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PloS One 2024This study investigates the phenomena of semantic drift through the lenses of language and situated simulation (LASS) and the word frequency effect (WFE) within a timed...
This study investigates the phenomena of semantic drift through the lenses of language and situated simulation (LASS) and the word frequency effect (WFE) within a timed word association task. Our primary objectives were to determine whether semantic drift can be identified over the short time (25 seconds) of a free word association task (a predicted corollary of LASS), and whether more frequent terms are generated earlier in the process (as expected due to the WFE). Respondents were provided with five cue words (tree, dog, quality, plastic and love), and asked to write as many associations as they could. We hypothesized that terms generated later in the task (fourth time quartile, the last 19-25 seconds) would be semantically more distant (cosine similarity) from the cue word than those generated earlier (first quartile, the first 1-7 seconds), indicating semantic drift. Additionally, we explored the WFE by hypothesizing that earlier generated words would be more frequent and less diverse. Utilizing a dataset matched with GloVe 300B word embeddings, BERT and WordNet synsets, we analysed semantic distances among 1569 unique term pairs for all cue words across time. Our results supported the presence of semantic drift, with significant evidence of within-participant, semantic drift from the first to fourth time (LASS) and frequency (WFE) quartiles. In terms of the WFE, we observed a notable decrease in the diversity of terms generated earlier in the task, while more unique terms (greater diversity and relative uniqueness) were generated in the 4th time quartile, aligning with our hypothesis that more frequently used words dominate early stages of a word association task. We also found that the size of effects varied substantially across cues, suggesting that some cues might invoke stronger and more idiosyncratic situated simulations. Theoretically, our study contributes to the understanding of LASS and the WFE. It suggests that semantic drift might serve as a scalable indicator of the invocation of language versus simulation systems in LASS and might also be used to explore cognition within word association tasks more generally. The findings also add a temporal and relational dimension to the WFE. Practically, our research highlights the utility of word association tasks in understanding semantic drift and the diffusion of word usage over a sub-minute task, arguably the shortest practically feasible timeframe, offering a scalable method to explore group and individual changes in semantic relationships, whether via the targeted diffusion of influence in a marketing campaign, or seeking to understand differences in cognition more generally. Possible practical uses and opportunities for future research are discussed.
Topics: Semantics; Humans; Male; Language; Female; Adult; Cues; Young Adult
PubMed: 38950044
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305568 -
PloS One 2024Studying and analyzing energy consumption and structural changes in Pakistan's major economic sectors is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve energy...
Studying and analyzing energy consumption and structural changes in Pakistan's major economic sectors is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve energy efficiency, support sustainable economic growth, and enhance energy security. The logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method is applied to find the factors' effects that change sector-wise energy consumption from 1990 to 2019. The results show that: (1) the change in mixed energy and sectorial income shows a negative influence, while energy intensity (EI) and population have an increasing trend over the study period. (2) The EI effects of the industrial, agriculture and transport sectors are continuously rising, which is lowering the income potential of each sector. (3) The cumulative values for the industrial, agricultural, and transport sectors increased by 57.3, 5.3, and 79.7 during 2019. Finally, predicted outcomes show that until 2035, the industrial, agriculture, and transport incomes would change by -0.97%, 13%, and 65% if the energy situation remained the same. Moreover, this sector effect is the most crucial contributor to increasing or decreasing energy consumption, and the EI effect plays the dominant role in boosting economic output. Renewable energy technologies and indigenous energy sources can be used to conserve energy and sectorial productivity.
Topics: Pakistan; Agriculture; Economic Development; Humans; Energy-Generating Resources; Renewable Energy; Industry; Income
PubMed: 38950014
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305419 -
JASA Express Letters Jul 2024This letter develops a simple approach of duct mode identification and reconstruction based on genetic algorithms, which can extend the azimuthal mode order range...
This letter develops a simple approach of duct mode identification and reconstruction based on genetic algorithms, which can extend the azimuthal mode order range compared to the conventional method based on the (spatial) discrete Fourier transform. The underlying principle is reconstructing the dominant mode from the modal identification forward model through optimization by exploiting the sparsity of the mode amplitude vector. The performance is experimentally demonstrated for detections of one and two azimuthal modes under noisy conditions with nondominant modes. Overall, the proposed genetic-algorithm-based framework for solving acoustic inverse problems is beneficial to duct acoustic testing, particularly design evaluations of fan blades and acoustic liners for aeroengines.
