bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
tec-1 kinase negatively regulates regenerative neurogenesis in planarians
Authors: Karge Alexander , Bonar Nicolle A , Wood Scott , Petersen Christian P
Published: January 2020

Negative regulators of adult neurogenesis are of particular interest as targets to enhance neuronal repair, but few have yet been identified. Planarians can regenerate their entire CNS using pluripotent adult stem cells, and this process is robustly regulated to ensure that new neurons are produced in proper abundance. Using a high-throughput pipeline to quantify brain chemosensory neurons, we identify the conserved tyrosine kinase tec-1 as a negative regulator of planarian neuronal regeneration. tec-1RNAi increased the abundance of several CNS and PNS neuron subtypes regenerated or maintained through homeostasis, without affecting body patterning or non-neural cells. Experiments using TUNEL, BrdU, progenitor labeling, and stem cell elimination during regeneration indicate tec-1 limits the survival of newly differentiated neurons. In vertebrates, the Tec kinase family has been studied extensively for roles in immune function, and our results identify a novel role for tec-1 as negative regulator of planarian adult neurogenesis.
YAP1 and TAZ negatively control bone angiogenesis by limiting hypoxia-inducible factor signaling in endothelial cells
Authors: Sivaraj Kishor K , Dharmalingam Backialakshmi , Mohanakrishnan Vishal , Jeong Hyun-Woo , Kato Katsuhiro , Schröder Silke , Adams Susanne , Koh Gou Young , Adams Ralf H
Published: January 2020

Blood vessels are integrated into different organ environments with distinct properties and physiology (Augustin and Koh, 2017). A striking example of organ-specific specialization is the bone vasculature where certain molecular signals yield the opposite effect as in other tissues (Glomski et al., 2011; Kusumbe et al., 2014; Ramasamy et al., 2014). Here, we show that the transcriptional coregulators Yap1 and Taz, components of the Hippo pathway, suppress vascular growth in the hypoxic microenvironment of bone, in contrast to their pro-angiogenic role in other organs. Likewise, the kinase Lats2, which limits Yap1/Taz activity, is essential for bone angiogenesis but dispensable in organs with lower levels of hypoxia. With mouse genetics, RNA sequencing, biochemistry, and cell culture experiments, we show that Yap1/Taz constrain hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) target gene expression in vivo and in vitro. We propose that crosstalk between Yap1/Taz and HIF1α controls angiogenesis depending on the level of tissue hypoxia, resulting in organ-specific biological responses.
RIdeogram: drawing SVG graphics to visualize and map genome-wide data on the idiograms
Authors: Hao Zhaodong , Lv Dekang , Ge Ying , Shi Jisen , Weijers Dolf , Yu Guangchuang , Chen Jinhui
Published: January 2020

Background

Owing to the rapid advances in DNA sequencing technologies, whole genome from more and more species are becoming available at increasing pace. For whole-genome analysis, idiograms provide a very popular, intuitive and effective way to map and visualize the genome-wide information, such as GC content, gene and repeat density, DNA methylation distribution, genomic synteny, etc. However, most available software programs and web servers are available only for a few model species, such as human, mouse and fly, or have limited application scenarios. As more and more non-model species are sequenced with chromosome-level assembly being available, tools that can generate idiograms for a broad range of species and be capable of visualizing more data types are needed to help better understanding fundamental genome characteristics.

Results

The R package RIdeogram allows users to build high-quality idiograms of any species of interest. It can map continuous and discrete genome-wide data on the idiograms and visualize them in a heat map and track labels, respectively.

Conclusion

The visualization of genome-wide data mapping and comparison allow users to quickly establish a clear impression of the chromosomal distribution pattern, thus making RIdeogram a useful tool for any researchers working with omics.
Flavonoids from Epimedium pubescens: extraction and mechanism, antioxidant capacity and effects on CAT and GSH-Px of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Yang Xiao-Hua , Li Lu , Xue Yao-Bi , Zhou Xue-Xue , Tang Jie-Hua
Published: January 2020

Background

Epimedium is a famous medicinal plant in China, Southeast Asian and some other regions. Flavonoids are regarded as its supremely important active constituents used in phytomedicines and/or functional foods. It is of theoretical and applied significance to optimize the procedure for extraction of flavonoids with high bioactivity from Epimedium, to unveil extraction mechanism, to identify chemical composition of flavonoids, to analyze free radical-scavenging ability of flavonoids, and to investigate their effects on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster.

Methods

Box-Behnken design was applied to optimization of extraction procedure. Laser diffraction particle size analysis was used to clarify extraction mechanism. Chemical composition of flavonoids was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antiradical capacities of flavonoids were determined by chemical-based assay. Then, effects of flavonoids on catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in D. melanogaster were investigated for the first time.

Results

The optimal condition for ultrasonic extraction of antioxidant flavonoids from Epimedium pubescens was achieved and extraction mechanism was discussed. Epimedium flavonoids contained icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B and epimedin C. Epimedium flavonoids exhibited the ability to scavenge ABTS+ and DPPH⋅ radicals with EC50 values of 55.8 and 52.1 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, Epimedium flavonoids were able to increase activities of CAT and GSH-Px in D. melanogaster. For females, oral administration of flavonoids improved CAT and GSH-Px activities by 13.58% and 5.18%, respectively. For males, oral administration of flavonoids increased CAT and GSH-Px activities by 13.90% and 5.65%, respectively.

