Case Reports of Dominantly Inherited β-Thalassemia (Hb Chesterfield) and the Therapeutic Efficacy of LuspaterceptYanni Xie1, Li Wang1, Shiqi Yin2, Yali Zhou1#1 Department of Hematology, the 923rd Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army2 Guangxi Medical UniversityCorresponding author ’s contact information:Name: Yali ZhouPhone number: 13507883961Email: 252749070@qq.comAddress: No.52, Plant Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

The dynamism of information characterizes the structure of Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), and the TCP/IP protocol stack architecture based on resource sharing hampers VANETs consolidation. A proposed solution to this issue is Content-Centric Networking (CCN), which quickly gained adoption in the context of VANETs through Named Data Networking (NDN). However, some issues persist in this newly proposed solution, such as the inefficiency in distributing content uniformly across the network. This study conducts an extensive performance comparison of various caching algorithms in NDN-based VANETs. The analysis suggests that implementing the CEE decision algorithm with the LRU or MDMR replacement algorithms may yield better performance in high data criticality contexts than other analyzed algorithms.

Background and Purpose: Hyperdopaminergia is a key feature of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder and can be modeled using dopamine transporter knockout (DAT KO) rats. Previous studies have shown that acute amphetamine has a paradoxical calming effect in DAT KO rats, but the effects of repeated amphetamine treatment are unknown. Experimental Approach: We studied the effect of subchronic amphetamine on hyperdopaminergia-related disease symptoms and underlying mechanisms using male and female DAT KO rats. We measured locomotor activity, anxiety-like behaviour, social behaviour, anhedonia and problem-solving behaviour at baseline and after 10 days of amphetamine treatment and assessed protein expression changes in the glutamate system in the prefrontal cortex. Key Results: Both female and male DAT KO rats exhibited hyperlocomotion compared to control rats. Subchronic amphetamine treatment significantly dampened this effect in female, but not in male DAT KO rats. Additionally, amphetamine increased sociability and reduced anhedonia in female, but not in male DAT KO rats. From a molecular point of view, we observed differences in the modulation of glutamatergic transmission between males and females mainly at the level of the infralimbic, but not prelimbic, prefrontal cortex, suggesting that the glutamatergic synapse may contribute to the behavioral response to amphetamine between the two sexes. Conclusion and Implications: Subchronic amphetamine treatment decreased the hyperactivity, anxiety-like, anti-social and anhedonic phenotypes of female DAT KO rats, potentially by modulating glutamate transmission in the prefrontal cortex. These findings foster further research into the treatment of hyperdopaminergia-related disorders.

Background: The efficacy of traditional plant-based treatments, such as chamomile and sumac, for uterine fibroids-associated menstrual symptoms is not known. In this randomized trial, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of sumac and chamomile in reducing the duration and intensity of menstrual bleeding and pain associated with uterine fibroids. Experimental approach: This triple-blind, three-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 154 women with uterine fibroids. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (n=52), 500 mg of dried sumac powder (n=50), or 500 mg of dried chamomile powder (n=52) every 8 hours from days 1 to 7 of two consecutive menstrual cycles. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze repeated measures while accounting for within-subject correlations. Bonferroni correction was applied for post hoc comparisons to adjust for multiple testing. Key results: In the second menstrual cycle, chamomile reduced vaginal bleeding by 20% and bleeding duration by 20%, while sumac reduced bleeding by 14% and duration by 19%. Chamomile also decreased pain intensity by 46% and pain duration by 42%, whereas sumac reduced pain intensity by 45% and duration by 35%. Post-hoc analyses confirmed significant reductions in menstrual bleeding and pain (both intensity and duration) for participants in both groups, with effects more pronounced by the second cycle. Conclusions and implications: The study suggests that chamomile and sumac may serve as effective natural treatments for managing heavy menstrual bleeding and pain associated with uterine fibroids, offering a complementary non-hormonal, non-surgical therapy.

