bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interfacial self-healing polymer electrolytes for ultralong-life solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries
Authors: Pei Fei , Wu Lin , Zhang Yi , Liao Yaqi , Kang Qi , Han Yan , Zhang Huangwei , Shen Yue , Xu Henghui , Li Zhen , Huang Yunhui
Published: May 2023

Coupling high capacity cathode and Li metal anode with the solid-state electrolyte has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for increasing the energy density and enhancing the safety of rechargeable batteries. However, the limited ion conductivity of the solid-state electrolyte, the large interfacial resistance of electrode/electrolyte, and the unconstrained dendrite growth of the Li metal anode are still the main challenges hindering the applications of the solid-state Li-metal batteries (SSLMB). Herein, a poly(ether-urethane) based solid-state polymer electrolyte (SPE) with self-healing property are designed to reduce the interface impedance and achieve high performance SSLMB. Benefiting from the dynamic covalent disulfide bonds rearrangement and the hydrogen bonds between urethane groups, the proposed SPE exhibits excellent interfacial self-healing ability, which can help to constantly maintain well interfacial contact between solid-state electrolyte and cathode/anode electrodes during the whole cycling life. By casting the designed SPE directly on the sulfur-based cathodes and Li metal anode, it can be easily prepared the integrated solid-state electrolyte/electrode structures, and then assembled them into full cells. As a result, the Li||Li symmetric cells achieved a long-term cycling stability of more than 6000 h, and the solid-state Li-S batteries show prolonged cycle life of 700 times accompanied with excellent C-rate properties. By using ultrasound imaging technology, it is proved that the interfacial contact of the integrated solid-state electrolyte/electrode structure is much better than traditional laminated ones. The application of the proposed interfacial self-healing SPEs and the integrated electrodes could be easily extended to mass production of high-performance solid-state batteries.
The Effect of Social Media on High-School Student’s Behavioral Change: A Case Study of Bikolos Nur Academy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Mohammed Fuad Ahmed , Bedewi Zulfa
Published: May 2023

Background: Social media has positive, beneficial consequences for its users. But it also has unfavorable impacts, particularly on the youth population of high school pupils. The aim of the study is to assess the effects of social media on high-school students’ behavioral change at Bikolos Nur Academy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022.
Methodology:A Survey (Cross-sectional) study design was conducted. Primary data was collected from a sample size of 104 high school students using a self administered questionnaire. Participants were recruited using simple random sampling method. The data was cleaned, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 statistical software and MS excel. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses including bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for analysis. Level of significance was determined at 95% confidence and p-value<0.05.
Result: All the participants were social media users with Male=46.2% and Female=53.8% of gender distribution. The most commonly used platform were Telegram(67.3%), Instagram(62.5%), Ticktock(56.7%) and YouTube(47.1%). Most students perceived that social media is essential for high-school students but 82.7% of them were using social media for reasons stated other than academic related. Use of social media (p=0.001, Exp(B)=0.507); time spent on social media(p=0.007, Exp(B)=0.094); the reason for social media usage(p=0.014, Exp(B)=0.205); and students perception for social media usages (p=0.021, Exp(0.531) were the significant factors identified.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The major determinants for social media related high-school students behavioral change were use of social media, time spent on social media, the reason for social media usage and students perception for social media usages.Students are recommended to use social media only for rightly intended and academic related purposes.
Ocular Refractive Development of Children and Adolescents in the Potential Postpone/Cease Myopic Shift during Early Emmetropization- A Predictive Model Description
Authors: Yang Chih-Huang , Cui Shi-Rui , Lin Hsien-Chang , He Yue , Duan Jun-Guo , Lih Chong-Chung
Published: May 2023

Purpose︰To assess the potential for delaying or halting myopic excursion during early emmetropization in children and adolescents. Methods：We followed a population in southern Taiwan, of which we analyzed 69 individuals with refractive errors, a total of 137 eyes, initially between recalled the ages of 7 and 18 years, and recorded for up to 10 years with five refractive corrections at least . We also build a mathematical model to fit/analyze all the data and understand the progression of human eye refractive development as well as the myopic refraction shift during early emmetropization. Results︰The model predictive errors for the fifth refraction were 0.44 dioptres, and the sharpest myopic progression was observed between the ages of 10.21 and 15.93. The average annual refraction change of the eyes was -0.61 dioptres. The myopic refraction of females tended to progress faster than those of males, however the refraction stabilized earlier in early adulthood for females, while it continued to see myopic progression in the males. The individuals had myopia onset earlier than 9, between 9 and 11, and older than 11, also showed different negative growth factor in the model. Conclusions︰The concepts of myopia prevention need to be reformed, that is, instead of regarding hyperopia as reserve at early emmetropization, as paying attention at NG and the time point for an appropriate intervention, so a good model is required.
Genome and Clonal Hematopoiesis Stability Contrasts with Immune, cfDNA, mitochondrial, and telomere length changes to Short Duration Spaceflight
Authors: Medina J. Sebastian Garcia , Narayanan S. , Sienkiewicz Karolina , Overbey Eliah , Grigorev Kirill , Ryon Krista , Proszynski Jacqueline , Burke Marissa , Schmidt Caleb , Tierney Braden , Mencia-Trinchant Nuria , Klotz Remi , Ortiz Veronica , Foox Jonathan , Damle Namita , Najjar Deena , Matei Irina , Shakib Lorien , Kim JangKeun Kim , Singaraju Anvita , Taylor Lynn , Schmidt Julian , Schmidt Michael , Blease Kelly , Moreno Juan , Boddicker Andrew , Zhao Junhua , Lajoie Bryan , Altomare Andrew , Kruglyak Semyon , Levy Shawn , Yu Min , Hassane Duane , Bailey Susan , Bolton Kelly , Mateus Jaime , Mason Christopher
Published: May 2023

