Limited Size Research Articles

Impact of a daily legume-based meal on blood and anthropometric parameters in a group of omnivorous adults: A pilot study.

This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of substituting a traditional lunch for a vegetarian legume-based meal on blood and anthropometric parameters in a group of omnivorous adults. A one-group comparison, quasi-experimental dietary intervention was designed. A vegetarian legume-based meal was offered for 8 consecutive weeks (weekdays) to non-vegetarian individuals (n = 26), (28 years [P25 = 20.0, P75 = 35.5]; 21.9 kg/m2 [P25 = 21.3, P75 = 24.8]). Sociodemographic data, health status and lifestyle-related information were recorded. Three-day food records were used to collect food intake at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and fasting blood analyses were performed following standard procedures. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical comparisons. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Participants showed a median intake of 79.8 g of cooked legumes per meal, meaning 13 (50.0%) subjects met the Portuguese daily legume intake recommendations during the intervention days. There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters. Transferrin concentration increased after 8 weeks (+12.5 mg/dL; p = 0.001). Total cholesterol concentration reduced after 8 weeks (-6 mg/dL; p = 0.041), as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (-7 mg/dL; p = 0.003). Triglycerides (+9 mg/dL; p = 0.046), fasting glucose (+2 mg/dL; p = 0.037) and HbA1c (+0.1 mg/dL; p = 0.010) concentration increased after the 2-month legume-based trial. Results suggest a cholesterol-lowering potential of legume-rich diets. However, unfavourable results regarding the impact on glucose metabolism-related biomarkers and triglyceride levels were observed. The study's limitations in design and sample size emphasise the importance of conducting further research with larger cohorts to attain more conclusive findings.

Magnetic Nanoparticle-Assisted Non-Viral CRISPR-Cas9 for Enhanced Genome Editing to Treat Rett Syndrome.

The CRISPR-Cas9 technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of various diseases, including Rett syndrome, by enabling the correction of genes or mutations in human patient cells. However, several challenges need to be addressed before its widespread clinical application. These challenges include the low delivery efficiencies to target cells, the actual efficiency of the genome-editing process, and the precision with which the CRISPR-Cas system operates. Herein, the study presents a Magnetic Nanoparticle-Assisted Genome Editing (MAGE) platform, which significantly improves the transfection efficiency, biocompatibility, and genome-editing accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. To demonstrate the feasibility of the developed technology, MAGE is applied to correct the mutated MeCP2 genein induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (iPSC-NPCs) from a Rett syndrome patient. By combining magnetofection and magnetic-activated cell sorting, MAGE achieves higher multi-plasmid delivery (99.3%) and repairing efficiencies (42.95%) with significantly shorter incubation times than conventional transfection agents without size limitations onplasmids. The repaired iPSC-NPCs showed similar characteristics as wild-type neurons when they differentiated into neurons, further validating MAGE and its potential for future clinical applications. In short, the developed nanobio-combined CRISPR-Cas9 technology offers the potential for various clinical applications, particularly in stem cell therapies targeting different genetic diseases.

Global prevalence of microplastics in tap water systems: Abundance, characteristics, drivers and knowledge gaps

Tap water is a main route for human direct exposure to microplastics (MPs). This study recompiled baseline data from 34 countries to assess the current status and drivers of MP contamination in global tap water systems (TWS). It was shown that MPs were detected in 87 % of 1148 samples, suggesting the widespread occurrence of MPs in TWS. The detected concentrations of MPs spanned seven orders of magnitude and followed the linearized log-normal distribution (MSE = 0.035, R2 = 0.965), with cumulative concentrations at 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of 0.028, 4.491 and 728.105 items/L, respectively. The morphological characteristics were further investigated, indicating that particles smaller than 50 μm dominated in global TWS, with fragment, polyester and transparent as the most common shape, composition and color of MPs, respectively. Subsequently, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm was implemented to quantify the importance of variables affecting the MP abundance in global TWS, showing that the lower particle size limit was the most important variables. Subgroup analysis revealed that the concentration of MPs counted at the size limit of 1 μm was >20 times higher than that above 1 μm. Ultimately, current knowledge gaps and future research needs were elucidated.

