Browse Articles

Improving Hokkai shrimp tracking accuracy using YOLOv8 with reflection and parallax correction

A scoping review protocol: Neuropsychological development in pediatric ophthalmology patients with social determinants of health analysis

Introduction Globally, ocular diseases have a substantial prevalence and impose a significant disease burden. Specifically, ocular diseases can negatively impact neuropsychological development for pediatric patients, including academic, social, and mental health as well as quality of life. Neuropsychological development is important, because it impacts cognitive functioning and learning, emotional and behavioral regulation, social interactions and communication, executive functions later in life, and long-term health and well-being. Detriments in neuropsychological development can be modulated by the intricate social determinants of health (SDOH) in a patient’s environment, potentially leading to exacerbated outcomes and disparities. We will conduct a scoping review with the aim of evaluating how SDOH influences the impact of ocular diseases on the neuropsychological development of pediatric patients. Methods and analysis Using a comprehensive search strategy, all relevant literature will be extracted from the following electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (WileyOnline interface), Embase (Elsevier interface), Europe PMC, Medline (Ovid Interface), PsycInfo (EBSCO interface), and Scopus (Elsevier interface). Inclusion criteria consist of ocular disease, neuropsychiatric development, pediatric population, and social determinants of health. Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation Ltd, Melbourne, Australia) review software will be used to screen articles that meet the inclusion criteria. Extracted articles will be classified according to national income level and universal healthcare index, type of ocular disease, neuropsychological category, and social determinants of health domain. Data analysis will include a quantitative report on the percentage classification of articles by each ocular, neuropsychological, and SDOH domain category. Sub-categorization of article count by national location, income level, and presence of universal healthcare will be analyzed for each explored and observed SDOH domain.

Rapid, interpretable data-driven models of neural dynamics using recurrent mechanistic models

Obtaining predictive models of a neural system is notoriously challenging. Detailed models suffer from excess model complexity and are difficult to fit efficiently. Simplified models must negotiate a tradeoff between tractability, predictive power, and ease of interpretation. We present a modeling paradigm for estimating predictive, mechanistic models of neurons and small circuits that navigates these issues using methods from systems theory. The key insight is that membrane currents can be modeled using two scalable system components optimized for learning: linear state space models, and nonlinear artificial neural networks. Combining these components, we construct two types of membrane currents: lumped currents, which are flexible, and data-driven conductance-based currents, which are interpretable. The resulting class of models—which we call recurrent mechanistic models (RMMs)—can be trained in a matter of seconds to minutes on intracellular recordings during an electrophysiology experiment, representing a step change in performance over previous approaches. As a proof-of-principle, we use RMMs to learn the dynamics of two groups of neurons, and their synaptic connections, in the Stomatogastric Ganglion, a well-known central pattern generator. Due to their reliability, efficiency, and interpretability, RMMs enable qualitatively new kinds of experiments using predictive models in closed-loop neurophysiology and online estimation of neural properties in living preparations.

Skillful subseasonal soil moisture drought forecasts with deep learning-dynamic models

Yield and water productivity of rice as influenced by crop establishment and irrigation methods under temperate environment

Abstract This study compares direct-seeded rice (DSR) with transplanted rice under three different irrigation methods: conventional flooding, saturation, and alternate wetting and drying. The findings indicate that DSR outperforms transplanted rice in several key aspects. Specifically, DSR exhibited a greater number of tillers (635–650) and panicles (510–529) m− 2, along with lower spikelet sterility (9.9–10.8%). Grain yield ranged from 6.69 to 7.8 t ha−1 for DSR, surpassing that of transplanted rice, which yielded between 5.59 and 6.18 t ha−1. Moreover, DSR demonstrated 11–25% higher water productivity, highlighting its greater efficiency in water usage. Economic analysis revealed that DSR also offered superior returns, with a profit per rupee invested of 2.2, compared to 1.48 for transplanted rice. While irrigation method did not significantly impact growth or yield, conventional flooding led to a 28% reduction in water productivity compared to the saturation method and a 25% reduction compared to the alternate wetting and drying method. In terms of benefit-cost ratio, while the differences were modest, the saturation method recorded slightly higher values. Overall, the study indicates that adopting DSR with either the saturation or alternate wetting and drying irrigation methods can lead to higher yields, improved economic returns, and increased water productivity in temperate environments, positioning it as a more sustainable and efficient alternative to transplanted rice cultivation.

