bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The human acetylcholinesterase C-terminal T30 peptide activates neuronal growth through alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the mTOR pathway
Authors: Graur Alexandru , Sinclair Patricia , Schneeweis Amanda K. , Pak Daniel T. , Kabbani Nadine
Published: July 2023

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a highly conserved enzyme responsible for the regulation of acetylcholine signaling within the brain and periphery. AChE has also been shown to participate in non-enzymatic activity and contribute to cellular development and aging. In particular, enzymatic cleavage of the synaptic AChE isoform, AChE-T, is shown to generate a bioactive T30 peptide that binds to the ⍺7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) at synapses. Here, we explore intracellular mechanisms of T30 signaling within the human cholinergic neural cell line SH-SY5Y using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS/MS). Proteomic analysis of cells exposed to (100 nM) T30 for 3-days reveals significant changes within proteins important for cell growth. Specifically, bioinformatic analysis identifies proteins that converge onto the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway signaling. Functional experiments confirm that T30 regulates neural cell growth via mTOR signaling and ⍺7 nAChR activation. T30 was found promote mTORC1 pro-growth signaling through an increase in phosphorylated elF4E and S6K1, and a decrease in the autophagy LC3B-II protein. These findings are corroborated in hippocampal neurons and show that T30 promotes dendritic arborization. Taken together, our findings define mTOR as a novel pathway activated by T30 interaction with the nAChR and suggest a role for this process in human disease.
Functional characterization of the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) cation channel from Nematostella vectensis reconstituted into lipid bilayer
Authors: Szollosi Andras , Almássy János
Published: July 2023

Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) cation channel activity is required for insulin secretion, immune cell activation and body heat control. Channel activation upon oxidative stress is involved in the pathology of stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. Cytosolic Ca2+, ADP-ribose (ADPR) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) are the obligate activators of the channel. Several TRPM2 cryo-EM structures have been resolved to date, yet functionality of the purified protein has not been tested. Here we reconstituted overexpressed and purified TRPM2 from Nematostella vectensis (nvTRPM2) into lipid bilayers and found that the protein is fully functional. Consistent with the observations in native membranes, nvTRPM2 in lipid bilayers is co-activated by cytosolic Ca2+ and either ADPR or ADPR-2′-phosphate (ADPRP). The physiological metabolite ADPRP has a higher apparent affinity than ADPR. In lipid bilayers nvTRPM2 displays a large linear unitary conductance, its open probability (Po) shows little voltage dependence and is stable over several minutes. Po is high without addition of exogenous PIP2, but is largely blunted by treatment with poly-l-Lysine, a polycation that masks PIP2 headgroups. These results indicate that PIP2 or some other activating phosphoinositol lipid co-purifies with nvTRPM2, suggesting a high PIP2 binding affinity of nvTRPM2 under physiological conditions.
Electrotaxis evokes directional separation of co-cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts
Authors: Leal José , Shaner Sebastian , Jedrusik Nicole , Savelyeva Anna , Asplund Maria
Published: July 2023

Bioelectric communication plays a significant role in several cellular processes and biological mechanisms, such as division, differentiation, migration, cancer metastasis, and wound healing. Ion flow across cellular walls leads to potential gradients and subsequent formation of constant or time-varying electric fields(EFs), which regulate cellular processes. An EF is natively generated towards the wound center during epithelial wound healing, aiming to align and guide cell migration, particularly of macrophages, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes. While this phenomenon, known as electrotaxis or galvanotaxis, has been extensively investigated across many cell types, it is typically explored one cell type at a time, which does not accurately represent cellular interactions during complex biological processes. Here we show the co-cultured electrotaxis of epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts with a salt-bridgeless microfluidic approach for the first time. The electrotactic response of these cells was first assessed in mono-culture to establish a baseline, resulting in the characteristic cathodic migration for keratinocytes and anodic for fibroblasts. Both cell types retained their electrotactic properties in co-culture leading to clear cellular partition even in the presence of cellular collisions. The methods leveraged here pave the way for future co-culture electrotaxis experiments where the concurrent influence of cell types can be thoroughly investigated.
Understanding the hindrance factor of bacterial proliferation and γ-aminobutyric acid-producing capability of nondairy strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in milk fermentation
Authors: Phirom-on Konlarat , Po-ngern Anuchida , Jaikhan Somchai , Sirichon Sasiwan , Vichitphan Sukanda , Vichitphan Kanit , Apiraksakorn Jirawan
Published: July 2023

γ-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) is a mental health-supporting substance that helps release anxiety and depression and improves memory. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SKKL1, a GABA-producing bacterium, has been introduced to formulate a gut-brain axis product. However, growth and sugar consumption of L. plantarum SKKL1 in milk were ineffective. This obstacle was investigated by varying different types of milk, sugars, fermentation temperatures, and times. The results revealed that none of these parameters improved growth and bacterial metabolism in milk, except addition of soluble protein as found in yeast extract and malt extract. Although a protease deficiency of L. plantarum SKKL1 was discovered, it was not a primary barrier to cell propagation. Insight of this study showed clearly that soluble protein was an essential metabolic activator for growth, nutrient consumption, and protease synthesis, then stimulated lactic acid and GABA productions. While, milk casein and casein hydrolysate, a complex protein structure with low solubility, were not utilized by L. plantarum SKKL1. The novelty of this study is the first in-depth investigation to confirm a significant effect of soluble protein on enrich-GABA milk fermentation by L. plantarum SKKL1 as the sole starter without protease and monosodium glutamate addition.
Refining skin lesions classification performance using geometric features of superpixels
Authors: Moldovanu Simona , Miron Mihaela , Rusu Cristinel-Gabriel , Biswas Keka C. , Moraru Luminita
Published: July 2023

