bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measures of kurtosis: inadmissible for asymmetric distributions?
Authors: Eberl Andreas , Klar Bernhard
Published: March 2024

Skewness and kurtosis are natural characteristics of a distribution. While it has long been recognized that they are more intrinsically entangled than other characteristics like location and dispersion, this has recently been made more explicit by Eberl and Klar (Stat Papers 65:415–433, 2024) with regard to orders of kurtosis. In this paper, we analyze the implications of this entanglement on kurtosis measures in general and for several specific examples. As a key finding, we show that kurtosis measures that are defined in the classical order-based way, which is analogous to measures of location, dispersion and skewness, do not exist. This raises serious doubts about the frequent application of such measures to skewed data. We then consider old and new proposals for kurtosis measures and evaluate under which additional conditions they measure kurtosis in a meaningful way. Some measures also allow more specific representations of the influence of skewness on the measurement of kurtosis than are available in a general setting. This works particularly well for a family of newly introduced density-based kurtosis measures.
Momentum in contests and its underlying behavioral mechanisms
Authors: Kubitz Greg , Page Lionel , Wan Hao
Published: March 2024

We investigate the existence and nature of momentum in performance in contests and whether momentum arises for reasons in part unrelated to rational strategies in contests. To address this question, we look at a setting where strategic considerations should not generate momentum: a sequence of two rounds of independent contests. We show that if we relax the assumption of payoff maximizing agents, positive momentum (success tends to be followed by more success) or negative momentum (success tends to be followed by less success) can arise through several behavioral mechanisms that have, until now, not been widely considered in the literature. We examine these predictions in an experiment. Using random variations in the participants’ winning chances in a first contest to identify the causal effect of success on later performance, we find that a positive momentum exists. Using several experimental conditions which modulate the effect of the different possible mechanisms, we find that the pattern of momentum is most compatible with players having adaptive preferences, whereby they may gain or lose interest in the second contest after respectively winning or losing the first one. These results suggest that standard models of contests do not fully capture the behavioral dynamics existing in competitive settings.
Genomics of a novel ecological phase shift: the case of a ‘weedy’ Montipora coral in Ulithi, Micronesia
Authors: Bernardi Giacomo , Gatins Remy , Paddack Michelle , Nelson Peter , Rulmal John , Crane Nicole
Published: March 2024

Local and global ecological stressors are leading to increased documentation of phase shifts in coral reefs from healthy stony corals to macrophytes. In more rare cases, phase shifts result in sponge, zoantharian or other dominant species. In Ulithi Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, we have documented an unusual phase shift from reefs with a diverse stony coral assemblage to reefs dominated by a single species of stony coral: Montipora sp.—a coral-to-coral phase shift. This monospecific type of reef lowers fish diversity and biomass, impacting both ecological integrity, and livelihoods of reef-dependent human communities. In this study, we used a genomic approach to characterize such a reef. We assembled a de-novo reference genome and used RAD seq data with thousands of SNPs to determine if different reefs result from sexual or asexual reproduction, if weedy Montipora fragments are transported between islands by human activities, and if there is evidence of natural selection on specific genotypes, thus favoring spreading success. We found that sexual reproduction is predominant in the focal species, that there is no evidence of human-mediated spread, and that some genomic regions might be under selection. While such results eliminate a number of spreading hypotheses, more precise dispersal maps will be important to determine the tempo and mode of ‘invasion’ of Montipora in Ulithi Atoll. This study shows that selection and adaptation may be contributing to the success of a stony coral (e.g., Phase shift). While a stony coral may be successful in a disturbed environment, it does not necessarily provide the type of habitat that is conducive to high fish biomass and coral diversity. These results serve as a cautionary tale for restoration efforts that focus on single species coral resilience rather than ecosystem function.
Dynamics of Berry Characteristics, Biochemical Composition, and Physiological Responses Across Ripening Stages: Investigating the Impact of Pollinizer Varieties on Physiological Femaleness in Bozcaada Çavuşu (Vitis vinifera L. cv)
Authors: Ates Fadime , Delavar Hava , Dardeniz Alper , Yilmaz Turhan , Turan Metin , Kaya Ozkan
Published: March 2024

