bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfonated graphene oxide impregnated cellulose acetate floated beads for adsorption of methylene blue dye: optimization using response surface methodology
Authors: Basha Islam K. , Abd El-Monaem Eman M. , Khalifa Randa E. , Omer Ahmed M. , Eltaweil Abdelazeem S.
Published: June 2022

New multi-featured adsorbent beads were fabricated through impregnation of sulfonated graphene (SGO) oxide into cellulose acetate (CA) beads for fast adsorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye. The formulated SGO@CA composite beads were thoroughly characterized by several tools including FTIR, TGA, SEM, XRD, XPS and zeta potential. The optimal levels of the most significant identified variables affecting the adsorption process were sequential determined by the response surface methodology (RSM) using Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken designs. The gained results denoted that the surface of SGO@CA beads displayed the higher negative charges (− 42.2 mV) compared to − 35.7 and − 38.7 mV for pristine CA and SGO, respectively. In addition, the floated SGO@CA beads demonstrated excellent floating property, fast adsorption and easy separation. The adsorption performance was accomplished rapidly, since the adsorption equilibrium was closely gotten within 30 min. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity was greatly improved with increasing SGO content from 10 to 30%. The obtained data were followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and agreed with Langmuir adsorption isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity reached 234.74 mg g−1. The thermodynamic studies designated the spontaneity and endothermic nature of MB dye adsorption. Besides, the floated beads exposed acceptable adsorption characteristics for six successive reuse cycles, in addition to their better adsorption selectivity towards MB dye compared to cationic crystal violet and anionic Congo red dyes. These findings assume that the formulated SGO@CA floated beads could be used effectively as highly efficient, easy separable and reusable adsorbents for the fast removal of toxic cationic dyes.
Back-translating GWAS findings to animal models reveals a role for Hgfac and Slc39a8 in alcohol and nicotine consumption
Authors: Banna F. K. El , Otto J. M. , Mulloy S. M. , Tsai W. , McElroy S. M. , Wong A. L. , Cutts G. , Vrieze S. I. , Lee A. M.
Published: June 2022

Alcohol and tobacco are the most commonly used addictive substances, with high comorbidity rates between alcohol use disorder and tobacco use disorder. Risk for alcohol and nicotine addiction is highly heritable, and they share common genetic factors. A GWAS in over 1 million individuals has revealed 566 genetic variants in 406 loci associated with multiple stages of alcohol and tobacco use. Three novel genes—SLC39A8, GRK4 and HGFAC—within loci associated with altered alcoholic drinks per week (ADW) or cigarettes per day (CPD) were selected to further study their role in alcohol and tobacco use disorder. The role of these genes was assessed using the two-bottle choice addiction paradigm in transgenic mice for each of the genes. We found significant decreases in chronic alcohol consumption and preference in femaleHgfacknockout (KO) mice, and decreased nicotine preference in maleHgfacKO compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Additionally, maleSlc39a8hypomorph mice showed greater overall nicotine preference compared with WT mice, while no differences were detected forGrk4KO mice in alcohol or nicotine consumption and preference in either sex. Thus, this study implicatesHgfacandSlc39a8in alcohol and tobacco use in a sex-specific manner.
A preliminary study on the strand stress of transmission line in tension setting out
Authors: Hu Xin , Zhang Qingming , Zhao Zezhong , Shang Cheng , Rui Xiaoming
Published: June 2022

Transmission lines often suffer from conductor damage during operation, most of which are caused by excessive local stress of aluminum strands. However, one of the causes of conductor damage may be the tension paying off passing the pulley. At the same time, there are relatively few researches on the damage of conductor causing by passing pulley. Therefore, this paper studies the inter strand stress characteristics of aluminum strand when tension paying off passes through the pulley. The influence of envelope angle, tension load and friction on the stress characteristics between aluminum strands is studied by numerical simulation. The results show that the equivalent stress of the neutral layer of the aluminum strand is small, and the maximum equivalent stress appears at the contact position of the adjacent strand. The larger the envelope angle and tension load of the aluminum strands, the greater the equivalent stress in the cross section. Furthermore, the friction between aluminum strands has a certain effect on reducing the equivalent stress in the cross section. The equivalent stress of the aluminum strand increases from the outer layer to the inner layer, so the inner aluminum strand is more likely to be damaged than the outer layer. Finally, the experiment and the simulation have both been carried on, and then it is shown that the stress value in the corresponding section has a good consistency.
Prostate cancer histopathology using label-free multispectral deep-UV microscopy quantifies phenotypes of tumor aggressiveness and enables multiple diagnostic virtual stains
Authors: Soltani Soheil , Ojaghi Ashkan , Qiao Hui , Kaza Nischita , Li Xinyang , Dai Qionghai , Osunkoya Adeboye O. , Robles Francisco E.
Published: June 2022

