community and health services, social infrastructure, employment, food, housing, public open space, transportation, walkability and overall liveability. This national ’baseline’ liveability indicators dataset for residential address points and areas can be further linked with surveys containing geocoded participant locations, as well as Census data for areas from the Australian Statistical Geography Standard. The datasets will be of interest to planners, policy makers and researchers interested in modelling and mapping the spatial distribution of urban environmental exposures and their relationship with health and other outcomes.
Differential expression of interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3) in Alzheimer's disease and HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders
Authors: Garces Armando , Martinez Bryan , De La Garza Roberto , Roy Deepa , Vallee Kaylie-Anna , Fields Jerel Adam , Moore David J. , Rodrigo Hansapani , Roy Upal
Published: February 2023

The United Nations projects that one in every six people will be over the age of 65 by the year 2050. With a rapidly aging population, the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) becomes a major concern. AD is a multifactorial disease that involves neurodegeneration in the brain with mild dementia and deficits in memory and other cognitive domains. Additionally, it has been established that individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) experience a 5 to 10-year accelerated aging and an increased risk of developing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Despite a significant amount of clinical evidence pointing towards a potential overlap between neuropathogenic processes in HAND and AD, the underlying epigenetic link between these two diseases is mostly unknown. This study is focused on identifying differentially expressed genes observed in both AD and HAND using linear regression models and a more robust significance analysis of microarray. The results established that the dysregulated type 1 and 2 interferon pathways observed in both AD and HAND contribute to the similar pathologies of these diseases within the brain. The current study identifies the important roles of interferon pathways in AD and HAND, a relationship that may be useful for earlier detection in the future.
Assessment of foraminal decompression following discoplasty using a combination of ex vivo testing and numerical tools
Authors: Techens Chloé , Bereczki Ferenc , Montanari Sara , Lazary Aron , Cristofolini Luca , Eltes Peter Endre
Published: February 2023

Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty (PCD) is a minimally invasive surgical technique to treat degenerated intervertebral discs. When the disc is severely degenerated, the vacuum observed in place of the nucleus pulposus can be filled with bone cement to restore the disc height, open the foramen space, and relieve pain. This study aimed to evaluate the foramen geometry change due to PCD, in the loaded spine. Cadaveric spines (n = 25) were tested in flexion and extension while Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measured displacements and deformations. Tests were performed on simulated pre-operative condition (nucleotomy) and after PCD. Registering DIC images and the 3D specimen geometry from CT scans, a 3D model of the specimens aligned in the experimental pose was obtained for nucleotomy and PCD. Foramen space volume was geometrically measured for both conditions. The volume of cement injected was measured to explore correlation with the change of foramen space. PCD induced a significant overall foraminal decompression in both flexion (foramen space increased by 835 ± 1289 mm3, p = 0.001) and extension (1205 ± 1106 mm3, p < 0.001), confirming that the expected improvements of PCD show also during spine motion. Furthermore, in extension when the foramen is the most challenged, the impact of PCD on the foramen correlated with the injected cement volume.
Disentangling clustering configuration intricacies for divergently selected chicken breeds
Authors: Vakhrameev Anatoly B. , Narushin Valeriy G. , Larkina Tatyana A. , Barkova Olga Y. , Peglivanyan Grigoriy K. , Dysin Artem P. , Dementieva Natalia V. , Makarova Alexandra V. , Shcherbakov Yuri S. , Pozovnikova Marina V. , Bondarenko Yuri V. , Griffin Darren K. , Romanov Michael N.
Published: February 2023

Divergently selected chicken breeds are of great interest not only from an economic point of view, but also in terms of sustaining diversity of the global poultry gene pool. In this regard, it is essential to evaluate the classification (clustering) of varied chicken breeds using methods and models based on phenotypic and genotypic breed differences. It is also important to implement new mathematical indicators and approaches. Accordingly, we set the objectives to test and improve clustering algorithms and models to discriminate between various chicken breeds. A representative portion of the global chicken gene pool including 39 different breeds was examined in terms of an integral performance index, i.e., specific egg mass yield relative to body weight of females. The generated dataset was evaluated within the traditional, phenotypic and genotypic classification/clustering models using the k-means method, inflection points clustering, and admixture analysis. The latter embraced SNP genotype datasets including a specific one focused on the performance-associated NCAPG-LCORL locus. The k-means and inflection points analyses showed certain discrepancies between the tested models/submodels and flaws in the produced cluster configurations. On the other hand, 11 core breeds were identified that were shared between the examined models and demonstrated more adequate clustering and admixture patterns. These findings will lay the foundation for future research to improve methods for clustering as well as genome- and phenome-wide association/mediation analyses.
Parental personality and early life ecology: a prospective cohort study from preconception to postpartum
Authors: Spry Elizabeth A. , Olsson Craig A. , Aarsman Stephanie R. , Mohamad Husin Hanafi , Macdonald Jacqui A. , Dashti S. Ghazaleh , Moreno-Betancur Margarita , Letcher Primrose , Biden Ebony J. , Thomson Kimberly C. , McAnally Helena , Greenwood Christopher J. , Middleton Melissa , Hutchinson Delyse M. , Carlin John B. , Patton George C.
Published: February 2023

