bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beads, bubbles and drops in microchannels: stability of centred position and equilibrium velocity
Authors: Cappello Jean , Rivero-Rodríguez Javier , Vitry Youen , Dewandre Adrien , Sobac Benjamin , Scheid Benoit
Published: February 2023

Understanding and predicting the dynamics of dispersed micro-objects in microfluidics is crucial in numerous natural, industrial and technological situations. In this paper, we experimentally characterized the equilibrium velocity

$V$

and lateral position

$\varepsilon$

of various dispersed micro-objects, such as beads, bubbles and drops, in a cylindrical microchannel over an unprecedentedly wide range of parameters. By varying the dimensionless object size (

$d \in [0.1; 1]$

), the viscosity ratio (

$\lambda \in [10^{-2}; \infty [$

), the density ratio (

$\varphi \in [10^{-3}; 2]$

), the Reynolds number (

$Re \in [10^{-2}; 10^2]$

) and the capillary number (

$Ca \in [10^{-3}; 0.3]$

), we offer an exhaustive parametric study exploring various dynamics from the non-deformable viscous regime to the deformable inertial regime, thus enabling us to highlight the sole and combined roles of inertia and capillary effects on lateral migration. Experiments are compared and agree well with a steady three-dimensional Navier–Stokes model for incompressible two-phase fluids, including the effects of inertia and possible interfacial deformations. This model enables us to propose a correlation for the object velocity

$V$

as functions of

$d$

,

$\varepsilon$

and

$\lambda$

, obtained in the

${Re}={Ca}=0$

limit, but valid for a larger range of values of

${Re}$

and

${Ca}$

delimited by the validity of the linear regime. Next, we present stability maps for the centred position showing that non-deformable objects dominated by inertial effects are only stable if large enough, typically for

$d \gtrsim 0.7$

, whereas deformable objects dominated by capillary effects can be stable for much smaller sizes, provided the viscosity ratio is outside the range

$0.7 \lesssim \lambda \lesssim 10$

, in which deformability also plays a destabilizing effect, as for inertia.
Treatment of pancreatic cancer in 2022
Authors: Casolino Raffaella , Biankin Andrew V.
Published: February 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is usually diagnosed at an advanced, incurable, stage and has an extremely poor prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy represents the standard treatment either in the pre-operative, adjuvant and palliative setting, which is associated with only modest improvement in survival. More recently, advances in cancer genomic sequencing have unravelled the molecular heterogeneity of PDAC and identified small patient subgroups harbouring unique actionable aberrations in BRCA, NTRK, NRG1 and mismatch repair genes paving the way to a more personalised approach for this tumour. However, the evolution of PDAC treatment towards a successful precision approach presents many challenges. In this review, we discuss the current standard treatments of PDAC, from early stage to advanced disease, and we illustrate the opportunities and challenges of precision medicine for this deadly cancer.
Analyze the attentive and bypass bias: mock vignette checks in survey experiments
Authors: Kane John V. , Velez Yamil R. , Barabas Jason
Published: February 2023

Respondent inattentiveness threatens to undermine causal inferences in survey-based experiments. Unfortunately, existing attention checks may induce bias while diagnosing potential problems. As an alternative, we propose “mock vignette checks” (MVCs), which are objective questions that follow short policy-related passages. Importantly, all subjects view the same vignette before the focal experiment, resulting in a common set of pre-treatment attentiveness measures. Thus, interacting MVCs with treatment indicators permits unbiased hypothesis tests despite substantial inattentiveness. In replications of several experiments with national samples, we find that MVC performance is significantly predictive of stronger treatment effects, and slightly outperforms rival measures of attentiveness, without significantly altering treatment effects. Finally, the MVCs tested here are reliable, interchangeable, and largely uncorrelated with political and socio-demographic variables.
SAMPLE PREPARATION METHODS USED AT THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY RADIOCARBON FACILITY
Authors: Wood R E , Esmay R , Usher E , Fallon S J
Published: February 2023

The Single Stage AMS radiocarbon facility at the Australian National University has operated for the past 14 years. This paper presents the pretreatment methods used for the major sample types dated and reflects on whether quality assurance protocols can adequately detect altered materials. The majority of fossil samples dated by the facility are from tropical and arid environments where diagenesis of both organic samples and carbonates is often severe. A large proportion of the samples submitted cannot be dated, and screening and quality assurance methods are crucial. Based on analysis of 250 measurements on bone collagen, quality assurance indicators for bone are revised. From May 2021, the laboratory has accepted dates on collagen where yield >0.5%, %C is in the range of 39.7–46.9, and the C:N ratio is between 3.00 and 3.30.
Modernity, the State, and New Medical Histories in Non-European Contexts
Authors: Mishra Saurabh
Published: February 2023

