bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon supported ternary layered double hydroxide nanocomposite for Fluoxetine removal and subsequent utilization of spent adsorbent as antidepressant
Authors: Mahgoub Samar M. , Essam Doaa , Eldin Zienab E. , Moaty S. A. Abdel , Shehata Mohamed R. , Farghali Ahmed , Abdalla Saif Elden B. , Othman Sarah I. , Allam Ahmed A. , El-Ela Fatma I. Abo , Mahmoud Rehab
Published: February 2024

Fluoxetine (FLX) is one of the most persistent pharmaceuticals found in wastewater due to increased use of antidepressant drugs in recent decades. In this study, a nanocomposite of ternary ZnCoAl layered double hydroxide supported on activated carbon (LAC) was used as an adsorbent for FLX in wastewater effluents. The nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface area analysis (BET). The adsorption investigations showed that the maximum removal capacity was achieved at pH 10, with a 0.1 g/L adsorbent dose, 50 mL volume of solution, and at a temperature of 25 °C. The FLX adsorption process followed the Langmuir–Freundlich model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 450.92 mg/g at FLX concentration of 50 µg/mL. Density functional theory (DFT) computations were used to study the adsorption mechanism of FLX and its protonated species. The safety and toxicity of the nanocomposite formed from the adsorption of FLX onto LAC (FLX-LAC) was investigated in male albino rats. Acute toxicity was evaluated using probit analysis after 2, 6, and 24 h to determine LD50 and LD100 values in a rat model. The FLX-LAC (20 mg/kg) significantly increased and lengthened the sleep time of the rats, which is important, especially with commonly used antidepressants, compared to the pure standard FLX (7 mg/kg), regular thiopental sodium medicine (30 mg/kg), and LAC alone (9 mg/kg). This study demonstrated the safety and longer sleeping duration in insomniac patients after single-dose therapy with FLX-LAC. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like FLX were found to have decreased side effects and were considered the first-line mood disorder therapies.
Combined substituent number utilized machine learning for the development of antimicrobial agent
Authors: Yamauchi Keitaro , Nakatsuji Hirotaka , Kamishima Takaaki , Koseki Yoshitaka , Kubo Masaki , Kasai Hitoshi
Published: February 2024

The utilization of machine learning has a potential to improve the environment of the development of antimicrobial agents. For practical use of machine learning, it is important that the conversion of molecules information to an appropriate descriptor because too informative descriptor requires enormous computation time and experiments for gathering data, whereas a less informative descriptor has problems in validity. In this study, we utilized a descriptor only focused on substituent. The type and the position of substituents on the molecules that have a 4-quinolone structure (11,879 compounds) were converted to the combined substituent number (CSN). While the CSN does not include information on the detailed structure, physical properties, and quantum chemistry of molecules, the prediction model constructed by machine learning of CSN indicated a sufficient coefficient of determination (0.719 for the training dataset and 0.519 for the validation dataset). In addition, this CSN can easily construct the unknown molecules library which has a relatively consistent structure by recombination of substituents (32,079,318 compounds) and screening of them. The validity of the prediction model was also confirmed by growth inhibition experiments for E. coli using the model-suggested molecules and commercially available antimicrobial agents.
Physical education teaching mode assisted by artificial intelligence assistant under the guidance of high-order complex network
Authors: Song Xizhong
Published: February 2024

This study explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistants in sports tennis instruction to enhance the intelligent teaching system. Firstly, the applicability of AI technology to tennis teaching in schools is investigated. The intelligent teaching system comprises an expert system, an image acquisition system, and an intelligent language system. Secondly, employing compressed sensing theory, a framework for learning the large-scale fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) from time series data, termed compressed sensing-FCM (CS-FCM), is devised to address challenges associated with automatic learning methods in the designed AI teaching assistant system. Finally, a high-order FCM-based time series prediction framework is proposed. According to experimental simulations, CS-FCM demonstrates robust convergence and stability, achieving a stable point with a reconstruction error below 0.001 after 15 iterations for FCM with various data lengths and a density of 20%. The proposed intelligent system based on high-order complex networks significantly improves upon the limitations of the current FCM model. The advantages of its teaching assistant system can be effectively leveraged for tennis instruction in sports.
Physiological evidence of stress reduction during a summer Antarctic expedition with a significant influence of previous experience and vigor
Authors: Ráčková Lucie , Pompa Tomáš , Zlámal Filip , Barták Miloš , Nývlt Daniel , Bienertová-Vašků Julie
Published: February 2024