Conclusion

Flavonoids ultrasonically extracted from E. pubescens considerably affected antioxidant defense system in D. melanogaster. Flavonoids of E. pubescens showed great potential for becoming a natural antioxidant because of their antiradical ability and effects on CAT and GSH-Px of the model organism.
Integrated bioinformatics analysis of potential pathway biomarkers using abnormal proteins in clubfoot
Authors: Cai Guiquan , Yang Xuan , Chen Ting , Jin Fangchun , Ding Jing , Wu Zhenkai
Published: January 2020

Background

As one of the most common major congenital distal skeletal abnormalities, congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) affects approximately one in one thousandth newborns. Although several etiologies of clubfoot have been proposed and several genes have been identified as susceptible genes, previous studies did not further explore signaling pathways and potential upstream and downstream regulatory networks. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation is to explore abnormal pathways and their interactions in clubfoot using integrated bioinformatics analyses.

Methods

KEGG, gene ontology (GO), Reactome (REAC), WikiPathways (WP) or human phenotype ontology (HP) enrichment analysis were performed using WebGestalt, g:Profiler and NetworkAnalyst.

Results

A large number of signaling pathways were enriched e.g. signal transduction, disease, metabolism, gene expression (transcription), immune system, developmental biology, cell cycle, and ECM. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and gene regulatory networks (GRNs) analysis results indicated that extensive and complex interactions occur in these proteins, enrichment pathways, and TF-miRNA coregulatory networks. Transcription factors such as SOX9, CTNNB1, GLI3, FHL2, TGFBI and HOXD13, regulated these candidate proteins.

Conclusion

The results of the present study supported previously proposed hypotheses, such as ECM, genetic, muscle, neurological, skeletal, and vascular abnormalities. More importantly, the enrichment results also indicated cellular or immune responses to external stimuli, and abnormal molecular transport or metabolism may be new potential etiological mechanisms of clubfoot.
Performance Evaluation of a Refrigeration System for Fresh Maize Storage
Authors: O. Caleb O. , G. Olaiya N. , A. Akintunde M.
Published: January 2020

Aims: In this research project, a refrigeration system that will preserve the quality of fresh maize was developed.

Study Design:  Design of refrigeration system.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between August 2017 and February 2018.

Methodology: The designed system consists of a cooling cabinet, compressor, condenser and an evaporator. The cabinet was designed to store up to 15 kg of maize and a compressor of 1/6 hp was used. The equivalent condenser and evaporator were selected with an equivalent expansion valve. R134a was used as the refrigerant. The cabinet walls were fabricated from mild steel (outside wall), stainless steel (inner wall) and glass wool (insulator).

Results: The fabricated system stores fresh maize above its freezing temperature of -1ºC. The system operating temperature ranges from -4 to 2.5ºC with a relative humidity of 90 to 95% for eight hours.

Conclusion: The fresh maize was stored for ten days without noticeable changes in the physical appearance and taste of the maize.
Photonic Supercoupling in Silicon Topological Waveguides
Authors: Jia Ridong , Tan Yi Ji , Navaratna Nikhil , Kumar Abhishek , Singh Ranjan
Published: December 2024

Waveguide interconnect coupling control is essential for enhancing the chip density of photonic integrated circuits to incorporate a growing number of components. However, a critical engineering challenge is to achieve both strong waveguide isolation and efficient long‐range coupling on a single chip. Here, a novel photonic supercoupling phenomenon is demonstrated for waveguide coupling over separation distances from a quarter to five wavelengths (λ), leveraging the tunable mode tails and the vortex energy flow in topological valley Hall system. A supercoupled integrated chip is developed, realizing a 91% coupling ratio and a −30 dB isolation over 2.8λ waveguide separations simultaneously. Supercoupled devices are further showcased including a waveguide‐cavity system with 3.2λ excitation distance, and a waveguide directional supercoupler with a compact coupling area of nearly λ2/4, which outperform conventional devices. Supercoupling provides new degrees of freedom for optimizing coupling and isolation between photonic integrated components, facilitating new applications in on‐chip sensing, lasing, and telecommunications.
Advanced Neural Probe Sensors toward Multi‐Modal Sensing and Modulation: Design, Integration, and Applications
Authors: Wang Tiansong , Chen Yanze , Wang Yi , Lee Sung‐Ho , Lee Yuan‐Shin , Dong Jingyan
Published: December 2024

