bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unravelling the Tumourigenesis Mechanisms of Oncocytic Cell Tumours: Discoveries from a Comparative Omics Study
Authors: CANBERK SULE , FERREIRA MARTA , Paula Arnaud Da Cruz , PEREIRA LUÍSA , OLIVEIRA CARLA , OSÓRIO HUGO , SOARES PAULA , MÁXIMO VALDEMAR
Published: November 2024

Oncocytic cell tumours (OCTs), formerly known as Hürthle cell tumours in thyroid, are a subset of thyroid and other endocrine neoplasms that present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their variable clinical behaviour. Considering the limited exploration of transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of OCTs compared to MRNs in the literature, we conducted RNA and protein sequencing on 12 OCTs (5 oncocytic adenomas and 7 oncocytic carcinomas) and 6 MRNs, based on the fact that oncocytic morphology alone does not determine biological behavior. RNA sequencing data analysis revealed the presence of 47 downregulated and 38 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OCTs when compared to MRNs. Significant signalling pathways affecting OCTs were associated with the heme metabolism. Protein sequencing data analysis showed the presence of 20 underexpressed and 64 overexpressed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in OCTs than in MRNs, and all of the OCAs were found to cluster together, constituting a distinct cluster than the one comprising the MRNs. The majority of DEPs affected three major cellular pathways in OCTs, including epigenetic modifications, tumor microenvironment, and protein biogenesis, that may shape the behavior and morphology of these tumors. Hence, further research into these mechanisms and their impact on tumour phenotype and behaviour may lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with OCTs.
Efficacy and Safety of Ultra-Pulsed CO2 Fractional Laser (UP) for the Treatment of Periorbital Static Wrinkles
Authors: Gao Ni , Gao Lin , Wang Yuanli , Wang Li , Song Pu , Lu Meiheng , Gao Lin
Published: November 2024

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Ultra-Pulsed CO2 Fractional Laser (UP) for the treatment of periorbital static wrinkles.
Methods: Thirty patients with periorbital static wrinkles were selected and given one session of ultra-pulsed CO2 fractional laser treatment. Patients were photographed and assessed using Think View skin testing and Antera3D skin analysis before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months post-treatment. Patients were scored for pain during surgery and followed up by telephone on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5 to record adverse reactions. Data such as overall periorbital wrinkle score, average wrinkle depth, average wrinkle width, and maximum wrinkle depth were used for outcome evaluation using Antera3D analysis.
Results: All 30 patients could tolerate the intraoperative treatment, with a VAS pain score of 5.67±1.15. 93.33% of the subjects expressed satisfaction with the treatment effect. The Fitzpatrick wrinkle scale scores of all subjects decreased after treatment compared to before. 3D detection showed that the overall wrinkle score decreased after treatment compared to before. Specifically, the average wrinkle depth was significantly reduced at 3 months postoperatively (p<0.001), and the maximum wrinkle depth improved at 1 month (p<0.05) and decreased significantly at 2 and 3 months postoperatively (p<0.001). There were no significant adverse reactions after the surgery.
Conclusion: The Ultra-Pulsed CO2 Fractional Laser (UP) is safe and effective in the treatment of periorbital static wrinkles.
Impact of Treatment Delays on Survival in Uveal Melanoma: Expanded Cohort and Analytical Approaches
Authors: Moghadam Annahita , Gill Viktor Torgny , Sabazade Shiva , Hagström Anna , Stålhammar Gustav
Published: November 2024

The impact of treatment delays on survival in uveal melanoma remains debated. This expansion of a previous study analyzed 1256 patients diagnosed with posterior uveal melanoma between 1983 and 2022 to evaluate the prognostic significance of the interval between diagnosis and treatment. Of these patients, 454 (36%) were treated one month or more after diagnosis (delayed treatment group, DTG). DTG had significantly shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) in stages II and III, but not in stage I. The DTG also exhibited shorter DSS in multiple landmark analyses, and in 778 patients matched by propensity scores based on age and tumor size at diagnosis. Competing risk regression showed an increased hazard ratio (HR) for metastatic death in DTG. An exponential survival regression indicated that a treatment delay of one month or more was associated with a 3% reduction in 10-year OS. In a Markov multi-state model, the HR for transitioning to metastatic death was 1.45 (95% CI: 1.12–1.89) for the DTG. These findings suggest that delays of one month or more in treating uveal melanoma are associated with reduced survival rates in stages II and III. Prompt treatment initiation following diagnosis is recommended to improve survival outcomes.
Wireless Communication Security Defense and Monitoring in Smart Grids
Authors: Duan Junbao , Liu Gengshuo , Zeng Shuyan , Liu Han , Zhang Hongzhi , Li Zhenghao , Zhong Cheng , Liu Donglan
Published: November 2024

