Browse Articles

Positioning of Chinese time nouns and adverbs: Evidence from corpus, acceptability, and processing studies

This study examines the syntactic placement and cognitive processing of time nouns and time adverbs in Mandarin Chinese, a language without overt tense morphology, highlighting how these temporal expressions interface with Chinese grammar. Study 1 analyzed a large-scale natural language corpus (BLCU Chinese Corpus) to determine the typical positions of time nouns and time adverbs relative to the subject. The results revealed distinct distributional patterns: time nouns occurred flexibly either before or after the subject, while time adverbs appeared predominantly in post-subject (sentence-internal) positions. Study 2 investigated native Mandarin speakers’ acceptability judgments of sentences with time expressions in various positions. Sentences in which time nouns followed the subject were rated as more acceptable and supported the canonical word order, whereas pre-subject time nouns were acceptable mainly in topicalized contexts. In contrast, time adverbs were strongly preferred in post-subject positions, with only a few exceptions where certain adverbs could be fronted. Study 3 examined the real-time comprehension of these structures using reaction time and accuracy. Results showed that sentences with time expressions in non-canonical positions incurred greater processing costs, while canonical post-subject placements facilitated faster and more accurate processing. These findings suggest that the human sentence processor is sensitive to structural preferences for temporal expressions, mirroring patterns in natural use and grammatical acceptability. By integrating corpus analysis, acceptability judgments, and psycholinguistic data, this study provides a comprehensive account of how time nouns and time adverbs are positioned and processed in Chinese, offering broader implications for understanding temporal reference in tenseless languages.

Evidence accumulation in the pre-supplementary motor area and insula drives confidence and changes of mind

Abstract Evidence accumulation is a powerful mechanism to explain the temporal dynamics of decisions, as well as their metacognitive components such as confidence judgments and changes of mind. However, it is still unclear how and where in the brain evidence accumulation leads to these two metacognitive components. We report intracranial high-gamma activity in patients with epilepsy recorded while they perform a visual discrimination task and estimate their confidence level. Our results indicate an anatomical overlap between the neural correlates of evidence accumulation, confidence, and changes of mind in the pre-supplementary motor area, as well as in the orbitofrontal, inferior frontal, and insular cortices. Behavioural and electrophysiological results are reproduced with a post-decisional evidence accumulation model, and the temporal dynamics of decision-making is characterized with mouse-tracking and intracranial electrophysiology. We conclude that confidence and changes of mind result from evidence accumulation, instantiated before the decision in the pre-supplementary motor area, and after the decision in the insula.

Sodium formate-induced mitochondrial impairment and cytotoxicity in neuronal cells reveal crucial pathogenic mechanisms underlying diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy

Expression of Concern: Servant leadership and employee prosocial rule-breaking: The underlying effects of psychological safety and compassion at work

Structurally Dynamic Polyplexes Enhance Sentinel Lymph Node Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides to Inhibit Breast Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis

Dual lineage origins contribute to neocortical astrocyte diversity

Abstract Astrocytes are not a uniform population but exhibit diverse morphological, molecular, and functional characteristics. However, how this diversity originates and becomes establishes during development, remains largely unknown. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we identify five astrocyte subtypes with unique molecular features, spatial distributions and functions in the mouse neocortex and characterize essential regulators for their formation. Using TrackerSeq to trace clonally related astrocytes, we identify two distinct lineages that give rise to these five subtypes. One lineage derives from Emx1 + radial glial cells that initially generate neurons and later switch to astrocyte production. The other, with minimal neuronal output, predominantly produces a distinct subset of astrocytes marked by Olig2. Olig2 knockout disrupts lineage specification, leading to changes at molecular, morphological and functional levels. These findings shed light on the cellular mechanisms underlying astrocyte diversity, highlighting the presence of multiple radial glial cell subtypes responsible for generating cortical astrocyte subtypes.

