bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality‐to‐incidence ratio of early‐onset colorectal cancer in high‐income Asian and Middle Eastern countries: A systemic analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019
Authors: Ramadan Majed , Alsiary Rawiah A. , Aboalola Doaa A.
Published: October 2023

Background

The incidence of early‐onset colorectal cancer (EO‐CRC) has been consistently rising leading to a significant cancer burden among younger adults in Asian and Middle Eastern high‐income countries. The study aims to investigate the survival outcomes of EO‐CRC among high‐income Asian and Middle Eastern populations from 1990 to 2019 using the mortality‐to‐incidence ratio, with a focus on examining the differences in gender.

Methods

This is a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. We include individuals aged 15 to 49 years old in high‐income Asian and the Middle Eastern countries. The colorectal cancer mortality‐to‐incidence ratio (MIR) was calculated for both genders by dividing the age‐specific mortality rate per 100,000 for colorectal cancer by the age‐specific incidence rate per 100,000 for each nation in the sample for a given year.

Results

An overall decline in male and female MIR was observed from 1990 to 2019 in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Ten out of thirteen Asian and Middle Eastern countries had a higher female MIR compared to their male counterparts. The global male MIR was found to be significantly higher than that of female (p‐value 0.008, coefficient estimate: 1.51). In Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia had a significantly higher female MIR compared to their male counterparts (p < 0.0001, coefficient estimate: 12.65).

Conclusion

This research addresses the knowledge gap concerning gender‐based differences in EO‐CRC survival outcomes in high‐income Asian and Middle Eastern countries, providing insights into the factors influencing these disparities in these regions. Policymakers should focus on developing targeted prevention and treatment programs for women, and addressing cultural and social barriers that may prevent women from seeking timely medical care.
Light‐Driven Metabolic Pathways in Non‐Photosynthetic Biohybrid Bacteria
Authors: Bassett Shane , Ding Yuchen , Roy Micaela K. , Reisz Julie A. , D'Alessandro Angelo , Nagpal Prashant , Chatterjee Anushree
Published: October 2023

Biomanufacturing via microorganisms relies on carbon substrates for molecular feedstocks and a source of energy to carry out enzymatic reactions. This creates metabolic bottlenecks and lowers the efficiency for substrate conversion. Nanoparticle biohybridization with proteins and whole cell surfaces can bypass the need for redox cofactor regeneration for improved secondary metabolite production in a non‐specific manner. Here we propose using nanobiohybrid organisms (Nanorgs), intracellular protein‐nanoparticle hybrids formed through the spontaneous coupling of core‐shell quantum dots (QDs) with histidine‐tagged enzymes in non‐photosynthetic bacteria, for light‐mediated control of bacterial metabolism. This proved to eliminate metabolic constrictions and replace glucose with light as the source of energy in Escherichia coli, with an increase in growth by 1.7‐fold in 75 % reduced nutrient media. Metabolomic tracking through carbon isotope labeling confirmed flux shunting through targeted pathways, with accumulation of metabolites downstream of respective targets. Finally, application of Nanorgs with the Ehrlich pathway improved isobutanol titers/yield by 3.9‐fold in 75 % less sugar from E. coli strains with no genetic alterations. These results demonstrate the promise of Nanorgs for metabolic engineering and low‐cost biomanufacturing.
Insight into the Optoelectronic Nature and Mechanical Stability of Binary Chalcogenides: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Gul Banat , Fayz‐Al‐Asad Md. , Khan Muhammad Salman , Rahaman Mostafizur , Periyasami Govindasami , Ahmad Hijaz
Published: October 2023

The most promising candidates for solar cells and optoelectronic devices are the transition metals dichalcogenides. Here, we employed the well‐known density functional theory to examine the structural, optoelectronic, and elastic characteristics of novel binary chalcogenides. A direct band gap for ZrX2 and an indirect band gap for PtX2 materials were both confirmed by the band structure features. The valence and conduction band regions are formed by the interaction of the A‐d and X‐p bands. Both the formation energy and the cohesive energies are calculated. The phonon dispersion plots confirmed the stability of the structures. Furthermore, the significant optical constants are computed and explained for possible employment in the optoelectronic application. Our computed band gaps and refractive index were found to be inversely associated. The vital elastic properties are also calculated to discuss the mechanical stability of these materials. The greater bulk modulus and Young's modulus for ZrS2 as compared to the studied chalcogenides suggest this material to be harder and more compressible. The B/G values, confirm all the studied dichalcogenides to be ductile. The most ductile of these materials was ZrSe2 with a predicted B/G value of 7.65. The present work could primarily aid in the creation of diverse and potentially useful semiconducting devices and their applications.
Charting the course to solid‐state dual‐ion batteries
Authors: Asfaw Habtom D. , Kotronia Antonia , Garcia‐Araez Nuria , Edström Kristina , Brandell Daniel
Published: October 2023