With the development of smart grids, wireless communication security issues have become increasingly prominent, including data eavesdropping, denial of service attacks, malicious software, and physical layer threats, which pose a serious threat to the stability and security of smart grid systems. In response to this situation, this article studies the security protection and monitoring of wireless communication in smart grids. A comprehensive security defense and monitoring structure is constructed by using the long short-term memory network technology. Firstly, through the analysis of existing protection mechanisms, a defense and monitoring system integration scheme based on a data sharing platform is proposed. Secondly, functional test, performance test, and security test are conducted based on the proposed system architecture. The low orbit ion cannon (LOIC) tool is used to simulate distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and verify the performance of the system under different attack intensities. At the same time, load test is conducted using Apache JMeter to evaluate the performance of the system under high loads. Finally, penetration test is carried out using the Metasploit tool to evaluate the system’s ability to resist various attacks. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the system remains between 82.2% and 96.5% under attack frequency of 500–5000 times per second in the functional test, and the response time is extended from 120 milliseconds to 390 milliseconds, indicating high protection capability in low-intensity attacks. The performance test results show that when the number of concurrent requests increases from 500 to 5000, the CPU utilization increases from 30–99%; the memory usage increases from 150MB to 550MB; the system response time is significantly prolonged, reflecting the performance bottleneck under high-load conditions. In the security test, the blocking rates of SQL (structured query language) injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks reach 98% and 97% respectively, demonstrating the system’s effective defense capability against various attacks. In summary, this article provides an effective solution for the security protection of smart grids and points out the shortcomings of the system under high-intensity attacks and loads, providing important references for future research.
Hierarchical Feature Concatenation Fusion Network for Tooth Image Segmentation
Authors: Li Bo , Kong Lingyun , Zhao Mingwei
Published: November 2024

Tooth segmentation is a key technology in the field of medical image segmentation, with applications including orthodontic treatment, human identification, and dental pathology assessment. Despite the existence of numerous tooth segmentation models, many fail to adequately consider the impact of background noise on tooth boundaries, which is crucial for dental diagnosis. This paper presents an innovative tooth segmentation network, MCMFormer, which integrates cascade feature fusion and a depthwise separable pyramid pooling module to effectively address the interference of background noise on tooth boundaries. The core of MCMFormer is cascade feature fusion, designed to dynamically select important information from feature maps at different levels to enhance the clarity of tooth boundaries. Meanwhile, the depthwise separable pyramid pooling module effectively integrates multi-level feature information, thereby improving boundary accuracy. Through these innovative approaches, our tooth segmentation network has been rigorously tested in the recent STS data challenge, achieving a score of 0.9431, demonstrating significant advantages in segmenting tooth boundaries.
Relationship of interoceptive accuracy in acne vulgaris patients: A prospective, controlled Study
Authors: Alagöz Elif Nur , Tosun Mustafa , Güner Rukiye Yasak , Akyol Melih
Published: November 2024

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition predominantly observed during adolescence. Interoception accuracy (IAc) refers to the ability to perceive internal bodily states such as hunger and thirst. Since the brain and skin originate from the same embryological layer, the ectoderm, it is hypothesized that skin changes and disorders might affect individual perceptions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between IAc and AV. This study included 94 AV patients and 94 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and heartbeat perception task to assess IAc. The severity of acne was assessed using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Acne patients had lower IAc scores than controls did (P = 0.026). Severe depression or anxiety symptoms were associated with lower IAc scores (P = 0.027, P = 0.046). Acne severity did not significantly affect IAc scores. There was a weak negative connection between the DLQI score and IAc (r = -0.208, P = 0.022), suggesting that lower quality of life is correlated with reduced IAc. Gender significantly influenced IAc. As a result, individuals with acne may have a reduced capacity to accurately perceive internal bodily states, potentially impacting overall well-being. Enhancing interoception might positively contribute to AV treatment and management.
Primary Aldosteronism in a Hispanic Cohort: Responses to Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonism and Remission in a Case
Authors: Tapia-Castillo Alejandra , Vecchiola Andrea , Quiñones Paola , Baudrand René , Uslar Thomas , Delgado José , Carvajal Cristian A. , Fardella Carlos E.
Published: November 2024

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the main cause of secondary arterial hypertension. In this study, we present the medical treatment of Hispanic patients with PA followed for up to 5 years, highlighting the complete cure with pharmacological treatment in one of our patients. Subjects and methods: We studied 32 PA patients, followed every 6 months after starting MRA. A clinical response was the normalization of blood pressure (BP) in the absence of other antihypertensive drugs. The biochemical response was considered with normalization of potassium and renin. Responses to treatment were compared using the defined daily dose (DDD). The effect of MRA was evaluated in vitro. The HAC15 cells were cultured and stimulated with aldosterone and spironolactone for 24-72h, and the apoptotic cell death was measured. Results. At 12 months posttreatment with MRA, 87% of the patients had a total clinical response, and 71% had a total biochemical response. Response to MRA treatment reduced DDD by an average of 70%. Additionally, we observed one PA patients treated with spironolactone after three years, he presented a pharmacological cure with normalization of aldosterone and renin without treatment with spironolactone. The in vitro study shows that spironolactone increased early apoptosis in a 60% and late apoptosis in a 50%. Conclusion. These results suggest the importance of timely diagnosis of PA and specific treatment with MRA, especially in patients with a poor response to treatment. Moreover, remission of PA may occur in some patients after spironolactone treatment due to its suggestive role as an apoptotic agent.
Developing a bio-optical model for monitoring total suspended solids concentration using remote sensing and Google Earth Engine for Barragem Santa Bárbara, Pelotas, Brazil
Authors: Sampaio Daniele Martin , Arejano Luan Martin , Mendes Karen Gularte Peres , Nascimento Letícia Vianna do , Medeiros Camila Ineu , Dutra Pâmela Martins , Guedes Hugo Alexandre Soares
Published: November 2024

