bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SDS22 coordinates the assembly of holoenzymes from nascent protein phosphatase-1
Authors: Cao Xinyu , Lake Madryn , Van der Hoeven Gerd , Claes Zander , del Pino García Javier , Lemaire Sarah , Greiner Elora C. , Karamanou Spyridoula , Van Eynde Aleyde , Kettenbach Arminja N. , Natera de Benito Daniel , Carrera García Laura , Hernando Davalillo Cristina , Ortez Carlos , Nascimento Andrés , Urreizti Roser , Bollen Mathieu
Published: June 2024

SDS22 forms an inactive complex with nascent protein phosphatase PP1 and Inhibitor-3. SDS22:PP1:Inhibitor-3 is a substrate for the ATPase p97/VCP, which liberates PP1 for binding to canonical regulatory subunits. The exact role of SDS22 in PP1-holoenzyme assembly remains elusive. Here, we show that SDS22 stabilizes nascent PP1. In the absence of SDS22, PP1 is gradually lost, resulting in substrate hyperphosphorylation and a proliferation arrest. Similarly, we identify a female individual with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder bearing an unstable SDS22 mutant, associated with decreased PP1 levels. We furthermore find that SDS22 directly binds to Inhibitor-3 and that this is essential for the stable assembly of SDS22:PP1: Inhibitor-3, the recruitment of p97/VCP, and the extraction of SDS22 during holoenzyme assembly. SDS22 with a disabled Inhibitor-3 binding site co-transfers with PP1 to canonical regulatory subunits, thereby forming non-functional holoenzymes. Our data show that SDS22, through simultaneous interaction with PP1 and Inhibitor-3, integrates the major steps of PP1 holoenzyme assembly.
Analysis of striatal connectivity corresponding to striosomes and matrix in de novo Parkinson’s disease and isolated REM behavior disorder
Authors: Marecek S. , Krajca T. , Krupicka R. , Sojka P. , Nepozitek J. , Varga Z. , Mala C. , Keller J. , Waugh J. L. , Zogala D. , Trnka J. , Sonka K. , Ruzicka E. , Dusek P.
Published: June 2024

Striosomes and matrix are two compartments that comprise the striatum, each having its own distinct immunohistochemical properties, function, and connectivity. It is currently not clear whether prodromal or early manifest Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with any striatal matrix or striosomal abnormality. Recently, a method of striatal parcellation using probabilistic tractography has been described and validated, using the distinct connectivity of these two compartments to identify voxels with striosome- and matrix-like connectivity. The goal of this study was to use this approach in tandem with DAT-SPECT, a method used to quantify the level of nigrostriatal denervation, to analyze the striatum in populations of de novo diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients with PD, isolated REM behavioral disorder (iRBD) patients, and healthy controls. We discovered a shift in striatal connectivity, which showed correlation with nigrostriatal denervation. Patients with PD exhibited a significantly higher matrix-like volume and associated connectivity than healthy controls and higher matrix-associated connectivity than iRBD patients. In contrast, the side with less pronounced nigrostriatal denervation in PD and iRBD patients showed a decrease in striosome-like volume and associated connectivity indices. These findings could point to a compensatory neuroplastic mechanism in the context of nigrostriatal denervation and open a new avenue in the investigation of the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease.
Prediction of motor and non-motor Parkinson’s disease symptoms using serum lipidomics and machine learning: a 2-year study
Authors: Galper Jasmin , Mori Giorgia , McDonald Gordon , Ahmadi Rastegar Diba , Pickford Russell , Lewis Simon J. G. , Halliday Glenda M. , Kim Woojin S. , Dzamko Nicolas
Published: June 2024

Identifying biological factors which contribute to the clinical progression of heterogeneous motor and non-motor phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease may help to better understand the disease process. Several lipid-related genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease have been identified, and the serum lipid signature of Parkinson’s disease patients is significantly distinguishable from controls. However, the extent to which lipid profiles are associated with clinical outcomes remains unclear. Untargeted high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified >900 serum lipids in Parkinson’s disease subjects at baseline (n = 122), and the potential for machine learning models using these lipids to predict motor and non-motor clinical scores after 2 years (n = 67) was assessed. Machine learning models performed best when baseline serum lipids were used to predict the 2-year future Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale part three (UPDRS III) and Geriatric Depression Scale scores (both normalised root mean square error = 0.7). Feature analysis of machine learning models indicated that species of lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, platelet-activating factor, sphingomyelin, diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol were top predictors of both motor and non-motor scores. Serum lipids were overall more important predictors of clinical outcomes than subject sex, age and mutation status of the Parkinson’s disease risk gene LRRK2. Furthermore, lipids were found to better predict clinical scales than a panel of 27 serum cytokines previously measured in this cohort (The Michael J. Fox Foundation LRRK2 Clinical Cohort Consortium). These results suggest that lipid changes may be associated with clinical phenotypes in Parkinson’s disease.
CMRxRecon: A publicly available k-space dataset and benchmark to advance deep learning for cardiac MRI
Authors: Wang Chengyan , Lyu Jun , Wang Shuo , Qin Chen , Guo Kunyuan , Zhang Xinyu , Yu Xiaotong , Li Yan , Wang Fanwen , Jin Jianhua , Shi Zhang , Xu Ziqiang , Tian Yapeng , Hua Sha , Chen Zhensen , Liu Meng , Sun Mengting , Kuang Xutong , Wang Kang , Wang Haoran , Li Hao , Chu Yinghua , Yang Guang , Bai Wenjia , Zhuang Xiahai , Wang He , Qin Jing , Qu Xiaobo
Published: June 2024

