bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Azimuthal Prestack Seismic Anisotropic Inversion on a Deep and Tight Carbonate Reservoir From the North Potwar Basin of Pakistan
Authors: Durrani Muhammad Zahid Afzal , Rahman Syed Atif , Talib Maryam , Subhani Ghulam , Sarosh Bakhtawer
Published: July 2023

Quantitative characterization of deep, tight, and heterogeneous reservoirs plays an important role in identifying hydrocarbon pathways for effective and optimal reservoir field development. In this case study, we used an azimuthal prestack seismic anisotropic inversion approach to estimate attributes of horizontal transverse isotropy (HTI) caused by a set of vertical fractures, oriented cracks, and stress. Anisotropic inversion facilitated the conversion of interface properties to the corresponding layer-based properties, which led to the quantitative interpretation of reservoir properties related to azimuthal variation in seismic amplitudes. To estimate the anisotropy magnitude and the direction of the isotropy axis in HTI media, elastic properties (P-impedance and Vp/Vs) obtained from prestack seismic inversion (using six azimuth × four angle stack) served as inputs. The isotropic low-frequency model (LFM) is used as the foundation of the inversion for all azimuths, and the anisotropy effects are later added by updating the model along the azimuths. The direction of the isotropy plane resulting from the anisotropic inversion is determined by using the maximum horizontal stress as a prior constraint, which eliminates any inherent uncertainty. The workflow used effectively characterized the orientation and density of fractures from the recently discovered oilfield reservoirs of the Paleocene (Lockhart) formation located in Pakistan’s north Potwar Basin. It also helped improve the prediction accuracy for fractures in the study area. According to the observations (fractures) from the exploratory drilled well (D1) in the tight carbonate (Lockhart) reservoir, a significant amount of anisotropy magnitude is observed. This provides the basis for hydrocarbon exploration, field development, and reliable drilling decisions.
The metabolites of light: untargeted metabolomic approaches bring new clues to understand light-driven acclimation of intertidal mudflat biofilm.
Authors: Doose Caroline , Hubas Cédric
Published: July 2023

The microphytobenthos (MPB), a microbial community of primary producers, play a key role in coastal ecosystem functioning, particularly in intertidal mudflats. These mudflats experience challenging variations of irradiance, forcing the micro-organisms to develop photoprotective mechanisms to survive and thrive in this dynamic environment. Two major adaptations to light are well described in literature: the excess of light energy dissipation through non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and the vertical migration in the sediment. These mechanisms trigger a lot of scientific interest, but the biological processes and metabolic mechanisms involved in light-driven vertical migration remain largely unknown. To our knowledge, this study investigates for the first time metabolomic responses of a migrational mudflat biofilm exposed for 30 min to a light gradient of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) from 50 to 1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1. The untargeted metabolomic analysis allowed to identify metabolites involved in two types of responses to light irradiance levels. On the one hand, the production of SFAs and MUFAs, primarily derived from bacteria, indicates a healthy photosynthetic state of MPB under low light (LL) and medium light (ML) conditions. Conversely, when exposed to high light (HL), the MPB experienced light-induced stress, triggering the production of alka(e)nes and fatty alcohols. The physiological and ecological roles of these compounds are poorly described in literature. This study sheds new light on the topic, as it suggests that these compounds may play a crucial and previously unexplored role in light-induced stress acclimatation of migrational MPB biofilms. Since alka(e)nes are produced from FAs decarboxylation, these results thus emphasize for the first time the importance of FAs pathways in microphytobenthic biofilms acclimation to light.
Lethal and sublethal heat-exposure of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) causes alarm pheromone emission and elicits a movement response in nearby recipients
Authors: Ashbrook Aaron , Feder Jeffrey , Bennett Gary , Ginzel Matthew , Gondhalekar Ameya
Published: July 2023

Many gregarious insect species use aggregation and alarm pheromones. The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., emits an alarm pheromone (AP), a 70/30 blend of (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal, when threatened. Bed bugs avoid heated areas above 43 °C, which are lethal to bugs and used commercially as spatial heat treatments to manage infestations. However, the interaction of bed bug AP in heat avoidance has not been investigated. The goal of this research was to: 1) determine if bed bugs emit AP as an alarm response to heat exposure, and 2) quantify the behavioral responses of conspecifics to AP emitted by heat-exposed bed bugs. Using a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer, we found that bed bugs responded to lethal and sublethal heat exposure by emitting AP. The Harlan laboratory population emitted more pheromone than a laboratory adapted field population from McCall, FL. Harlan females emitted the most AP, followed by Harlan males, McCall females and males. In separate behavioral experiments, we showed that conspecifics (i.e., recipients) reacted to AP released by heat exposed bed bugs (i.e., emitters) by frantically moving within 50 mm and 100 mm test arenas. The Harlan recipients reacted to AP in 100 mm areas, whereas the McCall strain did not, indicating a short area of effectiveness of the AP. Synthetic AP components tested in behavioral experiments caused identical effects as the natural AP blend released by heat-exposed bed bugs.
Vacuum Expansion and Collapse Inside an Infinite Shell
Authors: Laforet Christopher
Published: July 2023

