bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microglia morphological response to mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicles demonstrates EV therapeutic potential for modulating neuroinflammation
Authors: Daga Kanupriya R. , Larey Andrew M. , Morfin Maria G. , Chen Kailin , Bitarafan Sara , Carpenter Jana M. , Hynds Hannah M. , Hines Kelly M. , Wood Levi B. , Marklein Ross A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cell derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are a promising therapeutic for neuroinflammation. MSC-EVs can interact with microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, to exert their immunomodulatory effects. In response to inflammatory cues, such as cytokines, microglia undergo phenotypic changes indicative of their function e.g. morphology and secretion. However, these changes in response to MSC-EVs are not well understood. Additionally, no disease-relevant screening tools to assess MSC-EV bioactivity exist, which has further impeded clinical translation. Here, we developed a quantitative, high throughput morphological profiling approach to assess the response of microglia to neuroinflammation- relevant signals and whether this morphological response can be used to indicate the bioactivity of MSC-EVs.

Results

Using an immortalized human microglia cell-line, we observed increased size (perimeter, major axis length) and complexity (form factor) upon stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Upon treatment with MSC-EVs, the overall morphological score (determined using principal component analysis) shifted towards the unstimulated morphology, indicating that MSC-EVs are bioactive and modulate microglia. The morphological effects of MSC-EVs in TNF-α /IFN-γ stimulated cells were concomitant with reduced secretion of 14 chemokines/cytokines (e.g. CXCL6, CXCL9) and increased secretion of 12 chemokines/cytokines (e.g. CXCL8, CXCL10). Proteomic analysis of cell lysates revealed significant increases in 192 proteins (e.g. HIBADH, MEAK7, LAMC1) and decreases in 257 proteins (e.g. PTEN, TOM1, MFF) with MSC-EV treatment. Of note, many of these proteins are involved in regulation of cell morphology and migration. Gene Set Variation Analysis revealed upregulation of pathways associated with immune response, such as regulation of cytokine production, immune cell infiltration (e.g. T cells, NK cells) and morphological changes (e.g. Semaphorin, RHO/Rac signaling). Additionally, changes in microglia mitochondrial morphology were measured suggesting that MSC-EV modulate mitochondrial metabolism.

Conclusion

This study comprehensively demonstrates the effects of MSC-EVs on human microglial morphology, cytokine secretion, cellular proteome, and mitochondrial content. Our high-throughput, rapid, low-cost morphometric approach enables screening of MSC-EV batches and manufacturing conditions to enhance EV function and mitigate EV functional heterogeneity in a disease relevant manner. This approach is highly generalizable and can be further adapted and refined based on selection of the disease-relevant signal, target cell, and therapeutic product.
Imaging of upper breakpoints of buried active faults through microtremor survey technology
Authors: Qiao-Ling Li , Hui Zhang , Xiao-Dong Lei , Chen Li
Published: October 2024

Detecting buried active faults presents the challenge of precisely locating the upper breakpoint, the shallowest point in the Quaternary system where faults occur. Microtremor survey technology, unaffected by urban electromagnetic interference, offers an eco-friendly and efficient method for investigating buried faults and stratigraphic structures in urban areas. This research uses microtremor survey technology to identify the upper breakpoint of the buried Nankou-Sunhe Fault in Changping, Beijing. For data collection, 17 microtremor survey points were deployed across the northern section of the Nankou-Sunhe fault, employing a three-point nested circular array with a point spacing of approximately 200 m to form a profile spanning approximately 320 m. For data analysis, the spatial autocorrelation method was utilized. Each measurement point was divided into 9 sets of radii, ranging from a minimum of approximately 4 m to a maximum of 28 m. The correlation coefficients for each set were calculated, and the dispersion curve for each measurement point was generated by fitting the average coefficients with the Bessel function of the first kind of order zero. The apparent S-wave velocity was determined directly from the dispersion curve using empirical formulas and interpolated to generate the contour cross-section map. Integrating the section and inverted S-wave velocity data can significantly enhance interpretation accuracy, and based on these data, the spatial development characteristics and upper breakpoint locations of the Nankou-Sunhe fault zone were analyzed, and the strata shallower than 100 m were deduced. The results align well with known geological data, such as luminescence dating and 14C dating from boreholes at nearby locations.

