bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservative treatment using laser diode and systemic chemotherapy for early‐stage bilateral retinoblastoma: A 14‐year prospective cohort study
Authors: Phan Thi Anh Thu , Derumigny Alexis , Duong Minh Cuong , Desjardins Laurence , Cung Tuyet Anh , Nguyen Cong Kiet
Published: October 2023

Background

Solid evidence of the safety and effectiveness of retinoblastoma (RB) conservative treatment using thermotherapy and systemic chemotherapy with long‐term follow‐up is scarce, especially in low‐resource countries.

Aims

This study examined the outcomes of this treatment and associated predictors in Vietnam to strengthen the current RB treatment protocol focusing on preserving eye and vision in low‐resource settings.

Methods and results

A prospective cohort study was conducted at Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital in Vietnam from 2005 to 2019. All eligible patients with bilateral RB (one eye already removed and another eye classified as group A or B) and without previous treatment were recruited. All patients received thermotherapy and six cycles of systemic three‐agent chemotherapy repeated every 4 weeks. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on study participants' age, symptoms, tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Among 50 eyes of all 50 patients with a median age of 9 (4–20) months, 34 eyes were in group B (68%). The median follow‐up time was 60 (60–84) months. All 139 preserved tumors regressed mostly to type 4 (70.4%) and type 3 (23.7%) scars. Kaplan–Meier analysis found the overall globe‐salvage rate at 5 years of 91.9% (95% CI: 80.1%–97.7%). Most eyes (41/50, 82%, 95% CI: 69.2%–90.2%) had a final visual acuity ≥0.1. The visual acuity is higher when tumors regressed to a type 4 scar (p = .007, AOR = 8.098, 95% CI: 1.79–36.53) which also shows less enucleation than a type 3 scar (p = .002, AOR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.37%). Gender effect on visual acuity after treatment was significant and may be due to discrimination. No major complications were recorded.

Conclusion

Conservative treatment of early‐stage RB is safe and effective. Long‐term, thorough follow‐ups of patients post‐treatment are needed. The regression patterns of scars could be a useful indicator of treatment failure.
Fracture Mechanism of Nanocomposite of Metal and Graphene with Defect Pores
Authors: Hu Xin , Li Lujuan , Cao Qianqian , Piao Zhongyu , Liu Hao , Gu Zhiqing
Published: October 2023

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the fracture mechanism and mechanical response of Ni/Graphene nanocomposites under nanoindentation. The effects of size and location of defect pores were explored by examining the pore structure transition, microstructure transition, variation of HCP atomic fraction and dislocation density with indentation depth, load‐displacement relationship, and stress distribution. It was found that when the long edges of the pore are located along the longer dimension, the pores are fractured by indentation forces from the short edges. The closer the pore is to the indent, the smaller loading force is required for the pores to reach its fracture limit. For the long edges located along the transverse direction, the maximum indentation depth increases with the distance of the pore away from the indenter. The density of HCP atoms and dislocations in the composite gradually increases with the indentation depth. To understand the physical mechanism of the fracture behavior, we also evaluated the stress distribution in graphene at the fracture point.
Wheel‐based 5G fronthaul/backhaul hybrid MDM‐NGPON/FSO system under Gamma‐Gamma turbulence and weather effects
Authors: Kumari Meet , Arya Vivek
Published: October 2023

This work presents the bidirectional and symmetric 40 Gbps wheel architecture comprising 16 channels‐based bidirectional hybrid next generation passive optical network with free space optics (NGPON/FSO) system using mode division multiplexing (MDM) scheme. The system incorporates a low‐cost high bandwidth and integrated time and wavelength division multiplexing with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TWDM‐OFDM) for data transmission over mixed fiber‐FSO links to various end users at donut modes 0 and 1. This system enhances the fifth generation (5G)‐based networks reliability, survivability, and flexibility, especially in rural places where the core fiber link may be damaged/destroyed under diverse turbulent and weather conditions. The obtained results depict the faithful multimode fiber range of 100 km with fixed FSO range of 100 m at −17 dBm receiver sensitivity and low power penalty of 0.2 dB at 10−9 bit error rate. Maximum FSO range of 2800 m under weak‐to‐strong Gamma‐Gamma turbulence and the effect of fog, rain, snow, and snow with rain can be obtained successfully with fixed 50 km fiber length. Also, the proposed wheel architecture provides superior performance over hybrid ring‐mesh architecture with high split ratio of 1:64. Moreover, the system can sustain up to 70 remote nodes at symmetric 10 Gbps throughput providing high gain, high optical signal‐to‐noise ratio, and low noise figure. The comparative literature work also reveals that the proposed architecture offers high bandwidth, security, long‐reach, and cost‐effectiveness in 5G fronthaul/backhaul networks.
Keeping cool with poop: Urohidrosis lowers leg surface temperature by up to 6°C in breeding White storks
Authors: Cabello‐Vergel Julián , Villegas Auxiliadora , Gutiérrez Jorge S.
Published: October 2023

