bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and prognostic impact of ACTBL2-positive tumor-infiltrating leukocytes in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Topalov N. E. , Mayr D. , Kuhn C. , Leutbecher A. , Scherer C. , Kraus F. B. T. , Tauber C. V. , Beyer S. , Meister S. , Hester A. , Kolben T. , Burges A. , Mahner S. , Trillsch F. , Kessler M. , Jeschke U. , Czogalla B.
Published: December 2023

Actin beta-like 2 (ACTBL2) was recently identified as a new mediator of migration in ovarian cancer cells. Yet, its impact on tumor-infiltrating and thus migrating leukocytes (TILs) remains to date unknown. This study characterizes the subset of ACTBL2-expressing TILs in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and elucidates their prognostic influence on the overall survival of EOC patients with special regard to different histological subtypes. Comprehensive immunohistochemical analyses of Tissue-Microarrays of 156 ovarian cancer patients revealed, that a tumor infiltration by ACTBL2-positive leukocytes was significantly associated with an improved overall survival (OS) (61.2 vs. 34.4 months;p = 0.006) and was identified as an independent prognostic factor (HR = 0.556;p = 0.038). This significant survival benefit was particularly evident in patients with low-grade serous carcinoma (OS: median not reached vs. 15.6 months,p < 0.001; HR = 0.058,p = 0.018). In the present cohort, ACTBL2-positive TILs were mainly composed of CD44-positive cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+) and macrophages (CD68+), as depicted by double-immunofluorescence and various immunohistochemical serial staining. Our results provide significant evidence of the prognostic impact and cellular composition of ACTBL2-expressing TILs in EOC. Complementary studies are required to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms of ACTBL2 as a marker for activated migrating leukocytes and to further characterize its immunological impact on ovarian carcinogenesis.
Serum proinsulin levels as peripheral blood biomarkers in patients with cognitive impairment
Authors: Saraya Abhinbhen W. , Tunvirachaisakul Chavit , Sonpee Chanikarn , Katasrila Panticha , Sathaporn Tanyares , Tepmongkol Supatporn , Tangwongchai Sookjareon
Published: December 2023

Insulin has long been associated with dementia. Insulin affecting the clearance of amyloid-β peptide and phosphorylation of tau in the CNS. Proinsulin is a precursor of insulin and its elevated serum levels are associated with peripheral insulin resistance that may reduce brain insulin levels. Our study aimed to assess differences in serum proinsulin levels between normal and cognitive impairment groups. Prospective recruitment of elderly participants was initiated from October 2019 to September 2023. Patients were divided into “cognitive impairment” and “normal cognition” group. All participants had blood drawn and serum proinsulin was measured at baseline and 12 months. Neurocognitive testing was performed every 6 months. A total of 121 participants were recruited. Seventy-seven were in the normal cognition group and 44 in the cognitive impairment group. The glycemic control and prevalence of diabetes type 2 was similar between groups. Baseline serum proinsulin levels were higher in the cognitively impaired group compared to the normal group at baseline (p = 0.019) and correlated with worse cognitive scores. We identified cognitive status, age, and BMI as potential factors associated with variations in baseline proinsulin levels. Given the complex interplay between insulin and dementia pathogenesis, serum biomarkers related to insulin metabolism may exhibit abnormalities in cognitive impaired patients. Here we present the proinsulin levels in individuals with normal cognitive function versus those with cognitive impairment and found a significant difference. This observation may help identifying non-diabetic patients suitable for treatment with novel AD drugs that related to insulin pathway.
A new measure of node centrality on schedule-based space-time networks for the designation of spread potential
Authors: Pitoski Dino , Babić Karlo , Meštrović Ana
Published: December 2023

Node centrality is one of the most frequently revisited network theoretical concepts, which got many calculation method alternatives, each of them being conceived on different empirical or theoretical network abstractions. The vast majority of centrality measures produced up to date were conceived on static network abstractions (the so-called “snapshot” networks), which arguably are less realistic than dynamic (temporal) network abstractions. The new, temporal node centrality measure that we offer with this article, is based on an uncommon abstraction, of a space-time network derived from service schedules (timetables). The proposed measure was designed to rank nodes of a space-time network based on their spread or transmission potential, and was subsequently implemented on the network of sea ferry transportation derived from the aggregated schedules for sea ferry liner shipping services in Europe, as they occurred in the month of August, 2015. The main feature of our measure, named “the Spread Potential”, is the evaluation of the potential of a node in the network for transmitting disease, information (e.g. rumours or false news), as well as other phenomena, whichever support a space-time network abstraction from regular and scheduled services with some known carrying capacities. Such abstractions are, for instance, of the transportation networks (e.g. of airline or maritime shipping or the wider logistics (delivery) networks), networks of medical (hospital) services, educational (teaching) services, and virtually, of any other scheduled networked phenomenon. The article also offers the perspectives of the measure’s applicability on the non-scheduled space-time network abstractions.
An improved human activity recognition technique based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Raj Ravi , Kos Andrzej
Published: December 2023

