bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physiography, foraging mobility, and the first peopling of Sahul
Authors: Salles Tristan , Joannes-Boyau Renaud , Moffat Ian , Husson Laurent , Lorcery Manon 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe route and speed of migration into Sahul by Homo sapiens remain a major research question in archaeology. Here, we introduce an approach which models the impact of the physical environment on human mobility by combining time-evolving landscapes with Lévy walk foraging patterns, this latter accounting for a combination of short-distance steps and occasional longer moves that hunter-gatherers likely utilised for efficient exploration of new environments. Our results suggest a wave of dispersal radiating across Sahul following riverine corridors and coastlines. Estimated migration speeds, based on archaeological sites and predicted travelled distances, fall within previously reported range from Sahul and other regions. From our mechanistic movement simulations, we then analyse the likelihood of archaeological sites and highlight areas in Australia that hold archaeological potential. Our approach complements existing methods and provides interesting perspectives on the Pleistocene archaeology of Sahul that could be applied to other regions around the world.
In situ captured antibacterial action of membrane-incising peptide lamellae
Authors: el Battioui Kamal , Chakraborty Sohini , Wacha András , Molnár Dániel , Quemé-Peña Mayra , Szigyártó Imola Cs. , Szabó Csenge Lilla , Bodor Andrea , Horváti Kata , Gyulai Gergő , Bősze Szilvia , Mihály Judith , Jezsó Bálint , Románszki Loránd , Tóth Judit , Varga Zoltán , Mándity István , Juhász Tünde , Beke-Somfai Tamás 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDeveloping unique mechanisms of action are essential to combat the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance. Supramolecular assemblies combining the improved biostability of non-natural compounds with the complex membrane-attacking mechanisms of natural peptides are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. However, for such compounds the direct visual insight on antibacterial action is still lacking. Here we employ a design strategy focusing on an inducible assembly mechanism and utilized electron microscopy (EM) to follow the formation of supramolecular structures of lysine-rich heterochiral β3-peptides, termed lamellin-2K and lamellin-3K, triggered by bacterial cell surface lipopolysaccharides. Combined molecular dynamics simulations, EM and bacterial assays confirmed that the phosphate-induced conformational change on these lamellins led to the formation of striped lamellae capable of incising the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria thereby exerting antibacterial activity. Our findings also provide a mechanistic link for membrane-targeting agents depicting the antibiotic mechanism derived from the in-situ formation of active supramolecules.
Dualistic insulator states in 1T-TaS2 crystals
Authors: Wang Yihao , Li Zhihao , Luo Xuan , Gao Jingjing , Han Yuyan , Jiang Jialiang , Tang Jin , Ju Huanxin , Li Tongrui , Lv Run , Cui Shengtao , Yang Yingguo , Sun Yuping , Zhu Junfa , Gao Xingyu , Lu Wenjian , Sun Zhe , Xu Hai , Xiong Yimin , Cao Liang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWhile the monolayer sheet is well-established as a Mott-insulator with a finite energy gap, the insulating nature of bulk 1T-TaS2 crystals remains ambiguous due to their varying dimensionalities and alterable interlayer coupling. In this study, we present a unique approach to unlock the intertwined two-dimensional Mott-insulator and three-dimensional band-insulator states in bulk 1T-TaS2 crystals by structuring a laddering stack along the out-of-plane direction. Through modulating the interlayer coupling, the insulating nature can be switched between band-insulator and Mott-insulator mechanisms. Our findings demonstrate the duality of insulating nature in 1T-TaS2 crystals. By manipulating the translational degree of freedom in layered crystals, our discovery presents a promising strategy for exploring fascinating physics, independent of their dimensionality, thereby offering a “three-dimensional” control for the era of slidetronics.