The I4 mission, the first all-civilian orbital flight mission, investigated the physiological effects of short duration spaceflight through a multi-omic approach. We analyzed telomere length, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), whole genome stability, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) cell lysis, and immune cell gene expression. Our results revealed telomere length dynamics similar to those observed in the NASA Twins Study and in astronauts spending 6 months on the ISS, with lengthening in space and shortening upon return to Earth. Our cell-type of origin analysis of cfDNA fragments revealed an increased presence of innate and adaptive immune cell signatures that persisted over a month after return to earth. No significant relationship between spaceflight and CHIP-related or whole genome abnormalities were observed. Longitudinal mitochondrial, ribosomal and immune function gene expression changes occurred across both adaptive and innate immune cells, suggesting adaptations to the space environment can extend months after return from spaceflight and alter immune function. Our findings provide valuable insights into the physiological consequences of short duration spaceflight and will serve as a reference point for future space tourism, low Earth-orbit (LEO) missions, and deep-space exploration.
Spontaneous hypoglycemia: Should we mind the gap? Long-term follow-up of healthy people who met Whipple´s Triad
Authors: Adelmeyer Jan , Schauer Christian Marcel , Kann Peter Herbert
Published: May 2023

Context: Patients discharged as “healthy” with the symptom of spontaneous hypoglycemia need more attention.Objective Characterization and long-term follow-up of these patientsMethods Retrospective analysis and questionnaire follow-upSetting: Center for Endocrinology, Diabetology and Osteology at the University Hospital Marburg, Inpatient DepartmentPatients: All patients who presented to our center for the 72-hour fast between 2005 and 2018 and were discharged without an internal medicine diagnosis were included.Interventions: Survey by questionnaireMain outcome measures: Patient-reported information about current symptoms compared to original symptoms, diagnosis of insulinoma or diabetes mellitus during follow-up, matched with primary care physician data, metabolic and biometric data such as body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA IR), insulin sensitivity Matsuda Index (ISI-M) and area under the curveResults A total of 41 data sets were evaluated at baseline and 38 patients were followed for an average of approximately 10 years. 61% of respondents still reported the same symptoms as at baseline. No insulinoma was missed in these patients. Only two of the 38 patients developed diabetes mellitus.Conclusion The high percentage of patients who are discharged as "healthy" and still have symptoms after many years is disturbing. It is possible that the symptoms are not due to low blood glucose. We urge caution with the term "healthy". In addition, more research should be done on this topic.
BMC Infect Dis Journal Staphylococcus epidermidis induced Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) following influenza infection
Authors: Armeftis Charis , Ioannou Andreas , Lazarou Theodorakis , Giannopoulos Achilleas , Dimitriadou Efrosyni , Makrides Kostantinos , Pana Zoi Dorothea
Published: May 2023

Background To date, few cases of TSS caused by coagulase negative (CoN) staphylococci have been reported in the literature. Recent data show that CoN staphylococci are capable of secreting a number of enterotoxins and cytotoxins, normally produced by S. aureus. Herewith, we describe a case of TSS caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis with a favorable outcome.
Case presentation We report a case of a 46-year-old man who developed TSS from S. epidermidis. The patient was admitted for a 7-day history of general malaise and headache following a recent influenza infection and a 3-day history of vomiting, diarrhea, diffuse erythroderma, and fever. The main laboratory findings on admission were leukopenia (WBC 800/mm3), thrombocytopenia (Plt count 78.000/mm3), elevated urea, creatine levels and increased inflammatory markers (CRP 368 mg/ml). The patient had clinical and radiological evidence of pneumonia with chest computed tomography (CT) showing diffuse bilateral airspace opacifications with air bronchogram.
On the second day, a methicillin resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) strain was detected in both sets of blood cultures, but the organism was unavailable for toxin testing. All other cultures and diagnostic PCR tests were negative. His clinical signs and symptoms fulfilled at that stage four out of five clinical criteria of TSS with a fever of 39 °C, diffuse erythroderma, multisystem involvement and hypotension. On the same day the patient was admitted to the ICU due to acute respiratory failure. The initial treatment was meropenem, vancomycin, levofloxacin, clindamycin, IVIG and steroids. Finger desquamation appeared on the 9th day of hospitalization, fulfilling all five clinical criteria for TSS.
Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first adult case with TSS induced by CoNS (MRSE) following an influenza type B infection, who had favorable progression and outcome. Further research is warranted to determine how TSS is induced by the CoNS infections.
Which behaviour change techniques are associated with interventions that increase physical activity in pre-school children? A systematic review
Authors: Al-walah Mosfer A , Donnelly Michael , Cunningham Conor , Heron Neil
Published: May 2023

