bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic profiling of intact glucosinolates in radish by combining UHPLC-HRMS/MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS
Authors: Yan Chenghuan , Huang Yan , Zhang Shuting , Cui Lei , Jiao Zhenbiao , Peng Zhaoxin , Luo Xiaozhou , Liu Yun , Qiu Zhengming
Published: July 2023

Glucosinolates (GSLs) and their degradation products in radish confer plant defense, promote human health, and generate pungent flavor. However, the intact GSLs in radish have not been investigated comprehensively yet. Here, an accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses of 15 intact GSLs from radish, including four major GSLs of glucoraphasatin (GRH), glucoerucin (GER), glucoraphenin (GRE), and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (4MGBS), were conducted using UHPLC-HRMS/MS in combination with UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. Simultaneously, three isomers of hexyl GSL, 3-methylpentyl GSL, and 4-methylpentyl GSL were identified in radish. The highest content of GSLs was up to 232.46 μmol/g DW at the 42 DAG stage in the ‘SQY’ taproot, with an approximately 184.49-fold increase compared to the lowest content in another sample. That the GSLs content in the taproots of two radishes fluctuated in a similar pattern throughout the five vegetative growth stages according to the metabolic profiling, whereas the GSLs content in the ‘55’ leaf steadily decreased over the same period. Additionally, the proposed biosynthetic pathways of radish-specific GSLs were elucidated in this study. Our findings will provide an abundance of qualitative and quantitative data on intact GSLs, as well as a method for detecting GSLs, thus providing direction for the scientific progress and practical utilization of GSLs in radish.
Understanding and overcoming hybrid lethality in seed and seedling stages as barriers to hybridization and gene flow
Authors: He Hai , Shiragaki Kumpei , Tezuka Takahiro
Published: July 2023

Hybrid lethality is a type of reproductive isolation barrier observed in two developmental stages, hybrid embryos (hybrid seeds) and hybrid seedlings. Hybrid lethality has been reported in many plant species and limits distant hybridization breeding including interspecific and intergeneric hybridization, which increases genetic diversity and contributes to produce new germplasm for agricultural purposes. Recent studies have provided molecular and genetic evidence suggesting that underlying causes of hybrid lethality involve epistatic interaction of one or more loci, as hypothesized by the Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller model, and effective ploidy or endosperm balance number. In this review, we focus on the similarities and differences between hybrid seed lethality and hybrid seedling lethality, as well as methods of recovering seed/seedling activity to circumvent hybrid lethality. Current knowledge summarized in our article will provides new insights into the mechanisms of hybrid lethality and effective methods for circumventing hybrid lethality.
Does inequality erode political trust?
Authors: Bienstman Simon
Published: July 2023

A long-standing argument in the political sciences holds that high levels of inequality are incompatible with democracy. Although a number of studies have by now investigated whether income inequality endangers democratic consolidation and stability through corroding popular support, the findings remain inconclusive. This study provides new evidence for a sociotropic effect of macroeconomic income inequality on trust in the institutions of representative democracy by making use of therandom effects within betweenspecification in multilevel models for data from 28 European democracies over a period of 16 years. The findings show that both long-standing differences in income inequality between countries and changes in inequality within countries over time are negatively related to trust in institutions. While the spirit-level thesis states that this effect should be more pronounced among rich democracies, the findings show that the effect of inequality is stronger in countries that are less affluent. Further analyses on whether the social-psychological mechanism proposed by the spirit-level thesis mediates the effect of inequality on trust document a partial transmission via status concerns and social trust. However, the study suggests that income inequality primarily influences trust in institutions through evaluation-based processes as captured by economic evaluations.
Parental participation and parents’ support: effects on mathematics achievement, 2018 national assessment of learning, Mexico
Authors: Hernández-Padilla Eduardo , Bazán-Ramírez Aldo , Bazán-Ramírez Wilfredo , Solano-Gutierrez Juan
Published: July 2023

The relationship between family involvement in students’ academic activities, their learning, and academic achievement has been widely studied. Two different types of family involvement are recognized: parental participation, which is linked to activities implemented by the school, and parental support, which occurs at home and has to do with the family’s educational practice. This study analyzed the influence of parental participation in school activities, parental support at home, and family socioeconomic status on student learning in mathematics. The database of 104,973 third-year secondary education students (50.1% female and 49.9% male) from the 2018 assessment of academic achievement in mathematical thinking was considered. Path analysis was employed in structural equation modeling, where a general model of parental support was proposed to compare the learning of students from the lowest quartile and those from the highest socioeconomic level; the model presented a good fit for each group. The models used showed acceptable adjustments in some criteria; in these models, there were positive and significant associations between parental schooling and socioeconomic level and achievement in mathematics. The results obtained are consistent with the findings of other studies in which parental support, mediated by socioeconomic status, significantly influences student learning.
Exploring and modeling the reading-writing connection in EFL integrated writing
Authors: Ye Wei , Liu Jianda
Published: July 2023

