bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking the composition of cryoconite prokaryotic communities in the Arctic, Antarctic, and Central Caucasus with their chemical characteristics
Authors: Gladkov Grigory V. , Kimeklis Anastasiia K. , Tembotov Rustam Kh. , Ivanov Mikhail N. , Andronov Evgeny E. , Abakumov Evgeny V.
Published: July 2024

Cryoconites are the deposits on the surface of glaciers that create specific ecological niches for the development of microorganism communities. The sediment material can vary in origin, structure, and nutrient content, creating local variations in the growth conditions. An additional factor of variability is the location of the glaciers, as they are found in different climatic zones in the high mountain regions and closer to the poles. Here, using the analysis of amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we studied the taxonomic composition of the prokaryotic communities from glaciers from remote regions, including the Arctic (Mushketova on the Severnaya Zemlya, IGAN in Polar Ural), Antarctic (Pimpirev on the Livingstone Island) and Central Caucasus (Skhelda and Garabashi) and connected it with the variation of the physicochemical characteristics of the substrate: pH, carbon, nitrogen, macro- and microelements. The cryoconite microbiomes were comprised of specific for this environment phyla (mostly Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota), but each glacier had a unique taxonomic imprint. The core microbiome between regions was composed of only a few ASVs, among which the most likely globally distributed ones attributed to Polaromonas sp., Rhodoferax sp., Cryobacterium sp., and Hymenobacter frigidus. The WGSNA defined clusters of co-occurring ASVs between microbiomes, that significantly change their abundance corresponding with the variation of chemical parameters of cryoconites, but do not fully coincide with their regional separation. Thus, our work demonstrates that the chemical characteristics of the sediment material can explain the variation in the cryoconite prokaryotic community which is not always linked to geographic isolation.
Retrospective analysis of neoplasms in patients using angiotensin receptor blockers
Authors: Sharma Arvind Kumar , Rastogi Shruti , Goyal Ramesh K.
Published: July 2024

In recent years, regulatory agencies have raised concerns about the presence of potentially carcinogenic substances in certain formulations of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs). Specifically, nitrosamines and azido compounds have been identified in some ARB products. Nitrosamines are known to have carcinogenic properties and are associated with an increased risk of neoplasms. Spontaneous safety reports from the EudraVigilance Data Analysis System (EVDAS) database were analyzed to investigate cases of neoplasms associated with ARBs. A disproportionality analysis was conducted, calculating the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a case/non-case approach for each ARB drug. The EVDAS database contained 68,522 safety reports related to ARBs (including Azilsartan, Candesartan, Irbesartan, Olmesartan, Losartan, Valsartan, and Telmisartan), among which 3,396 (5%) cases were associated with neoplasms. The majority of these cases were reported in Germany (11.9%), followed by France (9.7%). Approximately 70% of the reports were submitted by healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses. Among the ARBs, valsartan had the highest ROR for neoplasm (ROR 1.949, 95% CI 1.857–2.046). This association remained significant when comparing ARBs with other classes of antihypertensive drugs, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics. Our study identifies a possible signal of an association between ARBs, particularly valsartan, and the risk of neoplasms. However, further observational and analytical studies are necessary to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Development and intrapuparial characterization of Peckia (Euboettcheria) collusor (Curran and Walley, 1934) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for application in forensic entomology
Authors: Dias Rayane , Viana Thais , Santos-Mallet Jacenir R. , Alencar Jeronimo , Queiroz Margareth M. C.
Published: July 2024

The family Sarcophagidae is very diverse in Brazil. Due to their living habits, they are the subject of many medical, veterinary, sanitary, and entomological studies. However, Sarcophagidae species are still poorly studied in forensic entomology, although they are frequently reported in carcasses and even human corpses. Thus, this study aims to identify and compare the developmental stages and intrapuparial morphological characteristics of Peckia (Euboettcheria) collusor to serve as an auxiliary tool in forensic entomology. The pupae collected after zero hour at 27 °C and 32 °C were sacrificed every three hours until the first 24 h and then every six hours until the emergence of the first adults, using 30 pupae each time, totaling 1560 for 27 °C and 1290 for 32 °C. The intrapuparial development time of this fly species under laboratory-controlled conditions was 288 h at 27 °C and 228 h at 32 °C. The 2820 pupae were analyzed according to temperature and classified into eight possible stages. This contributed to the selection of 16 key morphological characteristics to identify the age of the pupae. The identified intrapupal morphological characteristics have great potential to help researchers, experts, technical assistants, and forensic entomologists estimate the minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) of cadavers.
Alternative cryoprotective agent for corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical applications
Authors: Larsen Kristoffer , Petrovski Goran , Boix-Lemonche Gerard
Published: July 2024

