bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalyst control over pentavalent stereocentres
Authors: Budeev Anton , Dong Jianyang , Häussinger Daniel , Sparr Christof
Published: December 2023

A monumental diversity of catalytic methods imparts the ability to select one of two configurations of tetravalent stereocentres. Conversely, catalyst control over pentavalent stereocentres, where a fifth moiety bound to the central atom encodes an expanded stereochemical space, remained a challenge to be accomplished. Herein, we report the feasibility of the catalytic tractability of pentavalent stereocentres. A bifunctional iminophosphorane thiourea catalyst enables enantio- and diastereocontrol over pentavalent phosphoranes to differentiate configurationally stable enantiomers and ensembles of diastereomers which emerge together from a single stereocentre. The desired dioxophosphorane stereoisomers are obtained with excellent yield and selectivity (up to 99% yield, 96:4 e.r. and 99:1 d.r.), while stereodivergent catalysis reroutes the reaction for selective access to each of the viable stereoisomeric states of pentavalent phosphoranes. Considering the diversity of high-valent main group species, it is expected that catalyst control over pentavalent stereocentres significantly increases the synthetically addressable stereochemical space.
Exploring interactions between socioeconomic context and natural hazards on human population displacement
Authors: Ronco Michele , Tárraga José María , Muñoz Jordi , Piles María , Marco Eva Sevillano , Wang Qiang , Espinosa Maria Teresa Miranda , Ponserre Sylvain , Camps-Valls Gustau
Published: December 2023

Climate change is leading to more extreme weather hazards, forcing human populations to be displaced. We employ explainable machine learning techniques to model and understand internal displacement flows and patterns from observational data alone. For this purpose, a large, harmonized, global database of disaster-induced movements in the presence of floods, storms, and landslides during 2016–2021 is presented. We account for environmental, societal, and economic factors to predict the number of displaced persons per event in the affected regions. Here we show that displacements can be primarily attributed to the combination of poor household conditions and intense precipitation, as revealed through the interpretation of the trained models using both Shapley values and causality-based methods. We hence provide empirical evidence that differential or uneven vulnerability exists and provide a means for its quantification, which could help advance evidence-based mitigation and adaptation planning efforts.
Artificial cell synthesis using biocatalytic polymerization-induced self-assembly
Authors: Belluati Andrea , Jimaja Sètuhn , Chadwick Robert J. , Glynn Christopher , Chami Mohamed , Happel Dominic , Guo Chao , Kolmar Harald , Bruns Nico
Published: December 2023

Artificial cells are biomimetic microstructures that mimic functions of natural cells, can be applied as building blocks for molecular systems engineering, and host synthetic biology pathways. Here we report enzymatically synthesized polymer-based artificial cells with the ability to express proteins. Artificial cells were synthesized using biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization-induced self-assembly, in which myoglobin synthesizes amphiphilic block co-polymers that self-assemble into structures such as micelles, worm-like micelles, polymersomes and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The GUVs encapsulate cargo during the polymerization, including enzymes, nanoparticles, microparticles, plasmids and cell lysate. The resulting artificial cells act as microreactors for enzymatic reactions and for osteoblast-inspired biomineralization. Moreover, they can express proteins such as a fluorescent protein and actin when fed with amino acids. Actin polymerizes in the vesicles and alters the artificial cells’ internal structure by creating internal compartments. Thus, biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization-induced self-assembly-derived GUVs can mimic bacteria as they are composed of a microscopic reaction compartment that contains genetic information for protein expression upon induction.
Recent irreversible retreat phase of Pine Island Glacier
Authors: Reed Brad , Green J. A. Mattias , Jenkins Adrian , Gudmundsson G. Hilmar
Published: December 2023

Pine Island Glacier (PIG), a part of the West Antarctic marine ice sheet, has recently undergone substantial changes including speed up, retreat and thinning. Theoretical arguments and modelling work suggest that marine ice sheets can become unstable and undergo irreversible retreat. Here, we use an ice-flow model validated by observational data to show that a rapid PIG retreat in the 1970s from a subglacial ridge to an upstream ice plain was self-enhancing and irreversible. The results suggest that by the early 1970s, the retreat of PIG had reached a point beyond which its original position at the ridge could not be recovered, even during subsequent periods of cooler ocean conditions. The irreversible phase ended by the early 1990s after almost 40 km of retreat and 0.34 mm added to global mean sea level, making PIG the main contributor from the Antarctic ice sheet in this period.
Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming
Authors: Salerno Franco , Guyennon Nicolas , Yang Kun , Shaw Thomas E. , Lin Changgui , Colombo Nicola , Romano Emanuele , Gruber Stephan , Bolch Tobias , Alessandri Andrea , Cristofanelli Paolo , Putero Davide , Diolaiuti Guglielmina , Tartari Gianni , Verza Gianpietro , Thakuri Sudeep , Balsamo Gianpaolo , Miles Evan S. , Pellicciotti Francesca
Published: December 2023

