Browse Articles

Visual recognition of honeybee behavior patterns at the hive entrance

This study presents a novel method for automatically recognizing honeybee behavior patterns at the hive entrance, significantly contributing to beekeeping and hive management. Utilizing advanced YOLOv8 models for detection and segmentation, our approach analyzes various aspects of bee behavior, including location, direction, path trajectory, and movement speed within a designated area on the hive’s landing board. The system effectively detects multiple bee activities such as foraging, fanning, washboarding, and defense, achieving a mean detection accuracy of 98% and operating at speeds of up to 36 fps, surpassing state-of-the-art methods in both speed and accuracy. Key contributions include the development of a comprehensive dataset with 7200 frames from eight beehives, the introduction of the first known research focused on recognizing bee behavior patterns through visual analysis at the hive entrance, and a comparative evaluation of various object detection and tracking algorithms tailored for bee detection and behavior recognition. Our findings indicate that this method enhances monitoring capabilities for beekeepers while reducing the need for manual inspections, thereby minimizing disturbances to the bees. By analyzing spatial trajectories and occurrence density maps, the proposed framework provides robust identification of overlapping behaviors, facilitating timely interventions when necessary. This work lays the groundwork for future automated monitoring systems aimed at improving hive health and productivity.

Distribution characteristics of top SOC in different forest types of Genhe in the Greater Khingan Range of Inner Mongolia

Abstract Soil serves as the largest active carbon reservoir in terrestrial ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in carbon sequestration. The study area is situated in Genhe City, on the western slope of the northern segment of the Greater Khingan Range in Inner Mongolia. We utilized a TOC/TN analyzer to measure the soil organic carbon (SOC) content and applied data analysis methods, including the coefficient of variation and the semivariogram function model, to examine the spatial distribution characteristics of SOC content in the surface layer. The results showed that the variation range of SOC content in the 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm soil layers of the four types of forest land sampling points is 100.98–327.59 g/kg and 44.22–322.71 g/kg. Within the same forest land, SOC content decreases with increasing soil depth. Overall, as latitude increases, the top SOC content shows an upward trend. However, in the Hanma region, the relationship between SOC content and latitude varies across different soil layers. This variation may be attributed to differences in vegetation, topography, and altitude. We believe that latitude, forest type, and altitude all influence the spatial distribution of SOC content. These findings provide a scientific basis and reference for establishing the spatial distribution patterns of top SOC content.

LiAlSiO4-coated Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 cathode: Enhancing Li-ion battery performance

The lithium fast ion conductor LiAlSiO4 demonstrates exceptional lithium-ion transmission properties alongside remarkable chemical stability. Utilizing sol-gel techniques, we synthesized LiAlSiO4-coated cathode materials (LNCM@LASO) based on Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 to enhance their electrochemical performance. Rm space groups were identified in all materials through high-intensity diffraction peaks, indicating the presence of hexagonal layered α-NaFeO2 structures. Benefiting from the coating layer of LiAlSiO4, the conductivity and electrochemical performance of Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 are significantly improved. Compared with the unmodified LASO-0 sample (42.27%), the LASO-3 sample exhibits a superior initial coulomb efficiency of 66.02%. At various charge/discharge rates (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 C), the LASO-3 electrode exhibits specific discharge capacities of 210.6, 189.3, 168.1, 151.8, and 125.2 mAh·g−1, correspondingly. Upon reverting the current density from 2 C to 0.1 C, the discharge capacity of the LASO-3 electrode rebounds to 206.4 mAh·g−1. After 100 cycles at 0.1 C, the LASO-3 electrode achieves a peak capacity retention rate of 88.9%. The superior conductive properties and chemical stability of the LNCM@LASO enhance the electron and ion transfer, thereby preventing electrolyte attack and boosting the electrochemical performance. This research marks a crucial step towards developing high-capacity, low-cost lithium-ion batteries with wide-ranging implications across multiple disciplines and industries.