Graphical Abstract
Microarthropod responses to fire: vegetation cover modulates impacts on Collembola and Acari assemblages in Mediterranean area
Authors: Santorufo Lucia , Memoli Valeria , Zizolfi Monica , Santini Giorgia , Di Natale Gabriella , Trifuoggi Marco , Barile Rossella , De Marco Anna , Maisto Giulia
Published: October 2024

Background

In the Mediterranean region, fire is a recurring disturbance that impacts both surface and underground organisms. While the effects on plants and surface animals are well-studied, the consequences for soil microarthropods are often overlooked. This research addresses the microarthropod responses to fire by comparing post-fire Collembola and Acari assemblages in soils with different vegetation covers. Three years post-fire, surface soils were sampled within the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy) from a total of 24 sites, comprising 6 sites each under holm oak (HO), pine (P), black locust (BL), and herbaceous (H) vegetation. Within each vegetation cover, sites were further categorized into three unburnt (NB) and three burnt (B) sites for comprehensive analysis. Collembola and Acari were extracted, identified at the family and suborder level, respectively and analyzed for density and taxa richness.

Results

The results highlighted that fire alone did not impact microarthropod communities, but its effects varied according to the vegetation covers. Microarthropod abundance declined in burnt soils under P, and increased in burnt soils under BL. Furthermore, eu-edaphic organisms (Onychiuridae, Oribatida), typical of stable environments, decreased in soils under P, and increased in soils under black locust.

Conclusions

Fire impact on microarthropod communities changed according to the vegetation covers, highlighting the importance of considering vegetation type when managing post-fire landscapes. The rapid recovery of microarthropod communities under some vegetation covers suggests that fire may not universally impair soil biodiversity in Mediterranean environments.
Black Internationalism, Print Culture, and Political Education in Claude McKay’s Banjo
Authors: Miller-Likhethe Mae
Published: October 2024

Over three decades ago, Robert Hill, the celebrated archivist and historian of the Universal Negro Improvement Association movement, argued that “the history of the audience is what’s missing in the history of black radicalism.” Building on Hill’s provocation, this article theorizes modes of diasporic readership through the literature of the Jamaican communist and literary giant Claude McKay’s novel Banjo. Through a close reading of two scenes in which the novel’s characters engage in conversations about Black periodicals and embrace the contradictions within them, the article offers a provisional framework for exploring modes of readership and political education through print culture. Banjo must be read in part as an extension of McKay’s political journalism and within his broader efforts to bridge Black nationalist and communist movements throughout the interwar period. Drawing on speculative and literary approaches to archival research, the article argues that the renewed emphasis on heterogeneity, ephemeral encounters, and place making depicted within Banjo can open up new lines of inquiry toward redressing the methodological challenges and textual silences surrounding the question of the audience and the study of radical print cultures within traditional archives.
Fighting Fascism on Empire’s Doorstep
Authors: Wood Tony
Published: October 2024

From 1936 to 1939, the Cuban magazine Mediodía brought together Communists, socialists, and other progressives in a common battle against fascism, imperialism, and racism. Published in Havana, Mediodía was centrally concerned with Cuban domestic politics, in particular with struggles for democratic representation and for racial and gender equality. But for the magazine’s editors, these battles could not be disconnected from the broader turbulence afflicting the world in the 1930s, from the Spanish Civil War to the Japanese occupation of China and the Nazi threat in Europe. As a case study in imaginative radical publishing, Mediodía would be worthy enough of scholarly attention. But it also provides a compelling window onto Cuba’s Popular Front politics of the 1930s. Not only were the antifascist, antiracist convergences reflected in Mediodía’s pages formative for a generation of Cubans; they also anticipated the ideological alliances that shaped the island’s trajectory after the 1959 revolution.
Congress Militant
Authors: Nieftagodien Noor
Published: October 2024

The article considers the pivotal organizing role of the revolutionary paper Congress Militant for the Marxist Workers’ Tendency of the African National Congress from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, a period characterized by mass popular struggles against apartheid, violence, and political negotiations. Congress Militant was instrumental in shaping the internal life of the Tendency, from being a space of reportage of local struggles and political analyses to contributing to the development of a community of revolutionary cadres who belonged to national and international organizations. It was also the principal public vehicle for the propagation of the Tendency’s politics, serving as a tool of intervention in numerous campaigns and in recruitment. As such, the paper offers a window into the history of the changing politics of one socialist organization during the tumultuous years of the early 1990s in South Africa, including its criticisms of the compromises made by the ANC leadership during the negotiations.
APSI
Authors: Álvarez Pablo , Rodriguez Francisco
Published: October 2024

During the dictatorship in Chile, which lasted from 1973 to 1990, a small number of publications openly published prodemocracy critiques. APSI magazine was one of them. This teaching tool shows how to read for criticisms of Pinochet in an overground magazine that could not always overtly criticize the sitting regime.
Manasheer al-Intifada
Authors: Hastings Thayer
Published: October 2024

Communiqués were central to the coordination of the mass popular uprising that challenged Israeli rule over Palestinians from 1987 until the early 1990s. These short political texts were called manasheer or bayanat al-Intifada, in Arabic. This essay demonstrates a methodology for engaging with the body of intifada bayanat as a source by focusing on the first of these serialized communiqués, which was distributed early in the first Intifada on January 8, 1988.
Erosion
Authors: Caison Gina
Published: October 2024