Personality reliably predicts life outcomes ranging from social and material resources to mental health and interpersonal capacities. However, little is known about the potential intergenerational impact of parent personality prior to offspring conception on family resources and child development across the first thousand days of life. We analysed data from the Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (665 parents, 1030 infants; est. 1992), a two-generation study with prospective assessment of preconception background factors in parental adolescence, preconception personality traits in young adulthood (agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, and openness), and multiple parental resources and infant characteristics in pregnancy and after the birth of their child. After adjusting for pre-exposure confounders, both maternal and paternal preconception personality traits were associated with numerous parental resources and attributes in pregnancy and postpartum, as well as with infant biobehavioural characteristics. Effect sizes ranged from small to moderate when considering parent personality traits as continuous exposures, and from small to large when considering personality traits as binary exposures. Young adult personality, well before offspring conception, is associated with the perinatal household social and financial context, parental mental health, parenting style and self-efficacy, and temperamental characteristics of offspring. These are pivotal aspects of early life development that ultimately predict a child’s long-term health and development.
Development of a novel ex vivo organ culture system to improve preservation methods of regenerative tissues
Authors: Yuta Tomomi , Tian Tian , Chiba Yuta , Miyazaki Kanako , Funada Keita , Mizuta Kanji , Fu Yao , Kawahara Jumpei , Iwamoto Tsutomu , Takahashi Ichiro , Fukumoto Satoshi , Yoshizaki Keigo
Published: February 2023

Recent advances in regenerative technology have made the regeneration of various organs using pluripotent stem cells possible. However, a simpler screening method for evaluating regenerated organs is required to apply this technology to clinical regenerative medicine in the future. We have developed a simple evaluation method using a mouse tooth germ culture model of organs formed by epithelial–mesenchymal interactions. In this study, we successfully established a simple method that controls tissue development in a temperature-dependent manner using a mouse tooth germ ex vivo culture model. We observed that the development of the cultured tooth germ could be delayed by low-temperature culture and resumed by the subsequent culture at 37 °C. Furthermore, the optimal temperature for the long-term preservation of tooth germ was 25 °C, a subnormothermic temperature that maintains the expression of stem cell markers. We also found that subnormothermic temperature induces the expression of cold shock proteins, such as cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, RNA-binding motif protein 3, and serine and arginine rich splicing factor 5. This study provides a simple screening method to help establish the development of regenerative tissue technology using a tooth organ culture model. Our findings may be potentially useful for making advances in the field of regenerative medicine.
Prognostic impact of PD-L1 and TIGIT expression in non-small cell lung cancer following concurrent chemo-radiotherapy
Authors: Mori Masataka , Kanayama Masatoshi , Kuwata Taiji , Manabe Takehiko , Nemoto Yukiko , Nishizawa Natsumasa , Oyama Rintaro , Matsumiya Hiroki , Nabe Yusuke , Taira Akihiro , Takenaka Masaru , Yoneda Kazue , Kuroda Koji , Tanaka Fumihiro
Published: February 2023

We investigated the effect of preoperative therapy for non-small cell lung cancer on programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), programmed death-1 (PD-1), poliovirus receptor (CD155), and T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT) expression and prognosis with the cases of 28 patients received preoperative concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (cCRT) and 27 received preoperative drug therapy. The post-treatment PD-L1 expression was higher in cCRT group than in the drug therapy (50.0% vs 5.0%, p = 0.000), whereas that of CD155 did not significantly differ (40.0% vs 60.0%, p = 0.131). The PD-1 expression was not significantly different between the cCRT and drug therapy groups (51.1% vs 42.9%, p = 0.076), while the TIGIT was significantly higher in the cCRT group (41.5% vs 34.0%, p = 0.008). The patients who received cCRT resulted in elevated PD-L1and TIGIT values had a worse prognosis (p = 0.008). The PD-L1 and TIGIT expression after cCRT was significantly higher than after drug treatment. The cCRT population with high expression of both had a significantly poorer prognosis, indicating elevation of PD-L1 and TIGIT after cCRT as a negative prognostic factor. Combination therapy with anti-PD-L1 and anti-TIGIT antibodies after cCRT may contribute to an improved prognosis.
Causes for an extreme cold condition over Northeast Asia during April 2020
Authors: Kim Go-Un , Oh Hyoeun , Kim Yong Sun , Son Jun-Hyeok , Jeong Jin-Yong
Published: February 2023

