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An intelligent deep representation learning with enhanced feature selection approach for cyberattack detection in internet of things enabled cloud environment

Epidemiology and audiologic characteristics of neonatal hearing loss: A cross-sectional study

Objective To explore the epidemiology and audiologic characteristics of neonatal hearing loss in neonates in southwestern China during 2020–2023. Methods This cross-sectional study involved all neonates born in Luzhou (China) during 2020–2023. Neonates with hearing loss (HL) were identified through initial hearing screening, rescreening, and diagnostic hearing test, and risk factors were determined using a questionnaire. Results From 2020 to 2023, there were a total of 109,562 neonates in Luzhou. Among them, 286 (465 ears) newborns were diagnosed with HL, with an incidence of 2.61 per thousand (2.61‰) (2020: 2.06‰, 2021: 2.89‰, 2022: 2.68 ‰, 2023: 3.00‰), and the difference in incidence between years was not statistically significant (P = 0.104). Among the affected ears, 234 (1.07‰) had mild HL, 130 (0.59‰) had moderate HL, 30 (0.14‰) had severe HL, and 71 (0.32‰) had profound HL. Additionally, 104 (0.95‰) children had unilateral hearing loss (UHL), while 182 (1.66‰) children had bilateral hearing loss (BHL), the incidence of UHL and BHL did not significantly differ across years (P = 0.33). There were 171 male children (2.99‰) and 115 female children (2.19‰) who were diagnosed with HL, and no significant difference was found in incidence between sexes (P = 0.10). The cause of HL remained unknown in 94 (32.87%) children, while 192 (67.13%) children had identifiable risk factors, including neonatal jaundice (93 cases), neonatal ward history (90 cases), pregnancy history (85 cases), and a family history of HL (24 cases). Of these, 113 (39.51%) children had multiple risk factors, while 79 (27.62%) children had only one identified risk factor. Conclusion During 2020–2023, the incidence of neonatal hearing loss is 2.61‰, which is not significantly increase, and no significant abnormal factors were identified.

Dual Bmp-negative feedback loops modulate function of both AER and ZPA to buffer and constrain postaxial digit number

Several lines of evidence indicate that posterior (postaxial) digit number in tetrapod vertebrates is constrained to the pentadactyl state by interactions between the two major signaling centers that organize digit pattern and growth, the Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-expressing Zone of Polarizing Activity (ZPA) and the Fgf-expressing Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER) ectoderm. Negative short-range effects of Shh on the immediately overlying AER limit its posterior extent and function, either by direct Shh signaling or with Bmps playing a key role. How this strong inhibitory effect is counterbalanced to maintain pentadactyly in many vertebrate species remains less clear. In this study, we used genetic approaches in mice to reevaluate the mechanism by which Shh signaling modulates AER function and demonstrate that this occurs via Shh-target Bmps that act as a relay signal, rather than by direct Shh action. Furthermore, we show that Shh-induced Bmps also act directly on the ZPA, in a negative feedback loop, to down-regulate Shh expression and ZPA extent. We provide evidence that these dual Bmp-driven negative feedback loops robustly balance total Bmp levels to constrain postaxial digit number.

Integrative pharmacogenomics analysis predicts the platelet response in clopidogrel treated coronary artery disease (CAD) patients of South India

Comparative analysis of the lethality pattern of Covid-19 and the response of BRICS countries to the pandemic in the context of multilateralism: An ecological study

