bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amoxicillin impact on pathophysiology induced by short term high salt diet in mice
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Perumal Nagarajan , Yadav P. K. , Pandey Ramendra Pati , Chang Chung-Ming , Raj V. Samuel
Published: November 2022

Current evidence emerging from both human and animal models confirms that high-salt diet consumption over a period modulates the gut ecology and subsequently accelerates the development of the pathophysiology of many metabolic diseases. The knowledge of short-term intake of a high-salt diet (HSD) on gut microbiota and their role in the progression of metabolic pathogenesis and the consequence of a typical course of common antibiotics in this condition has yet not been investigated. The present study elicited this knowledge gap by studying how the gut microbiota profile changes in mice receiving HSD for a short period followed by Amoxicillin treatment on these mice in the last week to mimic a typical treatment course of antibiotics. In this study, we provided a standard chow diet (CD) and HSD for 3 weeks, and a subset of these mice on both diets received antibiotic therapy with Amoxicillin in the 3rd week. We measured the body weight of mice for 3 weeks. After 21 days, all animals were euthanised and subjected to a thorough examination for haemato-biochemical, histopathological, and 16S rRNA sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis to determine any changes in gut microbiota ecology. HSD exposure in mice for short duration even leads to a significant difference in the gut ecology with enrichment of specific gut microbiota crucially linked to developing the pathophysiological features of metabolic disease-related inflammation. In addition, HSD treatment showed a negative impact on haemato-biochemical parameters. However, Amoxicillin treatment in HSD-fed mice restored the blood-biochemical markers near to control values and reshaped gut microbiota known for improving the pathophysiological attributes of metabolic disease related inflammation. This study also observed minimal and insignificant pathological changes in the heart, liver, and kidney in HSD-fed mice.
Differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs and mRNAs in PC12 cells under lysophosphatidylcholine stimulation
Authors: Zhang Wen , Dun Su , Ping Yin , Wang Qingliang , Tana Siqin , Tana Aodong , Qin Si , Bao Xilinqiqige , Qimuge Alateng , Baiyin Tegexi , Yang Dezhi , Bao Siqin , Baoyin Seyin , Qimuge Wuhan
Published: November 2022

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was previously found to show neuroprotective effect on nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induced signalings. Also, numerous studies reported the emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) involved in neurodegenerative disease. However, the biological mechanism of LPC and expression profile of lncRNAs has not been reported. Here, lncRNAs in PC12 cells under LPC and NGF treatment were analyzed using high throughput sequencing technology for the first time. We identified 564 annotated and 1077 novel lncRNAs in PC12 cells. Among them, 121 lncRNAs were differentially expressed in the PC12 cells under LPC stimulation. KEGG analysis showed that differentially expressed mRNAs co-expressed with lncRNAs mainly enriched in ribosome, oxidative phosphorylation, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease etc. LncRNA-mRNA network analysis showed that lncRNA ENSRNOT00000082515 had interactions with 626 different mRNAs suggesting that lncRNA ENSRNOT00000082515 probably play vital role. Finally, sequencing data were validated by qRT-PCR for ENSRNOT00000084874, ENSRNOT00000082515, LNC_001033 forward Fgf18, Vcam1, and Pck2.
Caloric restriction improves glycaemic control without reducing plasma branched-chain amino acids or keto-acids in obese men
Authors: Sayda M. H. , Abdul Aziz M. H. , Gharahdaghi N. , Wilkinson D. J. , Greenhaff P. L. , Phillips B. E. , Smith K. , Idris I. , Atherton P. J.
Published: November 2022

