bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of Pyramidal Neurons in Deep Layers of Rat Visual Cortex Enhances Visual Information Processing
Authors: Baranauskas Gytis , Rysevaite-Kyguoliene Kristina , Sabeckis Ignas , Tkatch Tatiana , Pauza Dainius H 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

In the primary visual cortex area V1 activation of inhibitory interneurons, which provide negative feedback for excitatory pyramidal neurons, can improve visual response reliability and orientation selectivity. Moreover, optogenetic activation of one class of interneurons, parvalbumin (PV) positive cells, reduces the receptive field (RF) width. These data suggest that in V1 the negative feedback improves visual information processing. However, according to information theory, noise can limit information content in a signal, and to the best of our knowledge, in V1 signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) has never been estimated following either pyramidal or inhibitory neuron activation. Therefore, we optogenetically activated pyramidal or PV neurons in the deep layers of cortical area V1 and measured the SNR and RF area in nearby pyramidal neurons. Activation of pyramidal or PV neurons increased the SNR by 267% and 318%, respectively, and reduced the RF area to 60.1% and 77.5%, respectively, of that of the control. A simple integrate-and-fire neuron model demonstrated that an improved SNR and a reduced RF area can increase the amount of information encoded by neurons. We conclude that in V1 activation of pyramidal neurons improves visual information processing since the location of the visual stimulus can be pinpointed more accurately (via a reduced RF area), and more information is encoded by neurons (due to increased SNR).
Age-Related Changes in Urethral Structure and Responds to Injury: Single-Cell Atlas of a Rat Model of Vaginal Birth Injury induced Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Zhao Liangyu , Xing Emily , Bai Tian , Cao Thomas , Wang Guifang , Banie Lia , Lin Guiting , Tang Yuxin , Lue Tom 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) greatly affects the daily life of numerous women and is closely related to a history of vaginal delivery and aging. We used vaginal balloon dilation to simulate vaginal birth injury in young and middle-aged rats to produce a SUI animal model, and found that young rats restored urethral structure and function well, but not the middle-aged rats. To identify the characteristics of cellular and molecular changes in the urethral microenvironment during the repair process of SUI. We profiled 51,690 individual female rat urethra cells from 24 and 48 weeks old, with or without simulated vaginal birth injury. Cell interaction analysis showed that signal networks during repair process changed from resting to active, and aging altered the distribution but not the overall level of cell interaction in the repair process. Similarity analysis showed that muscle, fibroblasts, and immune cells underwent large transcriptional changes during aging and repair. In middle-aged rats, cell senescence occurs mainly in the superficial and middle urothelium due to cellular death and shedding, and the basal urothelium expressed many Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) genes. In conclusion, we established the aging and vaginal balloon dilation (VBD) model of female urethral cell anatomy and the signal network landscape, which provides an insight into the normal or disordered urethra repair process and the scientific basis for developing novel SUI therapies.
Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Co-Infection with Legionella pneumophila and Anaerobic Bacteria in a Patient with Severe Pneumonia and Lemierre's Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Pan Yunqi , Xing Yi , Lai Yanan , Dong Huixing , Sheng Huiming , Xu Weihong 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background: Legionella pneumonia is one of the most severe types of atypical pneumonia, impairing multiple organ systems, posing a threat to life. Diagnosing Legionella pneumonia is challenging due to difficulties in culturing the bacteria and limitations in immunoassay sensitivity and specificity.
Case presentation: This paper reports a rare case of sepsis caused by combined infection with Legionella pneumophilaand Fusobacterium necrophorum, leading to respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, myocardial damage, and electrolyte disorders. In addition, we systematically reviewed literature on patients with combined Legionella infections, analyzing their clinical features, laboratory results and diagnosis.
Conclusions: For rare pathogens that cannot be identified by routine laboratory tests, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can be a powerful supplement to pathogen screening and plays a significant role in the auxiliary diagnosis of complex infectious diseases.
The Wideband Substrate Integrated Waveguide Antenna Based on Maintaining Gain-Stabilized Metasurfaces
Authors: WU TING , YAN LEI , WANG MINGJUN , ZHANG KAI 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In this paper, a Wideband SIW high-gain antenna based on Maintaining Gain-Stabilized Metasurfaces is proposed. Firstly, several new resonant points are introduced based on the traditional H-shape slot to improve the bandwidth. The higher-order resonant modes in the sub-cavity are excited by the ground-based coplanar waveguide feeding network. A wide impedance bandwidth can be achieved by introducing the higher order modes closer. By this means, the final bandwidth of the slot antenna can reach 20.7% (12.1–14.9 GHz). Secondly, the antenna is further improved by loading the miniaturized metasurface to solve the gain degradation in the high-frequency part. The metasurface is composed of four sequentially rotated 3×3 meta units and a metal via is etched on each unit to achieve miniaturization. The gain in the high operating band is increased with a 1.7 dBi average and 2.3 dBi maximum while the size of the metasurface is reduced. The results demonstrate that the proposed antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth of 27.6% in the range from 11.25 to 14.85 GHz with a peak gain of 9.4 dBi at 14.1 GHz.