This paper introduces superpixels to enhance the detection of skin lesions and to discriminate between melanoma and nevi without false negatives, in dermoscopy images. An improved Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (iSLIC) superpixels algorithm for image segmentation in digital image processing is proposed. The local graph cut method to identify the region of interest (i.e., either the nevi or melanoma lesions) has been adopted. The iSLIC algorithm is then exploited to segment sSPs. iSLIC discards all the SPs belonging to image background based on assigned labels and preserves the segmented skin lesions. A shape and geometric feature extraction task is performed for each segmented SP. The extracted features are fed into six machine learning algorithms such as: random forest, support vector machines, AdaBoost, k-nearest neighbor, decision trees (DT), Gaussian Naïve Bayes and three neural networks. These include Pattern recognition neural network, Feed forward neural network, and 1D Convolutional Neural Network for classification. The method is evaluated on the 7-Point MED-NODE and PAD-UFES-20 datasets and the results have been compared to the state-of-art findings. Extensive experiments show that the proposed method outperforms the compared existing methods in terms of accuracy.
Integer time series models for tuberculosis in Africa
Authors: Ojo Oluwadare O. , Nadarajah Saralees , Kebe Malick
Published: July 2023

Tuberculosis, an airborne disease, is the deadliest human infectious disease caused by one single agent. The African region is among the most affected and most burdensome area in terms of tuberculosis cases. In this paper, we modeled the number of new cases of tuberculosis for 2000–2021 by integer time series. For each African country, we fitted twenty different models and selected the model that best fitted the data. The twenty models were mostly based on the number of new cases following either the Poisson or negative binomial distribution with the rate parameter allowed to vary linearly or quadratically with respect to year. The best fitted models were used to give predictions for 2022–2031.
Correlation of N-acetyltransferase 2 genotype and acetylation status with plasma isoniazid concentration and its metabolic ratio in ethiopian tuberculosis patients
Authors: Sileshi Tesemma , Telele Nigus Fikrie , Burkley Victoria , Makonnen Eyasu , Aklillu Eleni
Published: July 2023

Unfavorable treatment outcomes for tuberculosis (TB) treatment might result from altered plasma exposure to antitubercular drugs in TB patients. The present study investigated the distribution of the N-Acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) genotype, isoniazid acetylation status, genotype–phenotype concordance of NAT2, and isoniazid plasma exposure among Ethiopian tuberculosis patients. Blood samples were collected from newly diagnosed TB patients receiving a fixed dose combination of first-line antitubercular drugs daily. Genotyping of NAT2 was done using TaqMan drug metabolism assay. Isoniazid and its metabolite concentration were determined using validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). A total of 120 patients (63 male and 57 female) were enrolled in this study. The mean daily dose of isoniazid was 4.71 mg/kg. The frequency of slow, intermediate, and fast NAT2 acetylators genotypes were 74.2%, 22.4%, and 3.3% respectively. The overall median isoniazid maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 4.77 µg/mL and the AUC0–7 h was 11.21 µg.h/mL. The median Cmax in slow, intermediate, and fast acetylators were 5.65, 3.44, and 2.47 μg/mL, respectively. The median AUC0–7 h hour in slow, intermediate, and fast acetylators were 13.1, 6.086, and 3.73 mg•h/L, respectively. The majority (87.5%) of the study participants achieved isoniazid Cmax of above 3 µg/mL, which is considered a lower limit for a favorable treatment outcome. There is 85% concordance between the NAT2 genotype and acetylation phenotypes. NAT2 genotype, female sex, and dose were independent predictors of Cmax and AUC0–7 h (p < 0.001). Our finding revealed that there is a high frequency of slow NAT2 genotypes. The plasma Cmax of isoniazid was higher in the female and slow acetylators genotype group. The overall target plasma isoniazid concentrations in Ethiopian tuberculosis patients were achieved in the majority of the patients. Therefore, it is important to monitor adverse drug reactions and the use of a higher dose of isoniazid should be closely monitored.
Cryptic kin discrimination during communal lactation in mice favours cooperation between relatives
Authors: Green Jonathan P. , Franco Catarina , Davidson Amanda J. , Lee Vicki , Stockley Paula , Beynon Robert J. , Hurst Jane L.
Published: July 2023

Breeding females can cooperate by rearing their offspring communally, sharing synergistic benefits of offspring care but risking exploitation by partners. In lactating mammals, communal rearing occurs mostly among close relatives. Inclusive fitness theory predicts enhanced cooperation between related partners and greater willingness to compensate for any partner under-investment, while females are less likely to bias investment towards own offspring. We use a dual isotopic tracer approach to track individual milk allocation when familiar pairs of sisters or unrelated house mice reared offspring communally. Closely related pairs show lower energy demand and pups experience better access to non-maternal milk. Lactational investment is more skewed between sister partners but females pay greater energetic costs per own offspring reared with an unrelated partner. The choice of close kin as cooperative partners is strongly favoured by these direct as well as indirect benefits, providing a driver to maintain female kin groups for communal breeding.
High resolution structures define divergent and convergent mechanisms of archaeal proteasome activation
Authors: Chuah Janelle J. Y. , Rexroad Matthew S. , Smith David M.
Published: July 2023