In Erosion, Gina Caison traces how American authors and photographers have grappled with soil erosion as a material reality that shapes narratives of identity, belonging, and environment. Examining canonical American texts and photography, including John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Octavia Butler’s Parable series, John Audubon’s Louisiana writings, and Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother, Caison shows how concerns over erosion reveal anxieties of disappearance that are based in the legacies of settler colonialism. Soil loss not only occupies a complex metaphorical place in the narrative of American identity; it becomes central to preserving the white settler colonial state through Indigenous dispossession and erasure. At the same time, Caison examines how Indigenous texts and art such as Lynn Riggs’s play Green Grow the Lilacs, Karenne Wood’s poetry, and Monique Verdin’s photography challenge colonial narratives of the continent by outlining the material stakes of soil loss for their own communities. From California to Oklahoma to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Caison ultimately demonstrates that concerns over erosion reverberate into issues of climate change, land ownership, Indigenous sovereignty, race, and cultural and national identity.
The Rule of Dons
Authors: Jaffe Rivke
Published: October 2024

Throughout Kingston, Jamaica, figures known as “dons” exercise political authority and are seen as legitimate leaders despite their associations with crime and violence. In the absence of strong government support, they provide impoverished residents with access to security, conflict resolution, and various forms of welfare through their own resources and connections to Jamaica’s political parties. In The Rule of Dons, Rivke Jaffe shows how dons’ power relies on a widespread belief in their right to rule, explaining how criminal power is legitimized through a set of aesthetic, affective, and spatial mechanisms. She argues that dons must credibly embody an outlaw persona that stands outside of the political establishment while also connecting strategically to state institutions and mobilizing democratic ideals such as freedom and equality. As such, dons represent a form of authority that involves balancing an autocratic form of rule with an established democratic order. While donmanship represents a historically and culturally specific type of political authority, Jaffe’s analysis of this phenomenon offers insights into the entanglement of violent autocratic rule and democratic institutions far beyond Jamaica.
Evolutionary shifts in the thermal biology of a subterranean mammal: the effect of habitat aridity
Authors: Merchant Hana N. , Hart Daniel W. , Bennett Nigel C. , Janse van Vuuren Andries K. , Freeman Marc T. , McKechnie Andrew E. , Faulkes Chris G. , Mordaunt Nathan D. , Portugal Steven J.
Published: October 2024

Subterranean mammals representing a single subspecies occurring along an aridity gradient provide an appropriate model for investigating adaptive variation in thermal physiology with varying levels of precipitation and air temperature. This study examined the thermal physiological adaptations of common mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus) across five populations along an aridity gradient, challenging the expectation that increased aridity would lead to reduced metabolic rate, lower body temperatures and broader thermoneutral zones. No significant, consistent differences in metabolic rate, body temperature or thermal conductance were observed between populations, suggesting uniform thermoregulatory mechanisms across habitats. Instead, behavioural strategies such as huddling and torpor may play a more prominent role than physiological adaptations in managing temperature regulation and water balance. The study also observed osmoregulatory differences, with populations employing distinct behavioural cooling strategies in response to water availability. These results underscore the need for further research into the responses of subterranean species to climate change, particularly in understanding how increasing global temperatures and aridification might influence species distribution if they lack the physiological capacity to adapt to future climatic conditions.
Natural variability and individuality of walking behavior in Drosophila
Authors: Godesberg Vincent , Bockemühl Till , Büschges Ansgar
Published: October 2024

Insects use walking behavior in a large number of contexts, such as exploration, foraging, escape and pursuit, or migration. A lot is known about how nervous systems produce this behavior in general and also how certain parameters vary with regard to walking direction or speed, for instance. An aspect that has not received much attention is whether and how walking behavior varies across individuals of a particular species. To address this, we created a large corpus of kinematic walking data of many individuals of the fruit fly Drosophila. We only selected instances of straight walking in a narrow range of walking speeds to minimize the influence of high-level parameters, such as turning and walking speed, aiming to uncover more subtle aspects of variability. Using high-speed videography and automated annotation, we captured the positions of the six leg tips for thousands of steps and used principal components analysis to characterize the postural space individuals used during walking. Our analysis shows that the largest part of walking kinematics can be described by five principal components (PCs). Separation of these five PCs into a 2D and a 3D subspace divided the description of walking behavior into invariant features shared across individuals and features that relate to the specifics of individuals; the latter features can be regarded as idiosyncrasies. We also demonstrate that this approach can detect the effects of experimental interventions in an unbiased manner and that general aspects of individuality, such as the individual walking posture, can be described.
The dual timescales of gait adaptation: initial stability adjustments followed by subsequent energetic cost adjustments
Authors: Brinkerhoff Sarah A. , Sánchez Natalia , Culver Meral N. , Murrah William M. , Robinson Austin T. , McCullough J. Danielle , Miller Matthew W. , Roper Jaimie A.
Published: October 2024