Higher plasma leucine, isoleucine and valine (BCAA) concentrations are associated with diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Here, we evaluated the effects of 6-weeks very-low calorie diet (VLCD) upon fasting BCAA in overweight (OW) non-diabetic men, to explore associations between circulating BCAA and IR, before and after a weight loss intervention. Fasting plasma BCAAs were quantified in an OW (n = 26; BMI 32.4 ± 3 kg/m2; mean age 44 ± 9 y) and a normal-weight (NW) group (n = 26; BMI 24 ± 3.1 kg/m2; mean age 32 ± 12.3 y). Ten of the OW group (BMI 32.2 ± 4 kg/m2; 46 ± 8 y) then underwent 6-weeks of VLCD (600–800 kcal/day). Fasting plasma BCAA (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) and body-composition (DXA) were assessed before and after VLCD. Total BCAA were higher in OW individuals (sum leucine/isoleucine/valine: 457 ± 85 µM) compared to NW control individuals (365 ± 78 µM,p < 0.001). Despite significant weight loss (baseline 103.9 ± 12.3 to 93 ± 9.6 kg and BMI 32.2 ± 4 to 28.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2), no changes were observed in BCAAs after 6-weeks of VLCD. Moreover, although VLCD resulted in a significant reduction in HOMA-IR (baseline 1.19 ± 0.62 to 0.51 ± 0.21 post-VLCD;p < 0.001), Pearson’s r revealed no relationships between BCAA and HOMA-IR, either before (leucine R2: 2.49e−005,p = 0.98; isoleucine R2: 1.211−e006,p = 0.9; valine R2: 0.004,p = 0.85) or after VLCD (leucine R2: 0.003,p = 0.86; isoleucine R2: 0.006,p = 0.82; valine R2: 0.002,p = 0.65). Plasma BCAA are higher in OW compared to NW individuals. However, while 6-weeks VLCD reduced body weight and IR in OW individuals, this was not associated with reductions in BCAA. This suggests that studies demonstrating links between BCAA and insulin resistance in OW individuals, are complex and are not normalised by simply losing weight.
An open-source LED array illumination system for automated multiwell plate cell culture photodynamic therapy experiments
Authors: Zhang Kai , Timilsina Sudip , Waguespack Matthew , Kercher Eric M. , Spring Bryan Q.
Published: November 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) research would benefit from an automated, low-cost, and easy-to-use cell culture light treatment setup capable of illuminating multiple well replicates within standard multiwell plate formats. We present an LED-array suitable for performing high-throughput cell culture PDT experiments. The setup features a water-cooling loop to keep the LED-array temperature nearly constant, thus stabilizing the output power and spectrum. The setup also features two custom-made actuator arms, in combination with a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) technique, to achieve programmable and automatic light exposures for PDT. The setup operates at ~ 690 nm (676–702 nm, spectral output full-width half-maximum) and the array module can be readily adapted to other LED wavelengths. This system provides an illumination field with adjustable irradiance up to 400 mW/cm2with relatively high spectral and power stability comparing with previously reported LED-based setups. The light doses provided by the LED array were validated with comparison to traditional laser PDT. This open-source illumination platform (including the detailed technical description, fabrication protocols, and parts list provided here) helps to make custom light sources more accessible and of practical use for photomedicine research.
The effect of negative pressures on the superconductivity of amorphous and crystalline bismuth
Authors: Quiroga Flor B. , Hinojosa-Romero David , Valladares Alexander , Valladares Renela M. , Rodríguez Isaías , Valladares Ariel A.
Published: November 2022

Materials may behave in non-expected ways when subject to unexpected conditions. For example, when Bi was turned into an amorphous phase (a-Bi) unexpectedly it became a superconductor at temperatures below 10 K. Using the superconductivity of the amorphous phase we provided an explanation as to why crystalline bismuth (c-Bi) had not been found to superconduct, and even predicted an upper limit for its superconducting transition temperature Tc. This was experimentally corroborated within the following year. We now decided to investigate what happens to the crystalline, Wyckoff structure, and amorphous Bi when pressures below the atmospheric are applied. Here it is shown that, within the BCS approach, under expansion the Wyckoff c-Bi increases its superconducting transition temperature minimally, whereas the amorphous phase decreases its Tc. The electron densities of states (eDoS), the vibrational densities of states (vDoS) and the Debye temperatures (θD) are calculated to perform this qualitative evaluation. Expansion can be obtained in the laboratory by chemically etching Bi-based alloys, for example, a process also known as dealloying.
Effect of print parameters on additive manufacturing of metallic parts: performance and sustainability aspects
Authors: Fongsamootr Thongchai , Thawon Itthidet , Tippayawong Nakorn , Tippayawong Korrakot Yaibuathet , Suttakul Pana
Published: November 2022

In this study, the effects of print parameters on the mechanical properties of additively manufactured metallic parts were investigated using a tensile test. The 17-4 PH stainless steel specimens with two print parameters, including infill density and pattern orientation, were fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM) using the bound metal deposition (BMD) technique. The mechanical properties considered in this study are the Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength. The results demonstrate that the pattern orientations do not affect the Young’s modulus of the infill specimen with the triangular pattern. In contrast, the ultimate strength significantly varies depending on the pattern orientations, where the samples with the pattern orientation of zero degrees yield the best ultimate strength. In fact, the mechanical properties of infill specimens increase with their infill density. However, when operating cost and time are considered, an index for estimating performance and sustainability is consequently established. The relationship between the normalized ultimate strength of an infill specimen and the relative density is defined as the weight efficiency. The index for assessing a sustainable product is characterized by the weight efficiency versus sustainable parameter(s). The index can help end users select an appropriate infill density for AM products by considering the operating cost and time. Different cost models, including material-only costs, direct costs, and total costs, can be included in the index model to assess a sustainable product in a particular cost context.
The fate of terrestrial biodiversity during an oceanic island volcanic eruption
Authors: Nogales Manuel , Guerrero-Campos María , Boulesteix Thomas , Taquet Noémie , Beierkuhnlein Carl , Campion Robin , Fajardo Silvia , Zurita Nieves , Arechavaleta Manuel , García Rafael , Weiser Frank , Medina Félix M.
Published: November 2022

Volcanic activity provides a unique opportunity to study the ecological responses of organisms to catastrophic environmental destruction as an essential driver of biodiversity change on islands. However, despite this great scientific interest, no study of the biodiversity at an erupting volcano has yet been undertaken. On La Palma (Canary archipelago), we quantified the main species affected and their fate during the 85-day eruption (September–December 2021). Our main objective consisted of monitoring the biodiversity subjected to critical stress during this volcanic eruption. We found that all biodiversity within a 2.5 km radius was severely affected after the first two weeks. It is challenging to assess whether volcanism can drive evolutionary traits of insular organisms. Examples are the adaptation of an endemic conifer to high temperatures, selection of functional plant types—secondary woodiness—, effects of the disappearance of invertebrates and their influence in trophic nets and vertebrate trophic plasticity. However, our data suggest that such previous evolutionary changes might continue to favour their resilience during this eruption. Lastly, it is a very good opportunity to assess the extent to which these periodic volcanic catastrophes may constitute temporary windows of repeated opportunities for the evolution and speciation of oceanic island biota.
A randomized controlled trial of Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with prediabetes
Authors: Ma Xiaojun , Li Manlin , Liu Lin , Lei Fenfang , Wang Liduo , Xiao Wenyan , Tan Yingzi , He Binghua , Ruan Sijie
Published: November 2022