Exploring in vitro Oryzalin-Induced Polyploidy in Astragalus membranaceus: Implications for Gene Expression
Authors: Šenkyřík Josef Baltazar , Navrátilová Božena , Fišerová Barbora , Kobrlová Lucie , Ondřej Vladan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of artificial in vitro polyploidisation of Astragalus membranaceus, focusing specifically on gene expression and metabolic pathway associated with the biosynthesis of calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside. Using oryzalin as an antimitotic agent, we have systematically investigated different genotypic lines, under both in vitro and ex vitro conditions. Amid cases of reduced gene expression in certain lines, results showed a significant upregulation in specific lines, particularly in genotypes 16, 54, and 74. Genotype 54 showed an exceptional response, manifesting a statistically significant upregulation in all investigated genes studied under in vitro conditions (i.e. AmPAL, AmC4H and AmI3′H). Interestingly, even under ex vitro conditions after two years of greenhouse cultivation, certain lines showed significant variations in gene expression. Despite the loss of tetraploidy, genotype 16 exhibited the highest expression levels among the examined genotypes, with statistically significant upregulation of both the AmPAL and AmC4H genes. In addition, the tetraploid genotype 74 showed a significant upregulation of the AmI3′H gene and a concomitant downregulation of the AmC4H gene. These results highlight the complex regulatory mechanisms affected by the polyploidisation of Astragalus membranaceus and provide promising avenues for manipulating gene expression to enhance the production of pharmacologically significant compounds.
The effect of sports expertise on the performance of orienteering athletes' reality-scene image recognition and visual search characteristics
Authors: Guo limin , Liu Yang , Kan Chao 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The study found that expert athletes have a high sensitivity to information in the field of expertise and have reasonable search strategies and capabilities. To explore the sports expertise of directional athletes' real scene picture recognition performance and visual search characteristics, this study selected 40 different level directional athletes (panel, novice group) for the subjects, the eye movement experiment paradigm, placed observation points in the real scene, picture recognition task test, examine the directional athletes picture recognition behavior performance and visual search characteristics. The results show that the expert group shows high accuracy and short response time; it has the visual search characteristics of less saccade frequency, low saccade frequency and low fixation frequency, concentrated fixation points, simple and clear fixation path, and higher visual search efficiency. It reveals that long-term special training will form the specialty cognitive structure related to the special knowledge in the long-term memory of the expert athletes, which promotes the formation of the expert advantage.
Red Light-Mediated Photoredox Catalysis Promotes Regioselective Switch in the Difunctionalization of Alkenes
Authors: Das Shoubhik , Zhang Tong 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Controlling regioselectivity during difunctionalization of alkenes represents significant challenges, particularly when the installation of both functional groups is involved in radical processes. In this aspect, several functionalized trifluoromethylated (-CF3) compounds have been accomplished via difunctionalization reactions due to their wide importance in the pharmaceutical sectors, however, all these existing reports are limited to afford the corresponding β-trifluoromethylated products. The main reason for this limitation arises from the fact that -CF3 group served as an initiator in those reactions and predominantly preferred to be installed at the terminal (β) position of an alkene. In contrary, functionalization of the -CF3 group at the internal (α) position of alkenes provides valuable products but a meticulous approach is necessary to win this regioselectivity switch. Intrigued by this challenge, we have developed an efficient and highly regioselective strategy where -CF3 group is installed at the α-position of an alkene and at the end, molecular complexity is achieved via the simultaneous insertion of a sulfonyl fragment (-SO2R) at the β-position. This strategy provides the simultane-ous installation of two important functional groups such as -CF3 and -SO2R groups and both of these functional groups are the key units to attain or to enhance the bioactivity in organic molecules. A precisely regu-lated sequence of radical generation using red light-mediated photocatalysis facilitates this regioselective switch from the terminal (β) position to the internal (α) position. Furthermore, this approach demonstrates dis-tinctive regioselectivity, broad substrate scope and industrial potential for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals under mild reaction conditions.