Gait adaptation during bipedal walking allows people to adjust their walking patterns to maintain balance, avoid obstacles and avoid injury. Adaptation involves complex processes that function to maintain stability and reduce energy expenditure. However, the processes that influence walking patterns during different points in the adaptation period remain to be investigated. We assessed split-belt adaptation in 17 young adults aged 19–35. We also assessed individual aerobic capacity to understand how aerobic capacity influences adaptation. We analyzed step lengths, step length asymmetry (SLA), mediolateral margins of stability, positive, negative and net mechanical work rates, as well as metabolic rate during adaptation. Dual-rate exponential mixed-effects regressions estimated the adaptation of each measure over two timescales; results indicate that mediolateral stability adapts over a single timescale in under 1 min, whereas mechanical work rates, metabolic rate, step lengths and SLA adapt over two distinct timescales (3.5–11.2 min). We then regressed mediolateral margins of stability, net mechanical work rate and metabolic rate on SLA during early and late adaptation phases to determine whether stability drives early adaptation and energetic cost drives late adaptation. Stability predicted SLA during the initial rapid onset of adaptation, and mechanical work rate predicted SLA during the latter part of adaptation. Findings suggest that stability optimization may contribute to early gait changes and that mechanical work contributes to later changes during adaptation. A final sub-analysis showed that aerobic capacity levels <36 and >43 ml kg−1 min−1 resulted in greater SLA adaptation, underscoring the metabolic influences on gait adaptation. This study illuminates the complex interplay between biomechanical and metabolic factors in gait adaptation, shedding light on fundamental mechanisms underlying human locomotion.
WhatsApp no jornalismo regional: um estudo a partir da percepção dos jornalistas de Palmas (TO).
Authors: Alves de Mendonça Fernanda , Assunção Reis Thays
Published: October 2024

Este artigo tem como objetivo entender como os jornalistas que atuam em veículos tradicionais da cidade de Palmas, capital do Tocantins (Brasil), utilizam o aplicativo WhatsApp para desenvolver uma cobertura jornalística regional. Para alcançar este propósito foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com dez jornalistas –sendo sete da TV Anhanguera (afiliada à Rede Globo) e três da rádio CBN Tocantins –entre os meses de julho e setembro de 2023. O aporte teórico do estudo traz considerações sobre o jornalismo regional e a presença do WhatsApp nas redações brasileiras. Os resultados desta pesquisa mostram que o WhatsApp contribui de forma significativa para a produção de conteúdo diário sobre as cidades próximas e distantes das sedes das redações sem a necessidade de deslocamento das equipes. Por outro lado, observou-se, a partir das entrevistas, que o aplicativo sobrecarrega a rotina de trabalho dos jornalistas, pois eles têm de participar de um grande volume de grupos sobre notícias de outros municípios, para captar e apurar informações regionais em circulação. Em termos de conteúdo, as notícias regionais produzidas via aplicativo se mostram cada vez mais desprovidas das percepções dos jornalistas, em razão dessa falta de apuração presencial; distantes dos lugares nos quais acontecem esses fatos; e afastado das pessoas de onde se fala.
Evaluating interactive e-module for contextual teaching and learning linear equation in one variable
Authors: Rachmawati Lina , Rusmining Rusmining
Published: October 2024

This research is motivated by the lack of teaching materials used in the mathematics learning process. On the other hand, students still struggle to solve story problems related to contextual issues. Therefore, this research aims to develop a product in the form of an interactive E-Module based on Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) for 7th-grade students and to evaluate the validity and practicality of the product. This type of research is developmental research using the ADDIE research model (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, & Evaluation). The results of the research show that the assessment of the interactive E-Module obtained an average score of 3.68 by subject matter experts with a category of very valid and an average of 3.6 by media experts with a category of very valid. Meanwhile, for student responses, it obtained a percentage of 90.72% in the small-scale trial with very practical criteria and a percentage of 85.95% with very practical criteria in the large-scale trial. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the interactive e-module based on CTL is strongly valid and very practical, making it suitable for use in learning.
Decision Support System For Election Suppliers of Goods Using The Simple Method Additive Weighting (SAW)
Authors: Aprilandri Gusti , Rumini Rumini , Maulina Dina
Published: October 2024