PubMed: 38949614
DOI: 10.1121/10.0026465 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024We present CRISPRware, an efficient method for generating guide RNA (gRNA) libraries against transcribed, translated, and noncoding regions. CRISPRware leverages...
We present CRISPRware, an efficient method for generating guide RNA (gRNA) libraries against transcribed, translated, and noncoding regions. CRISPRware leverages next-generation sequencing data to design context-specific gRNAs and accounts for genetic variation, which allows allele-specific guide design on a genome-wide scale. The latter ability holds promise for the development of gene therapy in the context of gene dosing and dominant negative mutations.
PubMed: 38948878
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599405 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Kidney tubular cells are submitted to two distinct mechanical forces generated by the urine flow: shear stress and hydrostatic pressure. In addition, the mechanical...
Kidney tubular cells are submitted to two distinct mechanical forces generated by the urine flow: shear stress and hydrostatic pressure. In addition, the mechanical properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix modulate tubule deformation under constraints. These mechanical factors likely play a role in the pathophysiology of kidney diseases as exemplified by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, in which pressure, flow and matrix stiffness have been proposed to modulate the cystic dilation of tubules with mutations. The lack of systems recapitulating the mechanical environment of kidney tubules impedes our ability to dissect the role of these mechanical factors. Here we describe a perfused kidney-on-chip with tunable extracellular matrix mechanical properties and hydrodynamic constraints, that allows a decoupling of shear stress and flow. We used this system to dissect how these mechanical cues affect tubule dilation. Our results show two distinct mechanisms leading to tubular dilation. For PCT cells (proximal tubule), overproliferation mechanically leads to tubular dilation, regardless of the mechanical context. For mIMCD-3 cells (collecting duct), tube dilation is associated with a squamous cell morphology but not with overproliferation and is highly sensitive to extracellular matrix properties and hydrodynamic constraints. Surprisingly, flow alone suppressed mIMCD-3 tubule dilation observed in static conditions, while the addition of luminal pressure restored it. Our model emulating nephron geometrical and mechanical organization sheds light on the roles of mechanical constraints in ADPKD and demonstrates the importance of controlling intraluminal pressure in kidney tubule models.
PubMed: 38948811
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599137 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is the most common liver disease worldwide. The progression...
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is the most common liver disease worldwide. The progression to fibrosis, occurring against a backdrop of hepatic steatosis and inflammation, critically determines liver-related morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory processes contribute to various stages of MAFLD and thought to instigate hepatic fibrosis. For this reason, targeting inflammation has been heavily nominated as a strategy to mitigate liver fibrosis. Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) is a secreted protein that plays an established role in innate immune responses. Here, using adoptive transfer studies and tissue-specific deletion models we show that hepatocytes are the dominant contributors to circulating LBP. In a murine model of MAFLD, hepatocyte-specific deletion of LBP restrained hepatic inflammation and improved liver function abnormalities, but not measures of fibrosis. Human studies, including genetic evidence, corroborate an important role for LBP in hepatic inflammation with minimal impact on fibrosis. Collectively, our data argues against the idea that targeting hepatic inflammation is a viable approach to reducing fibrosis.
PubMed: 38948798
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.17.599212 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Behavioral states such as sleep and wake are highly correlated with specific patterns of rhythmic activity in the cortex. During low arousal states such as slow wave...
Behavioral states such as sleep and wake are highly correlated with specific patterns of rhythmic activity in the cortex. During low arousal states such as slow wave sleep, the cortex is synchronized and dominated by low frequency rhythms coordinated across multiple regions. Although recent evidence suggests that GABAergic inhibitory neurons are key players in cortical state modulation, the circuit mechanisms coordinating synchronized activity among local and distant neocortical networks are not well understood. Here, we show that somatostatin and chondrolectin co-expressing cells (Sst-Chodl cells), a sparse and unique class of neocortical inhibitory neurons, are selectively active during low arousal states and are largely silent during periods of high arousal. In contrast to other neocortical inhibitory neurons, we show these neurons have long-range axons that project across neocortical areas. Activation of Sst-Chodl cells is sufficient to promote synchronized cortical states characteristic of low arousal, with increased spike co-firing and low frequency brain rhythms, and to alter behavioral states by promoting sleep. Contrary to the prevailing belief that sleep is exclusively driven by subcortical mechanisms, our findings reveal that these long-range inhibitory neurons not only track changes in behavioral state but are sufficient to induce both sleep-like cortical states and sleep behavior, establishing a crucial circuit component in regulating behavioral states.