Identifying prostate cancer patients that are harboring aggressive forms of prostate cancer remains a significant clinical challenge. Here we develop an approach based on multispectral deep-ultraviolet (UV) microscopy that provides novel quantitative insight into the aggressiveness and grade of this disease, thus providing a new tool to help address this important challenge. We find that UV spectral signatures from endogenous molecules give rise to a phenotypical continuum that provides unique structural insight (i.e., molecular maps or “optical stains") of thin tissue sections with subcellular (nanoscale) resolution. We show that this phenotypical continuum can also be applied as a surrogate biomarker of prostate cancer malignancy, where patients with the most aggressive tumors show a ubiquitous glandular phenotypical shift. In addition to providing several novel “optical stains” with contrast for disease, we also adapt a two-part Cycle-consistent Generative Adversarial Network to translate the label-free deep-UV images into virtual hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images, thus providing multiple stains (including the gold-standard H&E) from the same unlabeled specimen. Agreement between the virtual H&E images and the H&E-stained tissue sections is evaluated by a panel of pathologists who find that the two modalities are in excellent agreement. This work has significant implications towards improving our ability to objectively quantify prostate cancer grade and aggressiveness, thus improving the management and clinical outcomes of prostate cancer patients. This same approach can also be applied broadly in other tumor types to achieve low-cost, stain-free, quantitative histopathological analysis.
Cdkl5 mutant zebrafish shows skeletal and neuronal alterations mimicking human CDKL5 deficiency disorder
Authors: Varela Tatiana , Varela Débora , Martins Gil , Conceição Natércia , Cancela M. Leonor
Published: June 2022

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a rare neurodevelopmental condition characterized primarily by seizures and impairment of cognitive and motor skills. Additional phenotypes include microcephaly, dysmorphic facial features, and scoliosis. Mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene, encoding a kinase essential for normal brain development and function, are responsible for CDD. Zebrafish is an accepted biomedical model for the study of several genetic diseases and has many advantages over other models. Therefore, this work aimed to characterize the phenotypic, behavioral, and molecular consequences of the Cdkl5 protein disruption in a cdkl5 mutant zebrafish line (sa21938). cdkl5sa21938 mutants displayed a reduced head size, suggesting microcephaly, a feature frequently observed in CDD individuals. Double staining revealed shorter craniofacial cartilage structures and decrease bone mineralization in cdkl5 homozygous zebrafish indicating an abnormal craniofacial cartilage development and impaired skeletal development. Motor behavior analysis showed that cdkl5sa21938 embryos had less frequency of double coiling suggesting impaired glutamatergic neurotransmission. Locomotor behavior analysis revealed that homozygous embryos swim shorter distances, indicative of impaired motor activity which is one of the main traits of CCD. Although no apparent spontaneous seizures were observed in these models, upon treatment with pentylenetetrazole, seizure behavior and an increase in the distance travelled were observed. Quantitative PCR showed that neuronal markers, including glutamatergic genes were dysregulated in cdkl5sa21938 mutant embryos. In conclusion, homozygous cdkl5sa21938 zebrafish mimic several characteristics of CDD, thus validating them as a suitable animal model to better understand the physiopathology of this disorder.
Non-covalent Fc-Fab interactions significantly alter internal dynamics of an IgG1 antibody
Authors: Natesan Ramakrishnan , Agrawal Neeraj J.
Published: June 2022

The fragment-antigen-binding arms (Fab1 and Fab2) in a canonical immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule have identical sequences and hence are always expected to exhibit symmetric conformations and dynamics. Using long all atom molecular simulations of a human IgG1 crystal structure 1HZH, we demonstrate that the translational and rotational dynamics of Fab1 and Fab2 also strongly depend on their interactions with each other and with the fragment-crystallizable (Fc) region. We show that the Fab2 arm in the 1HZH structure is non-covalently bound to the Fc region via long-lived hydrogen bonds, involving its light chain and both heavy chains of the Fc region. These highly stable interactions stabilize non-trivial conformer states with constrained fluctuations. We observe subtle modifications in Fab1 dynamics in response to Fab2-Fc interactions that points to novel allosteric interactions between the Fab arms. These results yield novel insights into the inter- and intra-fragment motions of immunoglobulins which could help us better understand the relation between their structure and function.
Utility of plasma circulating tumor DNA and tumor DNA profiles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chikuie Nobuyuki , Urabe Yuji , Ueda Tsutomu , Hamamoto Takao , Taruya Takayuki , Kono Takashi , Yumii Kohei , Takeno Sachio
Published: June 2022

