bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation on hybrid cooled lithium‐ion battery pack with 3S4P cell configuration using OM 48 as phase change material and heat pipe
Authors: Wankhede Sagar , More Kiran , Kamble Laxman , Thorat Prajwal
Published: June 2023

Because of their high energy capacity and power density, lithium‐ion batteries are an essential component of electric and hybrid vehicles; however, they frequently experience excessive temperature rise because of heat creation inside the batteries. The charge state and charge/discharge rate play a major role in this heat generation. Due to its high latent heat, compact design and lightweight nature without requiring any external power, passive techniques like phase change material (PCM) and heat pipe (HP) cooling have gained widespread popularity. Therefore, this work focussed on hybrid BTMS integrating Heat Pipe with PCM for better thermal management of battery pack supported by a heat pipe that is used to analyse the thermal performance of a battery module having three and four lithium‐ion batteries placed in series and parallel. The objective of maintaining temperature gradient of less than 5°C between the adjacent cells and maintaining the overall battery temperature in the range of 25°C–45°C has been successfully achieved. The results of experiments at various discharge rates showed that a heat pipe was crucial to quickly transferring heat and maintaining temperature homogeneity for PCM‐based battery modules. It can be concluded that the data presented above can offer views for creating and improving battery heat management systems.
Intensive geological alteration and gas accumulation in Longmaxi Formation shales at moderate and great depths: A case study of the Luzhou area in the southern Sichuan fold zone, China
Authors: Jiang Songlian , Tang Tian , Zhong Sicun , Li Hu , Gao Zhi , Yang Cheng , Luo Ying
Published: June 2023

In recent years, significant efforts have been directed towards extracting deep shale gas (SG) in Luzhou. Understanding the factors influencing the accumulation and preservation of SG in the section extending from the Upper Ordovician Wufeng (WF) Formation (Fm) through the Lower Silurian Longmaxi (LMX) Fm is crucial for its large‐scale, profitable development. The shale layers in the LMX Fm located in the Luzhou‐Zigong area in the southern part of the Sichuan Basin have undergone unique geological processes, including deep deposition, intensive uplift, erosion and deformation. The Luzhou block, situated in the low‐fold zone in southern Sichuan between the southern slope of the paleo‐uplift in central Sichuan and the down‐warping fold zone in south‐eastern Sichuan, was studied using seismic, well‐log, drilling and core analysis and test data to understand its tectonic, sedimentary, reservoir and fracture characteristics and identify the principal factors controlling gas accumulation in this area. The study found that SG in the Luzhou block is primarily distributed in the WF Fm through the Longyi1sub‐member. Class I continuous reservoirs, 2.6–20.3 m in thickness, are mainly found in the Longyi11–13sublayers and those with large continuous thickness produced high yields during tests. Gentle anticlinal zones and wide, gentle tectonic structures with relatively high‐pressure coefficients have formed in this area. High‐angle fractures (HACs) in this area tend to accumulate free gas and, therefore, facilitate the accumulation and production of SG. The study concludes that the continuous thickness of Class I reservoirs and natural HACs controlled by the centre of the deep‐water continental shelf are the primary factors controlling SG accumulation in the Luzhou block.
“Understand where you're coming from”: Positionality and higher education disability resources
Authors: Strimel Morgan M. , Francis Grace L. , Duke Jodi M.
Published: June 2023

Despite their significant influence on the experiences of disabled college students, disability resource professionals are provided limited guidance on how to carry out the functions of their role. As a result, during the accommodations process, disability resource professionals generally rely on their instincts and “gut” reactions when responding to accommodation requests after quickly processing information from a student's self‐report and relevant medical documentation. However, hidden within these quick decisions are disability resource professionals' positionalities—or frameworks for considering the world—that have an innate influence on the outcome of accommodation decisions and, ultimately, disabled students’ access to higher education. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore disability resource professionals’ views on positionality in the context of higher education disability resources and its relationship to accommodation decision‐making. After a review of findings from interviews with 13 disability resource professionals, the authors conclude with recommendations for higher education disability resources and directions for future research.

Practical Implications

It is important for disability resource professionals to cyclically examine their positionalities (e.g., identities, experiences) before, during, and following the accommodations process and working with disabled college students.

When examining their positionalities, disability resource professionals should critically examine their positions in relation to power and privilege, with a focus on their reactions to students’ identities and experiences.

Leadership in the field of higher education disability resources should also create time and space for disability resource professionals to engage in meaningful positionality‐focused professional development opportunities.
Outcomes after definitive treatment for cutaneous angiosarcomas of the face and scalp: Reevaluating the role of surgery and radiation therapy
Authors: Yoder Alison K , Farooqi Ahsan S , Wernz Cort , Subramaniam Aparna , Ravi Vinod , Goepfert Ryan , Sturgis Erich M , Mitra Devarati , Bishop Andrew J , Guadagnolo B Ashleigh
Published: June 2023

Introduction

We investigated outcomes and prognostic factors for patients treated for cutaneous angiosarcoma (CA).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated for CA of the face and scalp from 1962 to 2019. All received definitive treatment with surgery, radiation (RT), or a combination (S‐XRT). The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate outcomes. Multivariable analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

For the 143 patients evaluated median follow‐up was 33 months. Five‐year LC was 51% and worse in patients with tumors >5 cm, multifocal tumors, those treated pre‐2000, and with single modality therapy (SMT). These remained associated with worse LC on multivariable analysis. The 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) for the cohort was 56%. Tumor size >5 cm, non‐scalp primary site, treatment pre‐2000, and SMT were associated with worse DSS.