Although 2020 was the fourth warmest year on record in northern Asia, the cold condition in April 2020 caused severe damage to the agricultural and marine ecosystems in northeastern Asia. Previous studies have indicated that the dipole atmospheric circulation over Siberia and the East Sea (Japan Sea) produced this cold environment with strong northwesterly wind. However, the potential causes of the dipole circulation over northeastern Asia remain unclear. In this study, we found that the East Atlantic/Western Russia (EAWR) pattern and blocking combined to produce the atmospheric structure. The wave train originated from the vorticity forcing of northwestern/central Russia and propagated from Western Europe to the East Sea via the background westerly and northerly winds. In addition, the Siberian blocking days increased eleven times in April 2020 relative to the climatological average, and an easterly (westerly) anomaly was observed over Mongolia–northeastern China (northern Russia). The strong blocking and EAWR pattern led to the robust atmospheric dipole structure with a prevailing northerly flow in April 2020, thereby causing the extreme cold condition over northeastern Asia. Our results provide novel insights into the cause of extreme cold condition in April over northeastern Asia.
The potential utility of the SAGIT instrument in the clinical assessment of patients with acromegaly, a large single-centre study
Authors: Sawicka-Gutaj Nadia , Ziółkowska Paulina , Biczysko Aleksandra , Erampamoorthy Abikasinee , Ziemnicka Katarzyna , Ruchała Marek
Published: February 2023

SAGIT is an instrument created for the clinical assessment of acromegaly. Our objective was to test the usefulness of this tool in assessing disease activity of acromegalic patients in a single centre of Poznan, Poland using a retrospective study. Medical records of patients with acromegaly hospitalised at the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine of Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland between January 2015 and December 2020 were analysed. SAGIT scores were assessed according to each patient's clinical and biochemical data. The results show that SAGIT scores were higher in treatment-naïve patients and the lowest in controlled patients. There were positive correlations between SAGIT scores and concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, HbA1C levels, and tumour invasiveness at the time of diagnosis. However, parameters such as age, vitamin D concentration, and time from diagnosis showed an inverse relationship with the SAGIT score. In ROC curve analysis, SAGIT scores of 5 or less discriminated controlled patients from uncontrolled (p < 0.0001, sensitivity 76.7%, specificity 78.5%, AUC 0.867). Also, SAGIT higher than 6 indicated for treatment start or escalation (p < 0.0001, sensitivity 80.88%, specificity 77.59%, AUC 0.866). Lack of signs and symptoms (S = 0) could not discriminate between controlled and uncontrolled disease, but predicted therapy maintenance (p < 0.0004, sensitivity 59.5%, specificity 58.2%, AUC 0.604). In conclusion, The SAGIT instrument is easy to use even when completed in the retrospective medical record review. It can be useful for distinguishing clinical stages of acromegaly and in decision-making.
Differences in nutritional risk assessment between NRS2002, RFH-NPT and LDUST in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Zhang Peiyan , Wang Qi , Zhu Mengran , Li Pingping , Wang Yuzhen
Published: February 2023

Nutritional status is an independent predictor of outcome in cirrhosis patients. Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002), Royal Free Hospital-Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT), and Liver Disease Undernutrition Screening Tool (LDUST) were employed to detect cirrhosis with malnutrition risk in this work. Meanwhile, their diagnostic performances were compared to find the best screening method. This work aimed to establish the sarcopenia cut-off value of the transversal psoas thickness index (TPTI), and identify the risk factors for malnutrition. Cirrhosis patients who were admitted to Heibei Gerneral hospital from April 2021 to October 2021 and underwent abdominal CT examination were enrolled. 78 patients were assessed by NRS2002, RFH-NPT, and LDUST. The Global Leadership Initiative for Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were selected as the gold standard for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Meanwhile the cut-off value of sarcopenia was established based on the TPTI of malnourished patients. Logistic regression analysis was adopted to assess the influencing factors of malnutrition risk and malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition was 42.31%. The prevalence of malnutrition risk was 32.1%, 61.5%, and 62.8% with NRS2002, RFH-NPT, and LDUST, respectively. NRS2002 presented the best specificity compared with the other methods, while RFH-NPT showed the highest sensitivity. The optimal gender-specific TPTI cut-off value for diagnosing sarcopenia was determined as TPTI < 14.56 mm/m (male) and TPTI < 8.34 mm/m (female). In the multivariate analysis, ascites was associated with malnutrition risk, while sarcopenia showed a significant risk for malnutrition. NRS2002 and RFH-NPT were superior to LDUST at detecting the malnutrition in cirrhosis patients diagnosed according to GLIM criteria. The gender-specific TPTI cut-off value was TPTI < 14.56 mm/m (male) and TPTI < 8.34 mm/m (female). Malnutrition risk should be screened for patients with ascites as soon as possible. In addition, it was important to evaluate malnutrition in sarcopenia patients in time.
Immune activation of vaginal human Langerhans cells increases susceptibility to HIV-1 infection
Authors: van Teijlingen Nienke H. , Eder Julia , Sarrami-Forooshani Ramin , Zijlstra-Willems Esther M. , Roovers Jan-Paul W. R. , van Leeuwen Elisabeth , Ribeiro Carla M. S. , Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H.
Published: February 2023