The FRW model of cosmology assumes a Universe with uniform pressure and density everywhere in space at a given time. But at the largest scales, the Universe has a web-like structure surrounding large voids, violating these assumptions. Furthermore, a given region of spacetime is describable only by a single metric and therefore it cannot be that the Universe is modelled as an FRW perfect fluid since this would be the incorrect description of both the web and the voids. The cosmic web must be described by metrics with non-zero energy-momentum tensors with non-uniform pressure and density describing the matter within it. Therefore, the model of cosmology describing the expansion of the Universe must be a vacuum solution describing the empty spaces in the Universe surrounded by an infinite, massive shell (the surrounding Universe). The internal Schwarzschild metric is the model for these vacua. A detailed analysis of falling frames in the external metric in Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates shows that the source of the Schwarzschild metric is at the event horizon, a location/time of infinite density, not at the singularity, as it is currently assumed. The spatial homogeneity of the internal metric is demonstrated by visualizing the geometry in Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates (visualized in 1+2 dimensions) as well as examining the Killing vectors for the internal spacetime. Using the coordinate age of the Universe and transition redshift, this predicts the accelerated expansion, the Hubble diagram fits currently available cosmological data, and it gives a Hubble constant H_0 of 71.6km/s/Mpc. The angular term of the metric describes the relativistic kinematic precession effect known as Thomas Precession which can be interpreted as spin about the time dimension.
Variable Speed Drive Applications Performing Effectively with ANN Technique
Authors: Arumugam Sathish Kumar , R Saravanan , S Vasanthi , R Raja
Published: July 2023

The preservation of variable speed drives at ripple and harmonic less output functions at different applications application is vital. The variable speed drive applications involve the use of different converter topologies, which makes the system to reduced efficiency and leads to reduced performance. A modern development in power electronic technologies makes the proficient control schemes to obtain a ripple and harmonic less variable speed drives. The proper selection and arrangement of control scheme may enhance the performance and efficiency of the speed drives. Various control topologies are suggested elsewhere in the world to obtain the effective performance of the variable speed drive applications. Each control strategy may have its own merits and demerits compared to other techniques. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based technique is made a significant importance in recent years and showing enhanced performance variation compared to other existing control strategies. This paper presents the design of 15 level inverter circuits and functioned using artificial neural network (ANN) control technique to obtain the effective performance for various speed drive applications. Also, this paper presents the space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) control technique and fuzzy logic control techniques to same 15 level multilevel inverter circuit. The results of three, ANN, SVPWM and fuzzy logic techniques are compared and made suggestions on suitable effective control technique for variable speed drive applications.
Influence of Wetland and Landscape Characteristics on Freshwater Turtle Relative Abundance and Movement Patterns in West Virginia, USA
Authors: Becker Darien N. , Brown Donald J. , Anderson James T.
Published: July 2023

Wetland management practices often alter habitat characteristics to improve the function of the wetland (e.g., removing emergent vegetation for aesthetics or dredging for fish stocking), potentially at the cost of reducing habitat quality for wetland-dependent species such as freshwater turtles. We identified wetland and surrounding landscape characteristics related to painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) relative abundance and snapping turtle movement among wetlands. We surveyed turtles at 36 wetland sites (0.04–7.45 ha) in a mixed-use watershed in north-central West Virginia, USA, where hardwood forests and wetlands have been heavily fragmented by agriculture and roads. We also applied radio transmitters to 40 adult snapping turtles (20 females and 20 males) across 20 wetlands. Snapping turtle relative abundance was positively associated with wetland perimeter, mean substrate depth, mean wetland vegetation cover, and minimum distance from roads, while painted turtle relative abundance was positively related to herbaceous wetland cover. We documented movement among wetlands for 25 snapping turtles (63%), including 12 females and 13 males. The probability of inter-wetland movement decreased with wetland perimeter length and distance to the nearest wetland. Our results suggest that large wetlands with deep substrate and abundant herbaceous vegetation provide high-quality habitat for our focal turtle species and that increasing the density of wetlands could increase snapping turtle population connectivity.
Pressure Injury Treatment by Intermittent Electrical Stimulation (PROTECT-2): Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Donaldson Chase , de Abreu Marcelo Gama , Mascha Edward , Rowbottom James , Harvester Eric , Khanna Ashish , Sura Tanmay , Sessler Daniel , Patarroyo Fabio Rodriguez , Zajic Paul , Chauhan Utkarsh , Essber Hani , Kurz Andrea
Published: July 2023