Cryopreservation of human corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hCS-MSCs) with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotective agent (CPA) has not been previously compared to that with glycerol under standard conditions. The hCS-MSCs were hereby cryopreserved with both compounds using a freezing rate of 1 °C/minute. The CPAs were tested by different concentrations in complete Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) approved for good manufacturing practice, and a medium frequently used in cell laboratory culturing—Dulbecco’s modified eagle serum. The hCS-MSCs were isolated from cadaveric human corneas obtained from the Norwegian Eye Bank, and immunophenotypically characterized by flow cytometry before and after cryopreservation. The survival rate, the cellular adhesion, proliferation and cell surface coverage after cryopreservation of hCS-MSCs has been studied. The hCS-MSCs were immunofluorescent stained and examined for their morphology microscopically. The results showed that cryopreservation of hCS-MSCs in MEM with 10% glycerol gives a higher proliferation rate compared to other cryopreserving media tested. Based on the results, hCS-MSCs can safely be cryopreserved using glycerol instead of the traditional use of DMSO.
Sleep benefits perceptual but not movement-based learning of locomotor sequences
Authors: Borin Gabriela , Sato Sumire D. , Spencer Rebecca M. C. , Choi Julia T.
Published: July 2024

Practicing complex locomotor skills, such as those involving a step sequence engages distinct perceptual and motor mechanisms that support the recall of learning under new conditions (i.e., skill transfer). While sleep has been shown to enhance learning of sequences of fine movements (i.e., sleep-dependent consolidation), here we examined whether this benefit extends to learning of a locomotor pattern. Specifically, we tested the perceptual and motor learning of a locomotor sequence following sleep compared to wake. We hypothesized that post-practice sleep would increase locomotor sequence learning in the perceptual, but not in the motor domain. In this study, healthy young adult participants (n = 48; 18–33 years) practiced a step length sequence on a treadmill cued by visual stimuli displayed on a screen during training. Participants were then tested in a perceptual condition (backward walking with the same visual stimuli), or a motor condition (forward walking but with an inverted screen). Skill was assessed immediately, and again after a 12-h delay following overnight sleep or daytime wake (n = 12 for each interval/condition). Off-line learning improved following sleep compared to wake, but only for the perceptual condition. Our results suggest that perceptual and motor sequence learning are processed separately after locomotor training, and further points to a benefit of sleep that is rooted in the perceptual as opposed to the motor aspects of motor learning.
Development and validation of a clinical predictive model for high-volume lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Hanlin , Zhang Haifeng , Wei Peiying , Zhang Tong , Hu Chunfeng , Cao Huijun , Han Zhijiang
Published: July 2024

The central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) status in the cervical region serves as a pivotal determinant for the extent of surgical intervention and prognosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This paper seeks to devise and validate a predictive model based on clinical parameters for the early anticipation of high-volume CLNM (hv-CLNM, > 5 nodes) in high-risk patients. A retrospective analysis of the pathological and clinical data of patients with PTC who underwent surgical treatment at Medical Centers A and B was conducted. The data from Center A was randomly divided into training and validation sets in an 8:2 ratio, with those from Center B serving as the test set. Multifactor logistic regression was harnessed in the training set to select variables and construct a predictive model. The generalization ability of the model was assessed in the validation and test sets. The model was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) to predict the efficiency of hv-CLNM. The goodness of fit of the model was examined via the Brier verification technique. The incidence of hv-CLNM in 5897 PTC patients attained 4.8%. The occurrence rates in males and females were 9.4% (128/1365) and 3.4% (156/4532), respectively. Multifactor logistic regression unraveled male gender (OR = 2.17, p < .001), multifocality (OR = 4.06, p < .001), and lesion size (OR = 1.08 per increase of 1 mm, p < .001) as risk factors, while age emerged as a protective factor (OR = 0.95 per an increase of 1 year, p < .001). The model constructed with four predictive variables within the training set exhibited an AUC of 0.847 ([95%CI] 0.815–0.878). In the validation and test sets, the AUCs were 0.831 (0.783–0.879) and 0.845 (0.789–0.901), respectively, with Brier scores of 0.037, 0.041, and 0.056. Subgroup analysis unveiled AUCs for the prediction model in PTC lesion size groups (≤ 10 mm and > 10 mm) as 0.803 (0.757–0.85) and 0.747 (0.709–0.785), age groups (≤ 31 years and > 31 years) as 0.778 (0.720–0.881) and 0.837 (0.806–0.867), multifocal and solitary cases as 0.803 (0.767–0.838) and 0.809 (0.769–0.849), and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and non-HT cases as 0.845 (0.793–0.897) and 0.845 (0.819–0.871). Male gender, multifocality, and larger lesion size are risk factors for hv-CLNM in PTC patients, whereas age serves as a protective factor. The clinical predictive model developed in this research facilitates the early identification of high-risk patients for hv-CLNM, thereby assisting physicians in more efficacious risk stratification management for PTC patients.
Interplay between drought and plant viruses co-infecting melon plants
Authors: Jiménez J. , Sadras V. O. , Espaillat N. , Moreno A. , Fereres A.
Published: July 2024

Drought affects crops directly, and indirectly by affecting the activity of insect pests and the transmitted pathogens. Here, we established an experiment with well-watered or water-stressed melon plants, later single infected with either cucumber mosaic virus (CMV: non-persistent), or cucurbit aphid-borne yellow virus (CABYV: persistent), or both CMV and CABYV, and mock-inoculated control. We tested whether i) the relation between CMV and CABYV is additive, and ii) the relationship between water stress and virus infection is antagonistic, i.e., water stress primes plants for enhanced tolerance to virus infection. Water stress increased leaf greenness and temperature, and reduced leaf water potential, shoot biomass, stem dimensions, rate of flowering, CABYV symptom severity, and marketable fruit yield. Virus infection reduced leaf water potential transiently in single infected plants and persistently until harvest in double-infected plants. Double-virus infection caused the largest and synergistic reduction of marketable fruit yield. The relationship between water regime and virus treatment was additive in 12 out of 15 traits at harvest, with interactions for leaf water content, leaf:stem ratio, and fruit set. We conclude that both virus-virus relations in double infection and virus-drought relations cannot be generalized because they vary with virus, trait, and plant ontogeny.
Interannual site fidelity by Svalbard walruses
Authors: Mikkelsen Lonnie , Kovacs Kit M. , Blanchet Marie-Anne , Brodin Gary , Lydersen Christian
Published: July 2024

