Strength Of Connections Research Articles

Applying the Aajiiqatigiingniq Research Methodology: approaches and lessons learned through collaborative survey development and analysis

Aajiiqatigiingniq is an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principle used to discuss serious topics and come to consensus around decision-making. In working with Elders on community research issues, the Aqqiumavvik Society in Arviat, Nunavut developed the Aajiiqatigiingniq Research Methodology (ARM) as a participatory and fully inclusive Inuit research approach. We followed the ARM in establishing partnerships, and developing and facilitating a survey, to learn how Nunavut community members use and share available weather, water, ice, and climate information. The ARM guided our 5-year research process involving 19 Local Research Coordinators, along with 13 Nunavut-based, eight university, and three federal government collaborators. Through community research leadership and connecting long-term partnerships, we worked in eight Nunavut communities. In this paper, we present the opportunities and challenges of putting the ARM into practice through four research stages: (1) building relationships; (2) building shared understanding; (3) knowledge sharing; and (4) collaborative analysis. In this process, we have come to recognize our strength in connection, Local Research Coordinators as Highly Qualified Personnel, the four Rs of collaborative analysis, and the challenges of hurdling institutions. We share our approach and lessons learned to contribute to ongoing efforts and dialogue around decolonizing research and enhancing Inuit self-determination in research.

Revealing excitation-inhibition imbalance in Alzheimer’s disease using multiscale neural model inversion of resting-state functional MRI

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disorder without a clear understanding of pathophysiology. Recent experimental data have suggested neuronal excitation-inhibition (E-I) imbalance as an essential element of AD pathology, but E-I imbalance has not been systematically mapped out for either local or large-scale neuronal circuits in AD, precluding precise targeting of E-I imbalance in AD treatment.MethodIn this work, we apply a Multiscale Neural Model Inversion (MNMI) framework to the resting-state functional MRI data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to identify brain regions with disrupted E-I balance in a large network during AD progression.ResultsWe observe that both intra-regional and inter-regional E-I balance is progressively disrupted from cognitively normal individuals, to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to AD. Also, we find that local inhibitory connections are more significantly impaired than excitatory ones and the strengths of most connections are reduced in MCI and AD, leading to gradual decoupling of neural populations. Moreover, we reveal a core AD network comprised mainly of limbic and cingulate regions. These brain regions exhibit consistent E-I alterations across MCI and AD, and thus may represent important AD biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Lastly, the E-I balance of multiple brain regions in the core AD network is found to be significantly correlated with the cognitive test score.ConclusionsOur study constitutes an important attempt to delineate E-I imbalance in large-scale neuronal circuits during AD progression, which may facilitate the development of new treatment paradigms to restore physiological E-I balance in AD.

Photoperiodic plasticity of pigment-dispersing factor immunoreactive fibers projecting toward prothoracicotropic hormone neurons in flesh fly Sarcophaga similis larvae.

Larvae of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga similis exhibit photoperiodic responses to control pupal diapause. Although the external coincidence model is applicable to S. similis photoperiodism, it remains unknown how the circadian clock system integrates day-length information. To explore the mechanisms, we examined the neural circuitry involving circadian clock lateral neurons (LNs) and prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) neurons. We also examined the photoperiodic effects on LN-fiber patterns in third-instar S. similis larvae. Immunohistochemistry showed that the clock protein PERIOD and the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) were co-localized in four cells per brain hemisphere, and we named these PDF-LNs of S. similis. Single-cell polymerase chain reaction of backfilled neurons from the ring gland showed that two pairs of pars lateralis neurons with contralateral axons (PL-c neurons) to the ring gland expressed ptth. Double labeling with immunohistochemistry and backfills revealed that PDF-immunoreactive varicose fibers projected close to fibers from PL-c neurons. short neuropeptide f (snpf) receptor and glutamate-gated chloride channel but not pdf receptor were expressed in PL-c neurons. sNPF and L-glutamate but not PDF acutely inhibited the spontaneous firing activity of PL-c neurons. The number of PDF-immunoreactive varicosities of PDF-LNs in the dorsal protocerebrum was significantly higher under short-day than that under long-day conditions in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that sNPF and/or glutamate signaling to PTTH neurons and PDF-LNs form a potential neural circuity for the photoperiodic control of pupal diapause and that photoperiod modifies the connectivity strength between PDF-LNs and their post- or pre-neurons in the circuitry.