Understanding the response of Himalayan glaciers to global warming is vital because of their role as a water source for the Asian subcontinent. However, great uncertainties still exist on the climate drivers of past and present glacier changes across scales. Here, we analyse continuous hourly climate station data from a glacierized elevation (Pyramid station, Mount Everest) since 1994 together with other ground observations and climate reanalysis. We show that a decrease in maximum air temperature and precipitation occurred during the last three decades at Pyramid in response to global warming. Reanalysis data suggest a broader occurrence of this effect in the glacierized areas of the Himalaya. We hypothesize that the counterintuitive cooling is caused by enhanced sensible heat exchange and the associated increase in glacier katabatic wind, which draws cool air downward from higher elevations. The stronger katabatic winds have also lowered the elevation of local wind convergence, thereby diminishing precipitation in glacial areas and negatively affecting glacier mass balance. This local cooling may have partially preserved glaciers from melting and could help protect the periglacial environment.
Antarctic Peninsula glaciation patterns set by landscape evolution and dynamic topography
Authors: Fox Matthew , Clinger Anna , Smith Adam G. G. , Cuffey Kurt , Shuster David , Herman Frederic
Published: December 2023

The dimensions of past ice sheets provide a record of palaeoclimate but depend on underlying topography, which evolves over geological timescales by tectonic uplift and erosional downcutting. Erosion during the Pleistocene epoch (2,580 to 11.650 thousand years ago) reduced glacier extent in some locations even as climate cooled, but whether other non-climatic influences impacted the glacial–geological record is poorly known. The Antarctic Peninsula provides an opportunity to examine this issue because of its long glacial history and preservation of remnants of a low-relief pre-glacial land surface. Here we reconstructed both palaeo-surface topography and long-wavelength variations of surface uplift for the Antarctic Peninsula by using inverse analysis that assimilates local topographic remnants with the branching structures of entire modern drainage networks. We found that the Antarctic Peninsula rose tectonically by up to 1.5 km due to dynamical support from the mantle. Glaciological models using the current climate and our palaeotopography show greatly reduced ice extent in the northern Antarctic Peninsula compared with modern, indicating that the onset of glaciation identified at offshore sites reflects tectonic uplift of the topography rather than climatic cooling. In the southern Antarctic Peninsula, however, we suggest the low-relief pre-glacial landscape supported a considerably greater ice volume than the modern mountainous topography, illustrating the influence of erosional sculpting on glaciation patterns.
Next-Generation Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves for Diverse Land across the Continental United States
Authors: Yan Hongxiang , Duan Zhuoran , Wigmosta Mark S. , Sun Ning , Gutmann Ethan D. , Kruyt Bert , Arnold Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2023

The current methods for designing hydrological infrastructure rely on precipitation-based intensity-duration-frequency curves. However, they cannot accurately predict flooding caused by snowmelt or rain-on-snow events, potentially leading to underdesigned infrastructure and property damage. To address these issues, next-generation intensity-duration-frequency (NG-IDF) curves have been developed for the open condition, characterizing water available for runoff from rainfall, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow. However, they lack consideration of land use land cover (LULC) factors, which can significantly affect runoff processes. We address this limitation by expanding open area NG-IDF dataset to include eight vegetated LULCs over the continental United States, including forest (deciduous, evergreen, mixed), shrub, grass, pasture, crop, and wetland. This NG-IDF 2.0 dataset offers a comprehensive analysis of hydrological extreme events and their associated drivers under different LULCs at a continental scale. It will serve as a useful resource for improving standard design practices and aiding in the assessment of infrastructure design risks. Additionally, it provides useful insights into how changes in LULC impact flooding magnitude, mechanisms, timing, and snow water supply.
A causative role for periarticular skeletal muscle weakness in the progression of joint damage and pain in OA
Authors: Kim Ju-Ryoung , Pham Thi Hong Nhung , Kim Wan-Uk , Kim Hyun Ah
Published: December 2023

Although osteoarthritis (OA) is regarded as a disease of the articular cartilage, recent research has demonstrated alterations in periarticular muscles that surround the affected joint. Here, we investigated changes in periarticular muscle during the progression of OA, as well as the cause-and-effect relationship between muscle weakness and OA, in a mouse model of OA by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Pathological phenotypes in the periarticular muscles were assessed in the early and late stages of OA by DMM. OA pathology and pain behavior in the mice after DMM induction were examined in response to periarticular muscle weakness induced by multiple rounds of barium chloride (BaCl2) injections. The examinations were also performed in myostatin knockout mice with strengthened muscle phenotypes by muscle hypertrophy. Morphological alterations in the tibialis anterior (TA) and quadriceps muscles in DMM mice included variations in muscle-fiber size, aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased muscle mass. Periarticular muscle fibers isolated from DMM mice showed reductions in the number of satellite cells and myogenic capacity of primary myoblast, as well as proliferation. DMM + muscle injury mice also showed exacerbated joint degeneration compared to the DMM vehicles. Myostatin knockout mice were characterized by attenuated OA and the complete abrogation of pain behavior after DMM. Our results suggest an association between muscle weakness and OA progression and pain.
Deviation-support based fuzzy ensemble of multi-modal deep learning classifiers for breast cancer prognosis prediction
Authors: Arya Nikhilanand , Saha Sriparna
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in females worldwide. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving health outcomes and preventing more serious conditions. Analyzing diverse information from multiple sources without errors, particularly with the growing burden of cancer cases, is a daunting task for humans. In this study, our main objective is to improve the accuracy of breast cancer survival prediction using a novel ensemble approach. It is novel due to the consideration of deviation (closeness between predicted classes and actual classes) and support (sparsity between predicted classes and actual classes) of the predicted class with respect to the actual class, a feature lacking in traditional ensembles. The ensemble uses fuzzy integrals on support and deviation scores from base classifiers to calculate aggregated scores while considering how confident or uncertain each classifier is. The proposed ensemble mechanism has been evaluated on a multi-modal breast cancer dataset of breast tumors collected from participants in the METABRIC trial. The proposed architecture proves its efficiency by achieving the accuracy, sensitivity, F1-score, and balanced accuracy of 82.88%, 58.64%, 62.94%, and 74.75% respectively. The obtained results are superior to the performance of individual classifiers and existing ensemble approaches.
Urinary exosomal miRNA signature of IgA nephropathy: a case–control study
Authors: Shankar Mythri , Shetty Aditya , N.S. Madhura , C.G. Sreedhara , A. Kishan , Tennankore Karthik
Published: December 2023