Early recurrence detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is important for improving prognosis. Recently, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been reported to be useful in early detection or treatment response determination in various carcinomas. This study aimed to identify the utility of ctDNA for predicting recurrent metastasis in patients with HNSCC. We collected pre-treatment tissues (malignant and normal tissues) and multiple plasma samples before and after treatment for 20 cases of HNSCC treated with radical therapy. ctDNA was detected in pre-treatment plasma in 10 cases; however, there were no significant associations with tumor recurrence and staging. During follow-up, ctDNA was detected in 5 of the 7 plasma samples of recurrent cases but not in the 13 recurrence-free cases. Moreover, there was a significant difference in post-treatment relapse-free survival time between the groups with and without detected ctDNA (20.6 ± 7.7 vs. 9.6 ± 9.1 months, respectively; log-rank test, p < 0.01). Moreover, for two of the five cases with ctDNA detected after treatment, ctDNA detection was a more sensitive predictor of recurrence than imaging studies. ctDNA detection during treatment follow-up was useful in patients with HNSCC for predicting the response to treatment and recurrent metastasis.
Clinical significance of metabolic quantification for retinal nonperfusion in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Jeong Areum , Yao Xue , van Hemert Jano , Sagong Min
Published: June 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by microvascular changes including ischemia. Degradation and metabolic changes of various retinal cells occur during ischemia. Ischemic region containing more cells will lead to greater metabolic impairment. We analyzed the non-perfusion region (NPR) by integrating histologic mapping with ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWF FA) images. We also investigated the correlations of the weighted ischemic index (ISI) considering the regional distribution of retinal cells with cytokines, macular edema (ME), and neovascularization (NV). In this study, 32 patients with treatment-naïve DR and 21 age-matched control participants were included. The difference between the non-weighted and weighted ISI of NPR with leakage was greatest at the posterior region. The weighted ISI of NPR with leakage was correlated with MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, PlGF, and VEGF-A levels, while the non-weighted ISI of NPR with leakage was correlated with IL-8 and IL-6 levels. The presence of baseline ME or NV in patients with DR was associated with the weighted ISI, with a stronger association when cones and rods were weighted. The weighted ISI reflecting both metabolic activity and cell distribution demonstrated a better correlation with clinical features and was more valuable in NPR with leakage than non-weighted ISI, which previous studies conventionally used.
Predicting persistent central serous chorioretinopathy using multiple optical coherence tomographic images by deep learning
Authors: Jee Donghyun , Yoon Ji Hyun , Ra Ho , Kwon Jin-woo , Baek Jiwon
Published: June 2022

We sought to predict whether central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) will persist after 6 months using multiple optical coherence tomography (OCT) images by deep convolutional neural network (CNN). This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study. Multiple OCT images, including B-scan and en face images of retinal thickness (RT), mid-retina, ellipsoid zone (EZ) layer, and choroidal layer, were collected from 832 eyes of 832 CSC patients (593 self-resolving and 239 persistent). Each image set and concatenated set were divided into training (70%), validation (15%), and test (15%) sets. Training and validation were performed using ResNet50 CNN architecture for predicting CSC requiring treatment. Model performance was analyzed using the test set. The accuracy of prediction was 0.8072, 0.9200, 0.6480, and 0.9200 for B-scan, RT, mid-retina, EZ, and choroid modalities, respectively. When image sets with high accuracy were concatenated, the accuracy was 0.9520, 0.8800, and 0.9280 for B-scan + RT, B-scan + EZ, and EZ + RT, respectively. OCT B-scan, RT, and EZ en face images demonstrated good performances for predicting the prognosis of CSC using CNN. The performance improved when these sets were concatenated. The results of this study can serve as a reference for choosing an optimal treatment for CSC patients.
An equilibrium optimizer slime mould algorithm for inverse kinematics of the 7-DOF robotic manipulator
Authors: Yin Shihong , Luo Qifang , Zhou Guo , Zhou Yongquan , Zhu Binwen
Published: June 2022

In order to solve the inverse kinematics (IK) of complex manipulators efficiently, a hybrid equilibrium optimizer slime mould algorithm (EOSMA) is proposed. Firstly, the concentration update operator of the equilibrium optimizer is used to guide the anisotropic search of the slime mould algorithm to improve the search efficiency. Then, the greedy strategy is used to update the individual and global historical optimal to accelerate the algorithm’s convergence. Finally, the random difference mutation operator is added to EOSMA to increase the probability of escaping from the local optimum. On this basis, a multi-objective EOSMA (MOEOSMA) is proposed. Then, EOSMA and MOEOSMA are applied to the IK of the 7 degrees of freedom manipulator in two scenarios and compared with 15 single-objective and 9 multi-objective algorithms. The results show that EOSMA has higher accuracy and shorter computation time than previous studies. In two scenarios, the average convergence accuracy of EOSMA is 10e−17 and 10e−18, and the average solution time is 0.05 s and 0.36 s, respectively.
Comparative analysis of two Korean irises (Iris ruthenica and I. uniflora, Iridaceae) based on plastome sequencing and micromorphology
Authors: Choi Bokyung , Park Inkyu , So Soonku , Myeong Hyeon-Ho , Ryu Jangseung , Ahn Yu-Eun , Shim Kyu-Chan , Song Jun-Ho , Jang Tae-Soo
Published: June 2022

Iris ruthenica Ker Gawl. and I. uniflora Pall. ex Link, which are rare and endangered species in Korea, possess considerable horticultural and medicinal value among Korean irises. However, discrimination of the species is hindered by extensive morphological similarity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify discriminating features by comparing the species’ complete plastid genome (i.e., plastome) sequences and micromorphological features, including leaf margins, stomatal complex distribution (hypostomatic vs. amphistomatic leaves), anther stomata density, and tepal epidermal cell patterns. Plastome comparison revealed slightly divergent regions within intergenic spacer regions, and the most variable sequences, which were distributed in non-coding regions, could be used as molecular markers for the discrimination of I. ruthenica and I. uniflora. Phylogenetic analysis of the Iris species revealed that I. ruthenica and I. uniflora formed a well-supported clade. The comparison of plastomes and micromorphological features performed in this study provides useful information for elucidating taxonomic, phylogenetic, and evolutionary relationships in Iridaceae. Further studies, including those based on molecular cytogenetic approaches using species specific markers, will offer insights into species delimitation of the two closely related Iris species.
Concrete-to-concrete shear friction behavior under cyclic loading: experimental investigation
Authors: Taklas Mohamad , Leblouba Moussa , Barakat Samer , Fageeri Ahmed , Mohamad Firass
Published: June 2022