The objective of this study was to develop a bio-optical model to predict the concentration of Total Suspended Solids (TSS, mg L-1) in the Barragem Santa Bárbara reservoir using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, in situ measurements, and the computational capabilities of Google Earth Engine (GEE). TSS monitoring is crucial because it carries other pollutants contaminating water bodies downstream. In this study, multiple linear regression is developed based on the correlation between reflectance values of Sentinel-2 spectral bands and band ratios and in-situ TSS measurements. Data processing and analysis were streamlined in GEE. Bands B5, B6/B4, and B8/B4 yielded the best performance, with a resulting R² value of 0.63 and a root mean square error of 4.58 mg L−1. This proves that the model delivers accurate and reliable estimates of TSS, as did most similar studies. The spatial distribution maps produced by the model revealed a well-defined pattern for the TSS distribution in the reservoir. High TSS concentrations were recorded at the inflow points and the treatment plant's intake because of sediment resuspension and tributary inflow. On the contrary, the decreased water velocity allowed sedimentation at low TSS levels near the dam. These findings show that integrating remote sensing data and in-situ measurement is an effective way to monitor the water quality of reservoirs and provide a low-cost tool for TSS concentration assessment.
Towards an Explainable Artificial Intelligence Approach for Smart Grid Systems
Authors: Alfayan Mahmoud , Hagras Hani
Published: November 2024

As global energy demands escalate, effective management of electrical grids and reducing carbon emissions have become critical objectives. This paper proposes a novel system which employs Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to enhance the operational efficiency of smart grids by predicting energy consumption and optimizing resource allocation accordingly. The integration of XAI addresses the complexity of grid management by offering transparency into AI-driven predictions, thus fostering user trust and facilitating informed decision-making. The system comprises data collection and preparation, energy consumption prediction using XAI models, and an optimisation module that ensures efficient grid operations. Eventually, this research can be seen as a step forward to further contribute towards sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable smart grid management.
SWRD: A dataset of radiographic image of seam weld for defect detection
Authors: Zhao Xuefeng , Wu Juntao , Zhang Baoxin , Wen Haoyu , Wang Xiaopeng , Li Yan , Yu Xinghua
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we introduce SWRD, a new public dataset containing over 3,600 seam weld X-ray images, categorized into standard seam welds and T-joint seam welds. Each image is annotated with polygonal labels for specific defects, making the dataset suitable for various deep learning tasks such as classification, object detection, and instance segmentation. We also detail the defect formation mechanisms and their corresponding characteristics in X-ray images. To enhance the usability of the dataset for deep learning models, we applied several image processing techniques, including image adjustment, sliding window cropping, and preprocessing. Our experiments with the state-of-the-art YOLOv8 object detection models show promising results, with the YOLOv8m model achieving a mAP50 of 0.66 and a mAP50-95 of 0.49. Given that we used default training parameters and limited training epochs, we anticipate even better performance with further optimization. The complete dataset can be downloaded from: http://www.tz-ndt.com/#/download
Somatic embryogenesis and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in a number of grape cultivars
Authors: Maletich Galina , Gavrilenko Igor , Pushin Alexander , Chelombit Svetlana , Khmelnitskaya Tatyana , Plugatar Yuri , Dolgov Sergey , Khvatkov Pavel
Published: November 2024