Nitrogen and Nod factor signaling determine Lotus japonicus root exudate composition and bacterial assembly
Authors: Tao Ke , Jensen Ib T. , Zhang Sha , Villa-Rodríguez Eber , Blahovska Zuzana , Salomonsen Camilla Lind , Martyn Anna , Björgvinsdóttir Þuríður Nótt , Kelly Simon , Janss Luc , Glasius Marianne , Waagepetersen Rasmus , Radutoiu Simona 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSymbiosis with soil-dwelling bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen allows legume plants to grow in nitrogen-depleted soil. Symbiosis impacts the assembly of root microbiota, but it is unknown how the interaction between the legume host and rhizobia impacts the remaining microbiota and whether it depends on nitrogen nutrition. Here, we use plant and bacterial mutants to address the role of Nod factor signaling on Lotus japonicus root microbiota assembly. We find that Nod factors are produced by symbionts to activate Nod factor signaling in the host and that this modulates the root exudate profile and the assembly of a symbiotic root microbiota. Lotus plants with different symbiotic abilities, grown in unfertilized or nitrate-supplemented soils, display three nitrogen-dependent nutritional states: starved, symbiotic, or inorganic. We find that root and rhizosphere microbiomes associated with these states differ in composition and connectivity, demonstrating that symbiosis and inorganic nitrogen impact the legume root microbiota differently. Finally, we demonstrate that selected bacterial genera characterizing state-dependent microbiomes have a high level of accurate prediction.
Non-reciprocal band structures in an exciton–polariton Floquet optical lattice
Authors: del Valle Inclan Redondo Yago , Xu Xingran , Liew Timothy C. H. , Ostrovskaya Elena A. , Stegmaier Alexander , Thomale Ronny , Schneider Christian , Dam Siddhartha , Klembt Sebastian , Höfling Sven , Tarucha Seigo , Fraser Michael D. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPeriodic temporal modulation of Hamiltonians can induce geometrical and topological phenomena in the dynamics of quantum states. Using the interference between two lasers, we demonstrate an off-resonant optical lattice for a polariton condensate with controllable potential depths and nearest-neighbour coupling strength. Temporal modulation is introduced via a gigahertz frequency detuning between pump lasers, creating a polariton ‘conveyor belt’. The breaking of time-reversal symmetry causes band structures to become non-reciprocal and acquire a universal tilt given by Planck’s constant and the frequency of modulation (hΔf). The non-reciprocal tilting is connected to the non-trivial topology of the Floquet–Bloch bands, which have a finite Chern number. Detailed characterization of the lattice potential depth and its dynamics highlights the role of high-energy carriers in the formation of optical potential landscapes for polaritons, demonstrating the possibility of modulation faster than the polariton lifetime and opening a pathway towards Floquet engineering in polariton condensates.
Fossilized anuran soft tissues reveal a new taphonomic model for the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany
Authors: Falk Daniel , Wings Oliver , Unitt Richard , Wade Jon , McNamara Maria E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) is famous for reports of three dimensionally preserved soft tissues with sub-cellular detail. The proposed mode of preservation, direct replication in silica, is not known in other fossils and has not been verified using modern approaches. Here, we investigated the taphonomy of the Geiseltal anurans using diverse microbeam imaging and chemical analytical techniques. Our analyses confirm the preservation of soft tissues in all body regions but fail to yield evidence for silicified soft tissues. Instead, the anuran soft tissues are preserved as two layers that differ in microstructure and composition. Layer 1 comprises sulfur-rich carbonaceous microbodies interpreted as melanosomes. Layer 2 comprises the mid-dermal Eberth–Katschenko layer, preserved in calcium phosphate. In addition, patches of original aragonite crystals define the former position of the endolymphatic sac. The primary modes of soft tissue preservation are therefore sulfurization of melanosomes and phosphatization of more labile soft tissues, i.e., skin. This is consistent with the taphonomy of vertebrates in many other Konservat-Lagerstätten. These findings emphasize an emerging model for pervasive preservation of vertebrate soft tissues via melanosome films, particularly in stagnation-type deposits, with phosphatization of more labile tissues where tissue biochemistry is favorable.