Histories of medicine and science in the colonies have, conceptually and theoretically, travelled some distance in the last three decades. While public health and epidemics in certain Asian contexts,1and mental health and medical stereotypes in the African case,2appear to have preoccupied historians during the early years, there has been an increasing willingness to charter new paths and explore new possibilities. This has made the sub-discipline more exciting and inter-disciplinary – for example, the move away from the state and its discourses has led to an increased attention to other forms of medical treatments and their interactions with regional publics. The interdisciplinarity, too, is evident in seemingly innocuous changes. For instance, medical historians have begun to make more frequent use of the term ‘health’, which, until the noughties at least, was a concept mostly employed by sociologists and anthropologists. It is heartening to see that all four books under review, to a greater or lesser extent, bridge these divides in obvious and not-so-obvious ways.
Dairy foods and cardiometabolic diseases: an update and a reassessment of the impact of SFA
Authors: Givens D. Ian
Published: February 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and CVD are major causes of mortality and chronic morbidity. Whilst mortality from CVD has decreased they remain the largest cause of death in Europe and the prevalence of T2D is increasing rapidly. A consistent component of public health advice is to reduce intake of SFA to reduce CVD in particular, which implies limiting dairy food consumption. The prospective studies and randomised controlled trials included in this review show that for dairy foods at least, SFA are not consistently associated with CVD or T2D risk. For CVD the association with dairy foods is generally neutral despite dairy foods being the major source of SFA in many diets. This creates considerable doubt, at least for dairy foods, concerning the validity of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis which positively relates SFA intake to increased serum LDL-cholesterol and subsequent increased CVD. There is now emerging evidence to explain this which is highly relevant to dairy foods. These include the potentially counterbalancing effect of SFA-stimulated HDL-cholesterol and specific food matrix factors. In addition, SFA are associated with the less atherogenic large buoyant LDL particles and possible counterbalancing hypotensive effects of dairy proteins. Overall, dairy foods have either a neutral or beneficial association with CVD and T2D. Beneficial associations are seen for blood pressure and the reduced T2D risk linked to yoghurt consumption, a subject that needs urgent attention given the sharp rise in T2D prevalence in many countries.
Portugal in Antarctic History
Authors: Headland Robert Keith
Published: February 2023

Approximately five centuries of the involvement of Portugal in Antarctic regions is described. Discoveries, the sealing and whaling industries, and modern developments are discussed.
Sub-meter-level navigation with an enhanced multi-GNSS single-point positioning algorithm using iGMAS ultra-rapid products
Authors: Birinci Sinan , Saka Mehmet Halis
Published: February 2023

Ultra-rapid products have the advantage of being used in real-time positioning with no external connections. In this study, these products provided by the international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) for four global constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BDS-3) were assessed in terms of service rate and accuracy in navigation. In this regard, a MATLAB-based in-house code solving the problem was developed for all possible combinations of the constellations. To explore the effectiveness of the iGMAS products, the same dataset has been also processed using GFZ rapid products. The results demonstrate that the GPS and Galileo solutions were substantially comparable to the rapid products concerning service rate and accuracy, but that the GLONASS and BDS-3 iGMAS products require some enhancements. In addition, the Galileo solution produced remarkably good results both individually and in combination. The GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BDS-3 SPP solution generated a mean root mean square (RMS) error of 0 ⋅ 54 m horizontally and 0 ⋅ 89 m vertically. Thus, GPS-only, GLONASS-only, Galileo-only and BDS-3-only solutions were improved by 42%, 79%, 28% and 74% in 3D mean RMS error with the quad system solutions, respectively.
Risk and resilience factors for psychopathology during pregnancy: An application of the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)
Authors: Clark Hannah M. , Hankin Benjamin L. , Narayan Angela J. , Davis Elysia Poggi
Published: February 2023

Pregnancy is a time of increased vulnerability to psychopathology, yet limited work has investigated the extent to which variation in psychopathology during pregnancy is shared and unshared across syndromes and symptoms. Understanding the structure of psychopathology during pregnancy, including associations with childhood experiences, may elucidate risk and resilience factors that are transdiagnostic and/or specific to particular psychopathology phenotypes. Participants were 292 pregnant individuals assessed using multiple measures of psychopathology. Confirmatory factor analyses found evidence for a structure of psychopathology consistent with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). A common transdiagnostic factor accounted for most variation in psychopathology, and both adverse and benevolent childhood experiences (ACEs and BCEs) were associated with this transdiagnostic factor. Furthermore, pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms most closely reflected the dimension of Fear, which may suggest shared variation with manifestations of fear that are not pregnancy-specific. ACEs and BCEs also linked to specific prenatal psychopathology involving thought problems, detachment, and internalizing, externalizing, antagonistic, and antisocial behavior. These findings extend the dimensional and hierarchical HiTOP model to pregnant individuals and show how maternal childhood risk and resilience factors relate to common and specific forms of psychopathology during pregnancy as a period of enhanced vulnerability.
Do quantitative levels of cardiac troponin I implicate on severity of disease in children, adolescences, and young adults with acute myocarditis and myopericarditis?
Authors: Brosilow Sharon , Zaid Wisam Abo , Maghen Daniel , Khoury Asaad , Aharonson Doron , Lorber Avraham
Published: February 2023

Objectives:

When cardiac muscle damage occurs, cardiac troponins are released to blood and their detection is used as a marker in clinical setting. The prognostic value of the quantitative levels of blood troponin I in cases of myocarditis and myopericarditis is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse whether troponin quantitative blood levels can be correlated with the course of hospitalisation and prognosis.