Antarctica provides a unique environment for studying human adaptability, characterized by controlled conditions, limited sensory stimulation, and significant challenges in logistics and communication. This longitudinal study investigates the relationship between stress indicators, with a specific focus on mean sleep heart rate, during a COVID-19 quarantine and subsequent 83 days long summer Antarctic expedition at the J. G. Mendel Czech Antarctic Station. Our novel approach includes daily recordings of sleep heart rate and weekly assessments of emotions, stress, and sleep quality. Associations between variables were analyzed using the generalized least squares method, providing unique insights into nuances of adaptation. The results support previous findings by providing empirical evidence on the stress reducing effect of Antarctic summer expedition and highlight the importance of previous experience and positive emotions, with the novel contribution of utilizing physiological data in addition to psychological measures. High-frequency sampling and combination of psychological and physiological data addresses a crucial gap in the research of stress. This study contributes valuable knowledge to the field of psychophysiology and has implications for expedition planners, research organizations, teams in action settings, pandemic prevention protocols, global crises, and long-duration spaceflight missions. Comprehensive insights promote the well-being and success of individuals in extreme conditions.
Bone marrow stromal cell-derived hepcidin has antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities
Authors: Krepuska Miklós , Mayer Balázs , Vitale-Cross Lynn , Myneni Vamsee D. , Boyajian Michael K. , Németh Krisztián , Szalayova Ildikó , Cho Ted , McClain-Caldwell Ian , Gingerich Aaron D. , Han Huiling , Westerman Mark , Rada Balázs , Mezey Éva
Published: February 2024

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have immunomodulatory activities in numerous species and have been used in clinical trials. BMSCs also make antibacterial agents. Since hepcidin is known to have antimicrobial effects in fish, we wondered if it might also be used as an antimicrobial agent by mammalian BMSCs. In the present study, we show hepcidin expression in both mouse (mBMSC) and human BMSCs (hBMSC). We observed a hBMSC hepcidin-dependent degradation of ferroportin in HEK-293 reporter cells in vitro. In human and mouse bone marrows (BM) we detected hepcidin-positive BMSCs in close proximity to hematopoietic progenitors. The conditioned culture medium of hBMSCs significantly reduced bacterial proliferation that was partially blocked by a hepcidin-neutralizing antibody. Similarly, medium in which hepcidin-deficient (Hamp−/−) mouse BMSCs had been grown was significantly less effective in reducing bacterial counts than the medium of wild-type cells. In a zymosan-induced peritonitis mouse model we found that mBMSC-derived hepcidin reduced the number of invading polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in the peritoneal cavity. Our results show that BMSC-derived hepcidin has antimicrobial properties in vitro and also reduces inflammation in vivo. We conclude that hepcidin should be added to the expanding arsenal of agents available to BMSCs to fight infections and inflammation.
Risk-adapted locoregional radiotherapy strategies based on a prognostic nomogram for de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy
Authors: Chen Yuebing , Chen Chuying , Peng Hewei , Lin Shaojun , Pan Jianji , Zheng Huiping , Zong Jingfeng , Lin Cheng
Published: February 2024

To develop a prognostic nomogram for individualized strategies on locoregional radiation therapy (LRRT) in patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC) treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Ninety patients with dmNPC treated with chemoimmunotherapy and diagnosed between 2019 and 2022 were included in our study. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) to establish a nomogram. With a median follow-up of 17.5 months, the median PFS and OS were 24.9 months and 29.4 months, respectively. Sixty-nine patients and twenty-one patients were included in the LRRT group and without LRRT group, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, lower EBV DNA copy number before treatment, a single metastatic site, more cycles of chemotherapy and immunotherapy were significantly associated with better OS. A prognostic nomogram was constructed incorporating the above 5 independent factors, with a C-index of 0.894. Patients were divided into low- and high-risk cohorts based on nomogram scores. A significant improvement in OS was revealed in the LRRT group compared with the without-LRRT group for patients in the high-risk cohort (HR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.01–6.00, P = 0.049), while the OS was comparable between the two groups in the low-risk cohort. Our study indicates that LRRT may be associated with better prognosis in high-risk patients with dmNPC in the era of immunotherapy.
An integrative approach to medical laboratory equipment risk management
Authors: Saleh Neven , Gamal Omnia , Eldosoky Mohamed A. A. , Shaaban Abdel Rahman
Published: February 2024

Medical Laboratory Equipment (MLE) is one of the most influential means for diagnosing a patient in healthcare facilities. The accuracy and dependability of clinical laboratory testing is essential for making disease diagnosis. A risk-reduction plan for managing MLE is presented in the study. The methodology was initially based on the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method. Because of the drawbacks of standard FMEA implementation, a Technique for Ordering Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was adopted in addition to the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method. Each piece of MLE under investigation was given a risk priority number (RPN), which in turn assigned its risk level. The equipment performance can be improved, and maintenance work can be prioritized using the generated RPN values. Moreover, five machine learning classifiers were employed to classify TOPSIS results for appropriate decision-making. The current study was conducted on 15 various hospitals in Egypt, utilizing a 150 MLE set of data from an actual laboratory, considering three different types of MLE. By applying the TOPSIS and SAW methods, new RPN values were obtained to rank the MLE risk. Because of its stability in ranking the MLE risk value compared to the conventional FMEA and SAW methods, the TOPSIS approach has been accepted. Thus, a prioritized list of MLEs was identified to make decisions related to appropriate incoming maintenance and scrapping strategies according to the guidance of machine learning classifiers.
Arginase-induced cell death pathways and metabolic changes in cancer cells are not altered by insulin
Authors: Chew Hui Yi , Cvetkovic Goran , Tepic Slobodan , Wells James W.
Published: February 2024

Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is critical for cell growth. Typically, de novo synthesis of arginine is sufficient to support cellular processes, however, it becomes vital for cancer cells that are unable to synthesise arginine due to enzyme deficiencies. Targeting this need, arginine depletion with enzymes such as arginase (ARG) has emerged as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy. Studies have proposed using high dose insulin to induce a state of hypoaminoacidaemia in the body, thereby further reducing circulating arginine levels. However, the mitogenic and metabolic properties of insulin could potentially counteract the therapeutic effects of ARG. Our study examined the combined impact of insulin and ARG on breast, lung, and ovarian cell lines, focusing on cell proliferation, metabolism, apoptosis, and autophagy. Our results showed that the influence of insulin on ARG uptake varied between cell lines but failed to promote the proliferation of ARG-treated cells or aid recovery post-ARG treatment. Moreover, insulin was largely ineffective in altering ARG-induced metabolic changes and did not prevent apoptosis. In vitro, at least, these findings imply that insulin does not offer a growth or survival benefit to cancer cells being treated with ARG.
Fractal analysis of extracellular matrix for observer-independent quantification of intestinal fibrosis in Crohn’s disease
Authors: Weber Marie-Christin , Schmidt Konstantin , Buck Annalisa , Kasajima Atsuko , Becker Simon , Li Chunqiao , Reischl Stefan , Wilhelm Dirk , Steiger Katja , Friess Helmut , Neumann Philipp-Alexander
Published: February 2024

Prevention of intestinal fibrosis remains an unresolved problem in the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD), as specific antifibrotic therapies are not yet available. Appropriate analysis of fibrosis severity is essential for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of potential antifibrotic drugs. The aim of this study was to develop an observer-independent method to quantify intestinal fibrosis in surgical specimens from patients with CD using structural analysis of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We performed fractal analysis in fibrotic and control histological sections of patients with surgery for CD (n = 28). To specifically assess the structure of the collagen matrix, polarized light microscopy was used. A score to quantify collagen fiber alignment and the color of the polarized light was established. Fractal dimension as a measure for the structural complexity correlated significantly with the histological fibrosis score whereas lacunarity as a measure for the compactness of the ECM showed a negative correlation. Polarized light microscopy to visualize the collagen network underlined the structural changes in the ECM network in advanced fibrosis. In conclusion, observer-independent quantification of the structural complexity of the ECM by fractal analysis is a suitable method to quantify the degree of intestinal fibrosis in histological samples from patients with CD.
Carnauba wax-based edible coatings retain quality enhancement of orange (Citrus sinensis cv. Moro) fruits during storage
Authors: Babarabie Mehrdad , Sardoei Ali Salehi , Jamali Babak , Hatami Mehrnaz
Published: February 2024

Fruit coatings serve a dual purpose in preserving the quality of fruits. Not only do they act as a barrier against water evaporation and fungal infiltration, but they also enhance the fruit’s visual appeal in the market. Yet, their influence on the fruit’s quality components, which play a crucial role in determining its nutritional value, taste, and overall flavor, has remained relatively unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carnauba wax coating on the quality of Moro oranges during storage. The selected fruits were meticulously chosen for uniformity in size. The experiment involved applying carnauba wax, a commonly used type among local producers, at four different concentrations: 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. These treatments were applied during various storage periods, including immediately after fruits were harvested and after 40 and 80 days. Following the application of these treatments, the oranges were stored in a controlled environment (morgue) at a temperature of 4 ± 1 °C. Subsequently, several physicochemical parameters of both the fruit flesh and skin were examined. The results unveiled a decline in the overall ascorbic acid content of the fruits. In terms of phenol content, a general decreasing trend was observed after harvesting. At each sampling interval during storage, the phenol content in uncoated fruits consistently exceeded that of their waxed counterparts. Significant reduction in fruit weight was observed throughout the storage period. Both vitamin C and total acidity levels in the fruit exhibited decreases during the storage period. As time passed, fruit firmness gradually declined, while fruit decay increased during the 40- and 80-day storage periods for untreated Moro oranges. The anthocyanin content showed an increasing trend. The study also unveiled a decline in the antioxidant capacity of citrus fruits during storage. Strong significant positive correlations were observed between total phenol content and key parameters, such as antioxidant activity (0.941**), MDA (0.364*), vitamin C content, and total carbohydrate content (0.475**). Skin radiance showed a perfect correlation with chroma and hue (1.000**). Principal component analysis revealed that the first principal component accounted for 34.27% of the total variance, out of a total of five principal components that explained 77.14% of the variance. Through cluster analysis, the variables were categorized into three distinct groups; one associated with weight loss and another with ion leakage. Considering these findings, carnauba wax-based coating emerges as a promising solution for preserving Moro oranges. It effectively mitigates fruit weight loss and helps maintain fruit firmness during storage, making it a valuable tool for fruit preservation.
Unveiling the dynamic of nitrogen through migration and transformation patterns in the groundwater level fluctuation zone of a different hyporheic zone sediment
Authors: Abdulhamid Yusuf , Duan Lei , Yaqiao Sun , Hu Jinmei
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the impact of water levels and soil texture on the migration and transformation of nitrate (NO3−-N) and ammonium (NH4+-N) within a soil column. The concentrations of NO3−-N gradually decreased from an initial concentration of 34.19 ± 0.86 mg/L to 14.33 ± 0.77 mg/L on day 70, exhibiting fluctuations and migration influenced by water levels and soil texture. Higher water levels were associated with decreased NO3−-N concentrations, while lower water levels resulted in increased concentrations. The retention and absorption capacity for NO3−-N were highest in fine sand soil, followed by medium sand and coarse sand, highlighting the significance of soil texture in nitrate movement and retention. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed statistically significant variations in pH, dissolve oxygen and oxidation–reduction potential across the soil columns (p < 0.05). Fluctuating water levels influenced the migration and transformation of NO3−-N, with distinct patterns observed in different soil textures. Water level fluctuations also impacted the migration and transformation of NH4+-N, with higher water levels associated with increased concentrations and lower water levels resulting in decreased concentrations. Among the soil types considered, medium sand exhibited the highest absorption capacity for NH4+-N. These findings underscore the significant roles of water levels, soil texture, and soil type in the migration, transformation, and absorption of nitrogen compounds within soil columns. The results contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen dynamics under varying water levels and environmental conditions, providing valuable insights into the patterns of nitrogen migration and transformation in small-scale soil column experiments.
Targeting host-virus interactions: in silico analysis of the binding of human milk oligosaccharides to viral proteins involved in respiratory infections
Authors: Mahaboob Ali Anees Ahmed , Vishal Adarsh , Nelson Everette Jacob Remington
Published: February 2024