Considering the link between neurodegenerative diseases and impaired proteasome function, and the neuro-protective impact of enhanced proteasome activity in animal models, it’s crucial to understand proteasome activation mechanisms. A hydrophobic-tyrosine-any residue (HbYX) motif on the C-termini of proteasome-activating complexes independently triggers gate-opening of the 20S core particle for protein degradation; however, the causal allosteric mechanism remains unclear. Our study employs a structurally irreducible dipeptide HbYX mimetic to investigate the allosteric mechanism of gate-opening in the archaeal proteasome. High-resolution cryo-EM structures pinpoint vital residues and conformational changes in the proteasome α-subunit implicated in HbYX-dependent activation. Using point mutations, we simulated the HbYX-bound state, providing support for our mechanistic model. We discerned four main mechanistic elements triggering gate-opening: 1) back-loop rearrangement adjacent to K66, 2) intra- and inter- α subunit conformational changes, 3) occupancy of the hydrophobic pocket, and 4) a highly conserved isoleucine-threonine pair in the 20S channel stabilizing the open and closed states, termed the "IT switch." Comparison of different complexes unveiled convergent and divergent mechanism of 20S gate-opening among HbYX-dependent and independent activators. This study delivers a detailed molecular model for HbYX-dependent 20S gate-opening, enabling the development of small molecule proteasome activators that hold promise to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Mechanistic investigation of a D to N mutation in DAHP synthase that dictates carbon flux into the shikimate pathway in yeast
Authors: Liu Huayi , Xiao Qingjie , Wu Xinxin , Ma He , Li Jian , Guo Xufan , Liu Zhenyu , Zhang Yan , Luo Yunzi
Published: July 2023

3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS) is a key enzyme in the shikimate pathway for the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds. L-Phe and L-Tyr bind to the two main DAHPS isoforms and inhibit their enzyme activities, respectively. Synthetic biologists aim to relieve such inhibitions in order to improve the productivity of aromatic compounds. In this work, we reported a point mutant of yeast DHAPS, Aro3D154N, which retains the wild type enzyme activity but converts it highly inert to the inhibition by L-Phe. The Aro3 crystal structure along with the molecular dynamics simulations analysis suggests that the D154N mutation distant from the inhibitor binding cavity may reduce the binding affinity of L-Phe. Growth assays demonstrated that substitution of the conserved D154 with asparagine suffices to relieve the inhibition of L-Phe on Aro3, L-Tyr on Aro4, and the inhibitions on their corresponding homologues from diverse yeasts. The importance of our discovery is highlighted by the observation of 29.1% and 43.6% increase of yield for the production of tyrosol and salidroside respectively upon substituting ARO3 with ARO3D154N. We anticipate that this allele would be used broadly to increase the yield of various aromatic products in metabolically diverse microorganisms.
Mining-impacted rice paddies select for Archaeal methylators and reveal a putative (Archaeal) regulator of mercury methylation
Authors: Zhang Rui , Aris-Brosou Stéphane , Storck Veronika , Liu Jiang , Abdelhafiz Mahmoud A , Feng Xinbin , Meng Bo , Poulain Alexandre J
Published: July 2023

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a microbially produced neurotoxin derived from inorganic mercury (Hg), which accumulation in rice represents a major health concern to humans. However, the microbial control of MeHg dynamics in the environment remains elusive. Here, leveraging three rice paddy fields with distinct concentrations of Hg (Total Hg (THg): 0.21−513 mg kg−1 dry wt. soil; MeHg: 1.21−6.82 ng g−1 dry wt. soil), we resorted to metagenomics to determine the microbial determinants involved in MeHg production under contrasted contamination settings. We show that Hg methylating Archaea, along with methane-cycling genes, were enriched in severely contaminated paddy soils. Metagenome-resolved Genomes of novel putative Hg methylators belonging to Nitrospinota (UBA7883), with poorly resolved taxonomy despite high completeness, showed evidence of facultative anaerobic metabolism and adaptations to fluctuating redox potential. Furthermore, we found evidence of environmental filtering effects that influenced the phylogenies of not only hgcA genes under different THg concentrations, but also of two housekeeping genes, rpoB and glnA, highlighting the need for further experimental validation of whether THg drives the evolution of hgcAB. Finally, assessment of the genomic environment surrounding hgcAB suggests that this gene pair may be regulated by an archaeal toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, instead of the more frequently found arsR-like genes in bacterial methylators. This suggests the presence of distinct hgcAB regulation systems in bacteria and archaea. Our results support the emerging role of Archaea in MeHg cycling under mining-impacted environments and shed light on the differential control of the expression of genes involved in MeHg formation between Archaea and Bacteria.
The predictive power of phylogeny on growth rates in soil bacterial communities
Authors: Walkup Jeth , Dang Chansotheary , Mau Rebecca L , Hayer Michaela , Schwartz Egbert , Stone Bram W , Hofmockel Kirsten S , Koch Benjamin J , Purcell Alicia M , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Wang Chao , Hungate Bruce A , Morrissey Ember M
Published: July 2023