Methods:

Retrospective data was collected from all consecutive patients aged ≤30 hospitalised with a diagnosis of acute myocarditis or acute myopericarditis in our health Care Campus between the years 2010–2016.

Results:

Ninety-three patients with myocarditis and myopericarditis were identified. Higher peak troponin levels correlated with longer hospitalisation times in the cardiac or paediatric wards (p = 0.03, Pearson correlation: r −0.23), and median troponin level at admission correlated with longer overall hospitalisation (p = 0.026, Pearson correlation: r = 0.23). Patients admitted to ICU, received oral cardiac supportive therapy or that were discharged with cardiac drugs had higher median troponin compared to patients who were not but this was not statistically significant. A small group of patients that needed intravenous cardiac support had significantly lower median peak troponin levels (n = 4, 0.375ng/ml, p = 0.048). Only two patients needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, and one died. The small number of patients precludes statistical analysis.

Conclusion:

Higher troponin levels correlated significantly with longer hospitalisation, lower troponin values correlated with intravenous cardiac support, while other variables related to the severity of disease could not be significantly related to higher troponin levels.
Health effects of e-cigarettes and their use for smoking cessation from a vascular perspective
Authors: Krabbe Bernd , Espinola-Klein Christine , Malyar Nasser , Brodmann Marianne , Mazzolai Lucia , Belch Jill J.F. , Müller Oliver J. , Heiss Christian ,   DGA-German Society of Angiology Board,   ESVM-European Society of Vascular Medicine Board
Published: February 2023

Summary: Tobacco consumption is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Despite all efforts to curb any form of smoking, the number of e-cigarette users is still rising more than tabacco smoking decreases. E-cigarettes are often advertised as less harmful than regular cigarettes and helpful for smoking cessation. But e-cigarettes are not risk-free and their use causes vascular damage. There is concern about long-term health risks of e-cigarettes or when non-smokers use them as first nicotine contact. Furthermore, their use for smoking cessation is discussed controversially. To optimize treatment and medical counselling of current smokers and e-cigarette users, we present an evidence-based overview of the most important issues of e-cigarette use from a vascular medicine point of view. The key messages are presented as a position statement of the German Society of Vascular Medicine and endorsed by the European Society of Vascular Medicine.
A prospective survey study on the education and awareness about	walking exercise amongst inpatients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease	in Germany
Authors: Li Yi , Rother Ulrich , Rosenberg Yvonne , Hinterseher Irene , Uhl Christian , Mylonas Spyridon , Grambow Eberhard , Gombert Alexander , Busch Albert , Bresler Ayko , Öz Tugce , Görtz Hartmut , Pfister Karin , Dovzhanskiy Dmitriy , Trenner Matthias , Behrendt Christian-Alexander
Published: February 2023

Summary: Background: To determine the adherence to supervised exercise training and underlying reasons for non-adherence amongst patients with inpatient treatment of symptomatic lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Patients and methods: This was a prospective questionnaire-based survey study of all consecutively treated inpatients with treatment for either intermittent claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) surveyed at sixteen participating centres in Germany. Results: A total of 235 patients (median age 70 years) were included, thereof 29.4% females and 34.6% with CLTI. The median time from first PAD diagnosis was 4 years (IQR: 1–8). Only 11.4% have previously participated in any walking exercise programme before the index treatment, thereby 10.0% in the IC subgroup and 12.0% with CLTI. Amongst all patients, 35.6% responded they were appropriately informed about the necessity and benefits of walking exercise programmes by their hospital physicians (25.8% by general practitioners), and 65.3% agreed that adherence to supervised exercise may improve their pain-free walking distance. A total of 24.5% responded they had access to necessary information concerning local walking exercise programmes. Amongst 127 free text comments on the reasons for non-adherence to supervised exercise training, 64% of the comments contained lack of information or consent on such measures. Conclusions: Less than 12% of the patients enrolled in the current study have ever participated in a walking exercise programme during their life course. Although all practice guidelines contain corresponding class I recommendations, especially for patients suffering from IC, most patients responded that they were not appropriately informed about the necessity of exercise training along with the fact that 65% agreed that exercise may increase the pain-free walking distance. Taken all together, these results emphasise that we miss an important opportunity in the patient-physician communication. Efforts should be made to improve acceptance and application of structured walking-exercise for patients with PAD.
Laboratory Earthquakes Simulations—Typical Events, Fault Damage, and Gouge Production
Authors: Mollon Guilhem , Aubry Jérôme , Schubnel Alexandre
Published: February 2023