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool for cardiac diseases. However, a significant drawback of CMR is its slow imaging speed, resulting in low patient throughput and compromised clinical diagnostic quality. The limited temporal resolution also causes patient discomfort and introduces artifacts in the images, further diminishing their overall quality and diagnostic value. There has been growing interest in deep learning-based CMR imaging algorithms that can reconstruct high-quality images from highly under-sampled k-space data. However, the development of deep learning methods requires large training datasets, which have so far not been made publicly available for CMR. To address this gap, we released a dataset that includes multi-contrast, multi-view, multi-slice and multi-coil CMR imaging data from 300 subjects. Imaging studies include cardiac cine and mapping sequences. The ‘CMRxRecon’ dataset contains raw k-space data and auto-calibration lines. Our aim is to facilitate the advancement of state-of-the-art CMR image reconstruction by introducing standardized evaluation criteria and making the dataset freely accessible to the research community.
In vitro fermentation end-products and rumen microbiome as influenced by microencapsulated phytonutrient pellets (LEDRAGON) supplementation
Authors: Suriyapha Chaichana , Phupaboon Srisan , Dagaew Gamonmas , Sommai Sukruthai , Matra Maharach , Prachumchai Rittikeard , Haitook Theerachai , Wanapat Metha
Published: June 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of microencapsulated bioactive compounds from lemongrass mixed dragon fruit peel pellet (MiEn-LEDRAGON) supplementation on fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradability, methane production, and the microbial diversity using in vitro gas production technique. The study was carried out using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five levels of MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% of the total dry matter (DM) substrate. Supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 3 or 4% DM resulted in increased (p < 0.05) cumulative gas production at 96 hours (h) of incubation time, reaching up to 84.842 ml/ 0.5 g DM. Furthermore, supplementation with 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON resulted in higher in vitro nutrient degradability and ammonia–nitrogen concentration at 24 h of the incubation time when compared to the control group (without supplementation) by 5.401% and 11.268%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation with MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet led to an increase in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes at 24 h and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens at 12 h, while decreasing the population of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Methanobacteriales (p < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 2 to 4% DM resulted in a higher total volatile fatty acids (VFA) at 24 h, reaching up to 73.021 mmol/L (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was an increased proportion of propionic acid (C3) and butyric acid (C4) at 12 h (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, there was a decrease in the proportion of acetic acid (C2) and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (C2:C3), along with a reduction of methane (CH4) production by 11.694% when comparing to the 0% and 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing MiEn-LEDRAGON at 3% of total DM substrate could be used as a feed additive rich in phytonutrients for ruminants.
Nonreciprocal feedback induces migrating oblique and horizontal banded vegetation patterns in hyperarid landscapes
Authors: Hidalgo-Ogalde Belén , Pinto-Ramos David , Clerc Marcel G. , Tlidi Mustapha
Published: June 2024

In hyperarid environments, vegetation is highly fragmented, with plant populations exhibiting non-random biphasic structures where regions of high biomass density are separated by bare soil. In the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, rainfall is virtually nonexistent, but fog pushed in from the interior sustains patches of vegetation in a barren environment. Tillandsia landbeckii, a plant with no functional roots, survives entirely on fog corridors as a water source. Their origin is attributed to interaction feedback among the ecosystem agents, which have different spatial scales, ultimately generating banded patterns as a self-organising response to resource scarcity. The interaction feedback between the plants can be nonreciprocal due to the fact that the fog flows in a well-defined direction. Using remote sensing analysis and mathematical modelling, we characterise the orientation angle of banded vegetation patterns with respect to fog direction and topographic slope gradient. We show that banded vegetation patterns can be either oblique or horizontal to the fog flow rather than topography. The initial and boundary conditions determine the type of the pattern. The bifurcation diagram for both patterns is established. The theoretical predictions are in agreement with observations from remote sensing image analysis.
Gender-specific responses in gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to heavy metal pollution in different aquatic habitats
Authors: Awad Simone T. , Hemeda Shabaan A. , El Nahas Abeer F. , Abbas Eman M. , Abdel-Razek Mohamed A. S. , Ismail Mohamed , Mamoon Ahmed , Ali Fawzia S.
Published: June 2024