Respiratory viral infections, a major public health concern, necessitate continuous development of novel antiviral strategies, particularly in the face of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. In this study, we explored the potential of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) as broad-spectrum antiviral agents against key respiratory viruses. By examining the structural mimicry of host cell receptors and their known biological functions, including antiviral activities, we assessed the ability of HMOs to bind and potentially inhibit viral proteins crucial for host cell entry. Our in silico analysis focused on viral proteins integral to host-virus interactions, namely the hemagglutinin protein of influenza, fusion proteins of respiratory syncytial and human metapneumovirus, and the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Using molecular docking and simulation studies, we demonstrated that HMOs exhibit varying binding affinities to these viral proteins, suggesting their potential as viral entry inhibitors. This study identified several HMOs with promising binding profiles, highlighting their potential in antiviral drug development. This research provides a foundation for utilizing HMOs as a natural source for designing new therapeutics, offering a novel approach in the fight against respiratory viral infections.
Evidence of epigenetic landscape shifts in mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB and IVA
Authors: Vargas-López Viviana , Prada Luisa F. , Alméciga-Díaz Carlos J.
Published: February 2024

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of monogenic diseases characterized by mutations in genes coding for proteins associated with the lysosomal function. Despite the monogenic nature, LSDs patients exhibit variable and heterogeneous clinical manifestations, prompting investigations into epigenetic factors underlying this phenotypic diversity. In this study, we focused on the potential role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB) and mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA). We analyzed DNA methylation (5mC) and histone modifications (H3K14 acetylation and H3K9 trimethylation) in MPS IIIB and MPS IVA patients’ fibroblasts and healthy controls. The findings revealed that global DNA hypomethylation is present in cell lines for both diseases. At the same time, histone acetylation was increased in MPS IIIB and MPS IVA cells in a donor-dependent way, further indicating a shift towards relaxed open chromatin in these MPS. Finally, the constitutive heterochromatin marker, histone H3K9 trimethylation, only showed reduced clustering in MPS IIIB cells, suggesting limited alterations in heterochromatin organization. These findings collectively emphasize the significance of epigenetic mechanisms in modulating the phenotypic variations observed in LSDs. While global DNA hypomethylation could contribute to the MPS pathogenesis, the study also highlights individual-specific epigenetic responses that might contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity. Further research into the specific genes and pathways affected by these epigenetic changes could provide insights into potential therapeutic interventions for these MPS and other LSDs.
Association between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and peripheral endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Erre Gian Luca , Chessa Ilaria , Bassu Stefania , Cavagna Lorenzo , Carru Ciriaco , Pintus Gianfranco , Giordo Roberta , Mangoni Arduino Aleksander , Damiano Sanna Giuseppe , Zinellu Angelo
Published: February 2024