To investigate the effectiveness of long-term Baduanjin and aerobic training on the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in prediabetic patients. This study was single-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 98 participants with prediabetes were randomly divided into three groups: the BDJ (n = 34), AT (n = 32), and control (n = 32) groups. Participants in the BDJ and AT groups underwent one year of supervised group exercise, consisting of 60 min/session every other day. The primary outcomes were metabolic control and the 10-year risk of ASCVD. The secondary outcome was a change in blood glucose status. After the intervention, various metabolic indexes were significantly improved in the two exercise groups relative to the control group and baseline measurements (p < 0.05). Compared with no exercise, BDJ and AT had significant preventive and protective effects against the risk of ASCVD in patients with prediabetes (p < 0.001). The overall effects of the two exercise groups were similar (p > 0.05). Long-term BDJ training can effectively reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its cardiovascular complications in prediabetic patients. The effect of BDJ is similar to that of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
Burden of diseases and injuries attributable to alcohol consumption in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019
Authors: Safiri Saeid , Nejadghaderi Seyed Aria , Noori Maryam , Sullman Mark J. M. , Collins Gary S. , Kaufman Jay S. , Kolahi Ali-Asghar
Published: November 2022

Alcohol consumption is associated with a number of diseases and injuries, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, mental and neurological disorders, as well as transport-related injuries. This article reports the alcohol-attributable burden of diseases and injuries at the regional and national levels in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region between 1990 and 2019, by sex, age, underlying cause, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI). The regional deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to alcohol consumption were reported for the MENA region, between 1990 and 2019, using the methodological framework and analytical strategies adopted by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019. The estimates were all reported as counts, population-attributable fractions, and age-standardised rates per 100,000 population, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Also, the average annual percentage changes were used to represent the trends of age-standardised rates. In 2019, there were an estimated 22.0 thousand deaths (95% UI: 16.1–29.4) and 1.1 million DALYs (0.8–1.3) attributable to alcohol consumption in the MENA region. The number of DALYs attributable to alcohol consumption were much higher in men (878.0 thousand, 691.4–1104.8) than among women (181.8, 138.6–232.0). The overall age-standardised death and DALY rates attributable to alcohol consumption decreased by 34.5% (13.2–48.3) and 31.9% (16.9–42.5), respectively, over the study period. Egypt (10.1 [5.7–16.6]) and Kuwait (1.1 [0.8–1.5]) had the highest and lowest age-standardised death rates attributable to alcohol consumption, respectively. In 2019, the number of deaths and DALYs in the MENA region were highest in those aged 60–64 and 50–54 years, respectively. A negative association was observed between a country’s SDI and their corresponding age-standardised DALY rates over the period 1990 to 2019. Digestive diseases were the main contributor to the alcohol-attributable burden. Over 1990–2019, the regional deaths and DALYs of diseases and injuries attributable to alcohol consumption decreased with AAPC of − 1.45 (− 1.78 to − 1.12) and − 1.31 (− 1.46 to − 1.15), respectively. The death and DALY rates attributable to alcohol consumption in the MENA region have decreased over the past three decades. Further decreases can be facilitated by implementing country-level policies and increasing public awareness.
Effective field of view of wide-field fundus photography in the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP)
Authors: Ji Marco H. , Zaidi Moosa , Bodnar Zachary , Wang Sean K. , Kumm Jochen , Moshfeghi Darius M.
Published: November 2022

Five-field 130° wide-angle imaging is the standard of care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening with an ideal hypothetical composite field-of-view (FOV) of 180°. We hypothesized that in many real-world scenarios the effective composite FOV is considerably less than ideal. This observational retrospective study analyzed the effective FOV of fundus photos of patients screened for ROP as part of the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) initiative. Five fundus photos were selected from each eye per image session. Effective FOV was defined as the largest circular area centered on the optic disc that encompassed retina in each of the four cardinal views. Seventy-three subjects were analyzed, 35 without ROP and 34 with ROP. Mean effective FOV was 144.55 ± 6.62° ranging from 130.00 to 153.71°. Effective FOV was not correlated with the presence or absence of ROP, gestational age, birth weight, or postmenstrual age. Mean effective FOV was wider in males compared to females. Standard five-field 130° fundus photos yielded an average effective FOV of 144.54° in the SUNDROP cohort. This implies that an imaging FOV during ROP screening considerably less than the hypothetical ideal of 180° is sufficient for detecting treatment warranted ROP.
Amplification and sequencing of entire tick mitochondrial genomes for a phylogenomic analysis
Authors: Kneubehl Alexander R. , Muñoz-Leal Sebastián , Filatov Serhii , de Klerk Daniel G. , Pienaar Ronel , Lohmeyer Kimberly H. , Bermúdez Sergio E. , Suriyamongkol Thanchira , Mali Ivana , Kanduma Esther , Latif Abdalla A. , Sarih M’hammed , Bouattour Ali , de León Adalberto A. Pérez , Teel Pete D. , Labruna Marcelo B. , Mans Ben J. , Lopez Job E.
Published: November 2022