An electrolyte destined for use in a dual‐ion battery (DIB) must be stable at the inherently high potential required for anion intercalation in the graphite electrode, while also protecting the Al current collector from anodic dissolution. A higher salt concentration is needed in the electrolyte, in comparison to typical battery electrolytes, to maximize energy density, while ensuring acceptable ionic conductivity and operational safety. In recent years, studies have demonstrated that highly concentrated organic electrolytes, ionic liquids, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), ionogels, and water‐in‐salt electrolytes can potentially be used in DIBs. GPEs can help reduce the use of solvents and thus lead to a substantial change in the Coulombic efficiency, energy density, and long‐term cycle life of DIBs. Furthermore, GPEs are suited to manufacture compact DIB designs without separators by virtue of their mechanical strength and electrical performance. In this review, we highlight the latest advances in the application of different electrolytes in DIBs, with particular emphasis on GPEs.
A chaotic whale optimization algorithm (CWOA) based multiobjective conjoint spectrum utilization in a cognitive radio (CR) network
Authors: Swathi Bankapalli , Prakash M. Sunil , Krishna Battula Tirumala
Published: October 2023

In this manuscript, a novel energy detection‐based chaotic whale optimization algorithm (ED‐CWOA) is proposed to maximize the spectrum utilization, duration, and threshold in cognitive radio network (CRN). Here, the spectrum utilization is designed taking into account sensing duration and threshold in multi‐objective function is formulated by considering its primary user (PU) protection restrictions and secondary user (SU) throughput. To get the global optimal solution, the CWOA and the multi‐objective optimization problem are finally carried out on a single objective. The execution is performed on NS2 simulator. The simulation outcome demonstrates that the proposed ED‐CWOA system has lower delay 33.878%, 26.206%; higher delivery ratio 35.536%, 22.65%; lower Fairness Index 46.66%, 58.332%; lower energy consumption 25.462%, 35.524%; and higher throughput 96.82%, 49.28% for different nodes analyzed with the existing methods, like energy detection‐based bivariate Levy‐stable bat algorithm (ED‐BLSBA) and genetic algorithm‐based energy detection (ED‐GA), respectively. The simulation outcome indicates that the proposed system may be able to get the optimal global solutions efficiently and accurately.
Brood parasitism and egg recognition in three bunting hosts of the cuckoos
Authors: Zhang Yuhan , Zhong Guo , Wan Guixia , Wang Longwu , Liang Wei
Published: October 2023

Comparative studies of egg recognition and rejection between various sympatric hosts provide insight into the coevolutionary history of the hosts and parasites, as well as the degree of antagonism between the species. Although buntings are widely considered to be a suitable host taxon for cuckoos, there has been relatively little research on this example of parasitism and host antiparasitic behaviour. Here we provided the first report on brood parasitism and egg recognition in three sympatric ground‐nesting bunting hosts of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), namely the yellow‐throated bunting (Emberiza elegans), south rock bunting (E. yunnanensis), and crested bunting (E. lathami). The results show that for the five breeding seasons during 2018–2022, the parasitism rate by common cuckoos was 0.87% and 0.45% in yellow‐throated buntings and south rock buntings, respectively, whereas the parasitism rate by an unidentified parasite was 4% during 2018–2023 in the crested bunting. The rejection rates of the three bunting hosts for blue non‐mimetic eggs were 89.3%, 88.9%, and 100% for yellow‐throated buntings, south rock buntings, and crested buntings, respectively. The rejection rates for red non‐mimetic eggs by yellow‐throated buntings and south rock buntings were lower at 76.9% and 82.4%, respectively. All three sympatric bunting hosts examined had high levels of egg recognition and egg rejection, suggesting that it may have been subjected to high parasitic history and that egg recognition ability was retained after the loss of parasitism, which needs to be further verified by future experiments.
Chemiluminescence‐driven photoelectrochemical sensor: A mini review
Authors: Luo Yuanjian , Hao Yuanqiang , Zhang Peisheng , Zhang Yintang , Zeng Rongjin , Chen Shu , Xu Maotian
Published: October 2023

In recent years, photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors have attracted much attention due to their inherent advantages, such as ease of operation, high sensitivity, and structural diversity. Compared with conventional PEC detection methods, self‐illuminated PEC sensors do not require an external light source, which makes them more attractive in terms of instrument miniaturization and simplified operation. Chemiluminescence (CL), a straightforward and efficient excitation source, can be harnessed for PEC sensors. In this review, we provide a summary on the recently reported chemiluminescence‐driven PEC sensors. Initially, we briefly describe the current chemiluminescent systems employed in PEC sensors, including luminol and peroxyoxalate CL systems. Subsequently, the CL‐exciting modes and the design strategies for self‐excited PEC sensors are explored. The subsequent sections of the paper predominantly focus on discussing the applications of such PEC sensors in the detection of various target analytes. Furthermore, future prospects for advancing these PEC sensors are discussed.
Generative and self‐supervised ensemble modeling for multivariate tool wear monitoring
Authors: Joanes Agung' Oroko , James Kimotho , Samuel Kabini , Evan Murimi
Published: October 2023

