Neural estimation of mutual information in speech signals processed by an auditory model.

The amount of information contained in speech signals is a fundamental concern of speech-based technologies and is particularly relevant in speech perception. Measuring the mutual information of actual speech signals is non-trivial, and quantitative measurements have not been extensively conducted to date. Recent advancements in machine learning have made it possible to directly measure mutual information using data.

The unique structure of the highly conserved PPLP region in HIV-1 Vif is critical for the formation of APOBEC3 recognition interfaces.

The human cellular cytidine deaminases APOBEC3s (A3s) inhibit virion infectivity factor (Vif)-deficient HIV-1 replication. However, virus-encoded Vifs abolish this defense system by specifically recruiting A3s to an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to induce their degradation. The highly conserved Vif PPLP motif is critical for the Vif-mediated antagonism of A3s and is believed to be important for Vif multimerization.

Generation of chimeric forms of rhesus macaque rhadinovirus expressing KSHV envelope glycoproteins gH and gL for utilization in an NHP model of infection.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human gammaherpesvirus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and B cell malignancies. Like all herpesviruses, KSHV contains conserved envelope glycoproteins (gps) involved in virus binding, entry, assembly, and release from infected cells, which are also targets of the immune response. Due to the lack of a reproducible animal model of KSHV infection, the precise functions of the KSHV gps during infection are not completely known.

Newly identified SpoVAF/FigP complex: the role in spore germination at moderate high pressure and influencing factors.

Unlabelled: The SpoVAF/FigP complex, a newly identified dormant spore ion channel, has been shown to amplify the response of germinant receptors (GRs) to nutrient germinants. However, its contribution to high-pressure-induced germination remains unexplored. In this study, we discovered that the 5AF/FigP complex played an important role in the GR-dependent germination of spores under moderate high pressure (MHP) by facilitating the release of ions, such as potassium (K), a mechanism in parallel with its role in nutrient-induced germination.

A Bibliometric Analysis on the Risk Factors of Cancer.

Given the high lethality of cancer, identifying its risk factors is crucial in both epidemiology and cancer research. This study employs a novel bibliometric analysis method, which uses the tidytext package and tidy tools in R. This approach surpasses traditional tools like VOSviewer, offering more comprehensive and complex keyword data and clearer results compared to Bibliometrix.

On the Mechanism of Light-Driven O Evolution by the Mn(III) Complex [Mn(salpd)(OH)] and Quinone.

In this study, we apply TD-DFT and DFT calculations to explore the mechanistic details of O evolution in an artificial system that closely resembles Photosystem II (PSII). The reaction involves mononuclear Mn(III) complex [Mn(salpd)(OH)] and -benzoquinone under light-driven conditions. Our calculations reveal that the Schiff-base ligand salpd plays a crucial role in several key steps of the reaction, including the light-mediated oxidation of [Mn(salpd)(OH)] to [Mn(salpd)(OH)] by -benzoquinone, the subsequent oxidation of [Mn(salpd)(OH)] to the key Mn(V) intermediate [Mn(salpd)(O)], and the critical O-O bond formation step.

Equol Alleviates the In Vitro Aging-Induced Disruption of Porcine Oocytes.

Oocyte quality is crucial for determining the subsequent embryo developmental capacity and reproductive outcomes. However, aging is detrimental to oocyte quality. Previous studies have demonstrated that soy isoflavones have positive effects on the reproductive performance of female pigs.

Maternal milk cell components are uptaken by infant liver macrophages via extracellular vesicle mediated transport.

Milk is a multifaceted biofluid that is essential for infant nutrition and development, yet its cellular and bioactive components, particularly maternal milk cells, remain understudied. Early research on milk cells indicated that they cross the infant's intestinal barrier and accumulate within systemic organs. However, due to the absence of modern analytical techniques, these studies were limited in scope and mechanistic analysis.

Comparison between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery in managing localized adrenocortical carcinoma treatment: A retrospective propensity-matched study.

Background: It was controversial to use open surgery or minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact on prognosis between MIS and open surgery in patients with clinical stage I-II ACC.

Methods: Patients with stage I-II ACC from December 2000 to October 2022 were retrospectively studied.

Selumetinib for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibromas that can't be removed by surgery, and impact on how the condition affects caregivers: a plain language summary.

What Is This Summary About?: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (also called NF1) is a rare genetic condition. It causes a range of symptoms that develop from childhood onwards and worsen over time. Some children with NF1 develop non-cancerous nerve tumors called plexiform neurofibromas.

χ-sepnet: Deep Neural Network for Magnetic Susceptibility Source Separation.

Magnetic susceptibility source separation (χ-separation), an advanced quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) method, enables the separate estimation of paramagnetic and diamagnetic susceptibility source distributions in the brain. Similar to QSM, it requires solving the ill-conditioned problem of dipole inversion, suffering from so-called streaking artifacts. Additionally, the method utilizes reversible transverse relaxation ( ) to complement frequency shift information for estimating susceptibility source concentrations, requiring time-consuming data acquisition for (e.

Electrochemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Biosensor for the Human-Associated Clade of Based on Prereduction-Enhanced Yttrium MOFs.

, a significant zoonotic pathogen, annually caused substantial economic losses in the swine industry and had intensified threat to public health due to the recent emergence of human-associated clade. In this study, we discovered that the rare-earth metal-based metal-organic frameworks (Y-BTC) possessed excellent ECL capabilities. After prereduction at high voltage, its ECL intensity was enhanced by two times.