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has proven to be important for the taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics of ticks. However, current methods to generate mitogenomes can be cost-prohibitive at scale. To address this issue, we developed a cost-effective approach to amplify and sequence the whole mitogenome of individual tick specimens. Using two different primer sites, this approach generated two full-length mitogenome amplicons that were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ Mk1B sequencer. We used this approach to generate 85 individual tick mitogenomes from samples comprised of the three tick families, 11 genera, and 57 species. Twenty-six of these species did not have a complete mitogenome available on GenBank prior to this work. We benchmarked the accuracy of this approach using a subset of samples that had been previously sequenced by low-coverage Illumina genome skimming. We found our assemblies were comparable or exceeded the Illumina method, achieving a median sequence concordance of 99.98%. We further analyzed our mitogenome dataset in a mitophylogenomic analysis in the context of all three tick families. We were able to sequence 72 samples in one run and achieved a cost/sample of ~ $10 USD. This cost-effective strategy is applicable for sample identification, taxonomy, systematics, and population genetics for not only ticks but likely other metazoans; thus, making mitogenome sequencing equitable for the wider scientific community.
Mixtures of genotypes increase disease resistance in a coral nursery
Authors: Brown Anya L. , Anastasiou Dagny-Elise , Schul Monica , MacVittie Sophia , Spiers Lindsay J. , Meyer Julie L. , Manfrino Carrie , Frazer Thomas K.
Published: November 2022

Marine infectious diseases are a leading cause of population declines globally due, in large part, to challenges in diagnosis and limited treatment options. Mitigating disease spread is particularly important for species targeted for conservation. In some systems, strategic arrangement of organisms in space can constrain disease outbreaks, however, this approach has not been used in marine restoration. Reef building corals have been particularly devastated by disease and continue to experience catastrophic population declines. We show that mixtures of genotypes (i.e., diversity) increased disease resistance in the critically endangered Acropora cervicornis, a species that is frequently targeted for restoration of degraded reefs in the broader Caribbean region. This finding suggests a more generalized relationship between diversity and disease and offers a viable strategy for mitigating the spread of infectious diseases in corals that likely applies to other foundation species targeted for restoration.
Simulation of nerve fiber based on anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide
Authors: Omidi Marzieh , Zibaii Mohammad Ismail , Granpayeh Nosrat
Published: November 2022

Light and optical techniques are widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases as advanced methods. Understanding the optical properties of nervous tissue and nerve cells is vital. Using light sources in these methods raises significant challenges, such as finding the place of light transmission in nerve fibers that could be an appropriate substrate for neural signaling. The myelinated axons are a promising candidate for transmitting neural signals and light due to their waveguide structures. On the other hand, with the emergence of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and disorders within the production and transmission of nerve signals, because of the demyelination, understanding the properties of the myelinated axon as a waveguide is obtaining additional necessity. The present study aims to show that the myelinated axon’s refractive index (RI) profile plays an essential role in transmitting the beams in it. According to the nerve fiber, RI profile and its similarity to depressed core fiber with lower RI of the core compared to the cladding, the behaviors of the nerve fiber based on anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide structure are investigated by taking into account the realistic optical imperfections. Light launching to the myelin sheath and axon is shown by introducing the axon and myelin sheath as a waveguide in the presence of both axon and myelin with bends, myelin sheath variation, and node of Ranvier.
Discovery of pathway-independent protein signatures associated with clinical outcome in human cancer cohorts
Authors: Konaté Mariam M. , Li Ming-Chung , McShane Lisa M. , Zhao Yingdong
Published: November 2022

Proteomic data provide a direct readout of protein function, thus constituting an information-rich resource for prognostic and predictive modeling. However, protein array data may not fully capture pathway activity due to the limited number of molecules and incomplete pathway coverage compared to other high-throughput technologies. For the present study, our aim was to improve clinical outcome prediction compared to published pathway-dependent prognostic signatures for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). RPPA data is particularly well-suited to the LASSO due to the relatively low number of predictors compared to larger genomic data matrices. Our approach selected predictors regardless of their pathway membership and optimally combined their RPPA measurements into a weighted risk score. Performance was assessed and compared to that of the published signatures using two unbiased approaches: 1) 10 iterations of threefold cross-validation for unbiased estimation of hazard ratio and difference in 5-year survival (by Kaplan–Meier method) between predictor-defined high and low risk groups; and 2) a permutation test to evaluate the statistical significance of the cross-validated log-rank statistic. Here, we demonstrate strong stratification of 445 renal clear cell carcinoma tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) into high and low risk groups using LASSO regression on RPPA data. Median cross-validated difference in 5-year overall survival was 32.8%, compared to 25.2% using a published receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) prognostic signature (median hazard ratios of 3.3 and 2.4, respectively). Applicability and performance of our approach was demonstrated in three additional TCGA cohorts: ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OVCA), sarcoma (SARC), and cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). The data-driven LASSO-based approach is versatile and well-suited for discovery of new protein/disease associations.
Valorization of spent double substituted Co–Ni–Zn–Fe LDH wastewater nanoadsorbent as methanol electro-oxidation catalyst
Authors: Mahmoud Rehab , Mohamed Hamdy F. M. , Hafez Sarah H. M. , Gadelhak Yasser M. , Abdel-Hady E. E.
Published: November 2022