Predicting ecosystem function is critical to assess and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Quantitative predictions of microbially mediated ecosystem processes are typically uninformed by microbial biodiversity. Yet new tools allow the measurement of taxon-specific traits within natural microbial communities. There is mounting evidence of a phylogenetic signal in these traits, which may support prediction and microbiome management frameworks. We investigated phylogeny-based trait prediction using bacterial growth rates from soil communities in Arctic, boreal, temperate, and tropical ecosystems. Here we show that phylogeny predicts growth rates of soil bacteria, explaining an average of 31%, and up to 58%, of the variation within ecosystems. Despite limited overlap in community composition across these ecosystems, shared nodes in the phylogeny enabled ancestral trait reconstruction and cross-ecosystem predictions. Phylogenetic relationships could explain up to 38% (averaging 14%) of the variation in growth rates across the highly disparate ecosystems studied. Our results suggest that shared evolutionary history contributes to similarity in the relative growth rates of related bacteria in the wild, allowing phylogeny-based predictions to explain a substantial amount of the variation in taxon-specific functional traits, within and across ecosystems.
A Ni-doped Mo2C/NCF composite for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Yang Jie , Bashir Tariq , Lin Yanping , Gao Lijun
Published: July 2023

Ni-Mo2C nano catalysts dispersed on N-doped carbon flowers: a composite with nitrogen-containing carbon flowers carrying nickel-modified molybdenum carbide exhibits enhanced HER catalytic activity in alkaline electrolyte.
Water-assisted proton conduction regulated by hydrophilic groups in metallo-hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks: “like-attracts-like” between hydrophilic groups and water molecules
Authors: Wang Sen , Xie Fengxia , Zhang Shiwen , Liang Xiaoqiang , Gao Qianhang , Chen Yu , Zhang Feng , Wen Chen , Feng Lei , Wan Chengan
Published: July 2023

The proton conductivities in two metallo-hydrogen-bonded frameworks (MHOFs) are highly influenced by the different hydrophilicities of hydrophilic groups in materials.
Effect of twisted molecular geometry on the solid-state emissions of an anthracene fluorophore
Authors: Gogoi Gayatri , Sarma Rupam J.
Published: July 2023

Anthracene-derived luminogen,A-4OH, produced two polymorphic phases and two solvates. In the green emissive form, the anthracene groups were oriented ‘cisoid’ relative to the 4-hydroxyphenyl group, which for non-emissive form was ‘transoid’.
Phyllanthus emblicafruits: a polyphenol-rich fruit with potential benefits for oral management
Authors: Li Gefei , Yu Qiang , Li Mengqi , Zhang Dingkun , Yu Ji , Yu Xiaohan , Xia Chenxi , Lin Junzhi , Han Li , Huang Haozhou
Published: July 2023

The fruit ofPhyllanthus emblicaLinn., which mainly grows in tropical and subtropical regions, is well-known for its medicine and food homology properties. The fruit is rich in polyphenols and has shown advantages in the field of oral health management.
Stable organic electrochemical neurons based on p-type and n-type ladder polymers
Authors: Wu Han-Yan , Huang Jun-Da , Jeong Sang Young , Liu Tiefeng , Wu Ziang , van der Pol Tom , Wang Qingqing , Stoeckel Marc-Antoine , Li Qifan , Fahlman Mats , Tu Deyu , Woo Han Young , Yang Chi-Yuan , Fabiano Simone
Published: July 2023

Rigid ladder-type conjugated polymers enable the development of stable and high-performance organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and complementary OECT-based amplifiers for brain-inspired artificial neurons.
A study across scales to unveil microstructural regimes in the multivalent metal driven self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals
Authors: Gabrielli Valeria , Ferrarini Alberta , Frasconi Marco
Published: July 2023

Multiscale control of cellulose nanocrystal assembly: from isolated nanorods to disconnected rod fractal clusters and gels.
Concise syntheses of (−)-habiterpenol and (+)-2,3-epi-habiterpenol via redox radical cyclization of alkenylsilane
Authors: Taguchi Haruki , Kawaguchi Mayuko , Nagamitsu Tohru , Ohtawa Masaki
Published: July 2023

The concise synthesis of (−)-habiterpenol in 11 steps was enabled by MHAT-initiated redox radical cyclization of alkenylsilane.
Predominant intermolecular decarbonylative thioetherification of carboxylic acids using nickel precatalysts
Authors: Ji Haiyao , Cao Han , Wang Guan , Xing Feifei , Szostak Michal , Liu Chengwei
Published: July 2023

We report a general method for direct decarbonylative thioetherification of carboxylic acids using air- and moisture-stable nickel precatalysts. In this approach, ubiquitous carboxylic acids are directly used as aryl electrophiles and common thiols serve as sulfide donors.
Diverse synthesis of functionalized hydroquinoline derivatives from α-aryl vinylsulfonium salts
Authors: Wang Zhen-Hua , Zhang Tong , Yan Qing-Fei , Zhao Jian-Qiang , You Yong , Zhang Yan-Ping , Yin Jun-Qing , Yuan Wei-Cheng
Published: July 2023