Selection of suppliers of goods is the main key to starting a retail business. The market will find it difficult to determine suppliers because it will have a big effect on the final selling price. The Diva Shop is a medium-sized business that is still growing in the city. The system run by the store is still running on experience. As a store that is ready to compete, the store needs a supporting design system in determining the selection of suppliers of goods. The system is run using the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method. That The system that will be created uses the criteria that will be applied by the user based on the SAW method. The SAW design method uses a weighted summation method with the accumulation of various data, each value from the weight results obtained becomes the final decision. The Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method can be applied properly and correctly to the decision support system at the Diva Store. The steps and results of calculations manually are the same as the steps and results of calculations performed by the system. For testing applications based on the Confusion Matrix method, the accuracy is 73.77% with an error percentage of 26.23%.
Identification of Plasmodium Vivax in Blood Smear Images Using Otsu Thresholding Algorithm
Authors: Huda Nurul , Aulia Latifathul , Pandini Maulany Citra
Published: October 2024

In this research, we explore the efficacy of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) in identifying Plasmodium vivax from blood smear images. We utilized a dataset comprising images of Plasmodium vivax and non-infected cells, applying CNN for deep feature extraction and SVM with otsu’s thresholding for segmentation. The dataset was preprocessed and augmented to enhance model performance. The CNN architecture, consisting of multiple convolutional and dense layers, achieved an accuracy of 98.46% on the validation set. For comparison, features extracted using Otsu’s Thresholding were fed into an SVM classifier, yielding an accuracy of 82%. Confusion matrix was generated to evaluate the classification performance of both models. The CNN model demonstrated superior accuracy and robustness in classification tasks compared to the SVM model. This research shows how deep learning frameworks can be used to analyse medical images and how important it is to have methods for extracting and choosing features to make machine learning models work better.
Sensitivity and specificity of electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Mazaheri Shahir , Poorolajal Jalal , Mazaheri Alireza
Published: October 2024

Aims

The sensitivity and specificity of electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have been reported differently, and this study aims to address this gap.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted on 57 cases with CTS and 58 controls without complaints, such as pain or paresthesia on the median nerve. The main assessed electrodiagnostic parameters were terminal latency index (TLI), residual latency (RL), median ulnar F-wave latency difference (FdifMU), and median sensory latency-ulnar motor latency difference (MSUMLD).

Results

The mean age in cases and controls were 50.7 years (SD 9.9) and 47.9 years (SD 12.1), respectively. The CTS severity was mild in 20 patients (34.4%), moderate in 19 patients (32.8%), and severe in 19 patients (32.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of the electrodiagnostic parameters in diagnosing CTS were as follows: TLI 75.4% and 87.8%; RL 85.9% and 82.5%; FdifMU 87.9% and 82.9%; and MSUMLD 94.8% and 60.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that electrodiagnostic parameters are significantly associated with the clinical manifestation of CTS, and are associated with high diagnostic accuracy in CTS diagnosis. However, further studies are required to highlight the role of electrodiagnostic parameters and their combination in CTS detection.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(10):898–903.
Will a metro-access optical continuum ever fly? Access network evolution trends and enabling technologies [Invited]
Authors: Cavaliere Fabio , Iovanna Paola , Bianchi Alberto , Sabella Roberto , Percelsi Alessandro
Published: October 2024

This paper discusses an optical continuum as a key technique to help telecom operators reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their optical networks. Enabling photonic technologies are reviewed, with a focus on recent advances in reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers (ROADMs) based on silicon photonics.
Wide-field large-angle beam splitters based on polarization-insensitive coding metasurfaces
Authors: Shi Yaokun , Shen Zhe
Published: October 2024

Metasurfaces have been used to make various optical devices such as beam splitters because of their excellent capability to control light. The most recent work on metasurface beam splitters focused on realizing one-dimensional beam splitting. Based on generalized Snell’s law, we designed the beam splitters using a coding strategy by phase gradient metasurfaces, which can divide vertically incident light into two-dimensional space. Meanwhile, the beam splitters are polarization-insensitive because highly rotationally symmetric nanorods are used as structure units. Using different code groups, especially applying 0 and π binary phases, the proposed beam splitters have various functions such as beam deflection, two-beam splitting, and multi-beam splitting. The flexible design of the coding maps allows the light transmission to cover a full-view field. The maximum splitting angles in two-beam and multi-beam splitters are 35.7° and 28.3°, respectively. All the designed beam splitters have a power efficiency of over 80%. The beam splitters have the advantages of small size, easy integration, large beam splitting angle, wide beam splitting area, and high efficiency. They could be applied to many optical systems, such as multiplexers and interferometers in integrated optical circuits.
Point spread function engineering enable resolution enhanced imaging for Interferenceless coded aperture correlation holography
Authors: Liu Chao , Guo Hai , Cheng Xiaoxiao , Xu Bing , Wang Le , Xia Kui , Qin Yi
Published: October 2024