Potentially inappropriate medications at discharge: Prevalence, predictors, and their association with early readmission and emergency department visits in older adults

Background Evidence on the association between potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and adverse outcomes after hospital discharge remains limited and contradictory. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, predictors, and impact of PIMs at discharge on early unplanned readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits in older adults. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical records of older patients discharged from a tertiary-care hospital to home. Patients were followed for 90 days to assess unplanned readmissions and ED visits. Multiple Cox regression and parametric survival analysis determined the association between PIMs and early readmissions/ED visits. Results Among 4,012 older patients, 2,299 (57.3%) were discharged with at least one PIM. Factors independently associated with PIM use included a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15, p = 0.02), longer hospital stay (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02, p = 0.01), and a greater number of discharge medications (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.24–1.29, p < 0.001). Within 90 days post-discharge, unplanned readmissions or ED visits occurred in 183 of 2,299 patients (7.96%) with PIMs and 89 of 1,713 (5.20%) without PIMs. In multivariable Cox regression, PIM use was associated with a non-significant increase in the risk of unplanned readmission/ED visits (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.87–1.51, p = 0.32), a finding consistent across parametric survival models using Weibull, exponential, lognormal, and log-logistic distributions. Conclusion PIMs were highly prevalent in older patients at discharge, with comorbidity burden, the duration of hospital stay, and polypharmacy as significant predictors. However, PIMs at discharge were not significantly associated with early unplanned readmissions or ED visits.

A recurrent de novo damaging variant in <i>EMP2</i> causes progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma

Genetic investigation in Mendelian skin disorders featuring generalized or localized skin scaling and redness, known as the ichthyoses, has revealed novel pathways relevant to epidermal integrity, barrier function, and desquamation. Here, we show that a recurrent de novo missense variant in EMP2 (epithelial membrane protein 2), which encodes a cell surface tetraspan protein in the growth-arrest specific 3 (GAS3)/peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) family, is associated with a Mendelian skin disorder in the progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma spectrum. The disorder features severely thickened, red, and scaly skin at sites of wound healing or repetitive movement including on the face, genitals, flexural areas, and the palms and soles. EMP2 has previously been shown to directly associate with focal adhesion kinase, which links cell junction forces to signaling pathways relevant to proliferation, migration, and wound healing. Using single-cell spatial transcriptomics in affected tissue, we found ectopic suprabasal activation of signaling pathways downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which we confirmed with western blotting in affected cells, supporting a gain-of-function mechanism for mutant EMP2. Remarkably, treatment with erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor, led to marked clinical improvement underscoring the key role of EMP2 in epidermal differentiation and proliferation.

Catalyst-free Ullmann coupling in aqueous microdroplets

Singletrome enhances detection of long noncoding RNAs in single cell transcriptomes

Very preterm, very low birth weight infants not admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, National Vital Statistics Surveillance Data, United States 2021

The objective of this analysis is to examine characteristics of very preterm (VPT), very low birth weight (VLBW) infants not admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU). In this cross-sectional study assessing VPT (&lt;32 weeks gestation) and VLBW (&lt;1500 grams) infants, we used birth records from the National Vital Statistics System, 2021. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with modified Poisson regression models were used to calculate prevalence of infants not admitted to the NICU by selected characteristics. Among 38,693 VPT, VLBW infants, 10% were not admitted to the NICU. In the adjusted model, characteristics associated with a higher prevalence of not being admitted to the NICU compared with analytical reference groups included non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (aPR = 1.61;95% confidence interval [CI]:1.13–2.29), gestational age 22–24 weeks (aPR = 1.17;CI:1.08–1.26), vaginal delivery (aPR = 1.83;CI:1.73–1.94), and 5-minute Apgar score of 0–3 (aPR = 3.48;CI:3.18–3.82). Exploration of reasons infants were not admitted to the NICU may elucidate strategies to address barriers.

A genomic test of sex-biased dispersal in white sharks

Mitonuclear discordance has been observed in several shark species. Female philopatry has often been invoked to explain such discordance but has never been explicitly tested. Here, we focus on the white shark, for which female philopatry has been previously proposed, and produced a chromosome-level genome, high-coverage whole-genome autosomal, and uniparental datasets to investigate mitonuclear discordance. We first reconstructed the historical population demography of the species based on autosomal data. We show that this species once comprised a single panmictic population, which experienced a steady decline until recent times when it fragmented into at least three main autosomal genetic groups. Mitochondrial data depict a strikingly different picture, inconsistent with the spatial distribution of autosomal diversity. Using the demographic scenario established from autosomal data, we performed coalescent and forward simulations to test for the occurrence of female philopatry. Coalescent simulations showed that the model can reproduce the autosomal variability, confirming its robustness. A forward simulation framework was further built to explicitly account for a sex-biased reproduction model and track both autosomal and uniparental markers (Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA). While our model generates data that are consistent with the observed Y chromosome variation, the mitochondrial pattern is never reproduced even under extreme female philopatry (no female migration), strongly suggesting that demography alone cannot explain the mitonuclear discordance. Our framework could, and perhaps should, be extended to other shark species where philopatry has been suggested. It is possible that the proposed widespread occurrence of female philopatry in sharks should be revisited.