Posterior endpoint determination of the lumbar pedicle central axis on the anterior–posterior fluoroscopic image for pedicle screw insertion
Authors: Zhang Jun , Xu Jiawei , Xu Chenyang , Xie Youzhuan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe transpedicular procedure has been widely used in spinal surgery. The determination of the best entry point is the key to perform a successful transpedicular procedure. Various techniques have been used to determine this point, but the results are variable. This study was carried out to determine the posterior endpoint of the lumbar pedicle central axis on the standard anterior–posterior (AP) fluoroscopic images. Computer-aided design technology was used to determine the pedicle central axis and the posterior endpoint of the pedicle central axis on the posterior aspect of the vertebra. The standard AP fluoroscopic image of the lumbar vertebral models by three-dimensional printing was achieved. The endpoint projection on the AP fluoroscopic image was determined in reference to the pedicle cortex projection by the measurements of the angle and distance on the established X–Y coordinate system of the radiologic image. The projection of posterior endpoint of the lumbar pedicle central axis were found to be superior to the X-axis of the established X–Y coordinate system and was located on the pedicle cortex projection on the standard AP fluoroscopic image of the vertebra. The projection point was distributed in different sectors in the coordinate system. It was located superior to the X-axis by 18° to 26° at L1, while they were located superior to the X-axis by 12° to 14° at L2 to L5. The projections of posterior endpoints of the lumbar pedicle central axis were located in different positions on the standard AP fluoroscopic image of the vertebra. The determination method of the projection point was helpful for selecting an entry point for a transpedicular procedure with a fluoroscopic technique.
Catalytic specificity and crystal structure of cystathionine γ-lyase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Pedretti Marco , Fernández-Rodríguez Carmen , Conter Carolina , Oyenarte Iker , Favretto Filippo , di Matteo Adele , Dominici Paola , Petrosino Maria , Martinez-Chantar Maria Luz , Majtan Tomas , Astegno Alessandra , Martínez-Cruz Luis Alfonso 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe escalating drug resistance among microorganisms underscores the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies and a comprehensive understanding of bacteria's defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and antibiotics. Among the recently discovered barriers, the endogenous production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) via the reverse transsulfuration pathway, emerges as a noteworthy factor. In this study, we have explored the catalytic capabilities and crystal structure of cystathionine γ-lyase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaCGL), a multidrug-opportunistic pathogen chiefly responsible for nosocomial infections. In addition to a canonical l-cystathionine hydrolysis, PaCGL efficiently catalyzes the production of H2S using l-cysteine and/or l-homocysteine as alternative substrates. Comparative analysis with the human enzyme and counterparts from other pathogens revealed distinct structural features within the primary enzyme cavities. Specifically, a distinctly folded entrance loop could potentially modulate the access of substrates and/or inhibitors to the catalytic site. Our findings offer significant insights into the structural evolution of CGL enzymes across different pathogens and provide novel opportunities for developing specific inhibitors targeting PaCGL.
Predicting 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants using multimodal structural brain magnetic resonance imaging with local connectivity
Authors: Jang Yong Hun , Ham Jusung , Kasani Payam Hosseinzadeh , Kim Hyuna , Lee Joo Young , Lee Gang Yi , Han Tae Hwan , Kim Bung-Nyun , Lee Hyun Ju 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants can be stratified based on the level of prematurity. We explored brain structural networks in extremely preterm (EP; < 28 weeks of gestation) and very-to-late (V-LP; ≥ 28 and < 37 weeks of gestation) preterm infants at term-equivalent age to predict 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes. Using MRI and diffusion MRI on 62 EP and 131 V-LP infants, we built a multimodal feature set for volumetric and structural network analysis. We employed linear and nonlinear machine learning models to predict the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) scores, assessing predictive accuracy and feature importance. Our findings revealed that models incorporating local connectivity features demonstrated high predictive performance for BSID-III subsets in preterm infants. Specifically, for cognitive scores in preterm (variance explained, 17%) and V-LP infants (variance explained, 17%), and for motor scores in EP infants (variance explained, 15%), models with local connectivity features outperformed others. Additionally, a model using only local connectivity features effectively predicted language scores in preterm infants (variance explained, 15%). This study underscores the value of multimodal feature sets, particularly local connectivity, in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes, highlighting the utility of machine learning in understanding microstructural changes and their implications for early intervention.