Multitarget mechanism of MYC inhibition by the bacterial lon protease in disease

Abstract Identifying specific inhibitors of the MYC oncogene has been challenging, due to off target effects associated with MYC inhibition. This study investigated how the recombinant Escherichia coli Lon protease (rLon), which targets MYC in human cells, inhibits MYC over-activation in models of infection and cancer. In silico predictions identified specific peptide domains of bacterial Lon that target MYC and the affinity of these peptides for MYC was investigated by surface plasmon resonance. The N-terminal domain of rLon was shown to interact with the C-terminal, leucine zipper domain of MYC and MAX and to prevent MYC/MAX dimerization. Furthermore, rLon targeted and degraded c-MYC in vitro and in cellular models, through the peptidase domain. In a model of kidney infection, rLon treatment prevented, c-MYC, N-MYC and L-MYC over-expression, MYC-dependent gene expression, specifically renal toxicity genes and pathology, suggesting that rLon recognizes and corrects MYC dysregulation in this disease. The findings describe a multitarget mechanism of MYC inhibition by rLon, and the combined effects achieved by the Lon domains, targeting different MYC epitopes and MYC-dependent functions, with no evidence of toxicity or detrimental effects on homeostatic MYC expression.

Maternal vitamin D status in relation to cardiometabolic risk factors in children from the Norwegian Environmental Biobank

Background Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) status has been associated with birth weight and childhood growth. Further, maternal 25OHD status may also influence cardiometabolic outcomes in childhood. This study investigated the association between maternal 25OHD concentration in pregnancy and markers of cardiometabolic risk in 7–12-year-old children. Methods Data were obtained from the Norwegian Environmental Biobank (NEB) including 244 mother-child pairs in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) participating in NEB part I and II. Childhood outcomes investigated were z-scores of anthropometrics, blood lipids and hormones. Associations between maternal 25OHD and individual cardiometabolic risk factors in children were assessed by linear regression, adjusted for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal education, child’s sex, age and BMI, and tested for interaction with pre-pregnancy BMI. Results Per 10 nmol/L increase in maternal 25OHD, childhood adiponectin z-score increased by 0.067 standard deviations (p = 0.039). There were no associations between maternal 25OHD concentration and any other cardiometabolic risk factor in childhood. Conclusion The results indicate that higher maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may be related to higher childhood adiponectin z-score, but not with any other cardiometabolic risk marker. Whether adiponectin could be one pathway linking vitamin D to cardiometabolic health remains to be determined.

Histomorphometric analysis of anterior cruciate ligament bundles and anatomical insights into injury mechanisms

Accuracy of next-generation sequencing for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Early, rapid and precise diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy is difficult. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used for the diagnosis of TB in some high-income countries. We completed the protocol of the study in order to better guide the systematic review and meta-analysis for evaluating the role of NGS in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, which was the purpose of the current study. Methods We designed and drafted this protocol as per the Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Three English databases (Cochrane Library, Embase and Medline via PubMed) and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Database) will be used to search for relevant studies. We followed the PICT principles to develop the eligibility criteria. Once the final compliant literature is identified, we will extract the valid information from the literature for statistical analysis. We will assess the quality of the included studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. When there are more than 4 eligible studies, we will use Stata (version 15.0; Stata Corp., College Station, TX, the USA) with midas module to conduct the relevant meta-analysis and plot the relevant forest plots and curves. When there are less than 4 eligible studies, we will use Meta-DiSc (version 1.4) to perform the associated meta-analysis and plot the associated forest plots and curves. We will use the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity between included studies. We will conduct meta-regression analysis, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis to explore possible sources of heterogeneity when significant heterogeneity exists. Systematic review registration PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42024568791

Kinetics of NS1 and anti-NS1 IgG following dengue infection reveals likely early formation of immune complexes in secondary infected patients