Monitoring heavy metal accumulation is essential for assessing the viability of aquatic ecosystems. Our methodology involved integrating analysis of immunological, stress, inflammatory, and growth-related gene expression in male and female Nile tilapia with on-site recordings of physicochemical parameters. Additionally, we assessed the effect of different physicochemical parameters on heavy metal bioavailability and residual concentration in fish and water. Samples of fish and water were gathered from three different localities: Lake Brullus, a brackish lake sited in northern Egypt; Lake Nasser, an artificial freshwater reservoir located in southern Egypt; and El-Qanater El-Khayria, a middle-freshwater location belonging to the Rashid branch of the river Nile. The assessment of heavy metal residues (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Ni) revealed that their concentrations were higher in fish specimens compared to their counterparts in water (except for Ni). In addition, Lake Brullus emerges as the most polluted area, exhibiting elevated levels of heavy metals concentrations in water and fish specimens. In contrast, Lake Nasser showed the least degree of heavy metals pollution. Gene expression analysis revealed gender-specific responses to heavy metal exposure at the three investigated water bodies. The expression of hepatic antioxidant genes (GST and MT) and inflammatory-related genes (CC-chemokine and TNFα) increased in males compared to females. In females, the immune and pro-inflammatory-related genes (IgM and CXC2-chemokine) transcripts were upregulated. Additionally, growth-related genes were downregulated in both Lake Brullus and El-Qanater; on the contrary, fish samples from Lake Nasser exhibited a normal expression pattern of growth-related genes. Stress-related genes (HSP70 and HSP27) showed significant downregulation in gills of both genders from Lake Brullus. The minimal presence of heavy metal contaminants in Lake Nasser seems to endorse the normal patterns of gene expression across all gene categories. A potential gender-specific gene expression response towards pollution was noticed in genes associated with inflammation and antioxidant activities. This highlights the importance of considering gender-related responses in future environmental assessments.
Comparison of specialized stent versus generic stent and bare stent combination for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation
Authors: Bai Yaowei , Liu Jiacheng , Wang Chaoyang , Yao Wei , Ju Shuguang , Wang Yingliang , Zhou Chen , Dong Xiangjun , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: June 2024

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation using the Viatorr stent remains relatively uncommon in underdeveloped and high-burden disease regions in Asia–Pacific, and there is a lack of comparative studies regarding its prognostic effects compared with the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination. The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the prognostic endpoints of these two treatments in patients who underwent TIPS creation. Clinical data from 145 patients were collected, including 82 in the combination group and 63 in the Viatorr group. Differences in prognostic endpoints (shunt dysfunction, death, overt hepatic encephalopathy [OHE], rebleeding) between the two groups were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent risk factors for post-TIPS shunt dysfunction. The TIPS procedure was successful in all patients. After TIPS creation, both groups showed a significant decrease in porto-caval pressure gradient compared to that before TIPS creation. The stent patency rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were high in both the combination and Viatorr groups (93.7%, 88.5%, and 88.5% vs. 96.7%, 93.4%, and 93.4%, respectively). The stent patency rates was higher in the combination group than in the Viatorr group, although not statistically significant (HR = 2.105, 95% CI 0.640–6.922, Log-rank P = 0.259). There were no significant differences in other prognostic endpoints (death, OHE, rebleeding) between the two groups. The Cox model identified portal vein diameter (HR = 0.807, 95% CI 0.658–0.990, P = 0.040) and portal vein thrombosis (HR = 13.617, 95% CI 1.475–125.678, P = 0.021) as independent risk factors for post-TIPS shunt dysfunction. The shunt patency rates between the Viatorr stent and the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination showed no significant difference and the generic stent-graft/bare stent combination may be a viable alternative in areas where the Viatorr stent is not yet available.
Resynthesizing Brassica napus with race specific resistance genes and race non-specific QTLs to multiple races of Plasmodiophora brassicae
Authors: Masud Karim Md. , Yu Fengqun
Published: June 2024

Clubroot disease in canola (Brassica napus) continues to spread across the Canadian prairies. Growing resistant cultivars is considered the most economical means of controlling the disease. However, sources of resistance to clubroot in B. napus are very limited. In this study, we conducted interspecific crosses using a B. rapa line (T19) carrying race-specific resistance genes and two B. oleracea lines, ECD11 and JL04, carrying race non-specific QTLs. Employing embryo rescue and conventional breeding methods, we successfully resynthesized a total of eight B. napus lines, with four derived from T19 × ECD11 and four from T19 × JL04. Additionally, four semi-resynthesized lines were developed through crosses with a canola line (DH16516). Testing for resistance to eight significant races of Plasmodiophora brassicae was conducted on seven resynthesized lines and four semi-resynthesized lines. All lines exhibited high resistance to the strains. Confirmation of the presence of clubroot resistance genes/QTLs was performed in the resynthesized lines using SNP markers linked to race-specific genes in T19 and race non-specific QTLs in ECD11. The developed B. napus germplasms containing clubroot resistance are highly valuable for the development of canola cultivars resistant to clubroot.
The surface modification of the silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles and their application in molecular diagnostics of virus infection
Authors: Zeleňáková A. , Zeleňák V. , Beňová E. , Kočíková B. , Király N. , Hrubovčák P. , Szűcsová J. , Nagy Ľ. , Klementová M. , Mačák J. , Závišová V. , Bednarčík J. , Kupčík J. , Jacková A. , Volavka D. , Košuth J. , Vilček Š.
Published: June 2024