We propose a numerical model of laboratory earthquake cycle inspired by a set of experiments performed on a triaxial apparatus on sawcut Carrara marble samples. The model couples two representations of rock matter: rock is essentially represented as an elastic continuum, except in the vicinity of the sliding interface, where a discrete representation is employed. This allows to simulate in a single framework the storage and release of strain energy in the bulk of the sample and in the loading system, the damage of rock due to sliding, and the progressive production of a granular gouge layer in the interface. After independent calibration, we find that the tribosystem spontaneously evolves toward a stick‐slip sliding regime, mimicking in a satisfactory way the behavior observed in the lab. The model offers insights on complex phenomena which are out of reach in experiments. This includes the variability in space and time of the fields of stress and effective friction along the fault, the progressive thickening of the damaged region of rock around the interface, and the build‐up of a granular layer of gouge accommodating shear. We present in detail several typical sliding events, we illustrate the fault heterogeneity, and we analyze quantitatively the damage rate in the numerical samples. Some limitations of the model are pointed out, as well as ideas of future improvements, and several research directions are proposed in order to further explore the large numerical data set produced by these simulations.
Seasonality of the Sub‐Mesoscale to Mesoscale Sea Surface Variability From Multi‐Year Satellite Altimetry
Authors: Yu Y. , Sandwell D. T. , Gille S. T.
Published: February 2023

Sea surface slope (SSS) varies in response to a range of physical processes: tides, geostrophic flows, surface and internal waves, etc. We present the sea surface variation in the form of the SSS variability using 30 years of heterogeneous satellite altimetry measurements. We apply band‐pass filters to the along‐track SSS, and derive the mean and seasonal (annual and semi‐annual) components of SSS variability in multiple wavelength sub‐bands from 10 to 1,000 km. We show that the seasonal components are generally small (<10% in amplitude) compared to the mean variability. Through correlation analysis, we show evidence that SSS variability with wavelengths less than 30 km is dominated by wave height noise. At sub‐mesoscale to mesoscale (30–100 km) wavelengths, we identify high variability over western boundary currents and regions of rough topography. In this band, the high‐latitude Northern Hemisphere and the south Indian Ocean are associated with large annual cycles. The variability is higher in local wintertime except for a few regions, for example, the Bay of Bengal, which shows high variability in the boreal spring and fall. Through power spectral density analysis of the seasonal SSS variability, we find that the energy differences between local winter and summer are stronger at smaller scales (<100 km). The Ka‐band radar interferometry instrument on the Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite mission will allow observation of ocean surface activities down to ∼20 km at submonthly time scales, but wave‐related errors (sea state bias, aliasing, wind‐driven activities, etc.) will still be a major challenge.
Evolution of an Accretionary Complex (LeMay Group) and Terrane Translation in the Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Riley Teal R. , Millar Ian L. , Carter Andrew , Flowerdew Michael J. , Burton‐Johnson Alex , Bastias Joaquin , Storey Craig D. , Castillo Paula , Chew David , Whitehouse Martin J.
Published: February 2023

The LeMay Group accretionary complex of Alexander Island (Antarctic Peninsula) comprises a 4 km thick succession of variably deformed turbidites associated with thrust slices of ocean floor basalts. The depositional age and provenance of the succession is uncertain with estimates ranging from Carboniferous to Cretaceous. The accretion history is also poorly established and whether the LeMay Group developed allochthonously and accreted during an episode of Cretaceous terrane translation. We have examined the geochronology and geochemistry of 22 samples from across the entire accretionary complex to determine its depositional, provenance and accretion history. The accretionary complex has been subdivided into four separate groups based on detrital zircon U‐Pb age and Lu‐Hf provenance analysis. Groups 1 and 2 are interpreted to be a continuation of the extensive Permian accretionary complexes of West Gondwana and have a depositional age of c. 255 Ma, with volcaniclastic input from the extensive silicic volcanism of the Choiyoi Province. Accretion of the LeMay Group to the continental margin developed during the mid‐Triassic, potentially related to the Peninsula Orogeny and an episode of flat‐slab subduction of the proto‐Pacific plate. Group 3 is only identified from an island to the west of Alexander Island and has a mid‐Cretaceous depositional age and provenance akin to offshore sequences from Thurston Island. A para‐autochthonous origin is suggested, with mid‐Cretaceous accretion associated with the melange belts of central Alexander Island. Group 4 is also a distinct unit with an Early Jurassic depositional age and a source more closely related to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Alterations in microRNA of extracellular vesicles associated with major depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders in adolescents
Authors: Honorato-Mauer Jessica , Xavier Gabriela , Ota Vanessa Kiyomi , Chehimi Samar Nasser , Mafra Fernanda , Cuóco Cássia , Ito Lucas Toshio , Ormond Rafaella , Asprino Paula Fontes , Oliveira Adrielle , Bugiga Amanda Victoria Gomes , Torrecilhas Ana Claudia , Bressan Rodrigo , Manfro Gisele Gus , Miguel Euripedes Constantino , Rohde Luis Augusto , Pan Pedro Mario , Salum Giovanni Abrahão , Pellegrino Renata , Belangero Sintia , Santoro Marcos Leite
Published: February 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are present in numerous peripheral bodily fluids and function in critical biological processes, including cell-to-cell communication. Most relevant to the present study, EVs contain microRNAs (miRNAs), and initial evidence from the field indicates that miRNAs detected in circulating EVs have been previously associated with mental health disorders. Here, we conducted an exploratory longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of miRNA expression in serum EVs from adolescent participants. We analyzed data from a larger ongoing cohort study, evaluating 116 adolescent participants at two time points (wave 1 and wave 2) separated by three years. Two separate data analyses were employed: A cross-sectional analysis compared individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Anxiety disorders (ANX) and Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with individuals without psychiatric diagnosis at each time point. A longitudinal analysis assessed changes in miRNA expression over time between four groups showing different diagnostic trajectories (persistent diagnosis, first incidence, remitted and typically developing/control). Total EVs were isolated, characterized by size distribution and membrane proteins, and miRNAs were isolated and sequenced. We then selected differentially expressed miRNAs for target prediction and pathway enrichment analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, we did not observe any statistically significant results. In the cross-sectional analysis: in the ADHD group, we observed an upregulation of miR-328-3p at wave 1 only; in the MDD group, we observed a downregulation of miR-4433b-5p, miR-584-5p, miR-625-3p, miR-432-5p and miR-409-3p at wave 2 only; and in the ANX group, we observed a downregulation of miR-432-5p, miR-151a-5p and miR-584-5p in ANX cases at wave 2 only. Our results identified previously observed and novel differentially expressed miRNAs and their relationship with three mental health disorders. These data are consistent with the notion that these miRNAs might regulate the expression of genes associated with these traits in genome-wide association studies. The findings support the promise of continued identification of miRNAs contained within peripheral EVs as biomarkers for mental health disorders.
Acute stress responses of autonomous nervous system, HPA axis, and inflammatory system in posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: von Majewski Kristin , Kraus Olga , Rhein Cosima , Lieb Marietta , Erim Yesim , Rohleder Nicolas
Published: February 2023