Project-based learning (PjBL) is an innovative pedagogical approach that enhances student engagement, motivation, and critical thinking skills in higher education. This student-centered methodology emphasizes active learning through complex, real-world projects that span multiple disciplines. PjBL is rooted in constructivist learning theory and involves students working on extended projects addressing challenging questions or problems. Key features include interdisciplinary integration, development of soft skills, authentic assessment, and a focus on real-world applications. Research has shown PjBL can lead to improved student engagement, deeper content understanding, and enhanced problem-solving abilities, particularly in STEM fields. While implementation can be challenging, PjBL offers a promising approach to prepare students for the complexities of the 21st century workforce by bridging theoretical knowledge and practical application. Studies have demonstrated PjBL's positive impact on motivation, academic performance, and the development of critical competencies across various educational contexts. The integration of technologies like AI-driven animated videos further enhances PjBL's effectiveness in developing technical and communication skills. Overall, PjBL represents a significant shift towards more dynamic, student-centered learning that equips students with essential skills for future academic and professional success.Abstract content goes here

Hierarchical agglomerative clustering is a useful analysis technique which allows for a level of stability, interpretability and flexibility not available in other similar analysis techniques such as K-means, density-based clustering or positive matrix factorization. Previous studies using hierarchical clustering on atmospheric model output have been limited to small domain sizes (roughly 100x100 grid cells) by the computational expense and memory requirements of the algorithm. Here we present hierarchical clustering analysis on two atmospheric datasets which are much larger than was previously possible. In the first case study, we perform clustering on an entire year’s worth of hourly model simulated concentration and deposition data. The model domain covers the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and has a size of 538x540, making for 290,520 hourly concentration timeseries. The resulting maps identify regions within the modelling domain within which forecast time-series are similar according to the chosen metric – demonstrating the analysis methodology’s ability to objectively and quantitatively define “airsheds” across a larger domain than has been possible before. The identified airsheds differ depending on species.

Recurrent Scrotal Fibroepithelial Polyp in a 7-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report and Literature Review

Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) are classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List due to their declining population trend, indicating global concern. However, water deer are considered a harmful species in South Korea where the population is relatively abundant. The population status of water deer varies across their geographical range, but information on their distribution is limited due to insufficient research and reporting. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the environmental variables influencing the distribution of water deer and to provide insights into their daily behavior patterns. Camera traps were deployed at 108 points within 22 grid cells (each 5 km × 5 km), from March to September 2021, located in the central-east part of the Korean Peninsula. Water deer were detected 92 times across 17 grid cells. A single-season occupancy model revealed that occupancy decreases with the increase in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (β_NDVI: -1.00±0.21), which is presumed to be related to the use of forbs or low woody plants as food resources. Detection was influenced by slope, with higher slopes likely limiting mobility and, thereby reducing detection (β_slope: -0.60±0.03). The diurnal behavior patterns were confirmed to be crepuscular, with activity primarily around sunrise and sunset. These findings are expected to enhance the understanding of this species and may be used for the management of water deer as a problematic species in South Korea, as well as for species conservation efforts internationally.