This study investigated the concrete-to-concrete friction behavior under dynamic cyclic loading at different loading rates, vertical loads, and surface roughness. The present work answers essential questions about the dynamic behavior of concrete-to-concrete friction since most of the available literature deals with static or quasi-static loading conditions. To this end, an experimental program was devised by casting 96 concrete blocks. A total of 48 dynamic push–pull tests were performed on each pair of blocks (mobile top block and fixed bottom block). Test variables included three types of surface roughness, four different loading rates, and two normal stresses. Performance measures included the static and dynamic friction forces coefficients of static and kinetic friction in addition to effective stiffness and effective damping. Moreover, the test results showed that the static and kinetic friction coefficients, effective stiffness, and effective damping decrease with increasing loading rates. Moreover, increasing the normal stress increases the friction force, thus increasing the effective stiffness and reducing the effective damping surface for all surface roughness types. The effects of test variables on the hysteresis behavior were also investigated.
Calibration of miniature air quality detector monitoring data with PCA–RVM–NAR combination model
Authors: Liu Bing , Zhang Yirui
Published: June 2022

The development of miniature air quality detectors makes it possible for humans to monitor air quality in real time and grid. However, the accuracy of measuring pollutants by miniature air quality detectors needs to be improved. In this paper, the PCA–RVM–NAR combined model is proposed to calibrate the measurement accuracy of the miniature air quality detector. First, correlation analysis is used to find out the main factors affecting pollutant concentrations. Second, principal component analysis is used to reduce the dimensionality of these main factors and extract their main information. Thirdly, taking the extracted principal components as independent variables and the observed values of pollutant concentrations as dependent variables, a PCA–RVM model is established by the relevance vector machine. Finally, the nonlinear autoregressive neural network is used to correct the error and finally complete the establishment of the PCA–RVM–NAR model. Root mean square error, goodness of fit, mean absolute error and relative mean absolute percent error are used to compare the calibration effect of PCA–RVM–NAR model and other commonly used models such as multiple linear regression model, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron neural network and nonlinear autoregressive models with exogenous input. The results show that, no matter which pollutant, the PCA–RVM–NAR model achieves better calibration results than other models in the four indicators. Using this model to correct the data of the miniature air quality detector can improve its accuracy by 77.8–93.9%.
Deep learning features encode interpretable morphologies within histological images
Authors: Foroughi pour Ali , White Brian S. , Park Jonghanne , Sheridan Todd B. , Chuang Jeffrey H.
Published: June 2022

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are revolutionizing digital pathology by enabling machine learning-based classification of a variety of phenotypes from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) whole slide images (WSIs), but the interpretation of CNNs remains difficult. Most studies have considered interpretability in a post hoc fashion, e.g. by presenting example regions with strongly predicted class labels. However, such an approach does not explain the biological features that contribute to correct predictions. To address this problem, here we investigate the interpretability of H&E-derived CNN features (the feature weights in the final layer of a transfer-learning-based architecture). While many studies have incorporated CNN features into predictive models, there has been little empirical study of their properties. We show such features can be construed as abstract morphological genes (“mones”) with strong independent associations to biological phenotypes. Many mones are specific to individual cancer types, while others are found in multiple cancers especially from related tissue types. We also observe that mone-mone correlations are strong and robustly preserved across related cancers. Importantly, linear mone-based classifiers can very accurately separate 38 distinct classes (19 tumor types and their adjacent normals, AUC = $$97.1\% \pm 2.8\%$$97.1%±2.8%for each class prediction), and linear classifiers are also highly effective for universal tumor detection (AUC = $$99.2\% \pm 0.12\%$$99.2%±0.12%). This linearity provides evidence that individual mones or correlated mone clusters may be associated with interpretable histopathological features or other patient characteristics. In particular, the statistical similarity of mones to gene expression values allows integrative mone analysis via expression-based bioinformatics approaches. We observe strong correlations between individual mones and individual gene expression values, notably mones associated with collagen gene expression in ovarian cancer. Mone-expression comparisons also indicate that immunoglobulin expression can be identified using mones in colon adenocarcinoma and that immune activity can be identified across multiple cancer types, and we verify these findings by expert histopathological review. Our work demonstrates that mones provide a morphological H&E decomposition that can be effectively associated with diverse phenotypes, analogous to the interpretability of transcription via gene expression values. Our work also demonstrates mones can be interpreted without using a classifier as a proxy.
E-learning is a burden for the deaf and hard of hearing
Authors: Rodrigues Filipa M. , Abreu Ana Maria , Holmström Ingela , Mineiro Ana
Published: June 2022