Conclusion

Large or multifocal tumors are negative prognostic factors in patients with head and neck CA. S‐XRT improved outcomes.
Basic information about memantine and its treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other clinical applications
Authors: Tang Bin‐Can , Wang Ya‐Ting , Ren Jie
Published: June 2023

Memantine is a noncompetitive moderate‐affinity strong voltage‐dependent N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antagonist. It has been used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) since 1989. In 2018, it became the second most commonly used drug for the treatment of dementia in the world. AD is nonreversible, and memantine can only relieve the symptoms of AD but not cure it. Over the past half‐century, memantine's research and clinical application have been extensively developed. In this review, the basic composition of memantine, the mechanism and limitations of memantine in the treatment of AD, memantine combination therapy, comparison of memantine with other drugs for AD, and clinical studies of memantine in other diseases are reviewed to provide a valuable reference for further research and application of memantine for the treatment of AD.
Impact of cancer and other causes of death on mortality of cancer patients: A study based on Japanese population‐based registry data
Authors: Charvat Hadrien , Fukui Keisuke , Matsuda Tomohiro , Katanoda Kota , Ito Yuri
Published: June 2023

Cancer registry data provide a very important source of information for improving our understanding of the epidemiology of various cancers. In this work, we estimated the 5‐year crude probabilities of death from cancer and from other causes for five common cancers, namely stomach, lung, colon‐rectum, prostate and breast, in Japan, using population‐based registry data. Based on data on 344 676 patients diagnosed with one of these cancers between 2006 and 2008 in 21 prefectures participating in the Monitoring of Cancer Incidence in Japan (MCIJ) and followed‐up for at least 5 years, we used a flexible excess hazard model to compute the crude probabilities of death for different combinations of sex, age and stage at diagnosis. For tumours diagnosed at the distant stage, as well as for regional lung tumours, the vast majority of deaths at 5 years in cancer patients were attributable to the disease itself (although this proportion was only around 60% in older prostate cancer patients). For localised and most regional tumours, the impact of other causes of death on the total mortality increased with age at diagnosis, especially for localised breast, colorectal and gastric cancer. By allowing the partition of the mortality experience of cancer patients into a cancer‐ and an other‐cause‐specific component, crude probability of death estimates provide insight into how the impact of cancer on mortality might differ among populations with different background mortality risks. This might be useful for informing discussions between clinicians and patients about treatment options.
Evaluation of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes according to the phenotypic types of polycystic ovary syndrome: A prospective study
Authors: Eralp Berat , Ibanoglu Mujde Can , Engin‐Ustun Yaprak
Published: June 2023

Objective

We aimed to compare pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in the phenotypic subtypes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

This prospective cohort included the patients with PCOS (n = 121) diagnosed according to the presence of androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, and/or polycystic ovary morphology and healthy controls (n = 125). We stratified PCOS as phenotype A (n = 45), phenotype B (n = 8), phenotype C (n = 32) and phenotype D (n = 35) and followed throughout pregnancy, comparing their outcomes.

Results

The study population had a mean age of 28.7 ± 4.9 years and a mean BMI of 31.6 kg/m2 with no difference between the groups. Primary cesarean deliveries were significantly more common in PCOS patients (23.3%) than in the control group (17.6%, P = 0.021). The phenotype A group had significantly higher rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (42.2%, P < 0.001) and fetal macrosomia (14.6%, P = 0.002) compared with the control group (4.8% and 0.8%m respectively). We detected a significantly lower rate of normal risk score on the double screening test in the PCOS group (59.0%) than in the control group (75.4%) and in the other groups (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The rates of GDM, fetal macrosomia, and cesarean section were higher in the PCOS group, depending on the phenotype. We observed changes in risk calculation according to phenotypic types at aneuploidy screening.
ViWrap: A modular pipeline to identify, bin, classify, and predict viral–host relationships for viruses from metagenomes
Authors: Zhou Zhichao , Martin Cody , Kosmopoulos James C. , Anantharaman Karthik
Published: June 2023

