bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crape myrtle bark scale Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Coccidae: Eriococcidae) infestation seasonally alters the abundance and composition of insect assemblages on crape myrtle trees
Authors: Carroll Elijah , Held David W. , Turley Nash E. , Bruckner Selina 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Understanding changes to local communities brought about by biological invasions is important for conserving biodiversity and maintaining environmental stability. Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) are a diverse group of insects well known for their invasion potential and ability to modify local abundance of multiple insect groups. Here, we tested how the presence of crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae, CMBS), an invasive felt scale species, impacted local insect abundance, biodiversity, and community structure on crape myrtle trees. We evaluated seasonal changes in standing honeydew crop on infested crape myrtle trees. Our field surveys showed that infestation of CMBS results in increases to local insect abundance and family-level richness, while negatively affecting community evenness. Community compositions of insect visitors were distinct between infested and non-infested trees. CMBS-infested trees had greater seasonal abundance of Coccinellidae, Vespidae, Halictidae, Sphecidae, Syrphidae, and Muscidae. The two families that responded most strongly to CMBS infestation (Coccinellidae, Vespidae) were dominated by non-native species. Non-infested crape myrtles showed no associations with insect taxa. Honeydew standing crop from landscape and potted trees infested with CMBS peaked during months with low insect visitation to infested crape myrtle trees. Our results show that the introduction of CMBS into local landscapes shifts community dynamics largely by increasing the abundance of generalist and non-native insect species. The cascading biotic effects of an invasive insect on whole communities highlights the importance of establishing more effective methods to prevent the spread of this non-native scale.
Multi-timescale Scheme for Cooperative User Association and Hybrid Beamforming in mmWave MIMO Systems
Authors: Heydarian Mohammadreza , Colle Didier , Pickavet Mario , Tavernier Wouter 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Hybrid beamforming has received significant attention as a solution to the thermal issues, costs, and implementation complexities associated with fully digital mmWave Extremely Large MIMO (XL-MIMO) systems. The Hybrid approach offers a balance between system flexibility and performance. However, even with optimal beamforming techniques, having a large number of User Equipments (UEs), if the data rate is not effectively shared among them, the overall network delay and throughput will remain unsatisfactory. Considering multiple temporal characteristics of an indoor wireless channel, we propose a multi-layer scheme to optimize resource allocation to the UEs in a cooperative multi-Base Station (BS) setup. We studied the performance of different resource allocation techniques to share the bandwidth effectively among UEs, rather than merely maximizing the total downlink bitrate. Our findings indicate that queue length-based allocation strategies yield the lowest delay under different downlink traffics and UE/BS deployment densities. Moreover, instead of serving all UEs simultaneously in each channel block, selectively serving a subset of UEs at each interval significantly enhances network delay and throughput. To further improve resource utilization and overall performance, we introduce an extension called sub-coherence time allocation. This technique considers early downlink queue exhaustion and speculatively calculates multiple digital precoders to be activated sequentially within a channel block. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach improves delay and jitter with minimal computational overhead, achieving a 25\% and 15\% decrease in digital and hybrid modes respectively.
Telepresence Robot Design in the Amazon: An Application of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA)
Authors: Pereira Ingrid Marina Pinto , de Oliveira Marcelo Albuquerque , Verenoze Gabriela de Mattos , Alves Antonio do Nascimento Silva , Santos Marcos Dantas dos 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This work aims to present a proposal for a telepresence robot designed for application in the Amazon region, where remote access areas are concentrated. To achieve this goal, an approach that integrates the steps of DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) and 3D modeling combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM) is employed. Considering the key characteristics of the region, the objective is to offer a regional solution focused on mobility and interaction to facilitate use. In this study, the main difficulties faced by the population in the region in their daily lives regarding access to healthcare were highlighted. As a result, evidence was obtained of the use of outside methodologies combined with a reduction of approximately 78% in the quantity of project components and parts. Therefore, the importance of developing technologies aimed at addressing this need or driving studies for connectivity in the state of Amazonas is emphasized.
Germ cell depletion using HSV-TK in mouse testes
Authors: Watanabe Toshiaki , Dollet Constance , Shindo Miyuki , Takahashi Shun , Eto Tomoo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Germ cell transplantation is useful for the study of male germ cells and the generation of genetically modified animals. For transplantation, germ cell-free hosts generated using anticancer drug treatment, irradiation exposure, or genetic mutation are required. In this study, we aimed to develop a new system for germ cell depletion, more in compliance with the “3R” principles. For this purpose, we generated knock-in mice expressing a subtype of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK30), reported to not induce infertility, unlike the original HSV-TK gene. Ganciclovir injection resulted in nearly complete abrogation of spermatogenesis. Furthermore, transplanted spermatogonial stem cells were differentiated into sperm in the host testes, and they gave rise to offspring. Therefore, the mice developed in this study enable the efficient removal of germ cells for germ cell transplantation in a manner more compliant with the 3R principles.