When considering deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) population, research recognizes that fatigue due to communication challenges and multi-focal attention allocation is a significant concern. Given the putative heightened demands of distance learning on deaf and hard of hearing students, we investigate how an online environment might differently affect deaf and hard of hearing participants, compared to hearing participants, Portuguese Sign Language (PSL) users and non-users. Our findings show that the deaf and hard of hearing group present higher values in the post-task fatigue rates with significant differences from the hearing group (non-PSL users). Furthermore, our results revealed an association between post-task fatigue rates and lower performance scores for the deaf and hard of hearing group, and the gap is significantly bigger when compared with the hearing group (non-PSL users). We also found evidence for high levels of post-task fatigue and lower performance scores in the hearing group PSL users. These novel data contribute to the discussion concerning of the pros and cons of digital migration and help redesign more accessible and equitable methodologies and approaches, especially in the DHH educational field, ultimately supporting policymakers in redefining optimal learning strategies.
Extracurricular sports activities modify the proprioceptive map in children aged 5–8 years
Authors: Wang Can , Gao Jie , Deng Zhiqing , Zhang Yichong , Zheng Chao , Liu Xiaoli , Sperandio Irene , Chen Juan
Published: June 2022

The Chinese government has recently issued the strictest ever guideline to improve the compulsory education system. The new policy aims at reducing the burden of excessive homework and supplementary tutoring, whilst promoting extracurricular activities, including sports and arts, for primary and junior middle school students. To examine the impact that this reform might have on sensory development—which is critical for higher-order cognitive functions—we assessed proprioceptive abilities in children from 5 to 8 years of age. Proprioception refers to sensations of position and motion of the body in space and is mediated by activity in somatosensory and prefrontal cortical areas. By asking participants to perform position matching tasks in the forward–backward directions, we were able to compare the proprioceptive maps of children with and without regular sports training. We demonstrate that extracurricular sports activities can modify the proprioceptive map and improve proprioceptive acuity and stability in school-aged children.
Double-frequency grating shearing interferometer with built-in phase-shifting function for robust multi-level phase retrieval
Authors: Yu Yeh-Wei , Hou Tsung-Yi , Yang Tsung-Hsun , Sun Ching-Cherng
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a novel interferometer and signal process to retrieve two-dimensional signals with multilevel phases. The interferometer is based on a shearing interferometry with double-frequency grating, and phase-shifting interferometry is derived as a built-in function of the lateral displacement of the grating. The interferometer not only retrieves the multilevel phase signals but also eliminates slow-varying phase errors wherever they occur. Owing to the common path algorithm, the new interferometer is more robust in dynamic circumstances for optical testing and data processing. We propose a pre-integral signal process for two-dimensional (2D) data processing to prevent post-phase-integral due to shearing interferometry. The simulation and experiment showed that the proposed interferometer with a pre-integral process has various advantages in signal processing for multilevel phase retrieval, and will be useful for higher data rates in optical data storage and free-space communication.
Jaw1/LRMP increases Ca2+ influx upon GPCR stimulation with heterogeneous effect on the activity of each ITPR subtype
Authors: Okumura Wataru , Kozono Takuma , Sato Hiroyuki , Matsui Hitomi , Takagi Tsubasa , Tonozuka Takashi , Nishikawa Atsushi
Published: June 2022

Ca2+influx upon G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) stimulation is observed as a cytosolic Ca2+concentration oscillation crucial to initiating downstream responses including cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell–cell communication. Although Jaw1 is known to interact with inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (ITPRs), Ca2+channels on the endoplasmic reticulum, the function of Jaw1 in the Ca2+dynamics with physiological stimulation remains unclear. In this study, using inducible Jaw1-expressing HEK293 cells, we showed that Jaw1 increases Ca2+influx by GPCR stimulation via changing the Ca2+influx oscillation pattern. Furthermore, we showed that Jaw1 increases the Ca2+release activity of all ITPR subtypes in a subtly different manner. It is well known that the Ca2+influx oscillation pattern varies from cell type to cell type, therefore these findings provide an insight into the relationship between the heterogeneous Ca2+dynamics and the specific ITPR and Jaw1 expression patterns.
Screening and purification of NanB sialidase from Pasteurella multocida with activity in hydrolyzing sialic acid Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal
Authors: Nugroho Christian Marco Hadi , Kurnia Ryan Septa , Tarigan Simson , Silaen Otto Sahat Martua , Triwidyaningtyas Silvia , Wibawan I. Wayan Teguh , Natalia Lily , Takdir Andi Khomeini , Soebandrio Amin
Published: June 2022

Study on sialidases as antiviral agents has been widely performed, but many types of sialidase have not been tested for their antiviral activity. Pasteurella multocida NanB sialidase is one such sialidase that has never been isolated for further research. In this study, the activity of NanB sialidase was investigated in silico by docking the NanB sialidase of Pasteurella multocida to the Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal ligands. Additionally, some local isolates of Pasteurella multocida, which had the NanB gene were screened, and the proteins were isolated for further testing regarding their activity in hydrolyzing Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal. Silico studies showed that the NanB sialidase possesses an exceptional affinity towards forming a protein–ligand complex with Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal. NanB sialidase of Pasteurella multocida B018 at 0.129 U/mL and 0.258 U/mL doses can hydrolyze Neu5Acα(2–6)Gal and Neu5Acα(2–3)Gal better than other doses. In addition, those doses can inhibit effectively H9N2 viral binding to red blood cells. This study suggested that the NanB sialidase of Pasteurella multocida B018 has a potent antiviral activity because can hydrolyze sialic acid on red blood cells surface and inhibit the H9N2 viral binding to the cells.
Neural network-based clustering model of ischemic stroke patients with a maximally distinct distribution of 1-year vascular outcomes
Authors: Kim Joon-Tae , Kim Nu Ri , Choi Su Hoon , Oh Seungwon , Park Man-Seok , Lee Seung-Han , Kim Byeong C. , Choi Jonghyun , Kim Min Soo
Published: June 2022