Income inequality and the factors affecting inequality of the farmers cultivating leguminous crops in the rainfed area of Jammu region of South Asia
Authors: Bhagat Vipal , Dwivedi Sudhakar , Singla Naresh , Bagal Yudhishther Singh , Verma Devendra Kumar 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Most of the farmers in India, those practices rainfed farming are poor and the same situation reflects in the Jammu region of South Asia also. For the present study, three leguminous crops i.e., urd, garden pea and chickpea were selected from the rainfed areas of Jammu (urd and garden pea) and Udhampur (chickpea) districts on the basis of purposive sampling technique. This paper has made some efforts in finding out the inequality index, a ubiquitous phenomenon among the farmers cultivating leguminous crops in the region. Ginni coefficient revealed that the inequality index is higher in case of farmers cultivating urd crop (0.0704) in comparison to that of the farmers cultivating garden pea (0.067) and chickpea (0.014), respectively. As some of the variables were compromised on the test of normality, therefore, a robust test of simultaneous quantile regression approach was applied which revealed that seeds (at the lower quantile of gross returns) and machine labour (at the upper quantile of gross returns) were the two important factors that affect the returns of the farmers in the rainfed areas of the Jammu districts of Jammu and Udhampur. Consequently, Kernel density estimation showed the under smoothness of the curve in case of these two variables, respectively.
Climate control on the channel morphodynamics of the Sittaung River, Myanmar
Authors: Bisson Luke Stefan , Choi Kyungsik 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The spatio-temporal development of a meandering river is controlled by its channel morphodynamics. In regions of rapid channel evolution, understanding the driving factors of meander migration is crucial in forecasting the rate and extent of morphological change. Sediment supply and fluvial discharge are the primary influences on migration rate, however climate oscillations are also integral in regulating migration rate through their control of regional precipitation, as well as the monsoon season of sub-tropical Asia. Despite this, an in-depth investigation into the impact of climate oscillations on meander bend migration remains undocumented. This study presents a satellite-based analysis of multi-decadal climatic forcing on the migration rate of the Sittaung River in Myanmar, through interpretation of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The mode of ENSO exerts significant climatic control on the migration rate of the meandering channels of the Sittaung River, with low-to-average migration rates recorded during dry El Niño events and peak migration rates observed during wet La Niña events. However, this climatic signal may have been obscured by certain local environmental conditions. In cases where meanders faced geological basement, the basement rock inhibited their migration through extension, forcing more rapid migration by way of seaward translation. Consequently, these translating meanders developed to be more elongate, with lower curvatures. Meanders downstream of the approximate tidal limit were less downstream skewed, indicative of tidal modulation, potentially obscuring the impact of fluvially driven climate forcing. Additionally, downstream of a major confluence, the input of sediment and fluvial discharge may have been regulated by upstream anthropogenic activities such as mining and dam construction, leading to greater variability in migration rate downstream of this confluence and further obfuscation of the climate signal.
MAD-CNN: High-Sensitivity and Robust Collision Detection for Robots with Variable Stiffness Actuation
Authors: Niu Zhenwei , Saoud Lyes Saad , Hussain Irfan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Safe and efficient human-robot collaboration (HRC) relies on proactive collision avoidance and robust detection of unexpected contacts. Although existing learning-based approaches excel in specific areas, they often encounter challenges with robots equipped with variable stiffness actuators—a crucial aspect for ensuring safe and adaptable HRC. To address this, we present MAD-CNN, a novel Modularized Attention-Dilated Convolutional Neural Network designed for highly sensitive and robust collision detection in these adaptable robots. MAD-CNN leverages a dual inductive bias mechanism, combining modularization and dilated convolution, to significantly reduce data requirements. This capability facilitates efficient training even with limited collision datasets, offering a substantial advantage for real-world implementation. Additionally, an attention module prioritizes relevant features, enhancing the network's robustness against variations in stiffness levels—a core challenge in variable stiffness robots.This powerful combination unlocks exceptional performance for MAD-CNN. In extensive evaluations, it achieved zero missed collisions across 516 events, with a minimal detection delay averaging just 12.05 milliseconds and 20\% fewer false positives compared to baseline methods. Remarkably, this outstanding performance was attained even when trained on a four-minute dataset focused on the highest stiffness setting, underscoring MAD-CNN's data efficiency and adaptability across diverse stiffness configurations. By enabling accurate and sensitive collision detection across the spectrum of variable stiffness conditions, MAD-CNN paves the way for safer and more reliable HRC in various fields, including manufacturing, healthcare, and assistive robotics.