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) does not only have direct consequences for well-being, but it also comes with a significant risk for severe somatic health consequences. A number of previous studies have pointed to alterations in stress systems in traumatized persons, as well as the inflammatory system, which might be important links in the pathway between trauma, PTSD, and health consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate acute stress responses in PTSD patients compared with healthy controls. Twenty-seven PTSD patients and 15 controls were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and we measured salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) at different time points before, during and after the stress test. Results revealed similar stress responses between patients and controls, but lower baseline cortisol levels and higher IL-6 baseline levels in PTSD patients. Increases in sAA stress responses were significantly lower in patients, while sAA concentrations were higher in the PTSD group during intervention. HRV was markedly decreased in patients and showed a significantly blunted acute stress response with a slower recovery after TSST. These results confirm previous findings of marked stress system dysregulations in PTSD and add to the literature on acute stress reactivity in PTSD which appears to show stress system-specific changes. Overall, these results have implications for our understanding of potential risk and resilience factors in the response to trauma.
Identification of disease-related aberrantly spliced transcripts in myeloma and strategies to target these alterations by RNA-based therapeutics
Authors: Ogiya Daisuke , Chyra Zuzana , Verselis Sigitas J. , O’Keefe Morgan , Cobb Jacquelyn , Abiatari Ivane , Talluri Srikanth , Sithara Anjana Anilkumar , Hideshima Teru , Chu Michael P. , Hájek Roman , Dorfman David M. , Pilarski Linda M. , Anderson Kenneth C. , Adamia Sophia
Published: February 2023

Novel drug discoveries have shifted the treatment paradigms of most hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM). However, this plasma cell malignancy remains incurable, and novel therapies are therefore urgently needed. Whole-genome transcriptome analyses in a large cohort of MM patients demonstrated that alterations in pre-mRNA splicing (AS) are frequent in MM. This manuscript describes approaches to identify disease-specific alterations in MM and proposes RNA-based therapeutic strategies to eradicate such alterations. As a “proof of concept”, we examined the causes of aberrant HMMR (Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor) splicing in MM. We identified clusters of single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the HMMR transcript where the altered splicing took place. Using bioinformatics tools, we predicted SNVs and splicing factors that potentially contribute to aberrant HMMR splicing. Based on bioinformatic analyses and validation studies, we provided the rationale for RNA-based therapeutic strategies to selectively inhibit altered HMMR splicing in MM. Since splicing is a hallmark of many cancers, strategies described herein for target identification and the design of RNA-based therapeutics that inhibit gene splicing can be applied not only to other genes in MM but also more broadly to other hematological malignancies and solid tumors as well.
What did we learn from the International Databases on Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure in Relation to Cardiovascular Outcome?
Authors: Asayama Kei , Stolarz-Skrzypek Katarzyna , Yang Wen-Yi , Hansen Tine W. , Brguljan-Hitij Jana , Odili Augustine N. , Li Yan , Staessen Jan A.
Published: February 2023