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and can progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The current “gold standard” for diagnosis is kidney biopsy, which is invasive and associated with morbidity. miRNAs are small, non-coding endogenous RNA that may serve as non-invasive biomarkers, and that are found in urinary exosomes. Thus far, there is a paucity of studies of the miRNA profile for the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. Hence, we aimed to study the urinary exosomal miRNA signature of Indian patients with IgA nephropathy. Fifty biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy patients, 50 healthy controls and 25 patients with ESKD (IgA nephropathy) were recruited over 2 years (2020–2022). Urinary exosomes were isolated from which miRNA was extracted . Analysis of urinary exosomal miRNA was done using the digital multiplexed nCounter® human v3 miRNA Expression Assay which contains 799 unique miRNA barcodes. Candidate miRNAs were identified using Lasso regression and consensus clustering. The mean age of IgA nephropathy patients was 36.32 ± 3.067 years, mean creatinine was 2.26 ± 0.318 mg/dl and mean proteinuria was 2.69 ± 0.64 g/day. Compared to healthy controls, the majority (N = 150) of miRNAs were significantly downregulated. Five candidate miRNAs (hsa.miR.146b.3p, hsa.miR.599, hsa.miR.4532, hsa.miR.664b.5p and hsa.miR.221.5p) were able to differentiate between IgA nephropathy cases and controls (AUC > 0.90); the presence of all 5 was associated with 100% specificity and sensitivity for diagnosing IgA nephropathy cases. This study of Indian patients identified that there was a significant difference in the urinary exosomal miRNA profile between IgA nephropathy cases and healthy controls, suggesting that miRNAs may be valuable in the non-invasive diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.
Optimizing supplemental light spectrum improves growth and yield of cut roses
Authors: Davarzani Maryam , Aliniaeifard Sasan , Mehrjerdi Mahboobeh Zare , Roozban Mahmood Reza , Saeedi Seyyed Arash , Gruda Nazim S.
Published: December 2023

During the seasons with limited light intensity, reductions in growth, yield, and quality are challenging for commercial cut rose production in greenhouses. Using artificial supplemental light is recommended for maintaining commercial production in regions with limited light intensity. Nowadays, replacing traditional lighting sources with LEDs attracted lots of attention. Since red (R) and blue (B) light spectra present the important wavelengths for photosynthesis and growth, in the present study, different ratios of supplemental R and B lights, including 90% R: B 10% (R90B10), 80% R: 20% B (R80B20), 70% R: 30% B (R70B30) with an intensity of 150 µmol m−2 s−1 together with natural light and without supplemental light (control) were applied on two commercial rose cultivars. According to the obtained results, supplemental light improved growth, carbohydrate levels, photosynthesis capacity, and yield compared to the control. R90B10 in both cultivars reduced the time required for flowering compared to the control treatment. R90B10 and R80B20 obtained the highest number of harvested flower stems in both cultivars. Chlorophyll and carotenoid levels were the highest under control. They had a higher ratio of B light, while carbohydrate and anthocyanin contents increased by having a high ratio of R light in the supplemental light. Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence was indicative of better photosynthetic performance under a high ratio of R light in the supplemental light. In conclusion, the R90B10 light regime is recommended as a suitable supplemental light recipe to improve growth and photosynthesis, accelerate flowering, and improve the yield and quality of cut roses.
Normative tDCS over V5 and FEF reveals practice-induced modulation of extraretinal smooth pursuit mechanisms, but no specific stimulation effect
Authors: Radecke Jan-Ole , Sprenger Andreas , Stöckler Hannah , Espeter Lisa , Reichhardt Mandy-Josephine , Thomann Lara S. , Erdbrügger Tim , Buschermöhle Yvonne , Borgwardt Stefan , Schneider Till R. , Gross Joachim , Wolters Carsten H. , Lencer Rebekka
Published: December 2023

