Browse Articles

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).

Glycyrrhiza uralensis crude water extract and licochalcone A and B to enhance chicken muscle satellite cell differentiation for cultured meat production

Molecular cloning and functional verification of chalcone synthase genes from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in defense against Tetranychus cinnabarinus infestation

Secondary metabolites such as flavonoids play an important role in protecting plants from biological agents such as fungi, pathogens, bacteria and pests. Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the first enzyme in the plant flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, and is also a key enzyme and rate-limiting enzyme in the secondary metabolite production pathway, which has very important physiological significance in plants. Despite extensive characterization in various plants, the functions of CHS in cassava remain unknown. Here, MeCHS1, MeCHS3 and MeCHS5 genes from Manihot esculenta Crantz were isolated and functionally analyzed. The results showed that the over-expression of the three MeCHSs were beneficial to control the further reproduction of Tetranychus cinnabarinus. At the same time, the transfer of MeCHS1, MeCHS3 and MeCHS5 genes can promote the synthesis of more secondary metabolites in Arabidopsis thaliana. Heterologous expression in A. thaliana indicated the presence of different expression levels of the three MeCHSs in defense against T. cinnabarinus infestation. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of MeCHSs were positively correlated with the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and negatively correlated with survival rate of T. cinnabarinus. These results indicate that the different expression levels of MeCHS genes lead to the difference in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, and thus the resistance of A. thaliana to T. cinnabarinus is also different.

Construction of online classroom instructional quality assessment system of university music based on BP neural network

WeNet-RF: An Automatic Classification Model for Financial Reimbursement Budget Items

Accurate classification of budget items is a critical component of financial reimbursement, as it determines the legitimacy and regulatory compliance of financial expenditures. Currently, manual classification of reimbursement budget items faces to two challenges of inefficiency and inaccuracy. This is primarily due to the labor-intensive nature of the task, which increases the likelihood of selecting incorrect categories. To address these challenges, this study proposed a WeNet-Random Forest (WeNet-RF) model, which leverages speech recognition technology (WeNet) and Random Forest (RF) to improve efficiency and classification accuracy. WeNet-RF includes four steps: speech identification, features extraction, items classification, and evaluated model.This study compared WeNet-RF with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Logistic Regression (LR) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN). WeNet-RF was verified by 50 real financial reimbursement records, and the results show that accuracy rate, precision rate, recall rate, and F1 score of WeNet-RF all are 90.77%. The findings provide a robust solution for improving financial management processes, and a reference model to financial management system.

Multimodal representations of transfer learning with snake optimization algorithm on bone marrow cell classification using biomedical histopathological images

Recognizing employees’ contribution to effectiveness and values: A randomized waitlist-controlled trial of operant-based leadership training

To develop and sustain a healthy and efficient work environment, managers need to provide their employees with relevant and useful performance feedback. However, research on leadership training in functional behaviors, such as performance feedback, has yet to demonstrate consistent long-term effectiveness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term influence of operant-based leadership training on managers’ performance feedback behaviors. Municipality employees (n = 439) responded to a questionnaire four times over a period of 18 months. The employees’ managers were randomized into an experimental and a control group. The managers in the experimental group received managerial behavioral training, while the waitlist control group managers did not. Multilevel growth curve modeling was used for data analysis. The results showed that employees in the experimental group reported a significantly greater improvement in their managers’ performance feedback behaviors compared to employees in the control group (β = 0.30, p = 0.04). Furthermore, the improvement in the experimental group managers’ leadership behaviors had a linear trajectory throughout the 18-month study period, with no significant deceleration in their learning curve (Δχ2(2) = 2.2, p = 0.34). In conclusion, operant-based leadership training can help managers develop their performance feedback behaviors and the effect of such training is persistent over time. The findings imply that leadership training research and practice should strive to integrate operant learning theory and practice in order to improve the long-term effectiveness of leadership training interventions. Positive utility reactions, achieved by shaping leadership behaviors to optimize their fit with the managers’ work context, may be critical for ensuring the enduring effects of leadership training.

Quantifying grating defects in X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry through a comparative study of two fabrication techniques

Abstract The performance of an X-ray grating interferometry system depends on the geometry and quality of the gratings. Fabrication of micrometer-pitch high-aspect-ratio gold gratings, which are essential for measuring small refraction angles at higher energies, is challenging. The two widely used technologies for manufacturing gratings are based on gold electroplating in polymeric or silicon templates. Here, gratings manufactured by both approaches were inspected using conventional microscopy, X-ray synchrotron radiography, and computed laminography to extract characteristic features of the gratings profile to be modeled accurately. These models were used in a wave-propagation simulation to predict the effects of the gratings’ geometry and defects on the quality of a Talbot-Lau interferometer in terms of visibility and absorption capabilities. The simulated outcomes of grating features produced with both techniques could eventually be observed and evaluated in a table-top Talbot-Lau-Interferometer.

Incidence, associated factors and impact of the post-COVID-19 condition in Brazil: Study protocol of an observational cohort during the Omicron phase

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a significant impact in Brazil, with over 37 million cases and 690,000 deaths. Survivors often experience prolonged symptoms, termed post-COVID-19 condition or long COVID, affecting various aspects of life. Data on post-COVID-19 in Brazil, particularly amid the Omicron variant, are limited. This study aims to address this gap by assessing the incidence, associated factors, and impact of post-COVID-19 in adults infected during the Omicron phase, using the World Health Organization case definition. This Brazilian cohort study involves virtual recruitment and a nested case-control design. Participants from all regions will be recruited through electronic announcements. Inclusion criteria comprise age ≥ 18, Brazilian residency, and confirmed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. A nested case-control study will compare cognitive domains in post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction cases and controls. Data collection will utilize standardized instruments, including the EQ-5D-3L, Lawton & Brody Scale, Barthel Index, and others. Statistical analyses will employ adjusted models for primary and secondary outcomes. The study follows ethical guidelines, with an informed consent process tailored to participant preferences. Confidentiality measures include restricted access and secure electronic data storage. Results will be disseminated in academic forums, peer-reviewed journals, and directly communicated to participants. Authorship criteria align with international standards, and data sharing requests will be evaluated by the steering committee. The study is currently recruiting participants.

Synthesis of NiCo2O4 supported on Chitosan for potential adsorption of copper ions in water samples

Abstract The present work involved the synthesis of nano-spinel oxide, which was subsequently incorporated into chitosan to enhance the adsorption efficiency of Cu(II) from aqueous samples. The chitosan was compared with the modified chitosan (nickel cobaltite@Chitosan) in terms of adsorption performance toward Cu (II) ions. Structural and morphological characterization was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), which confirms the crystalline structure; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to reveal surface morphology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to examine the nanoscale dispersion, and thermal analysis, to asses the material stability. Various experimental parameters, including pH and catalyst mass loading, were tuned. The adsorption data were found to be best described by Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption. The reaction order was found to obey pseudo-first-order kinetics, suggesting that physisorption controls the process. The synthesized catalyst had a retention efficiency of 92% across three consecutive cycles, demonstrating its potential as a reusable and efficient adsorbent for Cu(II) removal from water.