Viruses are increasingly being recognized as important components of human and environmental microbiomes. However, viruses in microbiomes remain difficult to study because of the difficulty in culturing them and the lack of sufficient model systems. As a result, computational methods for identifying and analyzing uncultivated viral genomes from metagenomes have attracted significant attention. Such bioinformatics approaches facilitate the screening of viruses from enormous sequencing data sets originating from various environments. Although many tools and databases have been developed for advancing the study of viruses from metagenomes, there is a lack of integrated tools enabling a comprehensive workflow and analysis platform encompassing all the diverse segments of virus studies. Here, we developed ViWrap, a modular pipeline written in Python. ViWrap combines the power of multiple tools into a single platform to enable various steps of virus analyses, including identification, annotation, genome binning, species‐ and genus‐level clustering, assignment of taxonomy, prediction of hosts, characterization of genome quality, comprehensive summaries, and intuitive visualization of results. Overall, ViWrap enables a standardized and reproducible pipeline for both extensive and stringent characterization of viruses from metagenomes, viromes, and microbial genomes. Our approach has flexibility in using various options for diverse applications and scenarios, and its modular structure can be easily amended with additional functions as necessary. ViWrap is designed to be easily and widely used to study viruses in human and environmental systems. ViWrap is publicly available via GitHub (https://github.com/AnantharamanLab/ViWrap). A detailed description of the software, its usage, and interpretation of results can be found on the website.
Sampling volume assessment for wearable multimodal optical diagnostic device
Authors: V. Zharkikh Elena , V. Dremin Viktor , V. Dunaev Andrey
Published: June 2023

The process and results of numerical Monte Carlo simulation of optical radiation propagation in laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) channels of a wearable diagnostic multimodal device are described in this paper. To achieve the goal, a multilayer skin model with different parameters of blood and melanin content and different distances between sources and radiation receivers was designed. The changes in the sampling (diagnostic) volume depending on the anatomical features of the biological tissues, as well as on the technical parameters of the device were shown. Depending on the scattering media optical properties and the source‐detector configuration of the device, the diagnostic volume can range from 2 to 7 mm3. The obtained results allow the formation of specialized medical and technical requirements for wearable multimodal devices implementing LDF and FS channels.
Extracellular vesicles from human plasma dampen inflammation and promote tissue repair functions in macrophages
Authors: Adamczyk Alan M. , Leicaj María Luz , Fabiano Martina Paula , Cabrerizo Gonzalo , Bannoud Nadia , Croci Diego O. , Witwer Kenneth W. , Remes Lenicov Federico , Ostrowski Matías , Pérez Paula Soledad
Published: June 2023

Although inflammation is a vital defence response to infection, if left uncontrolled, it can lead to pathology. Macrophages are critical players both in driving the inflammatory response and in the subsequent events required for restoring tissue homeostasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane‐enclosed structures released by cells that mediate intercellular communication and are present in all biological fluids, including blood. Herein, we show that extracellular vesicles from plasma (pEVs) play a relevant role in the control of inflammation by counteracting PAMP‐induced macrophage activation. Indeed, pEV‐treatment of macrophages simultaneously with or prior to PAMP exposure reduced the secretion of pro‐inflammatory IL‐6 and TNF‐α and increased IL‐10 response. This anti‐inflammatory activity was associated with the promotion of tissue‐repair functions in macrophages, characterized by augmented efferocytosis and pro‐angiogenic capacity, and increased expression of VEGFa, CD300e, RGS2 and CD93, genes involved in cell growth and tissue remodelling. We also show that simultaneous stimulation of macrophages with a PAMP and pEVs promoted COX2 expression and CREB phosphorylation as well as the accumulation of higher concentrations of PGE2 in cell culture supernatants. Remarkably, the anti‐inflammatory activity of pEVs was abolished if cells were treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of COX2, indicating that pEV‐mediated induction of COX2 is critical for the pEV‐mediated inhibition of inflammation. Finally, we show that pEVs added to monocytes prior to their M‐CSF‐induced differentiation to macrophages increased efferocytosis and diminished pro‐inflammatory cytokine responses to PAMP stimulation. In conclusion, our results suggest that pEVs are endogenous homeostatic modulators of macrophages, activating the PGE2/CREB pathway, decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines and promoting tissue repair functions.
Power amplifier circuit defect detection based on improved PatchSVDD
Authors: Xie Zhonghui , Kong Wa , Zhou Xinyu , Zhang Wence , Zhong Yujie , Xia Jing
Published: June 2023

In the manufacturing process of power amplifier (PA), various defects on the circuit surface will seriously affect the circuit performance and its operation. To solve the above problems, this article proposes a circuit defect detection method based on improved patch‐based support vector data description algorithm (Patch SVDD), which uses contrastive learning to enhance the feature extraction ability of neural network. An image calibration algorithm is used for calibration preprocessing to enhance the robustness of the model. The Euclidean distance between a query image patch and its nearest normal patch is defined to be an anomaly score. For verification, three defects in the PA circuit, including components missing, solder contamination and component orientation dislocation, were detected. The experimental results show that, compared with conventional method, the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of the improved anomaly detection model increased from 90.1% to 95.1%, which improves the detection accuracy effectively.
Understanding the extremely wet autumn over West China in 2017 from intraseasonal oscillation perspective
Authors: Guo Quanling , Wang Lu , Ma Jing , Sun Ming , Cheng Yifeng , Zhou Xuan
Published: June 2023

