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Correction: In vivo treatment with a non-aromatizable androgen rapidly alters the ovarian transcriptome of previtellogenic secondary growth coho salmon (Onchorhynchus kisutch)
Comparative efficacy and prognostic impact of continuous versus intermittent hydrocortisone administration in septic shock patients
Genomic insights into the taxonomic status and bioactive gene cluster profiling of Bacillus velezensis RVMD2 isolated from desert rock varnish in Ma’an, Jordan
Extreme environments like arid and semi-arid deserts harbor unique microbial diversity, offering rich sources of specialized microbial metabolites. This study explores Bacillus velezensis RVMD2, a strain isolated from rock varnish in the Ma’an Desert, Jordan. The genome was sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 2000 platform, resulting in a 4,212,579 bp assembly with a GC content of 45.94%. The assembled genome comprises 112 contigs and encodes 4,250 proteins, 77 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated a 99.84% similarity to previously identified B. velezensis strains. Whole-genome phylogeny using EzBiome, MiGA, and TYGS confirmed its classification as B. velezensis. Functional annotation identified genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, including 324 carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes, stress response, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The genome also contains 50 genes associated with heavy metal resistance and plant growth promotion. Analysis using AntiSMASH identified 12 biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the production of secondary metabolites, including fengycin, surfactin, polyketides, terpenes, and bacteriocins. Notably, several clusters did not match any known sequences, suggesting the presence of potentially novel antimicrobial compounds. The genomic features of RVMD2 highlight its adaptability to extreme environments and its potential for biotechnological applications, including bioremediation and the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites.
Relative DOA estimation method for UAV swarm based on phase difference information without fixed anchors
Roses are red — but their ancestors were yellow
Sustainability of evidence-based policy engagement model: A case study of Advance Family Planning initiative in India
Background Advance Family Planning (AFP) is a global engagement initiative to expand access to quality contraceptive information, services and supplies by fostering policy pledge and investment. Since it was launched in 2009 the initiate was implemented in ten countries. In India, this program was implemented in 42 districts across six states during 2012-2019. This paper describes the sustainability of its Engagement model and outlines programmatic strategies that facilitated the same. Materials and methods An explorative qualitative study was conducted to capture information from the representatives of district working groups and implementation partners from 26 districts across six states. The analysis was informed by the Beery’s framework for sustainability and was performed thematically using a mix of inductive and deductive approach. Results The integration of district working groups with existing health system partner forums or inter-departmental coordination platforms in selected districts, and adoption of SMART advocacy approach to various other programs and beyond the initiative geographies demonstrate the sustainability of the engagement model. The factors considered essential to its sustainability include strengthening the operational capacity of district working groups through regular monitoring, creating champions by training on SMART advocacy approach, fostering multi- and inter-sectoral partnerships and networks through collaborative platforms, and promoting accountability and ownership through open discussions. Conclusion The evidence emphasizes the continuity of the program as a system-led initiative for its sustainability. Health promoters and public health practitioners could proactively integrate sustainability components within their program design and achieve this through strategic planning throughout program implementation and the program lifecycle.
Anisotropic crack evolution and fractal failure mechanism of Lushan shale under compression: insights from acoustic emission
Changes of upper ocean disturbance caused by tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific main development region (1993–2021)
During the passage of tropical cyclones (TCs) cause severe disturbances in the upper ocean, especially the TC main development region (MDR) (5°-23°N, 127°-160°E) in the Western North Pacific. The main attributes affecting the upper ocean disturbance were selected and weighted by the CRITIC weight method. An upper ocean disturbance (UOD) index with TCs intensity factors (MSW, Vh), ocean dynamic factors (SSC, RV, EPV) and ocean thermal factors (ΔSST, ΔMLD) was established. The change of UOD index in different time scales was analyzed by calculating each TC accumulation, monthly accumulation, and Interannual accumulation. The UOD index was closely related to the ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) climate anomaly, and their interannual correlation was as high as 0.83. Generally, the UOD index was higher in El Niño years and lower in La Niña years. In the past 10 years, the ocean thermal factors of UOD index have been increasing, especially in La Niña years. This is mainly due to the increasing SST, decreasing MLD and seawater salinity in recent years, which have changed upper ocean stratification. These results offer insights for the comprehensive analysis of the response and variation trend of the upper ocean to TC in the MDR of the Western North Pacific in recent years.