PubMed: 38948753
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.20.599756 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... May 2024Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare hereditary autosomal dominant condition characterized by benign cutaneous lesions, lung cysts, and increased risk of...
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is a rare hereditary autosomal dominant condition characterized by benign cutaneous lesions, lung cysts, and increased risk of spontaneous pneumothorax and renal cancer. We report a case of a young Indian boy with bilateral pneumothorax as the first symptom of BHDS. Detailed history examination and investigation showed multiple facial lesions; his computerized tomography was suggestive of renal angiomyolipoma, hepatic angiomyolipoma, pulmonary cyst with pneumothorax, and small bilateral subependymal soft tissue density lesion with calcification in the brain, all of which were collectively suggestive of BHDS. Identification of the above commonly presented clinical features as a syndrome is important for even a primary care physician so as to ensure the timely management and if required referral to a higher center.
PubMed: 38948613
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1451_23 -
PeerJ 2024Anurans are among the most vocally active vertebrate animals and emit calls with different functions. In order to attract a mate, during the breeding season male frogs...
Anurans are among the most vocally active vertebrate animals and emit calls with different functions. In order to attract a mate, during the breeding season male frogs produce mating calls which have species-specific structure and parameters, and have been successfully used to resolve issues in taxonomy and phylogenetic relations. This is particularly useful when closely related taxa are concerned, as many species are morphologically almost identical, but still their status is well-supported by molecular and genetic data, suggesting the existence of mechanisms for reproductive isolation. Such is the case for treefrogs from the group, which are now recognized as several distinct species. The present study aims to establish differences in call parameters between the European tree frog, , and the Eastern tree frog, , which both occur on the territory of Bulgaria. Using autonomous audio loggers, calls from six sites (three in the range of and three in the range of ) were recorded between 7 p.m. and 12 a.m. during the breeding season in 2020-2023. The following parameters in a total of 390 mating calls were analyzed: call count, pulse count, call series duration, call period, peak (dominant) frequency, entropy. Results indicated that sites formed two distinct groups, which corresponded to the known distribution ranges of and . The first two components of the PCA explained 71% of the total variance, with variables call count, call series duration, peak frequency and entropy being most important for differentiation between the sites. This study presents the first attempt to differentiate between the calls of these two sister taxa, which both fall within the "short-call treefrogs" group, and results are discussed in terms of known data for mating calls in sp., as well as limitations and future perspectives.
Topics: Animals; Vocalization, Animal; Bulgaria; Male; Anura; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Species Specificity; Phylogeny; Female
PubMed: 38948235
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17574 -
PeerJ 2024Combining ability status of the inbred lines is crucial information for hybrid breeding program. Diallel or line × tester mating designs are frequently used to evaluate...
Combining ability status of the inbred lines is crucial information for hybrid breeding program. Diallel or line × tester mating designs are frequently used to evaluate the combining ability. In the current study a modified diallel model was used, wherein the Griffing's combining ability effects were further partitioned to understand the effects due to maternal and reciprocal. To do this, eight parental lines of maize were crossed in full diallel method and the generated hybrids along with parents were phenotyped. The field data on the quantitative traits was analyzed using both Griffing's and the modified model to determine how well the parents' and the F hybrids combined. For each of the traits, a sizable reciprocal and maternal variance was observed. The number of kernel rows per cob variable had a ratio of additive variance to dominance variance greater than one. All other traits including grain yield had a ratio close to zero, suggesting that non-additive gene action was primarily responsible for the genetic control of most of the traits. The narrow sense heritability was low to moderate for majority of the variables, except for number of kernel rows per cob. With the help of the improved model, it was possible to choose superior parents and cross-parent pairings with accuracy. Based on the modified general combining ability effects and maternal effects, the parental line P5 was recognized as a potential female parent and P7 as a good male parent for grain yield and yield-attributing characteristics. The cross combination of P8×P1 had the highest specific combining ability effect on grain yield. P5×P6 cross had the highest reciprocal effect. The correlation analysis implies that the Griffing's general combining ability effects and specific combining ability effects were found to be less efficient in predicting F performance as compared to the modified model.
Topics: Zea mays; Plant Breeding; Phenotype; Models, Genetic; Maternal Inheritance; Hybridization, Genetic
PubMed: 38948201
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17600