The point spread function (PSF) of an optical system could characterize the resolving ability of the whole optical system for point light sources. Therefore, the imaging performance of the system could be significantly improved by regulating and optimizing the PSF. In this paper, we innovatively propose a single-exposure hologram resolution enhanced cross-correlation (RECC) method for Interferenceless coded aperture holography(I-COACH) system, circumventing the necessity to obtain the point spread hologram (PSH) of an ideal point object. The RECC method firstly acquires an approximate image of a large-size point object by Lucy-Richardson (LR) algorithm in lens imaging mode, and takes it as a PSF to acquire a PSH with ideal size of the I-COACH system by LR algorithm again, and finally acquires a reconstructed image by the single-exposure hologram RECC method. In the RECC method, the approximate ideal PSHs at different axial positions of the system are acquired by offline operation, therefore, it has a high imaging temporal resolution, and the imaging transverse resolution is not affected by the size of the point objects at the time of recording the PSH, which provides a high imaging signal-to-noise ratio and stable resolution. The proposed method provides powerful technical support for further extending the application field of the I-COACH system, and provides technical reference for other incoherent imaging.
Improvement of angle measurement sensitivity using second harmonic wave interference
Authors: Lin Jiahui , Matsukuma Hiraku , Li Kuangyi , Sato Ryo , Gao Wei
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the angular displacement measurement based on second harmonic generation (SHG). In our previous study, the angular resolution of sub-arcsecond was achieved. In this paper, three kinds of sensors based on SHG are reported. In these three sensors, the angular displacement is determined from the intensity of the SHG signal since the SHG is sensitive to the angle of the incident light. Two of these sensors in this study utilize the interference of SHG to improve the sensitivity performance. Comparing with the sensors which have been studied before, interference type sensors in this study allow the femtosecond laser to pass through the nonlinear optical crystal twice, which leads to a significant sensitivity improvement. The principles were verified by both simulation and experiment. In the simulation part, the sensitivities of these three kinds of sensors are compared. In the experiment, the sensitivities were confirmed to be consistent with the simulation. Additionally, the resolution of the presented systems is evaluated and sub-0.1-arcsecond is achieved.
Implementation of an indoor optical camera communication and localization fusion system using infrared LED markers
Authors: Song Song , Wu Po , Liu Yejun , Zhao Lun , Wu Tingwei , Liu Xiangyu , Guo Lei
Published: October 2024

Recently, with the development of communication and positioning technologies, progressively higher demands have been placed on the timeliness of indoor communication and the effectiveness of indoor positioning. This paper proposes a low-cost and full-time domain coverage indoor communication and localization fusion system that uses an infrared camera to identify mobile LEDs based on region of interest optical camera communication (RoI-OCC) and calculate three-dimensional (3D) world coordinates based on perspective-n-point (PnP) algorithm. An intermediate delimiter modulation-demodulation method is designed to achieve asynchronous OCC. In processing infrared images, a region-growth-based absolute-directional-mean-difference (RG-ADMD) algorithm is developed to detect infrared targets and recover the scale. Additionally, a local-contrast-method-based Lucas-Kanade (LCM-LK) optical flow estimation algorithm is designed to track infrared targets and determine the centroid coordinates of pixels. In a 5×5 m experimental area, the established system can achieve a target detection recall rate of over 85%, the asynchronous OCC with error-free transmission and an average 3D positioning accuracy of 2.01 cm under a LCM-LK tracking algorithm.
Force-compensation-based adaptive thermal shape correction method for XFEL optics
Authors: Liu Jiayin , Xu Zhongmin , Zhu Ye , Zhang Weiqing , Yan Xinxin , Qin Hongliang
Published: October 2024

With the successive development of free electron laser (FEL) facilities based on superconducting technology, the advance and diversity of beamline optical design have posed more stringent challenges to the controlling of thermal deformation for key optical elements. In this article, an adaptive thermal shape correction structure is presented, which converts the thermal stress into a bending moment to correct the mirror thermal bump by utilizing the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between materials, and the location relative to the mirror neutral plane. This moment is involved owing to the temperature rise derived from the FEL heat load, which has a certain adaptability to various thermal surface profile and can be precisely controlled by a chiller temperature regulation. In this work, we optimize the dimensions and position of the thermal shape correction blocks by analytical method and FEA simulation respectively. Eventually, this force-compensation-based adaptive scheme can achieve sub-nano sensitivity (∼ 0.1 nm) of mirror shape control, considering factors such as ease of engineering implementation and operational feasibility, even under repetition rates up to 100 kHz.
Depth-resolved imaging through scattering media using time-gated light field tomography
Authors: Baek Woong Jae , Park Jongchan , Gao Liang
Published: October 2024