Storks (Ciconiidae) are renowned for defecating on their legs when exposed to high temperatures, a phenomenon known as “urohidrosis.” Previous work suggested that this behavior can cool down the blood supply to the legs and thus prevent hyperthermia in captive storks when overheated. However, no study has quantified the magnitude or duration of its evaporative cooling effect in free‐ranging birds. Here, we combine urohidrosis data with thermal imaging and microclimate data to investigate the thermoregulatory significance of urohidrosis in White storks Ciconia ciconia during the breeding season. We show that urohidrosis can reduce leg surface temperature by up to 6.7°C (4.40 ± 1.04°C). Yet its cooling effect was of short duration (lasting no more than 2.5 min) and decreased with time since defecation. Thus, for urohidrosis to significantly contribute to heat dissipation, storks must perform it repeatedly when overheated. Indeed, an individual can perform up to 11 urohidrosis events per hour; our estimates indicate that repeated urohidrosis could represent a significant amount of heat loss during short time span, equivalent to 4% of daily field metabolic rate for an adult stork. Our results point to an absence of differences in the cooling efficiency of urohidrosis between adults and nestlings, probably because all nestlings were recorded during the last phase of the ontogeny of thermoregulation. Besides, during the hottest days, adult storks delivered water to their nestlings, which might allow them to replenish body water reserves to sustain urohidrosis and other heat dissipation behaviors such as panting or gular fluttering. Our results indicate that urohidrosis might buffer the impact of high temperatures in breeding storks, preventing overheating and lethal hyperthermia. Gaining knowledge about behavioral thermoregulation in the heat is therefore crucial to better predict the future persistence and vulnerability of species under different climate warming scenarios.
Reactivity of [Sm(DippForm)2(thf)2] with Substrates Containing Azo Linkages
Authors: Peedika Paramban Ramees , Guo Zhifang , Deacon Glen B. , Junk Peter C.
Published: October 2023

This paper explores the interaction of divalent [Sm(DippForm)2(thf)2] with substrates containing azo linkages. Treatment of [Sm(DippForm)2(thf)2] with trans‐azobenzene results in formation of mononuclear [Smlll(DippForm)2(Ph2N2)(thf)] ⋅ 3THF (1) or dinuclear [Smlll(DippForm)(Ph2N2)(thf)]2 ⋅ 4THF (2) and [Sm(DippForm)3] depending on the reaction stoichiometry, where azobenzene has undergone either a one or two electron reduction. These reactions parallel the corresponding reactions of [Sm(C5Me5)2(thf)2], but the coordination of [N2Ph2]− in 1 differs significantly from that of {Sm(C5Me5)2(Ph2N2)(thf)}. On the other hand, the structure of 2 is similar to that of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl analogue. The reaction of [Sm(DippForm)2(thf)2] with 1H‐1,2,3‐benzotriazole also yielded a trivalent samarium complex containing benzotriazolate (btz), [Smlll(DippForm)2(btz)(thf)] ⋅ THF (3), and suggests more utilization of 1H‐1,2,3‐benzotriazole in divalent lanthanoid reduction chemistry is possible.
Joint species distribution modeling with competition for space
Authors: Kettunen Juho , Mehtätalo Lauri , Tuittila Eeva‐Stiina , Korrensalo Aino , Vanhatalo Jarno
Published: October 2023

Joint species distribution models (JSDM) are among the most important statistical tools in community ecology. However, existing JSDMs cannot model mutual exclusion between species. We tackle this deficiency in the context of modeling plant percentage cover data, where mutual exclusion arises from limited growing space and competition for light. We propose a hierarchical JSDM where latent Gaussian variable models describe species' niche preferences and Dirichlet‐Multinomial distribution models the observation process and competition between species. We also propose a decision theoretic model comparison and validation approach to assess the goodness of JSDMs in four different types of predictive tasks. We apply our models and methods to a case study on modeling vegetation cover in a boreal peatland. Our results show that ignoring the interspecific interactions and competition reduces models' predictive performance and leads to biased estimates for total percentage cover. Models' relative predictive performance also depends on the predictive task highlighting that model comparison and assessment should resemble the true predictive task. Our results also demonstrate that the proposed JSDM can be used to simultaneously infer interspecific correlations in niche preference as well as mutual competition for space and through that provide novel insight into ecological research.
Research progress on the calculation model of critical liquid carrying flow of gas well
Authors: Zheng Jie , Li Jiahui , Dou Yihua , Zhang Yichen , Yang Xu , Zhang Yarong
Published: October 2023