Computed Tomography-Based Radiomics and Genomics Analyses for Survival Prediction of Stage III Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Definitive Chemoradiotherapy and Immunotherapy.

The standard therapy for locally unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is comprised of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) before immunotherapy (IO) consolidation. However, how to predict treatment outcomes and recognize patients that will benefit from IO remain unclear. This study aimed to identify prognostic biomarkers by integrating computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics and genomics.

Improving estimation efficiency for survival data analysis by integrating a coarsened time-to-event outcome from an external study.

In the era of big data, increasing availability of data makes combining different data sources to obtain more accurate estimations a popular topic. However, the development of data integration is often hindered by the heterogeneity in data forms across studies. In this paper, we focus on a case in survival analysis where we have primary study data with a continuous time-to-event outcome and complete covariate measurements, while the data from an external study contain an outcome observed at regular intervals, and only a subset of covariates is measured.

Developing a co-designed, culturally responsive physical activity program for Pasifika communities in Western Sydney, Australia.

Pasifika communities in Western Sydney experience significant health disparities, particularly related to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes. Physical activity is known to improve both physical and mental health, yet access to culturally responsive physical activity programs for Pasifika communities is limited. This study leveraged expertise from an Advisory Committee to adopt community-based participatory research (CBPR) through Talanoa to co-design a physical activity program specifically tailored for Pasifika people in Western Sydney.

Physical activity-the past, present and potential future: a state-of-the-art review.

This is a state-of-the-art review of historical developments, current approaches and recommended future directions in physical activity (PA) research, practice and policy. Since the early epidemiological studies in the 1950s, PA research has developed from within a biomedical paradigm. There is now a strong evidence base linking PA with positive health outcomes.

Extracellular Mitochondrial-Derived Vesicles Affect the Progression of Diabetic Foot Ulcer by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, the etiology of which remains insufficiently understood, particularly regarding the involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs). In this study, nanoflow cytometry to detect EVs in DFU skin tissues is used and found a significant increase in the Translocase of Outer Mitochondrial Membrane 20 (TOM20) mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs). The role of MDVs in DFU is yet to be reported.

The Role of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Neonatal and Fetal Brain Research.

The biochemical composition and structure of the brain are in a rapid change during the exuberant stage of fetal and neonatal development. H-MRS is a noninvasive tool that can evaluate brain metabolites in healthy fetuses and infants as well as those with neurological diseases. This review aims to provide readers with an understanding of 1) the basic principles and technical considerations relevant to H-MRS in the fetal-neonatal brain and 2) the role of H-MRS in early fetal-neonatal development brain research.

Health-related quality of life in people with HIV from the multicentre CoRIS cohort in Spain: Associated factors and short-term changes over time.

Objectives: We aimed to describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL), overall and across its dimensions, identify associated factors, and assess changes over time among people with HIV (PWH) from the Spanish multicentre CoRIS cohort.

Methods: We developed a mobile app to collect HRQoL data every 3 months using the WHOQOL-HIV-BREF questionnaire (31 items across six domains), among PWH followed in CoRIS in 2021-2023. Factors associated with good/very good global HRQoL and with domain-specific mean scores were identified using multivariable logistic and linear regression, respectively.

LncRNA-HHCP5 Regulates KLF5 in ceRNA and m6A Pathways to Inhibit the Progression of Osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common bone disorders and has a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. LncRNA-HCP5 (HCP5) is downregulated in OA tissues. However, the latent function and regulatory mechanisms of HCP5 in OA are unclear.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Cancer Risk.

Chronic inflammation is a major characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and is closely related to the mechanisms of cancer development. Persistent inflammatory responses can lead to DNA damage, gene mutations, and abnormal cell proliferation, all of which may increase the risk of cancer. We also explore the use of biologic therapy of AS and their potential cancer risks.

The global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer attributable to smoking from 1990 to 2021: a population-based study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with smoking being a significant risk factor. Understanding the temporal and spatial patterns of the CRC burden attributable to smoking is crucial for global public health strategies. Data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 were used to calculate the number of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) per 100 000 population, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (ASDR).

ZnT35C Maintains Zinc Homeostasis to Regulate Spermatogenesis in Drosophila Testis.

Zinc homeostasis contributes significantly to numerous physiological processes. Drosophila ZnT35C protein, a zinc transporter encoded by CG3994, is chiefly located on the cell membrane and facilitates the transport of zinc from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space to sustain zinc homeostasis within the organism. Previous studies about ZnT35C have involved diverse structures such as the Malpighian tubules, adult brain, and sensory nervous system.

Stimulation of IRES-Dependent Translation by Rocaglamide A Increases the Replication and Virulence of Cricket Paralysis Virus in Lepidopteran Insect Cells.

The discovery that infections of viruses are pervasive among insects has considerable potential for future applications, such as new strategies for pest control through the manipulation of virus-host interactions. However, few studies can be found that aim to minimize (for beneficial insects) or maximize (for pests) virus impact or virulence. Viruses generally employ molecular mechanisms that deviate from the cells' to increase their replication efficiency and to avoid the immune response.

Apprehending siRNA Machinery and Gene Silencing in Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis.

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is widely used in gene functional studies and has been shown to be a promising next generation alternative for insect pest management. To understand the efficiency of RNAi machinery in Leucinodes orbonalis (L. orbonalis) Guenee, a destructive pest of eggplant, core RNAi pathway genes Argonaute-2, Dicer-2, Loquacious, and Sid-1 were mined from the transcriptome and characterized.