Assessment of a diffusion phantom for quality assurance in brain microstructure diffusion MRI studies

Abstract Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a key contrast mechanism in MRI which allows for the assessment of microstructural properties of brain tissues by measuring the displacement of water molecules. Several diffusion models, including the tensor (DTI), kurtosis (DKI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), are commonly used in both research and clinical practice. However, there is currently no standardized method for validating the stability and repeatability of these models over time. This study evaluates the use of a DTI phantom as a standard reference for diffusion MRI model validation. The phantom, along with four healthy volunteers, was scanned repeatedly on different days to assess repeatability and stability. The acquired data were fitted to the diffusion models, with repeatability assessed in the phantom using the coefficient of variation (CoV), while stability in vivo was assessed using the repeatability coefficient (RC). The phantom was consecutively scanned eight times to investigate the impact of gradient coil heating on measurement consistency. Results showed that the phantom provided a highly reproducible reference, with CoVs below 5% across repeated and consecutive acquisitions, confirming the robustness of the diffusion models. In vivo, the low RCs indicated that the models remained stable over time, despite potential physiological variability. This study highlights the essential role of phantoms in diffusion MRI research, providing a reference framework for model validation. Future research will expand on this work to a multi-center study to assess inter-scanner variability, potentially incorporating the phantom into calibration protocols to standardize diffusion MRI measurements across different MRI systems.

STGATN: A novel spatiotemporal graph attention network for predicting pollutant concentrations at multiple stations

Accurately predicting air pollutant concentrations can reduce health risks and provide crucial references for environmental governance. In pollution prediction tasks, three key factors are essential: (1) dynamic dependencies among global monitoring stations should be considered in spatial feature extraction due to the diffusion properties of air pollutants; (2) precise temporal correlation modeling is critical because pollutant concentrations change dynamically and periodically; (3) it is vital to avoid propagation of long-term prediction errors across spatiotemporal dimensions. To address these challenges, we propose STGATN, a novel spatiotemporal graph attention network with an encoder-decoder architecture. Both the encoder and decoder incorporate a spatiotemporal embedding mechanism, a spatiotemporal graph attention block, a gated temporal convolutional network, and a fusion gate. Specifically, the spatiotemporal graph attention module is designed to use temporal and graph attention networks to extract dynamic spatiotemporal correlations. The gated temporal convolutional network is constructed to capture the long-term temporal causal relationships. The fusion gate adaptively fuses the spatiotemporal correlations and temporal causal relationships. In addition, a spatiotemporal embedding mechanism, including positional and temporal information, is added to account for pollutants’ periodicity and station-specific properties. Moreover, this paper proposes a transformer attention that establishes direct dependencies between future and historical time steps to avoid prediction error accumulation in the dynamic decoding process. The experimental results show that the proposed prediction model significantly outperforms the latest baseline methods on the air pollution dataset from actual monitoring stations in Beijing City.

Catalytic synthesis of chiral sulfinimidate esters via oxidative esterification of sulfenamides

Proteomics analysis reveals FEN1 as a promising therapeutic target against small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix

Whole exome sequencing reveals pathogenic variants in CNGA3, CACNA1F, and RPGRIP1 in consanguineous Pakistani families with diverse retinal phenotypes

This study investigates the genetic basis of retinal diseases in four consanguineous families from Pakistan, focusing on mutations in the CNGA3, CACNA1F, and RPGRIP1 genes that are implicated in retinal dysfunctions such as achromatopsia, congenital stationary night blindness, and retinal dystrophies. We identified pathogenic variants in these genes, including the novel missense mutation c.955T > C; p.Cys319Arg in CNGA3 (Family 1), the frameshift mutation c.1443dupT; p.Ile482Hisfs*6 in CNGA3 (Family 2), the missense mutation c.2254G > A; p.Val752Met in CACNA1F (Family 3), and the frameshift mutation c.2789dupT; p.Pro931Thrfs*3 in RPGRIP1 (Family 4). Clinical features associated with these mutations include nystagmus, photophobia, reduced visual acuity, and color vision deficiency, with some patients progressing to complete blindness. The findings were validated through Sanger sequencing, segregation analysis, and in silico prediction tools. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to assess the impact of the CNGA3 p.Cys319Arg mutation on protein structure, revealing significant alterations in protein conformation and dynamics. These results highlight the significance of CNGA3, CACNA1F, and RPGRIP1 in retinal health and provide valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of retinal disorders. Our findings contribute to improved genetic counseling, potential targeted therapies, and a deeper understanding of inherited retinal diseases.