Finding suitable non-expensive electrocatalyst materials for methanol oxidation is a significant challenge. Waste valorization of spent wastewater nanoadsorbents is a promising route toward achieving circular economy guidelines. In this study, the residual of layered double hydroxide (LDH) can be used as an electrocatalyst in direct methanol fuel cells as a novel approach. The Co–Ni–Zn–Fe LDH was prepared by the co-precipitation method followed by the adsorption of methyl orange (MO). Moreover, the spent adsorbent was calcined at different temperatures (200, 400, and 600 °C) to be converted to the corresponding mixed metal oxides (MMO). The prepared samples were characterized using XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, zeta potential, and hydrodynamic size measurements. The spent adsorbent was tested as an electro-catalyst for direct methanol electro-oxidation. The spent LDH/MO adsorbent showed a maximum current density of 6.66 mA/cm2 at a 50 mV/s scan rate and a 1 M methanol concentration. The spent MMO/MO adsorbent showed a maximum current density of 8.40 mA/cm2 at a 200 °C calcination temperature, 50 mV/s scan rate, and a 3 M methanol concentration. Both samples show reasonable stability over time, as indicated by the chronoamperometric response. Further nanoengineering of used nanoadsorbents could be a promising path to repurposing these wastes as electro-oxidation catalysts.
Near-infrared quantum cutting luminescence in Pr3+/Yb3+ doped lead bismuth borate glass
Authors: Seshadri Meruva , Santos Ilza T. C. , Bell Maria Jose V. , Lapointe Jerome , Messaddeq Younes , Anjos Virgilio
Published: November 2022

In this paper, thermally stable lead-bismuth-borate glasses were doped with 0.5 mol% of Pr3+ ions at several concentration levels of Yb3+ ions. Structural characterizations were performed via Raman, differential scanning calorimetry, optical absorption and fluorescence spectra. The Judd–Ofelt intensity parameter, $${\Omega }_2$$

Ω
2

, of Pr3+ doped glass was comparatively higher than those from reported ones, which reflects the increase of co-valency and asymmetry of chemical bonds in the local environment of Pr3+. Near-infrared emission in 900–2200 nm wavelength range was recorded through 443 nm blue laser pumping. Visible to near-IR quantum cutting and concentration quenching mechanisms were discussed to understand the luminescent behaviour. Intense IR emission ($$\sim 1.0\,\upmu {\text {m}})$$

∼
1.0

μ
m
)

features generated by absorbing one visible photon leads to quantum efficiencies close to 128% in Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped samples which may improve the solar spectrum absorption and accordingly, increase the efficiency of c-Si solar cells. Emission cross-section, lifetime, figure of merit and gain bandwidth corresponding to Pr3+: $$^3F_2 \rightarrow ^3H_4$$

3

F
2

→
3

H
4

($$\sim 2.0\,\upmu$$

∼
2.0

μ

m) were comparatively reported suggesting that the glass with molar composition 0.5Pr3+/0.1Yb3+ might be a potential candidate for $$\sim 2.0\,\upmu$$

∼
2.0

μ

m laser operation with low pump threshold.
Decreased PPARgamma in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis due to neonatal injury contributes to incision-induced mechanical allodynia in female rats
Authors: Otsuji Jo , Hayashi Yoshinori , Hitomi Suzuro , Soma Chihiro , Soma Kumi , Shibuta Ikuko , Iwata Koichi , Shirakawa Tetsuo , Shinoda Masamichi
Published: November 2022

Whisker pad skin incision in infancy causes the prolongation of mechanical allodynia after re-incision in adulthood. A recent study also proposed the importance of sex differences in pain signaling in the spinal cord. However, the sex difference in re-incision-induced mechanical allodynia in the orofacial region is not fully understood. In the rats that experienced neonatal injury in the whisker pad skin, the mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad was significantly prolonged after re-incision in adulthood compared to sham injury in infancy. No significant sex differences were observed in the duration of mechanical allodynia. The duration of mechanical allodynia in male rats was shortened by intracisternal administration of minocycline. However, minocycline had no effects on the duration of mechanical allodynia in female rats. In contrast, intracisternal administration of pioglitazone markedly suppressed mechanical allodynia in female rats after re-incision. Following re-incision, the number of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma)-positive cells were reduced in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) in female rats that experienced neonatal injury. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that PPARgamma was predominantly expressed in Vc neurons. Pioglitazone increased the number of PPARgamma-positive Vc neurons in female rats whose whisker pad skin was incised in both infancy and adulthood stages. Pioglitazone also upregulated heme oxygenase 1 and downregulated NR1 subunit in the Vc in female rats after re-incision. Together, PPARgamma signaling in Vc neurons is a female-specific pathway for whisker pad skin incision-induced mechanical allodynia.
Diversity of soil faunal community as influenced by crop straw combined with different synthetic fertilizers in upland purple soil
Authors: Xie Xiuhong , Wang Xuefeng , Dong Zhixin , Zhu Bo
Published: November 2022