Assessing ChatGPT 4.0’s test performance and clinical diagnostic accuracy on USMLE STEP 2 CK and clinical case reports
Authors: Shieh Allen , Tran Brandon , He Gene , Kumar Mudit , Freed Jason A. , Majety Priyanka 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWhile there is data assessing the test performance of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, including the Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4.0 (GPT 4) chatbot (ChatGPT 4.0), there is scarce data on its diagnostic accuracy of clinical cases. We assessed the large language model (LLM), ChatGPT 4.0, on its ability to answer questions from the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 2, as well as its ability to generate a differential diagnosis based on corresponding clinical vignettes from published case reports. A total of 109 Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) practice questions were inputted into both ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4.0, asking ChatGPT to pick the correct answer. Compared to its previous version, ChatGPT 3.5, we found improved accuracy of ChatGPT 4.0 when answering these questions, from 47.7 to 87.2% (p = 0.035) respectively. Utilizing the topics tested on Step 2 CK questions, we additionally found 63 corresponding published case report vignettes and asked ChatGPT 4.0 to come up with its top three differential diagnosis. ChatGPT 4.0 accurately created a shortlist of differential diagnoses in 74.6% of the 63 case reports (74.6%). We analyzed ChatGPT 4.0’s confidence in its diagnosis by asking it to rank its top three differentials from most to least likely. Out of the 47 correct diagnoses, 33 were the first (70.2%) on the differential diagnosis list, 11 were second (23.4%), and three were third (6.4%). Our study shows the continued iterative improvement in ChatGPT’s ability to answer standardized USMLE questions accurately and provides insights into ChatGPT’s clinical diagnostic accuracy.
Prediction and optimization method for welding quality of components in ship construction
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , Cheng Yifa , Jing Xuwen , Liu Xiaojun , Chen Yu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWelding process, as one of the crucial industrial technologies in ship construction, accounts for approximately 70% of the workload and costs account for approximately 40% of the total cost. The existing welding quality prediction methods have hypothetical premises and subjective factors, which cannot meet the dynamic control requirements of intelligent welding for processing quality. Aiming at the low efficiency of quality prediction problems poor timeliness and unpredictability of quality control in ship assembly-welding process, a data and model driven welding quality prediction method is proposed. Firstly, the influence factors of welding quality are analyzed and the correlation mechanism between process parameters and quality is determined. According to the analysis results, a stable and reliable data collection architecture is established. The elements of welding process monitoring are also determined based on the feature dimensionality reduction method. To improve the accuracy of welding quality prediction, the prediction model is constructed by fusing the adaptive simulated annealing, the particle swarm optimization, and the back propagation neural network algorithms. Finally, the effectiveness of the prediction method is verified through 74 sets of plate welding experiments, the prediction accuracy reaches over 90%.
An electrochemical aptasensor for methylamphetamine rapid detection by single-on mode based on competition with complementary DNA
Authors: Chang Wenzhuo , Zheng Zhixiang , Ma Yongjun , Du Yongling , Shi Xuezhao , Wang Chunming 
Published: April 2024

AbstractA simple and rapid electrochemical sensing method with high sensitivity and specificity of aptamers was developed for the detection of methylamphetamine (MAMP). A short anti-MAMP thiolated aptamer (Apt) with a methylene blue (MB) probe at 3ʹ-end was immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode (MB-Apt-S/GE). The electrochemical signal appeared when MAMP presenting in the sample solution competed with cDNA for binding with MB-Apt-S. Under optimized conditions, the liner range of this signal-on electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of MAMP achieved from 1.0 to 10.0 nmol/L and 10.0–400 nmol/L. LOD 0.88 nmol/L were obtained. Satisfactory spiked recoveries of saliva and urine were also obtained. In this method, only 5 min were needed to incubate before the square wave voltammetry (SWV) analysis, which was much more rapid than other electrochemical sensors, leading to a bright and broad prospect for the detection of MAMP in biological sample. This method can be used for on-site rapid detection on special occasions, such as drug driving scenes, entertainment venues suspected of drug use, etc.