BackgroundInsufficient physical activity (PA) is a significant risk factor that contributes to obesity and there is a need to improve understanding about how to increase PA, particularly among young children. This review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022328841) investigated the relationship between Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and interventions that increased PA among young children (< 6 years old, pre-school).MethodsSystematic searches of six databases were undertaken from inception to July 2022, updated in December 2022, to locate trials that evaluated interventions and reported a positive change in PA levels in children aged < 6 years old.ResultsA total of 5,304 studies were screened and 28 trials involving 10,605 subjects aged from 2.5 to 5.9 years old met eligibility criteria. Each eligible study (n = 28) was independently appraised by two researchers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The BCT Taxonomy v1 and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guided the extraction and analysis of data and this process led to the identification of 27 BCTs.ConclusionsPotentially promising BCTs for increasing PA among young children included ‘shaping knowledge,’ ‘antecedents,’ ‘goals and planning,’ and ‘comparison of behaviour.’ Future PA interventions that target young children should consider integrating these promising BCTs into their programmes. However, such consideration needs to be tempered with the fact that most reviewed studies were deemed to have a high or unclear risk of bias and/or were limited with respect to the populations they targeted. There is a need for further methodologically rigorous intervention research that prioritises at-risk child populations with low PA levels, particularly children from disadvantaged socioeconomic communities.
Indoor Aeromycological Studies in Primary Health Centers In Amravati District Maharashtra , India
Authors: Vaidya Rasika Dipakrao , Shahare N.H.
Published: May 2023

An aeromycological studies verifies the presence of air born fungi. It is very important to study fungal propagules in hospitals and health centres in context to Covid-19 pandemics. In the present research attempts were made to determine aeromycoflora of indoor environment of two Primary Health Centers (PHC1 and PHC2) in rural places of Amravati District in Maharashtra state in India. The samples were collected in the month of December 2022 and February 2023. The petriplate exposure method was used for the isolation of fungal mycoflora . In December 2022 Cladosporium cladosporioide and Aspergillus niger shows the highest percent contribution while Mucor hiemalis Fusarium sp and ,Curvularia lunata shows moderate percent of contribution in indoor environment of both PHCs .In month of February2023 Cladosporium cladosporioide shows dominance in both the PHCs and Aspergillus niger, Mucor hiemalis and Alternaria alternata were reported in moderate concentration. Some of these fungal species were reported as human pathogens.
Numeric social-media posts engage people with climate science
Authors: Peters Ellen , Markowitz David , Nadratowski Ariel
Published: May 2023

Innumeracy (lack of math skills) among non-scientists often leads climate scientists and others to avoid communicating numbers due to concerns that the public won’t understand them and may disengage. However, people report preferring to receive numbers; providing them also improves some decisions. Here, we demonstrate that providing numbers in climate-related social-media posts increased engagement from 11.5–46.7% in two pre-registered observational studies (climate scientists on twitter, N = 8,003,920 likes and retweets; climate subreddit, N = 17,501 posts and comments). Results of a pre-registered experiment (N = 212) further revealed that providing precise numeric information about climate consequences, in particular, led to more engagement and greater trust and perceptions of an expert messenger. Because science on social media has the potential to reach more people, scientists and climate communicators might want to harness the power of numbers to increase public concern regarding this defining issue of our time.
Size-mediated competitive interactions between an invasive and an imperiled crayfish may explain extirpation of the imperiled species
Authors: Tripp Nicole , VanBuren Hannah , Reisinger Lindsey S.
Published: May 2023

Interference competition between native and invasive species can be an important driver of the local extirpation of native species; however, extinctions resulting from competition are rare. Here we investigate competitive interactions between an invasive and an imperiled crayfish to assess whether competition is an important mechanism behind this species replacement. Freshwater crayfish are one of the most imperiled taxonomic groups in North America, and nonnative crayfish pose a major threat to native crayfishes. Many crayfish have limited distributions, so merely moving crayfish between adjacent drainages can cause species replacements that threaten native species. Here, we examine competitive interactions between the imperiled Black Creek crayfish (BCC; Procambarus pictus), which is endemic to the lower St. Johns River drainage, Florida, and the white tubercled crayfish (WTC; P. spiculifer), an introduced species from a neighboring drainage. We found that WTC grew more rapidly than BCC in common conditions, and when WTC was larger, this species won aggressive interactions and was dominant in shelter competition with the imperiled species. However, when the species were size matched, BCC was more competitive than WTC. These results highlight the importance of size and growth rate for determining the outcome of interference competition. WTC is replacing BCC throughout a substantial portion of its limited range, and our results suggest that size-mediated competition between these species may be an important mechanism for this species replacement.
Selective optogenetic modulation of the PBN terminals in the lateral hypothalamic area and basal forebrain regulates emergence from isoflurane anesthesia in mice
Authors: Lu Kai , Wang Zhenhuan , Bai Ning , Zhao Ziyu , Zhao Xinrong , He Yun
Published: May 2023