Somatic embryogenesis is the preferred method for cell-to-plant regeneration of grapevine. In this study, we tested the embryogenic capacity of inflorescence-derived calli from 10 grape genotypes, representing a diverse group of Vitis vinifera and accessions of non-vinifera Vitis species. Explants produce pro-embryogenic calli when cultured on agarized Nitsch and Nitsch medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1.0 mg l-1 6-benzyladenine. Embryogenic calli was developed upon transfer to liquid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l-1 zeatin and 0.1 mg l-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Somatic embryos were formed upon transfer to a agarized Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l-1 indolylacetic acid. Plantlets was developed when a obtained somatic embryos was transferred to liquid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l-1 6-benzyladenine and 0.2 mg l-1 gibberellic acid. Conversion into morphological normal plants was achieved by rooting the plantlets on agarized half strength Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.05 mg l-1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid. This protocol has been successful for the regeneration of ‘Malbec’, ‘Saperavi’ ‘Aligote’, ‘Carménère’ and ‘Podarok Magaracha’ cultivars and ‘SO4’ rootstock. To future biotechnological use of studied cultivars, we established a stable transformation system for it based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Following inoculation with the bacteria, somatic embryos were cultured for 4 weeks on liquid Murashige and Skoog medium containing 0.2 mg l-1 6-benzyladenine, 0.2 mg l-1 gibberellic acid, 100 mg l-1 timentin and 50 mg l-1 kanamycin. Explants were then transferred to agarized half strength Murashige and Skoog growth regulator-free media in the presence of 100 mg l-1 timentin and 50.0 mg l-1 kanamycin to select antibiotic-resistant somatic embryos. The resulting somatic embryos were re-cultured in liquid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l-1 6-benzyladenine and 0.2 mg l-1 gibberellic acid, 100 mg l-1 timentin and 50 mg l-1 kanamycin to develop transgenic sprouts. Then, the resulting sprouts were transferred to agarized half strength Murashige and Skoog medium to form transgenic shoots. The developed agro transformation conditions yielded stably transformed lines of the Aligote and the Podarok Magaracha cultivars, confirmed by Southern blotting, with an efficiency of 0.36–0.43% transgenes per 100 explants.
Efficient alumina-chromia catalysts with hierarchical porous structure for isobutane dehydrogenation in fixed-bed reactor
Authors: Zolotukhina A. I. , Mamontov G. V.
Published: November 2024

The granulated alumina-chromia (CrOx/Al2O3) catalysts for dehydrogenation of light paraffinic hydrocarbons in a fixed-bed reactor are prepared from the products of thermochemical activation of Al(OH)3 through a one-stage wet mixing method. The role of wood flour addition on the formation of hierarchical porous structure of the catalysts is demonstrated. The high mechanical strength of granules (6.7–10.0 MPa) is achieved despite the presence of macropores in the structure. The role of macropores in the isobutane dehydrogenation under near-real conditions using a bed with the catalyst granules is discussed. The activity rise with the increased addition of wood flour loading and an increase in the amount of macropores is shown. Such data are similar in activity to catalysts used in industry.
Adults’ dental caries burden through the DMFT index: Tanzanian national pathfinder survey
Authors: Nyamuryekung’e Kasusu , Mbawalla Hawa , Mlangwa Matilda , Masalu Joyce
Published: November 2024

Background: Dental caries remains the most prevalent chronic disease globally. The DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index is a key metric in oral epidemiology to quantify the prevalence and severity of dental caries. This study aims to assess the dental caries burden among adults in mainland Tanzania using the DMFT index.Methods: A national pathfinder survey was conducted using a cross-sectional design across fourteen districts in thirteen regions of mainland Tanzania. Site selection followed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) basic oral health survey methods, employing a modified stratified-cluster sampling approach. Adult participants completed electronic questionnaires prior to clinical dental examinations. Questionnaires gathered sociodemographic data, self-rated dentition status, tooth brushing practices, and dental caries status using the DMFT criteria. All data collection and dental examinations adhered to WHO standard criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Frequencies were calculated to determine the proportions of participants' mean DMFT components. Bivariate associations were analyzed using Mann Whitney u-test and Kruskal Wallis to compare DMFT components with sociodemographic characteristics and self-rated dentition status.Results: The survey included 1,386 participants aged 30–34, 35–44, and 50+, with 713 females (51.4%). Nearly half of the participants (49.1%) were aged 50 years or older. The mean DMFT score was 4.63 (SD 5.4), with 76.6% experiencing dental caries. The Missing teeth component accounted for the largest portion of the mean DMFT (52.4%), followed by the Decayed teeth component (45.8%). Only 3.5% of participants with dental caries had tooth fillings. Higher median DMFT scores were observed among females, participants aged 50 or more, with lowest education levels and poor self-rated dentition status. Increased DMFT scores were linked to brushing less than once daily (p < 0.05)and not using a toothbrush daily (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The high dental caries prevalence (76.6%) and sociodemographic disparities highlight the need for an integrated approach combining preventive measures, oral health promotion and improved access to dental services to address this challenge effectively in Tanzania.
The Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Midazolam Used for Sedation of Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Ghoul Ibrahim , Alkaissi Aidah , Sadaqa Wael , Abdoh Qusay , Khilfeh Shadi , Nazzal Raneen , Almasri Muath , Adas Amro
Published: November 2024