Rock strength and stress dependence of local flow-path connectivity within faults or fractures: a preliminary overview of virtual and in-situ hydraulic tests

Abstract Global flow path connectivity along faults or fractures depends on the degree of local flow path connectivity within each fault or fracture and is a key control of groundwater flow and solute transport. However, the mechanical controls on spatial variations in local flow path connectivity within individual faults or fractures are poorly understood. Local flow path connectivity is quantifiable by the laboratory-scale flow dimensions (n lab) within individual faults or fractures, with a lower n lab indicating lower local flow path connectivity. Virtual hydraulic tests were performed on modeled individual fractures to derive a relationship between n lab and a mappable indicator, the ductility index (DI), defined by the mean stress, groundwater pressure, and rock tensile strength. The derived relationship was verified with data obtained from in-situ hydraulic tests of natural faults in rocks with low matrix permeability, poor swelling capacity, and few fracture mineral fillings, also incorporating the effect of linkage among faults in the field. The test results demonstrated that local flow path connectivity within faults or fractures can be high (n lab > 1.5) when DI < 2 but is generally low (n lab < 1.5) when DI > 2, depending on the level of effective-normal-stress-dependent (DI-dependent) fracture-normal displacement. This relationship between n lab and DI is valid even when the value of DI is varied, or the faults are sheared. These findings can be used to help map spatial variations in local flow path connectivity within faults or fractures from limited borehole data.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Perturbs the Brain-Wide Excitation-Inhibition Balance: Associations with Microcircuit Organization, Clinical Parameters, and Cognitive Dysfunction.

Excitation-inhibition (E/I) imbalance is theorized as a key mechanism in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, with ample research focusing on elucidating its cellular manifestations. However, few studies investigate E/I imbalance at the macroscale, whole-brain level, and its microcircuit-level mechanisms and clinical significance remain incompletely understood. Here, the Hurst exponent, an index of the E/I ratio, is computed from resting-state fMRI time series, and microcircuit parameters are simulatedusing biophysical models. A broad decrease in the Hurst exponent is observed in pharmaco-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), suggesting more excitable network dynamics. Connectome decoders point to temporolimbic and frontocentral cortices as plausible network epicenters of E/I imbalance. Furthermore, computational simulations reveal that enhancing cortical excitability in TLE reflects atypical increases in recurrent connection strength of local neuronal ensembles. Mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses show stronger E/I ratio elevation in patientswith longer disease duration, more frequent electroclinical seizures as well as interictal epileptic spikes, and worse cognitive functioning. Hurst exponent-informed classifiers discriminate patients from healthy controls with high accuracy (72.4% [57.5%-82.5%]). Replicated in an independent dataset, this work provides in vivo evidence of a macroscale shift in E/I balance in TLE patients and points to progressive functional imbalances that relate to cognitive decline.

Shear performance of RC slab-wall connections considering out-of-plane offsets reinforced with various types of shear reinforcement details

Out-of-plane offsets causing wall discontinuities in piloti buildings can generate significant shear forces in the transfer slabs, potentially leading to brittle shear failure and slab collapse during earthquakes. To address this issue, this study investigates the effectiveness of practical shear reinforcement details for reinforcing concrete slabs in critical regions influenced by out-of-plane offsets. An experimental program was conducted on ten specimens representing slab-wall connections in piloti buildings. The main test parameters included the shear span-to-depth ratio (a/d) and the configuration of the shear reinforcement. The experimental results found that all the proposed practical shear reinforcement details exhibited favorable performance in strengthening the RC slab-wall connections for a given range of a/d ratios. Notably, these practical details outperformed conventional reinforcement configurations, particularly for slabs with a small a/d ratio of 1.5. Moreover, shear reinforcement details employing T-type units demonstrated comparable performance in reducing crack propagation compared to their U-type- and Z-type counterparts, despite having a smaller effective shear reinforcement area within the shear span. Finally, the shear strengths of the slab-wall connections were evaluated and discussed using current design codes and theoretical models.