A convolutional neural network (CNN) is an important and widely utilized part of the artificial neural network (ANN) for computer vision, mostly used in the pattern recognition system. The most important applications of CNN are medical image analysis, image classification, object recognition from videos, recommender systems, financial time series analysis, natural language processing, and human–computer interfaces. However, after the technological advancement in the power of computing ability and the emergence of huge quantities of labeled data provided through enhanced algorithms, nowadays, CNN is widely used in almost every area of study. One of the main uses of wearable technology and CNN within medical surveillance is human activity recognition (HAR), which must require constant tracking of everyday activities. This paper provides a comprehensive study of the application of CNNs in the classification of HAR tasks. We describe their enhancement, from their antecedents up to the current state-of-the-art systems of deep learning (DL). We have provided a comprehensive working principle of CNN for HAR tasks, and a CNN-based model is presented to perform the classification of human activities. The proposed technique interprets data from sensor sequences of inputs by using a multi-layered CNN that gathers temporal and spatial data related to human activities. The publicly available WISDM dataset for HAR has been used to perform this study. This proposed study uses the two-dimensional CNN approach to make a model for the classification of different human activities. A recent version of Python software has been used to perform the study. The rate of accuracy for HAR through the proposed model in this experiment is 97.20%, which is better than the previously estimated state-of-the-art technique. The findings of the study imply that using DL methods for activity recognition might greatly increase accuracy and increase the range of applications where HAR can be used successfully. We have also described the future research trends in the field of HAR in this article.
Minimum meal frequency practice and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months old in The Gambia: a multilevel mixed effect analysis
Authors: Terefe Bewuketu , Jembere Mahlet Moges , Abie Mekonnen Birhanu
Published: December 2023

A proxy measure for a child's energy needs, minimum meal frequency (MMF) looks at how often children were fed things other than breast milk. Infants and young children who do not consume enough food frequently are more likely to suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality as well as stunting and micronutrient deficiencies. There is no MMF recommended by studies in The Gambia. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the practice of MMF and the factors that influence it in children aged 6–23 months in The Gambia. Data from The Gambian Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS-2019/20) were used to identify factors affecting the MMF at individual and community levels. A multi-level regression model and weighted samples of 2100 children were employed for the investigation. After being examined by a p-value of < 0.25 in the binary regression, factors with a p-value of < 0.05 were judged statistically significant. This study found that about 57.95% had provided MMF. Primary and secondary educated mothers (aOR = 1.44, CI 1.11, 1.87), and (aOR = 1.43, CI 1.09, 1.86), wealthiest (aOR = 1.76, CI 1.04, 2.99), 35–49 years old mothers (aOR = 1.35, CI 1.01, 1.79), female household head (aOR = 0.72, CI 0.53, 0.98), breastfeeding status(aOR = 0.10, CI 0.07, 0.15), currently working (aOR = 1.27, CI 1.04, 1.56), 12–17 months child (aOR = 1.40, CI 1.13, 1.73), 18–23 months child (aOR = 1.44, CI 1.08, 1.91) have shown association with MMF. Regarding regions Mansakonko, Kerewan, Kuntaur, and Janjanbureh local government areas have shown (aOR = 3.51, CI 1.77, 6.97), (aOR = 5.17, CI 2.67, 9.99), (aOR = 2.26, CI 1.14, 4.47), and (aOR = 2.35, CI 1.19, 4.64) as compared to Banjul local government area. Comparing MMF in The Gambia to WHO standards, it must be considered low. Encouragement of women and coordinated enhancement of the current nutritional intervention are therefore effective in boosting children's consumption of a variety of foods.
Uncovering anisotropic effects of electric high-moment dipoles on the tunneling current in $$\delta$$-layer tunnel junctions
Authors: Mendez Juan P. , Mamaluy Denis
Published: December 2023

The precise positioning of dopants in semiconductors using scanning tunneling microscopes has led to the development of planar dopant-based devices, also known as $$\delta$$
δ
layer-based devices, facilitating the exploration of new concepts in classical and quantum computing. Recently, it has been shown that two distinct conductivity regimes (low- and high-bias regimes) exist in $$\delta$$
δ
-layer tunnel junctions due to the presence of quasi-discrete and continuous states in the conduction band of $$\delta$$
δ
-layer systems. Furthermore, discrete charged impurities in the tunnel junction region significantly influence the tunneling rates in $$\delta$$
δ
-layer tunnel junctions. Here we demonstrate that electrical dipoles, i.e. zero-charge defects, present in the tunnel junction region can also significantly alter the tunneling rate, depending, however, on the specific conductivity regime, and orientation and moment of the dipole. In the low-bias regime, with high-resistance tunneling mode, dipoles of nearly all orientations and moments can alter the current, indicating the extreme sensitivity of the tunneling current to the slightest imperfection in the tunnel gap. In the high-bias regime, with low-resistivity, only dipoles with high moments and oriented in the directions perpendicular to the electron tunneling direction can significantly affect the current, thus making this conductivity regime significantly less prone to the influence of dipole defects with low-moments or oriented in the direction parallel to the tunneling.
Proteomic analysis reveals activation of platelet- and fibrosis-related pathways in hearts of ApoE−/− mice exposed to diesel exhaust particles
Authors: Jung Inkyo , Cho Yoon Jin , Park Minhan , Park Kihong , Lee Seung Hee , Kim Won-Ho , Jeong Hyuk , Lee Ji Eun , Kim Geun-Young
Published: December 2023