Inferring past demography and genetic adaptation in Spain using the GCAT cohort
Abstract Located in the southwestern corner of Europe, the Iberian Peninsula is separated from the rest of the continent by the Pyrenees Mountains and from Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar. This geographical position may have conditioned distinct selective pressures compared to the rest of Europe and influenced differential patterns of gene flow. In this work, we analyse 704 whole-genome sequences from the GCAT reference panel to quantify gene flow into Spain from various historical sources and identify the top signatures of positive (adaptive) selection. While we found no clear evidence of a 16th-century admixture event putatively related to the French diaspora during the Wars of Religion, we detected signals of North African admixture matching the Muslim period and the subsequent Christian Reconquista. Notably, besides finding that well-known candidate genes previously described in Eurasians also seem to be adaptive in Spain, we discovered novel top candidates for positive selection putatively associated with immunity and diet ( UBL7 , SMYD1 , VAC14 and FDFT1 ). Finally, local ancestry deviation analysis revealed that the MHCIII genomic region underwent post-admixture selection following the post-Neolithic admixture with Steppe ancestry.
Negative thermal expansion and oxygen-redox electrochemistry
The potential effectiveness of probiotics in reducing multiple sclerosis progression in preclinical and clinical studies: A worldwide systematic review and meta-analysis
Background and objective Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by nerve cell inflammation and demyelination. The effectiveness of probiotics in reducing inflammatory damage in MS. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was the potential effectiveness of probiotics in reducing Multiple Sclerosis progression in preclinical and clinical studies. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were searched using multiple relevant keywords, and screening was carried out based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria from January 2004 to August 16, 2024. Results Based on our criteria, 269 papers were obtained, and after omission of unsuitable articles, 23 full-text articles consisting of 17 animal studies and six human models were selected. It was concluded that in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model, probiotics such as Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus can decrease the T helper 1 (Th1)/Th17 ratio while inducing interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-17 levels. In all cases, probiotics can modulate immune cells and cytokines and consequently decrease EAE signs and symptoms. In all human studies, single or multiple probiotics decreased the severity of disease and changed the gut microbiota population. Conclusion Our results showed that probiotics can control the development of MS by reducing inflammatory conditions, and may have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of MS.
Research on blindsight technology for object recognition and attitude determination based on tactile pressure analysis
From blender to farm: Transforming controlled environment agriculture with synthetic data and SwinUNet for precision crop monitoring
The aim of this study was to train a Vision Transformer (ViT) model for semantic segmentation to differentiate between ripe and unripe strawberries using synthetic data to avoid challenges with conventional data collection methods. The solution used Blender to generate synthetic strawberry images along with their corresponding masks for precise segmentation. Subsequently, the synthetic images were used to train and evaluate the SwinUNet as a segmentation method, and Deep Domain Confusion was utilized for domain adaptation. The trained model was then tested on real images from the Strawberry Digital Images dataset. The performance on the real data achieved a Dice Similarity Coefficient of 94.8% for ripe strawberries and 94% for unripe strawberries, highlighting its effectiveness for applications such as fruit ripeness detection. Additionally, the results show that increasing the volume and diversity of the training data can significantly enhance the segmentation accuracy of each class. This approach demonstrates how synthetic datasets can be employed as a cost-effective and efficient solution for overcoming data scarcity in agricultural applications.
Digital selfie editing shows sex specific associations between processing biases and life satisfaction
Abstract Digital technology has introduced a novel form of self-representation, the selfie. This study investigated the psychological effects of selfie editing and its relationship with well-being by measuring editing behaviors, subjective and objective evaluations of selfies, and life satisfaction. The objective assessment employed a speeded perceptual matching task where participants learned to associate selfies and stranger photos with geometric shapes, then judged the correctness of subsequent photo- shape pairings. Results demonstrated that image editing enhanced immediate selfie satisfaction across sexes. Hierarchical drift diffusion modeling revealed preferential processing of both edited and unedited selfies versus stranger photos, suggesting that edited selfies may function as an extended self-identity. Bayesian regression analysis identified significant associations between life satisfaction and individual differences in selfie perception. Women who processed unedited selfies faster, with higher drift rate, yet reported greater satisfaction with edited selfies, exhibited lower life satisfaction. In contrast, women who demonstrated preferentially processed and reported higher satisfaction with edited selfies, had greater life satisfaction. These associations were absent in men. The findings suggest that congruency of subjective self-evaluation and objective processing of selfies might influence psychological well-being, while indicating sex differences in editing behaviors, underlying cognitive processes, and life satisfaction associations.