A quantification of the mechanisms underlying plant water use strategies is central to understanding plant stress vulnerability, productivity, and subsequent responses to hydroclimatic shifts. To explore such dynamics, we developed a dynamical model for the changes of internal plant water storage (PWS) and soil moisture given a set of coupled balance equations. This trade-off was explored through the analysis of long-term plant fluxes over a range of climate regimes, providing constraints on water availability and demand while incorporating plant physiological mechanisms into the model framework. In conjunction, plant productivity was considered, taken as the plant carbon dioxide assimilation with an additional maintenance cost subtracted to account for varying internal plant water capacities. We began by developing a conceptual model by linearizing the resulting set of coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for PWS and soil moisture to obtain the plant’s long-term response to changing rainfall frequencies. The conceptual model produced clear PWS optima that decreased nonlinearly with increasing rainfall frequency, as plants with a higher PWS capacity maintained a higher minimum internal water storage overall. The model was then extended to include nonlinear components, including stochastic rainfall forcing. Under time-averaged conditions, due to the cost associated with plant size along with the timescale of intake and water release, we found that net carbon uptake does not necessarily increase with larger maximum PWS capacities but is sustained for longer periods during drought due to transpiration being facilitated by internal water stores. This reduces stress for water storing plants in climate regimes with high intensity, low frequency precipitation. Increased rainfall frequency and a decrease in intensity greatly reduce the overall optimal PWS capacity, even when overall water availability is changed. Thus, the extended model confirms that optimal PWS decreases nonlinearly as the rainfall becomes more frequent and less intense, as in the conceptual model. This suggests that water storage plays a less critical role in wet environments that may show an increase in wet days, but not necessarily an increase in water availability. We then analyzed remote sensing data trends in seasonally dry ecosystems and compared them with the nonlinear point process model to identify physically based mechanisms governing plant water use, incorporating plant functional traits potentially coordinated with PWS.

Objective Ventricular arrhythmias originating from the upper ventricular septum have been described, but the involvement of the His-Purkinje System (HPS) remains underexplored. This study aims to characterize ventricular arrhythmias arising from the upper ventricular septum with HPS involvement and assess the role of catheter ablation in this patient population. Methods We retrospectively analyzed cases of VT ablation performed at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2018 and 2024. The study included patients with structural heart disease presenting with clinical polymorphic VT or VF and diseased HPS. Results Nine patients (78% male) with VT involving the HPS region were analyzed. The mean LVEF was 45.3 ± 10.5%, and the LVIDD was 53.5 ± 10.2 mm. Structural heart disease was ischemic in 5 patients (55%), dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in 3 (33%), and valvular cardiomyopathy in 1 (11%). All patients had documented VF or unstable VT on ECG or device recordings. VT was inducible in all cases, with an average of 2.67 ± 1.15 VT morphologies per patient. Strategic Multielectrode Positioning (StaMP) mapping, late ventricular activation (LAVA) modification, and pace mapping for stable morphologies were applied. All arrhythmogenic areas were adjacent to diseased HPS. These strategies achieved non-inducibility of VT/VF in all patients. Post-ablation, conduction system injury occurred in all patients, manifesting as prolonged QRS duration or pacing dependency. One patient experienced recurrence, successfully managed with a repeat procedure. Conclusion Catheter ablation is a feasible treatment for unstable VT and VF in patients with structural heart disease. Achieving non-inducibility often necessitates ablation of the LV septum and opposing RV septum, albeit at the risk of conduction system injury and pacing dependency. These findings provide insights into ablation strategies for managing this complex patient population.

The development of nontraditional luminogens (NTLs) with superior photoluminescence (PL) properties is of great scientific and practical significance and has drawn rapidly growing interests in recent years. An extremely important but unresolved question is that are there any distinct differences in the structures and PL mechanisms between traditional luminogens (TLs) and NTLs. In this work, four dihydropyridine derivatives with strong non-aromatic through-bond conjugation (TBC) were designed and synthesized, and the influence of strong non-aromatic TBC and through-space conjugation (TSC) effects on their PL behaviors was studied. These compounds in solutions show significant concentration-dependent and excitation-dependent emissions, which are typical PL behaviors of NTLs. In solid state, the compounds show wide excitation spectra while narrow emission spectra, with high quantum yields up to 57.4%, but they do not show significant excitation-dependent emissions, similar to TLs. And very impressively, two kinds of crystals also exhibit optical waveguide property, which is the first report in NTLs. The UV-vis spectra, crystal structures and theoretical calculations prove the presence of large non-aromatic TBC interactions in these NTLs and strong non-aromatic TSC can be formed among the molecules which are in a planar conformation and stacked into layers through intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π⋅⋅⋅π interactions. The combined effect of strong non-aromatic TBC and TSC endow the compounds unique PL behaviors that are between those of TLs and NTLs, thus bridging the gap between TLs and NTLs.