Air pollution is an environmental risk factor linked to multiple human diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While particulate matter (PM) emitted by diesel exhaust damages multiple organ systems, heart disease is one of the most severe pathologies affected by PM. However, the in vivo effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on the heart and the molecular mechanisms of DEP-induced heart dysfunction have not been investigated. In the current study, we attempted to identify the proteomic signatures of heart fibrosis caused by diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in CVDs-prone apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice model using tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis. DEP exposure induced mild heart fibrosis in ApoE−/− mice compared with severe heart fibrosis in ApoE−/− mice that were treated with CVDs-inducing peptide, angiotensin II. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis of heart tissues between PBS- and DEP-treated ApoE−/− mice revealed significant upregulation of proteins associated with platelet activation and TGFβ-dependent pathways. Our data suggest that DEP exposure could induce heart fibrosis, potentially via platelet-related pathways and TGFβ induction, causing cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.
Regulatory variants of APOBEC3 genes potentially associate with COVID-19 severity in populations with African ancestry
Authors: Zhang Ke , Chen Fang , Shen Hu-Yan , Zhang Ping-Ping , Gao Han , Peng Hong , Luo Yu-Si , Cheng Zhong-Shan
Published: December 2023

Since November 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused the worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the impact of which is huge to the lives of world populations. Many studies suggested that such situation will continue due to the endless mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome that result in complexity of the efforts for the control of SARS-CoV-2, since the special enrichment of nucleotide substitution C>U in SARS-CoV-2 sequences were discovered mainly due to the editing by human host factors APOBEC3 genes. The observation of SARS-CoV-2 variants Beta (B.1.351) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) firstly spreading in South Africa promoted us to hypothesize that genetic variants of APOBEC3 special in African populations may be attributed to the higher mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Africa. Current study was conducted to search for functional variants of APOBEC3 genes associate with COVID-19 hospitalization in African population. By integrating data from the 1000 Genomes Project, Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Host Genetics Initiative (HGI) of COVID-19, we identified potential functional SNPs close to APOBEC3 genes that are associated with COVID-19 hospitalization in African but not with other populations. Our study provides new insights on the potential contribution of APOBEC3 genes on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 mutations in African population, but further replication is needed to confirm our results.
First complete mitogenome of Massarineae and its contribution to phylogenetic implications in Pleosporales
Authors: Wang Guangying , Zhang Gongyou , lv Xiaoying , Wang Yaping , Long Yaohang , Wang Xianyi , Liu Hongmei
Published: December 2023

Endophytic fungi play an important role in the growth and development of traditional Chinese medicine plants. We isolated a strain of Acrocalymma vagum from the endophytic fungi of the traditional Chinese plants Paris. To accurately identify this endophytic fungal species of interest, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of A. vagum, which is the first discovered mitochondrial genome in Massarineae. The A. vagum mitochondrial genome consists of a 35,079-bp closed circular DNA molecule containing 36 genes. Then, we compared the general sequence characteristics of A. vagum with those of Pleosporales, and the second structure of the 22 tRNAs was predicted. The phylogenetic relationship of A. vagum was constructed using two different data sets (protein-coding genes and amino acids). The phylogenetic tree shows that A. vagum is located at the root of Pleosporales. The analysis of introns shows that the number of introns increases with the increase in branch length. The results showed that monophyly was confirmed for all families in Pleosporales except for Pleosporaceae. A. vagum is an ancient species in the Pleosporales, and Pleosporaceae may require further revision. In Pleosporales, the number of introns is positively correlated with branch length, providing data for further study on the origin of introns.
Usefulness of intraoperative ultrasound examination for laparoscopic right-side colon cancer surgery: a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Kasashima Hiroaki , Fukuoka Tatsunari , Tsujio Gen , Sugimoto Atsushi , Yonemitsu Ken , Kitayama Kisyu , Iseki Yasuhito , Shibutani Masatsune , Maeda Kiyoshi
Published: December 2023

Complete mesocolic excision (CME) with central vascular ligation (CVL) in laparoscopic surgery for right-sided colon cancer (RSCC) requires a precise understanding of the vascular anatomy. The efficacy of intraoperative ultrasound (IUS) in the identification of blood vessels for RSCC surgery was not evaluated. The aim of this study was to compare the intraoperative and short-term outcomes of CME with CVL with or without IUS by laparoscopic surgery for RSCC. We performed IUS on 26 patients of RSCC and compared with a total of 124 patients who underwent the surgery for RSCC at our institution. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce the confounding effects to imbalances in the use of IUS. The IUS identified the main feeding artery and the accompanying vein in all 26 cases. After PSM, the amount of intraoperative blood loss in the IUS group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (5 ml vs. 30 ml, p = 0.035) and no significant difference of the postoperative complications was observed. The IUS reduced the risk of bleeding in the surgery for RSCC. The IUS is a safe and feasible technique that help the surgeons for anatomical understandings under real-time condition in the laparoscopic surgery of RSCC.
Impact of a pneumatic surgical robot with haptic feedback function on surgical manipulation
Authors: Ueda Yuichiro , Miyahara So , Tokuishi Keita , Nakajima Hiroyasu , Waseda Ryuichi , Shiraishi Takeshi , Sato Toshihiko
Published: December 2023

