bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Terminal-coupling induced critical eigenspectrum transition in closed non-Hermitian loops
Authors: Siu Zhuo Bin , Rafi-Ul-Islam S. M. , Jalil Mansoor B. A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA hallmark feature of non-Hermitian (NH) systems is the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), in which the eigenenergy spectra of the system under open boundary conditions (OBC) and periodic boundary conditions (PBC) differ markedly from each other. In particular, the critical NHSE occurs in systems consisting of multiple non-Hermitian chains coupled in parallel where even an infinitesimally small inter-chain coupling can cause the thermodynamic-limit eigenenergy spectrum of the system to deviate significantly from the OBC spectra of the individual component chains. We overturn the conventional wisdom that multiple chains are required for such critical transitions by showing that such a critical effect can also be induced in a single finite-length non-Hermitian chain where its two ends are connected together by a weak terminal coupling to form a closed loop. An infinitesimally small terminal coupling can induce the thermodynamic-limit energy spectrum of the closed loop to switch from the OBC to the PBC spectrum of the chain. Similar to the critical NHSE, this switch occurs abruptly when the chain length exceeds a critical size limit. We explain analytically the underlying origin of the effect in a Hatano–Nelson chain system, and demonstrate its generality in more complex one-dimensional non-Hermitian chains. Our findings illustrate the generality of critical size-dependent effects in finite NH systems that arise from the interplay between the interfacial boundary conditions and the influence of edge localization.
Soil bacterial community composition in rice-turtle coculture systems with different planting years
Authors: Wang Ren , Ma Weiwei , Wu Dan , Zhang Yin , Ma Xuehu , Lv Guangdong , Ding Jiaolong , Fu Zhiqiang , Chen Can , Huang Huang 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe rice-turtle coculture system is the most special rice-fish integrated farming system. In this study, we selected four paddy fields, including a rice monoculture paddy and three rice-turtle paddies with different planting years, to investigate the soil bacterial community composition with Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. The results indicated that the contents of soil available nitrogen (AN), soil available phosphorus (AP) and soil organic matter (OM) in 9th year of rice-turtle paddy (RT9) were increased by 5.40%, 51.11% and 23.33% compared with rice monoculture paddy (CK), respectively. Significant differences of Acidobacteria, Desulfobacteria, Crenarchaeota were observed among the different rice farming systems. The relative abundance of Methylomonadaceae, Methylococcaceae and Methylophilaceae in RT9 was significantly higher than that in other treatments. RT9 had significantly lower relative abundance of Acidobacteria, but significantly higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria than other treatments. Redundancy analysis showed that soil AN and AP contents were the major factors influencing the abundance of the dominant microbes, wherein Methylomonadaceae, Methylococcaceae and Methylophilaceae were positively correlated with OM. The findings revealed the rice-turtle coculture system in the 9th year had higher soil nutrients and soil bacterial diversity, but there was also a risk of increasing methane emissions.
The relationship between demographic factors and syncopal symptom in pediatric vasovagal syncope
Authors: Wang Shuo , Peng Yali , Zou Runmei , Wang Yuwen , Cai Hong , Li Fang , Luo Xuemei , Zhang Juan , He Zhixiang , Wang Cheng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis research proposed to retrospectively analyze 20 years of clinical data and investigate the relationship between demographic factors and syncopal symptom in pediatric vasovagal syncope. A total of 2513 children, 1124 males and 1389 females, age range 3–18 years, who presented to Department of Pediatric Cardiovasology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University with unexplained syncope or pre-syncope and were diagnosed with vasovagal syncope were retrospectively collected and divided into syncope group (n = 1262) and pre-syncope group (n = 1251). (1) Females had a 36% increased risk of syncope compared to males, a 27% increased risk of syncope for every 1-year increase in age, and a 2% decreased risk of syncope for every 1 cm increase in height. (2) A non-linear relationship between age, height, weight and syncope was observed. When age > 10.67 years, the risk of syncope increases by 45% for each 1-year increase in age; when height < 146 cm, the risk of syncope decreases by 4% for each 1 cm increase in height; when weight < 28.5 kg, the risk of syncope decreases by 10% for each 1 kg increase in weight. Demographic factors are strongly associated with syncopal symptom in pediatric vasovagal syncope and can help to predict the risk.