Background: Endoscopic procedures are essential for diagnostic testing, examining, and treating a wide range of disorders like gastrointestinal tract blood loss, foreign object removal, and many other complicated procedures such as Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. An endoscope is an irritating and painful procedure. during which patients should be anesthetized to avoid mobility, pain, coughing, gagging, and nausea. So, sufficient analgesia and sedation agents should be given and monitored with minimal side effects or complications. These agents can keep patients'response to pain and verbal stimuli without failing respiratory or cardiovascular function. The current study aims to compare and investigate the efficacy and safety of Midazolam versus Dexmedetomidine in terms of respiratory, hemodynamic, analgesia, sedation, patient satisfaction, endoscopist satisfaction, and adverse effects in patients undergoing upper endoscopy at An-Najah National University Hospital.
Methodology: A prospective observational study was performed on 68 patients ( aged 18-60) undergoing upper endoscopy using theAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System (grades one and two). The study was conducted at An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus-Palestine, between October 2021 and January 2022. All subjects received information about the purpose of the study, the study protocol, and the consent form was obtained from each subject.
Results: Regarding patient satisfaction, the Dexmedetomidine demonstrated much higher satisfaction, minor discomfort, and less anxiety than Midazolam with P<0.05. Regarding endoscopy specialists, the satisfaction, discomfort, gagging, retching, and technical difficulty showed that Dexmedetomidine outperformed the Midazolam with P<0.05. Dexmedetomidine patients recovered faster than Midazolam patients with p <0.05, Midazolam needs 2.4 ± 7.7 minutes to be sedated while Dexmedetomidine needs 9.5 ± 1.1 minutes , and this difference is significant since the p <0.05. Regarding side effects occurrence, Dexmedetomidine had fewer side effects than the Midazolam, but with no statistically significant difference. Regarding vital signs, there is no significant difference between Midazolam and Dexmedetomidine.
Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine outperformed Midazolam in recovery time, patient satisfaction, endoscopy specialist satisfaction, discomfort, anxiety, and retching; Dexmedetomidine appears to be a useful alternative to Midazolam for sedating patients during upper endoscopy because it is both safe and effective.
Ethanol extract of Daucus carota seeds exhibits stomach toxicity and disrupts multiple physiological processes in Spodoptera litura
Authors: Cong Shengbo , Xu Min , Wang Ling , Xu Dong , Wan Peng , Yin Haichen
Published: November 2024

Spodoptera litura Fabricius is a notorious agricultural pest worldwide. Currently, the use of insecticides is an important and effective approach for managing S. litura, however, it has developed resistance to multiple insecticides. Therefore, exploring and identifying novel, efficient, and environmentally safe natural bioactive substances is highly important for controlling this pest. In this paper, the stomach toxicity and growth inhibitory effects of an ethanol extract from Daucus carota seeds were studied. The main components of the extract were identified, and their mechanisms of action were explored through RNA-seq analysis and qPCR techniques. The results showed that the LC50 of the extract was 3.5 mg/mL. The larval survival rate, pupation rate, pupal and larval weight, female adult longevity and hatching rate were significantly reduced, and the larval stage was significantly prolonged when the larvae were fed artificial diets supplemented with extracts at the concentrations of LC15, LC20, and LC50. A total of 1305 compounds were detected in the extract by GC‒MS. Phenyl isothiocyanate and 2,6-dimethylaniline showed the highest stomach toxicity among the 12 compounds with the highest contents in the extracts, with adjusted mortality rates of 100% and 94.87 ± 2.96%, respectively, at 1 mg/mL. The LC50 values of phenyl isothiocyanate and 2,6-dimethylaniline were 0.60 mg/mL and 2.13 mg/mL, respectively. KEGG analysis and real time PCR revealed that treatment with both components (phenyl isothiocyanate and 2,6-dimethylaniline) affected mainly the cytochrome P450 pathway, glutathione metabolism pathway, xenobiotic metabolism pathway, hormone biosynthesis pathway, and fatty acid metabolism pathway. Our study provides a foundation for the development of novel, efficient, and environmentally safe natural bioactive compounds to control S. litura.
Integrative Analysis of Flavonoid Pathways in Rice: Enhancing Heat Tolerance
Authors: Wu Xiaojie , Yang Lingfang , Han Jinbo , Liu Hanqing , Chen Gaokun , Wang Haoyuan , Feng Xingru , Zhang Wan , Liu Kangping , Zhang Zemin
Published: November 2024

Background
Plants tend to produce special metabolites to resist biotic or abiotic invasions, in which flavonoid-mediated defense responses play an important role.
Result
In our previous work, the rel1-D mutant was obtained by T-DNA insertion. Nearly all ZH11 died after 42 ℃ treatment, while nearly half of the mutants survived. By transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of leaves, 1184 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 126 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified, most of these DEGs and DAMs were enriched in biosynthesis-related pathways such as the L-Phenylalanine pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and phenol pathway. Furthermore, a correlation network involved phenotypic traits was constructed based on the genes and metabolites.
Conclusion
Potential genes regulated by REL1 and flavonoid metabolites were identified. REL1 may affect the accumulation of flavonoid metabolites by regulating the expression of key genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway to influence the heat tolerance of rice.
A UI Image Captioning Method Based on Fourier Neural Operators and Multi-Branch Feature Fusion
Authors: Ouyang Ning , Dong Wenfeng , Lin Leping , Mo Jianwen
Published: November 2024

Mobile UI captioning is a complex task that generates concise natural language descriptions toconvey essential content and functionality of a screen, playing a pivotal role in language-basedhuman-computer interaction. However, conventional image feature extraction networks often overlooksemantic relationshins between different regions of the screen, as well as the fine-grained details ofimportant regions, leading to suboptimal description quality. 'To address these challenges, this paperproposes a feature-enhanced image encoding network for UI image captioning. The model leveragesthe concept of Fourier neural operators to perform computations in the frequency domain, facilitatinginformation interaction and enabling the capture of richer global semantic information. Additionallyan attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the extraction of local fne-grained features. Trainedand tested on the Screen2Words dataset, experimental results demonstrate that the proposed modelsignifcantly improves the generation of captions for UI images.
Personalized Travel Recommendations System Using Hybrid Filtering and Deep Learning
Authors: Karthiyayini J. , Anandhi R J
Published: November 2024