Decreased Structural Connectivity Between Thalamic Nuclei and Hippocampus in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy-A Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Based Study.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can lead to structural brain abnormalities, with thalamus atrophy being the most common extratemporal alteration. This study used probabilistic tractography to investigate the structural connectivity between individual thalamic nuclei and the hippocampus in TLE. Thirty-six TLE patients who underwent pre-surgical 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients were subdivided into TLE with HS (TLE-HS) and MRI-negative TLE (TLE-MRneg). Tractography and whole brain segmentation, including thalamus parcellation, were performed to determine the number of streamlines per mm3 between the thalamic nuclei and hippocampus. Connectivity strength and volume of regions were correlated with clinical data. The volume of the entire thalamus ipsilateral to seizure onset was significantly decreased in TLE-HS compared to controls (Mann-Whitney-U test: pFDR < 0.01) with the anterior thalamic nuclei (ANT) as important contributor. Furthermore, decreased ipsilateral connectivity strength between the hippocampus and ANT was detected in TLE-HS (pFDR < 0.01) compared to TLE-MRneg and controls which correlated negatively with the duration of epilepsy (ρ = -0.512, p = 0.025) and positively with seizure frequency (ρ = 0.603, p = 0.006). Moreover, ANT volume correlated negatively with epilepsy duration in TLE-HS (ρ = -0.471, p = 0.042). ANT showed atrophy and decreased connectivity in TLE-HS, which correlated with epilepsy duration and seizure frequency. Understanding the dynamics of epileptogenic networks has the potential to shed light on surgery-resistant epilepsy and refine the selection process for ideal neurosurgical candidates, consequently enhancing post-surgical outcomes.

Not just symbolism: Technologies may also have a less than direct connection with cognition.

I expand Stibbard-Hawkes' exploration of symbolism and cognition to suggest that we also ought to reconsider the strength of connections between cognition and technological complexity. Using early weaponry as a case study I suggest that complexity may be "hidden" in early tools, and further highlight that assessments of technologies as linear and progressive have roots in Western colonial thought.

Design and mechanical properties analysis of drill pipe’s joint thread with unequal taper under complex loads

The design of drill pipe joint thread with unequal taper is proposed to investigate the fracture failure of the API NC38 used in the drill pipe joint of the SU36-8-4H2 well. The effect of changes in thread taper on the stress distribution and mechanical properties of drill pipe joints is analyzed and compared with the API standard thread to determine the optimal thread structure with unequal taper. The results reveal highly concentrated stress at the last engaged thread root of API NC38 single-shoulder thread (SUT) may cause early yield failure of the joint threads. Adjusting the unequal taper of the pin thread mitigates uneven stress distribution in NC38 single and double-shoulder threads and enhances connection strength, particularly for SUT-II and DUT-I. However, altering the box thread’s unequal taper modifies the stress concentration slightly in NC38 single and double-shoulder threads. This offers limited tensile and compressive strength improvement. The maximum Mises stress value of SUT-II is reduced by 56.69% compared to SUT. The maximum Mises stress value of DUT-I is reduced by 34.87% compared to NC38 double-shoulder joint thread (DUT). This design approach can guide the optimization of other API threads and enhance joint strength for non-API and specialized taper threads.

Emergence of multiple spontaneous coherent subnetworks from a single configuration of human connectome coupled oscillators model

Multi-state metastability in neuroimaging signals reflects the brain’s flexibility to transition between network configurations in response to changing environments or tasks. We modeled these dynamics with a Kuramoto network of 90 nodes oscillating at an intrinsic frequency of 40 Hz, interconnected using human brain structural connectivity strengths and delays. We simulated this model for 30 min to generate multi-state metastability. We identified global coupling and delay parameters that maximize spectral entropy, a proxy for multi-state metastability. At this operational point, multiple frequency-specific coherent sub-networks spontaneously emerge across oscillatory modes, persisting for periods between 140 and 4300 ms, reflecting flexible and sustained dynamic states. The topography of these sub-networks aligns with empirical resting-state neuroimaging data. Additionally, periodic components of the EEG spectra from young healthy participants correlate with maximal multi-state metastability, while dynamics away from this point correlate with sleep and anesthesia spectra. Our findings suggest that multi-state metastable functional dynamics observed in empirical data emerge from specific interactions of structural topography and connection delays, providing a platform to study mechanisms underlying flexible dynamics of cognition.