Clustering stroke patients with similar characteristics to predict subsequent vascular outcome events is critical. This study aimed to compare several clustering methods, particularly a deep neural network-based model, and identify the best clustering method with a maximally distinct 1-year outcome in patients with ischemic stroke. Prospective stroke registry data from a comprehensive stroke center from January 2011 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset were included. The primary outcomes were the composite of all strokes (either hemorrhagic or ischemic), myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality within one year. Neural network-based clustering models (deep lifetime clustering) were compared with other clustering models (k-prototype and semi-supervised clustering, SSC) and a conventional risk score (Stroke Prognostic Instrument-II, SPI-II) to obtain a distinct distribution of 1-year vascular events. Ultimately, 7,650 patients were included, and the 1-year primary outcome event occurred in 13.1%. The DLC-Kuiper UB model had a significantly higher C-index (0.674), log-rank score (153.1), and Brier score (0.08) than the other cluster models (SSC and DLC-MMD) and the SPI-II score. There were significant differences in primary outcome events among the 3 clusters (41.7%, 13.4%, and 6.5% in clusters 0, 1, and 2, respectively) when the DLC-Kuiper UB model was used. A neural network-based clustering model, the DLC-Kuiper UB model, can improve the clustering of stroke patients with a maximally distinct distribution of 1-year vascular outcomes among each cluster. Further studies are warranted to validate this deep neural network-based clustering model in ischemic stroke.
Expression pattern and clinical significance of β-catenin gene and protein in patients with primary malignant and benign bone tumors
Authors: Khademian Narges , Mirzaei Alireza , Hosseini Ameinh , Zare Leila , Nazem Shima , Babaheidarian Pegah , Sheikhi Alireza , Abdolvahabi Zohreh , Ibrahimi Mostafa , Jamshidi Khodamorad , Rahbar Mahtab , Salimi Vahid , Tavakoli-Yaraki Masoumeh
Published: June 2022

This study is aimed to unravel the status of local and circulating β-catenin in different primary bone tumors and its relevance to tumor types, severity, and chemotherapy. The β-catenin mRNA expression level and the expression of the protein (intensity level) were evaluated in tumor tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 150 patients with different types of primary bone tumors (78 malignant and 72 benign tumors) using Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The β-catenin mRNA expression level and the expression of the protein were increased in bone tumors which was positively correlated with the tumor malignancy. Amongst osteosarcoma, Ewing's Sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteochondroma, Giant Cell Tumor, and exostosis tumors, the osteosarcoma, and Giant Cell Tumor groups showed the highest level of β-catenin expression. The β-catenin expression in malignant bone tumors was significantly correlated with tumor grade, size, metastasis, tumor recurrent, and the level of response to chemotherapy. A similar pattern of β-catenin gene expression and its association with tumor characteristics was detected in the patient's peripheral blood cells. The simultaneous increase in the expression of the β-catenin gene and protein in tumor tissue and in circulating blood cells and its relationship with tumor severity indicates the possible promoting role of β-catenin in primary bone tumor pathogenesis.
Mitochondrial genome of Garcinia mangostana L. variety Mesta
Authors: Wee Ching-Ching , Nor Muhammad Nor Azlan , Subbiah Vijay Kumar , Arita Masanori , Nakamura Yasukazu , Goh Hoe-Han
Published: June 2022

Fruits ofGarcinia mangostanaL. (mangosteen) are rich in nutrients with xanthones found in the pericarp having great pharmaceutical potential. Mangosteen variety Mesta is only found in Malaysia, which tastes sweeter than the common Manggis variety in Southeast Asia. In this study, we report the complete mitogenome ofG. mangostanaL. variety Mesta with a total sequence length of 371,235 bp of which 1.7% could be of plastid origin. The overall GC content of the mitogenome is 43.8%, comprising 29 protein-coding genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 21 tRNA genes. Repeat and tandem repeat sequences accounted for 5.8% and 0.15% of the Mesta mitogenome, respectively. There are 333 predicted RNA-editing sites in Mesta mitogenome. These include the RNA-editing events that generated the start codon ofnad1gene and the stop codon ofccmFCgene. Phylogenomic analysis using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis methods showed that the mitogenome of mangosteen variety Mesta was grouped under Malpighiales order. This is the first complete mitogenome from theGarciniagenus for future evolutionary studies.
Three-dimensional structure and transport pathways of dust aerosols over West Asia
Authors: Gandham Harikishan , Dasari Hari Prasad , Karumuri Ashok , Ravuri Phani Murali Krishna , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: June 2022