The study presents a series of examples of magnetic nanoparticle systems designed for the diagnosis of viral diseases. In this interdisciplinary work, we describe one of the most comprehensive synthetic approaches for the preparation and functionalization of smart nanoparticle systems for rapid and effective RT-PCR diagnostics and isolation of viral RNA. Twelve different organic ligands and inorganic porous silica were used for surface functionalization of the Fe3O4 magnetic core to increase the number of active centres for efficient RNA binding from human swab samples. Different nanoparticle systems with common beads were characterized by HRTEM, SEM, FT-IR, XRD, XPS and magnetic measurements. We demonstrate the application of the fundamental models modified to fit the experimental zero-field cooling magnetization data. We discuss the influence of the nanoparticle shell parameters (morphology, thickness, ligands) on the overall magnetic performance of the systems. The prepared nanoparticles were tested for the isolation of viral RNA from tissue samples infected with hepatitis E virus—HEV and from biofluid samples of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. The efficiency of RNA isolation was quantified by RT-qPCR method.
A machine learning approach for vocal fold segmentation and disorder classification based on ensemble method
Authors: Nobel S. M. Nuruzzaman , Swapno S. M. Masfequier Rahman , Islam Md. Rajibul , Safran Mejdl , Alfarhood Sultan , Mridha M. F.
Published: June 2024

In the healthcare domain, the essential task is to understand and classify diseases affecting the vocal folds (VFs). The accurate identification of VF disease is the key issue in this domain. Integrating VF segmentation and disease classification into a single system is challenging but important for precise diagnostics. Our study addresses this challenge by combining VF illness categorization and VF segmentation into a single integrated system. We utilized two effective ensemble machine learning methods: ensemble EfficientNetV2L-LGBM and ensemble UNet-BiGRU. We utilized the EfficientNetV2L-LGBM model for classification, achieving a training accuracy of 98.88%, validation accuracy of 97.73%, and test accuracy of 97.88%. These exceptional outcomes highlight the system’s ability to classify different VF illnesses precisely. In addition, we utilized the UNet-BiGRU model for segmentation, which attained a training accuracy of 92.55%, a validation accuracy of 89.87%, and a significant test accuracy of 91.47%. In the segmentation task, we examined some methods to improve our ability to divide data into segments, resulting in a testing accuracy score of 91.99% and an Intersection over Union (IOU) of 87.46%. These measures demonstrate skill of the model in accurately defining and separating VF. Our system’s classification and segmentation results confirm its capacity to effectively identify and segment VF disorders, representing a significant advancement in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and healthcare in this specialized field. This study emphasizes the potential of machine learning to transform the medical field’s capacity to categorize VF and segment VF, providing clinicians with a vital instrument to mitigate the profound impact of the condition. Implementing this innovative approach is expected to enhance medical procedures and provide a sense of optimism to those globally affected by VF disease.
Deep learning-based localization algorithms on fluorescence human brain 3D reconstruction: a comparative study using stereology as a reference
Authors: Checcucci Curzio , Wicinski Bridget , Mazzamuto Giacomo , Scardigli Marina , Ramazzotti Josephine , Brady Niamh , Pavone Francesco S. , Hof Patrick R. , Costantini Irene , Frasconi Paolo
Published: June 2024

3D reconstruction of human brain volumes at high resolution is now possible thanks to advancements in tissue clearing methods and fluorescence microscopy techniques. Analyzing the massive data produced with these approaches requires automatic methods able to perform fast and accurate cell counting and localization. Recent advances in deep learning have enabled the development of various tools for cell segmentation. However, accurate quantification of neurons in the human brain presents specific challenges, such as high pixel intensity variability, autofluorescence, non-specific fluorescence and very large size of data. In this paper, we provide a thorough empirical evaluation of three techniques based on deep learning (StarDist, CellPose and BCFind-v2, an updated version of BCFind) using a recently introduced three-dimensional stereological design as a reference for large-scale insights. As a representative problem in human brain analysis, we focus on a $$4~\text {-cm}^3$$

4

-cm
3

portion of the Broca’s area. We aim at helping users in selecting appropriate techniques depending on their research objectives. To this end, we compare methods along various dimensions of analysis, including correctness of the predicted density and localization, computational efficiency, and human annotation effort. Our results suggest that deep learning approaches are very effective, have a high throughput providing each cell 3D location, and obtain results comparable to the estimates of the adopted stereological design.
Prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome among pregnant Ethiopian women: a hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Fentie Alemie , Fetene Getnet , Kassahun Zeleke , Ambachew Sintayehu
Published: June 2024