ULTRASONIC QUALITY CONTROL OF SOLDERED AND WELDED JOINTS IN ELECTRICAL CONTACTS

Electrical contact units are components of electrical switching devices, which are widely used in many industries, including defense, aviation, space, where not only the performance of the equipment, but also, often, people’s lives depend on the quality of the components used. Therefore, the quality of electrical contact units is a priority in the production of switching devices. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the possibility of using ultrasonic testing to assess the quality of soldered and welded joints in electrical contact assemblies. Materials and methods. The quality of the connections was studied on various contact assemblies using the ultrasonic testing method with a special transducer. To confirm the results of ultrasonic testing, metallographic studies and mechanical tests of the contact assemblies were also carried out. Results. A comparative analysis of the results of ultrasonic quality control of soldered and welded joints with the results of metallographic studies and mechanical tests of contact parts for shear along the surface of the joints on three different types of contact units is carried out. The presence of a direct correlation between the results of ultrasonic quality control of soldered and welded joints and the results of their metallographic studies and mechanical tests on all the electrical contacts under study is shown. Possible causes of low quality and strength of connections in individual contact units under study are analyzed. Conclusions. The possibility of using the ultrasonic testing method to assess the quality of soldered and welded joints in electrical contact assemblies is shown. The results of ultrasonic testing are confirmed by metallographic studies and mechanical tests of the contact assemblies.

Research on the application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy in differentiating subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurological disorder. Based on clinical characteristics, it can be categorized into normal cognition (NC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia (AD). Once the condition begins to progress, the process is usually irreversible. Therefore, early identification and intervention are crucial for patients. This study aims to explore the sensitivity of fNIRS in distinguishing between SCD and MCI. An in-depth analysis of the Functional Connectivity (FC) and oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) characteristics during resting state and different memory cognitive tasks is conducted on two patient groups to search for potential biomarkers. The 33 participants were divided into two groups: SCD and MCI. Functional connectivity strength during the resting state and hemodynamic changes during the execution of Verbal Fluency Tasks (VFT) and MemTrax tasks were measured using fNIRS. The results showed that compared to individuals with MCI, patients with SCD exhibited higher average FC levels between different channels in the frontal lobe during resting state, with two channels' FC demonstrating significant ability to distinguish between SCD and MCI. During the VFT task, the overall average HbO concentration in the frontal lobe of SCD patients was higher than that of MCI patients from 5 experimental paradigm. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the accuracy of the above features in distinguishing SCD from MCI was 78.8%, 72.7%, 75.8%, and 66.7%, respectively. fNIRS could potentially serve as a non-invasive biomarker for the early detection of dementia.

Allee pits in metapopulations: critical dispersal rates for connectivity to be beneficial

Habitat fragmentation divides populations into smaller subpopulations. At the same time, the Allee effect reduces the growth and thereby the viability of small populations. Hence, habitat fragmentation and the Allee effect can synergistically amplify negative impacts on spatially distributed populations. To support endangered populations, management and conservation strategies aim to improve connectivity between subpopulations by creating corridors and stepping stones, for instance. This study investigates how enhanced connectivity (strength of connections between subpopulations in terms of dispersal rate) influences a fragmented population subject to the Allee effect. Using a generic two-patch discrete-time model with a positively density-dependent growth function, we study the impact of connectivity on the asymptotic total population size through simulations. Due to the Allee effect, low connectivity can lead to a decline in the asymptotic total population size, which we call the Allee pit. However, increased connectivity facilitates the rescue effect, wherein a persistent subpopulation in one patch can save an extinction-prone subpopulation in another patch. We find that for connectivity to benefit the asymptotic total population size, dispersal must be sufficiently large to push the smaller subpopulation above its Allee threshold. If dispersal is below this critical dispersal rate, there remains a detrimental effect on the asymptotic total population size. Therefore, this study implies that conservation strategies should not only aim to increase connectivity in fragmented populations subject to Allee effects but also ensure that the critical dispersal rate is surpassed.

Temporal Effects of Hypoxia Exposure at High Altitudes on Compensatory Brain Function: Evidence from Functional Connectivity of Resting-State EEG Brain Networks.