Prevalence of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery among Asian Population and Preferred Treatment Modalities- A Systematic Review

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation is a common complication following cardiac surgery. Despite numerous studies, the true prevalence and optimal management strategies remain unclear. This systematic review investigates the prevalence and management techniques followed anmongst Asian population post-cardiac surgery. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases between 2000 and 2023. Data on study characteristics, prevalence, and treatment modalities were extracted and assessed for quality using standardized tools. Results: Out of 1849 identified studies, 23 met the eligibility criteria, all conducted in Asian countries. The prevalence of POAF ranged from 10 % to 58 % among cardiac surgery patients in individual studies, translating to a calculated mean value of 24.46 % POAF cases in all accumulated eligible studies for prevalence in the Asian population. The prevalence of POAF in the Asian population was calculated to be 20.95%. Treatment modalities such as antiarrhythmics and anticoagulants showed varying efficacy, with dexmedetomidine demonstrating potential preventive effects. Studies highlighted the higher recurrence rates in cardiac surgery compared to non-cardiac surgery patients. Additionally, the association between POAF and adverse outcomes such as stroke and mortality underscores the importance of effective management strategies. Conclusion: Despite limitations in study design and sample sizes, this review provides insights into POAF in Asian cardiac surgery patients. Tailored approaches incorporating antiarrhythmics, anticoagulation, and lifestyle modifications may help mitigate the burden of POAF and improve patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to elucidate optimal management strategies and address existing gaps in knowledge.

A Psycholinguistic Perspective on Sentence Understanding for Second Language Learners

This study delves into the intricacies of second-language sentence comprehension, investigating the impact of psycholinguistic variables. An online sentence comprehension task engaged 100 proficient English speakers with intermediate Spanish proficiency, integrating eye-tracking technology. Assessing sentence complexity, word order, lexical ambiguity, and working memory, the findings highlight higher accuracy in simple declarative sentences, while non-canonical word orders led to significantly prolonged response times. Lexical ambiguity correlated with increased error rates, yet superior working memory capacities were associated with enhanced processing efficiency. The research underscores the necessity for nuanced language instruction, emphasizing metacognitive strategies to address challenges posed by sentence complexity and ambiguity. Despite limitations in sample size and controlled settings, this study lays a foundational framework for future cognitive investigations into second-language sentence comprehension.

Scalable Sol–Gel Permeation Assembly of Phase Change Layered Film Toward Thermal Management and Light‐Thermal Driving Applications

AbstractPhase change materials (PCMs) are pivotal in thermal energy management and conversion applications owing to their exceptional thermal energy storage and release characteristics. However, persistent challenges such as poor thermal conductivity and leakage issues have impeded their widespread adoption. While existing approaches mitigate these challenges by constructing and incorporating 3D thermal conductive networks, they are constrained by discontinuous preparation methods and mold size limitations. Herein, a scalable sol–gel permeation assembly strategy is proposed to prepare phase change layered film by in situ filling polyethylene glycol (PEG) in aramid nanofibers (ANF)/graphene nanoplates (GNP) network. Befitting from the laminated network encapsulation effect of ANF and GNP, the phase change film demonstrates leak‐free and stable phase transition behavior, even after undergoing 500 heating/cooling cycles. Moreover, the resulting PEG/ANF/GNP layered film exhibits an impressive in‐plane thermal conductivity of 23.7 W mK−1 at GNP loading of 28.1 vol.%, rendering it suitable for thermal management applications in electronic devices. The phase change layered film possesses exceptional photo‐thermal conversion properties, maintaining temperatures exceeding 90 °C under a light power density of 200 mW cm−2. Capitalizing on the thermally induced flexibility of the phase transition film and its temperature‐dependent stiffness, its utility extended to developing a light‐thermal driving gripper.

Chemical Synthesis of Modified RNA.

Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play a vital role in living organisms. Many of their cellular functions depend critically on chemical modification. Methods to modify RNA in a controlled manner-both in vitro and in vivo-are thus essential to evaluate and understand RNA biology at the molecular and mechanistic levels. The diversity of modifications, combined with the size and uniformity of RNA (made up of only 4 nucleotides) makes its site-specific modification a challenging task that needs to be addressed by complementary approaches. One such approach is solid-phase RNA synthesis. We discuss recent developments in this field, starting with new protection concepts in the ongoing effort to overcome current size limitations. We continue with selected modifications that have posed significant challenges for their incorporation into RNA. These include deazapurine bases required for atomic mutagenesis to elucidate mechanistic aspects of catalytic RNAs, and RNA containing xanthosine, N4-acetylcytidine, 5-hydroxymethylcytidine, 3-methylcytidine, 2'-OCF3, and 2'-N3 ribose modifications. We also discuss the all-chemical synthesis of 5'-capped mRNAs and the enzymatic ligation of chemically synthesized oligoribonucleotides to obtain long RNA with multiple distinct modifications, such as those needed for single-molecule FRET studies. Finally, we highlight promising developments in RNA-catalyzed RNA modification using cofactors that transfer bioorthogonal functionalities.