Background This article analyzes the pattern of lethality due to Covid-19 in the BRICS countries and its conditioning factors, analyzing its temporal evolution, as well as analyzing the response given by the grouping to the health crisis as a multilateral forum. Methods This ecological time-series study assessed the lethality due to Covid-19 in the BRICS countries from March 2020 to May 2023. Using the Joinpoint method, and the temporal trend analysis of the lethality rates by segmented regression for each BRICS country. Results In Brazil, the highest case fatality rate (8%) occurred in phase 1 (from April 27, 2020 to November 10, 2020), despite the peak in cases (1.2 million/week) in phase 3 (from December 31, 2021 to April 21, 2022). In Russia, phase 2 (from September 20, 2020 to March 7, 2021), which had the lowest incidence, had the second highest case fatality rate (4.5%). In India, the peak in cases in phase 2 (from March 13, 2021 to July 19, 2021) did not coincide with the peak in case fatality in the same phase. In China, the highest case fatality rate (12%) occurred in phase 1 (from March 10, 2022 to March 24, 2022), not reflecting the incidence. In South Africa, at the end of 2022, the fatality rate achieved was around 4.5%. Discussion The lethality of Covid-19 among BRICS countries showed differences related to failures in testing capacity, death information systems and access to vaccines. The group did not achieve the expected performance at an extremely opportune moment to demonstrate to the world their differential as representatives of emerging powers.

Dynamics of longitudinal Hawaiian hotspot motion and the formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend

Formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend has been a key geological puzzle that involves both plate tectonics and plume dynamics. Constrained by paleomagnetic data, southward hotspot motion has been considered a major contributor to the formation of the bend, but the role of longitudinal hotspot motion remains largely overlooked. Here, we analyze the Hawaiian hotspot motion using plate kinematics and geographical distances between hotspot tracks. Both analyses indicate a substantial longitudinal Hawaiian hotspot motion. Further application of global mantle convection models reveals a westward (by ~6°) and then an eastward (by ~2°) hotspot drift in addition to the southward motion before and after the bend, with the westward motion primarily controlled by the intraoceanic subduction in Northeast Pacific. We find that both the westward and southward motion are required to fit the seamount chain, with the former contributing a substantial amount of ~20 degrees to the bend angle, no less than the latter, challenging traditional views. Combined with a geodynamically predicted Pacific Plate motion change at 47 Ma, our model provides a nearly perfect fit to the seamount chain. This result suggests that the Hawaiian plume conduit is tilted toward the southwest, providing a strong indication for the source of the Hawaiian plume that has long been debated among seismological studies.

Root and root canal morphology of mandibular first and second molars in a Jordanian subpopulation: a cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography study

Complete mitogenomes of two major dengue vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from Bangladesh: Insights from comparative genomics with global mitogenome diversity and phylogenetics

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the most competent vectors of multiple human arboviral diseases, posing a global public health concern, particularly in Bangladesh. While there are numerous genomic resources available worldwide, the genomic resources from Southeast Asian countries are scarce. Current study reported the first characterization of the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from Bangladesh. The circular mitogenomes are 16,662 bp and 16,585 bp in size, with AT contents of 79.02% and 78.81%, respectively. Both mitogenomes contain all 37 functional subunits, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and a control region. We also reported the unique codon usage and Relative synonymous codon usage patterns, which are congruent with other members of the Culicine family. Our intraspecific analysis of 15 mitochondrial genes revealed higher genetic distance, but lower SNP density in Ae. aegypti, compared to Ae. albopictus, indicating Ae. aegypti might have a longer evolutionary history, while Ae. albopictus might have experienced recent population expansion with steady divergence. Similarity metrics and phylogeny of 13 PCGs from 37 taxa indicated both species of Aedes formed specific clusters, where Bangladeshi Aedes spp. showed close relationships with North American, Oceania and European populations. Our comprehensive tree incorporating Aedes, Ochleroratus and Culex spp. revealed distinct clades, aligning with previous studies. Current study provides a foundation for future research on Aedes spp. of Bangladesh, leveraging it to other Southeast Asian countries, aiding vector identification, control, and disease mitigation.