1. Introduction: A Historical Perspective on Technology and AssessmentEducation has always evolved alongside technological advancements, each time forcing educators to rethink assessment strategies.

Change is messy. It disrupts workflows, rattles comfort zones, and --- if handled poorly --- breeds resentment. As an engineering leader, I've learned that the difference between success and failure in change management isn't the idea itself, but how you drive it. You can be thoughtful and inclusive, but if you aren't assertive, your team will resist, stall, and ultimately revert to old ways. I've led transformations ranging from ripping out monolithic architectures to shifting mindsets on data-driven decision-making. Along the way, I've seen what works and what crumbles under resistance. Here's what I've learned about leading change with confidence

In the present work, mixed-dimensional composite membranes based on conventional two-dimensional woven fabrics have been rapidly produced on a large scale for recycling powder particles or mitigating water pollution. The retention performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2) was investigated, and the potential mechanism of particle penetration was analyzed by recording the effect of temperature and time on the formation of the composite filter material. It was found that the pure water flux was 4112.95 L/(m2h), the filtrate flux was 1013.73 L/(m2h), the turbidity value was 6.34 NTU and the retention was 99.92 % at a temperature of 120 °C and a time of 30 s. Multi-layered composite filter media with nano- and microporous structures produced by physical interface interaction under ambient conditions and the results of the analytical study revealed the filtration mechanism of the composites against microparticles. The composite filter media had a higher filtration efficiency for particle capture, mainly in the surface layer. With woven filter cloth for supporting layer and melt-blown nonwoven for primary filtrating layer, the multilayer composite filter material was formed to achieve efficient separation and recovery of fine particles, providing a reference for the new generation of filters with a higher strength and filtration capability.

Lera Leonteva | Leo AI, London, UK

Heterochrony, or variation in developmental timing, is a widely recognized source of phenotypic novelty. While many studies have investigated the phenotypic effects of heterochrony over evolutionary timescales, the phenotypic effects of newly emerged (heterokairic) variation in developmental timing remain poorly understood. We leverage a wild population of the facultatively paedomorphic salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum, to understand if and how reordering the timing of metamorphosis relative to sexual maturation generates novelty in the amphibian skin microbiota. We demonstrate emergence of phenotypic novelty in the heterokairic (paedomorphic) life stage. This includes novelty that is both intermediate to and more extreme than ancestral (larval, metamorphic) life stages. Further inspection shows that novelty in the skin microbiota comprises both individual novel microbes and novel microbe combinations and emerges due to both microbial gain and microbial loss. We discuss the eco-evolutionary implications of our findings for both HA microbiota and phenotypic spaces more broadly.

One hundred years ago, the first book with the phrase “Animal Genetics” in its title was published. It was written by F.A.E. Crew, then Lecturer in genetics and foundation Director of the Department of Research in Animal Breeding at the University of Edinburgh. The 352 pages of text provide a most interesting summary of the knowledge of animal genetics at that time. It is impressive to see the extent to which the understanding of genetics had developed in just a couple of decades since the rediscovery of Mendelism. There was, for example, recognition that genes are borne on chromosomes; that XX/XY sex determination provides a very satisfactory explanation for most of the relevant evidence; that sex-linked inheritance has a practical application; that variation in quantitative traits is determined by the combined action of many genes and many non-genetic factors; that inbreeding results in substantial decreases in fecundity and fertility due to homozygosity for undesirable alleles; that crossing between lines or breeds gives rise to hybrid vigour (heterosis); and that many disorders are inherited in a Mendelian fashion, and hence can be controlled by informed breeding. There is, however, no mention of Fisher’s 1918 paper nor of Wright’s recently-published inbreeding coefficient and coefficient of relationship. Crew’s book inspired the next generation of geneticists, such as Fred Hutt, who travelled from Canada to Edinburgh to do a PhD with Crew, and who later published his own very influential book with the same title, which was dedicated to Crew.