Bryozoa (Cheilostomata) from polymetallic nodules in the Russian exploration area, Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone, eastern Pacific Ocean—taxon novelty and characteristics as macro- and megafaunal elements

This work describes Bryozoa of the order Cheilostomata associated with polymetallic nodules collected by box-coring in the eastern part of the Russian exploration area of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ or CCZ) under contract to Yuzhmorgeologiya. Study of 569 cheilostome specimens from 4510–5280 m depth yielded 32 species (22 new) in 20 genera (3 new) and 14 families (1 new). For six species, the nomenclature was left open (genus only) owing to the paucity of defining characters. One species with a costate frontal shield, possibly belonging to the otherwise monotypic Polliciporidae, clearly represents a new genus, but was not named, as it comprises only an ancestrula, one fully formed daughter zooid and a zooid bud. Four of the species we detected are known from the deep sea beyond the CCZ; Columnella magna and Acanthodesiomorpha problematica occur not only elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean but also the Atlantic Ocean, while Smithsonius quadratus was first described from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, and the authors have unpublished records of Smithsonius candelabrum n. sp. from the Magellan Seamounts and the Louisville Ridge. These records give hope that other CCZ bryozoan taxa may also occur elsewhere, offsetting local extirpation through nodule mining. Almost 63% (20 species) of CCZ Cheilostomata have a flexibly erect colony attached by one or several rhizoids (and/or the ancestrula has a proximal cuticular stalk-like portion). Ten other species have fixed-erect rigid colonies; only two species are encrusting. If a 50 mm height or spread is taken as the lower limit defining a megafaunal organism, then only C. magna qualifies as megafaunal. If 20 mm is taken as the lower size limit (definitions vary), then nine other species have the potential to be recognized in ROV-obtained images. The completion of this monograph allows a summary of all bryozoan data for the Russian sector of the CCZ. Altogether, 52 species are known from this area, totalling 1002 specimens from 437 stations. The most abundant and most ubiquitous species was the cyclostome Pandanipora helix, comprising 230 specimens from 137 stations and accounting for almost 23% of all specimens collected. The next most abundant and ubiquitous species were the cheilostomes Aulopocella polymorpha (124 specimens, 105 stations) and Fulgurella marina (104 specimens, 92 stations). These three species accounted for almost 46% of all specimens collected. All other species yielded fewer than 45 specimens each from 33 or fewer stations. Twelve species were represented by a single colony. Although some ROV images from eastern sectors of the CCZ have been recognized as bryozoans and published as such, few have been studied systematically. Bryozoans have also been reported from seamounts, level-bottom rock flats, ridges and troughs in the CCZ, but their identities remain unknown. It is imperative that institutions seek the collaboration of taxonomists rather than allow material to languish unidentified in collections.

Chemical Synthesis of Modified RNA

AbstractRibonucleic acids (RNAs) play a vital role in living organisms. Many of their cellular functions depend critically on chemical modification. Methods to modify RNA in a controlled manner—both in vitro and in vivo—are thus essential to evaluate and understand RNA biology at the molecular and mechanistic levels. The diversity of modifications, combined with the size and uniformity of RNA (made up of only 4 nucleotides) makes its site‐specific modification a challenging task that needs to be addressed by complementary approaches. One such approach is solid‐phase RNA synthesis. We discuss recent developments in this field, starting with new protection concepts in the ongoing effort to overcome current size limitations. We continue with selected modifications that have posed significant challenges for their incorporation into RNA. These include deazapurine bases required for atomic mutagenesis to elucidate mechanistic aspects of catalytic RNAs, and RNA containing xanthosine, N4‐acetylcytidine, 5‐hydroxymethylcytidine, 3‐methylcytidine, 2′‐OCF3, and 2′‐N3 ribose modifications. We also discuss the all‐chemical synthesis of 5′‐capped mRNAs and the enzymatic ligation of chemically synthesized oligoribonucleotides to obtain long RNA with multiple distinct modifications, such as those needed for single‐molecule FRET studies. Finally, we highlight promising developments in RNA‐catalyzed RNA modification using cofactors that transfer bioorthogonal functionalities.