Vaginal inflammation increases the risk for sexual HIV-1 transmission but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we assessed the impact of immune activation on HIV-1 susceptibility of primary human vaginal Langerhans cells (LCs). Vaginal LCs isolated from human vaginal tissue expressed a broad range of TLRs and became activated after exposure to both viral and bacterial TLR ligands. HIV-1 replication was restricted in immature vaginal LCs as only low levels of infection could be detected. Notably, activation of immature vaginal LCs by bacterial TLR ligands increased HIV-1 infection, whereas viral TLR ligands were unable to induce HIV-1 replication in vaginal LCs. Furthermore, mature vaginal LCs transmitted HIV-1 to CD4 T cells. This study emphasizes the role for vaginal LCs in protection against mucosal HIV-1 infection, which is abrogated upon activation. Moreover, our data suggest that bacterial STIs can increase the risk of HIV-1 acquisition in women.
Replication and mediation of the association between the metabolome and clinical markers of metabolic health in an adolescent cohort study
Authors: Brachem Christian , Weinhold Leonie , Alexy Ute , Schmid Matthias , Oluwagbemigun Kolade , Nöthlings Ute
Published: February 2023

Metabolomics-derived metabolites (henceforth metabolites) may mediate the relationship between modifiable risk factors and clinical biomarkers of metabolic health (henceforth clinical biomarkers). We set out to study the associations of metabolites with clinical biomarkers and a potential mediation effect in a population of young adults. First, we conducted a systematic literature review searching for metabolites associated with 11 clinical biomarkers (inflammation markers, glucose, blood pressure or blood lipids). Second, we replicated the identified associations in a study population of n = 218 (88 males and 130 females, average age of 18 years) participants of the DONALD Study. Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age and BMI and corrected for multiple testing were calculated. Third, we investigated our previously reported metabolites associated with anthropometric and dietary factors mediators in sex-stratified causal mediation analysis. For all steps, both urine and blood metabolites were considered. We found 41 metabolites in the literature associated with clinical biomarkers meeting our inclusion criteria. We were able to replicate an inverse association of betaine with CRP in women, between body mass index and C-reactive protein (CRP) and between body fat and leptin. There was no evidence of mediation by lifestyle-related metabolites after correction for multiple testing. We were only able to partially replicate previous findings in our age group and did not find evidence of mediation. The complex interactions between lifestyle factors, the metabolome, and clinical biomarkers warrant further investigation.
Machine learning model for predicting ciprofloxacin resistance and presence of ESBL in patients with UTI in the ED
Authors: Lee Hyun-Gyu , Seo Youngho , Kim Ji Hye , Han Seung Baik , Im Jae Hyoung , Jung Chai Young , Durey Areum
Published: February 2023

Increasing antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens is a clinical challenge to emergency physicians as antibiotics should be selected before an infecting pathogen or its antibiotic resistance profile is confirmed. We created a predictive model for antibiotic resistance of uropathogens, using machine learning (ML) algorithms. This single-center retrospective study evaluated patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection (UTI) in the emergency department (ED) between January 2020 and June 2021. Thirty-nine variables were used to train the model to predict resistance to ciprofloxacin and the presence of urinary pathogens’ extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. The model was built with Gradient-Boosted Decision Tree (GBDT) with performance evaluation. Also, we visualized feature importance using SHapely Additive exPlanations. After two-step customization of threshold adjustment and feature selection, the final model was compared with that of the original prescribers in the emergency department (ED) according to the ineffectiveness of the antibiotic selected. The probability of using ineffective antibiotics in the ED was significantly lowered by 20% in our GBDT model through customization of the decision threshold. Moreover, we could narrow the number of predictors down to twenty and five variables with high importance while maintaining similar model performance. An ML model is potentially useful for predicting antibiotic resistance improving the effectiveness of empirical antimicrobial treatment in patients with UTI in the ED. The model could be a point-of-care decision support tool to guide clinicians toward individualized antibiotic prescriptions.
A highly elastic absorbable monofilament suture fabricated from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Murayama Atsuhiko , Yoneda Hidemasa , Maehara Akira , Shiomi Noriyuki , Hirata Hitoshi
Published: February 2023