Development of an effective tool wear monitor requires maximum utilization of information from associated data, especially in machine learning based modeling. However, vastly varied annotated training data is required, which is not only expensive but impractical to obtain. In the present work, a contiguous approach of artificial data generation followed up by self‐supervised pre‐training before supervised model fine tuning and final stacked generalized ensembling, has been adopted to develop an effective tool wear monitor in a low data regime. Cross‐validated results of proposed methodology adoption in tool wear prediction on an experimental data set of few labeled samples attained an averaged MAE of 0.035, RMSE of 0.045 and MAPE of on the best case ensemble, which was comparatively superior to a purely supervised‐only trained deep model on the same data set, with an overall accuracy enhancement of over . The proposed approach provides an effective experimental data augmentation technique while simultaneously minimizing aleatoric uncertainty and allowing for utilization of information from often ignored static cutting parameters.
Musicogenic seizures—STXBP1 encephalopathy with reflex seizures
Authors: Desai Nimit N. , Guerrero Carlos , Mesaros Maysen , Schmitt Sarah E. , Campbell Zeke
Published: October 2023

Mutations in the gene encoding syntaxin binding protein 1 (STXBP1) have been implicated in a wide variety of epileptic encephalopathies. Although the recognized phenotypes of patients with STXBP1 encephalopathies have broadened in recent years, no case of reflex seizures, particularly musicogenic seizures, has been reported in the literature. We present an 18‐year‐old woman with STXBP1 encephalopathy and seizures that are stereotypically reproducible in response to a variety of audible stimuli. An 18‐year‐old woman with a history of profound intellectual disability, confirmed STXBP1 genetic defect via genetic testing, and seizures beginning as infantile spasms during childhood, who presented to the epilepsy monitoring unit for seizure characterization. Her mother reported reproducible seizures triggered by a particular cell phone ringtone, music from a certain automobile television commercial and certain beeping alarm sounds. In response, the patient had clinically stereotyped seizures associated with staring, behavioral arrest, followed by eye deviation to the left, tonic stiffening in upper and lower extremities, and labored breathing lasting between 30 s and 2 min. These seizures were reliably reproducible within a few seconds of exposure to the auditory stimulus. During hospitalization, mother played one of the cell phone ringtones known to trigger seizures for the patient, which resulted in induction of a seizure characterized by diffuse electrodecrement, subsequent emergence of frontal‐predominant theta which was followed by progressive diffuse attenuation and semi‐rhythmic slowing over the right posterior quadrant. This is the first case to describe musicogenic or other reflex seizures in a patient with STXBP1 encephalopathy.
Operation optimization of regional integrated energy systems
Authors: Tang Wentao , Wang Bozhao , Wang Fulin , Tian Yuan , Zou Yunfeng
Published: October 2023

To study the role of energy system demand‐side regulation capacity on carbon emission reduction, we proposed a regional integrated energy system (RIES) optimal dispatch model considering carbon trading cost and dynamic demand response (DR). First, based on the framework of the RIES, the impact of DR of transferable load, reducible load, and substitutable load demand on system operation, considering the response characteristics of electrical and thermal load, was analyzed. Second, the carbon quota of the system was analyzed, and the effect of carbon emissions and carbon capture technology on system operation was considered. Finally, a low carbon optimized operation model of RIES was established with system operating cost and operating efficiency as the target, and system capacity and energy storage power as the constraints. The effectiveness of the optimized operation of the improved intelligent evolutionary algorithm nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA‐II) was verified as a research method. The results show that the energy efficiency of the system can be improved by tuning the DR of load demand with the application of the optimal operation model, and a coordination optimization on the economic and low carbon in RIES operation can also be achieved by the improved NSGA‐II algorithm.
Comparative Toxicological Effects of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Its Alternative 6:2 Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonate on Earthworms
Authors: Ge Yanhui , Wang Zhan , Chen Xuelu , Wang Wen , Liu Zhenying , Sun Hongwen , Zhang Lianying
Published: October 2023

High levels of 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B), which is a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are detected in various environmental matrices, wildlife, and humans. Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate has received increased attention due to its potential risk to ecosystems. However, its toxicity in the soil organisms remains unclear. In the present study, a comparative investigation was conducted on the toxicities of 6:2 Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (F-53B) and PFOS to the earthworm Eisenia. fetida. F-53B was significantly more acutely toxic to earthworms than PFOS, with median lethal concentrations of 1.43 and 1.83 mmol/kg dry soil (~816 and 984 mg/kg dry soil), respectively. Although both F-53B and PFOS, at 0.4 mmol/kg dry soil (=228 and 215 mg/kg dry soil) caused oxidative stress in earthworms, as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities as well as malondialdehyde level, the stress caused by F-53B was higher than that caused by PFOS. In transcriptomic and metabolomic studies, negative effects of PFOS and F-53B were observed on several metabolic processes in earthworms, including protein digestion and amino acid absorption, lipid metabolism, and the immune response. Compared with PFOS, F-53B exhibited a weaker disruption of lipid metabolism, comparable potency for toxicity to the immune response, and a stronger potency in extracellular matrix destruction along with apoptosis and ferroptosis induction. Hence, our data suggest that F-53B is more toxic than PFOS to earthworms. The findings provide some new insights into the potential toxicity of F-53B to soil organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:170–181. © 2023 SETAC
The efficacy of remote video‐based behavioral skills training and awareness training on public speaking performance
Authors: Laske Matthew M. , DiGennaro Reed Florence D. , Braren J Turner B.
Published: October 2023