Factors associated with concordance of mother-child (6–23 months) dietary diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background Inadequate dietary diversity is a major contributor to undernutrition, and compromises the health of both mothers and children. Available evidence demonstrates a significant association between maternal and child dietary diversity. However, there is limited evidence about the factors influencing the concordance of mother-child dietary diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, we investigated the factors associated with the concordance of mother-child dietary diversity in SSA. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted based on the recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data of eight Sub-Saharan African countries. A total weighted sample of 29,138 mother-child pairs within the five years preceding the survey was included. A mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was employed to identify factors associated with concordance between mother-child dietary diversity. Variable with p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable mixed-effect binary logistic regression analysis was considered for the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable mixed-effect binary logistic regression analysis, the Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were reported. The percentage of agreement between mothers and children with minimum dietary diversity was assessed using kappa statistics. Results The concordance of dietary diversity between mother-child pairs in SSA was 74.48% (95% CI: 73.98, 74.98). A higher likelihood of mother-child dietary diversity concordance was significantly associated with mothers who had a primary level of education (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.53) and those who were divorced or widowed (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.84). Conversely, lower odds of concordance were observed among mothers with higher education (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.85), those exposed to media (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.83), and mothers belonging to poorer (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.88), middle-income (AOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.89), richer (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.88), and richest (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.83) households. Conclusion The findings highlight that the dietary diversity concordance between mother-child pairs in sub-Saharan Africa is moderate at 74.48%. However, the factors influencing concordance suggest socio-economic and educational disparities. Mothers with a primary education level and those who were divorced or widowed had higher concordance with their children’s dietary diversity, indicating their potential prioritization of family dietary habits despite limited resources or support systems. On the other hand, lower concordance among mothers with higher education and those exposed to media suggest that these groups may adopt more individualized dietary practices. Furthermore, households with higher economic status, surprisingly, exhibited lower concordance, which may indicate resource allocation differences within wealthier families or greater dietary autonomy among children. Globally, one-fourth of children aged 6–23 months and two-thirds of women of reproductive age suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, primarily due to inadequate dietary diversity [1–3]. It is estimated that 50–70% of the global disease burden is associated with poor dietary patterns and malnutrition [4]. In Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs), where many impoverished and rural households depend on starchy staples due to limited access to diverse foods, only 20% of children meet minimum acceptable dietary standards, exacerbating malnutrition and related health challenges [5,6]. Dietary Diversity (DD) is recognized as a key indicator of a healthy diet, reflecting the variety of food groups consumed within 24 hours [7]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), DD serves as a proxy for child feeding practices, with consumption from at least four different food groups indicating that the child likely consumed an animal-source food, a fruit or vegetable, and a staple food such as grains, roots, or tubers [8].

Discrimination of inherent characteristics of susceptible and resistant strains of Anopheles gambiae by explainable artificial intelligence analysis of flight trajectories

Abstract Understanding mosquito behaviours is vital for the development of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), which have been successfully deployed in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce disease transmission, particularly malaria. However, rising insecticide resistance (IR) among mosquito populations, owing to genetic and behavioural changes, poses a significant challenge. We present a machine learning pipeline that successfully distinguishes between innate IR and insecticide-susceptible (IS) mosquito flight behaviours independent of insecticidal exposure by analysing trajectory data. Data-driven methods are introduced to accommodate common tracking system shortcomings that occur due to mosquito positions being occluded by the bednet or other objects. Trajectories, obtained from room-scale tracking of two IR and two IS strains around a human-baited, untreated bednet, were analysed using features such as velocity, acceleration, and geometric descriptors. Using these features, an XGBoost model achieved a balanced accuracy of 0.743 and a ROC AUC of 0.813 in classifying IR from IS mosquitoes. SHAP analysis helped decipher that IR mosquitoes tend to fly slower with more directed flight paths and lower variability than IS—traits that are likely a fitness advantage by enhancing their ability to respond more quickly to bloodmeal cues. This approach provides valuable insights based on flight behaviour that can reveal the action of interventions and insecticides on mosquito physiology.

Structures and functions of the limited natural polyclonal antibody response to parvovirus infection

Host antibody responses are key components in the protection of animals against pathogens, yet the defining properties of viral antigens and induction of B cell responses that result in varied protection are still poorly understood. Parvoviruses are simple molecular structures that display 60 repeated motifs on their capsid surface, and rapidly induce strong antibody responses that protect animals from infection. We recently showed that following canine parvovirus infection of its natural host, the polyclonal response in the sera contained only two or three dominant antibodies that bound two epitopes on the capsid. Here, we characterize key antibodies present in that immune response, identifying their sequences, defining their binding properties on the capsid by cryoelectron microscopic (cryoEM) analysis, and testing their effects on viral infectivity. Two antibodies sharing the same heavy chain bound to the side of the capsid threefold spike (B-site), while another distinct antibody bound close to the threefold axis (A-site). The epitopes of these antibodies overlapped the binding site of the host receptor, the transferrin receptor type-1, but to varying degrees. The antibodies varied widely in their neutralization efficiencies as either immunoglobulins (IgGs) or monomeric antigen-binding fragments (Fabs), which was consistent with their ability to compete for the receptor. The monoclonal antibodies characterized here matched the structures from the cryoEM analysis of polyclonal sera, including those present in a different dog than the monoclonal source. This shows that after infection, a focused response to the viral antigen is produced that protects against infection.