Background: Pressure ulcers account for a substantial fraction of hospital-acquired pathology, with consequent morbidity and economic cost. Treatments are largely focused on preventing further injury, whereas interventions that facilitate healing remain limited. Intermittent electrical stimulation (IES) increases local blood flow and redistributes pressure from muscle-bone interfaces, thus potentially reducing ulcer progression and facilitating healing.
Methods: Pressure Injury Treatment by Intermittent Electrical Stimulation (PROTECT-2) trial will be a parallel-arm multicenter randomized trial to test the hypothesis that IES combined with routine care reduces sacral and ischial pressure injury over time compared to routine care alone. We plan to enroll 1100 patients across various centers. Hospitalized patients with stage 1 or stage 2 sacral or ischial pressure injuries will be randomized to IES and routine care or routine care alone. Wound stage will be followed until death, discharge, or the development of an exclusion criteria for up to 3 months. The primary endpoint will be pressure injury score measured over time.
Discussion: Sacral and ischial pressure injuries present a burden to ICU patients with both clinical and economic consequences. The PROTECT-2 trial will evaluate whether IES is an effective intervention and thus reduces progression of stage 1 and stage 2 sacral and ischial pressure injuries.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05085288 Registered October 20, 2021
Paleomagnetic evidence for Neoarchean plate mobilism
Authors: Ding Jikai , Rogers Chris , Söderlund Ulf , Evans David , Gong Zheng , Ernst Richard , Chamberlain Kevin , Kilian Taylor
Published: July 2023

Plate tectonics is a uniquely characteristic feature of Earth, but its proposed time of initiation is still controversial, with published estimates ranging from ca. 4.2 to 0.7 Ga. Paleomagnetic data can provide a robust argument for one essential aspect of plate tectonics: large-scale relative lateral motions of distinct, rigid crustal blocks. Previously, the oldest relative horizontal motion between two or more blocks was constrained to a broad age interval of ca. 2.7–2.17 Ga using paleomagnetic data. In this study, we obtain a robust ca. 2.48 Ga paleomagnetic pole from Wyoming craton. Combining this result with the ca. 2.7–2.17 Ga apparent polar wander paths from Wyoming and Superior cratons, we suggest that they assembled during ca. 2.7–2.5 Ga and remained directly juxtaposed until ca. 2.17 Ga. Tectonostratigraphic data and geological proxies also suggest Wyoming and Superior collided at ca. 2.6 Ga. The results provide strong evidence for relative horizontal motion between crustal blocks during the Neoarchean. Together with other tectonic proxies, the data suggest plate mobilism in operation prior to 2.5 Ga.
Transesterification with CE15 glucuronoyl esterase from Cerrena Unicolor reveals substrate specificity
Authors: Perna Valentina , Agger Jane Wittrup
Published: July 2023

Glucuronoyl esterases (GE) belonging to family CE15 catalyse the cleavage of ester-linked lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) in lignocellulosic biomass which exist between the glucuronoyl substitutions of glucuronoxylan and an alcohol on lignin. It is unknown exactly what the enzymes prefer in terms of the alcohol moiety of the substrate, either in the α-benzyl or in the γ-benzyl position. This relates directly to where the ester-LCCs are located on the lignin molecule, and has consequences for how the enzymes potentially interact with lignin. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how transesterification reactions with a fungal GE from Cerrena Unicolor (CuGE) can reveal the preferences for the type of alcohol. By providing the enzyme with a donor substrate (the methyl ester of either glucuronate or 4-O-methyl-glucuronate) and either one of two acceptor molecules (benzyl alcohol or 3-phenyl-1-propanol) we show that the enzyme preferentially forms the corresponding γ-ester from the methyl ester of 4-O-methyl-glucuronate and 3-phenyl-1-propanol. The results reveal that the enzyme’s substrate preferences are primarily dictated by the presence of the 4-O-methylation on the glucuronoyl donor, and secondly on the type of alcohol.
A versatile programmable gain amplifier with wide dynamic range and low power consumption
Authors: Boora Aasish , Thangarasu Bharatha Kumar , Seng Yeo Kiat
Published: July 2023

A tuneable gain analog amplifier is a primary building block in RF receivers specially to achieve high dynamic range. Here, we present a wide dB-linear gain range and low power programmable gain amplifier (PGA) fabricated in 40nm CMOS process, which exploits the exponential approximation of the MOS transistor in sub-threshold region. As a result, our PGA achieved one of the widest dB-linearity of 76 dB for 32 digital gain settings and a gain error of less than ± 0.5 dB and consumes only 167 µW of power from a 1.1 V supply. The proposed PGA has dual-mode gain tunability using analog voltage control and 5-bit digital control. At the maximum gain setting, the PGA exhibits a bandwidth of 1.1 MHz and output P1dB of -4.7 dBm. The PGA design is first of its kind attributing to its low-power consumption, wide dB-linear dynamic range, and dual-mode tunability. The novel design enables this PGA as a versatile and an effective block in RF integrated circuits.
Differential T-cell and monocyte responses in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with regorafenib plus nivolumab: an integrated clinical and biomarker analysis of the phase 2 RENOBATE trial
Authors: Yoo Changhoon , Kim Hyung-Don , Jung Seyoung , Koh June-Young , Lim Ho Yeong , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Ryu Min-Hee , Finn Richard , Hong Jung Yong , Lee Han Chu , Moon Deok-Bog , Kim Ki-Hoon , Kim Tae Won , Lee Jeong Seok , Kang Beodeul
Published: July 2023