Reading-to-write tasks have increasingly been used in high-stakes language tests worldwide; however, the nature of the reading-writing connection is not well understood. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach to ground descriptions of EFL cognitive processes and identify process interaction patterns to determine how reading and writing were connected. Grounded theory analysis of fourteen EFL learners’ writing think-aloud protocols showed that students engaged in an interactive composing process involving source reading, comprehension monitoring, planning, language monitoring, narration monitoring, and continuity evaluation. We also conducted a confirmatory factor model study on 486 EFL learners’ responses to a self-developed writing questionnaire, which covered five factors, including reading monitoring, narration monitoring, ideational planning, continuity evaluation, and skill integration. The findings showed that reading monitoring was the only factor that had a direct and significant impact on skill integration, a composite factor covering discourse synthesizing and source using processes. Based on the discussion of the theoretical, empirical, and pedagogical implications of the current findings, we called for more studies to explore the use of three pillar skills—reading, writing, and language use—to support EFL integrated writing. We also suggested that test designers include explicit rating descriptor(s) for source using to evaluate reading comprehension, and instructors enhance reading instruction to improve task performance.
Unfinished business: integrating individual decision-makers' experience and incentives to organizational performance feedback theory
Authors: Blettner Daniela , Kotiloglu Serhan , Lechler Thomas G.
Published: July 2023

In this study, we analyze the role of individual decision-makers in organizational decision-making that is described by the Carnegie perspective. In particular, building on the Behavioral Theory of the Firm, we analyze the influence of decision-makers on organizational responses to performance feedback. Managers in organizations can influence the performance feedback process through their individual experiences. Moreover, they are motivated and controlled by incentives, which is another mechanism by which organizational decision-making can be influenced by individuals. While the Carnegie perspective acknowledges that decision-makers interpret performance feedback and initiate organizational responses, individuals are not as closely integrated to the organizational performance feedback process as some other—mostly organizational—conditions. Recently, several intriguing empirical studies have addressed the role of experience and incentives in the performance feedback process. However, their cumulative effect remained impossible to assess. We meta-analytically review 205 BTOF studies to test our hypotheses on the influence of decision-makers' experience and incentives on organizational responses to performance feedback. We show that decision-makers' job experience and domain expertise influence organizational responses to performance below aspirations, while incentives and compensation become relevant when performance is above aspirations. These results highlight the importance of individual decision-makers in explaining variations in organizational performance feedback decisions, offering exciting venues for psychology scholars to contribute to the Carnegie perspective.
On English proverb variation from the perspective of linguistic creativity
Authors: Wu Jianhao , Zhou Wanting , Shao Bin
Published: July 2023

Proverbs are usually regarded as structurally fixed expressions. However, in daily communication, language users often change them to suit their communicative purposes in many ways, resulting in proverb variations. Using the data from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA corpus), this study attempts to present varieties of the English proverb “There are two sides to every coin” and explain the variations from the perspective of linguistic creativity. This study also explores the variations of this proverb in EFL learners' use via the data from Chinese EFL learners' corpus TECCL. The study shows that, first proverb use can roughly be divided into two types: canonical and non-canonical uses, each having three ways of alteration, i.e., addition of modifiers, substitution of content words, and reduction. Second, Chinese EFL learners tend to use the proverb in a mechanical way with little variation, which shows their inflexible use of proverbs. Finally, proverb variation by nature is the creative manipulation of language use to fit the context, which is a form of linguistic creativity that reflects the cognitive creativity of human beings.
Tele-psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mini-review
Authors: Tajan Nicolas , Devès Maud , Potier Rémy
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed psychotherapy practices. Psychotherapy around the world has shifted from predominantly face-to-face settings to overwhelmingly online settings since the beginning of the pandemic. Many studies have been published on this topic, but there has been no review of the literature focused on the experience of psychotherapists. Our goal was to identify the challenging issues of teletherapy, including the efficiency of online consultations and the extent to which they are accepted by therapists and patients. A PubMed literature search using the [(“Teletherapy” OR “Telebehavioral health” OR “telepsychotherapy”) AND (“COVID-19”)] search string retrieved 46 studies focused on mental health professionals, as detailed in a PRISMA flow diagram. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and excluded those that were outside the scope of the review. The selection of articles kept for review was discussed by all three authors. Overall, the review contributes to the description and evaluation of tele mental health services, including teletherapy, online counseling, digital mental health tools, and remote monitoring.
The Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS): a new tool measuring suicidal intrusions
Authors: van Bentum Jaël S. , Kerkhof Ad J. F. M. , Huibers Marcus J. H. , Holmes Emily A. , de Geus Stephan , Sijbrandij Marit
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Suicidal intrusions are uncontrollable, intrusive mental images (e. g., visualizing a future suicidal act). They may also be called suicidal “flash-forwards.” Despite the importance of integrating the assessment of suicidal intrusions into a clinical routine assessment, quick self-report screening instruments are lacking. This study describes the development of a new instrument—Suicidal Intrusions Attributes Scale (SINAS)—to assess the severity and characteristics of suicidal intrusions and examines its psychometric properties.