Neural probe devices have undergone significant advancements in recent years, evolving from basic single‐functional devices to sophisticated integrated systems capable of sensing, stimulating, and regulating neural activity. The neural probes have been demonstrated as effective tools for diagnosing and treating numerous neurological disorders, as well as for understanding sophisticated connections and functions of neuron circuits. The multifunctional neural probe platforms, which combine electrical, optical, and chemical sensing capabilities, hold promising potential for revolutionizing personalized healthcare through closed‐loop neuromodulation, particularly in the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Despite these advances, several challenges remain to be further investigated, including biocompatibility, long‐term signal quality and stability, and miniaturization, all of which hinder their broader clinical application. This paper provides an overview of the design principles of the neural probe structures and sensors, fabrication strategies, and integration techniques for the advanced multi‐functional neural probes. Key electrical, optical, and chemical sensing mechanisms are discussed, along with the selection of corresponding functional materials. Additionally, several representative applications are highlighted, followed by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this emerging field.
Superlattice Thermal Modulation in MoS2${\rm MoS}{_2}$ by Defect Engineering
Authors: Dettori Riccardo , Siddi Francesco , Colombo Luciano , Melis Claudio
Published: December 2024

is one of the most investigated and promising transition‐metal dichalcogenides. Its popularity stems from the interesting properties of the monolayer phase, which can serve as the fundamental block for numerous applications. In this paper, an atomistic perspective on the modulation of thermal transport properties in monolayer through strategic defect engineering, specifically the introduction of sulfur vacancies is proposed. Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and lattice dynamics calculations, how various distributions of sulfur vacancies (ranging from random to periodically arranged configurations) affect its thermal conductivity is shown. Notably, it is observed that certain periodic arrangements restore the thermal conductivity of the pristine system, due to a minimized interaction between acoustic and optical phonons facilitated by the imposed superperiodicity. This research deepens the understanding of phononic heat transport in two‐dimensional (2D) materials and introduces a different point‐of‐view for phonon engineering in nanoscale devices, offering a pathway to enhance device performance and longevity through tailored thermal management strategies.
Rapid Stiffness Mapping in Soft Biologic Tissues With Micrometer Resolution Using Optical Multifrequency Time‐Harmonic Elastography
Authors: Jordan Jakob , Jaitner Noah , Meyer Tom , Bramè Luca , Ghrayeb Mnar , Köppke Julia , Böhm Oliver , Chandia Stefan Klemmer , Zaburdaev Vasily , Chai Liraz , Tzschätzsch Heiko , Mura Joaquin , Braun Jürgen , Hagemann Anja I.H. , Sack Ingolf
Published: December 2024

Rapid mapping of the mechanical properties of soft biological tissues from light microscopy to macroscopic imaging can transform fundamental biophysical research by providing clinical biomarkers to complement in vivo elastography. This work introduces superfast optical multifrequency time‐harmonic elastography (OMTHE) to remotely encode surface and subsurface shear wave fields for generating maps of tissue stiffness with unprecedented detail resolution. OMTHE rigorously exploits the space‐time propagation characteristics of multifrequency time‐harmonic waves to address current limitations of biomechanical imaging and elastography. Key solutions are presented for stimulation, wave decoding, and stiffness reconstruction of shear waves at multiple harmonic frequencies, all tuned to provide consistent stiffness values across resolutions from microns to millimeters. OMTHE's versatility is demonstrated by simulations, phantoms, Bacillus subtilis biofilms, zebrafish embryos and adult zebrafish, reflecting the diversity of biological systems from a mechanics perspective. By zooming in on stiffness details from coarse to finer scales, OMTHE has the potential to advance mechanobiology and offers a way to perform biomechanics‐based tissue histology that consistently matches in vivo time‐harmonic elastography in patients.
Correlation of Band Bending and Ionic Losses in 1.68 eV Wide Band Gap Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Scheler Florian , Mariotti Silvia , Mantione Daniele , Shah Sahil , Menzel Dorothee , Köbler Hans , Simmonds Maxim , Gries Thomas W. , Kurpiers Jona , Škorjanc Viktor , Li Jinzhao , Al‐Ashouri Amran , Wagner Philipp , Harvey Steven P. , Yang Fengjiu , Rusu Marin , Unold Thomas , Stannowski Bernd , Zhu Kai , Lang Felix , Neher Dieter , Unger Eva , Abate Antonio , Mecerreyes David , Stolterfoht Martin , Köhnen Eike , Korte Lars , Topič Marko , Albrecht Steve
Published: December 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising for high‐efficiency tandem applications, but their long‐term stability, particularly due to ion migration, remains a challenge. Despite progress in stabilizing PSCs, they still fall short compared to mature technologies like silicon. This study explores how different piperazinium salt treatments using iodide, chloride, tosylate, and bistriflimide anions affect the energetics, carrier dynamics, and stability of 1.68 eV bandgap PSCs. Chloride‐based treatments achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (21.5%) and open‐circuit voltage (1.28 V), correlating with stronger band bending and n‐type character at the surface. At the same time, they showed reduced long‐term stability due to increased ionic losses. Tosylate‐treated devices offered the best balance, retaining 96.4% efficiency after 1000 h (ISOS‐LC‐1I). These findings suggest that targeted surface treatments can enhance both efficiency and stability in PSCs.
Low Evaporation Enthalpy Ionic Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Atmospheric Water Harvesting at Low Humidity
Authors: Shi Zheng , Guo Yu , Zou Xiuyang , Zhang Jiamin , Chen Zhiwei , Shan Mingqing , Zhang Zhixin , Guo Siyu , Yan Feng
Published: December 2024