Soil fauna play a crucial role in sustaining agro-ecosystem functions. Crop straw is recommended for application to agricultural fields to improve soil quality. However, the effects of crop straw combined with different synthetic fertilizers on the soil faunal community remain unclear, and knowledge regarding purple soil is limited. Using the conserved cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene as markers, we examined the responses of the soil faunal community to different fertilization in upland purple soil of southwestern China. The accuracy of the morphological and molecular methods in characterizing soil nematodes was compared. Our results showed that different fertilization treatments significantly changed the soil faunal community structure (Adonis test,R2 = 0.43,P = 0.011). Sixteen biomarkers were identified according to LEfSe (linear discriminant analysis effect size). The diversity and species number of soil fauna were closely related to soil organic matter (SOM) and total phosphorus (TP) (P < 0.05). This study indicates that crop straw return can improve the soil fertility and diversity of soil fauna in purple soil. Additionally, the morphological approach and molecular method based on the COI gene can be considered as complementary approaches in characterizing soil nematode community.
Riboflavin attenuates tartrazine toxicity in the cerebellar cortex of adult albino rat
Authors: Ismail Omnia I. , Rashed Noha A.
Published: November 2022

Tartrazine is a synthetic yellowish dye considered one of the most common food colorants. Extensive usage of tartrazine in humans led to harmful health impacts. To investigate the impact of tartrazine administration on the cerebellum and to assess the potential role of riboflavin co-administration in the adult male albino rat. Four groups of adult albino rats were included in this study. Group I was supplied with distilled water. Group II was supplied tartrazine orally at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg BW dissolved in distilled water. Group III was supplied with tartrazine at the same previously mentioned dose and riboflavin orally at a dose of 25 mg/kg BW dissolved in distilled water. Group IV was supplied with riboflavin at the same previously mentioned dose. The study was conducted for 30 days then rats were sacrificed, weighted and the cerebella extracted and handled for light, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation. It was found with tartrazine treatment focal areas of Purkinje cell loss leaving empty spaces, a broad spread of neuronal affection to the degree of the disappearance of some of the granular cells, reduced the thickness of the molecular and granular layers, and strong positive GFAP immunoreactions. With riboflavin coadministration restored continuous Purkinje layer with normal appeared Purkinje cells, but some cells were still shrunken and vacuolated as well as the molecular and granular cell layers appeared normal. Tartrazine had deleterious effects on the cerebellar cytoarchitecture, and riboflavin co-administration alleviated these neurotoxic effects.
High throughput method of 16S rRNA gene sequencing library preparation for plant root microbial community profiling
Authors: Kumaishi Kie , Usui Erika , Suzuki Kenta , Kobori Shungo , Sato Takumi , Toda Yusuke , Takanashi Hideki , Shinozaki Satoshi , Noda Munehiro , Takakura Akiko , Matsumoto Kayoko , Yamasaki Yuji , Tsujimoto Hisashi , Iwata Hiroyoshi , Ichihashi Yasunori
Published: November 2022

Microbiota are a major component of agroecosystems. Root microbiota, which inhabit the inside and surface of plant roots, play a significant role in plant growth and health. As next-generation sequencing technology allows the capture of microbial profiles without culturing the microbes, profiling of plant microbiota has become a staple tool in plant science and agriculture. Here, we have increased sample handling efficiency in a two-step PCR amplification protocol for 16S rRNA gene sequencing of plant root microbiota, improving DNA extraction using AMPure XP magnetic beads and PCR purification using exonuclease. These modifications reduce sample handling and capture microbial diversity comparable to that obtained by the manual method. We found a buffer with AMPure XP magnetic beads enabled efficient extraction of microbial DNA directly from plant roots. We also demonstrated that purification using exonuclease before the second PCR step enabled the capture of higher degrees of microbial diversity, thus allowing for the detection of minor bacteria compared with the purification using magnetic beads in this step. In addition, our method generated comparable microbiome profile data in plant roots and soils to that of using common commercially available DNA extraction kits, such as DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit and FastDNA SPIN Kit for Soil. Our method offers a simple and high-throughput option for maintaining the quality of plant root microbial community profiling.
Providing curb availability information to delivery drivers reduces cruising for parking
Authors: Dalla Chiara Giacomo , Krutein Klaas Fiete , Ranjbari Andisheh , Goodchild Anne
Published: November 2022