Method

The sample included currently suicidal outpatients with elevated levels of depression recruited across mental health institutions in the Netherlands (N = 168). Instruments administered were 10-item SINAS, the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS), the Prospective Imagery Task (PIT), four-item Suicidal Cognitions Interview (SCI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Results

An exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor structure. The resulting SINAS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and convergent validity, as expected.

Discussion

Overall, this study demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity of the measure in a depressed clinical population with suicidal ideation. The SINAS may be a useful screening tool for suicidal intrusions in both research and clinical settings.
Anatomical variations in the insular cortex in individuals at a clinical high-risk state for psychosis and patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Takahashi Tsutomu , Sasabayashi Daiki , Takayanagi Yoichiro , Higuchi Yuko , Mizukami Yuko , Akasaki Yukiko , Nishiyama Shimako , Furuichi Atsushi , Kobayashi Haruko , Yuasa Yusuke , Tsujii Noa , Noguchi Kyo , Suzuki Michio
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Since the number of insular gyri is higher in schizophrenia patients, it has potential as a marker of early neurodevelopmental deviations. However, it currently remains unknown whether the features of the insular gross anatomy are similar between schizophrenia patients and individuals at risk of psychosis. Furthermore, the relationship between anatomical variations in the insular cortex and cognitive function has not yet been clarified.

Methods

The gross anatomical features (i.e., the number of gyri and development pattern of each gyrus) of the insular cortex were examined using magnetic resonance imaging, and their relationships with clinical characteristics were investigated in 57 subjects with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) and 63 schizophrenia patients in comparison with 61 healthy controls.

Results

The number of insular gyri bilaterally in the anterior subdivision was higher in the ARMS and schizophrenia groups than in the control group. The schizophrenia group was also characterized by a higher number of insular gyri in the left posterior subdivision. A well-developed right middle short insular gyrus was associated with symptom severity in first-episode schizophrenia patients, whereas chronic schizophrenia patients with a well-developed left accessory gyrus were characterized by less severe cognitive impairments in motor and executive functions. The features of the insular gross anatomy were not associated with clinical characteristics in the ARMS group.

Discussion

The features of the insular gross anatomy that were shared in the ARMS and schizophrenia groups may reflect a vulnerability to psychosis that may be attributed to anomalies in the early stages of neurodevelopment. However, the contribution of the insular gross anatomy to the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia may differ according to illness stages.
Socioeconomic determinants of stay-at-home policies during the first COVID-19 wave
Authors: Valgañón Pablo , Lería Unai , Soriano-Paños David , Gómez-Gardeñes Jesús
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on public health and social systems worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various policies and restrictions implemented by different countries to control the spread of the virus.

Methods

To achieve this objective, a compartmental model is used to quantify the “social permeability” of a population, which reflects the inability of individuals to remain in confinement and continue social mixing allowing the spread of the virus. The model is calibrated to fit and recreate the dynamics of the epidemic spreading of 42 countries, mainly taking into account reported deaths and mobility across the populations.

Results

The results indicate that low-income countries have a harder time slowing the advance of the pandemic, even if the virus did not initially propagate as fast as in wealthier countries, showing the disparities between countries in their ability to mitigate the spread of the disease and its impact on vulnerable populations.

Discussion

This research contributes to a better understanding of the socioeconomic and environmental factors that affect the spread of the virus and the need for equitable policy measures to address the disparities in the global response to the pandemic.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials from biobased resources for water treatment applications: emerging trends and prospects
Authors: Adeola Adedapo O. , Duarte Michelle P. , Naccache Rafik
Published: July 2023

Carbon-based nanomaterials have drawn significant interest as desirable nanomaterials and composites for the adsorptive removal of various classes of pollutants from water owing to their versatile physicochemical properties. The underlying sorption mechanisms serve as the bedrock for the development of carbonaceous adsorbents for various target pollutants. Microwave-assisted synthesis can be regarded as a recent and well-advanced technique for the development of carbon-based nanomaterials, and the use of biobased materials/wastes/residues conforms with the concept of green and sustainable chemistry. For advancements in carbon-based functional nanomaterials and their industrial/field applications, it is essential to fully comprehend the sorption performance and the selective/non-selective interaction processes between the contaminants and sorbents. In this regard, research on the development of carbon-based nanomaterials for the adsorption of chemical contaminants, both organic and inorganic, in water has made considerable strides as discussed in this review. However, there are still several fundamental hurdles associated with microwave-assisted chemical synthesis and commercial/industrial scale-up applications in nano-remediation. The challenges, benefits, and prospects for further research and development of carbon-based nanomaterials/nanocomposites for the purification of water are also discussed.
TechMaps: exploring technology relationships through patent information based proximity
Authors: Perez-Molina Eduardo , Loizides Fernando
Published: July 2023

