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Information theory and thermodynamic properties for a combined potential model

Research on accelerating the recycling efficiency of waste batteries for new energy vehicles based on a stochastic evolutionary game model

Multifactorial approach is needed to unravel the maturation phases of human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells

Abstract Neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (h-iPSC-Ns) provide an invaluable model for studying the physiological aspects of human neuronal development under healthy and pathological conditions. However, multiple studies have demonstrated that h-iPSC-Ns exhibit a high degree of functional and epigenetic diversity. Due to the imprecise characterization and significant variation among the currently available maturation protocols, it is essential to establish a set of criteria to standardize models and accurately characterize and define the developmental properties of human neurons derived from iPSCs. In this study, we conducted comprehensive cellular and network level analysis of the functional development of human neurons, generated from iPSCs obtained from healthy young female peripheral blood mononuclear cells by BDNF and GDNF treatment. We provide a thorough description of the maturation process of h-iPSC-Ns over a 10-week in vitro period using conventional whole-cell patch clamp and dynamic clamp techniques, alongside with morphometry and immunocytochemistry. Additionally, we utilized calcium imaging to monitor the progression of synaptic activity and network communication. At the single cell level, human neurons exhibited gradually decreasing membrane resistance in parallel with improved excitability. By the fifth week of maturation, firing profiles were consistent with those of mature regular firing type of neurons. At the network level, fast glutamatergic and depolarizing GABAergic synaptic connections were abundant together with synchronized network activity from the sixth week of maturation. Alterations in the expression of GABA A receptor subunits were also observed during the process of maturation. The sequence of differentiation events was consistent, providing a robust temporal framework to execute experiments at defined stages of neuronal maturation as well as to use a specific set of experiments to assess a culture’s maturation. The uncovered progression of differentiation events provides a powerful tool to aid the planning and designing of targeted experiments during defined stages of neuronal maturation.

Seismic refraction investigation of the shallow bedrock in New Qena City, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract The seismic refraction technique has demonstrated its efficiency as a cost-effective geophysical approach for bedrock investigation, which is very important for major construction projects. In the southern part of New Qena City, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, construction of many domestic facilities is planned. Therefore, a prior investigation focusing on bedrock is required to validate the site for construction and other projects. In this study, a site investigation of the southern part of New Qena City is conducted using the seismic refraction method to estimate the depth and thickness of the bedrock and to present the subsurface structural features affecting the area. Ten seismic refraction profiles were measured, and the data were used for tomographic inversion. The results revealed a four-layered subsurface, with the bedrock represented by the mudstone unit of the Pliocene Durri Formation. This layer is located at a shallow depth and exhibits relatively low velocities as well as lateral velocity variations. This is attributed to the clay content of the layer, the high degree of fracturing, and the lateral facies variation. Therefore, the layer could undergo geotechnical problems that could affect future construction projects in the area. Ten subsurface faults were also detected in the velocity sections.

Improving ocean reanalyses of observationally sparse regions with transfer learning

Abstract Oceanic subsurface observations are sparse and lead to large uncertainties in any model-based estimate. We investigate the applicability of transfer learning based neural networks to reconstruct North Atlantic temperatures in times with sparse observations. Our network is trained on a time period with abundant observations to learn realistic physical behavior. Evaluating it within a consistent data assimilation framework, this network learns and reproduces its training data’s physical patterns. Additionally, the network is able to transfer these patterns towards a historical ocean heat content estimate in times with sparse observations. Consequently, with infrequent input data, machine learning reconstructions exhibit similar physical structures, while correcting for known errors compared to state-of-the-art data assimilation products. In this manner, transfer learning can impact the initialization and evaluation of climate hindcasts. Furthermore, by exhibiting the capability to accurately transfer results from high to low-frequencies, transfer learning based neural networks showcase their relevance in mixed-frequency measurements beyond climate science.