Although robotic-assisted surgery has the advantages of low patient burden and high precision without unsteady hand movements, the lack of tactile sensations may result in unexpected iatrogenic organ damage. The Saroa (Riverfield Inc., Tokyo, Japan) is a pneumatically driven robot that provides real-time haptic feedback to the surgeon. Using the Saroa robot, six examinees performed puffed rice transfer and four of them performed pig lung resection tasks with the feedback function turned on and off. The puffed rice transfer task consisted of transferring 20 grains of puffed rice from the left to the right compartment in the training box. The mean grasping forces during the puffed rice transfer task with the haptic feedback function turned off and on were 2.14 N and 0.63 N, respectively (P = 0.003). The mean grasping forces during the pig lung resection task were lower with the feedback turned on than turned off. The force that the forceps exerted on the grasping object was weaker in both tasks when the haptic feedback function was turned on, suggesting that the feedback function allows gentler handling of tissues, improving patient safety during robotic surgery.
S9.6-based hybrid capture immunoassay for pathogen detection
Authors: Bothra Ankur , Perry Megan L. , Wei Elena , Moayeri Mahtab , Ma Qian , Biamonte Marco A. , Siirin Marina , Leppla Stephen H.
Published: December 2023

The detection of pathogens is critical for clinical diagnosis and public health surveillance. Detection is usually done with nucleic acid-based tests (NATs) and rapid antigen tests (e.g., lateral flow assays [LFAs]). Although NATs are more sensitive and specific, their use is often limited in resource-poor settings due to specialized requirements. To address this limitation, we developed a rapid DNA-RNA Hybrid Capture immunoassay (HC) that specifically detects RNA from pathogens. This assay utilizes a unique monoclonal antibody, S9.6, which binds DNA-RNA hybrids. Biotinylated single-stranded DNA probes are hybridized to target RNAs, followed by hybrid capture on streptavidin and detection with S9.6. The HC-ELISA assay can detect as few as 104 RNA molecules that are 2.2 kb in length. We also adapted this assay into a LFA format, where captured Bacillus anthracis rpoB RNA of 3.5 kb length was detectable from a bacterial load equivalent to 107 CFU per 100 mg of mouse tissue using either HC-ELISA or HC-LFA. Importantly, we also demonstrated the versatility of HC by detecting other pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and Toxoplasma gondii, showing its potential for broad pathogen detection. Notably, HC does not require amplification of the target nucleic acid and utilizes economical formats like ELISA and LFA, making it suitable for use in sentinel labs for pathogen detection or as a molecular tool in basic research laboratories. Our study highlights the potential of HC as a sensitive and versatile method for RNA-based pathogen detection.
Analyzing the impact of feature selection methods on machine learning algorithms for heart disease prediction
Authors: Noroozi Zeinab , Orooji Azam , Erfannia Leila
Published: December 2023

The present study examines the role of feature selection methods in optimizing machine learning algorithms for predicting heart disease. The Cleveland Heart disease dataset with sixteen feature selection techniques in three categories of filter, wrapper, and evolutionary were used. Then seven algorithms Bayes net, Naïve Bayes (BN), multivariate linear model (MLM), Support Vector Machine (SVM), logit boost, j48, and Random Forest were applied to identify the best models for heart disease prediction. Precision, F-measure, Specificity, Accuracy, Sensitivity, ROC area, and PRC were measured to compare feature selection methods' effect on prediction algorithms. The results demonstrate that feature selection resulted in significant improvements in model performance in some methods (e.g., j48), whereas it led to a decrease in model performance in other models (e.g. MLP, RF). SVM-based filtering methods have a best-fit accuracy of 85.5. In fact, in a best-case scenario, filtering methods result in + 2.3 model accuracy. SVM-CFS/information gain/Symmetrical uncertainty methods have the highest improvement in this index. The filter feature selection methods with the highest number of features selected outperformed other methods in terms of models' ACC, Precision, and F-measures. However, wrapper-based and evolutionary algorithms improved models' performance from sensitivity and specificity points of view.
Early childhood SARS experience leads to long-lasting impacts on adulthood mental health in China
Authors: Yuan Ye , Chen Litian , Yang Chao , Xie Tingting
Published: December 2023

The association between pandemic experience and immediate mental health risks, such as depression, is well-documented, yet the long-term effects remain unclear. This study examines the impact of early childhood exposure to the 2003 SARS pandemic on adulthood mental health after 17 years in China, using data from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The analysis included 6289 participants, aged 3 to 30 years during the SARS outbreak, with an average age of 35.3 years at the time of survey. Adulthood mental health was assessed using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and an indicator of clinical depression. The severity of local SARS outbreaks was assessed by cumulative cases per 10,000 population. Results show that each additional case per 10,000 population was linked to a 1.617-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.425–1.836) increase in odds of depression after 17 years for younger children (aged 3–12 years in 2003) relative to older cohorts (aged 13-30). This risk was higher in children from rural areas (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.64; 95% CI 2.92–4.55), with poor physical health (1.98; 1.59–2.48), and from low-income families (2.87; 2.03–4.05). The childhood pandemic experience elevated the probability of developing depression-prone personality traits, which contributes to the enduring impact of childhood pandemic experiences on adulthood mental health. These findings highlight the long-lasting psychological impact of early-childhood pandemic exposure, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its effects on the younger generation and emphasizing the importance of monitoring long-term mental health and personality development in children post-pandemics, particularly in light of COVID-19.
Discovery of novel neutral glycosphingolipids in cereal crops: rapid profiling using reversed-phased HPLC–ESI–QqTOF with parallel reaction monitoring
Authors: Yu Dingyi , Boughton Berin A. , Rupasinghe Thusitha W. T. , Hill Camilla B. , Herrfurth Cornelia , Scholz Patricia , Feussner Ivo , Roessner Ute
Published: December 2023