Our work provides a novel method for rich information discovery about the evolution of technical fields and company developments through patent relationships. A new exploratory method and graphical tool to discover technology proximity based on patent classification information are introduced. By technology we mean a technical field (defined by an International Patent Classification—IPC—code or a combination of them) or an organization (such as a tech company, research center, or institution). A single data structure is used for characterizing both technical fields and organizations, to visualize them as items of the very same body. This new method generates two graphs: the first graph, the TechnologyMap, visualizes technology items in a 2D plot wherein technical fields and companies will appear positioned relative to each other; the. A second graph, the Focused TechnologyMap, visualizes technology items with respect to a selected one, the focus, which is located in the center of a circle whose radii correspond to the complete set of IPC codes. This article represents the process and algorithms used for production of the graphs, and solidifies the assumptions of validity by presenting two of the many successful test cases to which it was applied.
Spread spectrum modulation recognition based on phase diagram entropy
Authors: Stanescu Denis , Digulescu Angela , Ioana Cornel , Serbanescu Alexandru
Published: July 2023

Wireless communication technologies are undergoing intensive study and are experiencing accelerated progress which leads to a large increase in the number of end-users. Because of this, the radio spectrum has become more crowded than ever. These previously mentioned aspects lead to the urgent need for more reliable and intelligent communication systems that can improve the spectrum efficiency. Specifically, modulation scheme recognition occupies a crucial position in the civil and military application, especially with the emergence of Software Defined Radio (SDR). The modulation recognition is an indispensable task while performing spectrum sensing in Cognitive Radio (CR). Spread spectrum (SS) techniques represent the foundation for the design of Cognitive Radio systems. In this work, we propose a new method of characterization of Spread spectrum modulations capable of providing relevant information for the process of recognition of this type of modulations. Using the proposed approach, results higher than 90% are obtained in the modulation classification process, thus bringing an advantage over the classical methods, whose performance is below 75%.
Riverine organic matter functional diversity increases with catchment size
Authors: Danczak Robert E. , Garayburu-Caruso Vanessa A. , Renteria Lupita , McKever Sophia A. , Otenburg Opal C. , Grieger Samantha R. , Son Kyongho , Kaufman Matthew H. , Fulton Stephanie G. , Roebuck J. Alan , Myers-Pigg Allison N. , Stegen James C.
Published: July 2023

A large amount of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is transported to the ocean from terrestrial inputs each year (~0.95 Pg C per year) and undergoes a series of abiotic and biotic reactions, causing a significant release of CO2. Combined, these reactions result in variable DOM characteristics (e.g., nominal oxidation state of carbon, double-bond equivalents, chemodiversity) which have demonstrated impacts on biogeochemistry and ecosystem function. Despite this importance, however, comparatively few studies focus on the drivers for DOM chemodiversity along a riverine continuum. Here, we characterized DOM within samples collected from a stream network in the Yakima River Basin using ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry (i.e., FTICR-MS). To link DOM chemistry to potential function, we identified putative biochemical transformations within each sample. We also used various molecular characteristics (e.g., thermodynamic favorability, degradability) to calculate a series of functional diversity metrics. We observed that the diversity of biochemical transformations increased with increasing upstream catchment area and landcover. This increase was also connected to expanding functional diversity of the molecular formula. This pattern suggests that as molecular formulas become more diverse in thermodynamics or degradability, there is increased opportunity for biochemical transformations, potentially creating a self-reinforcing cycle where transformations in turn increase diversity and diversity increase transformations. We also observed that these patterns are, in part, connected to landcover whereby the occurrence of many landcover types (e.g., agriculture, urban, forest, shrub) could expand DOM functional diversity. For example, we observed that a novel functional diversity metric measuring similarity to common freshwater molecular formulas (i.e., carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules) was significantly related to urban coverage. These results show that DOM diversity does not decrease along stream networks, as predicted by a common conceptual model known as the River Continuum Concept, but rather are influenced by the thermodynamic and degradation potential of molecular formula within the DOM, as well as landcover patterns.
The Ear Unwrapper: A Maize Ear Image Acquisition Pipeline for Disease Severity Phenotyping
Authors: Hudson Owen , Hudson Dylan , Brahmstedt Colin , Brawner Jeremy
Published: July 2023

Fusarium ear rot (FER) is a common disease in maize caused by the pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. Because of the quantitative nature of the disease, scoring disease severity is difficult and nuanced, relying on various ways to quantify the damage caused by the pathogen. Towards the goal of designing a system with greater objectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy than subjective scores or estimations of the infected area, a system of semi-automated image acquisition and subsequent image analysis was designed. The tool created for image acquisition, “The Ear Unwrapper”, successfully obtained images of the full exterior of maize ears. A set of images produced from The Ear Unwrapper was then used as an example of how machine learning could be used to estimate disease severity from unannotated images. A high correlation (0.74) was found between the methods estimating the area of disease, but low correlations (0.47 and 0.28) were found between the number of infected kernels and the area of disease, indicating how different methods can result in contrasting severity scores. This study provides an example of how a simplified image acquisition tool can be built and incorporated into a machine learning pipeline to measure phenotypes of interest. We also present how the use of machine learning in image analysis can be adapted from open-source software to estimate complex phenotypes such as Fusarium ear rot.
Setting Irrigation Thresholds for Building a Platform Aimed at the Improved Management of Citrus Orchards in Coastal Syria
Authors: Darouich Hanaa , Karfoul Razan , Ramos Tiago B. , Pereira Luís S.
Published: July 2023