Although the mechanism of general anesthesia has been extensively studied, the underlying neural circuitry remains to be fully elucidated. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is vital for modulating wakefulness and promoting arousal from general anesthesia. However, it remains unclear that the role of the PBN projections in the process of general anesthesia. Bilaterally injecting AAV associated viruses encoding excitatory or inhibitory optogenetic probes into the PBN, and then implanting the optical fibers in the LH or BF area bilaterally. After four weeks, the two PBN-LH and PBN-BF pathways were optogenetically activated or inhibited under 1.5 vol% isoflurane. The time of induction of and emergence from anesthesia was calculated. Burst-suppression ratio changes were determined simultaneously using electroencephalogram recording. We found that optogenetic activation of the PBN-LH and PBN-BF projections was involved in promoting both the cortical and behavioral emergence from isoflurane inhalation but had no significant impact on the induction time. Furthermore, photoinhibition of the two pathways prolonged the recovery time and there was also no apparent difference during the induction stage. Therefore, our results demonstrated that the PBN-LH and PBN-BF pathways are crucial for promoting arousal from isoflurane general anesthesia, but have no obvious effects on the induction phase.
Online public concern about allergic rhinitis and its association with COVID-19 and air quality in China: an informative epidemiological study using Baidu Index
Authors: Yu Yi , Zhang Qinzhun , Yao Xinmeng , Wu Jinghua , He Jialu , He Yinan , Jiang Huaqiang , Lu Dongxin , Ye Chengyin
Published: May 2023

Background
Allergic rhinitis is a common health concern that affects quality of life. This study aims to examine the online search trends of allergic rhinitis in China before and after the COVID-19 epidemic and to explore the association between the daily air quality and online search volumes of allergic rhinitis in Beijing.
Methods
We extracted the online search data of allergic rhinitis-related keywords from the Baidu index database from January 23, 2017 to June 23, 2022. We analyzed and compared the temporal distribution of online search behaviors across different themes of allergic rhinitis before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, using the Baidu search index (BSI). We also obtained the air quality index (AQI) data in Beijing and assessed its correlation with daily BSIs of allergic rhinitis.
Results
The online search for allergic rhinitis in China showed significant seasonal variations, with two peaks each year in spring from March to May and autumn from August and October. The BSI of total allergic rhinitis-related searches increased gradually from 2017 to 2019, reaching a peak in April 2019, and declined after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the first half of 2020. The BSI for all allergic rhinitis themes was significantly lower after the COVID-19 pandemic than before (all p values < 0.05). The results also revealed that, in Beijing, there was a significant negative association between daily BSI and AQI for each allergic rhinitis theme during the original variant strain epidemic period and a significant positive correlation during the Omicron variant period.
Conclusion
Both air quality and the interventions used for COVID-19 pandemic, including national and local quarantines and mask wearing behaviors, may have affected the incidence and public concern about allergic rhinitis in China. The online search trends of allergic rhinitis can provide useful information for health authorities and professionals to monitor the public needs and interests and to deliver timely and tailored health education and prevention strategies.
Drug-eluting Balloon for Treatment of Non-atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis——a Multi-center Study
Authors: Song Xitao , Fu Yining , Lai Zhichao , Di Xiao , Zeng Rong , Shao Jiang , Ni Leng , Liu Zhili , Song Xiaojun , Ye Wei , Liu Changwei , Liu Bao , Zheng Yuehong , Chen Yuexin
Published: May 2023

Introduction
Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a significant reason for secondary hypertension. Impaired renal function and subsequent cardiopulmonary dysfunction could also occur. Patients of non-atherosclerotic RAS has a relatively young age and long life expectancy. Revascularization with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a viable treatment option. However, restenosis is unavoidable which limits its use. Drug-eluting balloon (DEB) has been proven to be effective in restenosis prevention in femoropopliteal arterial diseases and in patients with non-atherosclerotic RAS. Therefore, we could speculate that DEB might have potential efficacy in non-atherosclerotic RAS treatment.
Methods and analysis
This will be a randomized multi-center controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible participants will be assigned randomly in a 1:1 ratio to the control group (POB) and the experimental group (DEB). Subjects in the former group will receive balloon dilatation alone, and in the latter group will undergo the DEB angioplasty. The DEB used in this study will be a paclitaxel-coated balloon (Orchid, Acotec Scientific Holdings Limited, Beijing, China). Follow-up visits will be scheduled 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the intervention. Primary outcomes will include clinical benefits and primary patency in the 9-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes will include technical success rate, complication rate, and bail-out stenting rate.
Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT 05858190)
Protocol version V.4 (3 May 2023).
Inhibitory activities of essential oils from Syzygium aromaticum on emergence of Echinochloa crus-galli
Authors: Ni xianzhi , bai haodong , Han jincai , Zhou yong , Bai zhendong , Luo siquan , Xu jingjing , Jin chenzhong , Li Zuren
Published: May 2023