Adaptive and Anti-Drift Motion Constraints for Object Tracking in Satellite Videos

Object tracking in satellite videos has garnered significant attention due to its increasing importance. However, several challenging attributes, such as the presence of tiny objects, occlusions, similar objects, and background clutter interference, make it a difficult task. Many recent tracking algorithms have been developed to tackle these challenges in tracking a single interested object, but they still have some limitations in addressing them effectively. This paper introduces a novel correlation filter-based tracker, which uniquely integrates attention-enhanced bounding box regression and motion constraints for improved single-object tracking performance. Initially, we address the regression-related interference issue by implementing a spatial and channel dual-attention mechanism within the search area’s region of interest. This enhancement not only boosts the network’s perception of the target but also improves corner localization. Furthermore, recognizing the limitations in small size and low resolution of target appearance features in satellite videos, we integrate motion features into our model. A long short-term memory (LSTM) network is utilized to create a motion model that can adaptively learn and predict the target’s future trajectory based on its historical movement patterns. To further refine tracking accuracy, especially in complex environments, an anti-drift module incorporating motion constraints is introduced. This module significantly boosts the tracker’s robustness. Experimental evaluations on the SatSOT and SatVideoDT datasets demonstrate that our proposed tracker exhibits significant advantages in satellite video scenes compared to other recent trackers for common scenes or satellite scenes.

Stimulating Classroom Participation: Case Study of Class III Learners at Arekha Primary School

This research investigates strategies to stimulate classroom participation among grade III learners at Arekha Primary School. The study aims to identify barriers to participation and effective strategies for enhancing engagement. Using a mixed-method approach, data was collected through surveys, interviews, and observations. The findings reveal various factors hindering participation, including shyness, reservation, and demanding behavior. Motivation, open-ended questions, favorable learning environments, and group discussions emerged as effective strategies for promoting participation. Despite limitations in sample size and participant reluctance, the study suggests promising results in improving student engagement. Recommendations include conducting future studies with diverse samples and incorporating teachers' perspectives for a comprehensive understanding of classroom dynamics and interventions. Overall, the research underscores the importance of addressing psychological and social barriers to foster a more inclusive and interactive learning environment for grade III learners.

Prevalence of micronutrient inadequacy differs by severity of food insecurity among adults living in Canada in 2015.

Household food insecurity is generally associated with poorer quality diets in Canada, but whether household food insecurity heightens the probability of inadequate micronutrient intakes is unknown. The objective of this research was to investigate how prevalence of micronutrient inadequacy differed by severity of household food insecurity among adults in Canada. Using the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey Nutrition, this study included participants aged 19-64 years who completed up to two 24 h dietary recalls and provided details about household food insecurity (n=9486). Children and older adults were not included due to sample size limitations. Usual micronutrient intake distributions were estimated by a four-level measure of food insecurity status using the National Cancer Institute method. Welch's t tests assessed differences in prevalence of inadequacy for selected micronutrients. Prevalence differed for some micronutrients among those living in marginally and moderately food insecure compared to food-secure households. The greatest differences in prevalence of inadequacy were observed between severely food-insecure and food-secure households: vitamin A (60.0%, SE=11.9vs. 40.6%, SE=2.7, p<0.0001), vitamin B6 (42.7%, SE=9.1vs. 12.8%, SE=2.5, p<0.0001), folate (39.4%, SE=10.0vs. 15.9%, SE=2.2, p<0.0001), vitamin C (63.3%, SE=5.2vs. 29.1%, SE=2.8, p<0.0001), calcium (78.6%, SE=6.4vs. 58.7%, SE=1.3, p<0.0001), magnesium (75.6%, SE=9.5vs. 48.7%, SE=1.2, p<0.0001), and zinc (34.9%, SE=10.0vs. 23.2%, SE=2.4, p=0.0009). Apparent underreporting also differed by severity of food insecurity, with increased underreporting observed with worsening food insecurity. The probability of inadequate micronutrient intakes among adults rises sharply with more severe household food insecurity in Canada.