This study explores the sphingolipid class of oligohexosylceramides (OHCs), a rarely studied group, in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through a new lipidomics approach. Profiling identified 45 OHCs in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), elucidating their fatty acid (FA), long-chain base (LCB) and sugar residue compositions; and was accomplished by monophasic extraction followed by reverse-phased high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QqTOF–MS/MS) employing parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). Results revealed unknown ceramide species and highlighted distinctive FA and LCB compositions when compared to other sphingolipid classes. Structurally, the OHCs featured predominantly trihydroxy LCBs associated with hydroxylated FAs and oligohexosyl residues consisting of two–five glucose units in a linear 1 → 4 linkage. A survey found OHCs in tissues of major cereal crops while noting their absence in conventional dicot model plants. This study found salinity stress had only minor effects on the OHC profile in barley roots, leaving questions about their precise functions in plant biology unanswered.
Impact of climatic oscillations on marlin catch rates of Taiwanese long-line vessels in the Indian Ocean
Authors: Mondal Sandipan , Ray Aratrika , Osuka Kennedy Edeye , Sihombing Riah Irawati , Lee Ming-An , Chen Yu‑Kai
Published: December 2023

This study explored the influence of climatic oscillations on the striped, blue, and silver marlin catch rates in the Indian Ocean by using logbook data from Taiwanese large-scale fishing vessels and climate records from 1994 to 2016. Only the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and the subtropical Indian Ocean dipole (SIOD) had immediate effects on the striped and silver marlin catch rates. The positive and negative phases of the IOD at the lags of 7 and 3 years corresponded to increased and decreased catch rates, respectively, for both the striped and blue marlin, contrasting to the reverse pattern for the silver marlin. Similarly, all three marlin species experienced decreased and increased catch rates respectively during the positive and negative phases of the Pacific decadal oscillation. The striped and blue marlin catch rates decreased and increased during the positive and negative phases, respectively, of the SIOD and MJO with various lags. Our results suggest that the impacts of climatic oscillations on fish species are crucial for policymakers and coastal communities for managing marine resources, forecasting changes in marine ecosystems, and developing strategies to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate variability.
Circulating ESR1, long non-coding RNA HOTAIR and microRNA-130a gene expression as biomarkers for breast cancer stage and metastasis
Authors: Abdel-hamid Noura R. , Mohammed Eman A. , Toraih Eman A. , Kamel Mahmoud M. , Abdelhafiz Ahmed Samir , Badr Fouad M.
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women, has posed a significant challenge in identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed to elucidate the gene expression profile of Estrogen Receptor-1 (ESR-1), long non-coding RNA HOTAIR, and microRNA-130a in the serum of Egyptian breast cancer patients, evaluating the potential of HOTAIR and miR-130a as biomarkers for predicting pathological parameters in BC. The study involved 45 patients with primary BC, with serum samples collected preoperatively and postoperatively twice. The expression levels of ESR-1, HOTAIR, and miR-130a were quantified using real-time PCR and analyzed for correlations with each other and with the clinical and pathological parameters of the patients. Serum HOTAIR levels exhibited a strong positive association with metastasis and demonstrated a significant increase after 6 months in all patients with locally advanced and stage IV BC. Conversely, tumors with advanced stages and metastatic lesions showed significantly lower expression levels of miR-130a. Notably, a significant positive correlation was observed between preoperative ESR-1 expression and both HOTAIR and miR-130a levels. Serum HOTAIR and miR-130a levels have emerged as promising non-invasive biomarkers with the potential to predict the pathological features of BC patients. HOTAIR, an oncogenic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and miR-130a, a tumor suppressor miRNA, play crucial roles in tumor progression. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the intricate interplay between HOTAIR and miR-130a and to fully comprehend the contribution of HOTAIR to BC recurrence and its potential utility in early relapse prediction.
Depletion of muscularis macrophages ameliorates inflammation-driven dysmotility in murine colitis model
Authors: Ferenczi Szilamér , Mogor Fruzsina , Takacs Peter , Kovacs Tamas , Toth Viktoria E. , Varga Zoltán V. , Kovács Krisztina , Lohinai Zoltan , Vass Koppány Csaba , Nagy Nandor , Dora David
Published: December 2023

Previously, the presence of a blood-myenteric plexus barrier and its disruption was reported in experimentally induced colitis via a macrophage-dependent process. The aim of this study is to reveal how myenteric barrier disruption and subsequent neuronal injury affects gut motility in vivo in a murine colitis model. We induced colitis with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), with the co-administration of liposome-encapsulated clodronate (l-clodronate) to simultaneously deplete blood monocytes contributing to macrophage infiltration in the inflamed muscularis of experimental mice. DSS-treated animals receiving concurrent l-clodronate injection showed significantly decreased blood monocyte numbers and colon muscularis macrophage (MM) density compared to DSS-treated control (DSS-vehicle). DSS-clodronate-treated mice exhibited significantly slower whole gut transit time than DSS-vehicle-treated animals and comparable to that of controls. Experiments with oral gavage-fed Evans-blue dye showed similar whole gut transit times in DSS-clodronate-treated mice as in control animals. Furthermore, qPCR-analysis and immunofluorescence on colon muscularis samples revealed that factors associated with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, including Bax1, Hdac4, IL-18, Casp8 and Hif1a are overexpressed after DSS-treatment, but not in the case of concurrent l-clodronate administration. Our findings highlight that MM-infiltration in the muscularis layer is responsible for colitis-associated dysmotility and enteric neuronal dysfunction along with the release of mediators associated with neurodegeneration in a murine experimental model.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated nexilin deficiency interferes with cardiac contractile function in zebrafish in vivo
Authors: Hofeichner Janessa , Gahr Bernd Martin , Huber Magdalena , Boos Alena , Rottbauer Wolfgang , Just Steffen
Published: December 2023