Echinochloa crus-galli is a serious weed species in rice paddies. To obtain a new potential bioherbicide, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of 13 essential oils and their active substances against E. crus-galli. Essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry (SAEO) exhibited the highest herbicidal activity (EC50 = 3.87 mg mL-1) among the 13 essential oils evaluated. The SAEO was isolated at six different temperatures by vacuum fractional distillation, including 164 ℃, 165 ℃ (SAEO − 165), 169 ℃, 170 ℃ 175 ℃ and 180 ℃. The SAEO − 165 had the highest inhibitory rate against E. crus-galli. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high phase liquid chromatography identified Eugenol (EC50 = 4.07 mg mL-1), α-caryophyllene (EC50 = 17.34 mg mL-1) and β-caryophyllene (EC50 = 96.66 mg mL-1) as the three compounds in SAEO. Results from a safety bioassay showed that the tolerance of rice seedling (~ 20% inhibition) was higher than that of E. crus-galli (~ 70% inhibition) under SAEO stress. Additionally, defense enzymes in E. crus-galli and rice seedling showed decreased activities, but only CAT levels were affected under SAEO treatment. Our results indicate that SAEO has a potential for development into a new selective bio-herbicide. They also provide an example of a sustainable management strategy for E. crus-galli in rice paddies.
Screening for Human Trafficking among Refugees in Germany: Determining Prevalence and Test Accuracy of a Modified Version of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool
Authors: Stollwerck Estella Alejandra Tambini , Rollmann Ivo , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Nikendei Christoph
Published: May 2023

Background
Human trafficking consists of the exploitation of a person by means of force, intimidation or deceit. Though it occurs all over the world, its true extent is still unknown. Refugees are especially vulnerable to human trafficking due to language barriers and difficult living conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to design a screening tool to identify survivors of human trafficking among refugees in a German state registration and reception centre.
Methods
In a joint project with the Ministry of Justice and Migration Baden-Württemberg and the Regional Administrative Authority of Karlsruhe (‘Regierungspräsidium’), we asked newly arrived refugees at the initial reception centre in Heidelberg about their experiences with human trafficking. We used a combination of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and one question borrowed from a publication by Mumma et al. to address all forms of exploitation. The results of the screening tool were cross-checked by a short interview afterwards.
Results
In total, 13 of the 176 asylum seekers had experienced trafficking, which corresponded to a prevalence of 7.3%. The questionnaire had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 84.0% at a newly selected cut-off of six positive responses. In an exploratory descriptive analysis on subregions, refugees from West Africa had a substantially higher prevalence (33.3%) for human trafficking within our sample, especially women. However, when we excluded this region from our analysis, we found no significant gender difference for the rest of the sample.
Conclusions
The screening tool distinguishes reliably those who had experienced human trafficking from other refugees. The high prevalence of trafficking in most regions, regardless of gender, suggests that more effort is needed to identify and protect all trafficked persons.
Downregulation of galactomannan galactosyltransferase in Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
Authors: VERMA SWATI , Dhugga Kanwarpal S. , Gill Kulvinder S. , Randhawa Gursharn Singh
Published: May 2023

Guar is a legume of industrial importance due to the presence of gum (galactomannan) in its seed endosperm. The mannose (M)/galactose (G) ratio in galactomannan molecule is critical in deciding the physico-chemical properties of guar gum. Gum with reduced galactose content has better commercial value due to better viscosity. We report down regulation of galactomannan galactosyltransferase (GMGT) which links G residues to the M backbone in galactomannan molecule. The target GMGT sequence for RNAi was directionally cloned into pENTRTM/D-TOPO® vector, followed by a LR recombination reaction with pANDA vector. The constructed gmgt RNAi cassette was delivered into guar tissue using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. The cotyledonary node explants were pre-cultured for 72 h and co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens strain harbouring the gmgt RNAi cassette for 24 h. Maximum number of putative transformed shoots regenerated from the cotyledonary node explants cultured in vitro on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 4.0 mg/L butyric acid (BA) and 1.0 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA3). In vitro regenerated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 4% sucrose and 2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed reduced levels of GMGT expression in the seed endosperm of 35 days after flowering (DAF) stage pods. The present findings are expected to be beneficial in taking up of gene characterization and improvement of agronomic traits in guar.
Future Perspective for Core-Electron Spectroscopy:Breit Hamiltonian in the Multiwavelets Framework
Authors: Tantardini Christian , Eikås Roberto Di Remigio , Bjørgve Magnar , Jensen Stig Rune , Frediani Luca
Published: May 2023