The identification of circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a precursor to atherosclerosis, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would facilitate early risk stratification and prevention strategies. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has emerged as a potential biomarker of oxidative stress, ischemia, and ED. However, studies examining the relationship between IMA and ED in RA patients are lacking. We measured serum IMA concentrations by using an albumin cobalt binding test and peripheral vasodilatory capacity by EndoPAT in 113 RA patients without previous cardiovascular events enrolled in the EDRA study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02341066). The mean peripheral vasodilatory capacity, expressed by the log of reactive hyperemia index (logRHI), was 0.82, corresponding to 27% RA patients having ED. The mean plasma concentrations of IMA were 0.478 absorbance units. We observed a significant and inverse association between peripheral vasodilatory capacity and serum IMA concentrations (rho =  − 0.22, p = 0.02). In univariate logistic regression, ED was significantly associated with serum IMA concentrations [OR 1173 (95% CI 1.3568 to 101,364), p = 0.040) and higher disease activity. In multivariate logistic regression, the independent association between ED and IMA remained significant after correction for disease activity and other RA-confounders [OR 2252 (95% CI 1.0596 to 4,787,505), p = 0.048 in Model 1; OR 7221 (95% CI 4.1539 to 12,552,859), p = 0.02 in Model 2]. Conclusions: This study suggests that IMA is a promising biomarker of ED in RA. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and determine the clinical utility of IMA in detecting and managing early atherosclerosis in RA patients.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on marriage, divorce, birth, and death in Kerman province, the ninth most populous province of Iran
Authors: Pouradeli Shiva , Ahmadinia Hassan , Rezaeian Mohsen
Published: February 2024

This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marriage, divorce, birth, and death rates using the Poisson regression model and an interrupted time-series Poisson regression model. Before the pandemic, marriage and birth rates were decreasing, while divorce and death rates were increasing, with only the trend in birth rates being statistically significant. The immediate effect of the pandemic was a significant decrease in the divorce rate, but there were non-significant effects on birth and marriage rates. However, in the months following the onset of the pandemic, there was a statistically significant sustained effect on increasing death and divorce rates. Forecasts based on pre-pandemic data showed that by the end of 2020, marriage, divorce, death, and birth rates were higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. In conclusion, the pandemic has greatly impacted society, particularly in terms of death and divorce rates. Birth rates were not immediately affected to the time lag between decisions and actual births. Fear of COVID-19 may have increased death rates as people avoided seeking medical help. Vaccination and effective treatment strategies are vital in reducing the pandemic's impact on mortality. Supporting families financially is important due to the role of economic issues in couples’ decisions.
Experimental study of the bond behavior of 400MPa grade hot-rolled ribbed steel bars in steel fibre reinforced concrete
Authors: Zhao Minglei , Li Jie , Xie Yi Min , Shen Jianhu , Li Changyong
Published: February 2024

Present studies show that steel fibres can improve the bond of steel bar in steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) with a correlation to the fibre factor and the fibre distribution uniformity. As a foundation of high-flowability SFRC working together with 400 MPa grade hot-rolled ribbed (HRB400) steel bar in reinforced structures, the bond between them was evaluated through a series of pull-out testing on 48 specimens with a central arranged steel bar. The bond behaviours of steel bar were estimated with a constant bond length of 5d (d is the diameter of steel bar) embedded in high-flowability SFRC, the main research parameters included the ingot mill steel fibres with a fibre volume fraction varied from 0.8 to 2.0%, the strength grade C40 and C50 of SFRC or referenced conventional concrete, and the diameter of steel bars varied from 14 to 20 mm. Results showed that the high-flowability SFRC compacted with a slight vibration is beneficial to improve the bond failure pattern since steel fibres effectively eliminate the crack appeared on the SFRC blocks during the pulling out of steel bar, leading to all specimens failed with the steel bar pull out of SFRC blocks. The bond strength was dominant by the SFRC strength, and obviously strengthened with the increase of fibre volume fraction, while the peak-slip was slightly influenced by the diameter of steel bar. By conducting analyses of test data, equations for calculating the bond strength and the peak-slip are proposed accounting for the effect of steel fibres. Then the predicting method for the anchorage length is suggested linking with different design codes for concrete structures. Compared with test results of this study, a little shorter anchorage length of steel bar in SFRC is obtained from the specification of Chinese code JGJ/T46, which should be noticed to ensure a rational anchorage of ribbed steel bar in SFRC with ingot mill steel fibres.
The impact of factor Xa inhibitors on bleeding risk in patients with respiratory diseases
Authors: Hamada Shohei , Muramoto Kei , Akaike Kimitaka , Okabayashi Hiroko , Masunaga Aiko , Tomita Yusuke , Ichiyasu Hidenori , Sakagami Takuro
Published: February 2024

It is unclear which factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors are associated with higher bleeding risk in patients with respiratory diseases, and there are no studies on the association between prothrombin time–international normalized ratio (PT–INR) and bleeding risk. We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing 1-year-outcomes and PT–INR between patients with respiratory diseases treated with rivaroxaban (R group, n = 82) or edoxaban (E group, n = 138) for atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism from 2013 to 2021. The most frequent event of all bleeding discontinuations was respiratory bleeding in both groups (7.3 and 4.3%, respectively). The cumulative incidence of bleeding discontinuation was significantly higher in the R group (25.6%) than in the E group (14.4%) (hazard ratio [HR], 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–4.64; P = 0.023). PT–INR after initiation of therapy significantly increased and was higher in the R group than in the E group (median value, 1.4 and 1.2, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards and Fine-Gray models revealed that PT–INR after initiation of therapy was an independent risk factor of bleeding discontinuation events (HR = 4.37, 95% CI 2.57–7.41: P < 0.001). Respiratory bleeding occasionally occurs in patients receiving FXa inhibitors, and monitoring the PT–INR may need to ensure safety.
Detection of non-pathogenic and pathogenic populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in various samples by the conventional, quantitative and droplet digital PCRs
Authors: Vidovic Sinisa , Taylor Roland , Hedderley Duncan , Fletcher Graham C. , Wei Nicola
Published: February 2024