Herein, we introduce a series of ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs) with a focus on addressing the challenge of water collection at low relative humidity levels below 25 %. These iCOFs are characterized by numerous hydrophilic sites and high water stability, enabling efficient water vapor adsorption even at relatively low humidity levels. Through the use of various hygroscopic salt cations and precise control of ion concentration within the pores, the water state within the iCOFs pores can be effectively managed. Among the iCOFs, TB‐COF‐Li stands out with an impressive adsorption capacity of 0.24 g g−1 from 0 to 22 % RH. Notably, due to its ionic porous structure, TB‐COF‐Li exhibits a significantly lower enthalpy of evaporation, measured at 967.04 J g−1, compared to bulk water with an enthalpy of 2387.40 J g−1. Moreover, under simulated conditions of 1.5 solar intensity at 60 °C, the majority of the adsorbed water can be rapidly desorbed without the need for additional energy input. This efficient desorption process contributes to a high water collection rate of 0.092 g g−1 h−1 in the final atmospheric water harvesting device. The development of these iCOFs offers a promising and cost‐effective solution for obtaining fresh water in arid regions.
Unveiling Ancient Constructive Phases With Integrated Geophysical Prospection in the Group of the Columns, Mitla, Oaxaca
Authors: Argote Denisse L. , Cifuentes‐Nava Gerardo , Tejero‐Andrade Andrés , Cárdenas‐Soto Martín , Pacheco‐Arias Leobardo , Vigato Marco , Celle Ludovic
Published: December 2024

The archaeological zone of Mitla has an invaluable place within the Mexican cultural heritage. This pre‐Hispanic city concentrated the political and religious power of the central valleys of Oaxaca, south of Mexico, mainly during the Postclassic period. However, despite its great cultural importance and considering the risk to its monuments due to the high seismicity of the region, very few studies have focused on the systematic exploration of the subsoil of this area. The present research aimed to characterize the subsoil of one of the architectural compounds of the archaeological zone, the Group of the Columns, aiming to identify possible underground elements such as architectural structures, tunnels or tombs. For that purpose, three non‐invasive geophysical methods were applied, ground penetrating radar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ambient noise tomography (ANT). In the palace, all three methods showed the presence of a substructure below the Hall of the Columns. In the Plaza of the Columns, the GPR detected anthropogenic walls and platforms at different depths that suggest a different configuration of the square and a more prolonged occupation of this group. The results open the discussion about the temporality of the first construction of this architectural group.
Best Subset Solution Path for Linear Dimension Reduction Models Using Continuous Optimization
Authors: Liquet Benoit , Moka Sarat , Muller Samuel
Published: December 2024

The selection of best variables is a challenging problem in supervised and unsupervised learning, especially in high‐dimensional contexts where the number of variables is usually much larger than the number of observations. In this paper, we focus on two multivariate statistical methods: principal components analysis and partial least squares. Both approaches are popular linear dimension‐reduction methods with numerous applications in several fields including in genomics, biology, environmental science, and engineering. In particular, these approaches build principal components, new variables that are combinations of all the original variables. A main drawback of principal components is the difficulty to interpret them when the number of variables is large. To define principal components from the most relevant variables, we propose to cast the best subset solution path method into principal component analysis and partial least square frameworks. We offer a new alternative by exploiting a continuous optimization algorithm for best subset solution path. Empirical studies show the efficacy of our approach for providing the best subset solution path. The usage of our algorithm is further exposed through the analysis of two real data sets. The first data set is analyzed using the principle component analysis while the analysis of the second data set is based on partial least square framework.
Adjusted Inference for Multiple Testing Procedure in Group‐Sequential Designs
Authors: Zhao Yujie , Liu Qi , Sun Linda Z. , Anderson Keaven M.
Published: December 2024

Adjustment of statistical significance levels for repeated analysis in group‐sequential trials has been understood for some time. Adjustment accounting for testing multiple hypotheses is also well understood. There is limited research on simultaneously adjusting for both multiple hypothesis testing and repeated analyses of one or more hypotheses. We address this gap by proposing adjusted‐sequential p‐values that reject when they are less than or equal to the family‐wise Type I error rate (FWER). We also propose sequential ‐values for intersection hypotheses to compute adjusted‐sequential ‐values for elementary hypotheses. We demonstrate the application using weighted Bonferroni tests and weighted parametric tests for inference on each elementary hypothesis tested.
Assessing Balance of Baseline Time‐Dependent Covariates via the Fréchet Distance
Authors: Díaz Mireya
Published: December 2024

Assessment of covariate balance is a key step when performing comparisons between groups particularly in real‐world data. We generally evaluate it on baseline covariates, but rarely on longitudinal ones prior to a management decision. We could use pointwise standardized mean differences, standardized differences of slopes, or weights from the model for such purpose. Pointwise differences could be cumbersome for densely sampled longitudinal markers and/or measured at different points. Slopes are suitable for linear or transformable models but not for more complex curves. Weights do not identify the specific covariate(s) responsible for imbalances. This work presents the Fréchet distance as a viable alternative to assess balance of time‐dependent covariates. A set of linear and nonlinear curves for which their standardized difference or differences in functional parameters were within 10% sought to identify the Fréchet distance equivalent to this threshold. This threshold is dependent on the level of noise present and thus within group heterogeneity and error variance are needed for its interpretation. Applied to a set of real curves representing the monthly trajectory of hemoglobin A1c from diabetic patients showed that the curves in the two groups were not balanced at the 10% mark. A Beta distribution represents the Fréchet distance distribution reasonably well in most scenarios. This assessment of covariate balance provides the following advantages: It can handle curves of different lengths, shapes, and arbitrary time points. Future work includes examining the utility of this measure under within‐series missingness, within‐group heterogeneity, its comparison with other approaches, and asymptotics.
Body Part Segmentation of Anime Characters
Authors: Ou Zhenhua , Liu Xueting , Li Chengze , Wen Zhenkun , Li Ping , Gao Zhijian , Wu Huisi
Published: December 2024