West China experienced an extremely wet autumn in 2017, and the amount of September–October precipitation is the greatest during 1961–2018. This study explored the physical processes responsible for two primary intraseasonal precipitation events which contribute greatly to such an extremely wet season. The first event peaking in early September is induced by the southward movement of a frontal system from the northern China, which is attributed to the southward displacement of an intraseasonal anticyclonic anomaly. The northerly anomaly associated with the anticyclone advects cold air into West China and thus triggers frontal precipitation. The second event peaking in early October is related to the northward shift and intensification of an intraseasonal anticyclonic anomaly centred over the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The southerly anomaly along the western flank of the anticyclone transports moisture to West China and thus triggers precipitation. The different initiation processes for the two precipitation events may be due to the distinct dynamical and thermal‐dynamical conditions in September and October. West China has sufficient moisture but less dynamical disturbances in September, while it has adequate dynamical disturbances but less moisture in October.
A novel antibacterial compound decreases MRSA biofilm formation without the use of antibiotics in a murine model
Authors: Bouloussa Houssam , Durand Zoe , Gibon Emmanuel , Chen Antonia F. , Grant Matthew , Saleh‐Mghir Azzam , Mirza Mohsin , Stutzman Bradley , Vergari Claudio , Yue James , Anzala Nelson , Bonnot Dorian , Albac Sandrine , Bouloussa Othman , Croisier Delphine
Published: June 2023

Despite significant advancements in material science, surgical site infection (SSI) rates remain high and prevention is key. This study aimed to demonstrate the in vivo safety and antibacterial efficacy of titanium implants treated with a novel broad‐spectrum biocidal compound (DBG21) against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Titanium (Ti) discs were covalently bound with DBG21. Untreated Ti discs were used as controls. All discs were implanted either untreated for 44 control mice or DBG21‐treated for 44 treated mice. After implantation, 1 × 107 colony forming units (CFU) of MRSA were injected into the operating site. Mice were killed at 7 and 14 days to determine the number of adherent bacteria (biofilm) on implants and in the peri‐implant surrounding tissues. Systemic and local toxicity were assessed. At both 7 and 14 days, DBG21‐treated implants yielded a significant decrease in MRSA biofilm (3.6 median log10 CFU [99.97%] reduction [p < 0.001] and 1.9 median log10 CFU [98.7%] reduction [p = 0.037], respectively) and peri‐implant surrounding tissues (2.7 median log10 CFU/g [99.8%] reduction [p < 0.001] and 5.6 median log10 CFU/g [99.9997%] reduction [p < 0.001], respectively). There were no significant differences between control and treated mice in terms of systemic and local toxicity. DBG‐21 demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of biofilm bacteria without associated toxicity in a small animal implant model of SSI. Preventing biofilm formation has been recognized as a key element of preventing implant‐related infections.
Circ‐MALAT1 accelerates cell proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transformation of colorectal cancer through regulating miR‐506‐3p/KAT6B axis
Authors: Yang Feng‐Shuai , Gong Shuang‐Xi , Qiu Dong‐Da
Published: June 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract. Circular RNAs may play important roles in the progression of CRC. In this study, we investigated the roles and mechanisms of action of circ‐MALAT1 in CRC. Gene expression and protein abundance were determined using qRT‐PCR and western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed by MTT, clone formation, and wound‐healing assays. The interactions among the long non‐coding RNA metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (circ‐MALAT1), miR‐506‐3p, and lysine acetyltransferase 6B (KAT6B) were predicted using the StarBase software and confirmed by the luciferase activity assay. Circ‐MALAT1 and KAT6B were upregulated, while miR‐506‐3p was downregulated in CRC cells. We validated that knocking down of circ‐MALAT1 suppressed proliferation, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CRC cells, and these effects were abolished by miR‐506‐3p downregulation or KAT6B sufficiency. Our study suggests that circ‐MALAT1 could sponge miR‐506‐3p to regulate the expression of KAT6B. Moreover, KAT6B sufficiency could neutralize miR‐506‐3p‐dependent growth arrest, migration, and EMT. Circ‐MALAT1 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and EMT of CRC cells via the miR‐506‐3p/KAT6B axis, thereby acting as a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Parametrically Driven Inertial Sensing in Chip‐Scale Optomechanical Cavities at the Thermodynamical Limits with Extended Dynamic Range
Authors: Flor Flores Jaime Gonzalo , Yerebakan Talha , Wang Wenting , Yu Mingbin , Kwong Dim‐Lee , Matsko Andrey , Wong Chee Wei
Published: June 2023