In this study, three generations of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays: (i) conventional PCR, (ii) qPCR and (iii) droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), were systematically tested for their abilities to detect non-pathogenic and pathogenic populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The limit of detection (LOD) for the ddPCR was 1.1 pg/µL of purified DNA, followed by the qPCR (5.6 pg/µL) and the conventional PCR (8.8 pg/µL). Regarding the LOD for V. parahaemolyticus cells, the ddPCR assay was able to detect 29 cells, followed by the conventional PCR assay (58 cells) and the qPCR assay (115 cells). Regarding the sensitivities to detect this pathogen from PCR inhibition prone samples (naturally contaminated mussels), the ddPCR assay significantly outperformed the conventional PCR and qPCR. The ddPCR assay was able to consistently detect non-pathogenic and pathogenic populations of V. parahaemolyticus from naturally contaminated mussels, indicating its tolerance to various PCR inhibitors. This study also revealed the significant difference between conventional PCR and qPCR. The conventional PCR assay showed significantly greater sensitivity than that of the qPCR assay in detecting V. parahaemolyticus in crude samples, whereas the qPCR assay showed better sensitivity in detecting the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in purified DNA samples.
Suppressive action of nesfatin-1 and nesfatin-1-like peptide on cortisol synthesis in human adrenal cortex cells
Authors: Nasri Atefeh , Sands Jade , Unniappan Suraj
Published: February 2024

Nucleobindin-derived peptides, nesfatin-1 [NESF-1] and nesfatin-1-like-peptide [NLP] have diverse roles in endocrine and metabolic regulation. While both peptides showed a stimulatory effect on the synthesis of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) precursor in mouse corticotrophs, whether NESF-1 and NLP have any direct effect on glucocorticoid [GC] synthesis in the adrenal cortex remains unknown. The main aim of this study was to determine if NESF-1 and/or NLP act directly on adrenal cortex cells to regulate cortisol synthesis in vitro. Whether NLP injection affects stress-hormone gene expression in the adrenal gland and pituitary in vivo in mice was also assessed. In addition, cortisol synthetic pathway in Nucb1 knockout mice was studied. Human adrenal cortical [H295R] cells showed immunoreactivity for both NUCB1/NLP and NUCB2/NESF-1. NLP and NESF-1 decreased the abundance of steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs, and cortisol synthesis and release through the AC/PKA/CREB pathway in H295R cells. Similarly, intraperitoneal injection of NLP in mice decreased the expression of enzymes involved in glucocorticoid (GC) synthesis in the adrenal gland while increasing the expression of Pomc, Pcsk1 and Crhr1 in the pituitary. Moreover, the melanocortin 2 receptor (Mc2r) mRNA level was enhanced in the adrenal gland samples of NLP injected mice. However, the global genetic disruption in Nucb1 did not affect most steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs, and Pomc, Pcsk2 and Crhr1 mRNAs in mice adrenal gland and pituitary gland, respectively. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence for a direct inhibition of cortisol synthesis and secretion by NLP and NESF-1. NUCB peptides might still elicit a net stimulatory effect on GC synthesis and secretion through their positive effects on ACTH-MC2R pathway in the pituitary.
An improved composite ship magnetic field model with ellipsoid and magnetic dipole arrays
Authors: Lu Binjie , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: February 2024

In order to simultaneously maintain the ship magnetic field modeling accuracy, reduce the number of coefficient matrix conditions and the model computational complexity, an improved composite model is designed by introducing the magnetic dipole array model with a single-axis magnetic moment on the basis of the hybrid ellipsoid and magnetic dipole array model. First, the improved composite model of the ship's magnetic field is established based on the magnetic dipole array model with 3-axis magnetic moment, the magnetic dipole array model with only x-axis magnetic moment, and the ellipsoid model. Secondly, the set of equations for calculating the magnetic moments of the composite model is established, and for the problem of solving the pathological set of equations, the least-squares estimation, stepwise regression method, Tikhonov, and truncated singular value decomposition regularization methods are introduced in terms of the magnetic field, and generalized cross-validation is used to solve the optimal regularization parameters. Finally, a ship model test is designed to compare and analyze the effectiveness of the composite and hybrid models in four aspects: the number of coefficient matrix conditions of the model equation set, the relative error of magnetic field fitting, the relative error of magnetic field extrapolation, and the computational time complexity. The modeling results based on the ship model test data show that the composite model can be used for modeling the magnetic field of ships, and compared with the hybrid model, it reduces the number of coefficient matrix conditions and improves the computational efficiency on the basis of retaining a higher modeling accuracy, and it can be effectively applied in related scientific research and engineering.
Engineering primitive multiscale chimeric vasculature by combining human microvessels with explanted murine vessels
Authors: Margolis Emily A. , Choi Lucia S. , Friend Nicole E. , Putnam Andrew J.
Published: February 2024