Citrus is one of the most valuable crops in Syria, with the largest production areas being in the coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, where this study was performed. A companion paper reported on the basal crop coefficients derived from the field water balance and on the performance assessment of various irrigation methods used in a citrus orchard located in the same region. That study evidenced the need for the improved management of irrigation water, mainly reducing water applications and increasing productivity, thus leading to the current research. The main objectives consisted of (i) providing a set of reliable basal (Kcb) and average (Kc) crop coefficients to be used in practice in the citrus orchards of the Syrian coastal area, while accounting for the diversity of characteristics observed; (ii) to estimate the seasonal consumptive use of typical orchards under different climate-demand and deficit-irrigation scenarios; and (iii) to assess possible water savings and related yield reductions. The previously calibrated water balance model SIMDualKc was used for these purposes. The computed Kcb values for the mid-season and average demand for water ranged from 0.52, when the plant density was low, to 0.84, when plant density was very high. The corresponding Kc values, which further reflected the impact of drip irrigation on controlling soil evaporation, were 0.72 and 0.97, respectively. Overall, the consumptive use of water was estimated to range from 867 to 1573 mm. The assessed water-saving scenarios consisted of adopting increased management-allowed depletion (MAD) thresholds relative to the p depletion fraction for no stress: MAD = 1.05, 1.10, 1.20, and 1.30 p. For trees under a very high climatic demand, water savings ranged from 12 to 34%, but the yield losses induced by the water deficits ranged from 8 to 48%. Although the selection of optimal strategies should be based upon economic terms, these may only be used when the Syrian economy recovers from civil war and the current crisis. The present results show the feasibility of adopting such MAD thresholds for building an irrigation management platform. The data provided by the current study are valuable because they can be efficiently used to support of the irrigation management of Syrian citrus production systems.
mtDNA CR Evidence Indicates High Genetic Diversity of Captive Forest Musk Deer in Shaanxi Province, China
Authors: Wang Zhe , Lu Guanjie , Gao Yunyun , Yan Liping , Li Mingzhe , Hu Defu , Zhang Dong
Published: July 2023

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) are endangered ruminants whose adult males secrete musk. China has been breeding forest musk deer artificially since the 1950s in an effort to restore wild populations, with Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces as the two main sites for captive breeding. Genetic diversity is a significant indicator that determines the long-term viability and status of a population, particularly for species at risk of extinction. In this study, we analyzed the current genetic makeup of seven captive forest musk deer populations in the Shaanxi province, using the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) as the molecular marker. We sequenced 604 bp of mtDNA CR, with an average content of A+T higher than G+C. We observed 111 variable sites and 39 different haplotypes from 338 sequences. The nucleotide diversity (Pi) and haplotype diversity (Hd) were 0.02887 and 0.908, respectively. Genetic differentiation between these populations was not significant, and the populations might not have experienced rapid growth. By combining our sequences with previous ones, we identified 65 unique haplotypes with 26 rare haplotypes and estimated a total of 90 haplotypes in Shaanxi province captive populations. The Shaanxi province and Sichuan province obtained 88 haplotypes, the haplotypes from the two populations were mixed together, and the two populations showed moderate genetic differentiation. Our findings suggested that captive forest musk deer populations in the Shaanxi province had high genetic diversity, with a rich founder population of about 90 maternal lines. Additionally, managers could develop genetic management plans for forest musk deer based on the haplotype database. Overall, our study will provide insights and guidelines for the conservation of genetic diversity in captive forest musk deer populations in the Shaanxi province.
Identification and Characterization of the Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene from Branchiostoma belcheri: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Family
Authors: Cao Yunpeng , Wang Haili , Jin Ping , Ma Fei , Zhou Xue
Published: July 2023