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) poses a significant public health challenge globally, including in Ethiopia, with risks for both mothers and children. Unfortunately, there is limited data on MetS in pregnant Ethiopian women. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with MetS in this population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization Steps Survey Tool for Non-communicable Diseases. About five ml of fasting peripheral blood samples were collected from each participant. The Beckman Coulter DXC 700 AU clinical chemistry analyzer was employed for lipid profile and glucose analysis. Subsequently, data were inputted into Epi Data and later exported to SPSS Version 20 for further analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were carried out, with a predefined level of statistical significance at p < 0.05. A total of 318 pregnant women were included in this study. The prevalence of MetS was 13.2% (95% CI: 9.7, 17.0) based on the American Heart Association/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute definition. The most prevalent components of MetS were elevated triglyceride levels, reduced high-density lipoprotein levels, and elevated blood pressure. Unhealthy sleep duration (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI (2.4, 13.1), p < 0.001), high daily salt intake (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI (1.8, 9.5), p = 0.001), and alcohol consumption [AOR = 4.2, 95% CI (1.6, 10.9), p = 0.003] were significantly associated with MetS. The study reported a high prevalence of MetS in pregnant Ethiopian women. Factors including alcohol, high salt intake, and sleep disturbances were associated with MetS. Policymakers might utilize this data to create targeted interventions and public health policies for MetS among pregnant women, focusing on nutrition, sleep, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy to safeguard maternal and fetal health.
Assessing the relationship between lipoprotein(a) levels and blood pressure among hypertensive patients beyond conventional measures. An observational study
Authors: Vazquez-Agra Nestor , Cruces-Sande Anton , Barbosa-Gouveia Sofia , Lopez-Paz Jose-Enrique , Camafort Miguel , Casariego-Vales Emilio , Pose-Reino Antonio , Hermida-Ameijeiras Alvaro
Published: June 2024

High lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels are associated with an increased risk of arterial hypertension (AHT) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the detailed profile of AHT based on Lp(a) levels. This observational study focused on elucidating the relationship between Lp(a) concentrations and specific indices obtained from 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring in hypertensive patients over 18 years of age. We gathered and analyzed data on BP indices along with demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables from 227 hypertensive patients, median age 56 years, including 127 women (56%). After comparing hypertensive patients with Lp(a) levels above and below 125 nmol/L, we found that a 10 mmHg increase in nocturnal systolic BP and all pulse pressure indices (24-h, daytime, and night-time) was associated with an increased risk of high Lp(a) levels by more than 20% and 40%, respectively. Similarly, each 10% increase in the area under the function over time of nocturnal diastolic BP dipping was associated with more than a 30% decrease in the odds of belonging to the elevated Lp(a) levels category. Additionally, Lp(a) levels above 125 nmol/L were associated with higher 24-h, daytime, and night-time systolic BP and pulse pressure load. The relationship between Lp(a) and AHT appears to extend beyond conventional BP measurements, which may be relevant given the prognostic implications of nocturnal BP and pulse pressure indices.
Postpartum development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in a lean mouse model of gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Hribar K. , Eichhorn D. , Bongiovanni L. , Koster M. H. , Kloosterhuis N. J. , de Bruin A. , Oosterveer M. H. , Kruit J. K. , van der Beek E. M.
Published: June 2024

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased postpartum risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). GDM-related MASLD predisposes to advanced liver disease, necessitating a better understanding of its development in GDM. This preclinical study evaluated the MASLD development in a lean GDM mouse model with impaired insulin secretion capacity. Lean GDM was induced by short-term 60% high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin injections (60 mg/kg for 3 days) before mating in C57BL/6N mice. The control dams received only high-fat diet or low-fat diet. Glucose homeostasis was assessed during pregnancy and postpartum, whereas MASLD was assessed on postpartum day 30 (PP30). GDM dams exhibited a transient hyperglycemic phenotype during pregnancy, with hyperglycaemia reappearing after lactation. Lower insulin levels and impaired glucose-induced insulin response were observed in GDM mice during pregnancy and postpartum. At PP30, GDM dams displayed higher hepatic triglyceride content compared controls, along with increased MAS (MASLD) activity scores, indicating lipid accumulation, inflammation, and cell turnover indices. Additionally, at PP30, GDM dams showed elevated plasma liver injury markers. Given the absence of obesity in this double-hit GDM model, the results clearly indicate that impaired insulin secretion driven pregnancy hyperglycaemia has a distinct contribution to the development of postpartum MASLD.
Evaluation of agricultural non-point source pollution using an in-situ and automated photochemical flow analysis system
Authors: Chen Yongqi , Awais Muhammad , Wu Junfeng , Li Zhenfeng , Abbas Naqvi Syed Muhammad Zaigham , Abdulraheem Mukhtar Iderawumi , Zhang Hao , Wang Ling , Zhang Wei , Raghavan Vijaya , Hu Jiandong
Published: June 2024