Ren, Hong, Xi-Yue Yang, Rui Su, HaiLin Ma, and Hao Li. Temporal Effects of Hypoxia Exposure at High Altitudes on Compensatory Brain Function: Evidence from Functional Connectivity of Resting-State EEG Brain Networks. High Alt Med Biol. 00:00-00, 2024. Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude on changes in brain function measured by electroencephalography (EEG), focusing specifically on the resting-state brain network functional connectivity and compensatory adaptations in brain function among individuals with varying durations of high altitude residency. Methods: In study I, 64 participants were divided into high-altitude group (HG) and low-altitude group (LG). Ninety-six long-term migrants residing at an altitude of 3,650 m were recruited for studyII and categorized into three groups based on their duration of stay at high altitude: group A (1-2 years), group B (8-10 years), and group C (18-20 years). Resting-state EEG data were collected from each participant, and functional connectivity analysis was conducted using Phase Locking Value. Results: Study I showed that participants with HG had stronger functional connectivity in the occipital lobe than those with LG (p < 0.05). The study II findings indicate that there were significant differences in functional connectivity strength among the frontal and occipital lobes in groups A, B, and C across the α, β, δ, and θ frequency bands. Specifically, the functional connectivity strength of the frontal lobe was significantly higher in group A compared with group B, and in group B compared with group C (p < 0.05). Additionally, the functional connectivity of the occipital lobe was significantly higher in group C compared with group B, and in group B compared with group A (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The consistent results of the whole frequency band suggest that the individual's occipital lobe function is enhanced to compensate for the damage of frontal lobe function, so as to better adapt to the extreme environment at high altitude.

Strengthen of metal-polymer direct molding bonding via three-dimensional porous mechanical interlocking

This paper proposes a direct metal–polymer forming–bonding method using three-dimensional (3D) porous mechanical interlocking to achieve high-strength metal–polymer connections. In this method, porous copper is initially sintered onto copper plates, followed by the infusion of molten polymer into the pores, forming a robust copper–polymer bonded structure. Incorporating microneedle arrays into the copper plates further enhances the bond between the porous copper and the polymer. Characterization of the pore morphology and mechanical properties confirmed the formation of large-area 3D micro-interlocking. Tensile tests on samples with varying porosities showed connection strengths exceeding 30 MPa, with a maximum recorded strength of 37 MPa. Finite element analysis supported the high bonding strength and provided insights into failure mechanisms. This cost-effective technique offers superior copper–polymer bonding strengths, and introduces novel concepts for composite heat exchanger design and manufacturing.

Can functional connectivity be used to refine structural connectivity strength by combining neural computational model and generative adversarial network?

Can functional connectivity be used to refine structural connectivity strength by combining neural computational model and generative adversarial network?

Altered default-mode and frontal-parietal network pattern underlie adaptiveness of emotion regulation flexibility following task-switch training.

Emotion regulation flexibility (ERF) refers to one's ability to respond flexibly in complex environments. Adaptiveness of ERF has been associated with cognitive flexibility, which can be improved by task-switching training. However, the impact of task-switching training on ERF and its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. To address this issue, we examined the effects of training on individuals' adaptiveness of ERF by assessing altered brain network patterns. Two groups of participants completed behavioral experiments and resting-state fMRI before and after training. Behavioral results showed higher adaptiveness scores and network analysis observed a higher number of connectivity edges, in the training group compared to the control group. Moreover, we found decreased connectivity strength within the default mode network (DMN) and increased connectivity strength within the frontoparietal network (FPN) in the training group. Furthermore, the task-switch training also led to decreased DMN-FPN interconnectivity, which was significantly correlated to increased adaptiveness of ERF scores. These findings suggest that the adaptiveness of ERF can be supported by altered patterns with the brain network through task-switch training, especially the increased network segregation between the DMN and FPN.

Evaluation of Neurovascular Coupling in Early-Onset and Late-Onset Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology.

Previous studies have shown neurovascular coupling (NVC) dysfunction in epilepsy, suggesting its role in the pathological mechanisms. However, it remains unclear whether NVC abnormalities exist in epilepsy of unknown etiology (EU). To integrate multiparametric MRI to assess NVC and its relationship with cognition in early-onset and late-onset EU patients. Prospective. Ninety-six EU patients (46 early-onset, M/F = 20/26; 50 late-onset, M/F = 29/21) and 60 healthy controls (HCs, M/F = 25/35). 3.0 T, resting-state gradient echo-planar imaging, pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pc-ASL), and T1-weighted brain volume sequence. Functional MRI data were analyzed to assess intrinsic brain activity including amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity strength (FCS), while pc-ASL provided cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements. Coupling correlation coefficients and ratios of CBF to neural activity were calculated to evaluate global and regional NVC. Two-sample t-test, Analysis of Variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test, Analysis of Covariance, family-wise error/Bonferroni correction, partial correlation analyses. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Whole-brain analysis revealed increased ALFF values in both patient groups' left precentral and postcentral gyri. Both patient groups had lower global NVC coefficients than HCs, with reduced CBF-ALFF (0.28 vs. 0.30), CBF-fALFF (0.43 vs. 0.45), and CBF-ReHo (0.40 vs. 0.41) in early-onset patients, and lower CBF-fALFF (0.38 vs. 0.45) and CBF-ReHo (0.32 vs. 0.41) in late-onset patients. Regional analysis showed significantly decreased CBF/ALFF ratios in the left precentral and postcentral gyri (T = 3.85 to 5.33). Reduced global NVC in early-onset patients was significantly associated with poorer executive function (r = 0.323), while global coupling in late-onset patients was negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.348 to -0.426). This study showed abnormal global and regional NVC in both early-onset and late-onset EU patients, emphasizing the potential role of NVC in the pathophysiological mechanisms of EU. 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Analysis of type 2 diabetes mellitus-related genes by constructing the pathway-based weighted network.