Recent scientific and technological advances have enabled the detection of gravitational waves, autonomous driving, and the proposal of a communications network on the Moon (Lunar Internet or LunaNet). These efforts are based on the measurement of minute displacements and their corresponding force transduction, which enables acceleration, velocity, and position determination for navigation. State‐of‐the‐art accelerometers use capacitive or piezoresistive techniques and micro‐electromechanical systems (MEMS) via integrated circuit (IC) technologies to drive transducers and convert their output for electric readout. In recent years, laser optomechanical transduction and readout have enabled highly sensitive detection of motional displacement. Here the theoretical framework is further examined for the novel mechanical frequency readout technique of optomechanical transduction when the sensor is driven into oscillation mode. Theoretical and physical agreements are demonstrated, and the most relevant performance parameters are characterized by a device with a 1.5 mg Hz−1acceleration sensitivity, a 2.5 fm Hz−1/2displacement resolution corresponding to a 17.02 µg Hz−1/2force‐equivalent acceleration, and a 5.91 Hz nW−1power sensitivity, at the thermodynamical limits. In addition, a novel technique is presented for dynamic range extension while maintaining the precision sensing sensitivity. This inertial accelerometer is integrated on‐chip and enabled for packaging, with a laser‐detuning‐enabled approach.
Hydrogels as Scaffolds in Bone‐Related Tissue Engineering and Regeneration
Authors: Jurczak Przemyslaw , Lach Slawomir
Published: June 2023

Several years have passed since the medical and scientific communities leaned toward tissue engineering as the most promising field to aid bone diseases and defects resulting from degenerative conditions or trauma. Owing to their histocompatibility and non‐immunogenicity, bone grafts, precisely autografts, have long been the gold standard in bone tissue therapies. However, due to issues associated with grafting, especially the surgical risks and soaring prices of the procedures, alternatives are being extensively sought and researched. Fibrous and non‐fibrous materials, synthetic substitutes, or cell‐based products are just a few examples of research directions explored as potential solutions. A very promising subgroup of these replacements involves hydrogels. Biomaterials resembling the bone extracellular matrix and therefore acting as 3D scaffolds, providing the appropriate mechanical support and basis for cell growth and tissue regeneration. Additional possibility of using various stimuli in the form of growth factors, cells, etc., within the hydrogel structure, extends their use as bioactive agent delivery platforms and acts in favor of their further directed development. The aim of this review is to bring the reader closer to the fascinating subject of hydrogel scaffolds and present the potential of these materials, applied in bone and cartilage tissue engineering and regeneration.
Integral Ricci curvature and the mass gap of Dirichlet Laplacians on domains
Authors: Ramos Olivé Xavier , Rose Christian , Wang Lili , Wei Guofang
Published: June 2023

We obtain a fundamental gap estimate for classes of bounded domains with quantitative control on the boundary in a complete manifold with integral bounds on the negative part of the Ricci curvature. This extends the result of Oden, Sung, and Wang [Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 351 (1999), no. 9, 3533–3548] to ‐Ricci curvature assumptions, . To achieve our result, it is shown that the domains under consideration are John domains, what enables us to obtain an estimate on the first nonzero Neumann eigenvalue, which is of independent interest.
Improving high‐tech enterprises' new product development performance through digital transformation: A configurational analysis based on fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)
Authors: Liu Jingyan , Yang Yiyan
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates conditional configurations for improving high‐tech enterprises' new product development (NPD) performance under complex environment of digital era in China. The results indicate that digital transformation is neither sufficient nor necessary for high NPD performance but a significant component of those configurations for high NPD performance. Through the fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach, four configurations for high NPD performance and four configurations for non‐high NPD performance are generated from complex nonlinear interactions among five antecedent conditions of NPD performance. Our findings enrich the literature on NPD performance and provide references on enterprises' decision making on digital transformation.
Clinical report and genetic analysis of a neonate with genitourinary and/or brain malformation syndrome caused by a non‐coding sequence variant of PPP1R12A
Authors: Diao Yanxia , Sun Weiwei , Zhang Zhen , Zhao Bing , Chen Xin
Published: June 2023

Background

Genitourinary and/or brain malformation syndrome (GUBS) is a recently discovered syndrome involving abnormalities of the neurological or urogenital system. PPP1R12A may be the pathological gene causing this syndrome. Currently, to our knowledge, there is only one study related to GUBS in the world. Here, we report a clinical case of a Chinese newborn with congenital micropenis caused by a non‐coding sequence pathogenic variant of PPP1R12A, providing additional evidence on genetic causes of genital malformation.

Methods

The genetic cause of the patient's malformation was detected using trio‐whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing, and reverse transcription‐PCR analysis was performed by constructing the minigene mutant plasmid in vitro.