Nexilin (NEXN) plays a crucial role in stabilizing the sarcomeric Z-disk of striated muscle fibers and, when mutated, leads to dilated cardiomyopathy in humans. Due to its early neonatal lethality in mice, the detailed impact of the constitutive homozygous NEXN knockout on heart and skeletal muscle morphology and function is insufficiently investigated. Here, we characterized a constitutive homozygous CRISPR/Cas9-mediated nexn knockout zebrafish model. We found that Nexn deficient embryos developed significantly reduced cardiac contractility and under stressed conditions also impaired skeletal muscle organization whereas skeletal muscle function seemed not to be affected. Remarkably, in contrast to nexn morphants, CRISPR/Cas9 nexn−/− knockout embryos showed a milder phenotype without the development of a pronounced pericardial edema or blood congestion. nexn-specific expression analysis as well as whole transcriptome profiling suggest some degree of compensatory mechanisms. Transcripts of numerous essential sarcomeric proteins were massively induced and may mediate a sarcomere stabilizing function in nexn−/− knockout embryos. Our findings demonstrate the successful generation and characterization of a constitutive homozygous nexn knockout line enabling the detailed investigation of the role of nexn on heart and skeletal muscle development and function as well as to assess putative compensatory mechanisms induced by the loss of Nexn.
Effects of plant-based proteins and handling stress on intestinal mucus microbiota in rainbow trout
Authors: Suhr Marvin , Fichtner-Grabowski Finn-Thorbjörn , Seibel Henrike , Bang Corinna , Franke Andre , Schulz Carsten , Hornburg Stéphanie C.
Published: December 2023

Via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, this study explores whether the gut mucus microbiota of rainbow trout is affected by the interaction of a plant-protein-based diet and a daily handling stressor (chasing with a fishing net) across two genetic lines (A, B). Initial body weights of fish from lines A and B were 124.7 g and 147.2 g, respectively. Fish were fed 1.5% of body weight per day for 59 days either of two experimental diets, differing in their fish meal [fishmeal-based diet (F): 35%, plant-based diet (V): 7%] and plant-based protein content (diet F: 47%, diet V: 73%). No diet- or stress-related effect on fish performance was observed at the end of the trial. However, we found significantly increased observed ASVs in the intestinal mucus of fish fed diet F compared to diet V. No significant differences in Shannon diversity could be observed between treatments. The autochthonous microbiota in fish fed with diet V was dominated by representatives of the genera Mycoplasma, Cetobacterium, and Ruminococcaceae, whereas Enterobacteriaceae and Photobacterium were significantly associated with diet F. The mucus bacteria in both genetic lines were significantly separated by diet, but neither by stress nor an interaction, as obtained via PERMANOVA. However, pairwise comparisons revealed that the diet effect was only significant in stressed fish. Therefore, our findings indicate that the mucus-associated microbiota is primarily modulated by the protein source, but this modulation is mediated by the stress status of the fish.
Fracture identification and characteristics of carbonate underground gas storage: an example from the eastern area of Sulige gas field, ordos Basin, China
Authors: Xie Jun , Hao Xiaofan , Zhang Yuanpei , Zhang Jianguo , Xia Yong , He Yilin
Published: December 2023

The carbonate rock formations have obvious dual media characteristics, fracture development and good physical conditions, which are the main seepage channels and storage spaces for gas after the reconstruction of underground gas storage. The carbonate strata of the Ordovician system are important natural gas reservoirs in the eastern area of Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin, and the identification and characterization of their fractures are of great significance for the modeling of fractures in the later stage and the improvement of the operation scheme of the gas storage. At present, there is little research on fractures, which restricts exploration and development. Therefore, taking the 39–61 gas storage reservoir in the eastern area of Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin as the research object, this paper identifies and studies the characteristics of the fractures by core, microscopic, conventional logging curves, and imaging logging identification. The results show that the fracture length ranges from 5 to 15 cm and the width ranges from 0.1 to 3 mm. The fracture angles are mostly between 75° and 90° and the main direction is NW–SE. In conventional logging curves, porosity logging has a good response to fractures, while resistivity logging has a general response to fractures; In layers with more developed fractures, natural gamma values are mostly higher than 40API, rock volume density is less than 2.8 g/cm3, neutron porosity is greater than 12.5%, and acoustic time difference is greater than 160 μ s/m. This study is of great significance for improving the identification of carbonate fractures, enriching the relevant theories, and providing guidance for the construction of carbonate gas storage.
Dynamic response of axle box bearing for high-speed train considering wheelset flexibility and polygonal wear
Authors: Guan Tiantian , Deng Xiaoyu , Wang Jiangwen
Published: December 2023