This study investigates the seasonal climatology of the three-dimensional distribution and transport pathways of dust aerosols over West Asia (WA). Dust column loading over WA exhibits strong seasonality, with markedly high (weak) loading during summer (winter). The summer dust features over WA include the (i) dust reaching up to the 500 hPa level between the Red Sea (RS) and the west coast of the Indian subcontinent (IS); (ii) a slantwise advection of dust aerosols between 850 and 700 hPa levels over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) and Arabian Sea (AS); and (iii) a prominent mid-tropospheric zonal transport of AP dust toward the IS. Maximum column integrated horizontal dust mass flux (DMF) over WA is observed in summer. The intraday changes in the intensity and spatial spread of the DMF over the AP are mediated by the out-of-phase evolution of the surface winds and low-level Shamal jets. Furthermore, the diurnal changes in the strength of the inversion layers located above the monsoon boundary layer and associated wind shear regulate the spatial patterns and intensity of the DMF over the AS. The findings will support future studies aiming at quantifying the radiative effects of dust on the regional climate.
Spotted lanternfly predicted to establish in California by 2033 without preventative management
Authors: Jones Chris , Skrip Megan M. , Seliger Benjamin J. , Jones Shannon , Wakie Tewodros , Takeuchi Yu , Petras Vaclav , Petrasova Anna , Meentemeyer Ross K.
Published: June 2022

Models that are both spatially and temporally dynamic are needed to forecast where and when non-native pests and pathogens are likely to spread, to provide advance information for natural resource managers. The potential US range of the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF, Lycorma delicatula) has been modeled, but until now, when it could reach the West Coast’s multi-billion-dollar fruit industry has been unknown. We used process-based modeling to forecast the spread of SLF assuming no treatments to control populations occur. We found that SLF has a low probability of first reaching the grape-producing counties of California by 2027 and a high probability by 2033. Our study demonstrates the importance of spatio-temporal modeling for predicting the spread of invasive species to serve as an early alert for growers and other decision makers to prepare for impending risks of SLF invasion. It also provides a baseline for comparing future control options.
Nano-encapsulation of polyphenols in starch nanoparticles: fabrication, characterization and evaluation
Authors: Lian Fengli , Gong Ersheng , Liang Hanni , Lin Yanyun , Chen Jun , He Yunxia , Hebelstrup Kim Henrik , Xia Wen
Published: June 2022

Nanoparticles are more promising than microcapsules as drug carriers because they can be absorbed directly by intestinal epithelial cells, significantly increasing the uptake and bioaccessibility of polyphenols.
Ion storage performance of a polymer for mono-, di- and tri-valent metal ions in non-aqueous electrolytes
Authors: Tripathy Debashis , Viswanatha H. M. , Harish M. N. K. , Sampath Srinivasan
Published: June 2022

A conjugated benzoquinone-pyrrole polymer is employed as a universal electrode for non-aqueous Li, Zn and Al-ion batteries that delivers a high capacity and high-rate performance with thousands of stable cycles.
Improvement in pollutant controlling performance by modified aggregate structure in extensive green roof substrate layer
Authors: Zhang Junyu , Xu Chen , Fu Dafang , Liu Weixing
Published: June 2022

The addition of 2% PAC to the extensive green roof substrate layer can result in the formation of an excellent aggregate structure and improve the NO3−–N, TN and TP-controlling performance of extensive green roofs during heavy rainfall events.
Optical humidity sensors based on lead-free Cu-based perovskite nanomaterials
Authors: Lee Hoseok , Lee Donghwa , Jin Haedam , Baek Dohun , Kim Mi Kyong , Cha Jeongbeom , Kim Sung-Kon , Kim Min
Published: June 2022

In this study, methylammonium copper halide perovskite nanoparticles are successfully synthesized via a reprecipitation method for application in optical humidity sensors, detecting relative humidity from 7% to 98%.
Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of the needle-like SrMoO4decorated g-C3N4heterostructure for degradation of tetracycline
Authors: Li Yuzhen , Tan Siyang , Wang Shaojie , Li Xin , Gao Lizhen
Published: June 2022

Photocatalytic mechanism diagram of SrMoO4/g-C3N4.
A cobalt-based metal–organic framework electrodeposited on nickel foam as a binder-free electrode for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Yu Yue , Han Yan , Cui Jian , Wang Caiyun
Published: June 2022

Co-MOF/NF has been prepared by cathodic electrodeposition using highly active cobalt as a surface modifier, and shows improved capacitance performances.
Efficient broadband near-infrared emission induced by Nb5+ substitution for Ta5+ in GaTa1−yNbyO4:Cr3+ phosphor
Authors: Lou Lulu , Zhao Shuang , Yuan Shuwen , Zhu Daoyun , Wu Fugen , Mu Zhongfei
Published: June 2022

An ultra-high external quantum efficiency (EQE ≈ 49.4%) is achieved by substituting Ta5+ with Nb5+ in GaTa1−yNbyO4:Cr3+ phosphor.
Intrinsic toughened conductive thermosetting epoxy resins: utilizing dynamic bond and electrical conductivity to access electric and thermal dual-driven shape memory
Authors: Zhao Shiwei , Liu Qinfeng , Yuan Anqian , Liu Zhimeng , Zhou Shiyi , Fu Xiaowei , Lei Jingxin , Jiang Liang
Published: June 2022

Epoxy resins are currently the most widely used thermosetting polymers due to their high thermal stability, excellent electrical insulation, and chemical resistance.
Coumarin derivatives inhibit the aggregation of β-lactoglobulin
Authors: Parvej Hasan , Begum Shahnaz , Dalui Ramkrishna , Paul Swarnali , Mondal Barun , Sardar Subrata , Sepay Nayim , Maiti Gourhari , Halder Umesh Chandra
Published: June 2022