Machine learning-based estimation of spatial gene expression pattern during ESC-derived retinal organoid development
Authors: Fujimura Yuki , Sakai Itsuki , Shioka Itsuki , Takata Nozomu , Hashimoto Atsushi , Funatomi Takuya , Okuda Satoru 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOrganoids, which can reproduce the complex tissue structures found in embryos, are revolutionizing basic research and regenerative medicine. In order to use organoids for research and medicine, it is necessary to assess the composition and arrangement of cell types within the organoid, i.e., spatial gene expression. However, current methods are invasive and require gene editing and immunostaining. In this study, we developed a non-invasive estimation method of spatial gene expression patterns using machine learning. A deep learning model with an encoder-decoder architecture was trained on paired datasets of phase-contrast and fluorescence images, and was applied to a retinal organoid derived from mouse embryonic stem cells, focusing on the master gene Rax (also called Rx), crucial for eye field development. This method successfully estimated spatially plausible fluorescent patterns with appropriate intensities, enabling the non-invasive, quantitative estimation of spatial gene expression patterns within each tissue. Thus, this method could lead to new avenues for evaluating spatial gene expression patterns across a wide range of biology and medicine fields.
Determinants and geographic distribution of early newborn care in Ethiopia: evidence from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey
Authors: Belay Daniel G. , Alemu Melaku Birhanu , Pereira Gavin , Lassi Zohra S. , Tessema Gizachew A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEarly newborn care provided in the first 2 days of life is critical in reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. This care can be used to monitor and evaluate the content and quality of neonatal postnatal care. This study aimed to identify determinants and geographic distributions of early newborn care uptake in Ethiopia. We used data from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS). We conducted a multilevel binary logistic regression model and geographic analysis to identify the determinants of receiving early newborn care. A total of 2105 children were included in the study. Of the included children, 39.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 38%, 42%) received at least two components of early newborn care services in the first 2 days after birth. Greater odds of receiving early newborn care were experienced by infants to mothers with secondary or above education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.72; 95% CI 1.44, 2.18), from households with highest wealth quantiles (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.16, 1.79), with at least one antenatal care contact (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI 1.79, 4.16), with birth at health facility (AOR = 25.63; 95% CI 17.02, 38.60), and those births through cesarean section (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI 1.48, 4.71). Substantial geographic variation was observed in the uptake of early newborn care in Ethiopia. Several individual- and community-level factors were associated with newborn postnatal care. Policymakers should prioritise these areas and the enhancement of postnatal healthcare provisions for mothers with low socioeconomic status.
Investigation of optimized observation periods for estimating a representative home range of free-roaming domestic dogs
Authors: Sousa Filipe Maximiano , Warembourg Charlotte , Abakar Mahamat Fayiz , Alvarez Danilo , Berger-Gonzalez Monica , Odoch Terence , Wera Ewaldus , Chitnis Nakul , Silva Laura Cunha , Alobo Grace , Sikko Maria M. , Roquel Pablo , Hernández Alexis Leonel López , Dürr Salome 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFree-roaming domestic dogs (FRDD), as vectors of zoonotic diseases, are of high relevance for public health. Understanding roaming patterns of dogs can help to design disease control programs and disease transmission simulation models. Studies on GPS tracking of dogs report stark differences in recording periods. So far, there is no accepted number of days required to capture a representative home range (HR) of FRDD. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in HR size and shape over time of FRDD living in Chad, Guatemala, Indonesia and Uganda and identify the period required to capture stable HR values. Dogs were collared with GPS units, leading to a total of 46 datasets with, at least, 19 recorded days. For each animal and recorded day, HR sizes were estimated using the Biased Random Bridge method and percentages of daily change in size and shape calculated and taken as metrics. The analysis revealed that the required number of days differed substantially between individuals, isopleths, and countries, with the extended HR (95% isopleth value) requiring a longer recording period. To reach a stable HR size and shape values for 75% of the dogs, 26 and 21 days, respectively, were sufficient. However, certain dogs required more extended observational periods.
Deep-sea Ordovician lingulide brachiopods and their associated burrows suggest an early colonization of proximal turbidite systems
Authors: Paz Maximiliano , Mángano M. Gabriela , Buatois Luis A. , Campetella Debora M. , Sproat Colin , Pérez-Pueyo Manuel , Piñuela Laura , García-Ramos José Carlos 
Published: December 2023

AbstractTrace fossils from Ordovician deep-marine environments are typically produced by a shallow endobenthos adapted to live under conditions of food scarcity by means of specialized grazing, farming, and trapping strategies, preserved in low-energy intermediate to distal zones of turbidite systems. High-energy proximal zones have been considered essentially barren in the early Paleozoic. We report here the first trace and body fossils of lingulide brachiopods in deep-marine environments from an Upper Ordovician turbidite channel-overbank complex in Asturias, Spain. Body and trace fossils are directly associated, supporting the interpretation of a lingulide tracemaker. Ellipsoidal cross-section, cone-in-cone spreite, and spade morphologies suggest the specimens belong toLingulichnus verticalis. The oblique orientation in both trace and body fossils is the result of tectonic deformation. The organisms were suspension feeders showing escape, dwelling, and equilibrium behaviours controlled by sedimentation rates associated with turbidite deposition. These trace fossils and their in situ producers represent the oldest evidence of widespread endobenthos colonization in high-energy, proximal areas of turbidite systems, expanding the bathymetric range ofLingulichnusand the variety of behaviours and feeding styles in early Paleozoic deep-marine environments.