The neural networks subserving smooth pursuit eye movements (SPEM) provide an ideal model for investigating the interaction of sensory processing and motor control during ongoing movements. To better understand core plasticity aspects of sensorimotor processing for SPEM, normative sham, anodal or cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was applied over visual area V5 and frontal eye fields (FEF) in sixty healthy participants. The identical within-subject paradigm was used to assess SPEM modulations by practice. While no specific tDCS effects were revealed, within- and between-session practice effects indicate plasticity of top-down extraretinal mechanisms that mainly affect SPEM in the absence of visual input and during SPEM initiation. To explore the potential of tDCS effects, individual electric field simulations were computed based on calibrated finite element head models and individual functional localization of V5 and FEF location (using functional MRI) and orientation (using combined EEG/MEG) was conducted. Simulations revealed only limited electric field target intensities induced by the applied normative tDCS montages but indicate the potential efficacy of personalized tDCS for the modulation of SPEM. In sum, results indicate the potential susceptibility of extraretinal SPEM control to targeted external neuromodulation (e.g., personalized tDCS) and intrinsic learning protocols.
Metagenomic sequencing detects human respiratory and enteric viruses in air samples collected from congregate settings
Authors: Minor Nicholas R. , Ramuta Mitchell D. , Stauss Miranda R. , Harwood Olivia E. , Brakefield Savannah F. , Alberts Alexandra , Vuyk William C. , Bobholz Max J. , Rosinski Jenna R. , Wolf Sydney , Lund Madelyn , Mussa Madison , Beversdorf Lucas J. , Aliota Matthew T. , O’Connor Shelby L. , O’Connor David H.
Published: December 2023

Innovative methods for evaluating virus risk and spread, independent of test-seeking behavior, are needed to improve routine public health surveillance, outbreak response, and pandemic preparedness. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental surveillance strategies, including wastewater and air sampling, have been used alongside widespread individual-based SARS-CoV-2 testing programs to provide population-level data. These environmental surveillance strategies have predominantly relied on pathogen-specific detection methods to monitor viruses through space and time. However, this provides a limited picture of the virome present in an environmental sample, leaving us blind to most circulating viruses. In this study, we explore whether pathogen-agnostic deep sequencing can expand the utility of air sampling to detect many human viruses. We show that sequence-independent single-primer amplification sequencing of nucleic acids from air samples can detect common and unexpected human respiratory and enteric viruses, including influenza virus type A and C, respiratory syncytial virus, human coronaviruses, rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, mamastrovirus, and astrovirus.
Uncovering the factors that affect earthquake insurance uptake using supervised machine learning
Authors: Ng’ombe John N. , Addai Kwabena Nyarko , Mzyece Agness , Han Joohun , Temoso Omphile
Published: December 2023

The escalating threat of natural disasters to public safety worldwide underlines the crucial role of effective environmental risk management tools, such as insurance. This is particularly evident in the case of earthquakes that occurred in Oklahoma between 2011 and 2020, which were linked to wastewater injection, underscoring the need for earthquake insurance. In this regard, from a survey of 812 respondents in Oklahoma, USA, we used supervised machine learning techniques (i.e., logit, ridge, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), decision tree, and random forest classifiers) to identify the factors that influence earthquake insurance uptake and to predict individuals who would acquire earthquake insurance. Our findings reveal that influential factors that affect earthquake insurance uptake include demographic factors such as older age, male gender, race, and ethnicity. These were found to significantly influence the decision to purchase earthquake insurance. Additionally, individuals residing in rental properties were less likely to purchase earthquake insurance, while longer residency in Oklahoma had a positive influence. Past experience of earthquakes was also found to positively influence the decision to purchase earthquake insurance. Both decision trees and random forests demonstrated good predictive capabilities for identifying earthquake insurance uptake. Notably, random forests exhibited higher precision and robustness, emerging as an encouraging choice for earthquake insurance modeling and other classification problems. Empirically, we highlight the importance of insurance as an environmental risk management tool and emphasize the need for awareness and education on earthquake insurance as well as the use of supervised machine learning algorithms for classification problems.
Stroma-associated FSTL3 is a factor of calcium channel-derived tumor fibrosis
Authors: Li Jie-pin , Liu Yuan-jie , Yin Yi , Li Ruo-nan , Huang Wei , Zou Xi
Published: December 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most widespread histological form of primary liver cancer, and it faces great diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties owing to its tumor diversity. Herein, we aim to establish a unique prognostic molecular subtype (MST) and based on this to find potential therapeutic targets to develop new immunotherapeutic strategies. Using calcium channel molecules expression-based consensus clustering, we screened 371 HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas to screen for possible MSTs. We distinguished core differential gene modules between varying MSTs, and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores were employed for the reliable assessment of HCC patient immunotherapeutic response rate. Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence staining were used for validation of predicted immunotherapy outcomes and underlying biological mechanisms, respectively. We identified two MSTs with different clinical characteristics and prognoses. Based on the significant differences between the two MSTs, we further identified Follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) as a potential indicator of immunotherapy resistance and validated this result in our own cohort. Finally, we found that FSTL3 is predominantly expressed in HCC stromal components and that it is a factor in enhancing fibroblast-M2 macrophage signaling crosstalk, the function of which is relevant to the pathogenesis of HCC. The presence of two MSTs associated with the calcium channel phenotype in HCC patients may provide promising directions for overcoming immunotherapy resistance in HCC, and the promotion of FSTL3 expressed in stromal components for HCC hyperfibrosis may be responsible for the poor response rate to immunotherapy in Cluster 2 (C2) patients.
The value of TDI combined with myocardial strain parameters in quantitative evaluation of left heart function in parturient with pregnancy-induced hypertension
Authors: Lin Xiumei , Lu Chengwei , Ma Guifeng
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to investigate the value of tissue doppler imaging (TDI) and 4D myocardial strain parameters in evaluating left heart function of pregnant women with hypertension and the association between these parameters and relevant factors. Forty-five pregnant women with hypertensive disorder, including 20 with hypertension, 15 with mild preeclampsia, and 10 with severe preeclampsia, were recruited, and their cardiac functions were compared with those of 30 healthy pregnant women as controls. High Left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), Left atrial volume index (LAVI), E/e were observed in hypertensive disorder, while Mitral peak diastolic velocity(E), Early diastolic peak velocity(e), E/A, Left ventricularglobal longitudinal strain (LVGLS), Left ventricularglobal area strain (LVGAS), and Left atrialglobal longitudinal strain (LAGLS) were decreased; for pre-eclampsia, Left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), Left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD-ap), LVESV, LAVI were significantly increased, LVGLS, LAGLS were significantly decreased, Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), A peak, E/e were increased, while E peak, E/A, e, Left ventricle global radial strain (LVGRS), Left ventricle global circumferential strain (LVGCS), LVGAS were decreased but not significantly; for severe preeclampsia, Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LVESD, LAD-ap, Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LVESV, LAVI, A, and E/e were significantly increased, while LVGLS, LVGRS, LVGCS, LVGAS, LAGLS, E peak, E/A, and e were significantly reduced. TDI combined with 4D myocardial strain parameters can detect early changes in cardiac function of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, with LVGLS, LVGAS, and LAGLS being the most sensitive indicators for early changes. Such findings provide a basis for effective clinical treatment of these symptoms.
Forecasting local hospital bed demand for COVID-19 using on-request simulations
Authors: Kociurzynski Raisa , D’Ambrosio Angelo , Papathanassopoulos Alexis , Bürkin Fabian , Hertweck Stephan , Eichel Vanessa M. , Heininger Alexandra , Liese Jan , Mutters Nico T. , Peter Silke , Wismath Nina , Wolf Sophia , Grundmann Hajo , Donker Tjibbe
Published: December 2023