Delivery vehicle drivers are experiencing increasing challenges in finding available curb space to park in urban areas, which increases instances of cruising for parking and parking in unauthorized spaces. Policies traditionally used to reduce cruising for parking for passenger vehicles, such as parking fees and congestion pricing, are not effective at changing delivery drivers’ travel and parking behaviors. Intelligent parking systems that use real-time curb availability information to better route and park vehicles can reduce cruising for parking, but they have never been tested for delivery vehicle drivers. The current study tested whether providing real-time curb availability information to delivery drivers reduces the travel time and distance spent cruising for parking. A curb parking information system deployed in a study area in Seattle, Wash., displayed real-time curb availabilities on a mobile app called OpenPark. A controlled experiment assigned drivers’ deliveries in the study area with and without access to OpenPark. The data collected showed that when curb availability information was provided to drivers, their cruising for parking time significantly decreased by 27.9 percent, and their cruising distance decreased by 12.4 percent. These results demonstrate the potential for implementing intelligent parking systems to improve the efficiency of urban logistics systems.
Development of wearable multi-lead ECG measurement device using cubic flocked electrode
Authors: Takeshita Toshihiro , Yoshida Manabu , Takei Yusuke , Ouchi Atsushi , Hinoki Akinari , Uchida Hiroo , Kobayashi Takeshi
Published: November 2022

This paper describes the fabrication and fundamental evaluation of the cubic flocked electrode (CFE), which is a dry electrode that is fabricated using electrostatic flocking technology. The development of a wearable multi-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement device using the CFE is also reported. To enable the measurement of ECG signals with sufficient quality for medical applications, the occurrence of motion artifacts (MAs) is the most important problem to be overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to stabilize the contact between the patient’s skin and the dry electrode. Because the CFE developed in this work offers both contact stability and flexibility, it is expected to enable ECG measurements with low MA levels. In this study, it is demonstrated that the number of MAs caused by respiration can be reduced when the CFE contact is made at a contact pressure of approximately 500 Pa using MA evaluation equipment that was developed in-house. Additionally, a wearable multi-lead ECG is designed and fabricated based on this contact pressure (500 Pa). The results of the demonstration experiment show that the ECG measurements are successful to the same extent as a conventional medical device.
Characterization of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat as a rodent model of inherited, widespread, persistent pain
Authors: Ferrari Luiz F. , Rey Charles , Ramirez Anna , Dziuba Adam , Zickella Jacqueline , Zickella Michael , Raff Hershel , Taylor Norman E.
Published: November 2022

Animal models are essential for studying the pathophysiology of chronic pain disorders and as screening tools for new therapies. However, most models available do not reproduce key characteristics of clinical persistent pain. This has limited their ability to accurately predict which new medicines will be clinically effective. Here, we characterize the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat strain as the first rodent model of inherited widespread hyperalgesia. We show that this strain exhibits physiological phenotypes known to contribute to chronic pain, such as neuroinflammation, defective endogenous pain modulation, dysfunctional hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, increased oxidative stress and immune cell activation. When compared with Sprague Dawley and Brown Norway rats, SS rats have lower nociceptive thresholds due to increased inflammatory mediator concentrations, lower corticosterone levels, and high oxidative stress. Treatment with dexamethasone, the reactive oxygen species scavenger tempol, or the glial inhibitor minocycline attenuated the pain sensitivity in SS rats without affecting the other strains while indomethacin and gabapentin provided less robust pain relief. Moreover, SS rats presented impaired diffuse noxious inhibitory controls and an exacerbated response to the proalgesic mediator PGE2, features of generalized pain conditions. These data establish this strain as a novel model of spontaneous, widespread hyperalgesia that can be used to identify biomarkers for chronic pain diagnosis and treatment.
Empagliflozin protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: Wang Qifeng , Ju Feng , Li Jiaxue , Liu Ting , Zuo Yunxia , Abbott Geoffrey W. , Hu Zhaoyang
Published: November 2022

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) can induce acute kidney injury. Empagliflozin is a newly developed inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) approved as an antidiabetic medication for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the established cardioprotective functions of empagliflozin, its protective role in renal I/R is unclear. Here, the present study evaluated the renoprotective effects of empagliflozin in a mouse model of renal I/R injury. Male C57/BL6 mice were allocated to sham-operated, I/R, and empagliflozin groups. Kidney pedicles on both sides were clamped for 45 min and were reperfused for 24 h. Empagliflozin (1 mg/kg) was administered to the mice for 2 days preischemia. The GSK-3β inhibitor SB216763 was administered intravenously at the beginning of reperfusion (0.1 mg/kg). Renal function and histological scores were evaluated. The kidneys were taken for immunohistochemical analysis, western blotting and apoptosis measurements. We found that empagliflozin decreased serum levels of creatinine and urea, reduced the average kidney weight-to-tibia length ratio, attenuated tubular damage, reduced renal proinflammatory cytokine expression and inhibited apoptosis in injured kidneys. Furthermore, empagliflozin increased renal glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) phosphorylation post I/R. Pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3β activity mimicked the renal protective effects offered by empagliflozin. In summary, these results support a protective role of empagliflozin against renal I/R injury.
Landau theory for the Mpemba effect through phase transitions
Authors: Holtzman Roi , Raz Oren
Published: November 2022

The Mpemba effect describes the situation in which a hot system cools faster than an identical copy that is initiated at a colder temperature. In many of the experimental observations of the effect, e.g. in water and clathrate hydrates, it is defined by the phase transition timing. However, none of the theoretical investigations so far considered the timing of the phase transition, and most of the abstract models used to explore the Mpemba effect do not have a phase transition. We use the phenomenological Landau theory for phase transitions to identify the second order phase transition time, and demonstrate with a concrete example that a Mpemba effect can exist in such models.
Galangin inhibits neointima formation induced by vascular injury via regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Authors: Wu Bing , Xu Changwu , Ding Hua-Sheng , Qiu Liqiang , Gao Ji-Xian , Li Ming , Xiong Yuanguo , Xia Hao , Liu Xiaoxiong
Published: November 2022