Mapping Glioma Progression: Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Illuminates Cell-Cell Interactions and Immune Response Variability
Authors: Li Xia , Chen Shenbo , Ding Ming , Ding Hui , Yang Kun 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Glioma, the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system, is marked by significant heterogeneity, presenting major challenges for therapeutic approaches and prognostic evaluations. This study explores the interactions between malignant glioma cells and macrophages/monocytes and their influence on tumor progression and treatment responses, using comprehensive single-cell RNA sequencing analysis.
Methods: We integrated RNA-seq data from the TCGA and CGGA databases and performed an in-depth analysis of glioma samples using single-cell RNA sequencing, functional enrichment analysis, developmental trajectory analysis, cell-cell communication analysis, and gene regulatory network analysis. Furthermore, we developed a prognostic model based on risk scores and assessed its predictive performance through immune cell infiltration analysis and evaluation of immune treatment responses.
Results: We identified 14 distinct glioma cellular subpopulations and 7 primary cell types, alongside 4 macrophage/monocyte subtypes. Developmental trajectory analysis provided insights into the origins and heterogeneity of both malignant cells and macrophages/monocytes. Cell communication analysis revealed that macrophages and monocytes interact with malignant cells through several pathways, including the MIF (Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor) and SPP1 (Secreted Phosphoprotein 1) pathways, engaging in key ligand-receptor interactions that influence tumor behavior. Stratification based on these communication characteristics showed a significant correlation with overall survival (OS). Additionally, immune cell infiltration analysis highlighted variations in immune cell abundance across different subgroups, which may be linked to differing responses to immunotherapy. Our predictive model, consisting of 29 prognostic genes, demonstrated high accuracy and robustness across multiple independent cohorts.
Conclusion: This study unveils the intricate heterogeneity of the glioma microenvironment, enhancing our understanding of the diverse characteristics of glioma cell subpopulations. It also lays the groundwork for the development of therapeutic strategies and prognostic models that specifically target the glioma microenvironment.
Cell membrane mechanics using a simple to fabricate microwell chip and deep learning-assisted automated AFM analysis
Authors: Hallfors Nicholas , Lamprou Charalampos , Luo Shaohong , Alkhatib Sara Awni , Sapudom Jiranuwat , Aubry Cyril , Alhammadi Jawaher , Chan Vincent , Stefanini Cesare , Teo Jeremy , Hadjileontiadis Leontios , Pappa Anna Maria 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) being inherently slow and analysis heavy, becomes challenging for scaling up. Addressing this, we take a two-fold approach; first we introduce an easy-to-fabricate reusable poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based array that consists of micron-sized traps for single-cell trapping and second, we apply a deep-learning method directly on the extracted curves to facilitate and automate the analysis. Our approach is validated using suspended cells which often require specific holders or adhesive molecules due to their tendency to slip from the surface. Using nanoindentation, cell cortex stiffness alterations, under the influence of three different drugs that inhibit myosin activity, are revealed. We then apply machine learning models to extract membrane stiffness directly from the raw data as well for binary (presence/absence of drugs) and multiclass classification (different drug types). The proposed analysis resulted in a Coefficient of Determination of 0.47 for the regression problem while for the binary and multiclass classification the analysis resulted in an Area Under the Curve score of 0.91 and accuracy scores exceeding 0.9 respectively, for each individual drug class. Overall, the versatility to fabricate the microwells in conjunction with the automated analysis and classification could find wide-range applications spanning from to basic cell-based assays to drug screening.