The accumulation of liquid in gas wells has become a prevalent problem in the middle and later stages of gas well development with different wellbore structures, which seriously affects the production efficiency of gas wells. To precisely forecast the generation time of liquid accumulation in gas wells and timely adopt drainage gas production technology, the literatures on gas critical liquid‐carrying flow calculation models for vertical wells, inclined wells and horizontal wells were analyzed and summarized. The results show that the research on the calculation models for gas critical liquid‐carrying flow rate in vertical and inclined wells is relatively mature. However, because of the unique wellbore structure of horizontal wells, the gas‐liquid two‐phase flow pattern and distribution of droplets and liquid‐film are complex, leading to a lack of understanding of gas liquid carrying mechanism throughout the whole wellbore of existing horizontal wells, and we established a calculation model of gas critical liquid‐carrying flow rate in horizontal wells considers single factors. Based on the above summary and analysis, the research direction of the calculation model for gas critical liquid‐carrying flow rate in the entire wellbore of horizontal wells is pointed out. Combining the gas liquid‐carrying test of entire wellbore of the horizontal well, considering the distribution form of droplets and liquid‐film, the aggregation and fission between droplets, and the energy exchange between gas and liquid, the gas liquid‐carrying mechanism of the entire wellbore of horizontal well is revealed, clarifying the most easy to liquid‐accumulating well sections in the whole horizontal well, and a calculation model of gas critical liquid‐carrying flow rate of horizontal well considering multiple factors is established, providing crucial theoretical foundation and technical support for the drainage and gas recovery of a horizontal well.
Multifunctional elastomeric composites based on 3D graphene porous materials
Authors: Ding Meichun , Zhao Demin , Wei Rui , Duan Zhenying , Zhao Yuxi , Li Zeyang , Lin Tianhao , Li Chenwei
Published: October 2023

3D graphene porous materials (3GPM), which have low density, large porosity, excellent compressibility, high conductivity, hold huge promise for a wide range of applications. Nevertheless, most 3GPM have brittle and weak network structures, which limits their widespread use. Therefore, the preparation of a robust and elastic graphene porous network is critical for the functionalization of 3GPM. Herein, the recent research of 3GPM with excellent mechanical properties are summarized and the focus is on the effect factors that affect the mechanical properties of 3GPM. Moreover, the applications of elastic 3GPM in various fields, such as adsorption, energy storage, solar steam generation, sensors, flexible electronics, and electromagnetic wave shielding are comprehensively reviewed. At last, the new challenges and perspective for fabrication and functionalization of robust and elastic 3GPM are outlined. It is expected that the perspective will inspire more new ideas in preparation and functionalization of 3GPM.
Recent design strategies for boosting chemodynamic therapy of bacterial infections
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Guo Haiyang , Liu Ming , Tang Kaiyuan , Li Shengke , Fang Qiang , Du Hengda , Zhou Xiaogang , Lin Xin , Yang Yanjun , Huang Bin , Yang Dongliang
Published: October 2023

The emergence of drug‐resistant bacteria poses a significant threat to people's lives and health as bacterial infections continue to persist. Currently, antibiotic therapy remains the primary approach for tackling bacterial infections. However, the escalating rates of drug resistance coupled with the lag in the development of novel drugs have led to diminishing effectiveness of conventional treatments. Therefore, the development of nonantibiotic‐dependent therapeutic strategies has become imperative to impede the rise of bacterial resistance. The emergence of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has opened up a new possibility due to the CDT can convert H2O2 into •OH via Fenton/Fenton‐like reaction for drug‐resistant bacterial treatment. However, the efficacy of CDT is limited by a variety of practical factors. To overcome this limitation, the sterilization efficiency of CDT can be enhanced by introducing the therapeutics with inherent antimicrobial capability. In addition, researchers have explored CDT‐based combined therapies to augment its antimicrobial effects and mitigate its potential toxic side effects toward normal tissues. This review examines the research progress of CDT in the antimicrobial field, explores various strategies to enhance CDT efficacy and presents the synergistic effects of CDT in combination with other modalities. And last, the current challenges faced by CDT and the future research directions are discussed.
Capillipedium parviflorum and Hemisorghum venustum (Andropogoneane: Poaceae): Occurrence in India, notes on identity and typification
Authors: Shaikh Tarbej J. , Ghalme Raghunath L. , Chougule Uday L. , Potdar Girish G.
Published: October 2023

The taxonomic identity and typification of Hemisorghum venustum (Thwaites) Clayton and Capillipedium parviflorum (R.Br.) Stapf. is discussed along with detailed descriptions, photographs, and notes. Morphological differences are presented for easy identification of both the species.
Functional group richness increases multifunctionality in intensively managed grasslands
Authors: Argens Laura , Brophy Caroline , Weisser Wolfgang W. , Meyer Sebastian
Published: October 2023

Background

Agricultural yields have increased continuously over the last few decades. However, a focus solely on production can harm the environment. Diversification of agriculture has been suggested to increase production and sustainability. Biodiversity experiments showed positive effects on ecosystems and productivity. However, application of these results to intensively managed grasslands has been questioned due to differences in plant species and management regimes. Research on whether diversity can benefit multifunctionality, that is, an integrated index of multiple ecosystem functions, under intensive management, is still scarce.

Methods

To address this, we manipulated plant species richness from one to six species spanning three functional groups (legumes, herbs, and grasses) in intensively managed multispecies grassland leys and examined seven ecosystem functions.

Results

We found that multifunctionality increased with functional group and species richness. Legume+herb mixtures showed high multifunctionality, while grass monocultures and mixtures with high proportions of grasses had low multifunctionality. Different plant species and plant communities drove different ecosystem functions. Legumes and herbs improved productivity and water availability, while grasses enhanced invasion resistance. These results indicate that multifunctionality and individual ecosystem functions can be promoted through targeted combinations of plants with complementary ecological traits.