Semantic segmentation is an important approach to present the perceptual semantic understanding of an image, which is of significant usage in various applications. Especially, body part segmentation is designed for segmenting body parts of human characters to assist different editing tasks, such as style editing, pose transfer, and animation production. Since segmentation requires pixel‐level precision in semantic labeling, classic heuristics‐based methods generally have unstable performance. With the deployment of deep learning, a great step has been taken in segmenting body parts of human characters in natural photographs. However, the existing models are purely trained on natural photographs and generally obtain incorrect segmentation results when applied on anime character images, due to the large visual gap between training data and testing data. In this article, we present a novel approach to achieving body part segmentation of cartoon characters via a pose‐based graph‐cut formulation. We demonstrate the use of the acquired body part segmentation map in various image editing tasks, including conditional generation, style manipulation, pose transfer, and video‐to‐anime.
Antimicrobial and Anti‐Inflammatory Activity of Bauhinia Pulchella Extract Fractions
Authors: Lima de Carvalho Jarbas , Carlota da Silva Horlando , Pinheiro Santiago Gilvandete Maria , da Cruz Fonseca Said Gonçalves , Pinheiro Rodrigues João Felipe , de Oliveira Pereira Pedro Igor , de Oliveira Rodrigues Raphael , Ueda Yaochite Juliana Navarro , Dodou Lima Hilania Valéria , Lima Sampaio Tiago , Perrelli Randau Karina
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activities of fractions from the stem extract of Bauhinia pulchella Benth. The ethanolic extract was fractionated using column adsorption chromatography, resulting in a hexane fraction (J1) and a dichloromethane fraction (J2), both rich in terpenes and steroids. Characterization was performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed through minimal lethal concentrations (MLC) and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC), and the checkerboard method was employed to evaluate the synergistic effect. For anti‐inflammatory activity, an in vitro model using murine macrophage cell culture (RAW 264.7) was employed to measure the levels of nitric oxide (NO), TGF‐β, and TNF‐α. The results demonstrated antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa ATCC 10226, S. cholerasuis ATCC 14028, the genus Candida, S. epidermidis ATCC 12228, and S. aureus ATCC 25923. Synergism was observed between the fractions and cephalexin, norfloxacin, gentamicin, and polymyxin. The use of fractions J1 (125, 62.5, and 31.25 µg/mL) and J2 (62.5 µg/mL) resulted in a significant reduction in TNF‐α levels. For NO and TGF‐β, both J1 (125, 62.5, and 31.25 µg/mL) and J2 (62.5, 31.25, and 15.625 µg/mL) fractions showed significant reductions in these inflammatory markers.
From Harmless to Harmful: A Case Series of Hepatic Abscess Induced by Gut Microbiota Due to Fish Bone
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Nadeem , Rafay Muhammad , Ahmed Muhammad , Uddin Mallick Muhammad Zohaib , Akram Saba , Nadeem Naila , Memon Wasim , Fazal Kamran , Khan Faheemullah , Zafar Uffan
Published: December 2024

Accidental ingestion of fish bones can lead to serious complications, such as gastrointestinal perforation and hepatic abscesses. This case series presents three instances where fish bone ingestion led to secondary GI tract perforation and the development of hepatic abscesses. It also emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and intervention to prevent serious consequences.
Modular Synthesis of C2‐Symmetric Chiral TPy‐BPI Pincer Ligands and Application in Asymmetric Ni(II)‐Catalysed Friedel‐Crafts Alkylation
Authors: Cen Hong‐Xing , Ding Li‐Ping , Liu Lin‐Lu , Pan Wei‐Dong , Zhu Xian‐Qiao , Li Wu‐Wu , Zhang Wen‐Jing , Peng Li‐Jun , Liu Xiong‐Li
Published: December 2024

Comprehensive Summary

Terpyridine ligands have been applied as a class of unique ligands due to their rich coordination chemistry in the catalysis. Herein, we developed a new class of C2‐symmetric chiral terpyridine‐pyrroloimidazolone ligands (TPy‐BPI). Their catalytic activity was evaluated in the asymmetric Friedel‐Crafts alkylation of indoles with 2,3‐dioxopyrrolidines. Excellent yields (up to 92%) and high enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee) are obtained for a wide range of substrates under mild conditions. In addition to 2,3‐dioxopyrrolidines, β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters were also compatible in the Ni(OTf)2‐TPy‐BPI ligand L1‐catalyzed reaction. Control experiments, single crystal structure of two TPy‐BPI L1‐Ni(OTf)2 complexes, and DFT calculations revealed the origins of the enantioselectivity. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first report showing that the terpyridine framework contained only two nitrogen atoms coordinating with the metal, and the additional pyridine unit only acted as stereodirecting element, which is different from the previously reported terpyridine ligands containing all three nitrogen atoms coordinating with the metal.
Efficient Self‐assembly of Isoquinoline‐Based Triply Interlocked Cages
Authors: Mu Qiu‐Shui , Wang Xin‐Yu , Gao Xiang , Jin Guo‐Xin
Published: December 2024