To address the growing demand for more elastic sutures free from unwanted knot loosening, we fabricated an absorbable monofilament suture from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) and subjected it to physical property characterization and performance evaluation (in vitro and in vivo degradability tests and a porcine abdominal wall suture test). As this flexible, highly stretchable, and difficult-to-untie suture exhibited additional advantages of small knot size and medium to long-term bioabsorbability, it was concluded to be a safe alternative to existing monofilament sutures, with far-reaching potential applications.
Slack-based tunable damping leads to a trade-off between robustness and efficiency in legged locomotion
Authors: Mo An , Izzi Fabio , Gönen Emre Cemal , Haeufle Daniel , Badri-Spröwitz Alexander
Published: February 2023

Animals run robustly in diverse terrain. This locomotion robustness is puzzling because axon conduction velocity is limited to a few tens of meters per second. If reflex loops deliver sensory information with significant delays, one would expect a destabilizing effect on sensorimotor control. Hence, an alternative explanation describes a hierarchical structure of low-level adaptive mechanics and high-level sensorimotor control to help mitigate the effects of transmission delays. Motivated by the concept of an adaptive mechanism triggering an immediate response, we developed a tunable physical damper system. Our mechanism combines a tendon with adjustable slackness connected to a physical damper. The slack damper allows adjustment of damping force, onset timing, effective stroke, and energy dissipation. We characterize the slack damper mechanism mounted to a legged robot controlled in open-loop mode. The robot hops vertically and planarly over varying terrains and perturbations. During forward hopping, slack-based damping improves faster perturbation recovery (up to 170%) at higher energetic cost (27%). The tunable slack mechanism auto-engages the damper during perturbations, leading to a perturbation-trigger damping, improving robustness at a minimum energetic cost. With the results from the slack damper mechanism, we propose a new functional interpretation of animals’ redundant muscle tendons as tunable dampers.
High frequency conductivity decomposition by solving physically constraint underdetermined inverse problem in human brain
Authors: Kwon Oh-In , Lee Mun Bae , Jahng Geon-Ho
Published: February 2023

The developed magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) can visualize the internal conductivity distribution at Larmor frequency by measuring the B1 transceive phase data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The recovered high-frequency conductivity (HFC) value is highly complex and heterogeneous in a macroscopic imaging voxel. Using high and low b-value diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) data, the multi-compartment spherical mean technique (MC-SMT) characterizes the water molecule movement within and between intra- and extra-neurite compartments by analyzing the microstructures and underlying architectural organization of brain tissues. The proposed method decomposes the recovered HFC into the conductivity values in the intra- and extra-neurite compartments via the recovered intra-neurite volume fraction (IVF) and the diffusion patterns using DWI data. As a form of decomposition of intra- and extra-neurite compartments, the problem to determine the intra- and extra-neurite conductivity values from the HFC is still an underdetermined inverse problem. To solve the underdetermined problem, we use the compartmentalized IVF as a criterion to decompose the electrical properties because the ion-concentration and mobility have different characteristics in the intra- and extra-neurite compartments. The proposed method determines a representative apparent intra- and extra-neurite conductivity values by changing the underdetermined equation for a voxel into an over-determined minimization problem over a local window consisting of surrounding voxels. To suppress the noise amplification and estimate a feasible conductivity, we define a diffusion pattern distance to weight the over-determined system in the local window. To quantify the proposed method, we conducted a simulation experiment. The simulation experiments show the relationships between the noise reduction and the spatial resolution depending on the designed local window sizes and diffusion pattern distance. Human brain experiments (five young healthy volunteers and a patient with brain tumor) were conducted to evaluate and validate the reliability of the proposed method. To quantitatively compare the results with previously developed methods, we analyzed the errors for reconstructed extra-neurite conductivity using existing methods and indirectly verified the feasibility of the proposed method.
Composition, structure and robustness of Lichen guilds
Authors: Duran-Nebreda Salva , Valverde Sergi
Published: February 2023

Symbiosis is a major engine of evolutionary innovation underlying many extant complex organisms. Lichens are a paradigmatic example that offers a unique perspective on the role of symbiosis in ecological success and evolutionary diversification. Lichen studies have produced a wealth of information regarding the importance of symbiosis, but they frequently focus on a few species, limiting our understanding of large-scale phenomena such as guilds. Guilds are groupings of lichens that assist each other’s proliferation and are intimately linked by a shared set of photobionts, constituting an extensive network of relationships. To characterize the network of lichen symbionts, we used a large data set ($$n=206$$n=206publications) of natural photobiont-mycobiont associations. The entire lichen network was found to be modular, but this organization does not directly match taxonomic information in the data set, prompting a reconsideration of lichen guild structure and composition. The multiscale nature of this network reveals that the major lichen guilds are better represented as clusters with several substructures rather than as monolithic communities. Heterogeneous guild structure fosters robustness, with keystone species functioning as bridges between guilds and whose extinction would endanger global stability.
DFT-aided machine learning-based discovery of magnetism in Fe-based bimetallic chalcogenides
Authors: Pant Dharmendra , Pokharel Suresh , Mandal Subhasish , KC Dukka B. , Pati Ranjit
Published: February 2023