Conclusions

Plant diversity can improve multifunctionality also under intensive management, potentially benefitting agroeconomics and sustainability.
Thermohydraulic performance assessment of a solar air heater with equilateral‐triangular, trapezoidal, and square sectional ribs on the absorber plate: A comparative study
Authors: Al‐Chlaihawi Kadhim K. Idan , Hasan Moayed R. , Ekaid Ali L.
Published: October 2023

Heat transfer systems have been employed in numerous industrial and residential settings to convert and recover heat. One effective approach for enhancing heat transfer rates involves incorporating artificial roughness in the form of regularly spaced ribs on the heated surface. In this particular study, the researchers conducted numerical simulations to analyze the turbulent heat and flow properties within a rectangular duct of a solar air heater (SAH). The duct featured three different types of transverse rib shapes: equilateral‐triangular, trapezoidal, and square sectional ribs. The governing equations have been solved numerically using a finite‐volume technique via ANSYS FLUENT. For solving the transport equations of turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate, the RNG k– turbulence model was utilized. At a broad range of Reynolds numbers (6000 ≤ Re ≤ 18,000), relative roughness height (), and a fixed relative roughness pitch (), the Nusselt number (), friction factor (), and thermal performance factor (TPF) have been examined. The maximal Nu was obtained for equilateral‐triangular ribs, while the minimum friction factor was seen for square sectional ribs. The highest TPF of 1.591 was achieved with equilateral‐triangular ribs at and e/Dh = 0.032. Contours of kinetic energy, turbulent intensity, velocity, and pressure produced significant findings for comprehending the SAH's physical phenomena.
Performance evaluation of ecofriendly R1234ze(E) refrigerant in an automotive air conditioning system
Authors: Kuwar Yogendra V.
Published: October 2023

A mathematical model for an air conditioning system used in five‐seater cars is developed with R1234ze(E) and R134a refrigerants, consisting of real system geometry like an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and thermostatic expansion valve. The mathematical model includes refrigerant properties, heat transfer, and pressure loss correlations for two‐phase and single‐phase regions. The performance parameters of a system like evaporator cooling duty, condenser heat loss, compressor power, refrigerant flow rate, and compressor volumetric efficiency obtained from a mathematical model are validated with the results of an experimental facility developed with R134a. The uncertainty analysis performed for the testing facility showed below 11% deviation. The simulation and experimental results showed an overall 10%–15% difference. It is found that the experimental cooling capacity with R134a and numerical cooling capacity with R134a show a 4%–12% variation, experimental cooling capacity with R134a and numerical cooling capacity with R1234ze(E) show a 7%–20% variation, and numerical cooling capacity with R134a and numerical cooling capacity with R1234ze(E) show a 5%–15% variation for the given range of compressor speed (500–1500 rpm), and condensing temperature (26–45°C). The study concluded that R1234ze(E) could potentially replace R134a because it has similar thermophysical properties and an average performance difference of up to 10% with R134a. Due to the limitations of the electric motor used to drive the compressor, tests in the current study were conducted at modest compressor speeds (500–1500 rpm). Future research will focus on experiments with high compressor speed (in the range of 1500–4000 rpm) and R1234yf and R1234ze(E) refrigerants for performance evaluation of automobile air conditioning systems.
Clinical utility of inflammatory biomarkers in COVID‐19‐related sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Zhang Xu , Chen Li , Guan Bing
Published: October 2023

Background

The etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) remain unclear, but it is generally believed to be associated with viral infections, vascular diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Considering that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is promising candidates for SSNHL, we studied the immune cells changes by COVID‐19 in patients with SSNHL.

Methods

We collected data from 47 patients with SSNHL and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) positive. Patients were divided into ineffective or effective groups based on the degree of hearing recovery at discharge. Clinical information was collected and processed for both groups. Logistic regression models were used to determine the risk factors for an unfavorable prognosis in COVID‐19‐related SSNHL. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate the predictive value.

Results

There was statistically significant difference in C‐reactive protein (CRP), auditory curve, degree decline, pretreatment hearing, posttreatment hearing, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total bilirubin, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII), indirect‐bilirubin and platelet count between groups (p < 0.05). In the logistic regression model, high levels of SII and NLR were associated with treatment ineffectiveness, pre‐ and postcorrectively (both, p < 0.05). And ROC curve analysis showed higher AUC of 0.765 for SII, 0.697 for NLR,0.681 for CRP, and 0.553 for platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

The prognosis of COVID‐19‐related SSNHL was associated with inflammation. SII, NLR and CRP could serve as predictive markers of unfavorable outcomes in COVID‐19‐related SSNHL. SII may be considered an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in COVID‐19‐related SSNHL.
Regulome‐wide association study identifies genetically driven accessible regions associated with pancreatic cancer risk
Authors: Liu Shuai , Zhong Hua , Zhu Jingjing , Wu Yong , Deng Youping , Wu Lang
Published: October 2023