Results

Genetic testing revealed a novel heterozygous variant, c.2666+3A>G, of the PPP1R12A gene of the patient. The parents at this site were wild‐type, indicating that this might be a de novo variant. The minigene experiment showed that the c.2666+3A>G plasmid led to the deletion of 17 bp in exon 20, and a new mRNA product c.2650_2666del (p.Thr884IleTer2) with skipping of exon 20 was produced. This may lead to PPP1R12A haploinsufficiency and cause biological harm.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study on a rare variant of PPP1R12A in the Chinese population. The c.2666+3A>G may lead to external genitalia malformation, such as congenital micropenis in male neonates. The results of this study further verified the correlation between GUBS and PPP1R12A haploinsufficiency and revealed the important role of a non‐coding sequence variant in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Zebrafish Danio rerio exhibit positive growth profiles when fed dietary yeast and bacterial-based single-cell protein as a replacement for fish protein hydrolysate
Authors: Williams Michael B. , Lawrence Addison L. , Chehade Sophie B. , Yuan Yuan , Fowler Adele L. , Barry Robert J. , Powell Mickie L. , Watts Stephen A.
Published: June 2023

Objective

The value of Zebrafish Danio rerio as a preclinical biomedical model has increased as nutritionally complete diets are being developed. Consequently, nutrients and nutrient sources can be used in evaluating the health status of Zebrafish, providing information that can be translated to human health. We have investigated the impact of commercially produced bacterial (MRD-Pro) and yeast (DY-Pro) single-cell protein sources in formulated Zebrafish diets.

Methods

Thirty-five days after fertilization Zebrafish were randomized to one of five dietary treatments including FPH100 (a control diet with primarily fish protein hydrolysate [FPH] as the protein source), MRD50 and MRD100 (diets that replaced half or all of the FPH with MRD, a bacterial protein), or DY50 and DY100 (diets that replaced half or all of the FPH with DY, a yeast protein) for 8 weeks (n = 8 tanks/diet treatment, 14 fish/tank).

Result

Female terminal wet weight was the same among all diets; however, male terminal wet weight was increased in fish consuming MRD diets. In addition, carcass lipid content was significantly lower in females consuming the DY and MRD diets than those fed FPH. Male lipid content was the same among all diets.

Conclusion

Results demonstrate that single-cell protein sources are suitable replacements for FPH and, in female populations, may impart health benefits related to lean matter production and reduced adiposity.
Thickness of commercial blenderized formulas adversely affects successful delivery via enteral feeding pumps
Authors: Murayi Judy‐April , Evenson Elizabeth , Verkin‐Siebert Debbie , Fisher Miranda , Bartosiewicz Samantha , Baade Morgan , Manville Kaylee , Goday Praveen S.
Published: June 2023

Background

There has been a renewed focus on offering commercial formulas made with real‐food ingredients because of their perceived health benefits, such as improved feeding tolerance and gut health. Children receiving enteral nutrition through these formulas often are fed via feeding pumps. Because these formulas vary in thickness, we aimed to explore the relationship between formula thickness and prescribed formula delivery via feeding pumps. We hypothesized that inaccurate volumes of commercial blenderized formula (CBF) are delivered via feeding pumps and that these inaccuracies are directly proportional to the thickness of the formula.

Methods

We performed International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) tests for six de‐identified CBFs. We then ran these formulas over three feeding pumps using nasogastric and gastric tubes and simulated continuous and bolus feeds. We calculated the difference between programmed volume and actual delivered volume.

Results

Moderate and extremely thick formulas (IDDSI level 3–4) delivered a median of 22.5% less volume than programmed in the pump (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a 25.5% reduction in delivered volume for thick formulas compared with thin formulas. This occurred despite using the manufacturer's recommendations for suggested tube size.

Conclusion

Thicker CBF can provide inaccurate volumes via feeding pumps, which may contribute to poor weight gain when children are switched to these formulas. Based on these findings, we recommend best practices for using these formulas. More studies are needed to investigate the best formula consistency to optimize delivery and caloric intake.
Estimation of 24‐hour urinary creatinine excretion from patient variables: A novel approach to identify patients with low muscle mass and malnutrition and relationship to outcomes
Authors: Hiller Lynn , Foulis Philip , Goldsmith Susan , Epps James , Wright Lauri
Published: June 2023

Background

Low muscle mass has been correlated with adverse outcomes in patients who are critically ill. Methods to identify low muscularity such as computed tomography scans or bioelectrical impedance analyses are impractical for admission screening. Urinary creatinine excretion (UCE) and creatinine height index (CHI) are associated with muscularity and outcomes but require a 24‐h urine collection. The estimation of UCE from patient variables avoids the need for a 24‐h urine collection and may be clinically useful.

Methods

Variables of age, height, weight, sex, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide from a deidentified data set of 967 patients who had UCE measured were used to develop models to predict UCE. The model identified with the best predictive ability was validated and then retrospectively applied to a separate sample of 120 veterans who were critically ill to examine if UCE and CHI predicted malnutrition or were associated with outcomes.

Results

A model was identified that included variables of plasma creatinine, BUN, age, and weight and was found to be highly correlated, moderately predictive of UCE, and statistically significant. Patients with model‐estimated CHI  60% had significantly lower body weight, body mass index, plasma creatinine, and sera albumin and prealbumin levels; were 8.0 times more likely to be diagnosed with malnutrition; and were 2.6 times more likely to be readmitted in 6 months.