This study evaluated the efficacy of (a) remote video‐based behavioral skills training (BST) with added speech outlines on teaching public speaking behaviors and (b) remote video‐based awareness training (AT) on speech‐disfluency rates. A multiple‐baseline design across speech behaviors was used to evaluate the training. Remote video‐based BST and AT were effective at teaching public speaking behaviors and reducing speech disfluencies, respectively, for both participants. In addition, performance generalized to increased audience size. Although expert ratings of perceived public speaking effectiveness improved following BST, the ratings did not improve and some worsened following AT. Both participants reported satisfaction with video‐based BST and AT. One participant reported greater comfort, confidence, overall ability, and less anxiety as a public speaker following BST. Both participants reported greater improvements in those categories following AT. Our results suggest that public speaking behaviors can be taught using remote video‐based BST and speech disfluencies can be reduced using remote video‐based AT.
Cost‐effectiveness of a decentralized, community‐based “one‐stop‐shop” hepatitis C testing and treatment program in Yangon, Myanmar
Authors: Win Thin Mar , Draper Bridget Louise , Palmer Anna , Htay Hla , Sein Yi Yi , Shilton Sonjelle , Kyi Khin Pyone , Hellard Margaret , Scott Nick
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim

The availability of direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment and point‐of‐care diagnostic testing has made hepatitis C (HCV) elimination possible even in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs); however, testing and treatment costs remain a barrier. We estimated the cost and cost‐effectiveness of a decentralized community‐based HCV testing and treatment program (CT2) in Myanmar.

Methods

Primary cost data included the costs of DAAs, investigations, medical supplies and other consumables, staff salaries, equipment, and overheads. A deterministic cohort‐based Markov model was used to estimate the average cost of care, the overall quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of providing testing and DAA treatment compared with a modeled counterfactual scenario of no testing and no treatment.

Results

From 30 January to 30 September 2019, 633 patients were enrolled, of whom 535 were HCV RNA‐positive, 489 were treatment eligible, and 488 were treated. Lifetime discounted costs and QALYs of the cohort in the counterfactual no testing and no treatment scenario were estimated to be USD61790 (57 898–66 898) and 6309 (5682–6363) respectively, compared with USD123 248 (122 432–124 101) and 6518 (5894–6671) with the CT2 model of care, giving an ICER of USD294 (192–340) per QALY gained. This “one‐stop‐shop” model of care has a 90% likelihood of being cost‐effective if benchmarked against a willingness to pay of US$300, which is 20% of Myanmar's GDP per capita (2020).

Conclusions

The CT2 model of HCV care is cost‐effective in Myanmar and should be expanded to meet the National Hepatitis Control Program's 2030 target, alongside increasing the affordability and accessibility of services.
Assuring safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the COVID‐19 era: A single‐center experience
Authors: Chang Tien‐En , Lee Kuei‐Chuan , Lee Pei‐Chang , Wang Yen‐Po , Lin Yi‐Tsung , Huang Hui‐Chun , Luo Jiing‐Chyuan , Ho Hsiang‐Ling , Huang Yi‐Hsiang , Hou Ming‐Chih ,   Task Force for Precision Medicine in Gut Microbial Therapy
Published: October 2023

Background and Aim

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is used to treat recurrent or refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). In the past, screening of fecal donors required surveillance of personal behavior, medical history, and diseases that could be transmitted by the blood or fecal–oral route. In addition, the exclusion of multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDROs) has been recommended since 2018. This task has become more complicated in the era of the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. To prevent fecal transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), it is crucial to commence screening for SARS‐CoV‐2, alongside other traditional tests. Our aim was to investigate whether hidden carriers of SARS‐CoV‐2 were enrolled for stool donation, and the status of the presence or incidence of MDRO during fecal donation in Taiwan.

Methods

Fecal products collected from March 2019 to December 2022 were tested for MDRO and nucleic acid amplification tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 using the pooling method. The period of fecal product collection crossed the time before and during the COVID pandemic in Taiwan.

Results

A total of 151 fecal samples were collected. The fecal products were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect SARS‐CoV‐2. The results were negative for all stocks. This was similar to the results of MDRO testing. The safety of FMT products has been guaranteed during the pandemic.

Conclusion

Our FMT center produced MDRO‐free and COVID‐19‐free products before and during the COVID‐19 outbreak in Taiwan. Our protocol was effective for ensuring the safety of FMT products.
Diverse cell death patterns‐related signature for predicting prognosis and drug sensitivity of osteosarcoma patients
Authors: Shi Yanbin , Wu Song , Zhang Xiaolin , Cao Yangbo , Zhang Lina
Published: October 2023

Background

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a natural process in which cells undergo controlled self‐destruction, which plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and eliminating damaged or unnecessary cells. The connection between PCD and osteosarcoma was explored in the present study.

Methods

Twelve types of PCD were collected for developing a prognostic signature in osteosarcoma using machine learning algorithms. The prognostic value, pathway annotation and drug prediction of the signature were explored.