We achieved diverse transformations of α-aryl vinylsulfonium salts under mild reaction conditions, affording various 1,2-dihydroquinoline and ring-fused tetrahydroquinoline skeletons in moderate to excellent isolated yields.
Rhodium-catalyzed annulative approach to N–N axially chiral biarylsviaC–H activation and dynamic kinetic transformation
Authors: Zhu Xiaohan , Wu Hongli , Wang Yishou , Huang Genping , Wang Fen , Li Xingwei
Published: July 2023

Rhodium-catalyzed C–H activation of benzamides bearing two classes of N–N directing group has been realized in the coupling with diverse alkynes, delivering N–N axially chiral biaryls in excellent enantioselectivity.
Controlled alkali etching of MOFs with secondary building units for low-concentration CO2capture
Authors: Dong Hong , Li Lihua , Li Can
Published: July 2023

We demonstrated that controlled alkali etching of MOF-808 with enhanced low-concentration CO2capture capacity under dry conditions.
Low-intensity mixing process of high molecular weight polymer chains leads to elastomers of long network strands and high fatigue threshold
Authors: Bao Xianyang , Nian Guodong , Kutsovsky Yakov , Kim Junsoo , Jiao Quan , Suo Zhigang
Published: July 2023

Traditional polymer processing breaks polymer chains. The resulting networks of short chains have a low fatigue threshold. This paper shows that a low-intensity process preserves long chains, leading to a network of an increased fatigue threshold.
Biomimetic redox-responsive smart coatings with resistance-release functions for reverse osmosis membranes
Authors: Wu Ya-Ge , Li Xin-Zheng , Zhao Jing , Yang Xu , Cai Ya-Juan , Jiang Han , Sun Yi-Xing , Wei Nan-Jun , Liu Yang , Li Yi-Bo , Yang Zi-Hao , Jiang Meng-Ying , Gai Jing-Gang
Published: July 2023

Membrane fouling induces catastrophic loss of separation performance and seriously restricts the applications of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes.
Cationic composition engineering in double perovskite XLaLiTeO6:Eu3+(X = Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg) toward efficient and thermally stable red luminescence for domestic white-LEDs
Authors: Zhu Jing , Yang Tongsheng , Li Hong , Xiang Yuefei , Song Ruitong , Zhang Hongzhi
Published: July 2023

The cationic composition engineering is conducted in XLaLiTeO6:Eu3+(X = Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg), leading to the high quantum efficiency of MgLaLiTeO6:Eu3+, and the optimization mechanism provides the baselines for the high-quality Eu3+doped phosphors.
Reflection-influenced circularly polarised luminescence in dye-embedded polymer-stabilised cholesteric liquid crystal films
Authors: Lian Ting , Yu Runwei , Liu Wei , Li Yi , Yang Yonggang
Published: July 2023

Reflection-influenced circularly polarised luminescence based on an AIE-active dye and polymer-stabilised cholesteric liquid crystal films was observed.
Output feedback receding horizon control for takagi‐sugeno systems with Non‐PDC law
Authors: Ding Baocang , Yao Xu
Published: July 2023

The issue of constrained output feedback receding horizon control (RHC) for Takagi‐Sugeno systems is studied in this paper. The control strategy is developed through parameterizing the infinite horizon control moves as a non‐parallel distributed compensation (non‐PDC) law. The parameter‐dependent non‐PDC controller is optimized in a receding horizon manner. The extended non‐quadratic Lyapunov function serves to guarantee the robust stability of the augmented closed‐loop system, which is an improvement over existing results with common‐quadratic Lyapunov functions. The recursive feasibility of the proposed approach is also carefully analyzed. The approach is shown to enhance the control performance at a cost of computational efficiency. A numerical example is demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Adhesion control strategy for trains with driven independently rotating wheels considering active guidance
Authors: Lin Shuai , Fang Xiaochun , Li Zhengwu , Lin Fei , Yang Zhongping
Published: July 2023

This article presents a torque distribution control strategy for electrical trains equipped with driven independently rotating wheels (DIRW) to realise the coordination of guidance control and adhesion control. For DIRW, active guidance control is required to restore self‐centring ability. Besides, the adhesion condition determines the wheel‐rail tangential force, affecting the realisation of the guidance function. A zero lateral displacement guidance control based on an active disturbance rejection controller and an adhesion control based on optimal adhesion coefficient utilisation are applied. According to the wheel‐rail adhesion state, several torque distribution rules are designed. The primary principle of rule design is to ensure the normal operation of trains, that is, to avoid the occurrence of train idling/sliding. Next, the self‐centring function should be achieved. Finally, the train traction/braking performance should be as close as possible to the requirements of the traction/braking characteristic curve determined by the driver handle instruction. The torque distribution strategy proposed can achieve the traction/braking and guidance function on the adhesion limit. The control performance is verified through MATLAB/Simulink‐SIMPACK co‐simulation.
The Relationship between Acute-to-Chronic Glycemic Ratio and SYNTAX Score in Diabetic Patients Presenting with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Demir Ömer Furkan , Balyimez Ayşe Dilara
Published: July 2023