The Arctic is experiencing rapid reductions in sea ice, affecting all ice-dependant species. In the present study we examine interannual seasonal movements and habitat use in relation to sea ice coverage for one of the Arctic endemic marine mammals. We tagged 40 male walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) in the Svalbard Archipelago with custom-designed tusk-mounted GPS loggers. Twelve of these animals provided tracks that lasted 1–6 years. Eleven of the walruses displayed clear seasonal migratory behaviour between summer foraging areas and winter breeding areas. Individuals showed high inter-individual variation, but clear site fidelity, using the same areas in consecutive years despite variable sea ice conditions. The walruses swam 5225–10,406 km per year and travelled remarkably similar distances between years on an individual basis. The phenology of migration was not impacted by sea ice concentrations or daylight length but was consistent at the individual level, suggesting endogenous drivers. Sea ice concentrations influenced movement behaviour with animals showing more tortuous paths when in areas with heavy sea ice, possibly searching for polynyas where females reside. Ongoing climate change is expected to drastically change walrus habitat, and it remains to be seen if walruses will be able to shift from their fixed seasonal migratory routines.
Climate change can disproportionately reduce habitats of stream fishes with restricted ranges in southern South America
Authors: Bizama Gustavo , Jan Arif , Olivos J. Andrés , Fuentes-Jaque Guillermo , Valdovinos Claudio , Urrutia Roberto , Arismendi Ivan
Published: July 2024

Freshwater fishes are among the most threatened taxa worldwide owing to changes in land use, species introductions, and climate change. Although more than half of the freshwater fishes in the Chilean Mediterranean ecoregion are considered vulnerable or endangered, still little is known about their biogeography. Fishes of the family Perciliidae are endemic of this region and ideal cases to study potential implications of global warming given their endangered conservation status, small size, restricted range, and limited dispersal capacity in fragmented habitats. Here, we model the spatial distribution of habitats for Percilia irwini and P. gillissi under current (1970–2000) and future (2050–2080) climatic scenarios (SSP245, SSP585). We implement maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models adapted for stream networks using high-resolution datasets of selected geophysical and climatic variables. At present, both species inhabit relatively low-quality habitats. In the future (SSP585), suitable habitats for P. irwini are predicted to be reduced drastically (99%) with potential local extirpations in its northern range. Similarly, up to 62% of suitable habitats for P. gillissi would also be reduced in the future. Our study provides insights about assessing future threats and vulnerability of endemic, endangered, range-restricted, and small-bodied freshwater species in this region and elsewhere.
Human red blood cells express the RNA sensor TLR7
Authors: Metthew Lam L. K. , Oatman Emily , Eckart Kaitlyn A. , Klingensmith Nathan J. , Flowers Emily , Sayegh Layal , Yuen Julia , Clements Rebecca L. , Meyer Nuala J. , Jurado Kellie A. , Vaughan Andrew E. , Eisenbarth Stephanie C. , Mangalmurti Nilam S.
Published: July 2024

Red blood cells (RBCs) express the nucleic acid-binding toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and bind CpG-containing DNA. However, whether human RBCs express other nucleic acid-binding TLRs is unknown. Here we show that human RBCs express the RNA sensor TLR7. TLR7 is present on the red cell membrane and is associated with the RBC membrane protein Band 3. In patients with SARS-CoV2-associated sepsis, TLR7-Band 3 interactions in the RBC membrane are increased when compared with healthy controls. In vitro, RBCs bind synthetic ssRNA and RNA from ssRNA viruses. Thus, RBCs may serve as a previously unrecognized sink for exogenous RNA, expanding the repertoire of non-gas exchanging functions performed by RBCs.
Nomogram development for predicting ovarian tumor malignancy using inflammatory biomarker and CA-125
Authors: Winarno Gatot Nyarumenteng Adhipurnawan , Harsono Ali Budi , Suardi Dodi , Salima Siti , Mantilidewi Kemala Isnainiasih , Bayuaji Hartanto , Mulyantari Ayu Insafi , Yulianto Fajar Awalia , Susiarno Hadi
Published: July 2024