New techniques in core-electron spectroscopy are necessary to solve the structures of oxides of f -elements and other stronglycorrelated materials that are present only as powders and not as single crystals. Thus, more accurate quantum chemicalmethods need to be developed to calculate core spectroscopic properties in such materials. Here, we have presented the firstdevelopment in such a direction, extending fully adaptive real-space multiwavelet basis to 4-component Dirac-Coulomb-BreitHamiltonian. Multiwavelets were seen to be robust enough to reproduce the more traditional grid-based approach, as availablein GRASP. This was seen to be independent of the nuclear charge model chosen and strictly correlated with the tolerance andthe order of chosen Legendre polynomial of multiwavelets. Furthermore, our results confirmed that in two-electron species, themagnetic and Gauge contributions from s-orbitals are identical in magnitude and can account for the experimental evidencefrom K and L edges.
Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Gastrointestinal Motility in Rats with Functional Dyspepsia Via PLC/IP3 Signaling
Authors: Yang De-Qian , Chen Qi , Jin Shu-Wen , Xu Pai-Di
Published: May 2023

Gastrointestinal motility disorders are one of the main pathogenic factors responsible for functional dyspepsia (FD). Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α-positive (PDGFRα+) cells participate in regulating gastrointestinal motility; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and determine whether EA modulates the phospholipase C (PLC)-inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (PLC-IP3) pathway in PDGFRα+ cells to improve gastrointestinal motility disorders in FD. Accordingly, FD rats stimulated by tail-clamping were treated with EA (with or without PLC inhibitor U73122). We observed that the PLC-IP3 pathway was modulated in PDGFRα+ cells, which improved gastrointestinal motility in FD model rats. Based on western blotting and immunofluorescence assay results, EA increased the expression of PDGFRα+ cells and promoted the expression of PLC, P-PLC, and IP3 in the gastric sinuses of FD rats. U73122-mediated inhibition of PLC expression treatment considerably reduced the frequency of gastrointestinal motility. However, there was no significant difference between the effects of antagonist and antagonist + EA treatments; EA treatment was superior to antagonist and antagonist + EA treatment alone. Overall, these results suggest that EA could ameliorate gastrointestinal motility disorders in FD rats by activating the PLC-IP3 pathway in PDGFRα+ cells.
A Diagnostic Model for Sepsis-induced Acute Lung Injury Using a Consensus Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Zheng Yongxin , Wang Jinping , Ling Zhaoyi , Zhang Jiamei , Zeng Yuan , Wang Ke , Zhang Yu , Nong Lingbo , Sang Ling , Xu Yonghao , Liu Xiaoqing , Li Yimin , Huang Yongbo
Published: May 2023

Background Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a heterogenous syndrome with high incidence and mortality. The diagnosis is often delayed which requires a chest imaging. Identifying diagnostic biomarkers may improve screening to identify septic patients at high risk of ALI earlier and provide the potential effective therapeutic drugs. Gene signatures obtained from peripheral blood have been shown to be dysregulated in sepsis and sepsis-induced ALI, which could provide additional noninvasive means for diagnosis. Machine learning algorithms are strong methods which can improve our ability to find relevant features in large and high-dimension data from gene expression profiles. The study aimed to develop a robust diagnostic model for the prediction of sepsis-induced ALI by using multiple machine learning algorithms, and validate the model for its predictive capability in external datasets.Methods The datasets were obtained from GEO and ArrayExpress databases. Following quality control and normalization, the datasets (GSE66890, GSE10474 and GSE32707) were merged as the training set, and four machine learning feature selection methods (Elastic net, svm, random forest and XGBoost) were applied to construct the diagnostic model. The other datasets were considered as the validation sets. Then, we explore the function of selected features and assess the correlation between selected features and immune cells. To further evaluated the performance and predictive value of diagnostic model, nomogram, Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) and Clinical Impact Curve (CIC) were constructed. Finally, the potential small molecular compounds interacting with selected features were explored from CTD database.Results The results of GSEA showed that immune response and metabolism might play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced ALI. Then, 52 genes were identified as putative biomarkers by consensus feature selection from all four methods. Among them, 5 genes (ARHGDIB, ALDH1A1, TACR3, TREM1 and PI3) were selected by all methods and used to predict ALI diagnosis with high accuracy. The external datasets (E-MTAB-5273 and E-MTAB-5274) demonstrated that the diagnostic model have great accuracy with AUC value was 0.725 and 0.833, respectively. In addition, the nomogram, DCA and CIC showed that the diagnostic model had great performance and predictive value. Finally, the small molecular compounds (Curcumin, Tretinoin, Estradiol and Dexamethasone) were screened as the potential therapeutic agents for sepsis-induced ALI.Conclusion This consensus of multiple machine learning algorithms identified 5 genes (ARHGDIB, ALDH1A1, TACR3, TREM1 and PI3) that were able to distinguish ALI from septic patients. The diagnostic model could identify septic patients at high risk of ALI, and provide a promising therapeutic target for sepsis-induced ALI.
The Silent Threat of a Non-native Oligochaete Species in Iran's freshwater: Assessment of the Diversity and Origin of Eiseniella tetraedra (Savigny, 1826) and its Response to Climate Change
Authors: Azimi Maryam , Bagheri Maryam , Khoshnamvand Hadi , Abdoli Asghar , Ahmadzadeh Faraham
Published: May 2023