Personalized recommendations are provided by recommender systems, which help users cope with the issue of information overload. The primary objective of this research paper is to address the issue of information overload by offering personalized tourism recommendations to users. The study proposes using multi-criteria recommendation algorithms that consider many attributes rather than depending exclusively on overall user ratings, as is common in traditional recommender systems. The fundamental concept of this strategy relies on a hybrid filtering technique. In addition, the system employs a bi-directional autoencoder (BDA) model to personalize recommendations based on various visitor profiles. The proposed methodology has evaluated various real-world data obtained from several travel websites. The experimental evaluations have demonstrated its outstanding efficacy in enhancing prediction accuracy when compared to existing algorithms. The proposed approach not only addresses the challenges associated with vast and diverse data but also offers personalized travel plans according to the unique preferences of each visitor, thus enhancing the user experience in tourist recommendation systems.
Climate Change and Conservation Strategies for the Anhui Musk Deer: Habitat Suitability and Climate Refuges in the Dabie Mountains
Authors: Pang Dapeng , Wan Yaqiong , Chen Yunfeng , Li Yidi , Wang Lanrong , Chen Guotao , Pu Faguang , Ding Jun , Li Jiaqi , Dai Qiang , Zhang Baowei
Published: November 2024

Context
Over the past several centuries, musk deer have faced severe population decline pressures due to poaching and habitat loss. With the intensification of climate change and human disturbance, the Anhui musk deer (AMD), which is restricted to the densely populated Eastern China region, faces an extremely high risk of extinction. Since the beginning of the century, researchers have been collecting presence data on the AM and developing habitat conservation plans, which may provide insights into the conservation of endangered species facing high levels of human disturbance.
Objectives
This study aims to evaluate the vulnerability of AMD habitats to climate change from the present to the 2090s, determine climate refugia that could support the AMD population amidst climatic shifts, and identify corridors that would enable individual movement among habitat patches in the context of climate change.
Methods
We collected occurrence locations (N = 101) of AMD by large-scale infrared camera monitoring data from 2013–2023, we used MaxEnt to predict suitable habitat and assess the potential impacts of climate change on the habitat. We then identified the potential ecological corridors between core habitat patches through connectivity analysis.
Results
The AMD is highly sensitive to temperature and human disturbance. The current suitable habitat, covering 1,188.90 km2, is mainly located within Anhui Province, with a high degree of suitable habitat fragmentation. Future projections suggest a continuous decline in suitable habitat, with areas decreasing to 1,052.45 km2 by the 2050s, 841.82 km2 by the 2070s, and 798.35 km2 by the 2090s. Currently, nature reserves cover only 38.52% of the existing suitable habitat, while identified climate refuges for the AMD span 586.24 km2, of which 44.38% remain unprotected. Moreover, we have identified 14 potential ecological corridors, which connect isolated populations with core populations should be prioritized for construction in response to climate change to protect the AMD population from its adverse effects.
Conclusions
Our findings show that habitat area of AMD will continue to decline under future climate conditions, and current conservation efforts are insufficient. The remaining AMD populations in the Dabie Mountains should be considered as regional populations and managed meticulously to ensure their long-term survival under conditions of human disturbance and climate warming.
Biomechanical determinants of high ball speed during instep soccer kick by prepubescent male athletes: The importance of muscle elasticity
Authors: Deniz Volkan , Kilci Abdullah
Published: November 2024

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of kinetic–kinematic parameters and muscle viscoelastic properties on high ball speed during instep soccer kick by prepubescent male athletes.Methods This study included 34 male soccer players with an average age of 11.2 ± 0.5 years. Maximal ball speed during the instep kick was measured using a radar gun. The activation of the rectus abdominis (RA) and rectus femoris (RF), as well as the thigh's three-dimensional rotational velocity and acceleration, were evaluated using surface electromyography and an inertial measurement unit. Mechanical properties such as tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the superficial abdomen and leg muscles were measured at rest using myotonometry.Results Significant positive correlations existed between maximum ball speed and RA–RF activation (r = 0.505 and 0.575), maximum thigh velocity in the sagittal plane (r = 0.599), and maximum thigh acceleration in the sagittal (r = 0.423) and horizontal (r = 0.387) planes (power > 0.95; p < 0.05 for all). Significant negative correlations were found between the maximum ball speed and the hamstring medialis (HM) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) elasticity (r=-0.592 and − 0.771; power > 0.95; p < 0.05 for all). The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that important factors for maximum ball velocity were HM (B = 0.432) and GM (B = 0.771) elasticity (adjusted R2 = 0.60, delta R2 = 0.40).Conclusions GM and HM elasticity were the prominent factors affecting ball speed during instep kick. To increase ball speed during instep kick, training methods that focus on improving the elasticity of the GM and HL muscles, as well as activating the core and RF, should be prioritized for prepubescent male soccer players.Trial registration: Not applicable
Lipopeptide iturin C 3 biosurfactant produced by endophytic Bacillus sp. LLB-04 effectively controls the colonization of topical and food-borne pathogens in vitro and on biomedical devices
Authors: Adhikary Rajsekhar , Maiti Pulak Kumar , Ghosh Narendranath , Rajbangshi Biplab , Roy Mahendra Nath , Mandal Sukhendu , Mandal Vivekananda
Published: November 2024