Encourage or inhibit: A study on the impact of corporate digital transformation on management’s tone manipulation of information disclosure

Digitalization is anticipated to substantially improve information transparency and enhance the capital market’s information environment. However, during the initial phase of digital transformation, companies face challenges in achieving high-quality information disclosure. This is because digital technology implementation and organizational adjustment are still at early stages. Concurrently, investors face difficulties in assessing the accuracy of disclosed information. This challenge provides management with the opportunity to overstate the benefits of digital transformation. This study investigates the impact of corporate digital transformation on management’s tone manipulation behavior, using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2021. Findings indicate that corporate digital transformation significantly fosters management’s tone manipulation during its exploration phase. Media slant positively moderates this relationship. Further analysis supports the paper’s hypothesis: companies with weaker financial flexibility and lower risk information disclosure levels show a stronger positive correlation between digital transformation and tone manipulation. Concurrently, mechanism analysis reveals that management overconfidence partially mediates the relationship. This suggests that digital transformation increases managerial overconfidence, thereby promoting tone manipulation. The conclusion offers new insights into enhancing management discussion and analysis information disclosure quality from a corporate strategic transformation perspective. It serves as a valuable reference for accurately identifying misleading management signals.

The mediating role of behavioral systems in linking physical activity and anxiety symptoms in college students

Factors affecting prognosis in traumatic cerebral contusions: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Traumatic cerebral contusion (CC) is a severe type of injury among traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Individuals with traumatic CC typically exhibit rapid deterioration in their condition, leading to increased mortality rates. Despite this, there is a gap in evidence-based research. This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in patients with traumatic CC, with a particular focus on relevant biomarkers. Mortality will be the primary outcome, while the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score will be considered as a secondary outcome. Methods and analysis We intend to conduct a comprehensive search through multiple Chinese and English repositories, covering the duration from the establishment of these databases up to the current era, in order to pinpoint appropriate studies. Additionally, a manual search of the references within the included literature and other pertinent works will be undertaken. The primary endpoint of this study will be the survival status of patients with traumatic brain contusion. Meta-analysis will be executed using STATA 16.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). Article selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. The assessment of bias risks will be conducted via the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. Depending on the heterogeneity evaluation, either a fixed-effect model or a random-effects model will be applied. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted as needed. The examination of publication bias will be carried out, and the quality of evidence for the primary outcomes will be graded. Trial registration number: CRD42023389456

Combined bio fortification of spinach plant through foliar spraying with iodine and selenium elements

Effect of drainage layers on water retention of potting media in containers

Excess water retention in the potting medium can be a significant problem for plants grown in containers due to the volume of saturated medium which forms above the drainage hole. Adding a layer of coarse material like gravel or sand at the bottom is a common practise among gardeners with the aim of improving drainage, but some researchers have argued that such layers will raise the saturated area and in fact increase water retention. Two different depths and four different materials of drainage layer were tested with three different potting media to determine the water retention in the container after saturating and draining freely. For loamless organic media, almost all types of drainage layer reduced overall water retention in the container compared to controls. For loam-based media, most drainage layers had no effect on the overall water retention. Two simple models were also used to estimate the water retention in the media alone, excluding the drainage layer itself. All drainage layers reduced water retention of loamless organic media, according to both models. There was disagreement between the two models applied to loam-based media, and further study is required to determine the most accurate. Both models showed that some drainage layers with smaller particle sizes reduced water retention in loam-based media, but disagreed on the effect of drainage layers with larger particle sizes. Overall, any drainage layer was likely to reduce water retention of any medium, and almost never increased it. Thicker drainage layers were more effective than thinner layers, with the most effective substrate depending on the potting media used. A 60 mm layer of coarse sand was the most universally-effective drainage layer with all potting media tested.

A deep learning based prediction model for effective elastic properties of porous materials

Impact of β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) copy number variation on bull sperm parameters and post-insemination uterine gene expression