Complex network is an effective approach to studying complex diseases, and provides another perspective for understanding their pathological mechanisms by illustrating the interactions between various factors of diseases. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex polygenic metabolic disease involving genetic and environmental factors. By combining the complex network approach with biological data, this study constructs a pathway-based weighted network model of T2DM-related genes to explore the interrelationships between genes, here a weight is assigned to each edge in terms of the number of the same pathways in which the two nodes (genes) connected to the edge are involved. The edge weights can reflect differences in the strength of connections (interactions) between nodes (genes), which intuitively reflect the extent of biological correlations between genes and contribute to the importance of the nodes. Analysis of statistical and topological characteristics shows that the edge weights are correlated to the network topology, and the edge weight distribution decays as a power-law. The disparity of the weights indicates that the edge weight distribution for the nodes with the same degree is of approximately equal weights; and most edges with the higher weights tend to connect with the higher degree nodes. To determine the key hub genes of the weighted network, an integrated ranking index is used to comprehensively reflect the contribution of the three indices (strength, degree and number of pathways) of nodes; by taking the threshold of integrated ranking index greater than 0.56, 12 key hub genes are identified: MAPK1, PIK3CD, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, AKT2, AKT1, KRAS, TNF, MAPK8, PRKCA, IL6 and MTOR. These genes should play an important role in the occurrence and development of T2DM, and can be regarded as potential therapeutic targets for further biological and medical research on their functions in T2DM. It can be expected that combining complex network approach with other data analysis techniques can provide more clues for exploring the pathogenesis and treatment of T2DM and other complex diseases in the future.

Degree, Neighbourhood, and Connectedness in Fuzzy Digraph

Objective: In the context of fuzzy digraphs, degree neighborhood, and connectedness play important roles in understanding the structure and relationships within the graph. Here are the objectives of degree, neighborhood, and connectedness in fuzzy digraphs: 1. Degree Neighborhood: The degree neighborhood of a vertex in a fuzzy digraph refers to the set of vertices that are directly connected to it. In fuzzy digraphs, the concept of degree neighborhood is extended to include the strength or degree of connection between vertices, which is represented by fuzzy values. 2. Connectedness: Connectedness in fuzzy digraphs refers to the existence of paths between any pair of vertices, considering the fuzzy nature of relationships. Methods: By using fuzzy vertex and fuzzy edges in fuzzy digraph to find degree (in-degree and out-degree), neighborhood (in-neighborhood and out-neighborhood), and to find connectedness in fuzzy digraph. Findings: In this study, some types of fuzzy digraphs are introduced, neighborhood (in-neighborhood and out-neighborhood) and degree (in-degree and out-degree) in fuzzy digraphs, and strong, weak, unilateral connectedness in fuzzy digraphs are introduced. Novelty: To show that let 𝐺𝐷 ∶ (𝜎, 𝜇) be a fuzzy digraph with fuzzy vertex set 𝜎 and fuzzy edge set 𝜇. In this paper, some types of fuzzy digraphs are introduced, neighborhood (inneighborhood and out-neighborhood) and degree (in-degree and out-degree) in fuzzy digraph and strong, weak, unilateral connectedness in fuzzy digraph are introduced. Furthermore, this paper establishes various results and theorems, and some properties of different fuzzy digraphs are discussed. Keywords: Fuzzy digraph; Degree in a fuzzy digraph; Neighborhood in a fuzzy digraph; Fuzzy diwalk; Fuzzy dicycle; Fuzzy diacyclic digraph