Accurate forecasting of hospital bed demand is crucial during infectious disease epidemics to avoid overwhelming healthcare facilities. To address this, we developed an intuitive online tool for individual hospitals to forecast COVID-19 bed demand. The tool utilizes local data, including incidence, vaccination, and bed occupancy data, at customizable geographical resolutions. Users can specify their hospital’s catchment area and adjust the initial number of COVID-19 occupied beds. We assessed the model’s performance by forecasting ICU bed occupancy for several university hospitals and regions in Germany. The model achieves optimal results when the selected catchment area aligns with the hospital’s local catchment. While expanding the catchment area reduces accuracy, it improves precision. However, forecasting performance diminishes during epidemic turning points. Incorporating variants of concern slightly decreases precision around turning points but does not significantly impact overall bed occupancy results. Our study highlights the significance of using local data for epidemic forecasts. Forecasts based on the hospital’s specific catchment area outperform those relying on national or state-level data, striking a better balance between accuracy and precision. These hospital-specific bed demand forecasts offer valuable insights for hospital planning, such as adjusting elective surgeries to create additional bed capacity promptly.
Risk factors for arteriovenous fistula dysfunction in hemodialysis patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Fan , Li Jiali , Yu Jie , Jiang Yang , Xiao Hailang , Yang Yiya , Liang Yumei , Liu Kanghan , Luo Xun
Published: December 2023

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the first choice of vascular access in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the correlations between patient factors and the arteriovenous fistula patency remain unclear. Therefore, our study investigates the risk factors associated with AVF dysfunction in HD patients. A total of 233 end-stage renal disease (ESDR) patients who met the study inclusion criteria in the Nephrology Department of Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital between December 2020 and June 2022 were included in this study. The baseline demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters were collected at the time of AVF creation and analyzed. Of the 233 ESRD patients, 146 (62.7%) were male and the mean age was 56.11 ± 12.14 (21–82) years. The patients were followed for a median time of 14 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a 6-, 12- and 24-month post-placement survival of 87.1%, 82.8% and 80.7%, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed weight (HR, 1.03; P = 0.03) as a predictor for the loss of vascular access functionality. In addition, multivariate Cox regression analysis further demonstrated that sex (HR, 3.41; P = 0.03), weight (HR 1.08; P < 0.01) and phosphorus level (HR: 3.03; P = 0.01) are independent risk factors for AVF dysfunction. AVF dysfunction is highly associated with several risk factors including weight, phosphorus level, and sex. Positive intervention strategies targeting these potential factors, such as weight loss or oral phosphate binders could improve the long-term success of AVF.
Global diagnosis of land–atmosphere coupling based on water isotopes
Authors: Yuan Ruiqiang , Li Fei , Ye Ruyu
Published: December 2023