Particle-size correlation and prediction models of atmospheric heavy metals

The infinitely variable size of atmospheric particulate matter raises a huge challenge for accurately assessing the health risks of pollutants of different particle sizes. Currently, the majority of studies have concentrated on PM2.5-bound heavy metals (PM2.5-HMs) and their associated health risks, greatly ignoring the risks caused by heavy metals in other particle sizes such as PM10 and total suspended particulate (TSP). In this study, Pearson correlation analysis was used for the first time to explore the concentration correlation of 10 heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Zn, Cu, V, Mn, Ni, Co) in PM1, PM2.5, PM10, and TSP, utilizing 91876 PM samples from China from 2000 to 2022. The results of the Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the correlation coefficients between PM2.5-HM and PM10-HM, PM10-HM and TSP-HM, and PM2.5-HM and TSP-HM were all above 0.82, with statistical significance (P < 0.001). Due to the sample size limitation of PM1-HM (n < 15), the Pearson correlation coefficients of PM1-HM with other particle-size HM may not be robust enough. Then generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized additive models (GAM) were used to exclude the interference of covariates (sampling time and sampling city), and 16 univariate inter-prediction models which are not affected by temporal and spatial factors for PM2.5, PM10, and TSP binding HM concentration were further constructed. The regression diagnostics of these prediction models indicate normally distributed data and strong linear trends, and the influential points in the modeled data were all within acceptable limits (n ≤ 1). The R2s of the prediction models were almost greater than 0.8, indicating that the prediction models were effective and robust. This study reveals for the first time the particle-size correlation of PM2.5-HM, PM10-HM, and TSP-HM, offering a novel approach for the prediction of heavy metal concentration and health risk assessment of atmospheric particle-size fractionated heavy metal.

Discriminating viscous-creep features (rock glaciers) in mountain permafrost from debris-covered glaciers – a commented test at the Gruben and Yerba Loca sites, Swiss Alps and Chilean Andes

Abstract. Viscous-flow features in perennially frozen talus/debris called rock glaciers are being systematically inventoried as part of the global climate-related monitoring of mountain permafrost. In order to avoid duplication and confusion, guidelines were developed by the International Permafrost Association to discriminate between the permafrost-related landform “rock glacier” and the glacier-related landform “debris-covered glacier”. In two regions covered by detailed field measurements, the corresponding data- and physics-based concepts are tested and shown to be adequate. Key physical aspects which cause the striking morphological and dynamic differences between the two phenomena/landforms concern the following: tight mechanical coupling of the surface material to the frozen rock–ice mixture in the case of rock glaciers, contrasting with essential non-coupling of debris to the glaciers they cover; talus-type advancing fronts of rock glaciers exposing fresh debris material from inside the moving frozen bodies, as opposed to massive surface ice exposed by increasingly rare advancing fronts of debris-covered glaciers; and increasing creep rates and continued advance of rock glaciers as convex landforms with structured surfaces versus predominant slowing down and disintegration of debris-covered glaciers as often concave landforms with primarily chaotic surface structure. Where debris-covered surface ice is or has recently been in contact with thermally controlled subsurface ice in permafrost, complex conditions and interactions can develop morphologies beyond simple either–or-type landform classification. In such cases, the remains of buried surface ice mostly tend to be smaller than the lower size limit of “glaciers” as the term is applied in glacier inventories and to be far thinner than the permafrost in which they are embedded.

Abstract LB419: Neuroinflammation and aromatase inhibitor associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) in breast cancer: Initial insights from [11C]PBR28 PET/MR imaging