In this study, a flexible wheelset was added to a rigid-flexible coupled vehicle dynamics model, in which the axle box bearings are accurately modeled. The measured wheel’s polygon wear profile and Wuhan-Guangzhou track spectrum are used in the model to define the wheel tread and track irregularity, respectively. We conducted a field test on the Wuhan-Guangzhou railway line to validate the model. Then, we investigate how the dynamic properties of the axle box bearing are impacted by the wheelset flexibility and polygonal wear of wheel. We found that the polygonal wheel with a rigid wheelset causes high-frequency vibration in wheelset and axle box, and increases the axle box bearing’s internal contact force. Additionally, the flexible wheelset with a normal wheel tread can alleviate the wheel/rail impact and reduce the axle box’s vertical vibration as well as the axle box bearing’s internal contact force. When the vehicle is running at v = 300 km/h, the excitation frequency caused by the wheel's 20th-order polygon is 576.5 Hz, and the flexible wheelset's 20th-order modal frequency is 577 Hz. The two frequencies are similar, when considering the polygonal wheel and flexible wheelset simultaneously, the wheelset will resonate. And the resonate of wheelset will increase the local deformation of the axle end and deteriorate the bearing operating environment, causing a significant increase in the bearing contact force. Finally, the axle box bearing’s dynamic characteristics are summarized when vehicle velocity varies from 50 to 350 km/h and wheel polygon wear amplitude ranges from 0.01 to 0.05 mm.
YTHDC1 delays cellular senescence and pulmonary fibrosis by activating ATR in an m6A-independent manner
Authors: Zhang Canfeng , Chen Liping , Xie Chen , Wang Fengwei , Wang Juan , Zhou Haoxian , Liu Qianyi , Zeng Zhuo , Li Na , Huang Junjiu , Zhao Yong , Liu Haiying
Published: December 2023

Accumulation of DNA damage in the lung induces cellular senescence and promotes age-related diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Hence, understanding the mechanistic regulation of DNA damage repair is important for anti-aging therapies and disease control. Here, we identified an m6A-independent role of the RNA-binding protein YTHDC1 in counteracting stress-induced pulmonary senescence and fibrosis. YTHDC1 is primarily expressed in pulmonary alveolar epithelial type 2 (AECII) cells and its AECII expression is significantly decreased in AECIIs during fibrosis. Exogenous overexpression of YTHDC1 alleviates pulmonary senescence and fibrosis independent of its m6A-binding ability, while YTHDC1 deletion enhances disease progression in mice. Mechanistically, YTHDC1 promotes the interaction between TopBP1 and MRE11, thereby activating ATR and facilitating DNA damage repair. These findings reveal a noncanonical function of YTHDC1 in delaying cellular senescence, and suggest that enhancing YTHDC1 expression in the lung could be an effective treatment strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
eIF4E1b is a non-canonical eIF4E protecting maternal dormant mRNAs
Authors: Lorenzo-Orts Laura , Strobl Marcus , Steinmetz Benjamin , Leesch Friederike , Pribitzer Carina , Roehsner Josef , Schutzbier Michael , Dürnberger Gerhard , Pauli Andrea
Published: December 2023

Maternal mRNAs are essential for protein synthesis during oogenesis and early embryogenesis. To adapt translation to specific needs during development, maternal mRNAs are translationally repressed by shortening the polyA tails. While mRNA deadenylation is associated with decapping and degradation in somatic cells, maternal mRNAs with short polyA tails are stable. Here we report that the germline-specific eIF4E paralog, eIF4E1b, is essential for zebrafish oogenesis. eIF4E1b localizes to P-bodies in zebrafish embryos and binds to mRNAs with reported short or no polyA tails, including histone mRNAs. Loss of eIF4E1b results in reduced histone mRNA levels in early gonads, consistent with a role in mRNA storage. Using mouse and human eIF4E1Bs (in vitro) and zebrafish eIF4E1b (in vivo), we show that unlike canonical eIF4Es, eIF4E1b does not interact with eIF4G to initiate translation. Instead, eIF4E1b interacts with the translational repressor eIF4ENIF1, which is required for eIF4E1b localization to P-bodies. Our study is consistent with an important role of eIF4E1b in regulating mRNA dormancy and provides new insights into fundamental post-transcriptional regulatory principles governing early vertebrate development.
Extended-Synaptotagmin-1 and -2 control T cell signaling and function
Authors: Benavides Nathalia , Giraudo Claudio G
Published: December 2023

Upon T-cell activation, the levels of the secondary messenger diacylglycerol (DAG) at the plasma membrane need to be controlled to ensure appropriate T-cell receptor signaling and T-cell functions. Extended-Synaptotagmins (E-Syts) are a family of inter-organelle lipid transport proteins that bridge the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane. In this study, we identify a novel regulatory mechanism of DAG-mediated signaling for T-cell effector functions based on E-Syt proteins. We demonstrate that E-Syts downmodulate T-cell receptor signaling, T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity, degranulation, and cytokine production by reducing plasma membrane levels of DAG. Mechanistically, E-Syt2 predominantly modulates DAG levels at the plasma membrane in resting-state T cells, while E-Syt1 and E-Syt2 negatively control T-cell receptor signaling upon stimulation. These results reveal a previously underappreciated role of E-Syts in regulating DAG dynamics in T-cell signaling.
Aggregation of gold nanoclusters in amyloid fibers: a luminescence assay for amyloid fibrillation detection and inhibitor screening
Authors: Deng Yilin , Guo Ying , Zhang Yaodong
Published: December 2023