Off-line leachate collection from agricultural landscapes cannot guarantee precise evaluation of agricultural non-point source (ANPS) due to geospatial variations, time, and transportation from the field to the laboratory. Implementing an in-situ nitrogen and phosphorous monitoring system with a robust photochemical flow analysis is imperative for precision agriculture, enabling real-time intervention to minimize non-point source pollution and overcome the limitations posed by conventional analysis in laboratory. A reliable, robust and in-situ approach was proposed to monitor nitrogen and phosphorous for determining ANPS pollution. In this study, a home-made porous ceramic probe and the frequency domain reflectometer (FDR) based water content sensors were strategically placed at different soil depths to facilitate the collection of leachates. These solutions were subsequently analyzed by in-situ photochemical flow analysis monitoring system built across the field to estimate the concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. After applying both natural and artificial irrigation to the agricultural landscape, at least 10 mL of soil leachates was consistently collected using the porous ceramic probe within 20 min, regardless of the depth of the soil layers when the volumetric soil water contents are greater than 19%. The experimental results showed that under different weather conditions and irrigation conditions, the soil water content of 50 cm and 90 cm below the soil surface was 19.58% and 26.08%, respectively. The average concentrations of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, PO43− are 0.584 mg/L, 15.7 mg/L, 0.844 mg/L, and 0.562 mg/L, 16.828 mg/L and 0.878 mg/L at depths of 50 cm and 90 cm below the soil surface, respectively. Moreover, the comparison with conventional laboratory spectroscopic analysis confirmed R2 values of 0.9951, 0.9943, 0.9947 average concentration ranges of NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and PO43−, showcasing the accuracy and reliability of robust photochemical flow analysis in-situ monitoring system. The suggested monitoring system can be helpful in the assessment of soil nutrition for precision agriculture.
Stability, enrichment, and quantification of total and HPV16-specific IgG present in first-void urine
Authors: Téblick Laura , Lipovac Marijana , Bell Margo , De Smet Annemie , De Meester Ingrid , Delputte Peter , Vorsters Alex
Published: June 2024

First-void urine (FVU) samples, containing human papillomavirus (HPV)-specific IgG from female genital tract secretions, provide a non-invasive option for disease monitoring and vaccine impact assessment. This study explores the utility of FVU for IgG quantification, exploring stability and compatibility with DNA preservation methods, alongside various IgG enrichment methods. Healthy female volunteers provided FVU and serum samples. FVU was collected with or without urine conservation medium (UCM) and stored under different conditions before freezing at −80 °C. Four IgG enrichment methods were tested on FVU samples. All samples were analyzed using three total human IgG quantification assays and an in-house HPV16-specific IgG assay. Samples stored with UCM buffer had higher total and HPV16-specific IgG concentrations (p ≤ 0.01) and IgG remained stable for at least 14 days at room temperature. Among IgG enrichment methods, Amicon filtration (AM) and AM combined with Melon Gel purification (AM-MG) provided similar HPV16-IgG concentrations, correlating strongly with serum levels. Protein G magnetic beads methods were incompatible with time-resolved fluorescence-based assays. This study highlights FVU as a reliable and convenient sample for IgG quantification, demonstrating stability for at least 14 days at room temperature and compatibility with UCM DNA preservation. It emphasizes the need to select appropriate IgG enrichment methods and confirms the suitability of both AM and AM-MG methods, with a slightly better performance for AM-MG.
Image-based facial emotion recognition using convolutional neural network on emognition dataset
Authors: Agung Erlangga Satrio , Rifai Achmad Pratama , Wijayanto Titis
Published: June 2024

Detecting emotions from facial images is difficult because facial expressions can vary significantly. Previous research on using deep learning models to classify emotions from facial images has been carried out on various datasets that contain a limited range of expressions. This study expands the use of deep learning for facial emotion recognition (FER) based on Emognition dataset that includes ten target emotions: amusement, awe, enthusiasm, liking, surprise, anger, disgust, fear, sadness, and neutral. A series of data preprocessing was carried out to convert video data into images and augment the data. This study proposes Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models built through two approaches, which are transfer learning (fine-tuned) with pre-trained models of Inception-V3 and MobileNet-V2 and building from scratch using the Taguchi method to find robust combination of hyperparameters setting. The proposed model demonstrated favorable performance over a series of experimental processes with an accuracy and an average F1-score of 96% and 0.95, respectively, on the test data.
Vortioxetine’s impact on the autonomic nervous system in depressed children and adolescents: analysis of the heart rate variability
Authors: Krivosova Michaela , Hutka Peter , Ondrejka Igor , Visnovcova Zuzana , Funakova Dana , Hrtanek Igor , Ferencova Nikola , Mlyncekova Zuzana , Kovacova Veronika , Macejova Andrea , Kukucka Tomas , Mokry Juraj , Tonhajzerova Ingrid
Published: June 2024