With the technological advancement in recent years and the widespread use of magnetism in every sector of the current technology, a search for a low-cost magnetic material has been more important than ever. The discovery of magnetism in alternate materials such as metal chalcogenides with abundant atomic constituents would be a milestone in such a scenario. However, considering the multitude of possible chalcogenide configurations, predictive computational modeling or experimental synthesis is an open challenge. Here, we recourse to a stacked generalization machine learning model to predict magnetic moment (µB) in hexagonal Fe-based bimetallic chalcogenides, FexAyB; A represents Ni, Co, Cr, or Mn, and B represents S, Se, or Te, and x and y represent the concentration of respective atoms. The stacked generalization model is trained on the dataset obtained using first-principles density functional theory. The model achieves MSE, MAE, and R2 values of 1.655 (µB)2, 0.546 (µB), and 0.922 respectively on an independent test set, indicating that our model predicts the compositional dependent magnetism in bimetallic chalcogenides with a high degree of accuracy. A generalized algorithm is also developed to test the universality of our proposed model for any concentration of Ni, Co, Cr, or Mn up to 62.5% in bimetallic chalcogenides.
Effects of tongue right positioner use on tongue pressure: a pilot study
Authors: Yanagida Ryosuke , Hara Koji , Namiki Chizuru , Okumura Takuma , Saiki Akino , Nakagawa Kazuharu , Yamaguchi Kohei , Yoshimi Kanako , Nakane Ayako , Mauclaire Jean-Michel , Tohara Haruka
Published: February 2023

The effectiveness of the tongue right positioner (TRP) use on oral and swallowing functions remains unclear. To investigate the effects of TRP use on tongue function in patients with dysphagia. This interventional study included eight participants with dysphagia who visited a university dental hospital. The measurement variables included tongue pressure (TP) as the primary outcome and lip and tongue movements, peak nasal inspiratory flow, and changes in the tongue and suprahyoid muscle regions on ultrasonography as the secondary outcomes. Each participant was asked to use a TRP for at least 8 h every night for 2 months. The measurement variables before and after the intervention were compared using the paired t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. TP after intervention (31.5 ± 13.1 kPa) was significantly higher than that before intervention (23.0 ± 13.4 kPa), while other measurement variables did not significantly improve. Numerous exercises have been suggested to improve TP; however, most require patients’ adherence to instructions. In contrast, although participants did not perform active exercises, most participants in this study observed an improved TP. Our findings show that TRP can greatly improve TP after 2 months of usage.

Trial registration number: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000040253, date of first registration: 27/04/2020).
Comparison of finger flexor resistance training, with and without blood flow restriction, on perceptional and physiological responses in advanced climbers
Authors: Andersen Vidar , Hermans Espen , Vereide Vegard , Stien Nicolay , Paulsen Gøran , Baláš Jiří , Michailov Michail Lubomirov , Pedersen Helene , Saeterbakken Atle Hole
Published: February 2023

This study compared perceptional and physiological responses of finger flexor exercise performed with free flow and blood flow restriction (BFR). Thirteen male advanced climbers completed three sessions of finger flexor resistance exercise at (1) 40% of MVC (Low) and (2) 75% of MVC (High) and (3) BFR at 40% of MVC (Low + BFR) in a randomized and counterbalanced order. Rate of perceived exertion for effort (RPE) and discomfort (RPD), session pleasure/displeasure (sPDF), exercise enjoyment (EES), lactate concentration and oxygen saturation were recorded after the last set. Both low-intensity sessions induced higher RPD than High (p = 0.018–0.022, ES = 1.01–1.09) and High was perceived as more enjoyable than Low-BFR (p = 0.031, ES = 1.08). No differences were found for RPE or sPDF (p = 0.132–0.804). Lactate was elevated more after High than the Low-sessions (p < 0.001, ES = 1.88–2.08). Capillary oxygen saturation was lower after Low + BFR compared to the other sessions (p = 0.031, ES = 1.04–1.27). Finally, the exercise volume was greater in Low compared to High (p = 0.022, ES = 1.14) and Low + BFR (p = 0.020, ES = 0.77). In conclusion, among advanced male climbers, performing Low + BFR led to a similar exercise volume but was perceived as more discomforting and less enjoyable compared to High. The Low session yielded similar responses as the Low + BFR but required a much greater exercise volume.
Lung tropism in hospitalized patients following infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants from D614G to Omicron BA.2
Authors: Hirotsu Yosuke , Kakizaki Yumiko , Saito Akitoshi , Tsutsui Toshiharu , Hanawa Syunya , Yamaki Haruna , Ide Syuichiro , Kawaguchi Makoto , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Miyashita Yoshihiro , Omata Masao
Published: February 2023

Background

The genetic and pathogenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 have evolved from the original isolated strains; however, the changes in viral virulence have not been fully defined. In this study, we analyzed the association between the severity of the pathogenesis of pneumonia in humans and SARS-CoV-2 variants that have been prevalent to date.