Community or volunteer participation in research has potential to significantly help mobilize the wealth of biodiversity and functional ecological data housed in natural history collections. Many such projects recruit community scientists to transcribe specimen label data from images; a next step is to task community scientists with conducting straightforward morphological measurements (e.g., body size) from specimen images. We investigated whether community science could be an effective approach to generating significant body size datasets from specimen images generated by museum digitization initiatives. Using the community science platform Notes from Nature, we engaged community scientists in a specimen measurement task to estimate body size (i.e., intertegular distance) from images of bee specimens. Community scientists showed high engagement and completion of this task, with each user measuring 43.6 specimens on average and self-reporting successful measurement of 98.0% of the images. Community scientist measurements were significantly larger than measurements conducted by trained researchers, though the average measurement error was only 2.3%. These results suggest that community science participation could be an effective approach for bee body size measurement, for descriptive studies or for research questions where this degree of expected error is deemed acceptable. For larger-bodied organisms (e.g., vertebrates), where modest measurement errors represent a smaller proportion of body size, community science approaches may be particularly effective. Methods we present here may serve as a blueprint for future projects aimed at engaging the public in biodiversity and collections-based research efforts.

RATIONALE: Submicron nanoelectrospray emitters can greatly enhance the performance of native mass spectrometry (nMS) by increasing ionization efficiency and improving salt tolerance. This enhancement enables more accurate determination of intact protein molecular weights under near-physiological conditions and minimizes nonspecific aggregation during ionization. However, the high cost of these emitters limits their widespread use in nMS. In contrast, homemade emitters offer a cost-effective alternative that can significantly reduce the overall expense of native mass spectrometry. METHODS: The impact of manufacturing parameters—loop, heating power, pulling force, cooling time, and hard pull trigger speed—on the morphology of submicron nanoelectrospray emitters during the high-temperature pulling process was systematically investigated. Subsequently, the performance of the self-prepared emitters was evaluated by characterizing three representative proteins with varying molecular weights. RESULTS: Heating power and pulling force were identified as key factors controlling the tip inner diameter (ID) and cone length. By employing multiple-loop processing to reduce the pulling force, emitters suitable for nMS were achieved. The tip ID was successfully reduced from 3 μm to 800 nm, which enhanced salt tolerance—BSA from 300 to 800 μM, cytochrome C from 800 to 2000 μM, and IgG from 10 to 50 μM—as well as detection sensitivity—BSA from 0.1 to 0.06 μM, cytochrome C from 1.5 to 0.25 nM, and IgG from 0.7 to 0.1 μM—while also reducing nonspecific protein aggregation.Conclusion: The fabricated submicron nanoelectrospray emitters are ideally suited for native mass spectrometry (nMS) analysis. By elucidating the relationship between pulling parameters and emitter morphology, it becomes straightforward to produce emitters with diverse tip IDs and specifications, thereby advancing the development of nMS.

This paper is concerned with the global well-posedness of classical solutions to a system in three dimension. The system is derived from a Keller-Segel type repulsive chemotaxis model with singular sensitivity, but the chemical production rate is nonlinear. We establish the existence global in time and uniqueness of classical solutions to the Cauchy problem for this chemotaxis model by splitting the equations in a linear and a nonlinear part and introducing an improved energy method. To this end, we introduce the monotonicity estimates because the supercritical case is involved.