Relationship between depressive disorder and autonomic nervous system has been already discussed. Reduced emotional regulation is supposed to be associated with prefrontal hypofunction and subcortical hyperactivity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vortioxetine on heart rate variability (HRV), a parameter of cardiac autonomic regulation, in depressed hospitalized paediatric patients and assess the clinical effectiveness of the drug in this population. We performed repeated polysomnography analyses at admission and after a short treatment in hospital (15.2 days on average) and measured various HRV parameters (RRi, pNN50, RMSSD, LF-HRV, HF-HRV) during wakefulness, N3 and REM sleep stages. Out of 27 study subjects, 67% have improved depression symptoms as well as anxiety and subjective sleep quality after short vortioxetine treatment. We have found a significant decrease in parasympathetic parameters pNN50, RMSSD and HF-HRV during N3 sleep phase, though not exclusively among vortioxetine responders. The anticipated increase in cardiovagal regulation after vortioxetine treatment was not demonstrated in this pilot study, possibly due to the drug’s multimodal mechanism and impact on the nucleus tractus solitarii, particularly its antagonism on 5HT-3 receptors. Application of selective drugs could further explain the effect of vortioxetine on HRV in depressed patients.
Digital replica to unveil the impact of growing conditions on orange postharvest quality
Authors: Onwude Daniel , Cronje Paul , North Jade , Defraeye Thijs
Published: June 2024

The postharvest end-quality of citrus is significantly impacted by pre-harvest factors such as weather, which varies among growing regions. Despite the importance of these factors, the influence of regional weather variations, such as variations in temperature, humidity, wind, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and solar radiation on postharvest citrus quality, is largely unknown. This study aims to quantify this impact through a physics-driven digital replica of the entire value chain of Valencia oranges, from orchards in South Africa to retail in Europe. Predicted fruit properties data at harvest and hygrothermal sensor data from orchard to retail for different production regions are coupled to a physics-based fruit model to simulate key postharvest fruit quality metrics. These metrics include mass loss, chilling injury, fruit quality index (FQI), remaining shelf life (RSL), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA). Our digital fruit model reveals that regional weather variability significantly affects fruit quality evolution when comparing data from Nelspruit, Letsitele, and Sunday’s River Valley (SRV). The impact of weather variations is most pronounced in the temperate oceanic climate of SRV compared to the hotter climates of Letsitele and Nelspruit. Our findings indicate that differences in weather conditions between these growing regions impact postharvest mass loss, FQI, RSL, TSS, and TA of Valencia oranges at retail. The impact is up to 10% variation in mass loss and RSL, 4% in TSS, and 1% in TA among oranges grown in different regions. We show that temperature and humidity variations in the postharvest local transport of oranges between different regions largely increase mass loss by up to twofold, FQI by up to ~ 12%, and RSL by up to ~ 15% at retail. Our research also shows that weather temperature is the most important metric during fruit growth affecting various aspects of postharvest orange quality. This study offers valuable insights into the impact of regional weather variations on the quality of oranges available to consumers. These findings could help the citrus industry enhance growing practices, postharvest logistics, retail marketing, and cold chain strategies, thereby improving product quality and consumer satisfaction.
Mechanical response of long-span CFST arch bridges based on the hydration heat temperature effect
Authors: Wu Yuexing , Wen Qiang , Dai Meihong , Wang Xinzhong , Li Xingxin , Tan Xianliang
Published: June 2024

As the span of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arch bridges increases, the hydration heat temperature effect of concrete inside steel tube becomes more severe, which increases the safety risk during the construction process. Therefore, a numerical simulation of the mechanical response of a long-span CFST arch bridge under the influence of hydration heat was carried out. First, based on the hydration heat conduction theory, a finite element model of the transient temperature field of a CFST arch rib was established. The temperature distribution of the CFST arch rib and its variation with time were revealed, and an approximate formula for the distribution of the hydration heat temperature along the radial direction of the CFST was provided. Subsequently, the variation law of the thermal stress of a CFST during hydration heat release was investigated. Finally, based on the principle of temperature equivalence, a finite element model of the overall CFST arch rib was established to examine the effect of hydration heat on the deformation of the arch rib. The results reveal that the hydration heat temperature field of the CFST arch rib exhibits nonlinear and axisymmetric characteristics. The maximum temperature of the section and the maximum temperature difference can reach 73.5 °C and 33.2 °C, respectively. Because of the influence of the hydration heat, there is a significant stress gradient in the cross section of the arch rib. A maximum radial stress of 2.08 MPa is attained, indicating a risk of concrete cracking. Additionally, the displacement along the transverse and vertical directions of the chord tube exhibits an initial increase, followed by a decrease over time. The maximum transverse displacement of the chord tube reaches 70.6 mm, while the vertical displacement reaches 117.8 mm.
Control of cascading failures using protective measures
Authors: Fazli Davood , Khanjanianpak Mozhgan , Azimi-Tafreshi Nahid
Published: June 2024

Cascading failures, triggered by a local perturbation, can be catastrophic and cause irreparable damages in a wide area. Hence, blocking the devastating cascades is an important issue in real world networks. One of the ways to control the cascade is to use protective me‌asures, so that the agents decide to be protected against failure. Here, we consider a coevolution of the linear threshold mo‌del for the spread of cascading failures and a decision-making game based on the perceived risk of failure. Protected agents are less vulnerable to failure and in return the size of the cascade affects the agent’s decision to get insured. We find at what range of protection efficiency and cost of failure, the global cascades stop. Also we observe that in some range of protection efficiency, a bistable region emerges for the size of cascade and the prevalence of protected agents. Moreover, we show how savings or the ability of agents to repair can prevent cascades from occurring.
Synthesis of borocarbonitride nanosheets from biomass for enhanced charge separation and hydrogen production
Authors: Luo Zhishan , Chen Jinhao , Fang Yuanmeng , Xie Liyan , Liu Qing , Huang Jianhui , Liu Minghua
Published: June 2024