Comprehensive Summary

Triple interlocked systems represent highly intricate topological structures, formed by entwining two mechanically interlocked cages. Achieving controlled and straightforward construction of these aesthetic topologies continues to pose an enduring challenge. Herein, we employ a coordination‐driven self‐assembly strategy, capitalizing on non‐covalent interactions in conjunction with half‐sandwich metal units and meticulously designed isoquinoline‐based ligands, to achieve the effective construction of organometallic interlocked cages 1 and 2. The resulting triple interlocked system's formation and architecture were validated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, and comprehensive NMR tests. The Independent Gradient Model (IGM) more intuitively demonstrates the multiple stacking interactions within cage compounds, while planarity analysis elucidates the self‐adaptability of the ligands and their tunable conformations.
Butterfly Diversity and Community Dynamics in the Central Himalayas: Species Composition, Richness, Abundance, and Seasonal Variation of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Bhorletar, Nepal
Authors: KC Sajan , Sapkota Anisha
Published: December 2024

Butterflies are among the most effective bioindicators of climate change; however, their diversity in many rural areas of the Central Himalayas remains understudied. This study provides an assessment of butterfly diversity in the foothills of Bhorletar, Madhya Nepal Municipality, Lamjung District, Nepal, within an elevation range of 420–600 m. Conducted between July 2019 and January 2021, the survey involved opportunistic observations and photography of adult butterflies in their natural habitats, with sampling occurring six times each month. The study aimed to investigate the species composition, richness, and abundance of butterflies across the survey period and identify seasonal changes in species composition and richness. A total of 94,009 individuals across 226 species, 129 genera, and six families were documented. During this study, Halpe arcuata Evans, 1937 and Hasora taminatus bhavara Fruhstorfer, 1911 were recorded for the first time in Nepal. Additionally, Halpe filda Evans, 1949 and Ctenoptilum vasava vasava (Moore, [1866]) were recorded for only the second and third times, respectively, in Nepal, following a gap of approximately three decades. The most abundant species was Pieris canidia indica Evans, 1926 (Relative Abundance [RA] 2.55%), followed by Pseudozizeeria maha maha (Kollar, [1844]) (RA 2.13%). Species richness showed an annual bimodal distribution, peaking in April (180 species) and August (161 species), while the lowest richness was observed in January and February, with 68 and 75 species, respectively. Diversity indices included a Shannon–Wiener index of 4.71, Pielou's J index of 0.87, an effective number of species of 111.24, and Margalef's richness index of 19.65, indicating high species diversity with a well‐balanced mix of species evenness and richness. This study offers the first peer‐reviewed checklist of butterflies from Bhorletar, providing crucial baseline data for future research and conservation efforts, and highlights the remarkable seasonal and species diversity within the region.
Life on Green Patches: Diversity and Seasonal Changes of Butterfly Communities Associated With Wastelands of the Post‐Industrial Central European City
Authors: Pietrzak Sylwia , Pabis Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

Urban wastelands are among the most neglected urban habitats. Our study demonstrated that those spatially restricted patches of vegetation are an important refuge for various species of butterflies. We have assessed the diversity, distribution patterns, and seasonal changes of butterfly communities based on two‐year (2019–2020), quantitative studies at 5 urban wastelands in a large post‐industrial city in Central Poland. Forty‐six species of butterflies were recorded in the city. We have noticed homogeneity of fauna, although all investigated sites were characterised by high diversity and co‐occurrence of species associated with different habitats (e.g., grasslands, woodlands). Most of the species were common in Central Poland, although we have also recorded the presence of more specialised butterflies. Bray–Curtis similarity analysis reflected mostly seasonal changes in species composition. Seasonal patterns were very similar at all investigated sites and during both seasons, pointing to relative stability. Urban wastelands hosted from 34 to 41 species. This pattern results from the high diversity of microhabitats and the co‐occurrence of various plant species at single sites, which is very important for plant‐dependent organisms like butterflies.
TFR: A Temporal Feature‐Refined Multi‐Stage Carbon Price Forecasting
Authors: Zhou Yang , Jin Chengyao , Ren Ke , Gao Shangbing , Yu Yangxin
Published: December 2024