Background: Previous cluster analyses have identified subgroups of asthma. However, only a few studies included parameters of small airways disease (SAD), or gene expression profiles reflecting underlying disease mechanisms. We aimed to identify clinically distinct asthma phenotypes using available data from the ATLANTIS study which focused on identifying the prevalence of SAD in asthma and its role asthma control, exacerbations and quality of life. Methods: The ATLANTIS study included 773 asthma patients (mean age 44 years, 58% female, 76% never-smoker, GINA 1-5). Subjects were extensively characterized, including symptoms, parameters of large and small airways disease, blood and sputum differential cell counts, and genome-wide gene expression profiling from nasal brushes. Clusters were generated using the Self-Organizing Map-Ward’s method. Results: Four distinct clusters were identified: A (N=62; 8%) characterized by the most frequent exacerbations, lower post-bronchodilator FEV 1 %predicted, more small airways disease, higher sputum and blood eosinophils and high expression of asthma related genes. B (N=206; 27%) consisting of atopic patients with early-onset asthma, uncontrolled symptoms, and normal lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness along with higher nasal expression of asthma-related genes. C (N=277; 36%), predominantly male former smokers, with well-controlled asthma and sputum neutrophilia. D (N=228; 29%), with normal lung function and low blood and sputum eosinophils. Conclusions: Four distinct clusters were identified, where the presence of SAD was associated with high type 2 inflammation lower lung function and frequent exacerbations. SAD may be a marker of poorly controlled asthma and should be considered as an important clinical trait.

The mutual interest in nature by the general public and scientists has led to many collaborations, past and present. Community science (CS) shows great potential for monitoring species occurrences and distributions, especially in combination with scalable and (semi)-automated methods such as DNA-based monitoring, helping to obtain data from a broader geographic and temporal range than would otherwise be possible by the scientific community alone. Here, we present an overview of the complementarity between community science and DNA-based biomonitoring through examples from ongoing projects. The involvement of hobby experts is particularly crucial for building up the necessary species reference databases that enable DNA-based monitoring. Based on this overview, we identify some key points related to learning opportunities and participant recognition to maximise the success, impact, and benefit of community participants in DNA-based monitoring.

This paper proposes a novel adaptive nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (ANFTSMC) scheme based on a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) for a quadrotor system in the presence of input saturation, model uncertainties, and external disturbances. A new barrier Lyapunov function and an adaptive law based on RBFNN are utilized for the design of the ANFTSMC, which guarantees that the closed-loop system asymptotically tracks the desired trajectories in a finite time. The model uncertainties are estimated by the adaptive law based on RBFNN, and the chattering phenomenon, a major drawback of conventional sliding mode controllers, is significantly reduced. Additionally, an auxiliary system is proposed to ensure the stability of the quadrotor system under input saturation conditions. The stability of the improved control scheme is proven using Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, numerical simulations in MATLAB are conducted to verify the effectiveness and superior performance of the proposed method compared to existing methods for the trajectory tracking control of a quadrotor system in the presence of input saturation, model uncertainties, and external disturbances.

This study is aimed to explore the regulatory effect and mechanism of Jingfang Mixture (JF) on thrombosis rats through the gut-liver axis through a carrageenan-induced rat model. The results showed that after JF treatment, the pathological condition of the tail was improved, the four coagulation parameters and the levels of coagulation factors were adjusted closely to the normal levels, and the levels of liver and intestinal inflammatory factors were significantly reduced. In vitro experiments proved JF had little effect on platelet aggregation, release, and coagulation. In our study, JF can significantly improve intestinal flora disorders, alleviate the oxidative stress level in the liver, and improve the short-chain fatty acid levels in the feces of rats with thrombosis. Of note, the relative abundances of Clostridia_UCG-014, Ruminococcaceae were significantly decreased after JFM intervention. Proteomic results showed that JF may be related to the coagulation and complement cascade signaling pathway. Finally, we further confirmed the therapeutic effect through FMT experiments, that the crosstalk of the gut-liver axis contributed to the improvement of thrombosis after JF treatment. In summary, this study took the gut-liver axis as the breakthrough point and coupled with 16S rDNA sequencing, non-targeted metabolomics, TMT-based quantitative proteomics and related comprehensive analysis methods, showing that JF can improve the intestinal flora and immune system disorder, as well as reduce the inflammatory damage of intestinal and liver in carrageenan-induced thrombosis rats, and its protective effect may be related to the complement and coagulation cascade signaling pathway.