Brain multi-contrast, multi-atlas segmentation of diffusion tensor imaging and ensemble learning automatically diagnose late-life depression
Authors: Siarkos Kostas , Karavasilis Efstratios , Velonakis Georgios , Papageorgiou Charalabos , Smyrnis Nikolaos , Kelekis Nikolaos , Politis Antonios 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe investigated the potential of machine learning for diagnostic classification in late-life major depression based on an advanced whole brain white matter segmentation framework. Twenty-six late-life depression and 12 never depressed individuals aged > 55 years, matched for age, MMSE, and education underwent brain diffusion tensor imaging and a multi-contrast, multi-atlas segmentation in MRIcloud. Fractional anisotropy volume, mean fractional anisotropy, trace, axial and radial diffusivity (RD) extracted from 146 white matter parcels for each subject were used to train and test the AdaBoost classifier using stratified 12-fold cross validation. Performance was evaluated using various measures. The statistical power of the classifier was assessed using label permutation test. Statistical analysis did not yield significant differences in DTI measures between the groups. The classifier achieved a balanced accuracy of 71% and an Area Under the Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.81 by trace, and a balanced accuracy of 70% and a ROC-AUC of 0.80 by RD, in limbic, cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop, brainstem, external and internal capsules, callosal and cerebellar structures. Both indices shared important structures for classification, while fornix was the most important structure for classification by both indices. The classifier proved statistically significant, as trace and RD ROC-AUC scores after permutation were lower than those obtained with the actual data (P = 0.022 and P = 0.024, respectively). Similar results were obtained with the Gradient Boosting classifier, whereas the RBF-kernel Support Vector Machine with k-best feature selection did not exceed the chance level. Finally, AdaBoost significantly predicted the class using all features together. Limitations are discussed. The results encourage further investigation of the implemented methods for computer aided diagnostics and anatomically informed therapeutics.
Physician experiences with teleconsultations amidst conflict in Sudan
Authors: Eljack Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah , Elhadi Yasir Ahmed Mohammed , Mahgoub Esra Abdallah Abdalwahed , Ahmed Khabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed , Mohamed Malaz Tarig Abd Alla , Elnaiem Walaa , Mohamedsharif Asma , Nour Alshareef B. , Muhammed Abubakr Elsadig Musa , Gebril Mohammed Salah M. , Asghar Muhammad Sohaib , El-Osta Austen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe current conflict in Sudan severely hinders the accessibility of health services across the country. To address this, several initiatives were proposed including offering services using teleconsultations. This study aimed to assess Sudanese doctors' teleconsultation experience, perception, and concerns during the recent conflict. This cross-sectional survey focused on Sudanese medical officers, residents, specialists, and consultants living inside or outside the country having a practice license from the Sudan Medical Council and conducting teleconsultations with Sudanese patients during the conflict period. The questionnaire was distributed to personal and professional contacts and via social media platforms in the English language among doctors who provided teleconsultation during the conflict. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 26. The study enrolled 2463 clinicians from 17 different specialties, and females represented more than half the sample (56.8%). Internal medicine was the most frequent specialty (36.1%) and the majority (68.7%) of clinicians had less than 5 years of work experience. Voice call was the most frequent platform (50.1%) used for teleconsultation during the conflict and had the highest convenience score (p < 0.01), whereas messaging platforms had the lowest score. Most clinicians (73.3%) agreed that teleconsultations created a trusted patient-physician relationship and provided good-quality care (61.8%). However, 85.1% highlighted the importance of physical touch in medical practice. Clinicians were concerned that incomplete information (81.4%), missed diagnosis (76.8%), medicolegal problems (71.0%), and prescription errors (68.4%) could arise with teleconsultations. Most respondents (70.7%) emphasized the importance of continuing to offer teleconsultation even after the war abated. In conclusion, physicians who participated in the current study agreed that teleconsultation provided quality care even in this dire crisis in Sudan. Based on our study findings, we recommend upscaling telemedicine interventions including teleconsultations at the national level. This would require unified coordination efforts of a wide mix of stakeholders to address concerns identified in the current study.