Favorable epistasis in ancestral diterpene synthases promoted convergent evolution of a resin acid precursor in conifers

A long-standing question in biology is what makes evolution more or less repeatable. Although evolution seems repeatable when observing convergent phenotypic outcomes, each episode of convergence could have been contingent on an idiosyncratic history that is not expected to repeat. Overlooking events that preceded convergent episodes therefore risks overestimating repeatability. Here, we demonstrate using resurrected ancestral proteins that the evolution of a characteristic diterpene resin acid precursor, isopimaradiene, became especially repeatable in conifers following genetic divergence that simultaneously changed the effects of phenotype-altering substitutions in diterpene synthase enzymes. We found that millions of years of epistatic change prior to three genus-level episodes of convergent isopimaradiene formation led to ancestral diterpene synthases in the family Pinaceae that served as suitable starting points for evolving identical products. However, enzymes predating the Pinaceae formed different diterpenes when the same substitutions were introduced as mutations, indicating that critical alterations in the effects of substitution occurred after the origin of this plant family. Because these alterations occurred prior to the evolution of isopimaradiene, the convergence appears dependent on a history that is less likely to repeat. Our work shows how contingency can lead to repeatable evolution of a trait in related present-day plant lineages.

Impact of nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems on aggregate-bound soil organic carbon fractions in Southern India

Correction: A comparative study of alkaloid and phenolic compounds in different organs and tissues of Berberis integerrima

Distinguishing direct interactions from global epistasis using rank statistics

The phenotypic effect of a mutation may depend on the genetic background in which it occurs, a phenomenon referred to as epistasis. One source of epistasis in proteins is direct interactions between residues in close physical proximity to one another. However, epistasis may also occur in the absence of specific interactions between amino acids if the genotype-to-phenotype map is nonlinear. Disentangling the contributions of these two phenomena—specific and global epistasis—from noisy, high-throughput mutagenesis experiments is highly nontrivial: The form of the nonlinearity is generally not known and model misspecification may lead to over- or underestimation of specific epistasis. In contrast to previous approaches, we do not attempt to model the fitness measurements directly. Rather, we begin with the observation that global epistasis, under the assumption of monotonicity, imposes strong constraints on the rank statistics of a combinatorial mutagenesis experiment. Namely, the rank-order of mutant phenotypes should be preserved across genetic backgrounds. We exploit this constraint to devise a simple semiparametric method to detect specific epistasis in the presence of global epistasis and measurement noise. We apply this method to three high-throughput mutagenesis experiments, uncovering known protein contacts with similar accuracy to existing, more complicated procedures. Our method immediately generalizes beyond proteins, providing a simple, yet powerful framework for interpreting the epistasis observed in combinatorial datasets.

Nickel doping induced morphological and structural transformation of electrochemically deposited ZnO nanostructures via ethylene glycol based electrolyte

Adverse childhood experiences and adult dental care utilization in the United States: Variation by race and ethnicity

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, including poorer oral health. While research has shown that ACEs are associated with lower dental care utilization, most studies focus on childhood and adolescence, with limited attention to their long-term impact in adulthood or differences across racial and ethnic groups.. This study examines the relationship between ACE exposure and past-year dental care use in adulthood and assesses racial/ethnic differences in this association. Using data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we analyzed a sample of 88,728 adults from 21 states and the District of Columbia. The primary outcome was any past-year dental care use. ACEs were summed into a composite score. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the relationship between ACEs and past-year dental care use, with multiplicative interaction terms used to examine racial/ethnic differences in the observed association. Overall, 63.2% of adults reported any past-year dental care use. Higher ACE exposure was associated with lower odds of dental care use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.93–0.97, p < .001). The negative association between ACEs and dental care use was strongest for non-Hispanic White respondents, whereas the relationship between ACEs and dental care was attenuated for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents. These findings expand knowledge on the association of ACEs with dental care use in adulthood and how this relationship may vary across the population.