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified two dozen genetic variants that are associated with the risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a deadly malignancy. However, a majority of these variants are located in noncoding regions of the genome, which limits the translation of GWAS findings into clinical applications. The regulome‐wide association study (RWAS) is a recently developed method for identifying TF binding‐induced accessibility regions for diseases. However, their potential connection to PDAC has yet to be fully explored. We evaluated the associations between genetically predicted levels of chromatin accessibility and risk of PDAC by using pan‐cancer chromatin accessibility genetic prediction models. Our analysis included 8275 cases and 6723 controls from the PanScan (I, II, and III) and PanC4 consortia. To further refine our results, we also integrated genes associated to allele‐specific accessibility quantitative trait loci (as‐aQTL) and TF motifs located in the as‐aQTL. We found that 50 chromatin accessibility features were associated with PDAC risk at a false discovery rate (FDR) of less than 0.05. A total of 28 RWAS peaks were identified as conditionally significant. By integrating the results from as‐aQTL, motif analysis, and RWAS, we identified candidate causal regulatory elements for two potential chromatin accessibility regions (THCA_89956 and ESCA_89167) that are associated with PDAC risk. Our study identified chromatin accessibility features in noncoding genomic regions that are associated with PDAC risk. We also predicted the associated genes and disrupt motifs. Our findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of noncoding regions for pancreatic tumorigenesis.
Association of Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover Markers with the Risk of Diabetes: Hong Kong Osteoporosis Study and Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Krishnamoorthy Suhas , Tang Casey Tze-Lam , Hsu Warrington Wen-Qiang , Li Gloria Hoi-Yee , Sing Chor-Wing , Tan Kathryn Choon-Beng , Cheung Bernard Man-Yung , Wong Ian Chi-Kei , Kung Annie Wai-Chee , Cheung Ching-Lung
Published: October 2023

Preclinical studies demonstrated that bone plays a central role in energy metabolism. However, how bone metabolism is related to the risk of diabetes in humans is unknown. We investigated the association of bone health (bone mineral density [BMD] and bone turnover markers) with incident type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Study (HKOS). A total of 993 and 7160 participants from the HKOS were studied for the cross-sectional and prospective analyses, respectively. The cross-sectional study evaluated the association of BMD and bone biomarkers with fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, whereas the prospective study examined the associations between BMD at study sites and the risk of T2DM by following subjects a median of 16.8 years. Body mass index (BMI) was adjusted in all full models. Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted for causal inference. In the cross-sectional analysis, lower levels of circulating bone turnover markers and higher BMD were significantly associated with increased fasting glucose and HbA1c levels. In the prospective analysis, higher BMD (0.1 g/cm2) at the femoral neck and total hip was associated with increased risk of T2DM with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.18) and 1.14 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.21), respectively. The presence of osteoporosis was associated with a 30% reduction in risk of T2DM compared to those with normal BMD (HR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.90). The MR results indicate a robust genetic causal association of estimated BMD (eBMD) with 2-h glucose level after an oral glucose challenge test (estimate = 0.043; 95% CI, 0.007 to 0.079) and T2DM (odds ratio = 1.064; 95% CI, 1.036 to 1.093). Higher BMD and lower levels of circulating bone biomarkers were cross-sectionally associated with poor glycemic control. Moreover, higher BMD was associated with a higher risk of incident T2DM and the association is probably causal. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Acetyltransferases CBP/p300 Control Transcriptional Switch of β-Catenin and Stat1 Promoting Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Zhu Kecheng , Xu Jingzun , Chen Xiaojing , Sheng Chunxiang , Zhang Deng , Yang Yuying , Sun Lihao , Zhao Hongyan , Wang Xiao , Tao Bei , Zhou Libin , Liu Jianmin
Published: October 2023

CREB-binding protein (CBP) (CREBBP) and p300 (EP300) are multifunctional histone acetyltransferases (HATs) with extensive homology. Germline mutations of CBP or p300 cause skeletal abnormalities in humans and mice. However, the precise roles of CBP/p300 in bone homeostasis remain elusive. Here, we report that conditional knockout of CBP or p300 in osteoblasts results in reduced bone mass and strength due to suppressed bone formation. The HAT activity is further confirmed to be responsible for CBP/p300-mediated osteogenesis using A-485, a selective inhibitor of CBP/p300 HAT. Mechanistically, CBP/p300 HAT governs osteogenic gene expression in part through transcriptional activation of β-catenin and inhibition of Stat1. Furthermore, acetylation of histone H3K27 and the transcription factor Foxo1 are demonstrated to be involved in CBP/p300 HAT-regulated β-catenin and Stat1 transcription, respectively. Taken together, these data identify acetyltransferases CBP/p300 as critical regulators that promote osteoblast differentiation and reveal an epigenetic mechanism responsible for maintaining bone homeostasis. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Abstract

An overall illustration of the effects and potential mechanisms of acetyltransferases CBP/p300 on osteoblast differentiation. Acetyltransferases CBP and p300 are indispensable for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. H3K27Ac-mediated transcriptional activation of β-catenin and acetylated Foxo1-mediated inhibition of Stat1 are identified as novel regulatory signals for CBP/p300 HAT-governed osteogenic transcription network.
Application of spray‐dried blood plasma as a feed additive for the replacement of antibiotics in growing‐finishing swine
Authors: Gesing Bernardo , Rosa Maria Eduarda , Rangel Luis Fernando Sarmento , Sganzerla William Gustavo , Ferrareze Jocleita Peruzzo , Peripolli Vanessa , dos Santos Neto José Mauricio , Bianchi Ivan , de Oliveira Juahil Martins , Schwegler Elizabeth , Moreira Fabiana
Published: October 2023

Background

This study evaluated the effect of spray‐dried blood plasma (SDP) as a feed additive for the replacement of antibiotics in swine production. The treatments were used as strategic pulses of either antibiotics or SDP in the feed of swine during the growth and termination phases. The experimental design was conducted by 4 dietary treatments with a total of 1456 swine selected just after leaving the nursery and evaluated for 122 days until slaughter.