Conclusion

A model that predicts UCE offers a novel method to identify patients with low muscularity and malnutrition on admission without the use of invasive tests.
Instrumentation and Innovation Continue to Evolve
Authors: Pizzi Nick
Published: June 2023

Water treatment plant operators continue to find innovative ways to deliver high‐quality drinking water to their customers. New techniques add to the rich accumulation of knowledge first developed by their predecessors.
Futuristic Water Lab Enhances Colorado Educational Hub
Authors: Baker Ann
Published: June 2023

Denver Water's water quality laboratory is part of an innovative, forward‐thinking learning center created by Colorado State University (CSU). Students of all ages visiting the center will experience a range of scientific disciplines in action.
How Do Water and Wastewater Laboratories Differ?
Authors: Adams Hunter , Musser James , Sullivan Matthew , Lipps William , Vail Tricia
Published: June 2023

Water and wastewater laboratories have many similarities, but they also have unique differences that allow them to generate data that protect public health and the environment.
Evaluating the use of methods to mitigate bias from non‐transient medications in the case‐crossover design: A systematic review
Authors: Huang Hsiao‐Ching , Li Wen‐Chin , Tadrous Mina , Schumock Glen T. , Touchette Daniel , Awadalla Saria , Lee Todd A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The case‐crossover design is a self‐controlled study design used to compare exposure immediately preceding an event occurrence with exposure in earlier control periods. The design is most suitable for transient exposures in order to avoid biases that can be problematic when using the case‐crossover design for non‐transient (i.e., chronic) exposures. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review of case‐crossover studies and its variants (case‐time‐control and case‐case‐time‐control) in order to compare design and analysis choices by medication type.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search to identify recent case‐crossover, case‐time‐control, and case‐case‐time‐control studies focused on medication exposures. Articles indexed in MEDLINE and EMBASE using these study designs that were published between January 2015 and December 2021 in the English language were identified. Reviews, methodological studies, commentaries, articles without medications as the exposure of interest, and articles with no available full text were excluded. Study characteristics including study design, outcome, risk window, control window, reporting of discordant pairs, and inclusion of sensitivity analyses were summarized overall and by medication type. We further evaluated the implementation of recommended methods to account for biases introduced by non‐transient exposures among articles that used the case‐crossover design on a non‐transient exposure.

Results

Of the 2036 articles initially identified, 114 articles were included. The case‐crossover was the most common study design (88%), followed by the case‐time‐control (17%), and case‐case‐time‐control (3%). Fifty‐three percent of the articles included only transient medications, 35% included only non‐transient medications, and 12% included both. Across years, the proportion of case‐crossover articles evaluating a non‐transient medication ranged from 30% in 2018 to 69% in 2017. We found that 41% of the articles that evaluated a non‐transient medication did not apply any of the recommended methods to account for biases and more than half of which were conducted by authors with no previous publication history of case‐crossover studies.

Conclusion

Using the case‐crossover design to evaluate a non‐transient medication remains common in pharmacoepidemiology. Researchers should apply appropriate design and analysis choices when opting to use a case‐crossover design with non‐transient medication exposures.
Long‐term conservation and conventional tillage systems impact physical and biochemical soil health indicators in a corn–soybean rotation
Authors: Sangotayo Anuoluwa O. , Chellappa Jemila , Sekaran Udayakumar , Bansal Sangeeta , Angmo Padma , Jasa Paul , Kumar Sandeep , Iqbal Javed
Published: June 2023

Agricultural management practices tend to influence soil structure stabilization, mediating many physical, chemical, and biological processes in soils. Therefore, understanding the long‐term effects of management practices on various soil health indicators is crucial to develop sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to assess the long‐term conventional and conservation tillage effects on soil physical (aggregates) and biochemical (soil organic carbon [SOC], enzymes, and microbial biomass) parameters under a range of tillage practices in a corn–soybean rotation in Nebraska. The experiment was conducted at two locations as follows: (1) Concord site (36 years) with the three treatments: no‐till (NT), disk, and moldboard plow; and (2) Lincoln site (40 years) with four tillage treatments: NT, double disk, chisel, and moldboard plow. Results showed that NT at both sites significantly increased SOC concentration by 24%–66% compared to moldboard plow. Similarly, double disk tillage increased SOC by 54% compared to the moldboard plow at the Lincoln site. Arylsulfatase, β‐glucosidase, hot‐ and cold‐water extractable carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and nitrogen concentrations significantly decreased with the increased tillage intensity at both sites. This implies that the NT increased these parameters compared to the disk and moldboard plow. However, aggregate size fraction 0.053–0.25 mm was the only parameter higher under moldboard plow (20.8%) than NT. Overall, the results from these long‐term studies indicate that NT, and to a lesser extent the reduced tillage practice of disk till, can improve soil health more than conventional tillage practices under a corn–soybean cropping system, suggesting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to improve soil health.
Chirality‐Induced Spin Selectivity of Chiral 2D Perovskite Enabling Efficient Spin‐Dependent Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Lee Hyungsoo , Ma Sunihl , Oh Seungtae , Tan Jeiwan , Lee Chan Uk , Son Jaehyun , Park Young Sun , Yun Juwon , Jang Gyumin , Moon Jooho
Published: June 2023