Low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) are a class of cell-surface endocytosis receptors that are mainly involved in cholesterol homeostasis and cellular signal transduction. Very-low-density lipoprotein receptors (VLDLRs), which are members of the LDLR family, have been regarded as multi-function receptors that fulfill diverse physiological functions. However, no VLDLR gene has been identified in protochordates to date. As a representative protochordate species, amphioxi are the best available example of vertebrate ancestors. Identifying and characterizing the VLDLR gene in amphioxi has high importance for exploring the evolutionary process of the LDLR family. With this study, a new amphioxus VLDLR gene (designated AmphiVLDLR) was cloned and characterized using RACE-PCR. The 3217 nt transcript of the AmphiVLDLR had a 2577 nt ORF, and the deduced 858 amino acids were highly conserved within vertebrate VLDLRs according to their primary structure and three-dimensional structure, both of which contained five characteristic domains. In contrast to other vertebrate VLDLRs, which had a conserved genomic structure organization with 19 exons and 18 introns, the AmphiVLDLR had 13 exons and 12 introns. The results of a selective pressure analysis showed that the AmphiVLDLR had numerous positive selection sites. Furthermore, the tissue expression of AmphiVLDLR using RT-qPCR showed that AmphiVLDLR RNA expression levels were highest in the gills and muscles, moderate in the hepatic cecum and gonads, and lowest in the intestines. The results of the evolutionary analysis demonstrated that the AmphiVLDLR gene is a new member of the VLDLR family whose family members have experienced duplications and deletions over the evolutionary process. These results imply that the functions of LDLR family members have also undergone differentiation. In summary, we found a new VLDLR gene homolog (AmphiVLDLR) in amphioxi. Our results provide insight into the function and evolution of the LDLR gene family.
Mother Always Protects: Two Embroidered Hundred-Boys Jackets in a Ming Imperial Tomb
Authors: Yi Sizhao
Published: July 2023

The Dingling Mausoleum was built as the afterlife abode of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1573–1620) and his two wives. Among the thousands of burial goods excavated from the site are two embroidered silk jackets that belonged to Imperial Honored Consort Wang, often referred to as Empress Dowager Xiaojing. With their physical proximity to the deceased body, sophisticated craftsmanship, and unusually festive motifs of one hundred playing boys, the jackets are both fascinating and puzzling. Through closely attending to the visual and material aspects of the jackets, and considering them together with the funerary context and historical circumstances, this paper suggests that these jackets were designed not only to serve the deceased in her afterlife, but also to maintain and strengthen her connection with her offspring in the living world as a means of power assertion and political protection.
Introduction for Special Issue “Visual Culture Exchange across the Baltic Sea Region during the Long 19th Century)”
Authors: Facos Michelle , Pushaw Bart , Mednick Thor J.
Published: July 2023

The goal of this Special Issue is to promote a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the Baltic Sea Region as a nexus of artistic exchange during the long nineteenth century, and to inspire further research on this understudied and ideologically isolated subject [...]
NOAA’s Global Forecast System Data in the Cloud for Community Air Quality Modeling
Authors: Campbell Patrick C. , Jiang Weifeng (Rick) , Moon Zachary , Zinn Sonny , Tang Youhua
Published: July 2023

Herein, we present the initial application of the NOAA-EPA Atmosphere-Chemistry Coupler (NACC) in the cloud (“NACC-Cloud”, version 1), which processes NOAA’s operational Global Forecast System version 16 (GFSv16) meteorology on-demand and produces model-ready meteorological files needed to drive U.S. EPA’s Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. NACC is adapted from the U.S. EPA’s Meteorology-Chemistry Interface Processor version 5 (MCIPv5) and is used as the primary model coupler in the current operational NWS/NOAA air quality forecasting model. The development and use of NACC-Cloud in this work are critical to provide the scientific community streamlined access to NOAA’s operational GFSv16 data and user-defined processing and download of model-ready, meteorological input for any regional CMAQ domain worldwide. The NACC-Cloud system was implemented on the Amazon® Web Services High-Performance Computing platform, and results from this work show that the NACC-Cloud system is immediately beneficial to the air quality modeling community worldwide.
Emission of Greenhouse Gases and Ammonia from the Excreta of Nellore Bulls Submitted to Energy and Tannin Supplementation
Authors: Rigobello Izabela Larosa , Cardoso Abmael da Silva , Fonseca Natalia Vilas Boas , Ongaratto Fernando , Silva Matheus Mello , Bahia Angelica Santos Rabelo de Souza , Dornellas Isadora Alves , Reis Ricardo Andrade
Published: July 2023

Animal supplementation during the background phase may increase greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The inclusion of tannins in the diet of Nellore bulls can mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3) production. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of energy supplementation associated with sources of tannins in the diet of young Nellore bulls backgrounded in pastures with N2O, CH4, and NH3 emissions. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. The treatments were three supplementation strategies: (1) soybean hulls 0.3% of body weight (BW), (2) sorghum grain 0.3% of the BW, and (3) peanut peel 0.3% of BW, the last two being sources of tannin. The static closed chambers method was used to quantify N2O and CH4 emissions and the semi-open chamber technique to estimate NH3 volatilization. Supplementation strategies did not affect the N2O emissions (p = 0.9116). The soil water-filled pore space explained the variation in the N2O fluxes (p = 0.0071). The treatments did not change the total CH4 emissions (p = 0.3599), and no explanatory variable was correlated with the CH4 fluxes. The NH3 volatilization did not vary according to the supplements or tannin inclusion (p = 0.5170). However, the type of excreta affected the NH3 volatilization (p < 0.0001). Ammonia volatilization averaged 14.05, 4.16, and 2.25% of the applied N for urine, urine + dung, and dung, respectively. The energetic supplementation of Nellore bulls containing sources of tannins in the evaluated dosages was not a mitigation strategy for the emissions of N2O, CH4, and NH3.
A Three-Dimensional Hydraulic Stack Model for Redox Flow Batteries Considering Porosity Variations in Porous Felt Electrodes and Bypass Flow in Side Gaps
Authors: Guan Xinjie , Skyllas-Kazacos Maria , Menictas Chris
Published: July 2023