The present study elucidates the structure and antimicrobial efficacy of a derivative of iturin biosurfactant (BS) produced by the endophytic bacterium Bacillus sp. LLB-04 (GenBank Ac No.: MF037706). The biosurfactant was produced in a static batch culture of 120 hours in an NB medium and was extracted by a series of solvent systems. The BS was purified by solvent fractionation and preparative HPLC method and characterized through GC-MS, ESI-MS, LC-MS qTOF and 1H NMR analysis. Its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity was tested against topical and food-borne pathogens age-dependently. Furthermore, the cellular aggregation and bacterial cell adhesion on polystyrene and urethral catheters were checked at the BIC concentration. The cell line toxicity was tested against the human alveolar epithelial cancer cell line, and the in silico mode of action was studied using standard methods. The BS was harvested from 96 hr culture using a methanol-ethanol solvent. The spectroscopic studies revealed that Bacillus sp. LLB-04 produced the BS as iturin C3. The BS has broad-spectrum antimicrobial with MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 1.6 mg/ml and an average BIC of 0.8 mg/ml in 18 hrs old cells. It could also destabilize 40–48 hrs old preformed biofilm and had a synergistic response with conventional antibiotics. It had antiproliferative activity (0.1 to 0.8 mg/ml) on cancer cell lines. In-silico protein-ligand interactions predicted that it could interact with different membrane proteins of topical and food-borne pathogens. Thus, the study revealed for the first time that the endophytic Bacillus sp. could be exploited for large-scale production of potent lipopeptide BS iturin C3 that could be used in combating topical and food-borne pathogens.
Untangling the Mitochondrial Web: An In-Silico Analysis of Genetic Mutations, Protein Interactions, and tRNA Dynamics in Oxidative Phosphorylation and Disc Degeneration
Authors: Collins Megan , Pearce Brendon
Published: November 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired oxidative phosphorylation play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various non-communicable and degenerative diseases. Research indicates that these abnormalities are contributed to by the genetic interindividual variability in system-wide metabolic dysfunction. The objective of this article was, thus, to generate a biochemical pipeline for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNVs) associated with general mitochondrial dysfunction for use in studies researching intervertebral disc degeneration. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) method was used to find articles and to extract SNV information. Proteins were modelled using AlphaFold Colab (Jumper et al., 2021) and tRNA structures were determined using RNAFold (Gruber et al., 2008). Manual tRNA coding domain sequences (CDS) were also generated using the NCBI and Ensembl to determine the proximity of the mutation to the tRNAs anticodon. A total of 56 SNPs were extracted of which mutations located in protein-coding genes were modelled using AlphaFold Colab (Jumper et al., 2021) and mutations located in the exon regions of tRNA genes were modelled using RNAFold (Gruber et al., 2008). Data on structural and spatial changes for proteins were gathered along with structural and thermodynamic changes for tRNA molecules. From the data gathered, it is evident that in-silico investigation of the identified mutations, regarding their effect on proteins and tRNAs, is important for consideration in the potential development of genotyping assays and drug development. This study has shown the development of a biochemical pipeline that will allow for the assessment of mutations in pharmacogenomics studies.
Heterotrophy in parental coral colonies enhances larval survival independently of heat stress
Authors: Viladrich Núria , Roca Adrià , Gori Andrea , Baena Patricia , Linares Cristina
Published: November 2024