The sluggish and complex multi‐step oxygen evolution reaction remains an obstacle to bias‐free photoelectrochemical water‐splitting systems. Several theoretical studies have suggested that spin‐aligned intermediate radicals can significantly enhance the kinetic rates for oxygen generation. Herein, it is reported that the chirality‐induced spin selectivity phenomena can become an impressive approach by adopting chiral 2D organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites as a spin‐filtering layer on the photoanode. This chiral 2D perovskite‐based water‐splitting device achieves enhanced oxygen evolution performance with a reduced overpotential of 0.14 V, high fill factor, and 230% increased photocurrent compared to a device without a spin‐filtering layer. Moreover, combined with a superhydrophobic patterning strategy, this device realizes excellent operational stability by sustaining ≈90% of the initial photocurrent, even after 10 h.
High‐Temperature Thermophysical Property Characterization of Molten Blast Furnace Slag: A Critical Reviews
Authors: Wu Junjun , Liu Qingshan , Lv Yiwen , Wang Hong , Zhu Xun , Liao Qiang
Published: June 2023

Centrifugal granulation‐assisted thermal energy recovery (CGATER) remains the leading technology for the iron and steel industry to enable the low‐carbon treatment of high‐temperature blast furnace (BF) slag. Accurate knowledge of the thermophysical properties of BF slag is pivotal for the commercialization of the CGATER. However, it presents a formidable task to obtain these quantities due to the extremely high temperature of molten BF slag (≈1500 °C). To date, the thermophysical properties of BF slag have not been well characterized yet. Herein, five typical thermophysical properties including density, viscosity, surface tension, thermal conductivity, and emissivity are scrutinized with emphasis on the experimental measurements and empirical estimates. The working principles of these measurement methods are briefly overviewed and their merits and demerits are highlighted. It is noted that density, viscosity, and surface tension have been intensively studied; the quantities can be estimated with moderate uncertainty. However, the thermal conductivity and emissivity of BF slag are less tackled, mainly because of the scarcity of measurement tools at high temperatures. In the future, innovative measurement tools tailored for high‐temperature materials are essential, not only for enriching the thermophysical property database of BF slag but also for paving the way toward characterizing other complex high‐temperature melts.
Review of Research on Titanium Oxides in Low‐Carbon Steel
Authors: Lei Shuwei , Zhang Jing , Xu Xi , Li Huigai , Sun Luyan , Zhai Qijie
Published: June 2023

Titanium oxides, which act as nuclei for intragranular ferrite (IGF), are common inclusions in low‐carbon steel. The interlocking structure of IGF greatly improves the mechanical properties of low‐carbon steel. To make the best use of this kind of oxide, the types, sizes, and distribution properties of effective titanium oxides are reviewed that can promote IGF nucleation. The control techniques of titanium oxides are summarized as follows: (1) Ti2O3 is one of the most effective of the common titanium oxides, followed by TiO and TiO2. The type of titanium oxide can be affected by controlling the Ti/O mass ratio in molten steel. (2) Titanium oxide with a size range of 0.4–4 μm can effectively promote the nucleation of IGF or intragranular acicular ferrite (IAF), among them, titanium oxide of about 1 μm is the most beneficial to IAF nucleation. (3) To obtain titanium oxides with effective size, the precipitation of titanium oxides should be controlled during the solidification process, and this process can be achieved with the existing rapid solidification technology. Under the same conditions, the higher solidification rate can obtain finer titanium oxide.
Ligandability and druggability assessment via machine learning
Authors: Di Palma Francesco , Abate Carlo , Decherchi Sergio , Cavalli Andrea
Published: June 2023

Drug discovery is a daunting and failure‐prone task. A critical process in this research field is represented by the biological target and pocket identification steps as they heavily determine the subsequent efforts in selecting a putative ligand, most often a small molecule. Finding “ligandable” pockets, namely protein cavities that may accept a drug‐like binder is instrumental to the more general and drug discovery oriented “druggability” estimation process. While high‐throughput experimental techniques exist to identify putative binding sites other than the orthosteric one, these techniques are relatively expensive and not so commonly available in labs. In this regard, computational means of detecting ligandable pockets are advisable for their inexpensiveness and speed. These methods can become, in principle, particularly predictive when supported by machine learning methodologies that provide the modeling framework. As with any data‐driven effort, the outcome critically depends on the input data, its featurization process and possible associated biases. Also, the machine learning task, (supervised/unsupervised) the learning method, and the possible usage of molecular dynamics data considerably shape the inherent assumptions of the modeling step. Defining a proper quantitative thermodynamic and/or kinetic score (or label) is key to the modeling process; here we revise literature and propose residence time as a novel ideal indicator of ligandability. Interestingly the vast majority of the methods does not keep into consideration kinetics nor thermodynamics when devising predictors.

This article is categorized under:

Data Science > Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Data Science > Chemoinformatics