Understanding the dynamic changes in grape characteristics during ripening is crucial for enhancing grape quality, which, in turn, influences overall viticulture practices. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and cultivar-specific variations in grape characteristics, focusing on BAs, phenolic compounds, antioxidant enzymes, and organic acids. Our results revealed that Bozcaada Çavuşu*Kuntra and Kuntra grapes exhibited the most significant growth in size, weight, and maturity index at the final developmental stage (EL-38), while Vasilâki showed a nuanced maturation pattern with significant increases in berry width but not weight. Across all varieties, the highest maturity index and Total Soluble Solids percentages were observed at EL-38. The investigation of BAs revealed a significant decrease in Put levels from 2.62 at EL-32 to 2.04 mg L−1 at EL-38, contrasting with an increasing trend in Agm concentrations from 0.25 at EL-29 to 0.37 mg L−1 at EL-38. Bozcaada Çavuşu*Kuntra stood out with the highest Cad concentration at 2.96 mg L−1. The analysis of phenolic compounds highlighted a distinct temporal pattern for gallic acid, increasing from 1.60 at EL-29 to 3.77 g L−1 at EL-32 and maintaining stability at 3.74 g L−1 at EL-38. Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki consistently exhibited higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, such as epicatechin (5.69 g L−1) and tyrosol (7.00 g L−1). Antioxidant enzymes like catalase and superoxide dismutase in grape cultivars showed significant temporal variations, indicating a dynamic oxidative stress response during berry ripening. Catalase activity decreased from 14.04 to 11.20 EU/gr berry between EL-29 and EL-38. The multifaceted regulation of superoxide dismutase by sampling time and cultivar highlighted the complexity of antioxidant dynamics in grapevine physiology. In conclusion, this comprehensive study sheds light on the intricate interplay of temporal and cultivar-specific factors influencing grape characteristics, providing valuable insights for optimizing viticulture practices and enhancing overall grape quality.
Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Transcriptome Changes in Response to Serum from Patients with Different Status of Inflammation
Authors: Sivaraman Kokilavani , Liu Bin , Martinez-Delgado Beatriz , Held Julia , Büttner Manuela , Illig Thomas , Volland Sonja , Gomez-Mariano Gema , Jedicke Nils , Yevsa Tetyana , Welte Tobias , DeLuca David S. , Wrenger Sabine , Olejnicka Beata , Janciauskiene Sabina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To investigate the transcriptome of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) in response to serum from patients with different degrees of inflammation.

Methods

Serum from 19 COVID-19 patients obtained from the Hannover Unified Biobank was used. At the time of sampling, 5 patients had a WHO Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS) score of 9 (severe illness). The remaining 14 patients had a WHO-CPS of below 9 (range 1–7), and lower illness. Multiplex immunoassay was used to assess serum inflammatory markers. The culture medium of HBEC was supplemented with 2% of the patient’s serum, and the cells were cultured at 37 °C, 5% CO2 for 18 h. Subsequently, cellular RNA was used for RNA-Seq.

Results

Patients with scores below 9 had significantly lower albumin and serum levels of E-selectin, IL-8, and MCP-1 than patients with scores of 9. Principal component analysis based on 500 “core genes” of RNA-seq segregated cells into two subsets: exposed to serum from 4 (I) and 15 (II) patients. Cells from a subset (I) treated with serum from 4 patients with a score of 9 showed 5566 differentially expressed genes of which 2793 were up- and 2773 downregulated in comparison with cells of subset II treated with serum from 14 patients with scores between 1 and 7 and one with score = 9. In subset I cells, a higher expression of TLR4 and CXCL8 but a lower CDH1, ACE2, and HMOX1, and greater effects on genes involved in metabolic regulation, cytoskeletal organization, and kinase activity pathways were observed.

Conclusion

This simple model could be useful to characterize patient serum and epithelial cell properties.
A comprehensive analysis of CD47 expression in various histological subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma: exploring novel opportunities for macrophage-directed treatments
Authors: Benesova Iva , Capkova Linda , Ozaniak Andrej , Pacas Pavel , Kopeckova Katerina , Galova Dominika , Lischke Robert , Buchler Tomas , Ozaniak Strizova Zuzana
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The CD47 molecule, often referred to as the “do not eat me” signal, is frequently overexpressed in tumor cells. This signaling pathway limits phagocytosis by macrophages. Our objective was to determine CD47 abundance in various soft tissue sarcomas (STS) to investigate whether it could serve as a potential evasion mechanism for tumor cells. Additionally, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of CD47 expression by examining its association with different clinicopathological factors. This study aimed to elucidate the significance of CD47 in the context of emerging anti-tumor targeting approaches.

Methods

In this retrospective study, formalin-fixed paraffine-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues of 55 treatment-naïve patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for the abundance of CD47 molecule on tumor cells. The categorization of CD47 positivity was as follows: 0 (no staining of tumor cells), 1 + (less than 1/3 of tumor area positive), 2 + (between 1/3 and 2/3 of tumor area positive), and 3 + (more than 2/3 of tumor area positive for CD47). Next, we compared CD47 abundance between different tumor grades (G1–3). We used Kaplan–Meier survival curves with log-rank test to analyze the differences in survival between patients with different CD47 expression. Moreover, we performed Cox proportional hazards regression model to evaluate the clinical significance of CD47.

Results

CD47 is widely prevalent across distinct STS subtypes. More than 80% of high grade undifferentiated pleiomorphic sarcoma (UPS), 70% of myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) and more than 60% of liposarcoma (LPS) samples displayed a pattern of moderate-to-diffuse positivity. This phenomenon remains consistent regardless of the tumor grade. However, there was a tendency for higher CD47 expression levels in the G3 group compared to the combined G1 + G2 groups when all LPS, MFS, and UPS were analyzed together. No significant associations were observed between CD47 abundance, death, and metastatic status. Additionally, high CD47 expression was associated with a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival in the studied cohort of patients.