A new index called the acute-to-chronic (A/C) glycemic ratio has been proposed to better represent the true acute glycemic rise in people with acute disease. However, there has been no previous study investigating the relationship between A/C glycemic ratio and SYNTAX score in patients with diabetic acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of A/C glycemic ratio in predicting coronary artery disease severity and SYNTAX score in diabetic patients presenting with ACS. The study included 131 consecutive patients hospitalized for ACS in our hospital, previously diagnosed with diabetes and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The relationship between A/C glycemic ratio and SYNTAX score calculated at the time of admission was determined in univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. The sample size was divided into three parts (T1, T2, and T3) according to the admission blood glucose (ABG)/estimated average glucose (eAG) ratio. When ABG/eAG and SYNTAX scores were compared, there was no significant difference between the T1 and T2 groups, but a significant increase was found in the T3 group compared with the other two groups (T1: 14.26, T2: 14.77, T3: 24.41; p < 0.001). When multivariate modeling was performed with the two or three most relevant variables (age, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], and ABG/eAG ratio), the upper tertile of the ABG/eAG variable was correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and higher SYNTAX score. This study shows that there is a significant relationship between higher ABG/eAG ratio and higher SYNTAX score in diabetic patients presenting with ACS.
Post-9/11 US thinking and approaches to nuclear deterrence: the Bush Doctrine and the role of nuclear weapons in US deterrence strategy
Authors: Johnson James
Published: July 2023

Charting a course through US administrations from the late 1990s to the present day, this article considers the George W. Bush administration’s thinking on nuclear deterrence in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11: What was distinctive about the Bush administration’s thinking and approach to nuclear deterrence? To what extent, and to what effect have the Bush administration’s approaches proved enduring? The article considers theprima faciecontradictory nature of the administration’s deterrence objectives against the backdrop of a shifting security environment, characterised by the proliferation of WMDs to ‘rogue states’ and non-state actors, nuclear multipolarity, disruptive emerging technologies, and long-held US commitments to its global allies and partners—ensuring the centrality of nuclear weapons in US national security policy, despite sustained efforts to reduce this reliance.
The diplomacy of ‘Global Britain’: settling, safeguarding and seeking status
Authors: Hadfield Amelia , Whitman Richard G.
Published: July 2023

Brexit has induced a diplomatic reorientation on the part of the UK. In the post-referendum period, the UK has sought both to re-make its relationshipwithEurope (mainly through negotiating a position as a third country to the EU) and to reset its broader foreign and security policy objectivesbeyondEurope. This article explores how this has been pursued through the reinforcement of Britain’s identity, role and status as a Euro-Atlantic power, alongside a ‘plurilateral’ approach that has emphasised partnerships and foreign policy issues within and beyond Europe. Through an examination of the UK’s developing relationship with the EU and role in the United Nations and the Commonwealth, the article explores how the UK Government has sought to project British influence and to preserve the UK’s status as an international actor of note.
Despicable ‘other’ and innocent ‘us’: emotion politics in the time of the pandemic
Authors: Zhang Chang , Wang Zi
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the emotional management strategies employed by the Chinese maintream media Huanqiu Shibao (HQSB), through the use of nationalistic rhetoric during the Covid-19 pandemic. By conducting a discourse analysis of the coverage of Covid-19 on HQSB’s WeChat account, this research reveals two primary emotional management strategies: defensive nationalism and aggressive nationalism. Defensive nationalism utilizes fear and positive emotions to uphold and defend Chinese politics, while aggressive nationalism employs disgust to counter external criticisms and delegitimize the US democratic system and international leadership. By examining how HQSB emotionally differentiates the world, the study unveils that tactics Chinese mainstream media use to construct national identity, drawing a divisive line between a despised ‘them’ and an innocent ‘us’. The Covid-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the emotionalisation of Chinese digital propaganda and the evolution of state-led nationalism during a public health crisis. The research concludes that the use of emotion in HQSB’s Covid-19 coverage aligns with China’s broader strategy of nation-building and global influence promotion. It underscores the need for greater awareness of the emotional mobilization used in political communication, particularly during times of crisis.
Family–work conflict and work-from-home productivity: do work engagement and self-efficacy mediate?
Authors: Tsang Seng-Su , Liu Zhih-Lin , Nguyen Thi Vinh Tran
Published: July 2023