Methods

We examined changes in the variants and tropism of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 514 patients admitted between February 2020 and August 2022 were included and evaluated for pneumonia by computed tomography (CT) as a surrogate of viral tropism.

Results

The prevalence of pneumonia for each variant was as follows: D614G (57%, 65/114), Alpha (67%, 41/61), Delta (49%, 41/84), Omicron BA.1.1 (26%, 43/163), and Omicron BA.2 (11%, 10/92). The pneumonia prevalence in unvaccinated patients progressively declined from 70% to 11% as the variants changed: D614G (56%, 61/108), Alpha (70%, 26/37), Delta (60%, 38/63), BA.1.1 (52%, 15/29), and BA.2 (11%, 2/19). The presence of pneumonia in vaccinated patients was as follows: Delta (16%, 3/19), BA.1.1 (21%, 27/129), and BA.2 (11%, 8/73). Compared with D614G, the areas of lung involvement were also significantly reduced in BA.1.1 and BA.2 variants.

Conclusions

Compared with previous variants, there was a marked decrease in pneumonia prevalence and lung involvement in patients infected with Omicron owing to decreased tropism in the lungs that hindered viral proliferation in the alveolar epithelial tissue. Nevertheless, older, high-risk patients with comorbidities who are infected with an Omicron variant can still develop pneumonia and require early treatment.
Vertical GeSn nanowire MOSFETs for CMOS beyond silicon
Authors: Liu Mingshan , Junk Yannik , Han Yi , Yang Dong , Bae Jin Hee , Frauenrath Marvin , Hartmann Jean-Michel , Ikonic Zoran , Bärwolf Florian , Mai Andreas , Grützmacher Detlev , Knoch Joachim , Buca Dan , Zhao Qing-Tai
Published: February 2023

Abstract

The continued downscaling of silicon CMOS technology presents challenges for achieving the required low power consumption. While high mobility channel materials hold promise for improved device performance at low power levels, a material system which enables both high mobility n-FETs and p-FETs, that is compatible with Si technology and can be readily integrated into existing fabrication lines is required. Here, we present high performance, vertical nanowire gate-all-around FETs based on the GeSn-material system grown on Si. While the p-FET transconductance is increased to 850 µS/µm by exploiting the small band gap of GeSn as source yielding high injection velocities, the mobility in n-FETs is increased 2.5-fold compared to a Ge reference device, by using GeSn as channel material. The potential of the material system for a future beyond Si CMOS logic and quantum computing applications is demonstrated via a GeSn inverter and steep switching at cryogenic temperatures, respectively.
Dietary intake of table olives exerts antihypertensive effects in association with changes in gut microbiota in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Gómez-Contreras Aldo , Franco-Ávila Talia , Miró Lluïsa , Juan M. Emília , Moretó Miquel , Planas Joana M.
Published: February 2023

The daily intake of table olives to spontaneously hypertensive rats induced changes in faecal microbiota associated with antihypertensive activity and promoted the growth of probiotic strains.
Site-selective and stereoselective transformations on p-quinols & p-quinamines
Authors: Thopate Satish B. , Phanindrudu Mandalaparthi , Jadhav Sandip B. , Chegondi Rambabu
Published: February 2023

Prochiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones, being stable and easily accessible, are privileged key building blocks for the synthesis of complex molecules and bioactive natural products.
Highly selective C2H2and CO2capture based on two new ZnII-MOFs and fluorescence sensing of two doped MOFs with EuIII
Authors: Meng Xin-Wei , Ding Tao , Liu Bin , Gong Xue-Song , Liu Bo , Zheng Li-Na
Published: February 2023

Two Zn(ii)-based MOFs have been constructed. The activatedZn-MOF1 andZn-MOF2 show selective separation of C2H2and CO2over CH4.Eu@Zn-MOF1 andEu@Zn-MOF2 were obtained by adding EuIIIions and showed selectivity to Fe3+ions in aqueous solution.
A bifunctionalised Pb-based MOF for iodine capture and dye removal
Authors: Kamal Samrah , Khalid Mohd , Khan M. Shahnawaz , Shahid M. , Ahmad Musheer
Published: February 2023