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential of the CD47 molecule as a promising immunotherapeutic target in STS, particularly given its elevated expression levels in diverse sarcoma types. Our data showed a notable trend linking CD47 expression to tumor grade, while also suggesting an interesting correlation between enhanced abundance of CD47 expression and a reduced hazard risk of disease progression. Although these findings shed light on different roles of CD47 in STS, further research is crucial to assess its potential in clinical settings.
Androgen deprivation therapy-related fracture risk in prostate cancer: an insurance claims database study in Japan
Authors: Matsushima Hisashi , Taguchi Tetsuya , Kodama Sho , Okubo Naoki , Saito Kengo , Jabłońska Katarzyna , Fukumoto Seiji , Matsumoto Toshio
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer. ADT is associated with reduced bone density leading to an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to quantify fracture risk in men treated with ADT for prostate cancer in real-world practice in Japan.

Materials and methods

Data were extracted from the Japanese Medical Data Vision (MDV) database. Men initiating ADT for treatment of prostate cancer between April 2010 and March 2021 were identified and matched to a cohort of prostate cancer patients not taking ADT using a propensity score. Fracture rates were estimated by a cumulative incidence function and compared between cohorts using a Cox cause-specific hazard model. Information was extracted on demographics, comorbidities and bone densitometry.

Results

30,561 men with PC starting ADT were matched to 30,561 men with prostate cancer not treated with ADT. Following ADT initiation, <5% of men underwent bone densitometry. Prescription of ADT was associated with an increased fracture risk compared to not taking ADT (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.63 [95% CI 1.52–1.75]).

Conclusion

ADT is associated with a 1.6-fold increase in the risk of osteoporotic fracture in men with prostate cancer. Densitometry in this population is infrequent and monitoring urgently needs to be improved in order to implement effective fracture prevention.
The Labyrinth of Corruption in the Construction Industry: A System Dynamics Model Based on 40 Years of Research
Authors: Zarghami Seyed Ashkan
Published: March 2024

The academic literature has viewed drivers of corruption in isolation and, consequently, failed to examine their synergistic effect. Such an isolated view provides incomplete information, leads to a misleading conclusion, and causes great difficulty in curbing corruption. This paper conducts a systematic literature review to identify the drivers of corruption in the construction industry. Subsequently, it develops a system dynamics (SD) model by conceptualizing corruption as a complex system of interacting drivers. Building on stakeholder and open systems theories, the proposed SD model shows how the complex reinforcing relationship between authoritative, organizational, cultural, and financial drivers of corruption further increases corrupt practices. The new model also provides lessons that can be helpful in the development of policy frameworks to control corruption in the construction industry. To achieve success in the fight against corruption, the findings of this research suggest that (1) corruption must be understood at both the organizational and state levels, (2) anticorruption practices must be informed by ethically grounded stakeholder management strategies, and (3) anticorruption reforms must go hand-in-hand with strategies to tackle the economic downturn.
The Effect of Reduction Pretreatments on the Size of Supported Pt and Pd Nanoparticles Prepared by Strong Electrostatic Adsorption
Authors: Patwary Md. Fakhruddin , Neito Manuel , Ojo Alaba , Regalbuto John R.
Published: March 2024

Supported catalyst synthesis involves pretreatment (drying, reduction) of metal complexes to form metal nanoparticles. This study has been undertaken to explore the effect of reduction temperature, heating rate, and water partial pressure on final particle size of Pt and Pd supported on a total of four carbon and oxide supports. Supported nanoparticles were synthesized by strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA) and dry impregnation (DI); the former method was hypothesized to yield greater nanoparticle stability in thermochemical reducing environments stemming from the strong interaction of the precursor with the support during impregnation. Reduced samples were characterized by in-situ and ex-situ XRD and STEM. The DI-derived samples generally showed an expected increase of particle size with increased reduction temperature, and severe particle coalescence in humid hydrogen, while the SEA-derived samples did not sinter at the elevated reduction temperatures (up to 500 °C) and were remarkably stable in the humid reducing environment.