Abstract Introduction: While 5-10 years of aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment clearly improves survival rates of postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, up to 85% of AI users report aromatase inhibitor associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS, including arthralgias, myalgias, and muscle stiffness). The biological mechanisms underlying AIMSS are not well understood, but accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence implicate an important role for neuroinflammation in the development and maintenance of other types of chronic musculoskeletal pain (e.g., low back pain, fibromyalgia etc.). The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the role of neuroinflammation in breast cancer patients with AIMSS. Methods: This cross-sectional case control study used Siemens 3 T integrated positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) with the radioligand [11C]PBR28, which binds to the neuroinflammation marker 18kDa translocator protein (TSPO), to assess neuroinflammation in two cohorts (chronic AIMSS, no-AIMSS) of breast cancer patients undergoing AI therapy, and age-, sex- and TSPO genotype-matched healthy controls. Static [11C]PBR28 PET images were reconstructed from 60-90 minutes post-injection. Standardized uptake value (SUV) maps were obtained voxel-wise by normalizing radioactivity by injected dose/body weight. SUV maps were normalized to whole brain to obtain SUV ratio (SUVR) maps. SUVR images spatially normalized to MNI template and then spatially smoothed (FWHM=8mm). Results: Two breast cancer patients (1 AIMSS, 1 no-AIMSS) and 2 matched healthy controls were included in this analysis. Compared to their individual matched healthy controls, both breast cancer patients showed increased [11C]PBR28 signal uptake in the thalamus/midbrain and pons. This elevated signal was more prominent in the breast cancer patient with AIMSS. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest an elevated signal of neuroinflammation in the thalamus and brainstem in AI-treatment and AIMSS, aligning with existing literature emphasizing their pivotal role in chronic pain pathology. While it is imperative to acknowledge the limitation of a small sample size, these promising findings suggest a potential role of neuroinflammation for the first time in AIMSS. Future focused Region of Interest (ROI) analysis in thalamus and brainstem with a larger sample size may confirm. Citation Format: Yehui Zhu, Natalie Swanson, Jennifer Murphy, Minhae Kim, Ann Partridge, Robert Edwards, Kristin Schreiber, Marco Loggia. Neuroinflammation and aromatase inhibitor associated musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) in breast cancer: Initial insights from [11C]PBR28 PET/MR imaging [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB419.

Molecular characterization and survival analysis of a cohort of glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype

Glioblastoma, IDH-wild type, the most common malignant primary central nervous system tumor, represents a formidable challenge in clinical management due to its poor prognosis and limited therapeutic responses. With an evolving understanding of its underlying biology, there is an urgent need to identify prognostic molecular groups that can be subject to targeted therapy. This study established a cohort of 124 sequential glioblastomas from a tertiary hospital and aimed to find correlations between molecular features and survival outcomes. Comprehensive molecular characterization of the cohort revealed prevalent alterations as previously described, such as TERT promoter mutations and involvement of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR, CK4/6-CDKN2A/B-RB1, and p14ARF-MDM2-MDM4-p53 pathways. MGMT promoter methylation is a significant predictor of improved overall survival, aligned with previous data. Conversely, age showed a marginal association with higher mortality. Multivariate analysis to account for the effect of MGMT promoter methylation and age showed that, in contrast to other published series, this cohort demonstrated improved survival for tumors harboring PTEN mutations, and that there was no observed difference for most other molecular alterations, including EGFR amplification, RB1 loss, or the coexistence of EGFR amplification and deletion/exon skipping (EGFRvIII). Despite limitations in sample size, this study contributes data to the molecular landscape of glioblastomas, prompting further investigations to examine these findings more closely in larger cohorts.

Exploring critical success factors for digital transformation in construction industry–based on TOE framework

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the critical success factors of digital transformation in the construction industry and identify whether the respondents' profiles influence their perceptions of critical success factors for digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the objectives, a literature review was first conducted based on technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework. Then a questionnaire survey was carried out. A total of 86 people were surveyed in this study, mainly from the construction industry. At the level of data processing, SPSS was used for analysis. Among the main tests used were the Shapiro–Wilk test, reliability analysis, mean rank analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test.FindingsThe study identified 15 critical success factors of digital transformation and found the three most important factors of digital transformation. Furthermore, respondents with different years of experience, enterprises with different sizes and different years made no difference in the perception of factors. Respondents' different occupations and types of enterprises created a bias in the perception of factors for digital transformation.Research limitations/implicationsFirstly, the small sample size of the questionnaire limits the reference value of data analysis for certain groups. In addition, this study focuses broadly on construction enterprises without specifically examining different types of enterprises, thus lacking depth in its findings.Practical implicationsThis study establishes a connection between TOE theory and the construction industry through an extensive literature review, identifying relevant factors and providing a reference for future research.Originality/valueThe study's results would enrich the research on digital transformation in the construction industry and provide a reference for the digital transformation of construction enterprises.