In this phase 2 REBNOBATE trial, we evaluated regorafenib-nivolumab as front-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Patients (n = 42) received nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks, and regorafenib 80 mg daily (3-weeks on/1-week off schedule). Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from early progressors (progressively increased tumor burden) and long-term responders (response/stable disease for ≥ 10 months). The overall response rate in the study was 31.0%, with a median progression-free survival of 7.4 months and a 1-year overall survival rate of 80.5%. Regorafenib-nivolumab was well-tolerated (no new safety signal). Long-term responders exhibited T-cell receptor repertoire diversification; enrichment of genes representing immunotherapy-responsiveness and cytotoxicity in MKI67+ proliferating CD8+ T cells; and interaction between MKI67+ proliferating CD8+ T cells and classical monocytes through IFN-γ pathways with a higher probability of M1-directed polarization of monocytes. Classical monocytes from early progressors exhibited upregulation of TMEM176A/B coupled with an ineffective inflammasome response. Regorafenib-nivolumab is feasible as front-line treatment for uHCC. Our findings may support the development of biomarkers, or novel immunotherapies to overcome resistance in uHCC.
A new method for groundwater pollution investigation
Authors: TANG Yulan , Zhang Xiaohan , WANG Hongda , Li Wenlong , Huang Diannan , LI Ting
Published: July 2023

Currently, no methods are available to optimise the allocation of sampling points for groundwater contamination surveys at industrial plants without data for modelling analysis, which undoubtedly leads to increased sampling costs. Based on this lack of sampling data, the AHP-entropy weight method is improved and applied to construct a distribution model of groundwater pollution sampling points in a plant area, reduce the sampling scale and establish a new and optimised samplimg scheme. A chemical plant in Shenyang is selected for method validation and spatial interpolation analysis, and the following conclusions are drawn. (1) The new scheme can identify areas of contaminants and reduce sampling costs. (2) After reducing the sample size, the spatial distribution characteristics of each pollutant can still be clearly distinguished. (3) The interpolation-based predictions of some pollutants were improved, and the accuracy of the predictions of other pollutants was reduced within the permissible range. (4) The new sampling scheme is reasonable and feasible. The method provides a new approach for the investigation of underground pollution at industrial plants in small areas and can reduce costs while ensuring the representativeness of sampling points.
Relationship between subclavian vein diameter and its collapsibility index with hypotension induced by general anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery: an observational study
Authors: Chen Huijuan , Zhang Xianlong , Wang Lei , Zheng Cuijuan , Cai Shenquan , Cheng Wei
Published: July 2023

Background
Many studies have shown that the inferior Vena Cava (IVC) diameter and its collapsibility index are credible indicators for predicting fluid reactivity. For critically ill patients, the collapsibility index of subclavian vein (SCV) can replace the collapsibility index of IVC(IVC-CI) to evaluate patients' intravascular volume status.
Methods
A total of 188 elderly patients, aged 65 to 85 years, were recruited for gastrointestinal operation under general anesthesia. Ultrasonic measurements of SCV and IVC were performed before induction of general anesthesia. According to whether hypotension occurred after induction, patients were divided into the hypotension group and the non -hypotension group. The ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive value of ultrasonic measurements of SCV and IVC for hypotension after anesthesia induction. Pearson linear correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between ultrasonic measurements and mini mental state examination (MMSE) scores.
Results
The maximum diameter of SCV(dSCVmax) and maximum diameter of IVC (dIVCmax) were unrelated to the percentage decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); the collapsibility index of SCV(SCV-CI) and IVC-CI were positively correlated with the percentage decrease in MAP with the correlation coefficients of 0.475 (p < 0.001) and 0.577 (p < 0.001), respectively. The areas under the curves (AUC) were 0.824 (0.759–0.889) for SCV-CI, and 0.874 (0.820–0.928) for IVC-CI. The optimal cutoff value of SCV-CI was 31.25% with a sensitivity of 71.7% and a specificity of 90.1%, while IVC-CI was 36.60% with a sensitivity of 85.9% and specificity of 79.0%. After adjusting for confounding variables, SCV-CI had a significant predictor on the occurrence of hypotension and percentage decrease in MAP after induction of anesthesia, similar to IVC-CI. The results of pearson correlation coefficient showed that SCV-CI(r=-0.472, p < 0.001) and IVC-CI (r=-0.422, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with the postoperative MMSE scores.
Conclusion
dSCVmax was not correlated with hypotension after anesthesia induction, while SCV-CI, like IVC-CI, could make reliable prediction about the occurrence of hypotension and percentage decrease in MAP after anaesthesia induction in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery; hypotension after induction of general anesthesia may be related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
Trial registration:
This study was registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of China on 05/06/2022 under the registration number ChiCTR2200060596
Pain Can’t Be Carved at the Joints
Authors: BARRON DANIEL , Saltoun Karin , Kiesow Hannah , Fu Melanie , Tanugi Jessica , Geha Paul , Scheinost Dustin , Silbersweig David , Bzdok Danilo
Published: July 2023