A 2D Pb-MOF (SM-3) was synthesized solvothermally which acts as an adsorbent to capture hazardous iodine and dyes.
Synthesis, crystal structures and semiconducting properties of new hexacyanidometallates
Authors: Qiao Xianji , Qiu Yi , Xin Junjie , Chen Da , Ma Zili , Corkett Alex J. , Cai Guohong , Cai Guanqun , Qu Shangqing , Wang YuChao , Zhu Zhenyu , Gao Yiman , Wang Zhigang , Dronskowski Richard , Li Guobao , Sun Junliang
Published: February 2023

New hexacyanidometallates with the formula A2[MFe(CN)6]·xH2O (A = Na, K; M = Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) were determined to adopt unexpectedly low-symmetric structures which has been demonstrated as n-type semiconductors.
Metal-free hydrogenation with formic acid over N-doped carbon
Authors: Xia Ziyi , Wang Bowei , Li Jiayi , Zhang Fangying , Chen Ligong , Li Yang
Published: February 2023

Doped nitrogen significantly increased the nitrobenzene conversion and selectivity for aniline. Graphitic nitrogen is conducive to the adsorption of nitrobenzene and basic pyridinic nitrogen has a positive effect on the activation of formic acid.
Tandem imine generation/N-cyclization/C-alkylation sequence to access N-functionalized indoles featuring an aza-quaternary carbon
Authors: Tian Jun-Song , Tu Zhi , Zhou Feng , Yu Jin-Sheng , Zhou Jian
Published: February 2023

A tandem imine generation/N-cyclization/C-alkylation sequence based on intramolecular ketimine N-attack addition to access N-functionalized indoles featuring an aza-quaternary carbon was reported.
Photonic crystal nanostructure as a photodetector for NaCl solution monitoring: theoretical approach
Authors: Almawgani Abdulkarem H. M. , Elsayed Hussein A. , Mehaney Ahmed , Taha T. A. , Alrowaili Ziyad Awadh , Ali Ghassan Ahmed , Sabra Walied , Asaduzzaman Sayed , Ahmed Ashour M.
Published: February 2023

In this research, we have a theoretical simple and highly sensitive sodium chloride (NaCl) sensor based on the excitation of Tamm plasmon resonance through a one-dimensional photonic crystal structure.
A cognition‐inspired trajectory prediction method for vehicles in interactive scenarios
Authors: Xie Shanshan , Li Jiachen , Wang Jianqiang
Published: February 2023

Trajectory prediction of the ego vehicle is necessary for the cooperation driving of intelligent vehicles and drivers. Methods based on deep learning can fit complex functions, but they usually focus on vehicles' behavioral characteristics. However, vehicles' trajectories are closely related to the cognition results of drivers. Therefore, based on drivers' cognitive characteristics, a network model is designed to predict vehicle trajectories. Specifically, in the perception stage, featured grids are used that are in the driver's view to encode perceptual information; in the decision stage, convolution and graph attention operations are combined to model the driver's interaction with the surrounding traffic elements; in the motion stage, the elements are constrained in one hidden layer by vehicles' actual control inputs and design the corresponding method to obtain probabilistic results. With experiments in two typical scenarios, including intersection and roundabout, the proposed method can obtain reasonable prediction accuracy and generalizability. Meanwhile, abundant experiments are conducted and the results are compared, which reveal some common problems when predicting vehicle trajectories, particularly based on drivers' cognitive characteristics. These lessons learned from this study are summarized which may be useful for newcomers.
Levenberg Marquardt artificial neural network model for self‐organising networks implementation in wireless sensor network
Authors: Hakim Galang P. N. , Hadi Habaebi Mohamed , Elsheikh Elfatih A. A. , Suliman Fakhereldin M. , Islam Md. Rafiqul , Yusoff Siti Hajar Binti , Adesta Erry Yulian T. , Anzum Rabeya
Published: February 2023

The Wireless Sensor Network needs to become a dynamic and adaptive network to conserve energy stored in the wireless sensor network node battery. This dynamic and adaptive network sometimes are called SON (Self Organizing Network). Several SON concepts have been developed such as routing, clustering, intrusion detection, and other. Although several SON concepts already exist, however, there is no concept for SON in dynamic radio configuration. Therefore, the authors’ contribution to this field would be proposing a dynamic and adaptive Wireless Sensor Network node radio configuration. The significance of their work lies in the modelling of the SON network that builds based on our measurement in the real‐world jungle environment. The authors propose input parameters such as SNR, the distance between the transmitter and receiver, and frequency as the static parameter. For adaptive parameters, we propose bandwidth, spreading factor, and its most important parameter such as power for data transmission. Using the Levenberg Marquardt Artificial Neural Network (LM‐ANN) self‐organise Network model, power reduction and optimisation from 20 dBm to 14.9 dBm for SNR 3, to 11.5 dBm for SNR 6, and to 12.9 dBm for SNR 9 all within a 100‐m range can be achieved. With this result, the authors conclude that we can use LM‐ANN for the wireless sensor network SON model in the jungle environment.