Strategies to separately manufacture arterial-scale tissue engineered vascular grafts and microvascular networks have been well-established, but efforts to bridge these two length scales to create hierarchical vasculature capable of supporting parenchymal cell functions or restoring perfusion to ischemic tissues have been limited. This work aimed to create multiscale vascular constructs by assessing the capability of macroscopic vessels isolated from mice to form functional connections to engineered capillary networks ex vivo. Vessels of venous and arterial origins from both thoracic and femoral locations were isolated from mice, and then evaluated for their abilities to sprout endothelial cells (EC) capable of inosculating with surrounding human cell-derived microvasculature within bulk fibrin hydrogels. Comparing aortae, vena cavae, and femoral vessel bundles, we identified the thoracic aorta as the rodent macrovessel that yielded the greatest degree of sprouting and interconnection to surrounding capillaries. The presence of cells undergoing vascular morphogenesis in the surrounding hydrogel attenuated EC sprouting from the macrovessel compared to sprouting into acellular hydrogels, but ultimately sprouted mouse EC interacted with human cell-derived capillary networks in the bulk, yielding chimeric vessels. We then integrated micromolded mesovessels into the constructs to engineer a primitive 3-scale vascular hierarchy comprising capillaries, mesovessels, and macrovessels. Overall, this study yielded a primitive hierarchical vasculature suitable as proof-of-concept for regenerative medicine applications and as an experimental model to better understand the spontaneous formation of host-graft vessel anastomoses.
The influence of subpolar marine ice expansion on global climate in the Early Pleistocene
Authors: Han Wenxia , Zan Jinbo , Kemp David B. , Zhang Tao , Wang Zhixiang , Mai Li , Fang Xiaomin
Published: February 2024

Major climatic-environmental transitions and ecological shifts occurred during the mid-Early Pleistocene, a time when external forcing conditions were relatively stable. To help elucidate their driving mechanisms, we perform linear-nonlinear analysis on global climate and oceanographic records. A synchronous change in these records, starting at 1.9–1.6 Ma, was accompanied by an increased obliquity signal and coeval climate regime shifts. We posit that bipolar cooling and an extension of terrestrial ice sheets across marine margins in subpolar regions increased the sensitivity of the global climate system to obliquity variations at this time. The resulting strengthening of meridional and zonal temperature gradients and shoaling of the tropical thermocline would cause enhanced aridification of East Africa and Arabia, and meanwhile a stronger East Asian winter and summer monsoon. Our study highlights the likely contribution of subpolar sea ice expansion on critical transitions in global climate and ecosystem evolution via its ability to modify the sensitivity of the Earth system to orbital variations.
CancerGPT for few shot drug pair synergy prediction using large pretrained language models
Authors: Li Tianhao , Shetty Sandesh , Kamath Advaith , Jaiswal Ajay , Jiang Xiaoqian , Ding Ying , Kim Yejin
Published: February 2024

Large language models (LLMs) have been shown to have significant potential in few-shot learning across various fields, even with minimal training data. However, their ability to generalize to unseen tasks in more complex fields, such as biology and medicine has yet to be fully evaluated. LLMs can offer a promising alternative approach for biological inference, particularly in cases where structured data and sample size are limited, by extracting prior knowledge from text corpora. Here we report our proposed few-shot learning approach, which uses LLMs to predict the synergy of drug pairs in rare tissues that lack structured data and features. Our experiments, which involved seven rare tissues from different cancer types, demonstrate that the LLM-based prediction model achieves significant accuracy with very few or zero samples. Our proposed model, the CancerGPT (with ~ 124M parameters), is comparable to the larger fine-tuned GPT-3 model (with ~ 175B parameters). Our research contributes to tackling drug pair synergy prediction in rare tissues with limited data, and also advancing the use of LLMs for biological and medical inference tasks.
Automatic speech-based assessment to discriminate Parkinson’s disease from essential tremor with a cross-language approach
Authors: Rios-Urrego Cristian David , Rusz Jan , Orozco-Arroyave Juan Rafael
Published: February 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) are prevalent movement disorders that mainly affect elderly people, presenting diagnostic challenges due to shared clinical features. While both disorders exhibit distinct speech patterns—hypokinetic dysarthria in PD and hyperkinetic dysarthria in ET—the efficacy of speech assessment for differentiation remains unexplored. Developing technology for automatic discrimination could enable early diagnosis and continuous monitoring. However, the lack of data for investigating speech behavior in these patients has inhibited the development of a framework for diagnostic support. In addition, phonetic variability across languages poses practical challenges in establishing a universal speech assessment system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop models robust to the phonetic variability present in different languages worldwide. We propose a method based on Gaussian mixture models to assess domain adaptation from models trained in German and Spanish to classify PD and ET patients in Czech. We modeled three different speech dimensions: articulation, phonation, and prosody and evaluated the models’ performance in both bi-class and tri-class classification scenarios (with the addition of healthy controls). Our results show that a fusion of the three speech dimensions achieved optimal results in binary classification, with accuracies up to 81.4 and 86.2% for monologue and /pa-ta-ka/ tasks, respectively. In tri-class scenarios, incorporating healthy speech signals resulted in accuracies of 63.3 and 71.6% for monologue and /pa-ta-ka/ tasks, respectively. Our findings suggest that automated speech analysis, combined with machine learning is robust, accurate, and can be adapted to different languages to distinguish between PD and ET patients.
Common mitochondrial deletions in RNA-Seq: evaluation of bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomic datasets
Authors: Omidsalar Audrey A. , McCullough Carmel G. , Xu Lili , Boedijono Stanley , Gerke Daniel , Webb Michelle G. , Manojlovic Zarko , Sequeira Adolfo , Lew Mark F. , Santorelli Marco , Serrano Geidy E. , Beach Thomas G. , Limon Agenor , Vawter Marquis P. , Hjelm Brooke E.
Published: February 2024