Nitrogen and CO2 enrichment interact to decrease biodiversity impact on complementarity and selection effects

Abstract Global environmental change is causing a decline in biodiversity with profound implications for ecosystem functioning and stability. It remains unclear how global change factors interact to influence the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and stability. Here, using data from a 24-year experiment, we investigate the impacts of nitrogen (N) addition, enriched CO2 (eCO2), and their interactions on the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship (complementarity effects and selection effects), the biodiversity-ecosystem stability relationship (species asynchrony and species stability), and their connections. We show that biodiversity remains positively related to both ecosystem productivity (functioning) and its stability under N addition and eCO2. However, the combination of N addition and eCO2 diminishes the effects of biodiversity on complementarity and selection effects. In contrast, N addition and eCO2 do not alter the relationship between biodiversity and either species asynchrony or species stability. Under ambient conditions, both complementarity and selection effects are negatively related to species asynchrony, but neither are related to species stability; these links persist under N addition and eCO2. Our study offers insights into the underlying processes that sustain functioning and stability of biodiverse ecosystems in the face of global change.

Retraction Note: Electrochemical and hot corrosion behaviour of annealed AlCoCrFeNi HEA coating over steel

Capturing temporal heterogeneity of communities: A temporal β-diversity based on Hill numbers and time series analysis

Beta-diversity is a term used to refer to the heterogeneity in the composition of species through space or time. Despite a consensus on the advantages of measuring β-diversity using data on species abundances through Hill numbers, we still lack a measure of temporal β-diversity based on this framework. In this paper, we present the mathematical basis for a temporal β-diversity measure, based on both signal processing and Hill numbers theory through the partition of temporal ƴ-diversity. The proposed measure was tested in four hypothetical simulated communities with species varying in temporal concurrence and abundance and two empirical data sets. The values of each simulation reflected community heterogeneity and changes in abundance over time. In terms of ƴ-diversity, q-values are closely related to total richness (S) and show a negative exponential pattern when they increase. For α-diversity, q-value profiles were more variable than ƴ-diversity, and different decaying patterns in α-diversity can be observed among simulations. Temporal β-diversity shows different patterns, which are principally related to the rate of change between ƴ- and α-diversity. Our framework provides a direct and objective approach for comparing the heterogeneity of temporal community patterns; this measure can be interpreted as the effective number of completely different unique communities over the sampling period indicating either a larger variety of community structures or higher species heterogeneity through time. This method can be applied to any ecological community that has been monitored over time.

The activity and expression of adenylosuccinate lyase were reduced during modern human evolution, affecting brain and behavior

Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL), an enzyme that is crucial for purine biosynthesis, carries an amino acid substitution that is present in almost all humans today but absent in Neandertals and Denisovans. This substitution reduces the stability of the enzyme, but what functional consequences it has are unknown. Here, we show that when introduced into mice, this substitution causes substrates of the enzyme to accumulate in amounts that correlate negatively with ADSL expression levels. In the brain, where the expression of the enzyme is low, the substitution results in particularly high substrate levels. When the behavior of the mice is analyzed, female mice expressing the modern human-like version of ADSL access water more efficiently for drinking than their wild-type littermates. In addition to the amino acid substitution, a haplotype in the ADSL gene occurs at a carrier frequency of &gt;97% in present-day humans and exhibits evidence of positive selection. It is associated with less ADSL expression as well as with increased concentrations of succinyladenosine, one of the substrates of the enzyme, in cerebrospinal fluid. Thus, two genetic changes have reduced ADSL activity in human tissues since modern and archaic humans separated, affecting purine biosynthesis, particularly in the brain.