Accurate carbon price forecasting is crucial for effective carbon market analysis and decision‐making. We propose a novel Temporal Feature‐Refined (TFR) model to address the challenges of complex dependencies and high noise levels in carbon price time series data. The TFR model integrates Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) for signal decomposition, an Autoencoder for feature optimization, and a Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) for capturing long‐range temporal dependencies. It incorporates both traditional economic factors and unconventional determinants such as air quality, policy uncertainty, and public sentiment. Experiments on the Shanghai carbon trading market demonstrate that the TFR model significantly outperforms existing methods, achieving an 83.96% improvement in MAE over Support Vector Regression (SVR) and up to a 65.56% improvement over Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) networks. Further analyses, including comparisons with different decomposition models and ablation studies, confirm the effectiveness of each component and the overall model.
The Correlation Analysis Between m6A Methylation Modification and Ferroptosis Induced by Cigarette Smoke in Human Bronchial Epithelium
Authors: Duan Xiaomei , Hu Tingting , Xu Lijuan , Li Zheng , Jing Jing , Xu Dan , Ding Jianbing , Li Fengsen , Jiang Min , Wang Jing
Published: December 2024

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a prevalent respiratory condition, is characterized by long‐term airway inflammation, which can lead to airway remodeling and persistent airflow restriction. Exposure to cigarette smoke is known as a major contributor to COPD development. Research has confirmed that ferroptosis and m6A modification are closely related to various inflammatory‐related diseases. However, the correlation between m6A methylation and ferroptosis in COPD has not been confirmed. In this study, combined with bioinformatics analysis and molecular biology methods we investigated how m6A methylation was correlated to ferroptosis‐associated genes (SLC7A11 and NQO‐1) in cigarette smoke induced 16HBES cells.

Methods

Two microarray datasets (GSE30063 and GSE64614) were combined to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the application of bioinformatics techniques. A cigarette smoke (CS)‐induced 16HBE cells model was established. The ROS, GSH, MDA, and total iron content were detected by relevant detection kits. The expression levels associated with ferroptosis and m6A methylation modification‐related genes were determined via reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot.

Results

Overall, 529 DEGs were identified in the above two databases. For COPD patients, significant changes were observed in FAGs (GCLC, NQO‐1, SLC7A11) and m6A methylation‐related genes (FTO). A negative correlation was also noted between the expression level of genes linked to ferroptosis (SLC7A11 and NQO‐1) and that of the m6A methylation gene (FTO). The in vitro experiments results indicate that SLC7A11 and NQO‐1 were significantly downregulated, and FTO were significantly upregulated. In addition, cigarette smoke stimulation increased the levels of MDA, LPO, and ROS, while reducing the content of GSH and total iron content in 16HBE cells.

Conclusion

Our findings explored the relationship between ferroptosis and m6A methylation in COPD, and screened out SLC7A11, NQO‐1 and FTO may be critical in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Incidence, characteristics and outcome of therapy‐related myeloid neoplasms in women with epithelial ovarian cancer after exposure to poly‐ADPribose polymerase inhibitors: A cancer center experience
Authors: Verrou Evgenia , Koutoukoglou Prodromos , Kontana Evangelia , Gogolopoulos Stavros , Sevastoudi Aggeliki , Daiou Aikaterini , Dalampira Dimitra , Triantafyllou Theodora , Radounislis Anastasios , Karampatzakis Nikolaos , Papadopoulou Theodosia , Giannouli Eleni , Bouliopoulos George‐Panteleimon , Yiannaki Efthalia , Tzimou Maria , Polychronidou Genovefa , Papalexandri Apostolia , Boutis Anastasios , Katodritou Eirini
Published: December 2024

Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) target the DNA repair pathways and have been established in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) as maintenance therapy inducing prolonged survival. However, recently published data showed that PARPi may increase the risk of therapy‐related myeloid neoplasms (t‐MN) including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Herein, we investigated the incidence, characteristics, and management of t‐MN among EOC patients after exposure to PARPi in a Greek Cancer Center. We analyzed 112 consecutive EOC patients treated with PARPi with a median age of 58 years (range 28–84). Olaparib and Niraparib were used in 90 and 22 patients, respectively. The median number of previous chemotherapy lines and duration of treatment with PARPi were 2 (range 1–9) lines and 12 (range 2–24) months, respectively. The incidence of t‐MN among patients treated with PARPi was 3.57% (4/112). Patients with t‐MN were distributed as follows: t‐MDS: 1, t‐MDS/AML: 1, t‐AML: 2. We observed adverse cytogenetic features in t‐MN patients leading to dismal prognosis. In conclusion, in accordance with previous real‐world reports, we confirm a notable risk for t‐MN in EOC patients treated with PARPi. As PARPi are an emerging therapy for many neoplasms, there is an unmet clinical need to identify patients who are considered at high risk for developing t‐MN post‐therapy with PARPi in order to introduce potential preventive strategies.
Microplastic Effects on Soil Aggregation in Sterilized and Non‐Sterilized Soils
Authors: Li Haixiao , Yang Longyuan , Luo Chenghui , Liu Le , Li Cheng , Ziadi Noura
Published: December 2024