We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach to overcome the limitations imposed by scattering media using time-gated light field tomography. By integrating the time-gating technique with light field imaging, we demonstrate the ability to capture and reconstruct images with different depths through highly scattering environments. Our method exploits the temporal characteristics of light propagation to selectively isolate ballistic photons, enabling enhanced depth resolution and improved imaging quality. Through comprehensive experimental validation and analysis, we showcase the effectiveness of our technique in resolving depth information with high fidelity, even in the presence of significant scattering. The resultant system can simultaneously acquire multi-angled projections of the object without requiring prior knowledge of the media or the target. This advancement holds promise for a wide range of applications, including non-invasive medical imaging, environmental monitoring, and industrial inspection, where imaging through scattering media is critical for an accurate and reliable analysis.
Structures of the mycobacterial MmpL4 and MmpL5 transporters provide insights into their role in siderophore export and iron acquisition
Authors: Maharjan Rakesh , Zhang Zhemin , Klenotic Philip A. , Gregor William D. , Tringides Marios L. , Cui Meng , Purdy Georgiana E. , Yu Edward W.
Published: October 2024

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pathogen, the causative agent of the airborne infection tuberculosis (TB), harbors a number of mycobacterial membrane protein large (MmpL) transporters. These membrane proteins can be separated into 2 distinct subclasses, where they perform important functional roles, and thus, are considered potential drug targets to combat TB. Previously, we reported both X-ray and cryo-EM structures of the MmpL3 transporter, providing high-resolution structural information for this subclass of the MmpL proteins. Currently, there is no structural information available for the subclass associated with MmpL4 and MmpL5, transporters that play a critical role in iron homeostasis of the bacterium. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of the M. smegmatis MmpL4 and MmpL5 transporters to resolutions of 2.95 Å and 3.00 Å, respectively. These structures allow us to propose a plausible pathway for siderophore translocation via these 2 transporters, an essential step for iron acquisition that enables the survival and replication of the mycobacterium.
Understanding dual process cognition via the minimum description length principle
Authors: Moskovitz Ted , Miller Kevin J. , Sahani Maneesh , Botvinick Matthew M.
Published: October 2024

Dual-process theories play a central role in both psychology and neuroscience, figuring prominently in domains ranging from executive control to reward-based learning to judgment and decision making. In each of these domains, two mechanisms appear to operate concurrently, one relatively high in computational complexity, the other relatively simple. Why is neural information processing organized in this way? We propose an answer to this question based on the notion of compression. The key insight is that dual-process structure can enhance adaptive behavior by allowing an agent to minimize the description length of its own behavior. We apply a single model based on this observation to findings from research on executive control, reward-based learning, and judgment and decision making, showing that seemingly diverse dual-process phenomena can be understood as domain-specific consequences of a single underlying set of computational principles.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of Talaromycosis marneffei associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in AIDS patients
Authors: Zhang Qinzhi , Zhang Huihua , Guo Pengle , Lin Weiyin , Xu Feilong , Tang Xiaoping , Li Linghua
Published: October 2024

Background

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an inflammatory reaction that occurs in HIV/AIDS patients after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Along with immune system recovery, IRIS can overreact to existing infections or latent pathogens, causing symptoms that mimic those infections. Few studies elucidated the clinical features and prognosis of Talaromycosis marneffei (TSM)-associated IRIS in HIV/AIDS patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of TSM-associated IRIS by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of HIV/AIDS patients with TSM.

Methodology/Principal findings

A total of 224 HIV/AIDS inpatients with TSM were enrolled, aged between 19 and 81 years. Among them, 86.6% were male and 13.4% were female, of which 24 (10.7%) patients developed IRIS. In IRIS group, the median time from ART initiation to IRIS occurrence was 9.0 days (IQR, 5.0–16.8 days), with 87.5% (21/24) occurring within 2 weeks. Primary clinical manifestations included recurrent fever and exacerbation of pulmonary infection. At the onset of IRIS, 54.2% (13/24) patients were treated with intravenous dexamethasone, and 12.5% (5/24) patients were treated with oral prednisone for 1–3 weeks. No significant differences in baseline characteristics or ART regimens were observed between IRIS and non-IRIS groups; however, patients in IRIS group had higher levels of CRP, CD4+count, and CD4+/CD8+ratio than non-IRIS group (equivalent time point: 1–2 weeks after ART initiation) at IRIS onset. The IRIS group exhibited longer hospital stays and higher readmission rates, but equivalent mortality rates compared with non-IRIS group.