Results

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) was found to be a potent hazardous marker in osteosarcoma and could facilitate the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma.

Conclusions

In summary, the present study has developed a prognostic signature for osteosarcoma and identifies TERT as a potent hazardous gene. The study suggests that further research is needed to address the underlying mechanism of how TERT affects the immune response in osteosarcoma.
On Seymour's and Sullivan's second neighbourhood conjectures
Authors: Ai Jiangdong , Gerke Stefanie , Gutin Gregory , Wang Shujing , Yeo Anders , Zhou Yacong
Published: October 2023

For a vertex of a digraph, (, respectively) is the number of vertices at distance 1 from (to, respectively) and is the number of vertices at distance 2 from . In 1995, Seymour conjectured that for any oriented graph there exists a vertex such that . In 2006, Sullivan conjectured that there exists a vertex in such that . We give a sufficient condition in terms of the number of transitive triangles for an oriented graph to satisfy Sullivan's conjecture. In particular, this implies that Sullivan's conjecture holds for all orientations of planar graphs and triangle‐free graphs. An oriented graph is an oriented split graph if the vertices of can be partitioned into vertex sets and such that is an independent set and induces a tournament. We also show that the two conjectures hold for some families of oriented split graphs, in particular, when induces a regular or an almost regular tournament.
NN bridged pyrazoles from nitrogen‐centered radicals: A comparative study of spin densities, molecular structures, and reactivities
Authors: Zeng Zhiwei , Huang Wei , Liu Yuji , Tang Yongxing
Published: October 2023

Nitrogen‐centered radicals are versatile synthetic intermediates with the ability to undergo diverse reactions. However, the utility of these reactive species in NN coupling reactions, especially in nitrogen‐rich heterocycles, remains a significant challenge due to the high electronegativity of the nitrogen atoms and the poor molecular stability of high‐nitrogen compounds. In this work, the possibility of NH bond cleavage in different functionalized pyrazoles to produce corresponding nitrogen‐centered radicals was investigated through density functional theory calculations. Based on the calculated results, the NN bridged 4c and 4e were synthesized with expected reaction efficiencies, which were further analyzed by frontier molecular orbital theory. Furthermore, the molecular stability of the synthesized NN bridged bipyrazoles was also studied.
How do we detect and respond to clinical deterioration in hospitalized children? Results of the Pediatric Care BefOre Deterioration Events (CODE) survey
Authors: O'Halloran Amanda , Lockwood Justin , Sosa Tina , Gawronski Orsola , Nadkarni Vinay , Kleinman Monica , Dewan Maya ,   for the pediRES‐Q Investigators
Published: October 2023

Systems to detect and respond to deteriorating hospitalized children are common despite little evidence supporting best practices. Our objective was to describe systems to detect/respond to deteriorating hospitalized children at Pediatric Resuscitation Quality Collaborative (pediRES‐Q) institutions. We performed a cross‐sectional survey of pediRES‐Q leaders. Questionnaire design utilized expert validation and cognitive interviews. Thirty centers (88%) responded. Most (93%) used ≥1 system to detect deterioration: most commonly, early warning scores (83%), watcher lists (55%), and proactive surveillance teams (31%). Most (90%) had a team to respond to deteriorating patients and the majority of teams could be activated by clinician or family concerns. Most institutions (90%) collect relevant data, including number of rapid responses (88%), arrests outside intensive care units (100%), and serious safety events (88%). In conclusion, most pediRES‐Q institutions utilize systems to detect/respond to deteriorating hospitalized children. Heterogeneity exists among programs. Rigorous evaluation is needed to identify best practices.
Physicochemical homogeneity of stingless bee honey (Heterotrigona itama) produced in the west coast, east coast and inland area of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Ramlan Nurul Ainaa Farhanah Mat , Mohamad Azman Ezzat , Muhammad Kharidah , Jusoh Arif Zaidi , Johari Nor Azfa , Yusof Yus Aniza , Zawawi Norhasnida
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

The nutritional composition of stingless bee honey (SBH) can be affected by different climates and soil composition across different geographical areas. However, the range of attributes set for a honey quality standard should be inclusive. This study analysed the sugar profile's physiochemical properties, including quantifying the rare sugar trehalulose, organic acid and mineral composition of SBH collected from inland, and west and east coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. Forty‐three SBH (Heterotrigona itama) samples were collected and labelled as <20 and <40 West Coast (<20WC, <40WC), <20 and <40 East Coast (<20EC, <40EC) and Inland, according to their distance from the coasts.

RESULTS

The moisture, pH and sugar composition of all SBH samples adhered to the Malaysian Kelulut Honey Standard (MS2683:2017) but not to the International Codex Standard (CODEX) for honey. Trehalulose presence in all samples, regardless of geographical area, was predominant alongside fructose and glucose. Only hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content and electrical conductivity (EC) results complied with both standards. The principal component analysis biplot showed that the discrimination of SBH according to the five different areas was not feasible, indicating sample homogeneity.