Graphical Abstract
Genome of Argania spinosa L.: insights into oil production and the tocopherol biosynthesis pathway
Authors: Rupp Oliver , Roessner Clemens , Lederer-Ponzer Naemi , Wollenweber Tassilo Erik , Becker Annette , Lamaoui Mouna
Published: March 2024

Argan (Argania spinosa L.) is a highly valued tree for its multiple uses as food and feed and for being linked to a broad range of benefits of pharmaceutical and cosmetic relevance. This multipurpose resource is becoming increasingly overused, which may disrupt the whole ecosystem’s sustainability. Due to the high socio-economic status of this tree, research interventions are needed to reverse the forest regressive trend, restore the disturbed ecosystem, and conserve genetic diversity. However, research on argan is restricted by the lack of accessible information on the genetic and genomic bases of the species, specifically a functional annotated genome. Herein, we report the reference transcriptome aided annotation of the argan tree genome using de novo gene prediction programs aided by homology information from different plants. The results of the genome annotation using AUGUSTUS were subsequently improved by performing RNA sequencing. A total of 62,590 gene loci could be identified with 82,286 isoforms and a BUSCO completeness of 91.7%. To gain insight into the agronomically important compounds in argan oil, a comparative genome analysis and ortholog identification was performed, followed by phylogenetic tree construction of the main biosynthesis genes. Among those are fatty acids and tocopherols, the latter being the main factor behind the increasing demands for argan oil. Our analysis is the initial step to provide breeders, geneticists, and the industries with adequate genomic information, facilitate improvement of economically important traits and to selectively adapt the tree to the increasing impact of climate change.
SpaceGrow: efficient shape-based virtual screening of billion-sized combinatorial fragment spaces
Authors: Hönig Sophia M. N. , Flachsenberg Florian , Ehrt Christiane , Neumann Alexander , Schmidt Robert , Lemmen Christian , Rarey Matthias
Published: March 2024

The growing size of make-on-demand chemical libraries is posing new challenges to cheminformatics. These ultra-large chemical libraries became too large for exhaustive enumeration. Using a combinatorial approach instead, the resource requirement scales approximately with the number of synthons instead of the number of molecules. This gives access to billions or trillions of compounds as so-called chemical spaces with moderate hardware and in a reasonable time frame. While extremely performant ligand-based 2D methods exist in this context, 3D methods still largely rely on exhaustive enumeration and therefore fail to apply. Here, we present SpaceGrow: a novel shape-based 3D approach for ligand-based virtual screening of billions of compounds within hours on a single CPU. Compared to a conventional superposition tool, SpaceGrow shows comparable pose reproduction capacity based on RMSD and superior ranking performance while being orders of magnitude faster. Result assessment of two differently sized subsets of the eXplore space reveals a higher probability of finding superior results in larger spaces highlighting the potential of searching in ultra-large spaces. Furthermore, the application of SpaceGrow in a drug discovery workflow was investigated in four examples involving G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with the aim to identify compounds with similar binding capabilities and molecular novelty.

Graphical abstract

SpaceGrow descriptor comparison for an example cut in the molecule of interest. Scoring scheme is implied for one fragment of this cut.
Entropy Barrier Mitigation and Harnessing Localized Upcycled Graphene Nanoplatelets in Polypropylene/High-Density Polyethylene Nanoblends
Authors: Şahin Dündar Gülayşe , Saner Okan Burcu
Published: March 2024

In pursuit of a sustainable future, the focus on thermoplastic compounding emerges as a transformative avenue. Strategically blending and compounding thermoplastics unlock the potential for eco-friendly materials, addressing pressing environmental concerns. Polymer blending is a widely utilized technique that offers significant advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and the development of materials with diverse properties. However, achieving compatibility between polymers remains a challenge due to their non-negligible entropy, particularly in the case of immiscible polymers like Polypropylene (PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The success of such systems heavily depends on optimizing factors such as additive selection, mixing methodology, composition, and processing conditions. Despite the extensive industrial usage of polymers like PP and HDPE, there is still limited understanding regarding the impact of blending these polymers, especially when graphene is introduced. This study addresses these challenges by overcoming the entropy barrier between PP and HDPE using a high shear rate thermo-kinetic mixer and employing upcycled graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) as a type of low-cost graphene material through interface engineering. The GNP content in the blends ranged from 0 to 1 wt%, and through meticulous selection of the polymer weight fraction and the use of minimal GNP content, GNP was strategically localized at the blend interface. This resulted in remarkable mechanical performance achieved through the optimized manufacturing technique. Incorporating 0.1 wt% GNP resulted in a significant 38% increase in tensile modulus, while flexural modulus and flexural strength saw respective increments of 39% and 22% compared to neat PP. Further enhancements were observed with higher GNP contents. This study illuminates the transformative potential of thermoplastic compounding as a key driver toward a sustainable future.

Graphical Abstract
Symbol detection based on a novel discrete harmony search algorithm in MIMO-FBMC/OQAM system
Authors: Şimşir Şakir
Published: March 2024