Land–atmosphere coupling (LAC) plays a significant role in weather and climate and is related to droughts and heatwaves. We propose a simple and efficient LAC diagnosis method based on the analysis of water isotopes in atmospheric water vapour and precipitation. Using the method, we identify the primary LAC hotspot regions of the globe and reveal the seasonality of LAC strength. We find that LAC strength exhibits a relationship with latitude. Low latitudes present stronger LAC strength and contribute more significantly to the overall LAC area compared to boreal middle and high latitudes. It's important to note that LAC primarily manifests in the troposphere and is detected in the lower stratosphere of low latitudes, with limited influence observed in the stratosphere. However, the impact of LAC is noticeable in the upper stratosphere in boreal middle and high latitudes. Moreover, the seasonality of LAC strength is pronounced. On a global scale, the season with the strongest LAC is boreal autumn in the Northern Hemisphere but boreal summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Notably, this pattern does not exhibit a seesaw effect between the two hemispheres. Our isotope-based LAC diagnosis method captures the major LAC hotspots found in previous work and validates the seasonality of LAC within these hotspots. This substantiates the reliability and effectiveness of our isotope-based approach.
Exogenously applied 5-aminolevulinic acid modulates growth, yield, and physiological parameters in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions
Authors: Mohammadi Hamid , Ezati Parviz , Hazrati Saeid , Ghorbanpour Mansour
Published: December 2023

Lentils are a significant source of plant protein and are cultivated across Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Plants are subjected to various environmental stresses, which can hinder growth, yield, and productivity. 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a compound that acts as a precursor in the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles and can increase plant tolerance to different abiotic stressors. However, the effects of exogenously applied ALA on lentil growth, yield, and physiological parameters under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions are not well-known. In this study, a split plot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of ALA foliar application and supplemental irrigation on lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). The experiment was designed based on a randomized complete block with three replications. The main plot included four levels of supplemental irrigation [(supplementary irrigation in the flowering and early seed-filling stages, supplementary irrigation in the flowering stage, supplementary irrigation in the early seed-filling along with rain-fed conditions (no irrigation)]. The subplot considered foliar application of ALA at varying levels [(0 (control), 50 and 100 ppm)]. The results showed that water regimes and foliar spray with ALA significantly (P ˂ 0.01) affected plant height, number of pods per plant, pod weight, number of seeds per pod and weight of 1000 seeds, biological yield, seed yield, and harvest index. The highest total chlorophyll content was observed in plants that were subjected to supplementary irrigation in flowering and early seed filling stages and foliar sprayed with 100 ppm ALA. The study also found that exogenous ALA improved drought tolerance in lentil plants under rain-fed conditions mainly by regulating antioxidant enzymes, which ultimately protected the cellular membranes against overproduction of H2O2. Furthermore, ALA application increased total carbohydrate contents at all supplemental irrigation levels, but the rate was higher in complementary irrigation conditions during flowering and early seed-filling stages. Malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, and proline contents were increased in field-grown plants under rain-fed conditions without exogenous ALA application. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the effects of ALA foliar spray and supplemental irrigation on lentil growth, yield, and physiological parameters. The findings suggest that exogenous ALA can improve plant tolerance to various abiotic stressors and enhance plant growth, yield, and physiological parameters.
Perampanel attenuates oxidative stress and pyroptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage via the SIRT3/FOXO3α pathway
Authors: Yang Hongqiao , Ding Changgeng , Cheng Ming , Sheng Zhengwei , Chen Lei , Chen Junhui , Wang Yuhai
Published: December 2023

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurs most commonly after rupture of an aneurysm, resulting in high disability and mortality due to the absence of effective therapy. Its subsequent stage, early brain injury (EBI), promotes the sustainable development of injury in the brain and ultimately leads to poor prognosis. As a new antiepileptic drug, the effect of perampanel on EBI after SAH is unknown. Pyroptosis, a process of inflammatory programmed cell death, has been confirmed in most studies to play a substantial role in aggravating SAH-post EBI. Similarly, oxidative stress is closely involved in neuronal pyroptosis and the pathophysiological mechanism of SAH-post EBI, leading to a devastating outcome for SAH patients. Nonetheless, no studies have been conducted to determine whether perampanel reduces pyroptosis and oxidative stress in the context of SAH-induced EBI. Rat SAH model via endovascular perforation was constructed in this study, to assess the neuroprotective effect of perampanel on SAH-post EBI, and to clarify the possible molecular mechanism. By means of the neurological score, brain edema detection, FJB staining, immunofluorescence, WB, ELISA, and ROS assay, we found that perampanel can improve neuroscores and reduce brain edema and neuronal degeneration at 24 h after SAH; we also found that perampanel reduced oxidative stress, neuronal pyroptosis, and inhibition of the SIRT3-FOXO3α pathway at 24 h after SAH. When 3-TYP, an inhibitor of SIRT3, was administered, the effects of perampanel on the SIRT3-FOXO3a pathway, antioxidant stress, and neuronal pyroptosis were reversed. Taken together, our data indicate that perampanel attenuates oxidative stress and pyroptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage via the SIRT3/FOXO3α pathway. This study highlights the application value of perampanel in subarachnoid hemorrhage and lays a foundation for clinical research and later transformation of perampanel in SAH.
Hepatoprotective effects of aspirin on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats by reducing inflammation levels and PD-L1 expression
Authors: Wang Yikai , Wang Muqi , Liu Chenrui , Hao Miao , Wang Wenjun , Li Yaping , Shi Juanjuan , Zhang Xin , Dang Shuangsuo
Published: December 2023