Global challenges in ovarian cancer underscore the need for cost-effective screening. This study aims to assess the role of pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte-Ratio (LMR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and CA-125 in distinguishing benign and malignant ovarian tumors, while also constructing nomogram models for distinguish benign and malignant ovarian tumor using inflammatory biomarkers and CA-125. This is a retrospective study of 206 ovarian tumor patients. We conducted bivariate analysis to compare mean values of CA-125, LMR, NLR, and PLR with histopathology results. Multiple regression logistic analysis was then employed to establish predictive models for malignancy. NLR, PLR, and CA-125 exhibited statistically higher levels in malignant ovarian tumors compared to benign ones (5.56 ± 4.8 vs. 2.9 ± 2.58, 278.12 ± 165.2 vs. 180.64 ± 89.95, 537.2 ± 1621.47 vs. 110.08 ± 393.05, respectively), while lower LMR was associated with malignant tumors compared to benign (3.2 ± 1.6 vs. 4.24 ± 1.78, p = 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both PLR and CA125 emerged as independent risk factors for malignancy in ovarian tumors (P(z) 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Utilizing the outcomes of multiple regression logistic analysis, a nomogram was constructed to enhance malignancy prediction in ovarian tumors. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the significance of NLR, PLR, CA-125, and LMR in diagnosing ovarian tumors. PLR and CA-125 emerged as independent risk factors for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors. The nomogram model offers a practical way to enhance diagnostic precision.
Adaptive second-order backstepping control for a class of 2DoF underactuated systems with input saturation and uncertain disturbances
Authors: Guo Weiping , Liu Diantong
Published: July 2024

An adaptive second-order backstepping control algorithm is proposed for a kind of two degrees of freedom (2DoF) underactuated systems. The system dynamics is transformed into a nonlinear feedback cascade system with an improved global change of coordinates. Fully taking the cascade structure into consideration and in order to simplify the design process, each step in the backstepping process is designed for a second-order subsystem. Two neural networks are applied to approximate system unknown functions and two adaptive laws are designed to estimate the upper bound of the sum of approximation error and external disturbances. To overcome the explosion problem of complexity, a second-order filter is applied to produce the virtual control and its second-order derivative that is needed in the next backstepping step. Two auxiliary dynamic systems are proposed and integrated into the backstepping process to eliminate the effects of filtering error and input saturation. The system stability is analyzed by the Lyapunov stability theory and verified by numerical simulations with two 2DoF benchmark underactuated systems: the translational oscillator with a rotational actuator (TORA) and the inertial wheel pendulum (IWP).
Impact of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease on the mid-term adverse outcomes in diabetic patients with cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Chou Chu-Lin , Chiu Hui-Wen , Hsu Yung-Ho , Yu Samuel Mon-Wei , Liou Tsan-Hon , Sung Li-Chin
Published: July 2024

The evidence for the impact of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and first cardiovascular diseases on mid-term adverse outcomes remain scarce. This study included the data of patients with DM having first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or congestive heart failure (CHF) from the Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on the 1-year mortality and recurrent ASCVD/CHF outcomes. We enrolled 21,320 patients with DM hospitalized for ASCVD or CHF; of them, 18,185, 2639, and 496 were assigned to the non-CKD, CKD, and ESRD groups, respectively. After propensity score matching, compared with the non-CKD group, the CKD and ESRD groups had higher mid-term all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.72 [95% confidence interval 1.48–1.99] and 2.77 [2.05–3.73], respectively), cardiovascular death (1.84 [1.44–2.35] and 1.87 [1.08–3.24], respectively), and recurrent hospitalization for ASCVD (1.44 [1.24–1.68] and 2.33 [1.69–3.23], respectively) and CHF (2.08 [1.75–2.47] and 1.50 [1.04–2.17], respectively). The advancing age was associated with mortality in CKD/ESRD groups. In CKD group, male sex was associated with all-cause mortality and recurrent ASCVD risk; the diuretics usage was associated with mortality and recurrent CHF risks. Our findings suggest that CKD and ESRD are significant risk factors for mid-term adverse outcomes in patients with DM and established cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, old age, male sex and diuretics usage requires attention. Further good quality studies are needed in the future.
Cylindrical TGR as early radiological predictor of RLT progression in GEPNETs: a proof of concept
Authors: Scalorbi Federica , Garanzini Enrico Matteo , Calareso Giuseppina , Marzi Chiara , Di Rocco Gabriella , Argiroffi Giovanni , Baccini Michela , Pusceddu Sara , Marchianò Alfonso , Maccauro Marco
Published: July 2024

This study aims to assess the predictive capability of cylindrical Tumor Growth Rate (cTGR) in the prediction of early progression of well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic tumours after Radio Ligand Therapy (RLT), compared to the conventional TGR. Fifty-eight patients were included and three CT scans per patient were collected at baseline, during RLT, and follow-up. RLT response, evaluated at follow-up according to RECIST 1.1, was calculated as a percentage variation of lesion diameters over time (continuous values) and as four different RECIST classes. TGR between baseline and interim CT was computed using both conventional (approximating lesion volume to a sphere) and cylindrical (called cTGR, approximating lesion volume to an elliptical cylinder) formulations. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were employed for Progressive Disease class prediction, revealing that cTGR outperformed conventional TGR (area under the ROC equal to 1.00 and 0.92, respectively). Multivariate analysis confirmed the superiority of cTGR in predicting continuous RLT response, with a higher coefficient for cTGR (1.56) compared to the conventional one (1.45). This study serves as a proof of concept, paving the way for future clinical trials to incorporate cTGR as a valuable tool for assessing RLT response.
Bank erosion drastically reduces oyster reef filtration services in estuarine environments
Authors: Pinton Daniele , Canestrelli Alberto
Published: July 2024