Integrating GIS and AHP for Drought Sensitivity Assessment in the Middle Moulouya and Guercif Basins, Morocco
Authors: ELYAGOUBI Said , MEZRHAB Abdelhamid 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Drought sensitivity assessments play a critical role in understanding and mitigating risks associated with this phenomenon. This study presents a novel approach for comprehensive drought vulnerability mapping in the Middle Moulouya and Guercif Basins, Morocco. We leverage a multi-criteria framework integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), focusing on three key dimensions: climatic sensitivity, soil sensitivity, and socioeconomic sensitivity. Beyond traditional factors: We expanded the analysis beyond basic climatic data by incorporating future climate projections to estimate drought risk under different scenarios, thereby allowing for more future-proof vulnerability assessments. Soil health matter: Soil moisture content and infiltration capacity were incorporated into the soil sensitivity assessment, provide a more comprehensive picture of soil susceptibility to drought. Socioeconomic considerations: socioeconomic sensitivity analysis goes beyond population density to consider factors such as water resource dependence, agricultural practices, and livelihood diversification. This holistic approach provides a deeper understanding of societal vulnerability to droughts. AHP for informed weighting: AHP facilitates the incorporation of expert knowledge and data analysis by assigning weights to each sub-criterion in three dimensions. This ensured a robust weighting scheme that reflected the relative importance of different factors in drought vulnerability. The resulting vulnerability map not only delineated areas with varying degrees of drought vulnerability (normal, mild, moderate, severe, and extreme) but also highlighted the spatial distribution of these vulnerabilities. Notably, the analysis revealed that 38.88% and 28.80% of the Middle Moulouya and Guercif regions fall under the severe and extreme vulnerability categories, respectively. These areas, particularly the northern, central, and southwestern regions, warrant immediate attention in the development of targeted drought mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Serpina1e mediates the exercise-induced enhancement of hippocampal memory
Authors: Park Hyungju , Kim Hyunyoung , Shin Sanghee , Han Jeongho , Kim Jong-Seo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The exercise-induced enhancement of learning and memory is thought to be regulated by body‒brain interactions via secretory proteins in the blood plasma1,2. Given the prominent role that skeletal muscle plays during exercise, the beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive functions appear to be mediated by muscle-derived secretory factors including myokines3,4. However, the specific myokines that exert beneficial effects on cognitive functions remain to be elucidated. Here, we reveal that a novel myokine, Serpina1e, acts a molecular mediator that directly supports long-term memory formation in the hippocampus. Using an in vivo myokine-labeling mouse model, proteomic analysis revealed that the Serpina1 family of proteins are the myokines whose levels increased the most in plasma after chronic aerobic exercise for 4 weeks. Systemic delivery of recombinant Serpina1e into sedentary mice was sufficient for reproducing the beneficial effect of exercise on hippocampus-associated cognitive functions. Moreover, plasma Serpina1e can cross the blood–cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) barrier and blood–brain barrier to reach the brain, thereby influencing hippocampal function. Indeed, an increase in the plasma level of Serpina1e promoted hippocampal neurogenesis, increased the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and induced neurite growth. Our findings reveal that Serpina1e is a myokine that migrates to the brain and mediates exercise-induced memory enhancement by triggering neurotrophic growth signaling in the hippocampus. This discovery elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function and may have implications for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for alleviating cognitive disorders.
Sex-Specific Cypermethrin Induced Hippocampal Neurotoxicity Is Via the Modulation of Signaling Molecules for Antioxidant Defense, Membrane Integrity, Apoptosis and GABAergic Integrity
Authors: Imam Aminu , Busari Maryam , Oyegbola Christianah , Moyinoluwa Balogun Faith , Faith Owoeye , Samuel Ajayi PG , Ibrahim Ibrahim Bolaji , Atiyatul-Hanan Ghazal T. , Iyiola Ajibola M. , Ijomone Omamuyovwi M. , Ajao Moyosore S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Pesticides, despite their intended use against pests, can have detrimental effects on non-target organisms, including humans. Its main route of exposure in urban areas is through dietary intake of fruits and vegetables. Oxidative stress, apoptosis and compromise to GABAergic interneurons’ integrity can be attributed to cypermethrin-induced neurotoxicity. The hippocampus, a vital region for memory and learning is particularly susceptible to the neurological toxicity caused by cypermethrin. Sixty adult male and female rats were grouped into control and cypermethrin-treatment groups. The treatment groups received oral dosages of 6.25mg/kg and 12.5mg/kg respectively for fourteen consecutive days. The daily weight was noted. The study was carried out on the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of the rats using biochemical markers: GnRH, Na+/K + ATPase, COX-2, PG-E2 and immunohistochemical markers: Nrf2, CC3, BCL-2, parvalbumin and H&E. Cypermethrin caused a compensatory increase in body weight of the low cypermethrin group and decrease in body weight due to increased dose. Cypermethrin toxicity caused brain weight decrease which was seen more prominently in female high cypermethrin group. Using the biochemical markers, cypermethrin caused neuroinflammation and disrupted the normal functioning of the reproductive hormones and cell membrane; it was more prominent in females. Using the immunohistochemical markers, cypermethrin induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and compromise to the GABAergic interneuron integrity. The female rats expressed higher neuroprotection which can be attributed to estrogen and its signaling pathways. The findings of the study shows that there are dose and sex-specific mechanisms may be involved in cypermethrin neurotoxicity, highlighting the importance of considering sex differences in toxicity studies.