Dynamically selected steady states and criticality in non-reciprocal networks

We consider a simple neural network model, evolving via non-linear coupled stochastic differential equations, where neural couplings are random Gaussian variables with non-zero mean and arbitrary degree of reciprocity. Using a path-integral approach, we analyse the dynamics, averaged over the network ensemble, in the thermodynamic limit. Our results show that for any degree of reciprocity in the couplings, two types of criticality emerge, corresponding to ferromagnetic and spin-glass order, respectively. The critical lines separating the disordered from the ordered phases is consistent with spectral properties of the coupling matrix, as derived from random matrix theory. As the non-reciprocity (or asymmetry) in the couplings increases, both ordered phases diminish in size, ultimately resulting in the disappearance of the spin-glass phase when the couplings become anti-symmetric. We investigate non-fixed point steady-state solutions for uncorrelated interactions. For such solutions the time-lagged correlation function evolves according to a gradient-descent dynamics on a potential, which depends on the stationary variance. Our analysis shows that in the spin-glass region, the variance dynamically selected by the system leads the correlation function to evolve on the separatrix curve, limiting different realizable steady states, whereas in the ferromagnetic region, a fixed point solution is selected as the only realizable steady state. In the spin-glass region, stationary solutions are unstable against perturbations that break time-translation invariance, indicating chaotic behaviour in large single network instances. Numerical analysis of Lyapunov exponents confirms that chaotic behaviour emerges throughout the spin-glass region, for any value of the coupling correlations. While negative correlations increase the strength of chaos, positive ones reduce it, with chaos disappearing for reciprocal (i.e. symmetric) couplings, where marginal stability is attained. On the other hand, in finite size non-reciprocal networks, fixed points and limit cycles can arise in the spin-glass region, especially close to the critical line. Finally, we show that chaos is suppressed when the strength of external noise exceeds a certain threshold. Intriguing analogies between chaotic phases in non-equilibrium systems and spin-glass phases in equilibrium are put forward.

Rapid Freezing and Cryo-SEM-EDS Imaging of Foraminifera (Unicellular Eukaryotes) Using a Conductive Viscous Cryogenic Glue.

Spatial distribution of water-soluble molecules and ions in living organisms is still challenging to assess. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) via cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) is one of the promising methods to study them without loss of dissolved contents. High-resolution cryo-SEM-EDS has challenges in sample preparation, including cross-section exposure and sample drift/charging due to insulative surrounding water. The former becomes problematic for large and inseparable organisms, such as benthic foraminifera, a unicellular eukaryote playing significant roles in marine ecosystems, which often exceed the size limit for the most reliable high-pressure freezing. Here we show graphite oxide dispersed in sucrose solution as a good glue to freeze, expose cross-section by cryo-ultramicrotome, and analyze elemental distribution owing to the glue's high viscosity, adhesion force, and electron conductivity. To demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the glue for cryo-SEM-EDS, deep-sea foraminifer Uvigerina akitaensis was sampled during a cruise and plunge frozen directly on the research vessel, where the liquid nitrogen supply is limited. The microstructures were preserved as faithfully in cryo-SEM images as those with the conventional resin-substituted transmission electron micrograph. We found elements colocalized within the cytoplasm originating from water-soluble compounds that can be lost with conventional dehydrative fixation.

Forensic efficiency and genetic polymorphisms of 12 X-chromosomal STR loci in Northeastern Thai populations.

Northeastern Thailand comprises one-third of the country and is home to various populations, with Lao Isan constituting the majority, while others are considered minority groups. Previous studies on forensic short tandem repeats (STRs) in Thailand predominantly focused on autosomal STRs but there was a paucity of X-STRs, exclusively reported from the North and Central regions of the country. In this study, we have newly established a 12 X-STRs from a total of 896 samples from Northeastern Thailand, encompassing Lao Isan as the major group in the region, alongside nine minor populations (Khmer, Mon, Nyahkur, Bru, Kuy, Phutai, Kalueang, Nyaw, and Saek). Across all ten populations, the combined powers of discrimination in both genders were high and the combined mean exclusion chance (MEC) indices calculated for deficiency, normal trio and duo cases were also high (> 0.99999). DXS10148 emerged as the most informative marker, while DXS7423 was identified as the least informative. Genetic comparison based on X-STRs frequency supported genetic distinction of cerain minor groups such as Kuy, Saek and Nyahkur from other northeastern Thai groups as well as genetic differences according to the geographic region of Thai groups (Northeast, North and Central). In sum, the overall results on population genetics are in agreement with earlier reports on other genetic systems, indicating the informativeness of X-STRs for use in anthropological genetics studies. From a forensic perspective, despite the limitations of small sample sizes for minority groups, the present results contribute to filling the gap in the reference X-STRs database of the major group Lao Isan, providing valuable frequency data for forensic applications in Thailand and neighboring countries.