Fluorescence detection of amyloid fibrillation based on aggregation of gold nanoclusters.
Formaldehyde gas sensors based on a quartz crystal microbalance modified with aniline-doped polyvinyl acetate nanofibers
Authors: Sofa Sintia Ainus , Roto Roto , Aflaha Rizky , Natsir Taufik Abdillah , Humairah Nur Aisyah , Kusumaatmaja Ahmad , Triyana Kuwat , Gupta Ruchi
Published: December 2023

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) system was modified with polyvinyl acetate nanofibers and doped with aniline for the detection of gaseous formaldehyde. The devised QCM gave a sensitivity of 0.056 Hz ppm−1 and is selective over other gases.
2-Aminopurine-based quencher-free DNA tweezers with fluorescence properties well tuned by surrounding bases
Authors: Yang Fangfang , Li Shuang , Wu Jialiang , Liu Shufeng
Published: December 2023

New 2-aminopurine-based quencher-free DNA tweezers is proposed with fluorescence properties well tuned by surrounding bases for structural change.
Biomimetic triphasic silk fibroin scaffolds seeded with tendon-derived stem cells for tendon-bone junction regeneration
Authors: Geng Yiyun , Cui Penglei , Hu Muli , Zhang Bingjun , Dai Liming , Han Fengxuan , Patrick Yungshu-hang , Fu Sai-Chuen , Li Bin , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: December 2023

The regeneration of tendon and bone junction (TBJ), a fibrocartilage transition zone between tendons and bones, is a challenge due to the special triphasic structure. A silk fibroin (SF)-based triphasic scaffold mimics native TBJ architecture.
Selective dehydrogenation of ammonia borane to polycondensated BN rings catalysed by ruthenium olefin complexes
Authors: Himmelbauer Daniel , Müller Fabian , Schweinzer Clara , Casas Fernando , Pribanic Bruno , Le Corre Grégoire , Thöny Debora , Trincado Monica , Grützmacher Hansjörg
Published: December 2023

Ammonia borane dehydrogenation is catalysed by a ruthenium bimetallic catalyst forming BN-superbenzene. The focus in this work on the BN-products rather than the hydrogen evolution aims for the potential use of BN nanosheets.
Steric control of Mg–Mg bond formation vs. N2 activation in the reduction of bulky magnesium diamide complexes
Authors: Mondal Rahul , Evans Matthew J. , Nguyen Dat T. , Rajeshkumar Thayalan , Maron Laurent , Jones Cameron
Published: December 2023

Reduction of a bulky diamido-magnesium(ii) complex has yielded the potassium salt of a dimagnesium(i) dianion, whereas prior reduction of a bulkier analogue gave an activated N2 complex. The relevance of ligand bulk in these processes is discussed.
Study of the microscopic mechanism of stepwise charge injection in co-sensitive DSSCs in the framework of a D–π–A dye and chlorophyll
Authors: Liu Tao , Yang Canpu , Song Peng , Ma Fengcai , Li Yuanzuo
Published: December 2023

The photoelectric properties of two molecules are explained: the chlorophyll molecule is co-sensitized with the initial molecule; we reveal the structure, spectral response and CT features for different co-sensitive configurations; we predicted an improved PCE for the co-sensitive system compared to the single molecule.
Effective flotation separation of apatite from dolomite using a new eco-friendly depressant gallic acid
Authors: Lan Shengzong , Shen Peilun , Zheng Qifang , Qiao Lidong , Dong Liuyang , Liu Dianwen
Published: December 2023

In this work is reported the selective depression mechanism of gallic acid, a novel environmentally friendly depressant for dolomite in the flotation separation of apatite and dolomite.
Dielectrophoretic enrichment of live chemo-resistant circulating-like pancreatic cancer cells from media of drug-treated adherent cultures of solid tumors
Authors: Rane Aditya , Jarmoshti Javad , Siddique Abdullah-Bin , Adair Sara , Torres-Castro Karina , Honrado Carlos , Bauer Todd W. , Swami Nathan S.
Published: December 2023

Optimization of dielectrophoretic separation of cancer cell subpopulations using single-cell impedance cytometry is presented, with machine learning used to gate their impedance metrics.
Synthesis of fulgidic acid and the two possible stereoisomers of chaenomic acid D
Authors: Ogawa Narihito , Gonda Keisuke , Kobayashi Yuichi
Published: December 2023

We synthesized fulgidic acid and the proposed structure for chaenomic acid D.
Diastereoselective allylation-based asymmetric total synthesis of 1,10-seco-guaianolides
Authors: Fernandes Rodney A. , Ranjan Ravikant S.
Published: December 2023

A Cr(ii)-mediated highly diastereoselective Nozaki–Hiyama allylation has been employed in the efficient first asymmetric total synthesis of two 1,10-seco-guaianolides.
General fabrication of hollow colloids from polymer self-assembly cavity-forming strategy
Authors: Dong Weiliang , Tian Lei , Li Xintong , Wang Dai , Huang Haiyu , Tan Jiji , Zhu Caizhen , Xu Jian
Published: December 2023

A universal method for the synthesis of hollow structures from microtumblers to hollow nanoparticles by the strategy of PGMA self-assembly was implemented. The shape of the hollow structures can be adjusted by the chain structure of the polymers.