Oligochaetes are the most abundant benthic taxa in aquatic ecosystems that play an important role in food webs and energy transmission. The aim of the current study is to assess the origin and diversity of Eiseniella tetraedra a non-native species of Lar National Park in Alborz Mountain ranges of Iran and also its response to current and future climate change. To this, we collected the specimen (23 samples) from Lar National Park Rivers and performed the mitochondrial gene, mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) combining them with 117 sequences from Jajroud, Karaj River in Iran and native regions from GenBank (NCBI). We also used an ensemble model approach for Species Distribution Modelings (SDMs) that it was estimated according to two Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs): 126 and 585 of the MRI-ESM2 based on CMIP6. According to our results, all the samples examined in the current study originated from Spanish rivers and there was no unique haplotype found in Lar National Park. Moreover, The results also show high haplotype diversity that can have a positive effect on the success of its non-native in the different freshwater of Iran. As well as, the result of SDMs maps illustrated that climate change would significantly affect the distribution of E. tetraedra and it showed a sharp tendency to expand and verified the invasion power of the E. tetraedra in Iran's freshwater ecosystems over time.
In vitro photodynamic inactivation of B. subtilis and E. coli O157 by a new chalcone conjugate photosensitizer tethered with the NMe 2 group as fluorescence donor auxochrome
Authors: Abd-Allah Aalaa Khaled El-Sayed , Alexeree Shimaa M. , Attia Yasser A. , Rizk Sameh Ahmed , Aly Mohamed R. E.
Published: May 2023

4-Azido-2,6-dimethylquinolie 2 was prepared and coupled under the CuAAC conditions with a set of propargylated chalcones 3a-e & 4a,b, and a ferrocene-chalcone conjugate 5. These couplings afforded a new series of tripod and tetrapod 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles 6a-e, 7a,b, and 8 for potential divergent applications. In vitro antimicrobial screening disclosed their negative antifungal activity against A. flavus and C. albicans. Similarly, they were inactive against S. aureus and E. coli except the chalcone 6e which was 39% as active as the antibiotics that target these organisms. Compound 6d displayed fluorescence in DMSO under the influence of 365 nm UV irradiation, absorption at λmax = 421 which falls within the blue range, and fluorescence emission at λmax = 523 nm. As photosensitizer (PS) of ROS in the presence of blue LED irradiation at a dose of 12 J/cm2, it displayed better in vitro photodynamic inactivation than antibiotics against B. subtilis and E. coli O157. The activity against the positive-type bacteria was better than the Gram-negative one due to penetration intolerance by the outer membrane of the negative type as displayed by the confocal microscope images. Therefore, the activity is attributed to intracellular bacterial poisoning by the photo-generated ROS rather than membrane disruption.
Assessing Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Atmospheric Water Cycle Processes over the Tibetan Plateau using the WRF Model and Finer Box Model
Authors: Pan Xiaoduo , Li Hu , Washakh Rana Muhammad Ali , Jin Jing
Published: May 2023

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is the highest and largest plateau in the world and serves as a "vanguard" for global climate change. In the context of climate warming, changes in evapotranspiration (ET) and external water vapor transport cause more uncertainty in assessing the atmospheric water cycle processes over the TP. By using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for long-term simulations and the finer box model for the calculation of water vapor along the boundary, the external atmospheric water vapor transport and its spatiotemporal characteristics over the TP are finely described. The model-simulated precipitation and evapotranspiration are well-simulated compared with observation. Research results show that: (1) The atmospheric water storage on the TP decreases from southeast to northwest. Water vapor is mainly transported into the TP from the western and southern boundaries. The net water vapor flux transported from the western boundary to the TP by westerly wind is negative, while the net water vapor flux transported from the southern boundary to the TP by southerly wind is positive. (2) In spring and winter, water vapor is mainly transported into the TP by mid-latitude westerlies from the western boundary. In summer, water vapor transport controlled by mid-latitude westerlies weakens, and water vapor is mainly transported into the TP from the southern boundary. In autumn, water vapor controlled by mid-latitude westerlies gradually strengthens, and water vapor is mainly transported into the TP from the western boundary. In addition, the ratio of ET to precipitation on the TP is about 0.48, and the moisture recycling is about 0.37. Water vapor mainly comes from external water vapor transport.
Temporal serum metabolomic and lipidomic analyses distinguish patients with access-related hand disability following arteriovenous fistula creation
Authors: Khattri Ram B. , Louis Lauryn Z. , Kim Kyoungrae , Anderson Erik M. , Fazzone Brian , Harland Kenneth C , Hu Qiongyao , O’Malley Kerri A. , Berceli Scott A. , Wymer James , Ryan Terence E. , Scali Salvatore T.
Published: May 2023