Results

The feed with the addition of the standard medication protocol (antibiotics) and without the inclusion of SDP had the highest feed intake (289.73 ± 3.04 kg) and reached a feed conversion of 2.57 ± 0.02 kg feed consumed per kg weight gained. Weight gain during the period of 0–122 days for the treatment with three pulses of SDP with (114.12 ± 0.64 kg) and without antibiotics (114.26 ± 1.01 kg) was higher than the control treatment (111.46 ± 1.10 kg, without antibiotics and SDP). Furthermore, the antibiotic‐based treatment associated with SDP showed a 7.76% increase in weight gain when compared with the control group. Furthermore, there was a nonsignificant difference in the mortality of animals and in the index for pneumonia and ulcer score.

Conclusion

The application of SDP as a feed additive in swine at the growth and termination phases, combined with antibiotics, favored feed intake and weight gain and could be a promising alternative to upgrade zootechnical parameters in swine production.
Shedding light on the interaction of ovalbumin and resveratrol: structure, digestibility, transport, and allergenicity assessment of OVA–RES complexes
Authors: Xu Xiaoqian , Cao Qiang , Yuan Jin , Tong Ping , Li Xin , Yang Anshu , Wu Zhihua , Liu Xiaohua , Chen Hongbing , Gao Jinyan
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

The interaction between food allergens and plant polyphenols has become a safe and effective management strategy to prevent food allergies. Ovalbumin (OVA) is the most abundant allergen in egg whites. Resveratrol (RES) is a plant polyphenol that is abundant in red grapes, berries, and peanuts, and has an anti‐allergic effect on allergy‐related immune cells. However, there is little information about the effect of RES on the allergenicity of OVA. In this study, the effect of RES on the allergenicity of OVA was investigated.

RESULTS

Molecular docking and spectroscopic studies indicated that the addition of RES changed the structure of OVA. The digestion and transfer rate of OVA–RES were effectively improved with an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model and Caco‐2 cell model, especially when the molar ratio of OVA–RES was 1:20. Meanwhile, the KU812 cell degranulation assay proved that the potential allergenicity was remarkably decreased while the molar ratios of OVA–RES were increased to 1:20. Furthermore, hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces were the dominating forces to stabilize the OVA–RES complexes.

CONCLUSION

All the findings demonstrated that the potential allergenicity of OVA was reduced when interacting with RES, and RES can be a potential food material for preparing a hypoallergenic protein, especially for egg allergy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Limosilactobacillus fermentum HF06‐derived paraprobiotic and postbiotic alleviate intestinal barrier damage and gut microbiota disruption in mice with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Liu Chunhong , Qi Xiaofen , Li Dan , Zhao Le , Li Qiming , Mao Kaidong , Shen Guiqi , Ma Ying , Wang Rongchun
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

Paraprobiotics and postbiotics have shown potential in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their in vivo application is still in its infancy and their mechanisms of action are not well understood.

RESULTS

Here, we investigated the mitigation effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum HF06‐derived paraprobiotic (6‐PA) and postbiotic (6‐PS) on dextran sulfate sodium induced UC and the potential mechanisms. Results indicated that the administration of 6‐PA and 6‐PS resulted in the inhibition of weight loss and colon shortening in mice with UC. Furthermore, they led to a significant reduction in both fecal moisture content and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in the intestine of the mice. 6‐PA and 6‐PS treatment strengthened the intestinal mucosal barrier by dramatically upregulating the levels of zonula occludens‐1 and occludin proteins. In addition, 6‐PA and 6‐PS restored intestinal dysbiosis by regulating abundances of certain bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Muribaculaceae, Corynebacterium, Escherichia‐Shigella and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and regulated the level of short‐chain fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

These findings illustrated for the first time that L. fermentum HF06‐derived paraprobiotic and postbiotic enhanced the intestinal barrier function, and restored gut microbiota alterations. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Exogenous brassinolide treatment regulates phenolic accumulation in mung bean sprouts through the modulation of sugar and energy metabolism
Authors: Wang Hanbo , Chen Jinghao , Guo Runjiu , Wang Dan , Wang Taixia , Sun Yali
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

The effects of exogenous brassinolide (BR) treatment (3.0 μmol L−1) on phenolic biosynthesis in mung bean sprouts were investigated. This investigation included the analysis of sugar content, substrates within the phenylpropane pathway, energy substances, enzymatic activity within the phenylpropane pathway, sugar metabolism and energy metabolism.