The shift towards remote work has been expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, and COVID-19 has increased the need to understand the factors affecting remote work productivity such as family–work conflict, work engagement, and self-efficacy. However, the previous research may not comprehensively capture the intricacies associated with remote work amidst the pandemic. This study proposes a model to explore the relationship between family–work conflict and work-from-home productivity based on role conflict and resource drain theories as well as the family–work-conflict literature. The quantitative approach was used. A questionnaire was distributed using a convenience sampling technique and a response rate of 90.1% (1177 respondents) was achieved. After data cleaning, 785 valid cases were analysed. SPSS 22 and AMOS 20 were used to test the descriptive statistics, reliability, and validity, and the proposed hypotheses were evaluated using Process Macro (Model 5). The findings found that family–work-conflict negatively affected work engagement, self-efficacy, and work-from-home productivity. The negative effect of family–work-conflict on work-from-home productivity was stronger for employees with more work-from-home days than those with fewer. The partial mediation of work engagement and self-efficacy was established. This study contributes to the understanding of remote work productivity during the pandemic, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprise employees. It highlights the regulatory role of working hours when working from home and examines the mediation of self-efficacy in the association between family–work conflict and work-from-home productivity. This study also confirms the gender differences in work-from-home productivity which has been previously inconsistent in the literature. Managerially, the research has practical implications for employers, managers, and the government. Employers should adopt family-friendly policies and offer training programmes to enhance work-from-home productivity. Employers need to pay extra attention to their female employees’ work and family responsibilities and guarantee positive working outcomes through online surveys and two-way communication strategies. Professional training and work-from-home skill development programmes should be provided to boost employee confidence and self-efficacy. Governments and employers should also consider implementing regulations on the duration of working-from-home to avoid negative impacts on work efficiency and family–work conflict.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of the Enantiomers of Nicotine and Nornicotine Employing Chiral Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
Authors: Ashraf-Khorassani Mehdi , Perfetti Thomas A , Dube Mike F , Coleman William M , Ferraro John M , Umstead Weston J
Published: July 2023

An optimized method employing chiral supercritical fluid chromatography with diode array UV–VIS detection has been developed for the quantitative analysis of nicotine and nornicotine enantiomer distributions. The method parameters that were optimized included: column type (stationary phases, Chiralpak IG-3), column temperature (40°C), modifier types and concentration (isopropyl alcohol, 10%), additive types and concentrations (diethylamine, 0.2%), elution times (<6 min, flow rate 3 mL/min) and resolution factor (>1.2). These optimized conditions led to nicotine and nornicotine enantiomer detection limits of ~5 ng/μL with accompanying %RSD values of <2% from the analyses of commercially available nicotine-containing formulations.
A Hybrid Scheme Combining Duplications and LDPC Decoding to Reduce NAND Flash
Authors: Zhang Yaofang , Li Peixuan , Xie Ping
Published: July 2023

With the development of NAND flash, the storage density has become larger and larger, but the reliability has become lower and lower. To address this problem, stronger error correction codes, low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, are widely used in flash memory. However, the direct use of LDPC codes for error correction has a great impact on the read and write performance of SSDs. Given this, this paper proposes a new mentality that combines replica and LDPC decoding methods to improve the read performance of solid state drives (SSDs). Considering the characteristics of the quantization level of LDPC soft-decision decoding, this paper proposes the IDSD (LDPC soft-decision decoding and duplication method) and IDHSD (a method combining duplication and LDPC hybrid decoding)schemes. These schemes are mainly for hot data. When reading the data, the IDSD scheme needs to first judge whether it is soft-decision decoding. Then, according to the number of quantization levels recorded, it needs to select whether to use duplication or soft-decision decoding to correct the error data. The IDHSD scheme does not need to judge the soft-decision decoding but directly uses the duplication after the hard-decision decoding fails. Both schemes reduce the average response time to a certain extent and optimize the read performance of the SSD. The experimental results show that compared with the Native Scheme, the average response delay time of the IDSD scheme decreases by 5–30% and the IDHSD scheme slashes by 5–38%. Compared with the Traditional Refresh Scheme, the average response delay time of the IDSD scheme cuts down by 1–30% and the IDHSD scheme lowers by 1–29%.
Relinearization Attack On LPN Over Large Fields
Authors: Lou Paul , Sahai Amit , Sivashankar Varun
Published: July 2023

We investigate algebraic attacks on the Learning Parity with Noise ($\mathsf{LPN}$) problem over large fields in parameter settings relevant to building indistinguishability obfuscation in which the proportion of corrupted equations is inverse-polynomially sparse. Our aim was to obtain a subexponential algorithm using the Macaulay expansion and relinearization. Alas, we did not. Nevertheless, our findings suggest an interesting relation between runtime and the rank of the Macaulay expansion. The runtime of this attack is $O\big(2^{d \log m}\big)$, where $m$ is the number of initial equations and $d$ is the degree of the Macaulay expansion. If the resulting system of equations has sufficiently large rank, we show that solving the $\mathsf{LPN}$ polynomial system requires an $O(\sqrt{m})$ degree expansion, which would imply a subexponential attack. Under the (more widely believed) assumption that the expanded system is semi-regular, however, we show that an $O(m)$ degree expansion is required to recover the secret vector. Since $O(\sqrt{m})$-degree expansions may not have sufficient rank, we propose a randomized algorithm which introduces carefully chosen equations that hold with high probability to increase the rank and improve the likelihood of a successful attack. We highlight the empirical and theoretical challenges in analyzing this approach. Our code is available at www.tinyurl.com/attacklpn.
Masters of desire: the (re)erotization of the slave’s body in cinematic and television representations of ancient Rome
Authors: Unceta Gómez Luis
Published: July 2023

The exhibition of the naked and near-naked bodies of enslaved people is a notable feature in cinematic representation of Rome. This article analyses the way in which these bodies are framed erotically and what an examination of this feature can tell us about the cinematic reception of ancient Rome. In this article, particular attention is paid to the erotization of the body of the slave within peplum films. Looking at these bodies allows us to see the gender dynamics at play in these films as well as the way in which cinema figures Rome as place of liberation and sexual licence. It also allows us to interrogate the power dynamics that operate in such systems of representation and explore the way that such films collocate regimes of pleasures with systems of domination and submission.
Self-grafting-induced epigenetic changes leading to drought stress tolerance in tomato plants
Authors: Fuentes-Merlos Maria Isabel , Bamba Masaru , Sato Shusei , Higashitani Atsushi
Published: July 2023