Redox flow batteries provide high flexibility and scalability for large-scale energy storage systems due to their safety, low cost and decoupling of energy and power. While typical flow frame designs usually assume all parts are standard, the industry can suffer from irregularity and manufacturing tolerances of cell components, such as the shape or dimensions of the flow frame and porous electrode. This paper evaluates the impact of side gaps and porosity differences of the graphite felt due to irregularity and manufacturing tolerances on the electrolyte flow in the active cell areas. A three-dimensional hydraulic model with parameterised multi-cell stack geometry has been developed in COMSOL to compare the cell velocity distributions and pressure losses of a vanadium redox flow battery with flow-through electrodes. The results indicate that the side gaps and porosity segments can result in preferential flow within low-resistance areas, leading to significantly lower flow rates for other cell areas compared with standard flow frames. Proposed countermeasures of adjusting channel locations and applying dimples protruding into the cell cavity from the flow frame show good potential to avoid stagnant zones and maintain theoretical flow rates for the active cell areas.
Tracking Flows of End-of-Life Battery Materials and Manufacturing Scrap
Authors: Gaines Linda , Zhang Jingyi , He Xin , Bouchard Jessey , Melin Hans Eric
Published: July 2023

This paper defines terms such as “recycling rate” that enable the characterization of flows of battery materials and expands the terminology to accommodate the description of complex product recycling. It also estimates the maximum percentage of U.S. demand for critical elements that could be satisfied by recycling as demand continues to grow, and it defines and estimates the recycling rate for lithium-ion batteries. Finally, it clarifies the role of manufacturing scrap as the domestic U.S. supply chain is built up. It concludes that recycling will be important in the long term, but growth still requires that new material be extracted to supply additional material.
Upscaled Skeletal Muscle Engineered Tissue with In Vivo Vascularization and Innervation Potential
Authors: Borisov Vladislav , Gili Sole Laia , Reid Gregory , Milan Giulia , Hutter Gregor , Grapow Martin , Eckstein Friedrich Stefan , Isu Giuseppe , Marsano Anna
Published: July 2023

Engineering functional tissues of clinically relevant size (in mm-scale) in vitro is still a challenge in tissue engineering due to low oxygen diffusion and lack of vascularization. To address these limitations, a perfusion bioreactor was used to generate contractile engineered muscles of a 3 mm-thickness and a 8 mm-diameter. This study aimed to upscale the process to 50 mm in diameter by combining murine skeletal myoblasts (SkMbs) with human adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells, providing high neuro-vascular potential in vivo. SkMbs were cultured on a type-I-collagen scaffold with (co-culture) or without (monoculture) SVF. Large-scale muscle-like tissue showed an increase in the maturation index over time (49.18 ± 1.63% and 76.63 ± 1.22%, at 9 and 11 days, respectively) and a similar force of contraction in mono- (43.4 ± 2.28 µN) or co-cultured (47.6 ± 4.7 µN) tissues. Four weeks after implantation in subcutaneous pockets of nude rats, the vessel length density within the constructs was significantly higher in SVF co-cultured tissues (5.03 ± 0.29 mm/mm2) compared to monocultured tissues (3.68 ± 0.32 mm/mm2) (p < 0.005). Although no mature neuromuscular junctions were present, nerve-like structures were predominantly observed in the engineered tissues co-cultured with SVF cells. This study demonstrates that SVF cells can support both in vivo vascularization and innervation of contractile muscle-like tissues, making significant progress towards clinical translation.
Expression of Amine Oxidase Proteins in Adrenal Cortical Neoplasm and Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Kim Eun Kyung , Koo Ja Seung
Published: July 2023