Conclusions/Significance

IRIS is a common complication in HIV/AIDS patients with TSM, often occurring within 2 weeks after ART initiation and exhibiting more pronounced immune reconstitution. The occurrence of IRIS significantly extended the hospitalization duration and increased the rate of readmission but had no influence on the mortality rate.
Multiclass classification of Autism Spectrum Disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and typically developed individuals using fMRI functional connectivity analysis
Authors: Alves Caroline L. , Martinelli Tiago , Sallum Loriz Francisco , Rodrigues Francisco Aparecido , Toutain Thaise G. L. de O. , Porto Joel Augusto Moura , Thielemann Christiane , Aguiar Patrícia Maria de Carvalho , Moeckel Michael
Published: October 2024

Neurodevelopmental conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), present unique challenges due to overlapping symptoms, making an accurate diagnosis and targeted intervention difficult. Our study employs advanced machine learning techniques to analyze functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from individuals with ASD, ADHD, and typically developed (TD) controls, totaling 120 subjects in the study. Leveraging multiclass classification (ML) algorithms, we achieve superior accuracy in distinguishing between ASD, ADHD, and TD groups, surpassing existing benchmarks with an area under the ROC curve near 98%. Our analysis reveals distinct neural signatures associated with ASD and ADHD: individuals with ADHD exhibit altered connectivity patterns of regions involved in attention and impulse control, whereas those with ASD show disruptions in brain regions critical for social and cognitive functions. The observed connectivity patterns, on which the ML classification rests, agree with established diagnostic approaches based on clinical symptoms. Furthermore, complex network analyses highlight differences in brain network integration and segregation among the three groups. Our findings pave the way for refined, ML-enhanced diagnostics in accordance with established practices, offering a promising avenue for developing trustworthy clinical decision-support systems.
Comparative genomics of Fusarium species causing Fusarium ear rot of maize
Authors: Hudson Owen , Meinecke Colton D. , Brawner Jeremy T.
Published: October 2024

Fusarium ear rot (FER), caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium verticillioides, stands as one of the most economically burdensome and pervasive diseases affecting maize worldwide. Its impact on food security is particularly pronounced due to the production of fumonisins, toxic secondary metabolites that pose serious health risks, especially for livestock. FER disease severity is complex and polygenic, with few resistance (R) genes being identified for use in breeding resistant varieties. While FER is the subject of several breeding programs, only a few studies have investigated entire populations of F. verticillioides with corresponding virulence data to better understand and characterize the pathogenomics. Here, we sequenced and compared the genomes of 50 Fusarium isolates (43 F. verticillioides and 7 other Fusarium spp.) that were used to inoculate a diverse maize population. Our objectives were to elucidate the genome size and composition of F. verticillioides, explore the variable relationship between fumonisin production and visual disease severity, and shed light on the phylogenetic relationships among the isolates. Additionally, we conducted a comparative analysis of the nucleotide variants (SNPs) and the isolates’ effectoromes to uncover potential genetic determinants of pathogenicity. Our findings revealed several promising leads, notably the association of certain gene groups, such as pectate lyase, with disease severity. These genes should be investigated further as putative alleles for breeding resistant maize varieties. We suggest that, beyond validation of the alleles identified in this study, researchers validate each phenotypic dataset on an individual basis, particularly if considering fumonisin concentrations and when using diverse populations. Our study underscores the importance of genomic analysis in tackling FER and offers insights that could inform the development of resilient maize cultivars. By leveraging advances in genomics and incorporating pathogen populations into breeding programs, resistance to FER can be advanced.
Latent factors affecting safer injection practices that can reduce infections and how education can improve them
Authors: Park Jung Wan , Park Samel , Lee Eunjung , Kim Tark , Kim Eu Suk , Kim Bongyoung , Yoo So Yeon , Han Su Ha , Kim Tae Hyong
Published: October 2024

Background

The incidence of healthcare-associated infections, particularly injection-related infections, can increase patient comorbidities even in countries with adequate medical resources. Although there are clear guidelines for injection practices to prevent infections, their application in clinical settings is insufficient. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify factors affecting injection practices associated with reduced infections by conducting surveys targeting practicing healthcare providers involved in administering injections at each healthcare organization and performing data analysis.

Methods

We administered a survey to healthcare providers responsible for injection practices at each healthcare organization that included items related to infection-safe injection practice guidelines. All survey questions were reviewed by an expert panel of infectious disease and infection control nurses. Survey contents were subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis, and multivariable robust regression tests to determine the impact of each factor and their correlations.

Results

A total of 842 questionnaires were analyzed. Each questionnaire was classified into four factors: reuse and contamination, compliance with aseptic technique, exchange of infusion set, and use of multidose vials. Nurses with higher careers showed more compliance. Education within one year and awareness of each item of the questionnaire had positive associations with proper injection practice.

Conclusions

Education is thought to be the most important factor in good injection practices that could reduce infections. Relevant knowledge through timely training is expected to have a positive impact on performance and compliance related to safe injections.