USP1/UAF1 targets polyubiquitinated PCNA with an exo-cleavage mechanism that can temporarily enrich for monoubiquitinated PCNA

Deep learning for property prediction of natural fiber polymer composites

Electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture in treating low anterior resection syndrome after rectal cancer surgery: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Purpose Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), a frequent postoperative complication of rectal resection, has been shown to significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA), a non-pharmaceutical treatment, ameliorates gastrointestinal symptoms and promotes bowel movement. However, high-quality clinical evidence is lacking. This study aimed to determine whether EA can improve LARS symptoms compared with sham electroacupuncture (SA). Study design and methods This multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial will be carried out across the outpatient clinics of three tertiary medical centers in China. A total of 136 patients with LARS who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated, in equal proportions (1:1), to either the EA or SA group. Each patient will undergo treatment three times weekly during the first four weeks and twice-weekly sessions over the subsequent four weeks. After the intervention, a 24-week follow-up period will be conducted. The primary outcome is the change in the LARS score from baseline to the end of week 8. Secondary outcomes include changes in the LARS score at other time points, response rate of patients showing reduced defecation dysfunction, subjective distress related to intestinal symptoms, Wexner Diarrhea score, Bristol Bowel Diary, EORTC-QLQ-C30 Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale. Discussion This study will provide evidence of EA from multiple perspectives, investigate its potential application in LARS after rectal cancer surgery, and guide the development of therapy tailored to meet specific individual health needs. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (No. 2024BZYLL0402). All participants enrolled in the trial will provide written informed consent prior to randomization. Results will be prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed academic journal. Trial registration ITMCTR2024000195. International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry (http://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/zh-CN/Home/ProjectView?pid=badb9af5-248b-4818-b3b6-25002f0fa0d5).

Photonics-integrated terahertz transmission lines

Abstract Modern communication and sensing technologies connect the optical domain with the microwave domain. Accessing the terahertz region from 100 GHz to 10 THz is critical for providing larger bandwidths capabilities. Despite progress in integrated electronics, they lack a direct link to the optical domain, and face challenges with increasing frequencies ( > 1 THz). Electro-optic effects offer promising capabilities but are currently limited to bulk nonlinear crystals, missing out miniaturization, or to sub-terahertz bandwidths. Here, we address these challenges by realizing photonic circuits that integrate terahertz transmission lines on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN). By providing terahertz field confinement and phase-matched interaction with optical fields, our miniaturized devices support low-noise and broad bandwidth terahertz generation and detection spanning four octaves (200 GHz to  > 3 THz). By leveraging photonics’ advantages in low-loss and high-speed control, our platform achieves control over the terahertz spectrum and its amplitude, paving the way for compact and power-efficient devices with applications in telecommunications, spectroscopy, quantum electrodynamics and computing.

Choroidal vascularity index is independent of ocular and image-based factors in healthy eyes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) has been extensively used to assess choroidal health in posterior eye disease; however, interpretation is hindered by conflicting evidence on effect of normal physiological factors on CVI. Thus, this review aimed to derive a normative value for CVI and understand its relationship with various normal ocular/image-based factors. Studies were screened for eligibility, defined as eyes with normal ocular parameters (refractive error (RxE) < ± 6 DS, intraocular pressure (IOP < 21 mmHg) and no posterior segment disease and 98 studies were included. Pooled weighted average of subfoveal CVI extracted from healthy eyes (n = 5332 eyes) was 66.50% [CI 65.67–67.32]. Secondary stratifications (time of scan, device wavelength, imaging mode, region of interest, systemic factors) and meta regression (age, RxE and IOP) were insignificant on CVI (p = 0.579–0.872), however Best corrected visual acuity showed positive correlation (p = 0.037). Unaltered, narrow confidence interval in sensitivity analysis, complemented by non-significant publication bias indicated robustness of the synthesised data. These results provide the highest-level evidence in hierarchy of the first normative subfoveal CVI value synthesised from literature and that it is not influenced by most person, eye and imaging factors in healthy eyes.