Olfaction with legs—Spiders use wall-pore sensilla for pheromone detection

The sense of smell is a central sensory modality of most terrestrial species. However, our knowledge of olfaction is based on vertebrates and insects. In contrast, little is known about the chemosensory world of spiders and nothing about how they perform olfaction despite their important ecological role. The orb-weaving spider Argiope bruennichi lends itself to an in-depth study on olfaction as it is one of the few spider species whose volatile sex pheromone, emitted by females to attract males, is known. We combined ultrastructural and electrophysiological analyses and found that previously overlooked sensilla with wall pores are abundant on all walking legs of A. bruennichi males. We compared the ultrastructure of these wall-pore sensilla with those known to perform olfaction in insects, exploring similarities and differences. Electrophysiological single sensillum recordings demonstrated that the wall-pore sensilla in A. bruennichi respond highly sensitive and in a concentration-dependent manner to the sex pheromone. Our study demonstrates male-specific sensilla for detecting signaling females, whereas females and subadult males are devoid of wall pore sensilla. In a preliminary comparative morphological analysis using 19 species from 16 spider families, we found that wall-pore sensilla occur in male spiders from most, but not in basally branching clades or in Salticids, suggesting that wall-pore sensilla evolved at least once within spiders and were lost at least once. This research significantly expands our knowledge of the sensory ecology of spiders, will stimulate studies on the diversity and function of sensilla, as well as studies on the evolution of olfaction in arthropods.

Unlocking practical wisdom through the inner voice of robots

Rare but important gastrointestinal complications after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a single-center experience

Pan-European atmospheric lead pollution, enhanced blood lead levels, and cognitive decline from Roman-era mining and smelting

Ancient texts and archaeological evidence indicate substantial lead exposure during antiquity that potentially impacted human health. Although lead exposure routes were many and included the use of glazed tablewares, paints, cosmetics, and even intentional ingestion, the most significant for the nonelite, rural majority of the population may have been through background air pollution from mining and smelting of silver and lead ores that underpinned the Roman economy. Here, we determined potential health effects of this air pollution using Arctic ice core measurements of Roman-era lead pollution, atmospheric modeling, and modern epidemiology-based relationships between air concentrations, blood lead levels (BLLs), and cognitive decline. Findings suggest air lead concentrations exceeded 150 ng/m 3 near metallurgical emission sources, with average enhancements of >1.0 ng/m 3 over Europe during the Pax Romana apogee of the Roman Empire. The result was blood lead enhancements in young children of about 2.4 µg/dl above an estimated Neolithic background of 1.0 µg/dl, leading to widespread cognitive decline including a 2.5-to-3 point reduction in intelligence quotient throughout the Roman Empire.

Nomogram model for decompressing craniectomy after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Identification of a cryptic unbalanced translocation Der(22)t(12;22)(q24.33;q13.33) in a large Chinese family with Phelan-McDermid syndrome by nanopore sequencing

BMI gain and dietary characteristics are risk factors of MASLD in non-obese individuals

Abstract This longitudinal observational study aimed to evaluate whether cardiometabolic factors and dietary characteristics are determinants of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in non-obese individuals (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/m²). The study was conducted at the Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daiichi Hospital. Clinical data were longitudinally recorded at annual health checks. The diagnosis of MASLD was based on the results of abdominal ultrasonography and cardiometabolic criteria. Lifestyle behaviors and dietary characteristics were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 4,100 non-obese middle-aged and older participants (1,636 men and 2,464 women) were followed up for an average of 6.44 ± 4.16 years. During the follow-up period, there were 410 new cases of MASLD in men (25.1%) and 484 in women (19.6%). The incidence rate was higher for men (39.7 per 1,000 person-years) than for women (30.1 per 1,000 person-years). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses using the rate of change per year with standardized values found that BMI gain was strongly associated with the onset of MASLD for both men (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.64–2.19) and women (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.72–2.21). Increased waist circumference and triglycerides were also associated with MASLD onset for both men and women. Lowering of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was identified as a risk factor for MASLD in both men and women. Regarding dietary characteristics, the onset of MASLD was significantly and negatively associated with “often eating vegetables” for men (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.93) and “often eating soy products” for women (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.58–0.88), even after adjusting for BMI change and other covariates. These findings suggest that maintaining body weight and favorable dietary characteristics are key factors in the prevention of MASLD in non-obese individuals.