Due to its high spectral efficiency and various other advantages, filter bank multicarrier/offset quadrate amplitude modulation (FBMC/OQAM) has long been considered as a candidate waveform for the fifth generation (5G) and beyond telecommunication technologies. On the other hand, it is possible to both increase the data rate and alleviate the channel fading effects by using the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna structure in the FBMC/OQAM transceiver. However, since the symbol detection is an indispensable task to be fulfilled in wireless communication, it is crucial to employ an efficient symbol detector at the MIMO-FBMC/OQAM receiver. Maximum likelihood (ML) detector, which always finds the optimal symbols by trying all of the possible symbol combinations likely to be transmitted, is known for its extremely high computational complexity making it impractical to be used in any system. On the other hand, it is possible to both considerably reduce the ML complexity and achieve the near-ML performance by optimizing the symbol vectors instead of implementing an exhaustive search. Since searching for the optimal symbol combination in discrete space is a combinatorial optimization problem, we developed a novel discrete harmony search (disHS) algorithm to perform this operation. According to the simulation results, the newly developed disHS algorithm not only achieves near-ML performance with lower computational complexity, but also clearly leaves behind the other symbol detectors considered in this paper.
Existence results for singular strongly non-linear integro-differential BVPs on the half line
Authors: Anceschi Francesca
Published: March 2024

This work is devoted to the study of singular strongly non-linear integro-differential equations of the type $$\begin{aligned} (\Phi (k(t)v'(t)))'=f\left( t,\int _0^t v(s)\, \textrm{d}s,v(t),v'(t) \right) , \text{ a.e. } \text{ on } {\mathbb {R}}^{+}_0 := [0, + \infty [, \end{aligned}$$

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Development and characterization of gelatin-based biodegradable films incorporated with pistachio shell hemicellulose
Authors: Harrazi Narjes , Özbek Hatice Neval , Yanık Derya Koçak , Zaghbib Imen , Göğüş Fahrettin
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to incorporate pistachio shell hemicellulose into a film of gelatin and glycerol for the production of biodegradable films. The gelatin and glycerol are chosen because of their functional properties, which make it extensively used in food industry. The film composition was defined after a statistical optimization by central composite face-centered design and response surface methodology. The hemicellulose/gelatin ratio of 35.93% and the glycerol ratio of 18.02% were the optimum conditions to obtain lower film water solubility, higher tensile strength, and elongation at break values. The physical, structural, mechanical, and barrier properties of the developed hemicellulose-gelatin film were analyzed and compared with those of the gelatin film. Tensile strength and film water solubility values were reduced significantly with hemicellulose incorporation from 20.41 to 16.64 MPa and 49.57 to 39.21%, respectively, while EB was enhanced by 4.34 times. In addition, hemicellulose incorporation enhanced the water vapor permeability and the film degradation in the soil. The films were also examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The novelty of this study is to use pistcahio shell hemicellulose in the production of an edible film for the first time.
Single center experience with ALPPS and timing with stage 2 in patients with fibrotic/cirrhotic liver
Authors: Hung Kuo-Chen , Wang Hao-Ping , Li Wei-Feng , Lin Yu-Cheng , Wang Chih-Chi
Published: March 2024

Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is a novel procedure for major resection in patients with insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). Effective FLR augmentation is pivotal in the completion of ALPPS. Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis associated with chronic viral hepatitis impairs liver regeneration. To investigate the augmentation of FLR in associating ALPPS between patients with fibrotic/cirrhotic livers (FL) and non-fibrotic livers (NFL) and compare their short-term clinical outcomes and long-term survival. Patients were divided into two groups based on the Ishak modified staging: non-fibrotic liver group (NFL, stage 0) and fibrotic/cirrhotic liver group (FL, stage 1–5/6). Weekly liver regeneration in FLR, perioperative data, and survival outcomes were investigated. Twenty-seven patients with liver tumors underwent ALPPS (NFL, n = 7; FL, n = 20). NFL and FL patients had viral hepatitis (28.6% [n = 2] and 95% [n = 19]), absolute FLR volume increments of 134.90 ml and 161.85 ml (p = 0.825), and rates of hypertrophy were 16.46 ml/day and 13.66 ml/day (p = 0.507), respectively. In the FL group, baseline FLR volume was 360.13 ml, postoperatively it increased to a plateau (542.30 ml) in week 2 and declined (378.45 ml) in week 3. One patient (3.7%) with cirrhotic liver (stage 6) failed to proceed to ALPPS-II. The overall ALPPS-related major complication rate was 7.4%. ALPPS is feasible for fibrotic liver patients classified by Ishak modified stages ≤ 5. After ALPPS-I, 14 days for FLR augmentation seems an appropriate waiting time to reach a maximum FLR volume in these patients.
Analysis of the finasteride treatment and its withdrawal in the rat hypothalamus and hippocampus at whole-transcriptome level
Authors: Giatti S. , Cioffi L. , Diviccaro S. , Piazza R. , Melcangi R. C.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

As reported in patients treated for androgenetic alopecia with finasteride (i.e., a blocker of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase) and in an animal model, side effects affecting sexual, psychiatric, neurological, and physical domains, may occur during the treatment and persist with drug suspension. The etiopathogenesis of these side effects has been poorly explored. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide analysis of finasteride effects in the brain of adult male rat.

Methods

Animals were treated (i.e., for 20 days) with finasteride (1mg/rat/day). 24 h after the last treatment and 1 month after drug suspension, RNA sequencing analysis was performed in hypothalamus and hippocampus. Data were analyzed by differential expression analysis and Gene-Set Enrichment Analyses (GSEA).