Borocarbonitride (BCN) materials have shown significant potential as photocatalysts for hydrogen production. However, traditional bulk BCN exhibits only moderate photocatalytic activity. In this study, we introduce an environmentally conscious and sustainable strategy utilizing biomass-derived carbon sources to synthesize BCN nanosheets. The hydrogen evolution efficiency of BCN-A nanosheets (110 μmol h−1 g−1) exceeds that of bulk BCN photocatalysts (12 μmol h−1 g−1) by 9.1 times, mainly due to the increased surface area (205 m2g−1) and the presence of numerous active sites with enhanced charge separation capabilities. Notably, the biomass-derived BCN nanosheets offer key advantages such as sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and reduced carbon footprint during hydrogen production. These findings highlight the potential of biomass-based BCN nanomaterials to facilitate a greener and more efficient route to hydrogen energy, contributing to the global transition towards renewable energy solutions.
Characterization of a Lactobacillus gasseri strain as a probiotic for female vaginitis
Authors: Zhang Jingyan , Li Kailing , Cao Tishuang , Duan Zhi
Published: June 2024

Vaginitis, a prevalent gynecological condition in women, is mainly caused by an imbalance in the vaginal micro-ecology. The two most common types of vaginitis are vaginal bacteriosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, triggered by the virulent Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans, respectively. In this study, a strain capable of inhibiting G. vaginalis and C. albicans was screened from vaginal secretions and identified as Lactobacillus gasseri based on 16S rRNA sequences. The strain, named L. gasseri VHProbi E09, could inhibit the growth of G. vaginalis and C. albicans under co-culture conditions by 99.07% ± 0.26% and 99.95% ± 0.01%, respectively. In addition, it could significantly inhibit the adhesion of these pathogens to vaginal epithelial cells. The strain further showed the ability to inhibit the enteropathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis, to tolerate artificial gastric and intestinal fluids and to adhere to intestinal Caco-2 cells. These results suggest that L. gasseri VHProbi E09 holds promise for clinical trials and animal studies whether administered orally or directly into the vagina. Whole-genome analysis also revealed a genome consisting of 1752 genes for L. gasseri VHProbi E09, with subsequent analyses identifying seven genes related to adhesion and three genes related to bacteriocins. These adhesion- and bacteriocin-related genes provide a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of bacterial inhibition of the strain. The research conducted in this study suggests that L. gasseri VHProbi E09 may be considered as a potential probiotic, and further research can delve deeper into its efficacy as an agent which can restore a healthy vaginal ecosystem.
Prediction of Robotic Anastomosis Competency Evaluation (RACE) metrics during vesico-urethral anastomosis using electroencephalography, eye-tracking, and machine learning
Authors: Shafiei Somayeh B. , Shadpour Saeed , Mohler James L. , Rashidi Parisa , Toussi Mehdi Seilanian , Liu Qian , Shafqat Ambreen , Gutierrez Camille
Published: June 2024

Residents learn the vesico-urethral anastomosis (VUA), a key step in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), early in their training. VUA assessment and training significantly impact patient outcomes and have high educational value. This study aimed to develop objective prediction models for the Robotic Anastomosis Competency Evaluation (RACE) metrics using electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye-tracking data. Data were recorded from 23 participants performing robot-assisted VUA (henceforth ‘anastomosis’) on plastic models and animal tissue using the da Vinci surgical robot. EEG and eye-tracking features were extracted, and participants’ anastomosis subtask performance was assessed by three raters using the RACE tool and operative videos. Random forest regression (RFR) and gradient boosting regression (GBR) models were developed to predict RACE scores using extracted features, while linear mixed models (LMM) identified associations between features and RACE scores. Overall performance scores significantly differed among inexperienced, competent, and experienced skill levels (P value < 0.0001). For plastic anastomoses, R2 values for predicting unseen test scores were: needle positioning (0.79), needle entry (0.74), needle driving and tissue trauma (0.80), suture placement (0.75), and tissue approximation (0.70). For tissue anastomoses, the values were 0.62, 0.76, 0.65, 0.68, and 0.62, respectively. The models could enhance RARP anastomosis training by offering objective performance feedback to trainees.
Latilactobacillus sakei QC9 alleviates hyperglycaemia in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus mice via the microbiota–gut–liver axis
Authors: Chen Mengling , Pan Pengyuan , Zhang Hongyan , Li Rao , Ren Dayong , Jiang Bin
Published: June 2024

Latilactobacillus sakei can alleviate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM mice through the microbiota–gut–liver axis.
DFT study of Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets as a drug delivery system for 5-fluorouracil
Authors: Sadeghi Maryam , Khoshnevisan Bahram
Published: June 2024

In this study, we modeled a drug delivery system consisting of Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets as a carrier and 5-fluorouracil (FU) as a selected drug molecule using density functional theory (DFT) computations.