Galangin inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, phenotypic switching and promoting autophagy.
Classification and characterization of multimodal nanoparticle size distributions by size-exclusion chromatography
Authors: Gromotka Lukas , Uttinger Maximilian Johannes , Schlumberger Carola , Thommes Matthias , Peukert Wolfgang
Published: November 2022

We herein demonstrate the baseline separation of nanoparticles with multimodal size distributions by size-exclusion chromatography and their particle size characterization by a calibration curve constructed from three different types of dispersions.
Ultrathin metal–organic framework nanosheets as building blocks of lamellar nanofilms for ultrafast molecular sieving
Authors: Wang Guitu , Lu Jingyu , Fang Chuanjie , Fang Wenzhang , Peng Xinsheng , Zeng Hongbo , Zhu Liping
Published: November 2022

Ultrathin, smooth, and square MOF nanosheets were synthesized. Such morphology facilitated the well-ordered intrinsic pore structure of MOFs to become building units of a molecular sieving nanofilm with both high permeance and rejection.
Divergent cyclodimerizations of styrylnaphthols under aerobic visible-light irradiation and Brønsted acid catalysis
Authors: Lyu Jiyuan , Claraz Aurélie , Retailleau Pascal , Masson Géraldine
Published: November 2022

Dimeric cyclization reactions show great potential to rapidly form highly substituted complex cyclic molecules from simple starting materials.
Thermodynamic modeling of binary mixtures of ethylenediamine with water, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol by association theory
Authors: Jalaei Salmani Hossein , Karkhanechi Hamed , Moradi Mohammad Reza , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: November 2022

In this work, CPA EoS was applied to study the VLE of EDA–water, EDA–methanol, EDA–ethanol, and EDA–2-propanol. CPA EoS with the aid of presented information in this study is capable of describing thermodynamic behaviour of studied systems.
Naproxen release from carbon dot coated magnetite nanohybrid as versatile theranostics for HeLa cancer cells
Authors: Fahmi Mochamad Z. , Machmudah Nurlailiatul , Indrawasih Putri , Wibrianto Aswandi , Ahmad Musbahu A. , Sakti Satya C. W. , Chang Jia-yaw
Published: November 2022

Nanohybrid magnetite carbon dots (Fe3O4@CDs) were successfully synthesized to improve their applicability in multi-response bioimaging.
Simulation and analysis of lead-free perovskite solar cells incorporating cerium oxide as electron transporting layer
Authors: Al-Mousoi Ali K. , Mohammed Mustafa K. A. , Pandey Rahul , Madan Jaya , Dastan Davoud , Ravi G. , Sakthivel P. , Anandha babu G.
Published: November 2022

In this digital simulation, tin-based with the use of CeOx as an ETL with varying percentages of oxygen has been investigated.
Selection of diverse polymorphic structures from a small dynamic molecular network controlled by the environment
Authors: Bartolec Boris , Kiani Armin , Beatty Meagan A. , Altay Meniz , Monreal Santiago Guillermo , Otto Sijbren
Published: November 2022

The solvent environment dictates assembly morphology and molecular constitution allowing access to a remarkable variety of self-assembled structures.
Polystyrene nanoplastics affect the human ubiquitin structure and ubiquitination in cells: a high-resolution study
Authors: della Valle M. , D'Abrosca G. , Gentile M. T. , Russo L. , Isernia C. , Di Gaetano S. , Avolio R. , Castaldo R. , Cocca M. , Gentile G. , Malgieri G. , Errico M. E. , Fattorusso R.
Published: November 2022

A high-resolution study of ubiquitin–polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NP) interaction is reported. We also show the effects of PS-NPs on ubiquitination in HeLa cells.
Simulation investigation of the spontaneous motion behaviors of underwater oil droplets on a conical surface
Authors: Chen Chaolang , Liu Jian , Liu Yangkai , Peng Xuqiao
Published: November 2022

The self-propelled transport behavior of the droplet on the cone is highly related to the droplet shape. The clamshell-shaped droplet on the cone with a smaller apex angle and smaller contact angle, tends to obtain longer transport distance.
A water-soluble thiophene-croconaine dye with a high molar extinction coefficient for NIR fluorescence imaging-guided synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy of cancer
Authors: Pang E , Huang Rong , Zhao Shaojing , Yang Ke , Li Baoling , Tan Qiuxia , Tan Siyi , Lan Minhuan , Wang Benhua , Song Xiangzhi
Published: November 2022

A water-soluble thiophene-croconaine dye with a high molar extinction coefficient for NIR fluorescence imaging-guided synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy of cancer.
Observation of long persistent luminescence in Ce3+-doped glass
Authors: Wu Yixi , Li Panpan , Guan Mingshuang , Liu Xiaoqing , Xu Shiqing , Zhang Junjie
Published: November 2022

Long, persistent luminescence in Ce3+-doped glass with a fast decay succeeded by a low decay.