Oyster reefs near estuarine channels have experienced substantial mortality over the last decades, primarily due to bank erosion, potentially exacerbated by boat activity. Using aerial imagery, we measured bank erosion along the Intracoastal Waterway and its main tributaries in the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas estuary, finding that erosion outweighs progradation. This notably threatens oyster reefs and their filtration capabilities. By modeling the impact of bank erosion on oyster habitats and filtration using hydrodynamic, water quality, and particle tracking models, we observed a 12% filtration reduction due to reef mortality. Erosion results in an exponential decrease in reef area and filtration services, due to the removal of channel-adjacent reefs, which play a critical role in water filtration. If current erosion rates continue, simulations suggest a potential 20% filtration reduction over 100 years, potentially worsening water quality. Our findings highlight the urgency to protect and restore reefs near banks to mitigate erosion and maintain filtration services.
A hierarchical optimization approach to maximize hosting capacity for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources through demand response and transmission expansion planning
Authors: Almutairi Sulaiman Z. , Alharbi Abdullah M. , Ali Ziad M. , Refaat Mohamed M. , Aleem Shady H. E. Abdel
Published: July 2024

Within the scope of sustainable development, integrating electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources (RESs) into power grids offers a number of benefits. These include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying energy sources, and promoting the use of green energy. Although the literature on hosting capacity (HC) models has grown, there is still a noticeable gap in the discussion of models that successfully handle transmission expansion planning (TEP), demand response (DR), and HC objectives simultaneously. Combining TEP, DR, and HC objectives in one model optimizes resource use, enhances grid stability, supports renewable and EV integration, and aligns with regulatory and market demands, resulting in a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable power system. This research presents an innovative two-layer HC model, including considerations for TEP and DR. The model determines the highest degree of load shifting appropriate for incorporation into power networks in the first layer. Meanwhile, the second layer focuses on augmenting the RES and EVs’ hosting capability and modernizing the network infrastructure. System operators can choose the best scenario to increase the penetration level of EVs and RESs with the aid of the proposed model. The proposed model, which is formulated as a multi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem, uses a hierarchical optimization technique to identify effective solutions by combining the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the crayfish optimizer. When compared to traditional methods, the results obtained from implementing the proposed hierarchical optimization algorithm on the Garver network and the IEEE 24-bus system indicated how effective it is at solving the presented HC model. The case studies demonstrated that integrating DR into the HC problem reduced peak load by 10.4–23.25%. The findings also highlighted that DR did not impact the total energy consumed by EVs throughout the day, but it did reshape the timing of EV charging, creating more opportunities for integration during periods of high demand. Implementing DR reduced the number of projects needed and, in some cases, led to cost savings of up to 12.3%.
Molecular characterization of the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma immune landscape by anatomic subsites
Authors: Tasoulas Jason , Schrank Travis P. , Bharambe Harish , Mehta Jay , Johnson Steven , Divaris Kimon , Hackman Trevor G. , Sheth Siddharth , Kirtane Kedar , Hernandez-Prera Juan C. , Chung Christine H. , Yarbrough Wendell G. , Ferrarotto Renata , Issaeva Natalia , Theocharis Stamatios , Amelio Antonio L.
Published: July 2024

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a slow-growing salivary gland malignancy that relapses frequently. AdCCs of the submandibular gland exhibit unique differences in prognosis and treatment response to adjuvant radiotherapy compared to other sites, yet the role of tumor anatomic subsite on gene expression and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) composition remains unclear. We used 87 samples, including 48 samples (27 AdCC and 21 normal salivary gland tissue samples) from 4 publicly available AdCC RNA sequencing datasets, a validation set of 33 minor gland AdCCs, and 39 samples from an in-house cohort (30 AdCC and 9 normal salivary gland samples). RNA sequencing data were used for single sample gene set enrichment analysis and TIME deconvolution. Quantitative PCR and multiplex immunofluorescence were performed on the in-house cohort. Wilcoxon rank-sum, nonparametric equality-of-medians tests and linear regression models were used to evaluate tumor subsite differences. AdCCs of different anatomic subsites including parotid, submandibular, sublingual, and minor salivary glands differed with respect to expression of several key tumorigenic pathways. Among the three major salivary glands, the reactive oxygen species (ROS)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway signature was significantly underexpressed in AdCC of submandibular compared to parotid and sublingual glands while this association was not observed among normal glands. Additionally, the NRF2 pathway, whose expression was associated with favorable overall survival, was overexpressed in AdCCs of parotid gland compared to minor and submandibular glands. The TIME deconvolution identified differences in CD4+ T cell populations between AdCC of major and minor glands and natural killer (NK) cells among AdCC of minor, submandibular, and parotid glands while plasma cells were enriched in normal submandibular glands compared to other normal gland controls. Our data reveal key molecular differences in AdCC of different anatomic subsites. The ROS and NRF2 pathways are underexpressed in submandibular and minor AdCCs compared to parotid gland AdCCs, and NRF2 pathway expression is associated with favorable overall survival. The CD4+ T, NK, and plasma cell populations also vary by tumor subsites, suggesting that the observed submandibular AdCC tumor-intrinsic pathway differences may be responsible for influencing the TIME composition and survival differences.
The oral microbiome is associated with HPA axis response to a psychosocial stressor
Authors: Charalambous Eleftheria G. , Mériaux Sophie B. , Guebels Pauline , Muller Claude P. , Leenen Fleur A. D. , Elwenspoek Martha M. C. , Thiele Ines , Hertel Johannes , Turner Jonathan D.
Published: July 2024