The adverse impact of soil microplastics on aggregation is generally attributed to the potential toxicity to soil microorganisms. However, there have been few studies that use sterile soil as a control environment for comparison with regular soils to test this hypothesis. Consequently, this study conducted soil incubation with oven‐heated sterilized soils to explore the effects of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics (at sizes of 0.595, 0.089, and 0.009 mm) on the soil aggregate stabilities. The aim was to determine if their primary mode of action is through biogenic interactions with soil microorganisms. The microplastics reduced 49% and 82% water‐stable aggregates of 0.5–1 and 1–2 mm fractions in Tianjin soils, respectively. The effects of microplastics were particularly pronounced in the non‐sterilized soils during the initial month of incubation. Additionally, microplastics increased the surface roughness of aggregates by an average of 39%, yet microplastics did not significantly affect the aggregate mechanical stability in either soil type. This study suggests that interactions between soil microplastics and microorganisms work crucially on soil aggregation, but microplastics could also possibly affect soil aggregation through non‐biogenic pathways.
Accuracy analysis of cholesterol analyzer in detecting dyslipidemia in truck drivers
Authors: Machado Alessandra Aparecida Vieira , Cunha Rosemeyre Vasconcelos Carvalho , de Arruda Renato Bichat Pinto , Silva Tays Oliveira , de Oliveira Julliete Cristina , Cury Eunice Stella Jardim , Sales Antonio , Korin Stella Hissami , Ferraz Cabral Flavio Júnior , Roever Leonardo , Grande Antonio José
Published: December 2024

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Rapid diagnostic tools are crucial for timely intervention, especially in high‐risk groups such as truck drivers. In Brazil, the Mission® test uniquely offers test strips for simultaneous measurement of total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL). This study evaluates the accuracy of the Mission® analyzer compared to laboratory testing for HDL‐C, TG, and TC in truck drivers. A blinded cross‐sectional study was conducted among truck drivers aged 30–64 in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Spearman correlation, linear regression, and the Bland–Altman analyses were employed to compare lipid profile results between the Mission® analyzer and laboratory methods. A total of 108 samples were analyzed. For HDL, the Mission® analyzer showed a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 0.67, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68–0.86). For TG, sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, with an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93–1.0). For TC, the AUC was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79–0.95). Bland–Altman analysis revealed biases of −4.5 for HDL, 12.4 for TC, and −42.8 for TG between Mission® and laboratory results. The Mission® analyzer demonstrates good accuracy for rapid dyslipidemia diagnosis and Framingham Global Risk Score calculation. It is a valuable tool for initial screening and risk assessment, confirmation with laboratory testing is recommended for definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.
Reconstructing a Random Source for a Stochastic Equation With Biharmonic Operator With Fractional White Noise
Authors: Feng Xiaoli , Chen Chen , Zhang Yun , Yao Qiang
Published: December 2024

At present, inverse random problems are receiving increasing attention, especially the case of inverse random sources. Here, we are interested in an inverse random source problem with biharmonic operator. The same as the existing studies of inverse random source problems, some theoretical results of the corresponding direct and inverse problems have been investigated in this paper. The difference is that the source term is driven by time‐fractional Brownian motion, and the spatial function in the source term needs to be determined. It has been found that, for different problems, the properties of the integrand in the corresponding stochastic integrals are distinct, which has a significant impact on the entire theoretical analysis. For the problem considered here, the lack of monotonicity in the integrand of the stochastic integrals makes the analysis more challenging. Additionally, biharmonic operators will cause some difficulties in numerical calculations.
Encoding matching criteria for cross‐domain deformable image registration
Authors: Wang Zhuoyuan , Wang Haiqiao , Ni Dong , Xu Ming , Wang Yi
Published: December 2024

Background

Most existing deep learning‐based registration methods are trained on single‐type images to address same‐domain tasks, resulting in performance degradation when applied to new scenarios. Retraining a model for new scenarios requires extra time and data. Therefore, efficient and accurate solutions for cross‐domain deformable registration are in demand.

Purpose

We argue that the tailor‐made matching criteria in traditional registration methods is one of the main reason they are applicable in different domains. Motivated by this, we devise a registration‐oriented encoder to model the matching criteria of image features and structural features, which is beneficial to boost registration accuracy and adaptability.

Methods

Specifically, a general feature encoder (Encoder‐G) is proposed to capture comprehensive medical image features, while a structural feature encoder (Encoder‐S) is designed to encode the structural self‐similarity into the global representation. Moreover, by updating Encoder‐S using one‐shot learning, our method can effectively adapt to different domains. The efficacy of our method is evaluated using MRI images from three different domains, including brain images (training/testing: 870/90 pairs), abdomen images (training/testing: 1406/90 pairs), and cardiac images (training/testing: 64770/870 pairs). The comparison methods include traditional method (SyN) and cutting‐edge deep networks. The evaluation metrics contain dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average symmetric surface distance (ASSD).

Results

In the single‐domain task, our method attains an average DSC of 68.9%/65.2%/72.8%, and ASSD of 9.75/3.82/1.30 mm on abdomen/cardiac/brain images, outperforming the second‐best comparison methods by large margins. In the cross‐domain task, without one‐shot optimization, our method outperforms other deep networks in five out of six cross‐domain scenarios and even surpasses symmetric image normalization method (SyN) in two scenarios. By conducting the one‐shot optimization, our method successfully surpasses SyN in all six cross‐domain scenarios.

Conclusions

Our method yields favorable results in the single‐domain task while ensuring improved generalization and adaptation performance in the cross‐domain task, showing its feasibility for the challenging cross‐domain registration applications. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/JuliusWang‐7/EncoderReg.