We delved into the expression of amine oxidase family proteins and their potential significance in adrenal gland neoplasm. Tissue microarrays were prepared for 132 cases of adrenal cortical neoplasm (ACN) consisting of 115 cases of adrenal cortical adenoma (ACA), 17 cases of adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC), and 163 cases of pheochromocytoma (PCC). Immunohistochemical stainings for MAOA, MAOB, LOX, and AOC3 were performed to evaluate the H-scores and compare them with clinicopathological parameters. The H-scores of MAOA (T; p = 0.005) and MAOB (T; p = 0.006) in tumor cells (T) were high in ACN, whereas LOX (T, S; p < 0.001) in tumor and stromal cells (S) and AOC3 (T; p < 0.001) were higher in PCC. In stromal cells, MAOA (S; p < 0.001) and AOC3 (S; p = 0.010) were more expressed in ACA than in ACC. MAOB (S) in PCC showed higher H-scores when the grading of adrenal pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (GAPP) score was 3 or higher (p = 0.027). In the univariate analysis, low MAOA expression in stromal cells of ACN was associated with shorter overall survival (p = 0.008). In conclusion, monoamine oxidase proteins revealed differences in expression between ACN and PCC and also between benign and malignant cells.
A Paper-Based Biomimetic Sensing Device for the Discrimination of Original and Fraudulent Cigarette Brands Using Mixtures of MoS2 Quantum Dots and Organic Dyes
Authors: Gharaghani Fereshte Mohamadi , Mostafapour Sara , Hemmateenejad Bahram
Published: July 2023

In this study, we investigated the combined effects of MoS2 QDs’ catalytic properties and the colorimetric responses of organic reagents to create a sniffing device based on the sensor array concept of the mammalian olfactory system. The aim was to differentiate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in cigarette smoke. The designed optical nose device was utilized for the classification of various cigarette VOCs. Unsupervised Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and supervised Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) methods were employed for data analysis. The LDA analysis showed promising results, with 100% accuracy in both training and cross-validation. To validate the sensor’s performance, we assessed its ability to discriminate between five cigarette brands, achieving 100% accuracy in the training set and 82% in the cross-validation set. Additionally, we focused on studying four popular Iranian cigarette brands (Bahman Kootah, Omega, Montana Gold, and Williams), including fraudulent samples. Impressively, the developed sensor array achieved a perfect 100% accuracy in distinguishing these brands and detecting fraud. We further analyzed a total of 126 cigarette samples, including both original and fraudulent ones, using LDA with a matrix size of (126 × 27). The resulting LDA model demonstrated an accuracy of 98%. Our proposed analytical procedure is characterized by its efficiency, affordability, user-friendliness, and reliability. The selectivity exhibited by the developed sensor array positions it as a valuable tool for differentiating between original and counterfeit cigarettes, thus aiding in border control efforts worldwide.
Simultaneous fMRI and tDCS for Enhancing Training of Flight Tasks
Authors: Mark Jesse A. , Ayaz Hasan , Callan Daniel E.
Published: July 2023

There is a gap in our understanding of how best to apply transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance learning in complex, realistic, and multifocus tasks such as aviation. Our goal is to assess the effects of tDCS and feedback training on task performance, brain activity, and connectivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Experienced glider pilots were recruited to perform a one-day, three-run flight-simulator task involving varying difficulty conditions and a secondary auditory task, mimicking real flight requirements. The stimulation group (versus sham) received 1.5 mA high-definition HD-tDCS to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 30 min during the training. Whole-brain fMRI was collected before, during, and after stimulation. Active stimulation improved piloting performance both during and post-training, particularly in novice pilots. The fMRI revealed a number of tDCS-induced effects on brain activation, including an increase in the left cerebellum and bilateral basal ganglia for the most difficult conditions, an increase in DLPFC activation and connectivity to the cerebellum during stimulation, and an inhibition in the secondary task-related auditory cortex and Broca’s area. Here, we show that stimulation increases activity and connectivity in flight-related brain areas, particularly in novices, and increases the brain’s ability to focus on flying and ignore distractors. These findings can guide applied neurostimulation in real pilot training to enhance skill acquisition and can be applied widely in other complex perceptual-motor real-world tasks.
A Confirmatory and an Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) in a European Case Series of Patients with Dementia: Results from the RECage Study
Authors: Cesana Bruno Mario , Poptsi Eleni , Tsolaki Magda , Bergh Sverre , Ciccone Alfonso , Cognat Emmanuel , Fabbo Andrea , Fascendini Sara , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Frölich Lutz , Jori Maria Cristina , Mecocci Patrizia , Merlo Paola , Peters Oliver , Defanti Carlo Alberto
Published: July 2023

Background: One of the most widely used instruments for assessing agitation in dementia patients is the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), nevertheless no global score has been proposed. The aim of this study is: (a) to conduct a confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of CMAI on people with dementia and Psychological and Behavioral Symptoms (BPSD), and (b) to propose an alternative structure, based on clinical criteria including all CMAI items. Methods: Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were carried out on the CMAI 29 items administered at baseline to 505 patients with dementia (PwD) and BPSD enrolled in the international observational RECage study. Results: The three-factor structure has not been confirmed by the CFA, whilst the EFA was carried out respectively on 25 items disregarding 4 items with a prevalence ≤5% and then on 20 items disregarding 9 items with a prevalence ≤10%. The four-factor structure explaining 56% of the variance comprised Physically Aggressive behavior, Verbally Aggressive behavior, Physically non-aggressive behavior, and Physically and verbally aggressive behavior. Conclusions: A new grouping of all items according to a clinical criterion is proposed, allowing for a more sensible evaluation of the symptoms leading to better differentiation.