We consider a shift in pain medicine delivery systems from the conventional, body-part-based approach to one anchored in intricate, real-world pain experience and holistic profiles of patient function. Utilizing the largest biomedical dataset to date (n = 34,337), we unearth four unique, biologically-based pain profiles that cut across medical specialties: pain interference, depression, medical pain, and anxiety, each representing different facets of functional impairment. Importantly, these profiles do not specifically align with variables believed to be important to the standard pain evaluation, namely painful body part, pain intensity, sex, or BMI. Correlations with individual-level clinical histories (137 medication categories, 1,425 clinician-assigned diagnostic codes, and 757 lifestyle and behavioral phenotypes) reveal that our pain profiles are largely associated with clinical variables and treatments of modifiable, chronic diseases, rather than with specific body parts. Across profiles, notable differences include opioids being associated only with the pain interference profile, while antidepressants linked to the three complimentary profiles. We further provide evidence that our pain profiles offer valuable, additional insights into patients' wellbeing that are not captured by the body-part framework, and make recommendations for how our pain profiles might sculpt the future design of healthcare delivery systems.
Risk factors for small airway dysfunction in different phenotypes of adult asthma patients
Authors: Guo Jing , Wang Jianwei , Liu Huifang , Yang Yujuan , Liu Zi , Sun Yuemei , Liu Liping , Zhang Yu , Song Xicheng
Published: July 2023

Background
Small airway dysfunction (SAD) presents in asthma of all severities and is associated with asthma control and exacerbations. However, risk factors for SAD in adult asthma patients with different allergy-related phenotypes remain unclear.
Methods
The medical records of 222 adult patients with allergic asthma, 200 patients with allergy-related non-allergic asthma, and 118 patients with non-allergy-related non-allergic asthma were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics were compared among groups, and independent risk factors for SAD in each group were identified by performing backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses.
Results
Patients with allergic asthma had an obviously higher male proportion, a significantly younger onset age, and a significantly lower value of blood neutrophil percentage than the two other groups. The values of blood eosinophil percentage and total IgE were highest in patients with allergic asthma and lowest in patients with non-allergy-related non-allergic asthma. Backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed smoking as the independent risk factor for SAD in adult patients with allergic asthma, age as the independent risk factor in patients with allergy-related non-allergic asthma, and family history of asthma as the independent risk factor in patients with non-allergy-related non-allergic asthma, respectively.
Conclusion
Smoking, age, and family history of asthma are independent risk factors for SAD in adult patients with allergic asthma, in adult patients with allergy-related non-allergic asthma, and in adult patients with non-allergy-related non-allergic asthma, respectively.
Systematic review of the actual emissions reductions of carbon offset projects across all major sectors
Authors: Probst Benedict , Toetzke Malte , Anadon Laura Diaz , Kontoleon Andreas , Hoffmann Volker
Published: July 2023

Net-zero targets have significantly increased carbon offset demand. Carbon offsets are issued based on ex-ante estimates of project emissions reductions, though systematic evidence on ex-post evaluations of achieved emissions reductions is missing. We synthesized existing rigorous empirical studies evaluating more than 2,000 offset projects across all major offset sectors. Our analysis shows that offset projects achieved considerably lower emissions reductions than officially claimed. We estimate that only 12% of the total volume of existing credits constitute real emissions reductions, with 0% for renewable energy, 0.4% for cookstoves, 25.0% for forestry and 27.5% for chemical processes. Our results thus indicate that 88% of the total credit volume across these four sectors in the voluntary carbon market does not constitute real emissions reductions. This offset achievement gap corresponds to almost twice the annual German CO2 emissions. We complement evidence from offset projects with 51 additional studies conducting ex-post evaluations of field interventions with settings comparable to offset projects. For cookstoves and forestry projects, these field interventions were more effective at reducing emissions than the voluntary offset projects, likely due to more careful intervention targeting, stricter monitoring and enforcement of intervention protocols.
Influence of Bi doping on the electronic structure of (Ga,Mn)As epitaxial layers
Authors: Yastrubchak Oksana , TATARYN NATALIIA , Gluba Lukasz , Mamykin Sergii , Sadowski Janusz , Andrearczyk Tomasz , Domagala Jaroslaw Z. , Kondratenko Olga , Romanyuk Volodymyr , Fedchenko Olena , Lytvynenko Yarina , Tkach Olena , Vasilyev Dmitry , Babenkov Sergey , Medjanik Katerina , Gas Katarzyna , Sawicki Maciej , Wosinski Tadeusz , Schönhense Gerd , Elmers Hans-Joachim
Published: July 2023