CONCLUSION

The physicochemical evaluation of SBH from Peninsular Malaysia shows mainly homogeneous attributes of samples across geographical locations. These findings demonstrated that the current MS2683:2017 is relevant and accommodates all SBH of H. itama species produced in Peninsular Malaysia. Furthermore, the trehalulose range calculated in this study can be implemented as a new benchmark for the indicator of SBH honey quality standard by national and international food standard committees. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Long‐term exposure to elevated temperature leads to altered gene expression in a common bloom‐forming cyanobacterium
Authors: Briddon Charlotte L. , Miclăuş Mihai , Hegedüs Adriana , Nicoară Maria , Chiriac Maria‐Cecilia , Drugă Bogdan
Published: October 2023

Cyanobacteria have a strong potential to compete well under elevated temperatures. Understanding how they acclimate and evolve under climatic stressors can help us accurately predict their response to forecasted future conditions. However, it is unclear whether increased temperature results in microevolution and/or changes in gene expression. This is the first study to investigate how long‐term exposure under increased temperature influences cyanobacterial genomes. Here, we cultivated three strains of Microcystis aeruginosa (M10, M11, and M12) under two temperature conditions, ambient (22°C) and high‐temperature (26°C) for 2 yr and subsequently sequenced the full genomes. The six genomes were then compared to a reference genome and analyzed for single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, from which the mutation rate was calculated to see if temperature influenced the prevalence of gene changes. Furthermore, we investigated how temperature impacted the gene expression of six genes involved in thermal tolerance and heat shock response. We found that M. aeruginosa exposure to high temperatures demonstrated a stronger expressional response with genes associated with heat shock and thermal tolerance due to exposure to elevated temperature. Although the functionality of many genes encoding for the carbon concentrating mechanisms, nutrient metabolism and secondary metabolites were unaffected, temperature could be a possible driver of genetic change due to enhanced mutation rates. Yet, differing patterns in M10 exposed to high temperatures suggests strain specifics components are also a factor. These patterns suggest changes in plasticity, which would allow for M. aeruginosa to respond rapidly to changes in temperature and to be resilient to environmental change.
Evaluation of Far‐Field Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol/Hyaluronic Acid Nanofibrous Membranes for Skin Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Ilomuanya Margaret O. , Bassey Peace Ofonabasi , Cardoso‐Daodu Ibilola M. , Hou Yanhao , Nmesirionye Bright U. , Amenaghawon Andrew N. , Ojo Olusola , Adeosun Samson A. , Wang Weiguang
Published: October 2023

Electrospinning has emerged as one of the major technologies for designing and fabricating tissue engineering membranes. The resemblance of the electrospun fiber structure to blood capillaries endowed them with unique capabilities to mimic the native tissue biological characteristics, while the high surface‐to‐volume ratio enables them to exert a controlled release of drug directly to the exposed interstitial tissue. This research attempts to compare the characteristics of different electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/hyaluronic acid (PVA/HA) composite material nanofibrous membranes in order to identify the optimal material‐fabrication combination for wound dressing and skin tissue engineering applications. Far‐field electrospinning equipped with both rotatory and wire collectors is considered for membrane fabrication. PVA with different concentrations and molecular weights of HA are electrospun as nanofibrous membranes considering a voltage of 30 kV on both types of collectors. Comprehensive characterization is conducted including morphological, chemical, thermal, mechanical, and in vitro mucoadhesion analysis. In vitro cell viability/proliferation studies are also carried out and pointed out that the designed membranes are cytocompatible, and able to support keratinocytes proliferation. All these results proved that the fabricated PVA/HA nanofibrous membranes are suitable for wound dressing and skin tissue engineering applications, the optimal material‐fabrication combination is also determined.
The Increasing Prevalence ofREMSleep Behavior Disorder with Parkinson's Disease Progression: A Polysomnography‐Supported Study
Authors: Sixel‐Döring Friederike , Muntean Maria‐Lucia , Petersone Daina , Leha Andreas , Lang Elisabeth , Mollenhauer Brit , Trenkwalder Claudia
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is proposed as an early diagnostic marker in Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the frequency of RBD during the progression of PD in the advanced stages and identified potential risk factors for developing RBD earlier or later.

Patients and Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis and determined the frequency of RBD in all PD in‐patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages ≥3) with motor fluctuations who had undergone video‐polysomnography (vPSG) for a sleep complaint or daytime sleepiness. To correct for selection bias, we analyzed the prevalence of RBD in PD patients from the DeNoPa cohort. PD patients with RBD were compared with PD without RBD. To identify potential risk factors, we performed multiple regression modeling.

Results

A total of 504 PD patients had vPSG. 37 were excluded due to missing REM or artifacts during REM. RBD was present in 406/467 (86.9%) PD patients. PD + RBD patients were older than PDnonRBD (69 ± 7.7 vs. 64 ± 9.2 years,P < 0.01), were more likely to have postural instability [234 (59.1%) vs. 19 (33.9%),P < 0.01], and were treated more often with antidepressants (other than SSRIs) [141 (34.7%) vs. 7 (13%),P < 0.01]. Multiple regression modeling identified predictors of RBD with an AUC of 0.78.