To assess in individual-person meta-analyses how out-of-office blood pressure (BP) contributes to risk stratification and the management of hypertension, an international consortium set up the International Databases on Ambulatory (IDACO) and Home (IDHOCO) Blood Pressure in Relation to Cardiovascular Outcome. This review summarizes key findings of recent IDACO/IDHOCO articles. Among various BP indexes derived from office and ambulatory BP recordings, the 24-h and nighttime BP level were the best predictors of adverse health outcomes. Second, using the 10-year cardiovascular risk associated with guideline-endorsed office BP thresholds as reference, corresponding thresholds were derived for home and ambulatory BP. Stratified by the underlying cardiovascular risk, the rate of cardiovascular events in white-coat hypertensive patients and matched normotensive controls were not substantially different. The observation that masked hypertension carries a high cardiovascular risk was replicated in Nigerian Blacks, using home BP monitoring. The thresholds for 24-h mean arterial pressure, i.e., the BP component measured by oscillometric devices, delineating normotension, elevated BP and hypertension were <90, 90 to 92 and ≥92 mmHg. At young age, the absolute risk associated with out-of-office BP was low, but the relative risk was high, whereas with advancing age, the relative risk decreased and the absolute risk increased. Using pulse pressure as an exemplary case, the relative risks of death, cardiovascular endpoints and stroke decreased over 3-fold from 55 to 75 years of age, whereas in contrast absolute risk rose 3-fold. In conclusion, IDACO/IDHOCO forcefully support the notion that the pressing need to curb the hypertension pandemic cannot be met without out-of-the-office BP monitoring.
Photothermal bleaching of nickel dithiolene for bright multi-colored 3D printed parts
Authors: Olubummo Adekunle , Zhao Lihua , Hartman Aja , Tom Howard , Zhao Yan , Wycoff Kyle
Published: February 2023

HP’s Multi Jet Fusion is a powder bed fusion 3D printing technology that utilizes a carbon-based radiation absorber in combination with a near infrared (NIR) light source to facilitate the fusion of polymer powder in a layer-by-layer fashion to generate 3D parts. Most available carbon-based and NIR radiation absorbers have an intrinsic dark color, which as a result will only produce black/gray and dark colored parts. However, there are many applications that require variable color, including prosthetics, medical models, and indicators, among others. To create white, bright colored, and translucent parts with MJF, a visibly transparent and colorless radiation absorber is required. In this paper, we designed an activating fusing agent (AFA) that contains a red, strong NIR absorbing dye that turns colorless after harvesting irradiation energy during the MJF 3D printing process and provide a bright colored part when working with other color agents.
Defective excitation-contraction coupling and mitochondrial respiration precede mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation in spinobulbar muscular atrophy skeletal muscle
Authors: Marchioretti Caterina , Zanetti Giulia , Pirazzini Marco , Gherardi Gaia , Nogara Leonardo , Andreotti Roberta , Martini Paolo , Marcucci Lorenzo , Canato Marta , Nath Samir R. , Zuccaro Emanuela , Chivet Mathilde , Mammucari Cristina , Pacifici Marco , Raffaello Anna , Rizzuto Rosario , Mattarei Andrea , Desbats Maria A. , Salviati Leonardo , Megighian Aram , Sorarù Gianni , Pegoraro Elena , Belluzzi Elisa , Pozzuoli Assunta , Biz Carlo , Ruggieri Pietro , Romualdi Chiara , Lieberman Andrew P. , Babu Gopal J. , Sandri Marco , Blaauw Bert , Basso Manuela , Pennuto Maria
Published: February 2023

Polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) causes spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Skeletal muscle is a primary site of toxicity; however, the current understanding of the early pathological processes that occur and how they unfold during disease progression remains limited. Using transgenic and knock-in mice and patient-derived muscle biopsies, we show that SBMA mice in the presymptomatic stage develop a respiratory defect matching defective expression of genes involved in excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), altered contraction dynamics, and increased fatigue. These processes are followed by stimulus-dependent accumulation of calcium into mitochondria and structural disorganization of the muscle triads. Deregulation of expression of ECC genes is concomitant with sexual maturity and androgen raise in the serum. Consistent with the androgen-dependent nature of these alterations, surgical castration and AR silencing alleviate the early and late pathological processes. These observations show that ECC deregulation and defective mitochondrial respiration are early but reversible events followed by altered muscle force, calcium dyshomeostasis, and dismantling of triad structure.
SARS-CoV-2 humoral and cellular immunity following different combinations of vaccination and breakthrough infection
Authors: Pušnik Jernej , Monzon-Posadas Werner O. , Zorn Jasmin , Peters Kathrin , Baum Maximilian , Proksch Hannah , Schlüter Celina Beta , Alter Galit , Menting Tanja , Streeck Hendrik
Published: February 2023

The elicited anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity is becoming increasingly complex with individuals receiving a different number of vaccine doses paired with or without recovery from breakthrough infections with different variants. Here we analyze the immunity of individuals that initially received two doses of mRNA vaccine and either received a booster vaccination, recovered from a breakthrough infection, or both. Our data suggest that two vaccine doses and delta breakthrough infection or three vaccine doses and optionally omicron or delta infection provide better B cell immunity than the initial two doses of mRNA vaccine with or without alpha breakthrough infection. A particularly potent B cell response against the currently circulating omicron variant (B. 1.1.529) was observed for thrice vaccinated individuals with omicron breakthrough infection; a 46-fold increase in plasma neutralization compared to two vaccine doses (p < 0.0001). The T cell response after two vaccine doses is not significantly influenced by additional antigen exposures. Of note, individuals with hybrid immunity show better correlated adaptive immune responses compared to those only vaccinated. Taken together, our data provide a detailed insight into SARS-CoV-2 immunity following different antigen exposure scenarios.
Gradient design of imprinted anode for stable Zn-ion batteries
Authors: Cao Qinghe , Gao Yong , Pu Jie , Zhao Xin , Wang Yuxuan , Chen Jipeng , Guan Cao
Published: February 2023