The influence of the addition of Bi to the (Ga,Mn)As dilute ferromagnetic semiconductor on its electronic structure as well as on its magnetic and structural properties has been studied. Epitaxial (Ga,Mn)(Bi,As) layers of high structural perfection have been grown using low-temperature molecular-beam epitaxy. Post-growth annealing of the samples improves their structural and magnetic properties and increases the hole concentration in the layers. Hard X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (HARPES) reveals a strongly dispersing band in the Mn-doped layers, which crosses the Fermi energy and is caused by the high concentration of Mn-induced itinerant holes located in the valence band. An increased density of states near the Fermi level is attributed to additional localized Mn states. In addition to a decrease of the chemical potential with increasing Mn doping, we find significant changes in the valence band caused by the incorporation of a small atomic fraction of Bi atoms. The spin-orbit split off band is shifted to higher binding energies, which is inconsistent with the impurity band model of the band structure in (Ga,Mn)As. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and modulation photoreflectance spectroscopy results confirm the valence band modifications in the investigated layers.
Equitable machine learning counteracts ancestral bias in precision medicine, improving outcomes for all
Authors: Graim Kiley , Smith Leslie , Cahill James
Published: July 2023

Gold standard genomic datasets severely under-represent non-European populations, leading to inequities and a limited understanding of human disease [1–8]. Therapeutics and outcomes remain hidden because we lack insights that we could gain from analyzing ancestry-unbiased genomic data. To address this significant gap, we present PhyloFrame, the first-ever machine learning method for equitable genomic precision medicine. PhyloFrame corrects for ancestral bias by integrating big data tissue-specific functional interaction networks, global population variation data, and disease-relevant transcriptomic data. Application of PhyloFrame to breast, thyroid, and uterine cancers shows marked improvements in predictive power across all ancestries, less model overfitting, and a higher likelihood of identifying known cancer-related genes. The ability to provide accurate predictions for underrepresented groups, in particular, is substantially increased. These results demonstrate how AI can mitigate ancestral bias in training data and contribute to equitable representation in medical research.
Sex Differences in the Indole-3-propionic Acid Responses to Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric Bypass
Authors: Pihlajamäki Jussi , Silva Thais , Sehgal Ratika , Spritzer Poli Mara , Kårlund Anna , Tuomainen Marjo , Männistö Ville , Karhunen Leila , Hanhineva Kati , Lehtonen Marko , Käkelä Pirjo , Kolehmainen Marjukka , de Mello Vanessa
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND
Increased levels of indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a gut-derived metabolite that lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), may contribute to the metabolic benefits occurring after obesity surgery. We investigate whether the associations of serum IPA with insulin and glucose metabolism differ between men and women in response to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and compare the effects of LRYGB to the effect of a 7-week Very-Low Caloric Diet (VLCD) induced weight loss.
METHODS
Fasting serum IPA concentration was measured in 121 individuals from the ongoing Kuopio OBesity Surgery study (KOBS, 36 men and 85 women; BMI 42.9 ± 5.3 kg/m2) at both baseline and 1-year follow-up visits using targeted LC-QQQ-MS. In addition, plasma IPA levels were measured in 78 participants of Foods for weight management study (ELIPA, 21 men and 57 women, BMI 34.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2) by non-targeted LC-QTOF-MS metabolite profiling.
RESULTS
Male and female participants of the KOBS were similar in age, BMI, and IPA concentrations at baseline. We observed an increase in IPA in women but not in men in response to RYGB (P = 0.028 for 1-year follow-up vs. sex interaction). This increase in IPA was associated with decreased fasting plasma insulin, independently of weight loss. Conversely, VLCD intervention induced a similar increase in IPA in both women and men, and changes in IPA did not correlate with change in plasma insulin.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that LRYGB-induced increase in serum IPA concentration in women may be associated with decrease in fasting insulin. A comprehensive understanding of the sex-specific effects responses of the IPA to LRYGB could improve targeting non-surgical and surgical treatments to men and women.
Alleleomes characterize the survivors of 3.5 billion years of bacterial evolution
Authors: Palsson Bernhard , Catoiu Edward , Hyun Jason
Published: July 2023

Bacteria are thought to have appeared on Earth some 3.5 billion years ago. Widespread sequencing has uncovered the set of surviving genetic alleles (termed the alleleome) for tens of thousands of bacterial strains. Here, we characterize over 1.3 billion mutations across 54,191 sequenced genomes that define the alleleomes of 184 bacterial species. The alleleomes are surprisingly conserved, and even the most variable codons encode only a few alternate amino acids with predictably-benign consequences on protein function. Furthermore, the evolutionary stabilities of amino acids are shared across species. Lastly, the global ratio of nonsynonymous-to-synonymous mutations (dN/dS) is 0.32. Notably, human pathogens exhibit the most variation and the highest dN/dS ratios, suggesting that their genes are under increasingly positive selection. As more genome sequences become available, alleleomes provide a context to study sequence diversity across the phylogentic tree and can reveal data-driven insights into the genetic basis for natural selection in bacteria.
Nonlinear bosonic Maxwell's demon
Authors: Ritboon Atirach , Filip Radim
Published: July 2023