Spin-resolved imaging of atomic-scale helimagnetism in mono- and bilayer NiI ₂

Noncollinear magnetic orders in monolayer van der Waals magnets are crucial for probing delicate magnetic interactions under minimal spatial constraints and advancing miniaturized spintronic devices. Despite their significance, achieving atomic-scale identification remains challenging. In this study, we utilized spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations to identify spin-spiral orders in mono- and bilayer NiI 2 , grown on graphene-covered SiC(0001) substrates. We found two distinct spin-spiral states with Q vectors aligning and deviating by 7° from the lattice direction, exhibiting periodicities of 4.54 and 5.01 times the lattice constant, respectively. These findings contrast with bulk properties and align closely with our theoretical calculations. Surprisingly, the nonmultiples of spin spirals within finite-sized magnetic domains induce net magnetic moments, facilitating collective spin switching behavior under magnetic fields. Our research reveals intrinsic noncollinear magnetism at the monolayer limit with atomic-scale resolution, paving the way for exploring spin phenomena.

Fig and olive leaf extracts as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for copper in hydrochloric acid solutions

Is the extreme within-population genome size variation real in Spodoptera frugiperda?

Genome size variation is one of the main topics in evolutionary genomics. Recent studies in Spodoptera frugiperda (Insect; Lepidoptera) reported very striking results, including large genome size differences, up to a twofold variation within populations, with the existence of 1.37 Gb of non-reference genome sequences, which is 2.5 times larger than the reference genome, 544 Mb in size. These reports raise the question of whether such extreme genome size variations within populations can be biologically realistic. To evaluate these results, we analyzed reference genome assemblies and resequencing datasets from multiple independent studies, including those from the original research. We observed that high-quality reference genomes consistently range from 380 Mb to 390 Mb, aligning closely with flow cytometry measurements. The genome size estimates using k-mer-based approaches from field-collected samples across four independent studies suggest that extensive genome size variation within S. frugiperda is unlikely to occur. Additionally, genome size appears to have remained stable for at least 15.89 million years in the ancestral lineage of S. frugiperda. Taken together, these results do not support the existence of extreme genome size variation in S. frugiperda, emphasizing the need for careful validation.

Investigating the effects of single-dose intranasal testosterone on economic preferences in a large randomized trial of men

There is conflicting evidence on whether testosterone affects economic preferences such as risk taking, fairness, and altruism, with most evidence coming from correlational studies or small testosterone administration studies. To credibly test this hypothesis, we conducted a large-scale, preregistered, double-blind randomized controlled trial with 1,000 male participants—10 to 20 times larger than typical prior studies. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a single dose of either placebo or intranasal testosterone, and carried out a series of economic tasks capturing social preferences, competitiveness, and risk preferences. We find no evidence of a treatment effect for any of our nine primary outcome measures, and no strong evidence of an association between basal salivary testosterone and economic preferences within men. These results fail to conceptually replicate previous high-impact publications reporting positive findings in smaller samples, calling into question the idea that short-term testosterone fluctuations are important drivers of men’s economic preferences. Our results do not rule out the possibility that different effects might emerge under alternative dosages, administration protocols, or task timings, or that behavioral effects differ between men and women. The potential for developmental or long-term effects of testosterone also remains an open question for future research, though such effects are ethically challenging to investigate experimentally in humans.

Season affects sperm quality, seminal extracellular vesicles, and antioxidant-related genes in Egyptian Buffalo bulls

How can county-level industrial clusters in China promote urban-rural integration?—A study on the configuration effects based on fsQCA

This study explores how county-level industrial clustering in China promotes urban-rural integration by identifying four key pathways: industrial linkage, technology transfer, employment coordination, and service balance. Drawing on a dataset of 343 counties from 2013 to 2023 and applying fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), the research uncovers the configuration effects of these mechanisms. The results reveal three primary models: the industry–technology–employment-driven model, the industry–employment-driven model, and the industrial linkage-dominant model. Further, configuration analyses by cluster type indicate that industrial linkage and service balance are central in agriculture-oriented clusters; employment coordination and technology transfer are critical in industry-oriented clusters; and service balance and employment coordination jointly drive integration in service-oriented clusters. Temporal analysis over the past decade demonstrates a steady strengthening of industrial linkage, a rapid increase in technology transfer, persistently high levels of employment coordination, and gradual improvement in service balance. These findings provide new insights into the multi-pathway dynamics of urban-rural integration and inform differentiated policy approaches based on cluster types.