For end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients, hemodialysis requires durable vascular access which is often surgically created using an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). However, some ESKD patients that undergo AVF placement develop access-related hand dysfunction (ARHD) through unknown mechanisms. In this study, we sought to determine if changes in the serum metabolome could distinguish ESKD patients that develop ARHD from those that have normal hand function following AVF creation. Forty-five ESKD patients that underwent first-time AVF creation were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained pre-operatively and six-weeks post-operatively and metabolites were extracted and analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Patients underwent thorough examination of hand function at both timepoints using the following assessments: grip strength manometry, dexterity, sensation, motor and sensory nerve conduction testing, hemodynamics, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Nineteen of the forty-five patients displayed overt weakness using grip strength manometry (P < 0.0001). Unfortunately, the serum metabolome was indistinguishable between patients with and without weakness following AVF surgery. However, a significant correlation was found between the change in tryptophan levels and the change in grip strength suggesting a possible role of tryptophan-derived uremic metabolites in post-AVF hand-associated weakness. Compared to grip strength, changes in dexterity and sensation were smaller than those observed in grip strength, however, post-operative decreases in phenylalanine, glycine, and alanine were unique to patients that developed signs of motor or sensory disability following AVF creation.
SSR3 and SEC61G co-expression promotes proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Liu Junjian , Zhang Ze , Mei Hanwei , Xu Yan , Zhang Jinghong , Bai Yali , Li Zhonglian , Yuan Hongxia
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with a high incidence and poor prognosis. With the use of bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing technology, several molecular markers related to HCC diagnosis, treatment, and aetiology have been found. As an example, the upregulation of signal sequence receptor 3 (SSR3) has been linked to tumorigenesis. Studies also suggest that overexpression of SSR3 predicts poor survival in patients with HCC. However, research on the function and genes co-expressed with SSR3 is limited.METHODS The interaction between SSR3 and SEC61G proteins was analyzed using the STRING database. Correlation analysis of SSR3 and SEC61G mRNA levels was performed using the cBioPortal database. Expression levels of these two genes in HCC and normal tissues were evaluated, and the relationship with prognosis was analysed using the UALCAN database and tumor tissues obtained from surgical resection. Small interfering RNA targeting SSR3 or SEC61G, and overexpression vectors of SSR3 or SEC61G were transfected into HCC cells. SSR3 and SEC61G mRNA levels were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and a CCK-8 assay was performed to determine cell proliferation.RESULTS SSR3 and SEC61G mRNA levels were positively correlated (Spearman: 0.42, P ˂ 0.001), and the expression was increased in HCC tissues compared to that in normal tissues (P < 0.05). SSR3 knockdown decreased SEC61G mRNA levels. In contrast, SSR3 overexpression increased SEC61G mRNA levels. Higher SSR3 and SEC61G mRNA levels were associated with shorter overall survival (P < 0.01) and higher clinical stages (P < 0.05) in patients with HCC. Moreover, SSR3 and SEC61G co-expression promoted HCC cell proliferation (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION SSR3 co-expressed with SEC61G facilitated the proliferation of HCC cells and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC.
Data Mining and Network Pharmacology-Based Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of Huangqin Qingre Chubi Capsule in Improving Immune Inflammation of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Zhang Fan , Liu Jian , Xin Ling , Fang Yanyan , Zhou Qiao , Guo Jinchen , Sun Yanqiu , Wang Fanfan
Published: May 2023

Objective. The goal of this research was to probe the mechanism of Huangqin Qingre Chubi(HQC) in the improvement of immune inflammation of Ankylosing spondylitis(AS).
Methods. Clinical data mining was implemented to assess the efficacy of HQC in AS therapy. The target network of HQC active ingredients for AS therapy was established by network pharmacology. The relationships between HQC active ingredients and major objectives of AS were forecasted by molecular docking technology. Finally, Cytological tests were performed for the evaluation of the effects of the drugs on the core targets.
Results. Clinical data mining indicated that HQC was highly related to the improvement of immunoinflammatory markers.Network pharmacology results demonstrated that the main targets of HQC, including Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG),Prostaglandin G synthase 2(PTGS2), recombinant catalase(CAT), Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8(CXCL8), and Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGFA), were closely associated with the signaling pathways of IL-17, NF-kappa B, TNF, T cell receptor, and Th1, and Th2 cell differentiation in AS therapy. In the molecular docking analysis of the HQC active components, 70% of the binding energy was under -4.25 kcal/mol, and 53% of the binding energy was no more than -5.0 kcal/mol, of which the binding energy of stigmasterol with PPARG, CXCL8, and CAT were under -7.50 kcal/mol, implying that the chemically active ingredients of HQC formula have good binding activity against inflammatory targets. In vitro cell experiment results suggested that HQC down-regulated the expression of PTGS2, and up-regulated the expression of PPARG and CAT.
Conclusion. HQC exerts functions in improving the immune inflammatory indicators in patients with AS for the reason that the active ingredient of Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in HQC act through oxygen species, oxidative stress, transcription factors, and apoptosis.