Intense psychosocial stress during early life has a detrimental effect on health-disease balance in later life. Simultaneously, despite its sensitivity to stress, the developing microbiome contributes to long-term health. Following stress exposure, HPA-axis activation regulates the “fight or flight” response with the release of glucose and cortisol. Here, we investigated the interaction between the oral microbiome and the stress response. We used a cohort of 115 adults, mean age 24, who either experienced institutionalisation and adoption (n = 40) or were non-adopted controls (n = 75). Glucose and cortisol measurements were taken from participants following an extended socially evaluated cold pressor test (seCPT) at multiple time points. The cohort´s oral microbiome was profiled via 16S-V4 sequencing on microbial DNA from saliva and buccal samples. Using mixed-effect linear regressions, we identified 12 genera that exhibited an interaction with host’s cortisol-glucose response to stress, strongly influencing intensity and clearance of cortisol and glucose following stress exposure. Particularly, the identified taxa influenced the glucose and cortisol release profiles and kinetics following seCPT exposure. In conclusion, our study provided evidence for the oral microbiome modifying the effect of stress on the HPA-axis and human metabolism, as shown in glucose-cortisol time series data.
Performance of Microsoft Azure Kinect DK as a tool for estimating human body segment lengths
Authors: Wang Shiou-An , Lu Ming-Hua , Lee Ai-Teng , Chen Chao-Yu , Lee Li-Wen
Published: July 2024

The Microsoft Kinect depth sensor, with its built-in software that automatically captures joint coordinates without markers, could be a potential tool for ergonomic studies. This study investigates the performance of Kinect in limb segment lengths using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a reference. Healthy children and adults (n = 76) were recruited for limb length measurements by Kinect and DXA. The results showed consistent ratios of arm, forearm, thigh, and leg lengths to height, which were 0.16, 0.14, 0.23, and 0.22 respectively, for both age groups and methods. Kinect exhibited perfect correlation among all limb lengths, indicating fixed proportions assumed by its algorithm. Comparing the two methods, there was a strong correlation (R = 0.850–0.985) and good to excellent agreement (ICC = 0.829–0.977), except for the right leg in adults, where agreement was slightly lower but still moderate (ICC = 0.712). The measurement bias between the methods ranged from − 1.455 to 0.536 cm. In conclusion, Kinect yields outcomes similar to DXA, indicating its potential utility as a tool for ergonomic studies. However, the built-in algorithm of Kinect assumes fixed limb proportions for individuals, which may not be ideal for studies focusing on investigating limb discrepancies or anatomical differences.
Pan-cancer analysis and the oncogenic role of Glypican 1 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cao Li , Li Fang , Cai Shuang , Zhang Jinyuan , Guo Chen , Ali Sadiq , Zhou Jing , Jing Xintao , Wang Xiaofei , Qin Yannan , Wu Fei
Published: July 2024

Recent studies indicate that Glypican 1 (GPC-1) is aberrantly expressed and plays a key role in certain cancers, but little is known in the hepatocellular carcinoma. Raw data from TCGA, GTEx and TIMER databases were utilized to comprehensively analyze GPC-1 expression landscape in pan-cancer, and the biological function of GPC-1 was investigated in liver cancer cells. The results revealed that GPC-1 is highly expressed in HCC, negatively correlated with survival, and also positively correlated with immune infiltration and clinical stage. Furthermore, GPC-1 promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in the HCC cell lines. WGCNA analysis and HCCDB database revealed that Akt acted as a key molecule related to GPC-1, influencing biological functions and regulating cell malignant behaviors via the AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings provide a relatively comprehensive understanding of the oncogenic role of GPC-1 in HCC, implying that GPC-1 could serve as an innovative therapeutic target.
Night target detection algorithm based on improved YOLOv7
Authors: Bowen Zheng , Huacai Lu , Shengbo Zhu , Xinqiang Chen , Hongwei Xing
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the problems of error detection and missing detection in night target detection, this paper proposes a night target detection algorithm based on YOLOv7(You Only Look Once v7). The algorithm proposed in this paper preprocesses images by means of square equalization and Gamma transform. The GSConv(Group Separable Convolution) module is introduced to reduce the number of parameters and the amount of calculation to improve the detection effect. ShuffleNetv2_×1.5 is introduced as the feature extraction Network to reduce the number of Network parameters while maintaining high tracking accuracy. The hard-swish activation function is adopted to greatly reduce the delay cost. At last, Scylla Intersection over Union function is used instead of Efficient Intersection over Union function to optimize the loss function and improve the robustness. Experimental results demonstrate that the average detection accuracy of the proposed improved YOLOv7 model is 88.1%. It can effectively improve the detection accuracy and accuracy of night target detection.
Biliary atresia and cholestasis plasma non-targeted metabolomics unravels perturbed metabolic pathways and unveils a diagnostic model for biliary atresia
Authors: Du Bang , Mu Kai , Sun Meng , Yu Zhidan , Li Lifeng , Hou Ligong , Wang Qionglin , Sun Jushan , Chen Jinhua , Zhang Xianwei , Zhang Wancun
Published: July 2024