Maxwell's demon principle of extracting valuable resources through measuring fluctuations in the system already stimulated modern quantum physics. In contrast to classical physics, a free coupling to a probe and its free measurement fundamentally shape the system state. This becomes a new dimension of the Maxwell demon effect, as in addition to the gained information, the back action on the system can be exploited and essential for further applications. We investigate quantum bosonic Maxwell's demon nonlinearly coupled to a two-level system to shift its paradigm to quantum nonlinear physics. The deterministic multiple subtractions of single energy quantum by an energetically conservative Jaynes-Cummings interaction leads to an out-of-equilibrium state. Although still super-Poissonian, it can resonantly excite another two-level system better than any thermal state. Making use of an already available and energetically conserved nonlinear Jaynes-Cummings to absorb multiple bosons, nonlinear subtractions can exclusively suppress the tails of bosonic noise to reach an out-of-equilibrium state whose statistics and mean-to-noise ratio are close to that of Possonian distributions. The improvement becomes significant for successfully exciting hundreds of qubits as including few additional optimal nonlinear subtractions can improve the success rate 10 times higher than the linear scheme.
Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extract synthesized for lanthanum oxide nanoparticles and its biological application by using green synthesis
Authors: Devi V Kousalya , Sowmya N Swarna , Bharathi A Nivedhitha , Alam M Mujahid , Kumar M Krishna , Sudhahar S
Published: July 2023

Plectranthusamboinicus leaf extract can be synthesized by using lanthanum oxide nanoparticles which play a vital role in the field of science and technology. Hazardous and harmful chemicals can be avoided for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). An environment-friendly and non-dangerous method like biosynthesis can be useful for the development of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Lanthanum is one of the rare earth metals which are used to synthesize NPs by green methodology. The different characterizations like structural, morphological, chemical, optical, and biological studies were taken for the detection of La2O3 (NPs). The main objective of this research is to use La2O3 as a potential inhibitor to handle various inflammations and diabetes problems. The diffraction peaks present in powder XRD confirm the crystalline and its structure. The functional groups present in the spectrum can be confirmed by using FT-IR spectroscopy. The wavelength in the range of 230-850 nm, the peak absorbed at 274 nm, and also band gap can be detected in UV-Visible spectroscopy.
The structural morphology of La2O3 nanoparticles is cubic and irregular in shape and EDAX which confirms the presence of La and O elements and the particle size of the nanoparticle was analyzed by TEM.
Withaferin-A attenuates T2DM-induced male reproductive dysfunction mediated by ERα in brain and testes of Swiss albino mice
Authors: Baghel Kalpana , Azam Zaffar , Srivast Rashmi , Gupta Neelima , Kango Naveen
Published: July 2023

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by persistence hyperglycemia resulting from diminished response to insulin secretion or resistance. The present study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Withaferin-A on T2DM-induced reproductive dysfunction in mice. For the same, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Streptozotocin (STZ), (40 mg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days to induce T2DM. Mice were then treated with WA (8 mg/kg/day) both in normal and diabetic conditions (STZ+WA). Next, blood glucose levels, OGTT, IPTT, oxidative stress and reproductive parameters were estimated. For reproductive performance, immunofluorescent localization of GnRH-I and ERα in POA and PVN region of hypothalamus and ERα in testes was performed. STZ-induced diabetes triggered reproductive dysfunctions as mediated by low ir-GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes along with declined testosterone and estradiol levels. Interestingly, treatment with WA significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and enhanced glucose clearance including oxidative stress in the brain, pancreas and testes as indicated by low levels of H2O2 and MDA in STZ+WA. This study report for the first time that WA can efficiently combat T2DM induced reproductive dysfunction via enhancing endogenous testosterone, estrogen and increased ir-GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes of T2DM mice.
Comparison of the Efficacy and Complications of Fully-Covered versus Uncovered Self- expandable Metallic Stents in Treating Inoperable Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction: A Retrospective Study from a Large Center in China
Authors: Luo Ting , Gao Feng , Sun Yong , Luo Haifeng , Tan Guang , Liu Jiao , Gu Jiangning , Yang Zhuo
Published: July 2023

Objective
To compare the efficacy of fully covered and uncovered self-expandable metallic stents in patients with inoperable malignant distal biliary obstruction.
Methods
A retrospective study was performed in 310 patients with inoperable malignant distal biliary obstruction from January 2017 to December 2021. Among these, 75 patients received fully-covered self-expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) implantations while 235 received uncovered stent (USEMS) implantations. All patients were pathologically diagnosed. Overall survival, stent patency, and postoperative complications were evaluated and analyzed.
Results
No significant difference was found between the FCSEMS and USEMS groups in terms of overall survival time (167 vs. 169 days, P = 0.566). However, the mean stent patency duration in the FCSEMS group was longer than that in the USEMS(445 vs. 348 days, P = 0.020) group. No remarkable differences were found in postoperative complications, including acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, stent migration, occlusion, and postoperative bleeding, between the two groups. A multivariate analysis indicated that EST (HR = 1.259, 95% CI [1.167–1.358], P < 0.001), USEMS(HR = 2.277, 95%CI [1.750–2.963], P < 0.001), stent length (HR = 1.804, 95% CI [1.662–1.959], P < 0.001), pre-operative biliary stent (HR = 1.166, 95% CI [1.070–1.271], P < 0.001) and non-pancreatic cancer (HR1.404, 95% CI [1.299–1.516], P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for stent occlusion, while a BMI of > 24 kg/m2 (HR0.600, 95%CI[0.548–0.657], P < 0.001) was a protective factor.
Conclusions
Compared to USEMS, FCSEMS could offer a longer stent patency time for patients with DMBO; however, no significant difference was found in overall survival and postoperative complications in our retrospective study.
Evaluating the attenuation of naphthenic acids in constructed wetland mesocosms planted with Carex aquatilis
Authors: Trepanier Kaitlyn E. , Meulen Ian J. Vander , Ahad Jason M.E. , Headley John V. , Degenhardt Dani
Published: July 2023