Peptide nucleic acid-immobilised paper combined with multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification for the ultrasensitive and rapid detection of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis

Impact of 17-alpha ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) exposure on microRNAs expression and their target genes in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract Environmental endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) have raised significant concerns due to their potential adverse effects on human health, particularly on the central nervous system (CNS). This study provides a comparative analysis of the effects of 17-alpha ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) on neuronal cell proliferation and neurotoxicity. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells, we evaluated cell viability, microRNA (miRNA) regulation, and RNA expression following exposure to subtoxic concentrations of EE2 and DEP. Our results show that both EDCs downregulated specific miRNAs—miR-18b-5p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-653-5p—affecting key processes such as cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. Gene expression analysis revealed the upregulation of EGFR, IGF1R, BTG2, and SH3BP4, implicating these miRNAs in the regulation of the Ras and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Our findings highlight distinct cellular responses: DEP disrupts PTEN activity, while EE2 enhances phosphorylation within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, promoting pro-survival and anti-apoptotic signals. This study emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of EDCs and offers valuable insights into their molecular impacts on brain health.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Low Skeletal Muscle Mass in Adults Based on NHANES 2011–2018

Correction for Gadea et al., The smallest electrochemical bubbles

Retraction Note: Confidence level based complex polytopic fuzzy Einstein aggregation operators and their application to decision-making process

Higher magnesium depletion score increases the risk of all‑cause and cardiovascular mortality in US adults with diabetes

Background Both dietary magnesium and serum magnesium are associated with the prognosis of diabetic patients. However, the impact of the magnesium depletion score (MDS), which assesses systemic magnesium deficiency, on the prognosis of diabetic patients remains unclear. This cohort study aims to explore the potential association between the MDS and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients. Methods In this study, we analyzed data from 5,219 diabetic individuals from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2018. Participant mortality information was sourced from the National Death Index records. MDS was divided into lower MDS (0–1 points), middle MDS (2 points), and higher MDS (3–5 points) groups. Weighted multivariable Cox regression was utilized to explore the potential association between MDS and mortality in diabetic patients. Stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses were employed to validate the robustness of our findings. Results Among the 5,219 participants included in this study, 1,212 experienced all-cause mortality, and 348 experienced cardiovascular mortality. Weighted multivariable Cox regression indicated that higher MDS was strongly linked to a heightened risk of mortality in all models, including the fully adjusted model (all-cause mortality: HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.20–2.08; cardiovascular mortality: HR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.28–2.88). In the stratified analysis, we found that the association between MDS and all-cause mortality was stronger among individuals aged <60 years. No significant differences were found in the relationship between MDS and mortality within other subgroups. In the sensitivity analyses, our results remained robust. Conclusions An increase in MDS is significantly correlated with a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients. The risk of all-cause mortality was higher in diabetic patients aged <60. Early monitoring and management of MDS, as well as optimizing magnesium nutritional status, may benefit diabetic patients.

Motivation, barriers and preferences of lifestyle changes among older adults with frailty and mild cognitive impairments: A scoping review of qualitative analysis

Lifestyle intervention has proven effective in managing older adults’ frailty and mild cognitive impairment issues. What remains unclear is how best to encourage lifestyle changes among older adults with frailty and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We conducted searches in electronic literature searches such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Reviews, ProQuest, and grey resources to find articles published in English between January 2010 and October 2023. This review focused on research using a qualitative study design. We extracted data on publication year, location, the aim of the study, study population, involved intervention, barriers, motivations, and preferences reported in the articles. Out of 5226 retrieved, 253 articles were selected after the deletion of duplicates, title, abstract screening, and. We included fourteen articles for final analysis at the end of the review process. The two main themes generated from this review are intrinsic and extrinsic factors in motivations and barriers to lifestyle changes. The most reported motivators were the perceived benefits of lifestyle intervention and self-efficacy. Among the obstacles participants face are perceived adverse effects of intervention, lack of knowledge, existing impairment (physical or mental), and social support. Lifestyle change motivations and barriers among older adults mainly were intrinsic factors such as the perceived benefit of the intervention, self-efficacy, knowledge, familial commitment, and existing impairments. There is a need to empower older adults to overcome the barriers with support from healthcare professionals, the community, and the family.

‘Publish or perish’ culture blamed for reproducibility crisis