Under the ongoing global change, a sustained reliance of symbiotic coral species on heterotrophy may support their resistance to climatic stressors. However, much remains unknown about the role of heterotrophy on coral reproduction, despite its key role in the persistence of coral populations and connectivity. In this study, we experimentally investigated how heterotrophic feeding of parental colonies of a symbiotic gorgonian may affect the larval release and their survival and settlement rates under both optimal and heat stress temperatures. A one-week delay in larval release in absence of heterotrophic inputs highlights its significant contribution to the gametogenesis. Moreover, heterotrophy also plays a crucial role in sustaining larval survival, as low-quality or smaller eggs produced in absence of heterotrophic inputs lead to significantly higher mortality of the resulting larvae, independently to their exposure to natural or warming temperatures. Overall, this study contributes to increase our understanding of the broader consequences of global change on coral populations under the globally forecasted reduction of primary production and zooplankton abundance.
An Integrated Approach on the Neuroprotective Effects of Ghrelin by Dietary Restriction: From AlphaFold Prediction, Molecular Simulation, to 6-OHDA Induced semi-Parkinson's Disease Model
Authors: Shen Zi-Han , Ye Jia-Xin , Lin Shuang , Li Zixing , Yan Xiongyao , Chen Ting-Hsu , Wan Congchao , Ye Tongjie , Fu Yaw-Syan
Published: November 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor dysfunction. This study explores the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in a 6-OHDA rat model of PD, investigating its neuroprotective effects through in vivo experiments, molecular docking, and AlphaFold predictions. We conducted fasting experiments that demonstrated dietary restriction significantly elevated plasma ghrelin levels, which correlated with reduced motor deficits in PD rats. Network pharmacology identified 21 potential targets of ghrelin, revealing mechanisms such as anti-inflammation and neuroprotection. Molecular docking analysis indicated that ghrelin could bind to key proteins, including caspase-3 and IL-6, at their active sites, facilitating further exploration of its interactions through molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations confirmed the stability of ghrelin-target complexes over 100 ns, suggesting that ghrelin influences the activity of important molecular targets related to PD. The predictive analysis using AlphaFold supported the formation of critical chemical interactions between ghrelin and targets involved in neuroprotection. Our findings suggest that ghrelin not only holds promise as a therapeutic agent in PD but also enhances understanding of its underlying molecular mechanisms.
Enhancing Manufacturing Efficiency: A New Robotic Arm Design for Injection Molding with Improved Adaptability and Precision
Authors: MERVEILLE FOMEKONG FOMEKONG RACHEL , jile HuGe , Fred Bissih
Published: November 2024

This study presents a state-of-the-art robotic arm system developed to improve the selection and packaging procedures in assembly lines for injection moulding machines. The system tackles significant industrial difficulties, including labour intensity and high error rates, by integrating a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm outfitted with versatile end effectors. An outstanding feature of this design is the humanoid hand, which has been carefully constructed to be easily replaced with a vacuum, pince or other specific tools, depending on the needs of the task. The robotic system was created with AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and SolidWorks, guaranteeing accuracy and flexibility. This adaptability enables various uses, greatly enhancing operational effectiveness and product excellence while minimizing the need for manual work. The findings illustrate the capacity of this robotic system to be deployed in many production industries, emphasizing its flexibility and expandability.
Genome-wide identification, characterization and functional prediction of the Dof gene family in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
Authors: Hasan Md Nahid , Afrin Khandker Shazia , Susmi Farjana Afroz , Simi Tasmina Islam , Rahim Md Abdur
Published: November 2024

The DNA binding with one ‘Zn2+’ finger (Dof) is the plant-specific TF family that includes a highly conserved Dof domain. It plays a vital role in plant growth and development, and environmental stimuli. The Dof gene family is well characterized in many plants, including Arabidopsis, but has not yet been studied in sesame. In the present study, we reported for the first-time genome-wide identification of the Dof gene family in sesame, resulting in 32 SiDof genes which are located across 12 linkage groups (LGs). The SiDofgenes comprised one to five exons and zero to four introns which is comparable with Dof genes in other species. Of 32 SiDof genes, about 71.88% genes were intronless. The SiDof genes were classified into six groups and exhibited evolutionary relationships with other species. Group III contained the highest number of SiDof genes (seven) while the lowest number in group V (three). There was a robust protein-protein interaction between NAC071 and two Dof proteins namely DOF5.3 and DOFF5.6. A total of 1668 ‘cis-regulatory’ elements were detected in the promoter region of 32 SiDof genes. Among these, 733 were linked to the stress responses, 562 to the light responses, and 373 to the phytohormone response. The accessible transcriptome (‘RNA-seq’) data-based expression profiles shown that SiDof gens might be associated with various abiotic stresses, including drought and salinity in sesame. Nonetheless, further investigation on functionality analysis of candidate SiDof genesis required.
Multidimensional solid-state NMR on the light-driven sodium pump KR2
Authors:   , Kriebel Clara Nassrin
Published: November 2024

Light activated rhodopsin ion-pumps play an essential role in many living organisms. Responsible for the maintenance of cellular membrane potential and proton gradients, they are indispensable for signal transduction and cellular communication (Inoue et al., 2013).
Whereas well studied microbial rhodopins such as bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and proteorhodopsin (PR) only pump protons, Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin 2 (KR2) is the first light driven sodium pump and was discovered in 2013 in marine flavobacteria. While KR2 is able to pump lithium ions outwards as well, protons are only pumped in the absence of sodium or in the presence of K+, Rb+, Cs+ (Inoue et al., 2013). Due to its particular ion selectivity, investigations on KR2 are of high optogenetical interest ((Boyden et al., 2005), (Zhang et al., 2007), (Chow et al., 2010)).
Solid-state NMR provides many very suitable techniques to investigate this important membrane protein at native-like conditions in order to understand details of the still not fully unveiled ion pumping mechanism.
26th International Conference on the History of Cartography. Antwerp, July 12 to 17, 2015
Authors: V.D. Chet
Published: November 2024

Review of the 26th International conference on the history of cartography held in Antwerp from July 12 to 17 of 2015.