Grafting is widely used as a method to increase stress tolerance in good fruiting lines of Solanaceae plants. However, little is known about how grafting, affects epigenetic modifications and leads to stress tolerance, especially within the same line. Here, we studied the effects of self-grafting in tomato plants on histone and DNA modifications and changes in gene expression related to drought stress. We found that at the three-leaf stage, 1 week after self-grafting, histone H3 K4 trimethylation and K27 trimethylation changes were observed in more than 500 genes each, and DNA methylation changes in more than 5,000 gene regions at the shoot apex compared to the non-grafted control. In addition, two weeks after the epigenomic changes, global expression changes continued to be observed at the shoot apex in several genes related to the metabolic process of nitrogen compounds, responses to stimulus, chromosome organization, cell cycle-related genes, and regulation of hormone levels. Finally, these grafted seedlings acquired remarkable drought tolerance, suggesting that epigenomic modifications during the wound-healing process mitigate stress tolerance in tomato plants.
Short-term effects of a high-severity summer wildfire on conifer forest moth (Lepidoptera) communities in New Mexico, USA
Authors: Brantley Eileen M , Jones Arden G , Hodson Alicia M , Brown John W , Pogue Michael G , Suazo Martina M , Parmenter Robert R
Published: July 2023

Forest fires in North America are becoming larger in area and burning with higher severity as a result of climate change and land management practices. High-severity, stand-replacement fires can inflict major changes to forest insect communities, potentially extirpating many species through altered post-fire habitat resources. We assessed forest-dwelling macrolepidopteran moth communities in mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests during the first year after the 2011 Las Conchas fire in New Mexico, USA. We deployed blacklight traps in replicated burned and unburned stands during June, July, and August in 2012. We collected 9,478 individuals, representing 211 species and 8 families. Noctuidae (124 species) and Geometridae (53) comprised the majority of the taxa, followed by Erebidae (21), Sphingidae (5), Notodontidae (3), Lasiocampidae (2), Saturniidae (2), and Drepanidae (1). Moth communities (species composition and abundances) in each forest type (mixed conifer vs. ponderosa pine) were statistically distinguishable, but shared 56.4% (119) of observed species. Overall, compared to unburned forests, post-fire moth communities in both forest types had significantly lower numbers of individuals, species richness and diversity, and lower evenness in ponderosa pine forests. As expected, categorizing moth taxa by larval host plant taxa revealed that reductions of moth populations following fire were associated with the elimination or reduction of available larval host plants (particularly conifers, oaks, and junipers). We predict that future moth community succession will likely parallel the overall transformation from a forested landscape to a montane meadow/grassland ecosystem, with continued reduction in tree-feeding species and increasing dominance by forb/grass-feeding species.
Prognostic significance of subpulmonary left ventricular size and function in patients with a systemic right ventricle
Authors: Surkova Elena , Constantine Andrew , Xu Zhuoyuan , Segura de la Cal Teresa , Bispo Daniela , West Cathy , Senior Roxy , Dimopoulos Konstantinos , Li Wei
Published: July 2023

Aims

To assess the additional prognostic significance of echocardiographic parameters of subpulmonary left ventricular (LV) size and function in patients with a systemic right ventricle (SRV).

Methods and results

All adults with an SRV who underwent transthoracic echocardiography in 2010–18 at a large tertiary centre were identified. Biventricular size and function were assessed at the most recent examination. The study endpoint was all-cause mortality or heart/heart–lung transplantation. We included 180 patients, with 100 (55.6%) males, with a mean age of 42.4 ± 12.3 years, of whom 103 (57.2%) had undergone Mustard/Senning operations and 77 (42.8%) had congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries. Over 4.9 (3.8–5.7) years, 28 (15.6%) patients died and 4 (2.2%) underwent heart or heart–lung transplantation. Univariable predictors of the study endpoint included age, New York Heart Association functional Class III or IV, history of atrial arrhythmias, presence of a pacemaker or cardioverter defibrillator, high B-type natriuretic peptide, and echocardiographic markers of SRV and subpulmonary LV size and function. On multivariable Cox analysis of echocardiographic variables, indexed LV end-systolic diameter [ESDi; hazard ratio (HR) 2.77 (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.35–5.68, P = 0.01], LV fractional area change [FAC; HR 0.7 (95% CI 0.57–0.85), P = 0.002), SRV basal diameter [HR 1.66 (95% CI 1.21–2.29), P = 0.005], and SRV FAC [HR 0.65 (95% CI 0.49–0.87), P = 0.008] remained predictive of mortality or transplantation. On receiver-operating characteristic analysis, subpulmonary LV parameters performed better than SRV markers in predicting adverse events.

Conclusion

SRV basal diameter, SRV FAC, LV ESDi, and LV FAC are significantly and independently associated with mortality and transplantation in adults with an SRV. Accurate echocardiographic assessment of both SRV and subpulmonary LV is, therefore, essential to inform risk stratification and management.