Results

Data obtained after finasteride treatment showed that 186 genes (i.e., 171 up- and 15 downregulated) and 19 (i.e., 17 up- and 2 downregulated) were differentially expressed in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, respectively. Differential expression analysis at the drug withdrawal failed to identify dysregulated genes. Several gene-sets were enriched in these brain areas at both time points.

Conclusion

Some of the genes reported to be differentially expressed (i.e., TTR, DIO2, CLDN1, CLDN2, SLC4A5, KCNE2, CROT, HCRT, MARCKSL1, VGF, IRF2BPL) and GSEA, suggest a potential link with specific side effects previously observed in patients and in the animal model, such as depression, anxiety, disturbance in memory and attention, and sleep disturbance. These data may provide an important background for future experiments aimed at confirming the pathological role of these genes.
Investigation of the Effects of Filling Speed, Casting Temperature and Metallurgical Quality on Fluidity of Lamellar Graphite Cast Iron at Different Section Thicknesses
Authors: Köse Sami , Çolak Murat , Şüküroğlu Ebru Emine
Published: March 2024

In this study, the fluidity properties of the alloy were investigated at different casting temperatures, different section thicknesses, and varying casting parameters of lamellar graphite cast iron materials. To achieve our goal, we utilized sand molds that were created with specific parameters including pouring temperature, metallurgical quality, section thickness, and fluidity test model. These molds were used for casting. Thus, the effect of fluidity properties in changing casting conditions and liquid metal advance distances at determined section thicknesses was investigated. Modeling was carried out with FlowCast casting simulation software by determining the liquid metal advance distance depending on the section thickness in the castings made in sand molds under changing casting conditions. The fluidity and advance distance of the liquid metal was determined comparatively with experimental and modeling techniques under the changing casting conditions in the parameters determined in this study. When the outcomes were examined; it was observed that different liquid metal advance distances occur at different cross-section thicknesses depending on the changing conditions.
Narratives from GPT-derived networks of news and a link to financial markets dislocations
Authors: Miori Deborah , Petrov Constantin
Published: March 2024

We introduce a novel framework to study the dynamics of news narratives, by leveraging GPT3.5 advanced text analysis capabilities and graph theory. In particular, we focus on a corpus of economic articles from The Wall Street Journal and dynamically extract the main topics of discussion over time, in a completely systematic and scalable fashion. As a simple application of the suggested approach, we show how the structure of such topics of discussion has a statistically significant relationship with the contemporaneous state of financial markets, which can be used to construct an investment strategy or monitor financial risks. Our work is based on the intrinsic ability of GPT models to track the context of sentences within a document, thanks to which we can accurately extract a ranking of the most important entities discussed within each article, and evaluate their entity-specific sentiments. Then, we create a graph for each week of data, in which nodes are the entities retrieved and edges are built from the co-occurrence of such entities within articles. Graph centrality measures are computed over time to track the most representative keywords of topics of discussion, which result in an accurate summary view of the evolution of economic narratives. Fuzzy community detection is finally used to cluster linked entities into a more detailed representation of topics. Such groups of entities are mapped to the related journal articles, which are in turn summarised to reach a highly nuanced and interpretable view of the topics discussed within each week. Linking the features of these topics to the relevant financial market time series, we find that high fragmentation within our networks’ communities relates to moments of financial markets dislocations (i.e. dates with unusually high volatility across asset classes). This result should thus motivate stronger effort within financial research to move beyond ubiquitous sentiment analysis of news and delve deeper into broader and more holistic studies of textual data.
A Simulation Study of the Modulation of the Geomagnetic Field Configuration on the Seasonal Variation of Ionospheric Sq Currents
Authors: Liu Yunbo , Ren Zhipeng , Wei Yong , Zhou Xu
Published: March 2024

Based on Global Coupled Ionosphere‐Thermosphere‐Electrodynamics Model, the solution of the 3‐dimensional current in the ionospheric region, the equivalent sheet current and filed‐aligned current are examined. The simulation study enables a comprehensive analysis of the effect of the geomagnetic field configuration, especially the non‐dipole component and tilt angle, on the ionospheric electrodynamics phenomena. Different geomagnetic field configurations are specified in the present work, including realistic geomagnetic field (RGF), tilted dipole geomagnetic field (TDGF) and zero‐declination dipole geomagnetic field (ZDGF). Our simulation focuses on the seasonal variation of Sq current, primarily governed by annual and semi‐annual variation. The modulation of the tilt angle of the geomagnetic field is globally distributed, whereas the modulation of the geomagnetic anomaly is localized. At mid‐latitudes, the annual mean and semi‐annual amplitudes of the Sq current are negatively correlated with the magnetic field strength, especially shown in geomagnetic anomaly area, while there is the opposite effect in the geomagnetic conjugate regions of the opposite hemispheres. The annual variation of Sq current system is more affected by the offset of the geomagnetic latitudes and geographical latitudes. The seasonal variation of the total Sq current is also modulated by the geomagnetic field. The annual mean, the annual and semi‐annual components of the total Sq current are negatively correlated with the magnetic field strength, while the annual variation is also controlled by the tilt angle of the geomagnetic field. The solar radiation affects the semi‐annual variation of the current more strongly than the annual variation.
Investigating the Main Features of the Correlation Between Electron Density and Temperature in the Topside Ionosphere Through Swarm Satellites Data
Authors: Pignalberi A. , Giannattasio F. , Truhlik V. , Coco I. , Pezzopane M. , Alberti T.
Published: March 2024