Population-based retrospective cohort study on community-acquired pneumonia hospitalization in children with a ventricular septal defect
Authors: Sung Myongsoon , Kim Ju Hee , Ha Eun Kyo , Shin Jeewon , Kwak Ji Hee , Jee Hye Mi , Han Man Yong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe cohort consisted of 9400 exposed children diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD). The risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or asthma with VSD was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard model with an inverse probability of treatment weighting. During a mean follow-up of 6.67 years (starting from 12 months after birth), there were 2100 CAP admission cases among exposed patients (incidence rate: 33.2 per 1000 person-years) and 20,109 CAP admission cases among unexposed children (incidence rate: 29.6 per 1000 person-years), with hazard ration of 1.09 (95% CI 1.04–1.14).
Expedited re-design of multi-band passive microwave circuits using orthogonal scaling directions and gradient-based tuning
Authors: Koziel Slawomir , Pietrenko-Dabrowska Anna , Ullah Ubaid 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGeometry scaling of microwave circuits is an essential but challenging task. In particular, the employment of a given passive structure in a different application area often requires re-adjustment of the operating frequencies/bands while maintaining top performance. Achieving this necessitates the utilization of numerical optimization methods. Nonetheless, if the intended frequencies are distant from the ones at the starting point, local search procedures tend to fail, whereas global search algorithms are computationally expensive. As recently demonstrated, a combination of large-scale concurrent geometry parameter scaling with intermittent local tuning allows for dependable re-design of high-frequency circuits at low CPU costs. Unfortunately, the procedure is only applicable to single-band structures due to synchronized modifications of all operating bands under scaling. This article discusses a novel procedure that leverages a similar overall concept, but allows for independent control of all center frequencies. To achieve this goal, an automated decision-making procedure is developed in which a set of orthogonal scaling directions are determined based on their effect on individual circuit bands, and using auxiliary optimization sub-problems. The scaling range is then automatically computed by solving an appropriately-defined least-square design relocation problem. The methodology introduced in the work is illustrated using two planar passive devices. In both cases, wide-range operating frequency re-design has been demonstrated and favorably compared to conventional gradient-based tuning. Furthermore, the presented procedure has been shown to be computationally efficient. It is also easy to implement and integrate with a variety of gradient-based optimization procedures of a descent type.
The use of residual analysis to improve the error rate accuracy of machine translation
Authors: Benko Ľubomír , Munkova Dasa , Munk Michal , Benkova Lucia , Hajek Petr 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe aim of the study is to compare two different approaches to machine translation—statistical and neural—using automatic MT metrics of error rate and residuals. We examined four available online MT systems (statistical Google Translate, neural Google Translate, and two European commission’s MT tools—statistical mt@ec and neural eTranslation) through their products (MT outputs). We propose using residual analysis to improve the accuracy of machine translation error rate. Residuals represent a new approach to comparing the quality of statistical and neural MT outputs. The study provides new insights into evaluating machine translation quality from English and German into Slovak through automatic error rate metrics. In the category of prediction and syntactic-semantic correlativeness, statistical MT showed a significantly higher error rate than neural MT. Conversely, in the category of lexical semantics, neural MT showed a significantly higher error rate than statistical MT. The results indicate that relying solely on the reference when determining MT quality is insufficient. However, when combined with residuals, it offers a more objective view of MT quality and facilitates the comparison of statistical MT and neural MT.