Pregnancy rates for elite bulls used in artificial insemination (AI) can vary significantly and therefore the identification of molecular markers for fertility and targets to improve bull selection is important. β-defensin peptides have diverse regulatory roles in sperm function across multiple species but the role of copy number variation (CNV) on fertility parameters has not been previously evaluated. In this study, Holstein-Friesian bulls were screened based on reliable field fertility data to identify two groups (High and Low fertility (HF and LF, respectively)) of n = 10 bulls/group which were genotyped for β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) gene CNV by droplet digital PCR. Overall, low DEFB103 copy number (CN) was associated with increased sperm motility across all bulls (n = 20, p < 0.05). As genetic diversity of DEFB103 CN was only apparent in the LF group, three bulls per CNV class (low, intermediate and high CN) were chosen for more detailed comparative functional analysis. Sperm from low CN bulls exhibited higher binding to the oviductal epithelium, while high CN increased sperm membrane fluidity in vitro (p < 0.05). To investigate the functional effect of DEFB103 CNV on the uterine response in vivo, 18 heifers were inseminated with sperm from bulls with low, intermediate and high CN. Transcriptomic analysis on uterine tissue harvested 12 h post-insemination showed differential expression of 58 genes (FDR < 0.1) involved in sperm migration, immune signalling and chemotaxis. Although field fertility results from a complex number of interactive factors, these novel results suggest a contributory role for DEFB103 CN in both sperm function and the uterine response to bull sperm, thereby potentially contributing to pregnancy outcomes in cattle. Further analysis of the role of CNV in additional β-defensin genes in bull fertility is now warranted.

Discovery and characterization of a novel telomerase alternative splicing isoform that protects lung cancer cells from chemotherapy induced cell death

Abstract All cancer cells must adopt a telomere maintenance mechanism to achieve replicative immortality. Most human cancer cells utilize the enzyme telomerase to maintain telomeres. Alternative splicing of TERT regulates the amount and function of telomerase, however many alternative splicing isoforms of TERT have unknown functions. Single molecule long read RNA/cDNA sequencing of TERT revealed 45 TERT mRNA variants including 13 known and 32 novel variants. Among the variants, TERT Delta 2–4, which lacks exons 2–4 but retains the original open reading frame, was selected for further study. Induced pluripotent stem cells and cancer cells express higher levels of TERT Delta 2–4 compared to primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Overexpression of TERT Delta 2–4 enhanced clonogenicity and resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death. Knockdown of endogenous TERT Delta 2–4 in Calu-6 cells reduced clonogenicity and resistance to cisplatin. Our results suggest that TERT Delta 2–4 enhances cancer cells’ resistance to cell death. RNA sequencing following knockdown of Delta 2–4 TERT indicates that translation is downregulated and that mitochondrial related proteins are upregulated compared to controls. Overall, our data indicate that TERT produces many isoforms that influence the function of TERT and the abundance and activity of telomerase.

Fetal genetic factors in pregnancy loss: Insights from a meta-analysis and effectiveness of whole exome sequencing

Spontaneous pregnancy loss commonly occurs during the first trimester and can be caused by various factors including chromosomal abnormalities and submicroscopic aberrations. After the first trimester, the etiology of most pregnancy losses remains undetermined. This study aims to fill this gap by an in-depth investigation of the fetal genome and its effect on pregnancy outcome. Data from 1016 spontaneously aborted fetuses previously referred for genetic testing (2017–2023) were used for meta-analysis. Fetuses were categorized based on gestational age and genetic test result. Additionally, 35 second-third trimester fetuses, that were spontaneously aborted, terminated or died neonatally, with abnormal ultrasounds and unrevealing routine genetic testing were collected. Trio-based whole-exome sequencing was performed for identification of fetal variants that may have caused the pregnancy loss. The meta-analysis revealed that 822 of 1016 fetuses (80.91%) were aborted during the first trimester, with 569 of 822 (69.22%) successfully diagnosed using conventional genetic testing. The remaining 194 fetuses (19.09%) were aborted during the second-third trimester. Of the 194 second-third trimester aborted fetuses, 163 (84.02%) lacked genetic diagnosis using conventional testing (karyotype and array-CGH). Aneuploidies were the leading cause of spontaneous pregnancy loss in both first and second-third trimester fetuses followed by polyploidies. Thus, the meta-analysis demonstrated that undiagnosed second-third trimester pregnancy losses are more likely to benefit from further genetic investigation. Application of whole exome sequencing on second-third trimester pregnancy losses, revealed causative variants in 6 of 33 families (18.18%), in genes linked to Mendelian disorders associated with the phenotypes of interest. Pathogenic findings were identified in two additional families in heterozygosity in genes following autosomal recessive inheritance. Accurate identification of variants in such genes creates new genotype-in utero phenotype associations, with the prospect of new additions in preconception/prenatal diagnostic panels. This study highlights the importance of whole exome sequencing in resolving undiagnosed pregnancy losses.