Surface oil sand mining and extraction in northern Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region produces large volumes of oil sand process–affected waters (OSPW). OSPW is a complex mixture containing major contaminant classes including trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs). Naphthenic acids (NAs) are the primary organic toxicants in OSPW and reducing their concentrations is a priority for all oil sands companies. Previous evidence has shown that constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTS) are capable of reducing the concentration of NAs and the toxicity of OSPW through bioremediation. In this study, we constructed greenhouse mesocosms with OSPW or lab process water (LPW, i.e., water designed to mimic OSPW minus the NAFC content) with three treatments: (1) OSPW planted with Carex aquatilis, (2) OSPW – no plants, and (3) LPW – no plants. The OSPW – C. aquatilis treatment saw a significant reduction in NAFC concentrations in comparison to OSPW- no plants treatments, but both changed the distribution of the NAFCs in similar ways. Upon completion of the study, treatments with OSPW saw fewer high molecular weight NAs and an increase in the abundance of O3– and O4–containing formulae. Results from this study provide invaluable information on how constructed wetlands can be used in future remediation of OSPW in a way that previous studies were unable to achieve due to uncontrollable environmental factors in field experiments and the active, high-energy processes used in CWTS pilot studies.
First-principle investigations of pressure effect on optical properties of SrPuO 3
Authors: Dujana Wasif Abu , Das Ovijit , Podder Arpon , Pramanik Md. Masum Rana
Published: July 2023

The study discusses the pressure-induced behavior of structural and optical properties of rare earth metal cubic perovskite SrPuO3. The lattice parameter is found 4.33 Å, which agrees with other studies and the bulk modulus of the structure is 157.989 GPa. First-principle computation shows that the value of dielectric constants falls drastically in the visible range. With increasing pressure, there is a significant increase in absorption and conductivity of the material. These increases occur inside the visible range, promoting the material to be used as optoelectronic devices. Reflectivity and refractive index under pressure is found to be high for the red light and low for the violet zone. Again, these start to increase for additional frequencies. The frequency-dependent loss function is also described in work.
Effects of Different Grains on Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Glucose Metabolism, and Fecal VFA Content in Weaned Foals
Authors: Huang Xinxin , Li Qian , Li Xuanyue , Li Chao , Li Jiahao , He Linjiao , Jing Hongxin , Yang Fan , Li Xiaobin
Published: July 2023

Background
Intensive farming practices have gradually shifted from traditional grazing to housing for horses in China, changing from a single forage diet to a more comprehensive mixed diet. Grains as the primary source of energy for horses under intensive farming conditions, play a critical role in their growth, development, and health. However, there is a considerable variation in glucose production based on the different sources of dietary grains and starch content, proportions, and structures. Thus, it is crucial to choose a suitable grain as a source of energy for horses at various stages of growth.The study aimed to investigate the effects of different diets of steam-pressed flaked grains (corn, oats, and barley) on nutrient digestibility, blood glucose metabolism, and fecal volatile fatty acids (VFA) content in weaned foals of Kazakh horses. Male Kazakh horse foals (n = 18) weaned at the age of 5 months were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 each) based on the different grains in the diet: corn group (CG), oats group (OG), and barley group (BG). The amount of concentrate supplement fed to the foals was determined based on the presence of equal starch in the concentrate. The results showed that the apparent digestibility of all nutrients was lower in the OG than in the CG and BG. The amylose intake and digestibility were higher in the OG than in CG. Blood glucose concentration and glucagon levels were higher in the CG than in OG and BG. The insulin/glucose ratio was higher in the BG than in the CG and OG; BG increased the fecal lactic acid and total VFA (TVFA) levels in foals and reduced the fecal pH, respectively.
Results
The results showed that the amylose intake and digestibility were higher in the OG than in CG. Blood glucose concentration and glucagon levels were higher in the CG than in OG and BG. The insulin/glucose ratio was higher in the BG than in the CG and OG; BG increased the fecal lactic acid and total VFA (TVFA) levels in foals and reduced the fecal pH, respectively.
Conclusions
In this study, Feeding corn increases the blood glucose concentration in weaned foals, is efficient in sugar production and promotes glucagon secretion in foals; Oats and barley increased the digestibility of amylose in feed significantly. Feeding barley improves blood insulin sensitivity in foals and can increase the concentration of lactic acid in faeces. By comparing the digestive physiology of three grains in weaned foals, choosing the best grains for weaning foals and scientifically formulating the diet of weaning foals could improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, promoting growth and development.