The clinical diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) poses challenges, particularly in distinguishing it from cholestasis (CS). Moreover, the prognosis for BA is unfavorable and there is a dearth of effective non-invasive diagnostic models for detection. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the metabolic disparities among children with BA, CS, and normal controls (NC) without any hepatic abnormalities through comprehensive metabolomics analysis. Additionally, our objective is to develop an advanced diagnostic model that enables identification of BA. The plasma samples from 90 children with BA, 48 children with CS, and 47 NC without any liver abnormalities children were subjected to metabolomics analysis, revealing significant differences in metabolite profiles among the 3 groups, particularly between BA and CS. A total of 238 differential metabolites were identified in the positive mode, while 89 differential metabolites were detected in the negative mode. Enrichment analysis revealed 10 distinct metabolic pathways that differed, such as lysine degradation, bile acid biosynthesis. A total of 18 biomarkers were identified through biomarker analysis, and in combination with the exploration of 3 additional biomarkers (LysoPC(18:2(9Z,12Z)), PC (22:5(7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)/14:0), and Biliverdin-IX-α), a diagnostic model for BA was constructed using logistic regression analysis. The resulting ROC area under the curve was determined to be 0.968. This study presents an innovative and pioneering approach that utilizes metabolomics analysis to develop a diagnostic model for BA, thereby reducing the need for unnecessary invasive examinations and contributing to advancements in diagnosis and prognosis for patients with BA.
Association between tobacco smoke exposure and serum parathyroid hormone levels among US adults (NHANES 2003–2006)
Authors: Hu Longqing , Qian Bei , Bing Kaijian , Mei Li , Ruan Shengnan , Qu Xincai
Published: July 2024

Tobacco smoke exposure has been demonstrated to impede bone remodeling and diminish bone density, yet research regarding its correlation with parathyroid hormone (PTH) remains limited. This study aims to investigate the relationship between tobacco smoke exposure and serum PTH levels in adults aged 20 years and older. This study included 7,641 participants from two cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, United States, 2003- 2006). Reflect tobacco smoke exposure through serum cotinine levels, and use an adjusted weighted multivariate linear regression model to test the independent linear relationship between serum cotinine and PTH. Stratified analysis was conducted to validate the sensitivity of the conclusions. Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were performed to assess the non-linear relationship. After comprehensive adjustment using weighted multivariate regression analysis, a negative correlation was found between serum cotinine and PTH levels. The interaction p-values in subgroup analyses were all greater than 0.05. Moreover, smooth curve fitting indicated a non-linear relationship between serum cotinine and PTH, with a turning point observed. Our research indicates that tobacco smoke exposure is negatively correlated and independent of serum parathyroid hormone levels, indicating that long-term tobacco smoke exposure may lead to parathyroid dysfunction in adults.
A foundational large language model for edible plant genomes
Authors: Mendoza-Revilla Javier , Trop Evan , Gonzalez Liam , Roller Maša , Dalla-Torre Hugo , de Almeida Bernardo P. , Richard Guillaume , Caton Jonathan , Lopez Carranza Nicolas , Skwark Marcin , Laterre Alex , Beguir Karim , Pierrot Thomas , Lopez Marie
Published: July 2024

Significant progress has been made in the field of plant genomics, as demonstrated by the increased use of high-throughput methodologies that enable the characterization of multiple genome-wide molecular phenotypes. These findings have provided valuable insights into plant traits and their underlying genetic mechanisms, particularly in model plant species. Nonetheless, effectively leveraging them to make accurate predictions represents a critical step in crop genomic improvement. We present AgroNT, a foundational large language model trained on genomes from 48 plant species with a predominant focus on crop species. We show that AgroNT can obtain state-of-the-art predictions for regulatory annotations, promoter/terminator strength, tissue-specific gene expression, and prioritize functional variants. We conduct a large-scale in silico saturation mutagenesis analysis on cassava to evaluate the regulatory impact of over 10 million mutations and provide their predicted effects as a resource for variant characterization. Finally, we propose the use of the diverse datasets compiled here as the Plants Genomic Benchmark (PGB), providing a comprehensive benchmark for deep learning-based methods in plant genomic research. The pre-trained AgroNT model is publicly available on HuggingFace at https://huggingface.co/InstaDeepAI/agro-nucleotide-transformer-1b for future research purposes.
Bibliometric and visualization analysis of the application of inorganic nanomaterials to autoimmune diseases
Authors: Zhang Baiyan , Guo Yuanyuan , Lu Yu , Ma Dan , Wang Xiahui , Zhang Liyun
Published: July 2024

Bibliometric analysis of the application of inorganic nanomaterials to autoimmune diseases is used to characterize current research trends and to visualize past and emerging trends in this field in the past 15 years.
Light-activated azobenzene peptide inhibitor of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction
Authors: Hayward Deanne , Goddard Zoë R. , Cominetti Marco M. D. , Searcey Mark , Beekman Andrew M.
Published: July 2024

A photoswitch peptide that binds to PD-1/PD-L1 only in the cis conformation, allowing for external control of the immune checkpoint interaction.
N-Alkylation of amines with primary/secondary alcohols using a novel cobalt(ii) inverse triazolyl-pyridine complex
Authors: Shekhawat Bhawana , Gahlaut Puneet Singh , Gautam Deepak , Jana Barun
Published: July 2024

Herein, we report a highly effective homogeneous methodology for the N-alkylation of amines with primary and secondary alcohols using a Co(ii)-complex of an inverse triazolyl-pyridine ligand.
A near-infrared-II light-response BODIPY-based conjugated microporous polymer for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes and H2O2 production
Authors: Luo Xiaobo , Zhang Yan , Zhou Shiyuan , Wang Peng , Wang Danfeng , Gu Peiyang
Published: July 2024