Electron density (Ne) and electron temperature (Te) observations collected by Langmuir Probes on board the European Space Agency (ESA) Swarm B satellite are used to characterize their correlation in the topside ionosphere at an altitude of about 500 km. Spearman correlation coefficient values (RSpearman) are calculated on joint probability distributions between Ne and Te for selected conditions. The large data set of Swarm B observations at 2‐Hz rate, covering the years 2014–2022, allowed investigating the correlation properties of the topside ionospheric plasma on a global scale, for different diurnal and seasonal conditions, with both a coverage and a detail never reached before. Results are given as maps of RSpearman as a function of the Quasi‐Dipole (QD) magnetic latitude and magnetic local time (MLT) coordinates. The characterization of the correlation at high latitudes, along with the description of the diurnal trend at all latitudes, are the new findings of this study. The main correlation features point out a negative correlation at the morning overshoot, during daytime at mid latitudes, and during nighttime at the ionospheric trough and subauroral latitudes. Conversely, a positive correlation dominates the nighttime hours at mid and low latitudes and, to a minor extent, the low latitudes from 09 MLT onwards. A seasonal dependence of the correlation is noticeable only at very high latitudes where the general pattern of the negative correlation does not hold around ±75° QD latitude in the summer season. Results from Swarm B have been statistically compared and discussed with observations from the Arecibo, Jicamarca, and Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radars.
A New Eulerian Iceberg Module for Climate Studies
Authors: Erokhina Olga , Mikolajewicz Uwe
Published: March 2024

Icebergs modulate the effective location of freshwater input from ice sheets into the ocean and therefore play an important role for the climate, especially during times of increased ice discharge (e.g., Heinrich events). None of the models participating in the Paleo Modeling Intercomparison Project simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum or the last deglaciation included icebergs. Here, we present a newly developed dynamic/thermodynamic iceberg module that was specifically designed to be incorporated in climate models used for long‐term climate simulations with interactive ice sheets. In contrast to the widely used Lagrangian iceberg models, it is formulated in an Eulerian framework. This simplifies coupling to ocean models and enhances computational efficiency for glacial climates. In a set of sensitivity experiments, where the module was implemented into an Earth System Model, we validate the model for present‐day climate conditions and test its sensitivity to key parameters. Further, we investigate the effect of iceberg hosing on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) as compared to traditional freshwater hosing. Varying the hosing rate slowly in time yields a good approximation of the hysteresis curve of the AMOC. We find that the sensitivity of the AMOC to iceberg hosing is stronger than to freshwater hosing in the same ocean point, but weaker as compared to a latitude belt forcing in the North Atlantic. This emphasizes the necessity to include interactive icebergs in long‐term coupled climate simulations to realistically represent melt patterns and the response of the AMOC to freshwater input from melting ice sheets.
Investigation of the dynamical structures of double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model in biological sciences
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad Zain , Abbas Muhammad , Nazir Tahir , Abdullah Farah Aini , Birhanu Asnake , Emadifar Homan
Published: March 2024

The present research investigates the double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model, which is important for the transfer and retention of genetic material in biological domains. This model is composed of two lengthy uniformly elastic filaments, that stand in for a pair of polynucleotide chains of the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule joined by hydrogen bonds among the bottom combination, demonstrating the hydrogen bonds formed within the chain’s base pairs. The modified extended Fan sub equation method effectively used to explain the exact travelling wave solutions for the double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model. Compared to the earlier, now in use methods, the previously described modified extended Fan sub equation method provide more innovative, comprehensive solutions and are relatively straightforward to implement. This method transforms a non-linear partial differential equation into an ODE by using a travelling wave transformation. Additionally, the study yields both single and mixed non-degenerate Jacobi elliptic function type solutions. The complexiton, kink wave, dark or anti-bell, V, anti-Z and singular wave shapes soliton solutions are a few of the creative solutions that have been constructed utilizing modified extended Fan sub equation method that can offer details on the transversal and longitudinal moves inside the DNA helix by freely chosen parameters. Solitons propagate at a consistent rate and retain their original shape. They are widely used in nonlinear models and can be found everywhere in nature. To help in understanding the physical significance of the double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model, several solutions are shown with graphics in the form of contour, 2D and 3D graphs using computer software Mathematica 13.2. All of the requisite constraint factors that are required for the completed solutions to exist appear to be met. Therefore, our method of strengthening symbolic computations offers a powerful and effective mathematical tool for resolving various moderate nonlinear wave problems. The findings demonstrate the system’s potentially very rich precise wave forms with biological significance. The fundamentals of double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model diffusion and processing are demonstrated by this work, which marks a substantial development in our knowledge of double-chain deoxyribonucleic acid model movements.
Alpha-pinene ameliorate behavioral deficit induced by early postnatal hypoxia in the rat: study the inflammatory mechanism
Authors: Bakhtazad Sharareh , Ghotbeddin Zohreh , Tabandeh Mohammad Reza , Rahimi Kaveh
Published: March 2024