RESULTS

Results showed that BR treatment significantly increased the levels of total phenolics, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, p‐coumaric acid, gallic acid, fumalic acid and caffeic acid. This enhancement was accomplished through the elevation of l‐phenylalanine levels and the activation of enzymes associated with the phenylpropane pathway in mung bean sprouts, including phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, cinnamate 4‐hydroxylase and 4‐coumarate CoA ligase. Furthermore, BR treatment induced alterations in sugar metabolism in mung bean sprouts as evidenced by the increased levels of glucose, fructose, sucrose and phosphoenolpyruvate. Moreover, increased activity was observed for enzymes linked to sucrose metabolism and glycolysis in the BR‐treated group. Concurrently, BR treatment bolstered the levels of adenosine triphosphate and energy charge in mung bean sprouts, which was attributed to the activation of H+‐adenosine triphosphatase, Ca2+‐adenosine triphosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that BR treatment can accelerate the accumulation of phenolic compounds in mung bean sprouts. This effect is achieved not only through the activation of the phenylpropane pathway, but also through the modulation of sugar and energy metabolism. The modulation provides ample energy and a substrate for the biosynthesis of phenolics. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Biosynthetic gene cluster synteny: Orthologous polyketide synthases in Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata
Authors: Ahmad Nadim , Ritz Manfred , Calchera Anjuli , Otte Jürgen , Schmitt Imke , Brueck Thomas , Mehlmer Norbert
Published: October 2023

Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus), which together generate a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here, we provide a comparative view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of three lichen mycobionts derived from Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. In addition, we present a high‐quality PacBio metagenome of Parmelia sulcata, from which we extracted the mycobiont bin containing 214 biosynthetic gene clusters. Most biosynthetic gene clusters in these genomes were associated with T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs and terpenes. This study focused on biosynthetic gene clusters related to polyketide synthesis. Based on ketosynthase homology, we identified nine highly syntenic clusters present in all three species. Among the four clusters belonging to nonreducing PKSs, two are putatively linked to lichen substances derived from orsellinic acid (orcinol depsides and depsidones, e.g., lecanoric acid, physodic acid, lobaric acid), one to compounds derived from methylated forms of orsellinic acid (beta orcinol depsides, e.g., atranorin), and one to melanins. Five clusters with orthologs in all three species are linked to reducing PKSs. Our study contributes to sorting and dereplicating the vast PKS diversity found in lichenized fungi. High‐quality sequences of biosynthetic gene clusters of these three common species provide a foundation for further exploration into biotechnological applications and the molecular evolution of lichen substances.
Variational radial sheath solutions for a kinetic model of a cylindrical Langmuir probe
Authors: Badsi Mehdi , Godard‐Cadillac Ludovic
Published: October 2023

We study qualitative and quantitative properties of the solutions of a Vlasov–Poisson system modeling the interaction between a plasma and a cylindrical Langmuir probe. In particular, we exhibit a class of radial sheath solutions for which the electrostatic potential is increasing and strictly concave with a strong variation in the vicinity of the probe which scales as the inverse of the Debye length. These solutions are proven to exist provided the incoming distributions of particles from the plasma verify the so‐called generalized Bohm condition of plasma physics. It extends our previous studies.
Approximate controllability for some integrodifferential evolution equations with nonlocal conditions
Authors: Elghandouri Mohammed , Ezzinbi Khalil
Published: October 2023

The main objective of this work is to investigate the existence of mild solutions and approximate controllability for some integrodifferential evolution equations with nonlocal conditions. Assuming that the linear part is exactly null and approximately controllable, using resolvent operator theory, we provide our main results. An example is given to illustrate the basic results of this work.
Mesonephric‐like adenocarcinoma harbours characteristic copy number variations and a distinct DNA methylation signature closely related to mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the cervix
Authors: Kommoss Felix KF , Lee Cheng‐Han , Tessier‐Cloutier Basile , Gilks C Blake , Stewart Colin JR , von Deimling Andreas , Köbel Martin
Published: October 2023

Mesonephric‐like adenocarcinoma (MLA) of the female genital tract is an uncommon histotype that can arise in both the endometrium and the ovary. The exact cell of origin and histogenesis currently remain unknown. Here, we investigated whole genome DNA methylation patterns and copy number variations (CNVs) in a series of MLAs in the context of a large cohort of various gynaecological carcinoma types. CNV analysis of 19 MLAs uncovered gains of chromosomes 1q (18/19, 95%), 10 (15/19, 79%), 12 (14/19, 74%), and 2 (10/19, 53%), as well as loss of chromosome 1p (7/19, 37%). Gains of chromosomes 1q, 10, and 12 were also identified in the majority of mesonephric adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix (MAs) as well as subsets of endometrioid carcinomas (ECs) and low‐grade serous carcinomas of the ovary (LGSCs) but only in a minority of serous carcinomas of the uterine corpus (USCs), clear cell carcinomas (CCCs), and tubo‐ovarian high‐grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs). While losses of chromosome 1p together with gains of chromosome 1q were also identified in both MA and LGSC, gains of chromosome 2 were almost exclusively identified in MLA and MA. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and t‐SNE analysis of DNA methylation data (Illumina EPIC array) identified a co‐clustering for MLAs and MAs, which was distinct from clusters of ECs, USCs, CCCs, LGSCs, and HGSCs. Group‐wise comparisons confirmed a close epigenetic relationship between MLA and MA. These findings, in conjunction with the established histological and immunophenotypical overlap, suggest bona fide mesonephric differentiation, and support a more precise terminology of mesonephric‐type adenocarcinoma instead of MLA in these tumours. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
How to account for early overly small risk sets in the analysis of pregnancy outcome data?—Comparison of different methods for stabilizing the Aalen‐Johansen estimator
Authors: Stegherr Regina , Fietz Anne‐Katrin , Hoeltzenbein Maria , Dathe Katarina , Beyersmann Jan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In analyzing pregnancy data concerning drug exposure in the first trimester, the risk of spontaneous abortions is of primary interest. For estimating the cumulative incidence function, the Aalen–Johansen estimator is typically used, and competing risks such as induced abortion and livebirth are considered. However, the delayed study entry can lead to overly small risk sets for the first events. This results in large jumps in the estimated cumulative incidence function of spontaneous abortions or induced abortions using the Aalen–Johansen estimator, and consequently in an overestimation of the probability.