Achieving long-term stable zinc anodes at high currents/capacities remains a great challenge for practical rechargeable zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we report an imprinted gradient zinc electrode that integrates gradient conductivity and hydrophilicity for long-term dendrite-free zinc-ion batteries. The gradient design not only effectively prohibits side reactions between the electrolyte and the zinc anode, but also synergistically optimizes electric field distribution, zinc ion flux and local current density, which induces preferentially deposited zinc in the bottom of the microchannels and suppresses dendrite growth even under high current densities/capacities. As a result, the imprinted gradient zinc anode can be stably cycled for 200 h at a high current density/capacity of 10 mA cm−2/10 mAh cm−2, with a high cumulative capacity of 1000 mAh cm−2, which outperforms the none-gradient counterparts and bare zinc. The imprinted gradient design can be easily scaled up, and a high-performance large-area pouch cell (4*5 cm2) is also demonstrated.
Molecular hydrogen in seawater supports growth of diverse marine bacteria
Authors: Lappan Rachael , Shelley Guy , Islam Zahra F. , Leung Pok Man , Lockwood Scott , Nauer Philipp A. , Jirapanjawat Thanavit , Ni Gaofeng , Chen Ya-Jou , Kessler Adam J. , Williams Timothy J. , Cavicchioli Ricardo , Baltar Federico , Cook Perran L. M. , Morales Sergio E. , Greening Chris
Published: February 2023

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an abundant and readily accessible energy source in marine systems, but it remains unknown whether marine microbial communities consume this gas. Here we use a suite of approaches to show that marine bacteria consume H2to support growth. Genes for H2-uptake hydrogenases are prevalent in global ocean metagenomes, highly expressed in metatranscriptomes and found across eight bacterial phyla. Capacity for H2oxidation increases with depth and decreases with oxygen concentration, suggesting that H2is important in environments with low primary production. Biogeochemical measurements of tropical, temperate and subantarctic waters, and axenic cultures show that marine microbes consume H2supplied at environmentally relevant concentrations, yielding enough cell-specific power to support growth in bacteria with low energy requirements. Conversely, our results indicate that oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) primarily supports survival. Altogether, H2is a notable energy source for marine bacteria and may influence oceanic ecology and biogeochemistry.
Magnetic bentonite decorated with Pd nanoparticles and cross-linked polyvinyl pyridine as an efficient nanocatalyst for Suzuki coupling and 4-Nitrophenol reduction reactions
Authors: Daneshafruz Haniyeh , Mohammadi Pourya , Barani Hossein , Sheibani Hassan
Published: February 2023

This study reports the preparation of a novel type of support based on magnetically recyclable bentonite functionalized with divinylbenzene-polyvinyl pyridine (PVP-DVB) for Pd (II) nanocatalyst by a simple cost-effective method. Firstly, the conventional co-precipitation method synthesized Fe3O4nanoparticles (NPs) onto bentonite sheets. Then the prepared magnetic support surface was functionalized by divinylbenzene-polyvinyl pyridine (PVP-DVB) to create a cross-linked polymer with a high coordination ability with palladium. Repeated nitrogen units in the PVP-DVB polymer chain increase the number of Pd bonds and thus lead to higher performance of the nanocatalyst. Finally, the palladium NPs were simultaneously synthesized and immobilized under mild conditions. The synthesized nanocatalyst was characterized by several methods such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. The efficiency of synthesized heterogeneous nanocatalyst was investigated in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions between a range of aryl halides (X = Cl, Br, I) with phenylboronic acid and in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Moreover, the synthesized nanocatalyst could be easily recovered and reused several times with an efficiency greater than 90%.
Local IL-10 delivery modulates the immune response and enhances repair of volumetric muscle loss muscle injury
Authors: Huynh Tai , Reed Cassandra , Blackwell Zain , Phelps Payton , Herrera Luis C. Pinzon , Almodovar Jorge , Zaharoff David A. , Wolchok Jeffrey
Published: February 2023

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that in addition to repairing the architectural and cellular cues via regenerative medicine, the delivery of immune cues (immunotherapy) may be needed to enhance regeneration following volumetric muscle loss (VML) injury. We identified IL-10 signaling as a promising immunotherapeutic target. To explore the impact of targeting IL-10 signaling, tibialis anterior (TA) VML injuries were created and then treated in rats using autologous minced muscle (MM). Animals received either recombinant rat IL-10 or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) controls injections at the site of VML repair beginning 7 days post injury (DPI) and continuing every other day (4 injections total) until 14 DPI. At 56 DPI (study endpoint), significant improvements to TA contractile torque (82% of uninjured values & 170% of PBS values), TA mass, and myofiber size in response to IL-10 treatment were detected. Whole transcriptome analysis at 14 DPI revealed activation of IL-10 signaling, muscle hypertrophy, and lymphocytes signaling pathways. Expression of ST2, a regulatory T (Treg) cell receptor, was dramatically increased at the VML repair site in response to IL-10 treatment when compared to PBS controls. The findings suggest that the positive effect of delayed IL-10 delivery might be due to immuno-suppressive Treg cell recruitment.
Spatio-temporal numerical modeling of stochastic predator-prey model
Authors: Yasin Muhammad W. , Ahmed Nauman , Iqbal Muhammad S. , Raza Ali , Rafiq Muhammad , eldin Elsayed Mohamed Tag , Khan Ilyas
Published: February 2023