Aggregation of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) was inhibited through the stabilization of the native structure by various non-covalent interactions of coumarin derivatives. The 8-hydroxy compound was most effective against the self-assembly of β-lg.
Influence of electrochemical co-deposition of bimetallic Pt–Pd nanoclusters on polypyrrole modified ITO for enhanced oxidation of 4-(hydroxymethyl) pyridine
Authors: M Bharath , Mathew Agnus T. , K B Akshaya , Sirimahachai Uraiwan , Varghese Anitha , Hegde Gurumurthy
Published: June 2022

Bimetallic Pt–Pd nanoparticles were dispersed on polypyrrole coated indium–tin oxide coated polyethylene terephthalate sheets (ITO-PET sheets).
Polymerization-induced self-assembly and disassembly during the synthesis of thermoresponsive ABC triblock copolymer nano-objects in aqueous solution
Authors: Varlas Spyridon , Neal Thomas J. , Armes Steven P.
Published: June 2022

Chain extension of linear AB diblock copolymer vesicles by seeded RAFT aqueous dispersion polymerization using a hydrophilic monomer C leads to polymerization-induced disassembly to form lower-order thermoresponsive ABC triblock copolymer nano-objects.
A dog nose-inspired high-performance NH3 gas sensor of biomass carbon materials with a pleated structure derived from rose tea
Authors: Sun Qihua , Wu Zhaofeng , Qin Zhangjie , Chen Xuan , Zhang Chuanchuan , Cao Biaobing , Duan Haiming , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2022

Inspired by the pleated structure of dog’s maxillary turbinate, porous CRT with pleated structure is successfully prepared by carbonization of rose tea and applied to gas-sensitive detection for the first time.
A quinoxalinophenazinedione covalent triazine framework for boosted high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Yiyun , Wang Xinlei , Tang Jian , Tang Weihua
Published: June 2022

A quinoxalinophenazinedione covalent triazine framework has been developed to boost the performance of AZIBs. Featuring H+/Zn2+ co-insertion and rich redox active sites, the AZIB exhibits 404 mA h g−1 energy density and excellent capacity retention.
Ideal dopant to increase charge separation efficiency in hematite photoanodes: germanium
Authors: Henrique de Matos Rodrigues Murillo , Rodriguez-Gutierréz Ingrid , Ospina Ramirez Carlos Alberto , Rodrigo Costa Carlos Alberto , Biffe Cleyton Alexandre , Batista de Souza Junior João , Souza Flavio Leandro , Leite Edson Roberto
Published: June 2022

The germanium improves the electronic conductivity and increases the majority carrier mobility, resulting in a photocurrent of 3.2 mA cm−2.
Manganese dioxide nanosheet-containing reactors as antioxidant support for neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Savchak Oksana K. , Wang Nanying , Ramos-Docampo Miguel A. , de Dios Andres Paula , Sebastião Ana M. , Ribeiro Filipa F. , Armada-Moreira Adam , Städler Brigitte , Vaz Sandra H.
Published: June 2022

Reactors equipped with manganese dioxide nanosheets can protect mammalian cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide. Especially, small reactors that can self-navigate in solution showed an enhanced removal of ROS.
Pure blue phosphorescent platinum(ii) emitters supported by NHC-based pincer type ligands with unitary emission quantum yields
Authors: Liu Jie , Lam Tsz-Lung , Sit Man-Ki , Wan Qingyun , Yang Chen , Cheng Gang , Che Chi-Ming
Published: June 2022

Pincer [Pt(CNHC^CAr^CNHC)L] complexes are excellent emissive dopants and sensitizers for high-efficiency pure blue phosphorescent OLEDs and sky blue phosphor-sensitized fluorescent OLEDs delivering outstanding blue indexes of 229 and 122, respectively.
Novel optimal time selection method for synthetic aperture radar data processing via expectation‐maximization algorithm
Authors: Cao Rui , Wang Yong
Published: June 2022

A novel optimal time selection method for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data processing via the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm is proposed, which can reduce the computational complexity and improve the image quality simultaneously. First, the Doppler frequency feature after the SAR processing is analyzed from the point of probability. Then, the Doppler frequency is modelled as the Gaussian mixture model (GMM), and the issue of optimal time selection can be implemented by the parameter estimation of GMM. The results of simulated and real measured data are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Regularised task‐related component analysis for robust SSVEP‐based brain‐computer interface
Authors: Lee H. K. , Choi Y.‐S.
Published: June 2022

Recent advancements in steady‐state visual evoked potential‐based brain‐computer interface have been made possible by the widespread use of various spatial filtering methods. Task‐related component analysis has superiority over existing subject‐specific target frequency recognition methods. However, the optimised spatial filters of task‐related component analysis generated from a small training dataset are susceptible to artefacts and noise, which can be overfitted, particularly in short time windows. To tackle this issue, the authors propose a regularised task‐related component analysis that adopts three regularisation approaches to the objective function of task‐related component analysis. Conventionally, the regularisation method is a simple and efficient way to overcome the overfitting problem, especially for a small training dataset. To this end, the proposed regularised task‐related component analyses outperform the conventional task‐related component analysis in terms of average classification accuracy and information transfer rate.