Bifurcation structures of a two-dimensional piecewise linear discontinuous map: analysis of a cobweb model with regime-switching expectations
Authors: Gardini Laura , Radi Davide , Schmitt Noemi , Iryna Sushko , Westerhoff Frank 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We consider the bifurcations occurring in a two-dimensional piecewise-linear discontinuous map that describes the dynamics of a cobweb model in which firms rely on a regime-switching expectation rule. In three different partitions of the phase plane, separated by two discontinuity lines, the map is defined by linear functions with the same Jacobian matrix, having two real eigenvalues, one of which is negative and one equal to 0. This leads to asymptotic dynamics that can belong to two or three critical lines. We show that when the basic fixed point is attracting, it may coexist with at most three attracting cycles. We have determined their existence regions, in the two-dimensional parameter plane, bounded by border collision bifurcation curves. At parameter values for which the basic fixed point is repelling, chaotic attractors may exist - either one that is symmetric with respect to the basic fixed point, or, if not symmetric, the symmetric one also exists. The homoclinic bifurcations of repelling cycles leading to the merging of chaotic attractors are commented by using the first return map on a suitable line. Moreover, four different kinds of homoclinic bifurcations of a saddle 2-cycle, leading to divergence of the generic trajectory, are determined.
JEL classification C62 · E32 · Q11
CT state carrier storage-triggered TADP in an organic scintillator
Authors: Zang Shuang-Quan , Peng Qiu-Chen , Si Yubing , Yang Qi , Yuan Jia-Wang , Gao Zi-Ying , Li Kai , Zhao Yi , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Organic scintillators are among the most promising scintillators due to their inherent merits in terms of heavy metal-free constituents, synthesis designability, affordability of raw materials, and low usage costs1-6. However, the limited X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) property of organic scintillators affects their application. To date, the main approaches for improving the XEL property of organic scintillators have focused on introducing heavy atoms to increase the absorbance of X-ray and establishing new luminescence pathways, such as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), to increase the exciton utilization efficiency7-10. Even so, the XEL property of organic scintillators is not ideal compared with that of commercial inorganic scintillators. In this work, a highly stable charge transfer (CT) state trap was introduced into the design of an organic scintillator. Combined with a unique thermally activated delayed phosphorescence (TADP) process, highly efficient capture and conversion of high-energy carriers are realized. As a result, the exciton generation efficiency dramatically increases, with an ultrahigh light yield (LY), and X-ray afterglow imaging at room temperature is achieved for the first time. This work provides a brand-new strategy for the design of high-performance organic scintillators.
Prevalence of Lymphopenia in the American Population: Insights from Demographic, BMI, and Lifestyle Factors
Authors: Xie Wenchi , Li Qian , Ji Landie , Kang Landan , Mei Jie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Objective
Understanding the prevalence of lymphopenia in the American population according to different variables.
Methods
A total of 33,365 participants were included in the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). All analyses used weighted samples and considered the layering and clustering of the design.
Results
The prevalence of lymphopenia in Mexican-American participants was significantly lower than that of white participants (P = 0.018). The prevalence of lymphopenia increases with age, reaching a peak of 6.84% among elderly participants aged 75 and above. In terms of the gender difference, the prevalence of lymphopenia in men is significantly higher than that in women (P < 0.001). The prevalence of lymphopenia in participants with sleep disorders is significantly higher than those without sleep disorders (P = 0.014).
Conclusion
We propose a novel perspective that the diagnosis and treatment of lymphopenia should be tailored to the lymphocyte levels of specific subpopulations, rather than applying a generalized approach.
A Comparative Analysis of Redundant Space Robot System Deals with Various Floats for Trajectory Control
Authors: Ahmad Sarfaraj , Dalla Vijay Kumar , Prasad Naresh , Rayankula Vitalram 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The trajectory of a space robot is challenging to calculate due to its floaty base, irregular surfaces and unexpected circumstances. The combination of redundant space robots with a control system provides a very effective and efficient solution. The purpose of this study is to present a trajectory method for commanding two Redundant Space Robots (RSR) that handle distinct floats. Controllers are employed in this work to regulate the direction and location of robot tips in space robotic systems. The controller continually analyses the difference between the expected and actual setpoints and calculates the control output of various floating object manipulation by a group of two cooperative redundant space robots. The bond graph method of Symbol's Shakti programme is used in the modelling and animation of two redundant space robots. The proposed method has the benefit of great accuracy, according to the simulation findings.