A hydrophilic BODIPY-based conjugated microporous polymer was synthesized for synergistic H2O2 production and photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes.
Modeling separation of lanthanides via heterogeneous ligand binding
Authors: Leung Kevin , Ilgen Anastasia G.
Published: July 2024

Negatively charged ligands select heavier lanthanides from water.
Selective electrocatalysis of the nitrous oxide reduction reaction to nitrogen on carbon-supported Pt–Pd–Sn nanoparticles
Authors: Sarker Abinash Chandro , Kato Masaru , Kawamura Mitsuki , Watanabe Takeshi , Yagi Ichizo
Published: July 2024

Carbon-supported Pt–Pd–Sn nanoparticles show the electrocatalytic N2O reduction reaction activity with almost 100% Faradaic efficiency to N2 at ≥+0.06 V vs. RHE in acidic media under N2O and high selectivity in the co-presence of O2.
Rational bottom-up synthesis of sulphur-rich porous carbons for single-atomic platinum catalyst supports
Authors: Chida Koki , Yoshii Takeharu , Kawaguchi Ryo , Inoue Masataka , Tani Fumito , Sobue Tatsuki , Ohtani Shunsuke , Kato Kenichi , Ogoshi Tomoki , Nakahata Shoko , Kamiya Kazuhide , Nishihara Hirotomo
Published: July 2024

S-rich microporous carbon materials are fabricated by the carbonization of rationally designed precursor molecules, which in turn function as catalyst supports for single-atomic Pt species for the electrochemical hydrogen oxidation reaction.
Dehydration in water: solid-supported lipases as green catalysts for esterification
Authors: Thomas Rohan M. , Lopez Lemus Monica S. , Ganesh Krithika , Obbard David B. , Sivashanmugam Karthikeyan , Sambasivam Ganesh , Yang Yang , Lipshutz Bruce H.
Published: July 2024

Catalytic esterification in water has been achieved with the aid of a commercially available polymer-supported lipase, Novozym-435.
Unveiling the potential of amorphous nanocatalysts in membrane-based hydrogen production
Authors: Liu Yifei , Hu Qi , Yang Xiuyi , Kang Jianxin
Published: July 2024

This review presents the progress of amorphous nanocatalysts in membrane electrode based electrocatalytic hydrogen production, in which the modulating of morphology, composition and phase of amorphous nanomaterials are systematically discussed.
An ultra-thin 2D-CeO2 non-carbon support for significantly improving the methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions
Authors: Li Yingrong , Xu Zhen , Guo Xingxing , Xu Feng
Published: July 2024

The order-disordered CeO2 nanosheets were used as the non-carbon support of PtCu electrocatalyst for enhancing the MOR and ORR.
Ni/photoredox-catalyzed coupling of aryl bromides and methylenecyclopropanes via selective distal bond cleavage
Authors: Mao Ben , Shi Min , Wei Yin
Published: July 2024

A series of 1,1-dibenzylethylene derivatives were obtained in moderate-to-good yields via double coupling of aryl bromides and methylenecyclopropanes via Ni/photoredox catalysis. The critical roles of nickel in this reaction were disclosed.
Electrochemical oscillation during galvanostatic charging and discharging of Zr-modified Li4Ti5O12 in Li-ion batteries
Authors: Sheng Yijin , Hu Fangxu , Wu Yu , Li De , Ji Wenting , Chen Yong
Published: July 2024

In Li-excessive Zr-modified Li4Ti5O12, the electrochemical oscillation is achieved during both charging and discharging in Li-ion batteries.
In situ generation of turbostratic nickel hydroxide as a nanozyme for salivary glucose sensor
Authors: Pathmanathan Priya , Gomathi A. , Ramesh Asha , Subrahmanyam Ch.
Published: July 2024

Turbostratic nickel hydroxide as a salivary glucose sensor.
Total synthesis of [β-HIle]2-nodupetide: effect of ester to amide substitution on its antimicrobial activity
Authors: Farah Harra Ismi , Supratman Unang , Hidayat Ace Tatang , Maharani Rani
Published: July 2024

[β-HIle]2-nodupetide is a nodupetide analogue, in which HMHA residue of nodupetide is replaced with β-HIle and it changes the ester to amide bond in the nodupetide's backbone.
Dual-carbon coupling modulated bimetallic sulfides as high-efficiency bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in a rechargeable Zn–air battery
Authors: Wang Yongxia , Liu Jingjing , Liu Jiaxi , Wang Zhaodi , Zhuang Biyan , Xu Nengneng , Cui Xiangzhi , Qiao Jinli
Published: July 2024

A hybrid of bimetallic sulfides modulated by 1D/2D carbon displays highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for the ORR/OER in a rechargeable Zn–air battery.
Influence of misfit dislocations on ionic conductivity at oxide interfaces
Authors: Ebmeyer William , Hatton Peter , Uberuaga Blas P. , Dholabhai Pratik P.
Published: July 2024

Mismatched complex oxide thin films and heterostructures have gained significant traction for use as electrolytes in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells, wherein interfaces exhibit variation in ionic conductivity as compared to the bulk.