Common mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions are large structural variants in the mitochondrial genome that accumulate in metabolically active tissues with age and have been investigated in various diseases. We applied the Splice-Break2 pipeline (designed for high-throughput quantification of mtDNA deletions) to human RNA-Seq datasets and describe the methodological considerations for evaluating common deletions in bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics datasets. A robust evaluation of 1570 samples from 14 RNA-Seq studies showed: (i) the abundance of some common deletions detected in PCR-amplified mtDNA correlates with levels observed in RNA-Seq data; (ii) RNA-Seq library preparation method has a strong effect on deletion detection; (iii) deletions had a significant, positive correlation with age in brain and muscle; (iv) deletions were enriched in cortical grey matter, specifically in layers 3 and 5; and (v) brain regions with dopaminergic neurons (i.e., substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and caudate nucleus) had remarkable enrichment of common mtDNA deletions.
Efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors examined by a combination of Raman micro-spectroscopy and a deep wavelet scattering-based multivariate analysis framework
Authors: Schuler Irina , Schuler Martin , Frick Tatjana , Jimenez Dairovys , Maghnouj Abdelouahid , Hahn Stephan , Zewail Rami , Gerwert Klaus , El-Mashtoly Samir F.
Published: February 2024

Raman micro-spectroscopy is applied as a label-free analytical tool to monitor the efficacy and spatial distribution of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cells. This method has a prospective in drug evaluation and presumably in drug discovery.
Ultra-sensitive fluorescent detection of strychnine based on carbon dot self-assembled gold nanocage sensing probe
Authors: Ling Jiang , Zhang Zhihua , Zhang Wenqi , Wen Di , Ding Yanjun
Published: February 2024

The ultra-sensitive detection of strychnine is crucial to provide powerful evidence in strychnine poisoning cases.
Group-IIIA element doped BaSnS2 as a high efficiency absorber for intermediate band solar cell from a first-principles insight
Authors: Xue Yang , Lin Changqing , Zhong Jiancheng , Huang Dan , Persson Clas
Published: February 2024

With the help of the isolated and half-filled intermediate bands in Group-IIIA element doped BaSnS2, the optical absorption coefficients in visible light region are enhanced and the corresponding theoretical efficiencies are increased.
A dysprosium(iii)-based triple helical-like complex as a turn-on/off fluorescence sensor for Al(iii) and 4,5-dimethyl-2-nitroaniline
Authors: Yin Yi , Luo Rong , Wang Wen , Wang Rui , Jiang Nan , Chen Peng , Yu Hai-Jun , Bi Shuang-Yu , Shao Feng
Published: February 2024

A dysprosium(iii)-based triple helical-like complex was design synthesized as a turn-on/off fluorescence sensor for Al(iii) and 4,5-dimethyl-2-nitroaniline with high selectivity, sensitivity, and anti-interference ability.
Zinc tungstate encapsulated into a scarce Zn(ii)–viologen framework with photochromic, electrochromic and chemochromic properties
Authors: Huang Li , Li Xiao-Nan , Shen Yuan , Song Run-Hong , Cui Wen-Bo , Zhang Hong
Published: February 2024

A new type of POM–metaloxoviologen hybrid with a 3D trinuclear Zn(ii)–viologen framework encapsulating POMs exhibits multiple stimulus-responsive behaviors.
Xylooligosaccharides ameliorate insulin resistance by increasing Akkermansia muciniphila and improving intestinal barrier dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus mice
Authors: Yang Junyi , Wang Jiexian , Wu Weiliang , Su Chuhong , Wu Yanhua , Li Qing
Published: February 2024

Xylooligosaccharides ameliorate insulin resistance by increasing Akk. muciniphila and intestinal barrier function in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice.
Water solubility differentiates the impact of tea polyphenols and rutin on the postprandial glycemic response to cooked maize starch
Authors: Jiang Menglin , Qin Wangyan , Zhang Shengpeng , Zhang Genyi
Published: February 2024

Tea polyphenol and rutin: postprandial glycemia.
Deep eutectic solvents as an emerging green platform for the synthesis of functional materials
Authors: Ma Yunping , Yang Yu , Li Tie , Hussain Shahid , Zhu Maiyong
Published: February 2024

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) enable many processes to be environmentally friendly. This Tutorial Review aims to showcase the roles of DESs in the synthesis of functional materials from a green chemistry perspective.