Sustainable DNA-polysaccharide hydrogels as recyclable bioplastics

Abstract Traditional petrochemical-derived plastics are challenging to recycle and degrade, and the existing (re)process methods are organic solvent-based and/or energy-intensive, resulting in significant environmental contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. This study presents a sustainable bioplastic material characterized by multi-closed-loop recyclability and water (re)processability. The bioplastics are derived from abundant polysaccharide sources of dextran, alginic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, and DNA of plant and living organism waste. The process involves chemical oxidation of polysaccharides to produce aldehyde-functionalized derivatives, which subsequently form reversible imine covalent bonds with amine groups in DNA. This reaction yields water-processable polysaccharide/DNA crosslinked hydrogels, serving as raw materials for producing sustainable bioplastics. The bioplastic products exhibit (bio)degradability and recyclability, enabling aqueous recovery of the hydrogel constituents through plastic hydrolysis and the natural biodegradability of DNA and polysaccharides. These products demonstrate excellent resistance to organic solvents, self-healing, scalability, and effective processing down to nanometer scales, underscoring their potential for broad and versatile applications. The work provides potential pathways for advancing sustainable and environmentally friendly bioplastic materials.

Impacts of flexible renewable hybrid system with electric vehicles considering economic reactive power management on microgrid voltage stability and operation

Market, power, gift, and concession economies: Comparison using four-mode primitive network models

Reducing wealth inequality is a global challenge, and the problems of capitalism stem from the enclosure of the commons and the breakdown of the community. According to previous studies by Polanyi, Karatani, and Graeber, economic modes can be divided into capitalist market economy (enclosure and exchange), power economy (de-enclosure and redistribution), gift economy (obligation to return and reciprocity), and concession economy (de-obligation to return). The concession economy reflects Graeber’s baseline communism (from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs) and Deguchi’s We-turn philosophy (the “I” as an individual has a “fundamental incapability” and the subject of physical action, responsibility, and freedom is “We” as a multi-agent system, including the “I”). In this study, we constructed novel network models for these four modes and compared their properties (cluster coefficient, graph density, reciprocity, assortativity, centrality, and Gini coefficient). Our calculation results show that the market economy has more inequality; the power economy mitigates inequality but cannot eliminate it; the gift and concession economies lead to a more healthy and equal economy; and the concession economy, free from the constraints of obligation to return, is possible without guaranteeing reciprocity. In comparison with the established models, we found that the power economy is equivalent to Barabási–Albert model with power law, that the gift and concession economies can be positioned within variations of Watts–Strogatz model with small-world property, and that the approach from concession to gift economies is more effective in reducing inequality, fostering natural reciprocity while avoiding the constraints of return. We intend to promote the transformation from a capitalist economy to a concession economy through activities that disseminate baseline communism and the We-turn philosophy that promotes concession, that is, developing a cooperative platform to support concession through information technology and empirical research through fieldwork.

Prevalence of monogamy at the level of flowers in plants

Different types of genomic conflicts are possible in plants with multiovulate ovaries that produce multiseeded fruits: between the maternal plant and its offspring, among developing seeds, between paternal and maternal genomes over seed development, and among paternal parents if different parents sire seeds within an ovary. We tested the hypothesis that such conflicts in multiseeded fruits can be reduced if seeds are sired by a single pollen parent. We conducted a meta-analysis of paternity in 63 species across diverse plant families to assess paternity within fruits. Our results reveal that almost 50% of flowering plant species with multiseeded fruits have a single pollen parent. Our results question the prevailing notion that multiple paternity of seeds within fruits is widespread, especially when, in addition to single paternity in multiseeded fruits, a large number of species have single-seeded fruits. We provide insights into the role of sibling rivalry and kin selection in driving genetic relatedness of seeds within fruits. Equally important, the observation of monogamy at the level of flowers is in line with the mating patterns observed in animals.

Unraveling the dynamics of conductive filaments in MoS2-based memristors by operando transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Advanced operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques enable the observation of nanoscale phenomena in electronic devices during operation. Here, we investigated lateral memristive devices composed of two dimensional layered MoS2 with Pd and Ag electrodes. Under external bias voltage, we visualized the formation and migration of Ag conductive filaments (CFs) between the two electrodes, and their complete dissolution upon reversing the biasing polarity. The CFs exhibited a wide range of sizes, from several Ångströms to tens of nanometers, and followed diverse pathways: along the MoS2 surfaces, within the van der Waals gap between MoS2 layers, and through the spacing between MoS2 bundles. Our method enables correlation between current-voltage responses and real-time TEM imaging, offering insights into failed and anomalous switching behaviors, and clarifying the cycle-to-cycle variabilities. Our findings provide solid evidence for the electrochemical metallization mechanism, elucidate the formation dynamics of CFs, and reveal key parameters influencing the switching performance.