Methods

Several approaches account for early overly small risk sets. The first approach is conditioning on the event time being greater than the event time causing the large jump. Second, the events can be ignored by censoring them. Third, the events can be postponed until a large enough number is at risk. These three approaches are compared.

Results

All approaches are applied using data of 54 lacosamide‐exposed pregnancies. The Aalen–Johansen estimate of the probability of spontaneous abortion is 22.64%, which is relatively large for only three spontaneous abortions in the dataset. The conditional approach and the ignore approach have an estimated probability of 7.17%. In contrast, the estimate of the postpone approach is 16.45%. In this small sample, bootstrapped confidence intervals seem more accurate.

Conclusions

In the analyses of pregnancy data with rare events, the postpone approach is favorable as no events are excluded. However, the approach that ignores early events has the narrowest confidence interval.
Development of photocatalysis‐membrane separation reactor systems for aqueous pollutant removal
Authors: Zhang Junyang , Miao Yingchun , Huo Yuning , Li Hexing
Published: October 2023

Background

In our rapidly expanding society, the demand for clean water has steadily emerged as one of the most critical issues, promoting the development of numerous water treatment strategies.

Aims

Coupling photocatalysis and membrane separation technology provides an energy saving and environment‐friendly as well as sustainable method for aqueous pollutants removal due to the synergetic enhanced pollutant removal efficiency and improved anti‐fouling performance. It is of great scientific and technical significance to construct multifunctional photocatalysis‐membrane separation reactor systems (PMRs) with both the high photocatalytic activity and the strong stability.

Discussion

Herein, in order to introduce the recent advances of this field, we present a critical review on developments of PMRs for aqueous pollutant removal, which includes photocatalysts and membranes, advanced methods for designing PMRs. Meanwhile, the recent applications of PMRs in aqueous pollutant removal, antifouling strategies, and mechanisms have also been summarized, including the latest development of PMRs coupling with other treatment methods. Furthermore, future perspective of PMRs is outlooked and predicted.

Conclusion

PMRs, designed for the removal of aqueous pollutants, offer a more promising solution for the sustainable development of our society in the future.
International study of physicians' opinion on physician–patient sex concordance when treating athletes
Authors: Tsukahara Yuka , Novak Melissa , Takei Seira , Asif Irfan M. , Yamasawa Fumihiro , Torii Suguru , Akama Takao , Matsumoto Hideo , Day Carly
Published: October 2023

Background

The effect of physician–patient sex concordance in medicine has been reported in many studies. Whether physicians believe that the sex concordance between physician and athlete influences treatment has not been investigated.

Objective

To determine whether physicians believe that the sex concordance between physician and athlete influences treatment.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Online survey.

Participants

One thousand one hundred ninety‐three sports medicine physicians in 51 countries. Participants were sports medicine physicians trained in orthopedics (n = 443 [37.1%]) and nonorthopedics (n = 750 [62.9%]).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants were asked to decide whether sex of the physician made them better suited to care for athletes of concordant or different sexes along with their personal background.

Results

Orthopedic sports medicine physicians agreed less than nonorthopedic sports medicine physicians regarding the statement “MALE sports medicine physicians are better suited than their female counterparts to care for MALE athletes” (odds ratio [OR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35–0.91, p = .02), and compared to sports medicine physicians based in Europe, those based in Asia agreed more to this statement (OR 7.91, 95% CI 4.60–13.60, p < .01). In addition, regarding the statement “FEMALE sports medicine physicians are better suited than their male counterparts to care for FEMALE athletes,” compared to sports medicine physicians based in Europe, those based in Asia (OR 9.12, 95% CI 5.63–14.79, p < .01) and North America (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.46–3.25, p < .01) agreed more and orthopedic sports medicine physicians agreed less than nonorthopedic sports medicine physicians (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.93, p = .02) to this statement.

Conclusions

Sports medicine physicians trained in orthopedics felt sex concordance was less important than physicians trained in other specialties. Asian sports medicine physicians believed sex concordance was more important compared to physicians in other regions.