Aspirin, as a widely used anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects in a variety of cancers. PD-L1 is widely expressed in tumor cells and inhibits anti-tumor immunity. This study aims to clarify whether aspirin exerts its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) effect by inhibiting PD-L1 expression. The rat model of HCC was established by drinking 0.01% diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and aspirin was given by gavage. The gross and blood biochemical indexes of rats were analyzed. CD4 and CD8 expression in liver tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry. CCK8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of aspirin on the proliferation of HCC cells. The regulatory effect of aspirin on PD-L1 expression was analyzed by western blot. As a result, the tumor number and liver weight ratio in the DEN + ASA group were lower than those in the DEN group (P = 0.006, P = 0.046). Compared with the DEN group, the expression of CD4 in the DEN + ASA group was significantly increased, while CD8 was decreased (all P < 0.01). Biochemical indexes showed that there were differences in all indexes between the DEN and control group (P < 0.05). The levels of DBIL, ALP, and TT in the DEN + ASA group were lower than those in the DEN group (P = 0.038, P = 0.042, P = 0.031). In the DEN group, there was an obvious fibrous capsule around the tumor, and the portal vein was dilated. The pathological changes were mild in the DEN + ASA group. Compared with the DEN group, the expression of PD-L1 in liver tissue of the DEN + ASA group was decreased (P = 0.0495). Cytological experiments further showed that aspirin could inhibit the proliferation and PD-L1 expression in Hep G2 and Hep 3B cells. In conclusion, aspirin can inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells and reduce tumor burden by reducing inflammation and targeting PD-L1.
Mathematical-based morphological classification of skin eruptions corresponding to the pathophysiological state of chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Seirin-Lee Sungrim , Matsubara Daiki , Yanase Yuhki , Kunieda Takuma , Takahagi Shunsuke , Hide Michihiro
Published: December 2023

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is one of the most intractable human-specific skin diseases. However, as no experimental animal model exists, the mechanism underlying disease pathogenesis in vivo remains unclear, making the establishment of a curative treatment challenging.

Methods

A novel approach combining mathematical modelling, in vitro experiments and clinical data analysis was used to infer the pathological state of CSU patients from geometric features of the skin eruptions.

Results

Based on our hierarchical mathematical modelling, the eruptions of CSU were classified into five categories, each with distinct histamine, basophils, mast cells and coagulation factors network signatures. The analysis of 105 real CSU patients with this classification by six individual dermatologists achieved 87.6% agreement. Furthermore, our network analysis revealed that the coagulation status likely determines boundary/area pattern of wheals, while the state of spontaneous histamine release from mast cells may contribute to the divergence of size and outline of the eruptions.

Conclusions

Our multi-faceted approach was accurate in defining pathophysiological states of disease based on geometric features offering the potential to improve the accuracy of CSU diagnosis and better management of the disease in the clinic.
Localization of seismic waves with submarine fiber optics using polarization-only measurements
Authors: Costa Luis , Varughese Siddharth , Mertz Pierre , Kamalov Valey , Zhan Zhongwen
Published: December 2023

Monitoring seismic activity on the ocean floor is a critical yet challenging task, largely due to the difficulties of physical deployment and maintenance of sensors in these remote areas. Optical fiber sensing techniques are well-suited for this task, given the presence of existing transoceanic telecommunication cables. However, current techniques capable of interrogating the entire length of transoceanic fibers are either incompatible with conventional telecommunication lasers or are limited in their ability to identify the position of the seismic wave. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a method to measure and localize seismic waves in transoceanic cables using only conventional polarization optics, by launching pulses of changing polarization. We demonstrate our technique by measuring and localizing seismic waves from a magnitude Mw 6.0 earthquake (Guerrero, Mexico) using a submarine cable connecting Los Angeles, California and Valparaiso, Chile. Our approach introduces a cost-effective and practical solution that can potentially increase the density of geophysical measurements in hard-to-reach regions, improving disaster preparedness and response, with minimal additional demands on existing infrastructure.
A hairpin-contained i-motif guided DNA nanoantenna for sensitive and specific sensing of tumor extracellular pH gradients
Authors: Ma Wenjie , Wu Yuchen , Li Jinyan , Yang Mei , Zhang He , Liu Chang , He Xiaoxiao
Published: December 2023

Inspired by the stimuli-responsive behavior of antennas receiving external signals, we designed a pH-stimulated and aptamer-anchored Y-shaped DNA nanoantenna for sensitive and specific sensing of tumor extracellular pH gradients.
A MnO2 nanosheet-mediated CRISPR/Cas12a system for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides in environmental water
Authors: Yu Hao-Ming , Liang Guo-Xi , Wang Hui-Yi , Hang Xiao-Min , Wang Hong-Hong , Peng Jia-Xin , Wang Li
Published: December 2023