Granularity mediated multiple reentrances with negative magnetoresistance in disordered TiN thin films
Authors: Yadav Sachin , Aloysius R. P. , Gupta Govind , Sahoo Sangeeta 
Published: December 2023

AbstractGranular superconductors are the common examples of experimentally accessible model systems which can be used to explore various fascinating quantum phenomena that are fundamentally important and technologically relevant. One such phenomenon is the occurrence of reentrant resistive states in granular superconductors. Here, we report the observation of multiple reentrant resistive states for a disordered TiN thin film in its temperature and magnetic field dependent resistance measurements, R(T) and R(B), respectively. At each of the peak-temperatures corresponding to the zero-field R(T), a resistance peak appears in the R(B) around zero field which leads to a negative magnetoresistance (MR) region in its surrounding. These low-field negative MR regions appear for both perpendicular and parallel field directions with relatively higher amplitude and larger width for the parallel field. By adopting a granularity-based model, we show that the superconducting fluctuations in granular superconductors may lead to the observed reentrant states and the corresponding negative MR. Here, we propose that the reduction in the density of states in the fermionic channel due to the formation of Cooper pairs leads to the reentrant resistive state and the competition between the conduction processes in the single particle and Cooper channels result into the multiple resistive reentrances.
Involvement of oxidative stress in orofacial mechanical pain hypersensitivity following neonatal maternal separation in rats
Authors: Soma Chihiro , Hitomi Suzuro , Oshima Eri , Hayashi Yoshinori , Soma Kumi , Shibuta Ikuko , Tsuboi Yoshiyuki , Shirakawa Tetsuo , Kikuiri Takashi , Iwata Koichi , Shinoda Masamichi 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPatients with persistent pain have sometimes history of physical abuse or neglect during infancy. However, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying orofacial pain hypersensitivity associated with early-life stress remain unclear. The present study focused on oxidative stress and investigated its role in pain hypersensitivity in adulthood following early-life stress. To establish an early-life stress model, neonatal pups were separated with their mother in isolated cages for 2 weeks. The mechanical head-withdrawal threshold (MHWT) in the whisker pad skin of rats received maternal separation (MS) was lower than that of non-MS rats at postnatal week 7. In MS rats, the expression of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, a marker of DNA oxidative damage, was enhanced, and plasma antioxidant capacity, but not mitochondrial complex I activity, decreased compared with that in non-MS rats. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inactivation and ROS-sensitive transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) antagonism in the whisker pad skin at week 7 suppressed the decrease of MHWT. Corticosterone levels on day 14 increased in MS rats. Corticosterone receptor antagonism during MS periods suppressed the reduction in antioxidant capacity and MHWT. The findings suggest that early-life stress potentially induces orofacial mechanical pain hypersensitivity via peripheral nociceptor TRPA1 hyperactivation induced by oxidative stress in the orofacial region.
In situ FRET measurement of cellular tension using conventional confocal laser microscopy in newly established reporter mice expressing actinin tension sensor
Authors: Wang Junfeng , Maeda Eijiro , Tsujimura Yuki , Abe Takaya , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Kitaguchi Tetsuya , Yokota Hideo , Matsumoto Takeo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFRET-based sensors are utilized for real-time measurements of cellular tension. However, transfection of the sensor gene shows low efficacy and is only effective for a short period. Reporter mice expressing such sensors have been developed, but sensor fluorescence has not been measured successfully using conventional confocal microscopy. Therefore, methods for spatiotemporal measurement of cellular tension in vivo or ex vivo are still limited. We established a reporter mouse line expressing FRET-based actinin tension sensors consisting of EGFP as the donor and mCherry as the acceptor and whose FRET ratio change is observable with confocal microscopy. Tension-induced changes in FRET signals were monitored in the aorta and tail tendon fascicles, as well as aortic smooth muscle cells isolated from these mice. The pattern of FRET changes was distinctive, depending on tissue type. Indeed, aortic smooth muscle cells exhibit different sensitivity to macroscopic tensile strain in situ and in an isolated state. This mouse strain will enable novel types of biomechanical investigations of cell functions in important physiological events.
Myricetin suppresses traumatic brain injury-induced inflammatory response via EGFR/AKT/STAT pathway
Authors: Wang Chenxing , Ouyang Siguang , Zhu Xingjia , Jiang Yi , Lu Zhichao , Gong Peipei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common disease in neurosurgery with a high fatality and disability rate which imposes a huge burden on society and patient's family. Inhibition of neuroinflammation caused by microglia activation is a reasonable strategy to promote neurological recovery after TBI. Myricetin is a natural flavonoid that has shown good therapeutic effects in a variety of neurological disease models, but its therapeutic effect on TBI is not clear. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of appropriate doses of myricetin significantly improved recovery of neurological function after TBI in Sprague Dawley rats and inhibited excessive inflammatory responses around the lesion site. Myricetin dramatically reduced the expression of toxic microglia markers generated by TBI and LPS, according to the outcomes of in vivo and in vitro tests. In particular, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, and some pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced, which protected learning and memory functions in TBI rats. Through network pharmacological analysis, we found that myricetin may inhibit microglia hyperactivation through the EGFR-AKT/STAT pathway. These findings imply that myricetin is a promising treatment option for the management of neuroinflammation following TBI.