Neonatal hypoxia has a negative impact on the developing brain during the sensitive period. Inflammation plays a key role in the physiological response to hypoxic stress. Considering the anti-inflammatory properties of alpha-pinene, which has received a lot of attention in recent years, in this research we focused on the impact of alpha-pinene on the behavioral responses and proinflammatory factors in rats subjected to the neonatal hypoxia. This study involved Wistar rats (7-day-old) that were divided into six experimental groups, including a control group, groups receiving different doses of alpha-pinene (5 and 10 mg/kg), a hypoxia group receiving 7% O2 and 93% N2, 90 min duration for 7 days, and groups receiving alpha-pinene 30 min before hypoxia. All injections were done intraperitoneally. The rats were evaluated for proinflammatory factors 24 h after exposure to hypoxia (PND14) and at the end of the behavioral test (PND54). The results showed that hypoxia led to decreased motor activity, coordination, and memory, as well as increased inflammation. However, the rats that received alpha-pinene showed improved behavioral responses and reduced inflammation compared to the hypoxia group (all cases p < 0.05). This suggests that alpha-pinene may have a protective effect via anti-inflammatory properties against the negative impacts of hypoxia on the developing brain.
Raman spectroscopy of lymphocytes from patients with the Epstein–Barr virus infection
Authors: Pietruszewska Magdalena , Biesiada Grażyna , Czepiel Jacek , Birczyńska-Zych Malwina , Moskal Paulina , Garlicki Aleksander , Wesełucha-Birczyńska Aleksandra
Published: March 2024

In this study, Raman spectroscopy is applied to trace lymphocytes activation following contact with the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) of the herpesvirus family. The biomarker of cell activation is found to be the 520 cm−1 band, indicating formation of immunoglobulins. The blood samples are obtained from patients diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis and treated at the University Hospital in Kraków. The lymphocytes’ Raman spectra are collected using a mapping technique, exciting samples with a 514.5 nm line of Ar + laser. Measurements are performed on the 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th and 30th day of hospitalization, until the patient has recovered. The highest intensity of the immunoglobulin marker is observed on the 4th day of hospitalization, while the results of the blood count of patients show the greatest increase in the number of lymphocytes at the beginning of hospitalization. No activated lymphocytes were observed in the blood of healthy volunteers. Some information is provided by the evaluation of B-cell activation by estimating the activated areas in the cells, which are determined by the presence of the Ig marker. The 900 cm−1 band and band around 1450 cm−1 are also analyzed as markers of the presence of the latent membrane protein, LMP2A (and 2B), of the EBV viral protein. The anomalous degree of depolarization observed in B-cells in the course of EBV infection appears to be due to the influence of a virus protein, disrupting BCR signal transduction.
Male manipulation impinges on social-dependent tumor suppression in Drosophila melanogaster females
Authors: Akiki Perla , Delamotte Pierre , Poidevin Mickael , van Dijk Erwin L. , Petit Apolline J. R. , Le Rouzic Arnaud , Mery Frederic , Marion-Poll Frederic , Montagne Jacques
Published: March 2024

Physiological status can influence social behavior, which in turn can affect physiology and health. Previously, we reported that tumor growth in Drosophila virgin females depends on the social context, but did not investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms. Here, we sought to characterize the signal perceived between tumorous flies, ultimately discovering that the tumor suppressive effect varies depending on reproductive status. Firstly, we show that the tumor suppressive effect is neither dependent on remnant pheromone-like products nor on the microbiota. Transcriptome analysis of the heads of these tumorous flies reveals social-dependent gene-expression changes related to nervous-system activity, suggesting that a cognitive-like relay might mediate the tumor suppressive effect. The transcriptome also reveals changes in the expression of genes related to mating behavior. Surprisingly, we observed that this social-dependent tumor-suppressive effect is lost in fertilized females. After mating, Drosophila females change their behavior—favoring offspring survival—in response to peptides transferred via the male ejaculate, a phenomenon called “male manipulation”. Remarkably, the social-dependent tumor suppressive effect is restored in females mated by sex-peptide deficient males. Since male manipulation has likely been selected to favor male gene transmission, our findings indicate that this evolutionary trait impedes social-dependent tumor growth slowdown.