A Verifiable Privacy-Preserving Data Aggregation Scheme with Illegal Data Detection for Infectious Disease Surveillance Systems
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Yang Lan , Li Songyu , Du Xiaoni , Wang Caifen 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

With various infectious diseases spreading globally, Infectious Disease Surveillance (IDS) plays a crucial role in stopping the spread of infectious diseases. Data aggregation techniques are commonly used to avoid user privacy leakage caused by infectious disease surveillance data transmission. However, none of the currently proposed data aggregation schemes simultaneously consider security issues such as untrustworthy aggregation nodes, illegal signature localization and identity anonymization. To address the above issues, this scheme proposes verifiable data security communication scheme with illegal data detection for infectious disease surveillance systems (VDSCS-IDS). Specifically, we use homomorphic encryption and signature techniques with batch verification to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data. Then, VDSCS-IDS utilizes a pseudonym mechanism to prevent user identity disclosure. In addition, we can efficiently perform illegal signature localization, which improves the robustness of secure message interactions. We use a commitment mechanism to solve the problem of untrustworthy third-party aggregation nodes. Particularly noteworthy is the scheme's ability to perform diverse data statistics. Security analysis shows that the scheme achieves the desired security performance. Detailed performance analysis proves that the scheme is feasible with excellent computational and communication performance and can be applied to IDS securely and efficiently.
GFF-Net: A high-accuracy railway foreign body detection network based on gradient optimization and cross-layer feature fusion
Authors: Ye Tao , Cong Xiao , Chen Runqi , Tao Hongjing , Zhao Yunlong , Ren Hongbin , Gao Xiaozhi , Chen Haoran 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The emergence of foreign bodies on railways is characterized by strong randomness and significant concealment, making high-accuracy detection a challenging task. This paper proposes a detection network based on gradient optimization and cross-layer feature fusion (GFF-Net) for the high-accuracy detection of foreign bodies on railways. Firstly, the backbone is redesigned through gradient design to optimize the feature extraction process, improving object feature representation ability while increasing feature extraction efficiency. Secondly, a cross-layer feature fusion method is designed to reduce feature loss in the traditional fusion process and enhance the model's multi-scale feature fusion capability. Then, based on the railway foreign body detection dataset (RFDD) established in this paper, GFF-Net achieves the highest detection accuracy of 89.8% mAP and a real-time inference speed of 94 FPS on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1080Ti GPU platform, outperforming other methods like YOLOv7. Additionally, GFF-Net also demonstrates satisfactory detection performance on the public dataset MS COCO 2017.
Decoding Cardiovascular Links to ICU Admission and Mortality in COVID-19
Authors: Moarref Alireza , Eilami Owrang , Hosseini Seyed Sasan , Khabir Mohsen 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
In this study, we aimed to investigate cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Shahid Faghihi Hospital and assess the correlation of these complications with the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 216 COVID-19 patients admitted to Shahid Faghihi Hospital, randomly selected. Patient records were evaluated for laboratory findings, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiovascular complications. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Results
Among the 216 patients studied, 89 (41.2%) were male, and 127 (58.8%) were female. The average age of the patients was 61.56 years. Patients requiring ICU admission had higher age, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and higher D-dimer levels. Deceased patients also had higher LDH and D-dimer levels compared to recovered patients. Furthermore, deceased patients were more likely to have positive troponin and higher D-dimer levels. They exhibited more non-specific ST-T segment changes, Atrial fibrillation, right bundle branch block, rightward deviation of the heart's electrical axis, elevated ST segment, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, and segmental pulmonary thromboembolism. Also, normal electrocardiography (ECG) had a protective effect on admission to the intensive care unit.
Conclusion
COVID-19 patients may experience not only respiratory syndromes but also cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, stroke, and pulmonary thromboembolism, which can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, appropriate cardiovascular monitoring for COVID-19 patients is of paramount importance.ug.
The impact of photochemical aging on secondary aerosol formation from a marine engine
Authors: Paul Andreas , Kokkola Tuukka , Fang Zheng , Ihalainen Mika , Czech Hendryk , Etzien Uwe , Hohaus Thorsten , Sippula Olli , Rudich Yinon , Buchholz Bert , Zimmerman Ralf 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Ship traffic is known as one important contributor to air pollution. Recent regulations aimed at reducing sulfur oxide (SOx) pollution by limiting the fuel sulfur content (FSC) may also decrease fresh particulate matter (PM) emitted from ships. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding how the FSC affects secondary aerosol formation. Aerosol particle emissions from a research ship engine operated with either low sulfur heavy fuel oil (LS-HFO) (FSC=0.5%) or marine gas oil (MGO) (FSC=0.01%), were studied. The emissions were photochemically processed in the oxidation flow reactor “PEAR” to equivalent photochemical aging between 0-9 days in the atmosphere. It was found that FSC had no significant impact on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation after 3 days of aging, at 1.8±0.4g/kg and 1.5±0.4g/kg for MGO and LS-HFO, respectively. Furthermore, the composition and oxidative pathways remained similar regardless of FSC. However, as a result of the higher secondary SO4 formation and fresh aerosol emissions, LS-HFO had significantly higher total PM1 than MGO. Black carbon (BC) specifically was found to be 3 times higher for HFO than MGO. While the fuel with the lower sulfur content produces significantly less PM, the SOA formation remains similar regardless of FSC.