Association of serum lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 levels with metabolic variables and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

Aims This study aimed to explore the role of serum lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3) in glucose and lipid metabolism and its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Between July and December 2024, we recruited 256 newly diagnosed T2DM patients and 252 gender- and age-matched individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Serum LPCAT3 levels were measured using ELISA. Group comparisons were conducted via t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. Spearman correlation analysis assessed the relationship between LPCAT3 and metabolic variables. Linear regression identified independent predictors of LPCAT3 levels. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis evaluated the correlations between serum LPCAT3 and obesity-related anthropometric indicators, blood glucose and lipid indicators. Logistic regression evaluated the association between LPCAT3 levels and T2DM risk, and ROC analysis determined its predictive value. Results Median LPCAT3 level was lower in T2DM patients (21.51 ng/ml, IQR: 8.47–35.63) compared to the NGT group (24.43 ng/ml, IQR: 14.41–49.37). In NGT individuals, LPCAT3 negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). In T2DM patients, LPCAT3 negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Linear regression identified BMI, HDL, and FBG as negative predictors of LPCAT3. PLS analysis revealed negative correlations between LPCAT3 and BMI, WC, HDL and FBG, but with large standard errors. When stratified by LPCAT3 tertiles, the lowest tertile initially showed a higher T2DM incidence than the highest tertile. However, after adjusting for obesity-related indicators, no significant difference was found between them. ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.580 for LPCAT3. Conclusion Although serum LPCAT3 levels are lower in T2DM patients, its predictive capacity for T2DM is constrained. Moreover, the association between LPCAT3 and T2DM risk is likely confounded by obesity-related factors. While LPCAT3 tends to negatively correlate with BMI, HDL, and FBG, these correlations are complex and unstable.

Tumor-associated neutrophil precursors impair homologous DNA repair and promote sensitivity to PARP inhibition

A highly sensitive method for detecting African swine fever virus in oral fluids from naturally infected pigs in Northern Vietnam

Role of rosuvastatin and pitavastatin in alleviating diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats: Targeting of RISK, NF-κB/ NLRP3 inflammasome and TLR4/ NF-κB signaling cascades

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious outcome of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and a key contributor to high morbidity and death in diabetic individuals. The current research is intended to elucidate and compare the therapeutic benefits of rosuvastatin (RVS) and pitavastatin (PTS) in mitigating DMC-induced in rats and exploring the possible underlying molecular signaling pathways. DCM was prompted by feeding rats a high-fat/fructose (F/Fr) diet for eight weeks with a sub-diabetogenic dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg; i.p) injection at week seven. All rats were allocated into four groups: a normal control group, a DCM-induced positive control group, the RVS group of DCM-induced rats that were treated once daily with 10 mg/kg of RVS, and the PTS group of DCM rats that were treated with 0.8 mg/kg of PTS. Rats were given the treatments orally for four consecutive weeks. The outcome of the existing work discovered that RVS and PTS significantly improved T2DM-associated DCM, as evidenced by the amelioration of glucose, lipids, cardiac markers, ECG parameters, and redox status. Considering the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation, this attenuation was evidenced by the downregulation of redox, inflammatory, and cellular fibrotic cascades, namely RISK, NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome, and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Additionally, the histopathological examinations confirmed these structural alterations in the myocardium. Besides, RVS and PTS diminished the expression of caspase-1 assessed by immunochemical staining. In summary, the present study demonstrated that RVS and PTS mitigated the metabolic abnormalities associated with T2DM-induced DCM.