Safety of lifitegrast: A real-world pharmacovigilance study based on FAERS
To comprehensively assess the safety of Lifitegrast, a drug for dry eye disease, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of adverse event (AE) reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). This retrospective study examined all AE reports submitted between Q3 2016 and Q2 2024, employing disproportionality analysis to identify safety signals associated with Lifitegrast. Out of a total of 13,326,934 AE reports indexed in the FAERS database, 12,393 listed Lifitegrast as the primary suspect drug. A total of 230 ocular AE signals were identified, with 104 of these AEs being detected by different analysis algorithms. Among these signals, 71 AEs were documented in the product insert of Lifitegrast, including but not limited to eye irritation, eye pain and eye swelling. AEs not mentioned in the drug labeling were identified, such as glaucoma and cataracts.AEs associated with Lifitegrast are more commonly observed in male patients and those aged over 65 years.The insights derived from this FAERS database analysis are significant for optimizing the use of Lifitegrast while minimizing potential side effects, thereby enhancing the safety of its clinical application.
A cross-chain model for warehouse receipts in port supply chain based on notary mechanism and ShangMi cryptographic algorithms
Regulating the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase encoding gene gsdA and its impact on growth and citric acid production in Aspergillus niger
Glycolysis in A. niger, a key organism in industrial biotechnology, provides essential precursors for efficient citric acid production. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), encoded by the gene gsdA, is a critical point in the cellular metabolism as it determines the metabolic fate of glucose-6-phosphate by redirecting it into the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Despite its decisive position in the metabolic network the functional role of G6PD and its impact on citric acid synthesis and growth is not fully understood. Here, we present an A. niger strain expressing a ptet-on regulated version of gsdA at the pyrG locus. The native gene was disrupted and hence, gsdA expression was based on a single copy level. Under non-inducing conditions, the strain was not growing on glucose. On gluconate, a precursor for an intermediate of the oxidative PPP, growth was restored but delayed compared to the control strain expressing gsdA under the native promoter. Furthermore, citric acid production was monitored in dependency of different gsdA induction levels using doxycycline. At low induction levels, the yield on glucose was enhanced by 49% compared to the control strain, albeit with reduced growth leading to lower titers. Through supplementation of the medium with gluconate, we anticipated to provide precursors for biomass production for efficient metabolization of glucose to citric acid. Without the native regulation of the gsdA gene growth and citric acid production were time delayed. However, the yield of the gsdA-regulated strain was higher compared to the control after 120 h of cultivation and was positively influenced with an increasing proportion of gluconate in the medium. The findings of this study underscore the dependency of growth and citric acid production on gsdA expression in A. niger.
SS-EMERGE - self-supervised enhancement for multidimension emotion recognition using GNNs for EEG
Psychological safety and patient safety: A systematic and narrative review
Objectives Various psychological concepts have been proposed over time as potential solutions to improving patient safety and quality of care. Psychological safety has been identified as a crucial mechanism of learning and development, and one that can facilitate optimal patient safety in healthcare. We investigated the quantitative evidence on the relationship between psychological safety and objective patient safety outcomes. Methods We searched 8 databases and conducted manual scoping to identify peer reviewed quantitative studies published up to February 2024. Objective patient safety outcomes of any type were eligible. The findings were analysed descriptively and discussed in a narrative synthesis. Results Nine papers were selected for inclusion which reported on heterogeneous patient safety outcomes. Five studies showed a significant relationship between psychological safety and patient safety outcomes (e.g., ventilator associated events, reported medical errors). The majority of studies reported on the experiences of nurses working in healthcare from the USA. Patient safety is consistently characterised as the absence of harm rather than a culture that creates a safe environment. Conclusions No clear conclusions can be extracted regarding the relationship between psychological safety and patient safety. For example, reporting patient safety problems in a team can be an indication of both high and low psychological safety. Patient safety may be contradictory to elements of psychological safety, as the absence of harm is not congruent with a safety environment approach. Systematic review registration: This systematic review is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD4202347829).