A novel and simple fluorescence analysis method for OPs in ambient water has been implemented via nanosheet mediated CRISPR/Cas12a, achieving a detection limit of 0.135 ng mL−1 for DDVP.
Precise temperature control and rapid heating/cooling of infrared spectroscopy samples with a two-stage thermoelectric device
Authors: White Robert L.
Published: December 2023

The design and performance of an apparatus for heating and cooling samples during variable temperature infrared spectroscopy studies are described.
Green chemical analysis: main principles and current efforts towards greener analytical methodologies
Authors: Branković Milica
Published: December 2023

Green chemistry, green analytical chemistry and green sample preparation are related areas that have been developing since the 90s, aiming to moderate the adverse impacts of chemical practices on the environment and human health.
Molecular recognition of ITIM/ITSM domains with SHP2 and their allosteric effect
Authors: Cheng Yan , Ouyang Weiwei , Liu Ling , Tang Lingkai , Zhang Zhigang , Yue Xinru , Liang Li , Hu Jianping , Luo Ting
Published: December 2023

Src homology 2-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that is widely expressed in a variety of cells and regulates the immune response of T cells through the PD-1 pathway.
ClO-driven degradation of graphene oxide: new insights from DFT calculations
Authors: Romo-Ávila S. L. , Márquez-Ruíz D. , Guirado-López R. A.
Published: December 2023

Degradation of GO after exposure to MPO is explained by an atomistic mechanism defined by the dissociation of neighboring chemisorbed ClO species. This reaction results in the appearance of carbonyl groups as well as notable holes in the GO lattice.
Instantaneous extracellular solution exchange for concurrent evaluation of membrane permeability of single cells
Authors: Kaneko Shingo , Hirotaka Sugiura , Tsujii Masaru , Maruyama Hisataka , Uozumi Nobuyuki , Arai Fumihito
Published: December 2023

The rapid osmotic stress is imposed on the microorganisms by the exchange of a locally formed droplet containing cells.
Synthesis of FeCoNiCuPt high-entropy alloy nanoparticle electrocatalysts with various Pt contents by a solid-state reaction method
Authors: Meng Chao , Wang Xuhui , Li Zhiyong , Wu Chun , Chang Ling , Liu Runqing , Pei Wenli
Published: December 2023

FeCoNiCuPt high-entropy alloy nanoparticles with small sizes (3–7 nm) and different Pt contents have been successfully synthesized by a facile solid-state reaction method.
Experimental design of stencil-printed high-performance organic electrochemical transistors
Authors: Ghafari Amir Mohammad , Catacchio Michele , Rosqvist Emil , Luukkonen Axel , Eklund Anni , Björkström Kim , Bollella Paolo , Torsi Luisa , Macchia Eleonora , Österbacka Ronald
Published: December 2023

This study discusses a simple and cost-effective stencil-printing fabrication and optimization of high-performance organic electrochemical transistors through experimental design.
Synthesis of Quasi-MOFs featuring special hub-and-spoke channels and surface NiO species for enhanced total hydrogenation of furfural
Authors: Fu Qiuju , Yan Liting , Yang Lingzhi , Liu Dandan , Zhang Shuo , Jiang Huimin , Xie Wenpeng , Wang Haiyan , Zhao Xuebo
Published: December 2023

Quasi-MOF-74 catalysts, featuring spokewise channels, abundant Ni0 and highly dispersed surface NiO species, exhibited higher H donating ability and exhibited remarkable performance for converting FFR, achieving 98% THFA yields at 70 °C and 3 MPa H2.
Electrodeposition of PEDOT:ClO4 on non-noble tungsten microwire for nerve and brain recordings
Authors: Güemes Amparo , Dominguez-Alfaro Antonio , Mizuta Ryo , Velasco-Bosom Santiago , Carnicer-Lombarte Alejandro , Barone Damiano G. , Mecerreyes David , Malliaras George
Published: December 2023

A novel simple and inexpensive methodology based on electrodeposition of PEDOT is presented to improve the properties of tungsten microwires, making them a safe and accessible tool in electrophysiology studies.
Pt nanoparticles on (Ni0.5Co0.5)2P/S-doped carbon nanofibers as electrocatalysts for an efficient hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Ju Anqi , Zhang Shuxian , Li Dong , Li Kunming , Ni Xuepeng , Li Yi , Jiang Yang
Published: December 2023

Owing to the clean and environment friendly advantages, electrochemical water splitting stands out among various hydrogen production strategies.
Hot off the Press
Authors: Hill Robert A. , Sutherland Andrew
Published: December 2023

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products such as alscholarine A from Alstonia scholaris.
A new triboelectric nanogenerator based on a multi-material stacking structure achieves efficient power conversion from discrete mechanical movement
Authors: Luo Jianfeng , Su Yuxiang , Liu Anguo , Dai Guanyu , Zhang Xinyao , Su Xiaonan , Shao Yilei , Li Zhenhua , Zhao Xizeng , Zhao Keyang
Published: December 2023

A PFP-TENG based on a three-tribo-layer structure is proposed. It combines the advantages of elastic and inelastic triboelectric materials, which result in a high power density of 145.3 W m−3 and the ability to drive more than 1400 LEDs.