In this article, the ratio-dependent prey-predator system perturbed with time noise is numerically investigated. It relates to the population densities of the prey and predator in an ecological system. The initial prey-predator models only depend on the time and a couple of the differential equations. We are considering a model where the prey-predator interaction is influenced by both space and time and the need for a coupled nonlinear partial differential equation with the effect of the random behavior of the environment. The existence of the solutions is guaranteed by using Schauder’s fixed point theorem. The computation of the underlying model is carried out by two schemes. The proposed stochastic forward Euler scheme is conditionally stable and consistent with the system of the equations. The proposed stochastic non-standard finite difference scheme is unconditionally stable and consistent with the system of the equations. The graphical behavior of a test problem for different values of the parameters is shown which depicts the efficacy of the schemes. Our numerical results will help the researchers to consider the effect of the noise on the prey-predator model.
Hydrogen migration in inner-shell ionized halogenated cyclic hydrocarbons
Authors: Abid Abdul Rahman , Bhattacharyya Surjendu , Venkatachalam Anbu Selvam , Pathak Shashank , Chen Keyu , Lam Huynh Van Sa , Borne Kurtis , Mishra Debadarshini , Bilodeau René C. , Dumitriu Ileana , Berrah Nora , Patanen Minna , Rolles Daniel
Published: February 2023

We have studied the fragmentation of the brominated cyclic hydrocarbons bromocyclo-propane, bromocyclo-butane, and bromocyclo-pentane upon Br(3d) and C(1s) inner-shell ionization using coincidence ion momentum imaging. We observe a substantial yield of CH3+ fragments, whose formation requires intramolecular hydrogen (or proton) migration, that increases with molecular size, which contrasts with prior observations of hydrogen migration in linear hydrocarbon molecules. Furthermore, by inspecting the fragment ion momentum correlations of three-body fragmentation channels, we conclude that CHx+ fragments (with x = 0, …, 3) with an increasing number of hydrogens are more likely to be produced via sequential fragmentation pathways. Overall trends in the molecular-size-dependence of the experimentally observed kinetic energy releases and fragment kinetic energies are explained with the help of classical Coulomb explosion simulations.
Solving large-scale discrete time–cost trade-off problem using hybrid multi-verse optimizer model
Authors: Son Pham Vu Hong , Nguyen Dang Nghiep Trinh
Published: February 2023

The analysis of the relationship between time and cost is a crucial aspect of construction project management. Various optimization techniques have been developed to solve time–cost trade-off problems. A hybrid multi-verse optimizer model (hDMVO) is introduced in this study, which combines the multi-verse optimizer (MVO) and the sine cosine algorithm (SCA) to address the discrete time–cost trade-off problem (DTCTP). The algorithm's optimality is evaluated by using 23 well-known benchmark test functions. The results demonstrate that hDMVO is competitive with MVO, SCA, the dragonfly algorithm and ant lion optimization. The performance of hDMVO is evaluated using four benchmark test problems of DTCTP, including two medium-scale instances (63 activities) and two large-scale instances (630 activities). The results indicate that hDMVO can provide superior solutions in the time–cost optimization of large-scale and complex projects compared to previous algorithms.
Allolobophora caliginosa coelomic fluid and extract alleviate glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in mice by suppressing oxidative stress and regulating osteoblastic/osteoclastic-related markers
Authors: Abdelfattah Marwa Ahmed , Mohamed Ayman Saber , Ibrahim Sherif Abdelaziz , Fahmy Sohair R.
Published: February 2023

Allolobophora calignosa (Ac) is a folk medicine for millennia, as it possesses many biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the chemo-preventive activity of A.calignosa coelomic fluid (AcCF) and A.calignosa extract (AcE) on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in mice. Characterization and in vitro biological activity of AcE and AcCF has been assessed. Male CD-1 mice were subcutaneously received dexamethasone (DEX) (1 mg/kg, 5 times/week) and concurrently intraperitoneally treated with either AcCF (20 mg/kg) or AcE (45 mg/kg) every other day for 28 days. Serum and bone homogenates were subjected for qPCR and biochemical analysis. AcE and AcCF treatment significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and calcitonin levels, whereas activity of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), serum acidic phosphatase (ACP), bone acidic phosphatase (BACP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly reduced compare with untreated GIOP mice. Treatment with AcE and AcCF modulates oxidative stress and downregulated Rank and Mmp9 expression, as well as increased glycosaminoglycan content in the organic bone matrix, resulting in osteoclastogenesis inhibition. Overall, AcCF and AcE show a chemo-preventive activity against GIOP by inhibiting oxidative stress and regulating expression and/or activity of osteoblast/osteoclast-related markers.