Conclusion

The prevalence of RBD in patients with advanced PD is high and increases with disease severity, motor deficits, postural instability, orthostatic symptoms, and age. This suggests RBD is a progression marker of PD in patients with sleep complaints.
Isoliquiritin treatment of osteoporosis by promoting osteogenic differentiation and autophagy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Su Zhikang , Chen Ding , Huang Jiangyon , Liang Zitian , Ren Wen , Zhang Zeyu , Jiang Qianzhou , Luo Tao , Guo Lvhua
Published: October 2023

Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease characterized by the decreased osteogenic ability of osteoblasts coupled with increased osteoclast activity. Natural products showing promising therapeutic potential for postmenopausal osteoporosis remain underexplored. In this study, we aimed to analyze the therapeutic effects of isoliquiritin (ISL) on osteoporosis in mice and its possible mechanism of action. An ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis mouse model and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were used to analyze the effects of ISL on bone regeneration in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and autophagy inhibitors were used, to investigate whether the MAPK signaling pathway and autophagy affect the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. ISL significantly improved bone formation and reduced bone resorption in mouse femurs without inducing any detectable toxicity in critical organs such as the liver, kidney, brain, heart, and spleen. In vitro experiments showed that ISL enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and that its osteogenic effect was attenuated by p38/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and autophagy inhibitors. Further studies showed that the inhibition of phosphorylated p38/ERK blocked ISL autophagy in BMSCs. ISL promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through the p38/ERK‐autophagy pathway and was therapeutically effective in treating osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice without any observed toxicity to vital organs. These results strongly suggest the promising potential of ISL as a safe and efficacious candidate drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Efficient Co‐Cu/MS Catalyst from the Sequential Adsorption and Carbonization of Melamine Foam for the Selective Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)
Authors: Le Tan Khanh Trinh , Nguyen Hong Thuc Duyen , Kongparakul Suwadee , Zhang Haibo , Guan Guoqing , Chanlek Narong , An Tran Nguyen Minh , Tran Thi Tuong Vi , Samart Chanatip
Published: October 2023

Polyethylenefuranoate, a suitable alternative for polyethylene terephthalate, can be synthesized from biomass‐derived 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is obtained via the selective oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) over noble or non‐noble metal oxide catalysts. However, the FDCA yields using non‐noble metal catalysts can be improved. Hence, in this study, we developed a series of Co‐ and Cu‐embedded melamine sponge (MS)‐derived carbon catalysts (xCo‐Cu/MS) for HMF oxidation, wherein Co and Cu oxides with different Co : Cu ratios were embedded in carbonized MS. The metals were adsorbed on the MS, followed by carbonization. This strategy allowed the uniform distribution of metal clusters in the carbon texture, which enhanced the catalytic activity for HMF conversion and improved the FDCA yield. The good distribution and small crystal size of Co3O4 significantly increased the active surface area, enhancing the catalytic activity. Compared to Co‐Cu/MS catalysts, the 4Co‐Cu/activated carbon catalyst synthesized via impregnation afforded the maximum FDCA yield (93 %) with 100 % HMF conversion at 170 °C and 7 h. Moreover, oxidative regeneration using H2O2 proved to be the best regeneration method for the MS catalysts, with only a 5 % decrease in the FDCA yield after three cycles.
Wireless Electrochemical Gel Actuators
Authors: Imato Keiichi , Hino Taichi , Kaneda Naoki , Imae Ichiro , Shida Naoki , Inagi Shinsuke , Ooyama Yousuke
Published: October 2023

Soft actuators generate motion in response to external stimuli and are indispensable for soft robots, particularly future miniature robots with complex structure and motion. Similarly to conventional hard robots, electricity is suitable for the stimulation. However, previous electrochemical soft actuators require a tethered connection to a power supply, limiting their size, structure, and motion. Here, wireless electrochemical soft actuators composed of hydrogels and driven by bipolar electrochemistry are reported. Viologen, which dimerizes by one‐electron reduction and dissociates by one‐electron oxidation, is incorporated in the side chains of the gel networks and works as a reversible cross‐link. Wireless and reversible electrochemical actuation of the hydrogels, i.e., muscle‐like shrinking and swelling, is demonstrated at microscopic and even macroscopic scales.
Alan Mollyson Kelly
Authors: Baker Gordon , Beck Susan , Beynon Paddy , Griffin Roger , Gwynne Margaret , Kelly Peter ,   Neal King and family members
Published: October 2023

A distinguished scientist and a renowned teacher.
Evaluating the Stability of Semantic Concept Representations in CNNs for Robust Explainability
Authors: Mikriukov Georgii , Schwalbe Gesina , Hellert Christian , Bade Korinna
Published: October 2023

Analysis of how semantic concepts are represented within Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is a widely used approach in Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for interpreting CNNs. A motivation is the need for transparency in safety-critical AI-based systems, as mandated in various domains like automated driving. However, to use the concept representations for safety-relevant purposes, like inspection or error retrieval, these must be of high quality and, in particular, stable. This paper focuses on two stability goals when working with concept representations in computer vision CNNs: stability of concept retrieval and of concept attribution. The guiding use-case is a post-hoc explainability framework for object detection (OD) CNNs, towards which existing concept analysis (CA) methods are successfully adapted. To address concept retrieval stability, we propose a novel metric that considers both concept separation and consistency, and is agnostic to layer and concept representation dimensionality. We then investigate impacts of concept abstraction level, number of concept training samples, CNN size, and concept representation dimensionality on stability. For concept attribution stability we explore the effect of gradient instability on gradient-based explainability methods. The results on various CNNs for classification and object detection yield the main findings that (1) the stability of concept retrieval can be enhanced through dimensionality reduction via data aggregation, and (2) in shallow layers where gradient instability is more pronounced, gradient smoothing techniques are advised. Finally, our approach provides valuable insights into selecting the appropriate layer and concept representation dimensionality, paving the way towards CA in safety-critical XAI applications.
Finding Spurious Correlations with Function-Semantic Contrast Analysis
Authors: Bykov Kirill , Kopf Laura , Höhne Marina M.-C.
Published: October 2023

In the field of Computer Vision (CV), the degree to which two objects, e.g. two classes, share a common conceptual meaning, known as semantic similarity, is closely linked to the visual resemblance of their physical appearances in the data: entities with higher semantic similarity, typically exhibit greater visual resemblance than entities with lower semantic similarity. Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) employed for classification exploit this visual similarity, incorporating it into the network’s representations (e.g., neurons), resulting in the functional similarity between the learned representations of visually akin classes, often manifesting in correlated activation patterns. However, such functional similarities can also emerge from spurious correlations — undesired auxiliary features that are shared between classes, such as backgrounds or specific artifacts. In this work, we present the Function-Semantic Contrast Analysis (FSCA) method, which identifies potential unintended correlations between network representations by examining the contrast between the functional distance of representations and the knowledge-based semantic distance between the concepts these representations were trained to recognize. While natural discrepancy is expected, our results indicate that these differences often originate from harmful spurious correlations in the data. We validate our approach by examining the presence of spurious correlations in widely-used CV architectures, demonstrating that FSCA offers a scalable solution for discovering previously undiscovered biases, that reduces the need for human supervision and is applicable across various Image Classification problems.
A Note on the Jacobian Problem of Coifman, Lions, Meyer and Semmes
Authors: Lindberg Sauli
Published: October 2023

Coifman, Lions, Meyer and Semmes asked in 1993 whether the Jacobian operator and other compensated compactness quantities map their natural domain of definition onto the real-variable Hardy space $$\mathcal {H}^1({\mathbb {R}}^n)$$

H

1

(

R

n

)

. We present an axiomatic, Banach space geometric approach to the problem in the case of quadratic operators. We also make progress on the main open case, the Jacobian equation in the plane.
Soluble LDL-receptor is induced by TNF-α and inhibits hepatocytic clearance of LDL-cholesterol
Authors: Zegeye Mulugeta M. , Nakka Sravya S. , Andersson Jonas S. O. , Söderberg Stefan , Ljungberg Liza U. , Kumawat Ashok K. , Sirsjö Allan
Published: October 2023

Defective LDL-C clearance and hence its elevation in the circulation is an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as myocardial infarction (MI). A soluble LDL-receptor (sLDL-R) has been detected in human plasma which correlates strongly with circulating LDL-C and classical conditions that promote chronic inflammation. However, the mechanistic interplay between sLDL-R, inflammation, and CVDs remains to be investigated. Here, we report that stimulation of HepG2 cells with TNF-α induces the release of sLDL-R into culture supernatants. In addition, TNF-α induces gene expression of peptidases ADAM-17 and MMP-14 in HepG2 cells, and inhibiting these peptidases using TMI 1 significantly reduces the TNF-α induced sLDL-R release. We found that a soluble form of recombinant LDL-R (100 nM) can strongly bind to LDL-C and form a stable complex (KD = E-12). Moreover, incubation of HepG2 cells with this recombinant LDL-R resulted in reduced LDL-C uptake in a dose-dependent manner. In a nested case-control study, we found that baseline sLDL-R in plasma is positively correlated with plasma total cholesterol level. Furthermore, a twofold increase in plasma sLDL-R was associated with a 55% increase in the risk of future MI [AOR = 1.55 (95% CI = 1.10–2.18)]. Nevertheless, mediation analyses revealed that a significant proportion of the association is mediated by elevation in plasma cholesterol level (indirect effect β = 0.21 (95% CI = 0.07–0.38). Collectively, our study shows that sLDL-R is induced by a pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α via membrane shedding. Furthermore, an increase in sLDL-R could inhibit hepatic clearance of LDL-C increasing its half-life in the circulation and contributing to the pathogenesis of MI.

Key messages

TNF-α causes shedding of hepatocytic LDL-R through induction of ADAM-17 and MMP-14.

sLDL-R binds strongly to LDL-C and inhibits its uptake by hepatocytic cells.

Plasma sLDL-R is positively correlated with TNF-α and cholesterol.

Plasma sLDL-R is an independent predictor of myocardial infarction (MI).

Plasma cholesterol mediates the association between sLDL-R and MI.